Fining and imprisoning Australians returning from India is more than just an extreme effort to discourage travel from the subcontinent during its calamitous surge in Covid cases. It’s emblematic of a siege mentality that politicians, sadly, see as a winning electoral strategy. Australia has temporarily banned its citizens from entering if they have been in India within two weeks of their arrival. Breaches could lead to a fine of A$66,600 ($51,000), five years in jail, or both. The Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported there about 9,000 Australians living in India who want to come home. While many countries have suspended arrivals from India, where infections recently soared to 400,000 daily cases, Australia’s health system isn’t exactly at a breaking point. The nation has come close to eliminating local transmission of the virus, largely by closing its international border to non-residents. The prospective criminalization and incarceration of citizens for returning to the
Date Time
Statement – Federal Budget infrastructure boost to help build Western Australia’s economic recovery
Western Australia continues to benefit from the Liberal and Nationals Government’s record infrastructure investment, with funding for major new projects to be announced in next week’s Federal Budget.
Key projects to be funded include:
$347.5 million for METRONET: Hamilton Street-Wharf Street Grade Separations and Elevation of Associated Stations, including Queens Park Station and Cannington Station and an enhanced METRONET Byford Rail Extension project, with new grade separated rail crossing at Armadale Road and an elevated station at Armadale
$200 million for the Great Eastern Highway Upgrades – Coates Gully, Walgoolan to Southern Cross and Ghooli to Benari
Source: Prime Minister of Australia
The Western Australia economy will be boosted by a $1.3b infrastructure package, with record funding for major new projects to be announced in next weekâs Federal Budget.
Key projects to be funded include:
$347.5 million for METRONET: Hamilton Street-Wharf Street Grade Separations and Elevation of Associated Stations, including Queens Park Station and Cannington Station and an enhanced METRONET Byford Rail Extension project, with new grade separated rail crossing at Armadale Road and an elevated station at Armadale
$200 million for the Great Eastern Highway Upgrades â Coates Gully, Walgoolan to Southern Cross and Ghooli to Benari
$160 million for the WA Agricultural Supply Chain Improvements â Package 1
Health authorities in Perth have identified 76 fresh venues, including a McDonald s and a KFC, that may have been exposed to coronavirus after two infected delivery drivers handed food to over 100 fast-food customers.
The new locations were listed on Monday as Western Australia recorded no new local Covid cases and as authorities continued to track down residents who came into contact with a hotel quarantine security guard and two of his housemates.
The trio tested positive on Saturday, prompting the government to reinstate mandatory mask-wearing both indoors and outdoors, close nightclubs and prevent fans from attending Sunday s AFL western derby at Optus Stadium.
There are four new
cases to report in recent returnees in managed isolation
facilities, since our last update on Friday.
There is
also one new historical case to report. Historical cases are
not considered to be infectious.
Four
previously reported cases have recovered.
The
total number of active cases in New Zealand today is
24.
Our total number of confirmed cases remains
at 2,262.
Since 1 January 2021, there have been
50 historical cases, out of a total of 446
cases.
Western Australia
update
As announced late last night, Western
Australian health officials have advised a worker at a Perth
managed isolation facility had tested positive for COVID-19,