Sydney’s lockdown has been extended for another month, with NSW recording stubbornly high Covid case numbers all week.
Friction has erupted between the Federal Government and NSW as Premier Gladys Berejiklian pushes for more vaccines while the PM seems to favour a harder lockdown.
There are also fears of a new wave of infections following the weekend’s anti-lockdown rallies, in which thousands took the streets, mainly mask-less.
In south-west Sydney over one million people are in deep lockdown, many banned from travelling to work or on welfare support and ineligible for the Government’s disaster payments.
NSW wants a new JobKeeper-like package introduced, and the ACTU supports a return to JobSeeker, but the Federal Government remains opposed to the idea. Meanwhile a 38-year-old Sydney woman died from Covid over the weekend, before she was eligible for the vaccine previously recommended for her age group.
Should other states now be helping out NSW and sending vaccine doses to young essential workers in hotspots?
Plus we take a look at the ongoing, devastating impact of COVID-19 on Australia’s arts, entertainment and tourism sectors.
Joining Virginia Trioli on the panel:
Deborah Cheetham
Artistic Director, Short Black Opera
Prof Deborah Cheetham AO describes herself as a 21st century urban woman who is Yorta Yorta by birth, stolen generation by government policy, soprano by diligence, composer by necessity and lesbian by practice.
Andrew Bragg
Liberal Senator for NSW
Andrew Bragg is a Liberal Senator for New South Wales.
Chris Bowen
Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy
Chris Bowen entered Parliament in 2004. He is the Labor MP for McMahon, and the Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy.
Clover Moore
Lord Mayor of Sydney
Clover Moore was elected Lord Mayor of Sydney in 2004, the first popularly elected woman to lead the City of Sydney.
Michael Mohammed Ahmad
Author and founding director of Sweatshop Literacy Movement
Michael Mohammed Ahmad is the founding director of Sweatshop Literacy Movement and editor of the critically acclaimed anthology After Australia (Affirm Press, 2020).
