Coronavirus live news Australia: cruise ships on their way as Australian cases surpass 5,100 – latest update

9.54pm EDT
21:54

It seems mandatory quarantine hasn’t dampened some people’s desire for party drugs. A man in Sydney has been arrested allegedly trying to sneak MDMA a travellers trapped inside a CBD hotel.

Via the AAP:

A man has been charged for allegedly using a box of fresh fruit to try and smuggle drugs to a traveller quarantined inside a Sydney hotel.

The 37-year-old was arrested after delivering the fruit box to the Elizabeth Street property on Thursday afternoon.

Police searched the box and allegedly found a single capsule of MDMA stashed inside a white envelope.

The delivery man from Lane Cove was arrested and police officers found a bag of white powder – believed to be cocaine – when they searched him.

He is due to face Downing Centre Local Court on June 19.

9.40pm EDT
21:40

Those stuck at home in NSW may be curious to know what the Sydney CBD looks like in the middle of this crisis.

Never fear, we have created a video that will show you exactly that.

Sydney city centre empties as NSW coronavirus lockdown takes effect – video

9.30pm EDT
21:30

Michael McGowan

Sydney radio shock jock Alan Jones has taken the New South Wales police minister, David Elliott, to task this morning over the enforcement of public health orders that ban people gathering in groups of more than two or for being outside of their homes without a “reasonable excuse”.

Breaching the orders is punishable in NSW by fines for individuals of up to $11,000 or six months in prison. We have reported today that a 21-year-old man eating a kebab on a bench in Newcastle and two people sitting in a stationary car without “a reasonable excuse not to be at home” are among those already fined.

Jones, who is often outraged but generally not known to be soft on law and order, told Elliott this morning he believed the laws were a “terrible, undemocratic mess” and read out a letter on air from a listener who compared them to Nazi Germany and the USSR.

“I’m talking about [fining] a 21-year-old man eating a kebab on a bench in Newcastle, I mean what the hell?” Jones said.

Elliott said the police commissioner, Mick Fuller, would be reviewing fines issued for breaching public health orders.

“Nobody likes these laws. Nobody wants to see the pubs and the clubs open more than me. Nobody wants our lifestyle returned more than me, which is why I’m thrilled and relieved this is a short term scenario,” Elliott said.

Jones repeatedly accused Elliott of being “alarmist” on the threat of coronavirus, and questioned why the government hadn’t been as “fastidious” in relation to the Ruby Princess cruise ship. He also prompted an admission from Elliott that “with hindsight I think we would have closed the borders a lot earlier”.

Updated
at 9.35pm EDT

9.28pm EDT
21:28

My colleague Ben Butler has more details on the warning real estate agents received from ASIC.

You can read his full story here.

9.26pm EDT
21:26

The Gold Coast Bulletin is reporting that cars have been spotted driving around barriers at the NSW/ Queensland border.

Non-Queensland residents are now barred from entering the sate without an essential reason.

The Bulletin has posted photographs of a car with NSW licence plates mounting the footpath to avoid water-filled barriers at the Ducat St border in suburb of Kirra.

You can read the story here.

Updated
at 9.28pm EDT

9.15pm EDT
21:15

Victoria update

The Victorian health department has released the day’s Covid-19 numbers.

In the last 24 hours, 49 new cases have been reported, bringing the state’s total to 1,085.

This increase is less than those of the last three days. There were 68 yesterday, 51 on 1 April and 96 on 31 March.

Victoria also reported its seventh death, a man in his 80s who died in hospital overnight.

There are currently 37 people in hospital for Covid-19 in Victoria, seven in intensive care.

476 people have now recovered.

Updated
at 9.21pm EDT

9.10pm EDT
21:10

Victoria Police say they have conducted 1,542 physical distancing spot checks at homes, businesses and non-essential services across the state, in the last 24 hours

Officers issued 16 fines, bringing the state’s total to 39.

Updated
at 9.16pm EDT

9.07pm EDT
21:07

NSW records its 11th death

The ABC is reporting a 74-year-old woman from Albury died overnight.

She is believed to have contracted the virus overseas.

This brings NSW’s death toll to 11, and nationally, 26.

Updated
at 9.14pm EDT

9.00pm EDT
21:00

Ben Butler

Victorian real estate agents are using the coronavirus crisis to push for delays to laws improving the lives of a lot of renters in the state.

Real Estate Institute of Victoria president Leah Calnan says landlords need to focus on dealing with the crisis and wants the start date of the new rules, which include a ban on rental bidding, more security for tenants and limits on rent increases, from 1 July to 1 January next year “at the earliest”.

Laws that make it easier for tenants to keep pets that are part of the package are already in place.

Updated
at 9.16pm EDT

8.58pm EDT
20:58

The Australian Payments Network today announced they will be increasing the limit you can tap to pay without entering your pin from $100 to $200.

They say this is in an effort to help people stay safe while shopping by limiting the number of people who need to touch Eftpos machines.

The new $200 limit is expected to apply for a three-month period and will be extended if required. Similar increases have been implemented or are under consideration in other countries around the world in response to Covid-19.

Updated
at 9.10pm EDT

Credit: Source link