Auslan Update - 29 March, 2021

National:

Queensland’s new COVID-19 cluster, which started with a doctor testing positive a few weeks ago, has continued to grow over the weekend.
There are 4 new locally acquired of the UK strain of COVID-19, 2 linked to known cases, 2 from unknown sources. This brings the number of active cases in the state to 71.
Today the Queensland Government announced that the greater Brisbane area will be going into 3 day lockdown from 5pm today. This includes Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich and Redlands areas.
They also announced that the greater Brisbane area is now considered a COVID-19 “hotspot”.
They have asked other states to declare Brisbane a hotspot as well to make sure anyone who passed through these areas from 20th March onwards is instructed to get tested even after leaving the state.
For a list of venues of concern with specific dates and times see the link to the Queensland Government website (link below).

As of today, the Australian Government’s JobKeeper wage subsidy scheme is over.
The Australian Treasury thinks up to 150,000 workers will become unemployed now that businesses don’t have the funding to support their wages.
There are also concerns that many businesses that have been able to stay afloat thanks to JobKeeper may now be forced to shut down.
We will know more about the impacts of the ending of this subsidy in the coming weeks.

Today Scott Morrison announced a “Cabinet Reshuffle” for his government.
Among other changes, Christian Porter and Linda Reynolds have both taken a step down from their senior ministerial positions.
Porter, currently Attorney General and Minister for Industry Relations will move to the Industry Minister role, to be replaced by Michaelia Cash.
Reynolds, currently Minister for refence, will move into the role of Minister for Government services and NDIS. She will be replaced by Peter Dutton.
Additionally, Melissa Price will remain Minister for the Defence Industry, but will be moved to the front bench (cabinet).

Victoria:

Victoria has no new community transmission cases of COVID-19.
On Saturday the Victorian Government announced Brisbane and Moreton Bay are now considered “Orange Zones”.
That means if you have been in those areas, even if just passing through to get to an airport, you must apply for an orange permit to entre Victoria.
When you arrive you must self-isolate, be tested for COVID within 72 hours of your arrival and isolate until you get a negative result.
The Thursday Collingwood Brisbane AFL match this week will be moved from Brisbane to Melbourne, and will be held at Marvel Stadium in the Docklands.

Tasmania:

Tasmania has declared the south-east Queensland local government areas of Brisbane, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich and the Redlands as high-risk.
Anyone arriving in the state from those regions will have to do up to 14 days' hotel quarantine if they wish to stay in Tasmania.
If you have been in Brisbane or Moreton Bay since Monday, March 8th you are being asked to monitor for COVID symptoms.
If you visited any of the venues of concern at the relevant times, you won't be allowed into Tasmania at all unless you're an "essential traveller".

International:

Yesterday in Indonesian city of Makassar, 2 suicide bombers detonated a bomb outside a Catholic Church.
At least 20 people were wounded, some taken to hospital with serious injuries.
The church was holding a service for Palm Sunday, the beginning of Easter celebrations, when two people approached the building.
When confronted by security outside the church the bomb was detonated.
Most of the congregation was still inside when the bomb went off.
No group has taken responsibility for this attack yet.

Sources: