New South Wales has recorded 262 new COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. It’s the highest daily number in NSW since the start of the pandemic. 

Forty-three of the new cases were infectious in the community, 29 were in isolation for part of their infectious period and the isolation status of 80 cases remained under investigation.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said another five people have died – three aged in their 60s, one in their 70s and one in their 80s. Four were unvaccinated, and one had one dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. 

The Premier said the state’s Hunter and Upper Hunter regions would be placed into a COVID-19 lockdown from 5:00pm today after several cases were detected in the area.

The local government areas (LGAs) included are Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, Cessnock, Dungog, Singleton and Muswellbrook.

“The community leaders and local leaders are being advised of this,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“That [lockdown] will commence at 5:00pm tonight and go until midnight next Thursday, so a week, similar to what occurred in Orange and hopefully, similar to what occurred in Orange, we’ll see that community have their restrictions or stay at home lifted at that time.”

Its conditions will be the same as the lockdown affecting Greater Sydney and its surrounds.

The Premier said NSW would receive an extra 180,000 doses of Pfizer over the next fortnight after she spoke to the Prime Minister.

“This is very positive news. It means that in the week of 16 August, we can redirect those doses we had taken from the regions for the HSC students and it also means we can put the balance into those eight local government areas in Greater Sydney of concern in particular,” she said.

About 107,000 people came forward for testing during the last 24 hours. 

Victoria and Queensland deal with separate outbreaks:

This dark day comes as Victoria and Queensland grapple with their own separate outbreaks.

Victoria recorded six new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 yesterday, including the mystery case reported in the afternoon.

The source of infection for three of the cases, including the school teacher from Melbourne’s west reported yesterday, is still under investigation.

The other three are linked to known cases and were isolating during their infectious period.

In Queensland, the state recorded 16 new community cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, Deputy Premier, Steven Miles, said at a press conference today.

All the cases are directly linked to the Delta outbreak which started at Indooroopilly State High School, in Brisbane’s inner west.

Three are students at Ironside State School, in the Brisbane suburb of St Lucia, and nine are household contacts linked to the school. 

Four cases are linked to Brisbane Grammar School, one is a teacher, two are students and one is a household contact.

Of the new cases, Mr Miles said three were infectious in the community for one day and one was infectious for two days.

Source: ABC News.

Bill Papas, the man at the centre of almost $400 million of fraud allegations from major Australian and global banks, claims he has been suffering from “extreme anxiety and panic attacks” since Westpac launched its case against him, The Australian Financial Review (AFR) reports.

In one of three affidavits filed with the Federal Court on Wednesday, Mr Papas apologised for missing multiple court deadlines that he said was “due to health issues principally around contracting SARS-COVID-19… where I suffered symptoms of extreme exhaustion and fever.”

“I have also been suffering from extreme anxiety and panic attacks since being served with court documents by [Westpac]. It has made it extremely difficult for me to attend to things required of me,” Mr Papas says in an affidavit, according to the AFR.

READ MORE: Alleged fraudster Bill Papas spotted in Thessaloniki.

“I have been obtaining regular treatment from a health practitioner for the past three years in Sydney for anxiety and depression, but as I am in Greece I have been unable to obtain treatment.

“Until recently, I have been alone in Greece and in isolation, which has been extremely difficult for me and my mental and physical health.”

Mr Papas’ solicitor told the court in the first week of July that he had booked a Japan Airways flight to return to Australia to face fraud allegations, but ultimately never boarded this flight. Instead, Mr Papas’ girlfriend, Louise Agostino, joined him in Thessaloniki.

READ MORE: Sydney tycoon, Bill Papas, returning to Australia following Westpac fraud allegations.

“Since her arrival my health has improved,” Mr Papas said.

The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) reports that the affidavits also detail a list of Mr Papas’ assets, which include three jet skis and a camper trailer each worth $15,000 and held at his multimillion dollar property in Wagstaffe on the NSW Central Coast, as well as $206,000 cash held in a NAB bank account.

READ MORE: Westpac slams Bill Papas evidence, Sydney tycoon pleads for cash to fly to Australia.

The Forum Group boss claims the value of seven companies he holds shares in is nothing, two other shareholdings are worth $50 each, and another business can’t be valued because he doesn’t have access to records.

Mr Papas’ lawyers originally sought to have his affidavits banned from publication but later withdrew this application.

The documents detail the first public statements made by Mr Papas since he went to ground following Westpac’s initial inquiries in mid-June about loans they suspected were fraudulent.

READ MORE: Liquidators appointed to Bill Papas’ troubled Forum group of companies.

Source: The Australian Financial Review and The Sydney Morning Herald.

West Adelaide Hellas Soccer Club (SC) has responded to a federal safety audit which deemed its Kilburn stadium ‘unsafe’. 

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport audit found several cases of tripping hazards, as well as “high risk” inadequate construction. 

West Adelaide Hellas SC President Alexandros Alexandrou says most of the safety issues addressed by the audit were sorted within 48 hours. 

“There’s two pitches there [at the Kilburn stadium]. We can’t use the main pitch at the moment but we’re awaiting confirmation so we can start using it again. As far as completing the projects so we can start playing there again, we’re exploring some other avenues but we’ve been inundated with donations of trades and products, from paints to electrical stuff, so we can move ahead and finish it off,” Mr. Alexandrou tells the Greek Herald. 

“With a project like this, there’s always defects. They are being addressed and being actioned upon by the people that did the work. It’s all standard stuff.” 

West Adelaide Hellas Soccer Club released a statement hours later: 

“The West Adelaide Hellas Soccer Club has a long and proud history of the development of the game at both a state and national level. The club provides a safe and inclusive environment for over 500 junior boys and girls, senior men and women, and amateur players. Since 2014, we have embarked on a club-defining project to establish the Kilburn Sportsplex, for the benefit of West Adelaide Hellas and the wider community at large.

Through the State Government and Football South Australia, $4.8 million has been provided towards building the Sportsplex. As of July 2021, the total spend is $5.34 million, along with a further $500,000 of in-kind club contributions. Since construction commenced in 2017, the club has contributed in excess of $1 million in cash and in-kind contributions. To date the club has delivered, albeit an incomplete facility valued in excess of $12 million.

A recent safety audit conducted outlined issues that were raised with the club and were addressed and completed within 48 hours of notification from the Office of Recreation and Sport. All elements of the Sportsplex have been constructed in accordance with the approved documentation and all relevant structural inspections of the works have taken place, and approved by all relevant government instrumentalities, including the Port Adelaide Enfield Council and the Development Assessment Commission.

The volunteers of this club are committed to working with the Hon Corey Wingard MP, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing, and all government agencies to deliver on its commitment and complete the Kilburn Sportsplex to a match-ready standard.” 

Source: The Advertiser 

Greek Australian hospitality figures in New South Wales are calling for the state government to exempt fully-vaccinated patrons from restrictions. 

Sydney Restaurant Group owner Bill Drakopoulos says allowing double-dosed patrons back into restaurants would be great if it meant the hospitality industry could reopen. 

“If the government were to say you’re only welcoming vaccinated people, and that means you can open in early September, something like that, fantastic,” he tells the Daily Telegraph. 

“If that was a way to get our workforce back, dust the cobwebs off our chairs and tables, get trading again, not rely on government handouts to live from week to week … we’ll do that with open arms.”

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the state government is keen to explore different incentives. 

“In particular, we know that people value their freedom, their desire to go back to work, their desire to engage in community life. And those are the type of incentives that will be looking at over the next ­little while to provide our citizens with the opportunities to know, that if they’re vaccinated and their loved ones are vaccinated, there will be ­opportunities for greater freedom moving forward,” Berejiklian has said. 

ClubsNSW and Australia chief executive Josh Landis says the incentive will help save the hospitality industry from the economic downturn brought on by lockdown. 

“We think anyone who does the right thing and gets vaccinated should be ­allowed to enjoy some of life’s usual freedoms once again, such as enjoying themselves at their local club,” Landis tells the Daily Telegraph. 

Landis has also called on the state government to set a vaccination target and for the federal government to support the initiative by waiving the excise on any beers poured on “freedom day”. 

Source: Daily Telegraph