Australia news live updates: NSW restrictions ease further tomorrow; $44m Melbourne CBD package; Labor accuses Morrison of ‘impacting national security’



1.21am EDT01:21

And a little more from the foreign minister, Marise Payne’s, visit to Malaysia:

The Malaysian foreign minister, Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah, said the pair had agreed to collaborate on a range of issues, including Covid-19 vaccines and health. He also flagged closer cooperation on cyber security, adding: “I think we both agree that cyber security is now the leading non-traditional threat of the world including our region.”

On international borders, he said he and Payne were “pro-opening the borders as quickly as possible” although this had to be done in a staged manner.

Payne said:

“Australia, like Malaysia, has had very strict controls in place both domestically and in terms of our borders – they are gradually being opened up … We are enthusiastic, for example, to see the return of international students to Australia and particularly Malaysian international students. We know how much they value the opportunity, but we are also very welcoming of Malaysian students to Australia, so it’s not too far off. But we need to work through, as the Minister said, the various stages of both of our systems around vaccinations, around our health systems and take those steps, but hopefully not too far away.”



1.07am EDT01:07

Australia’s foreign minister, Marise Payne, has said during a visit to Malaysia that she hopes it won’t be long before Malaysian students can return to Australia.

Payne flew out of Australia on Friday for a week-long trip to four countries in south-east Asia – with Malaysia being the first stop. One element of the trip is an attempt to reassure the region about the Aukus nuclear-propelled submarines plan, as we covered in our story yesterday.

After meeting with her Malaysian counterpart, Payne reaffirmed that message of reassurance: “As our region goes through profound changes with strategic competition increasing, Australia’s Indo-Pacific vision remains consistent. We support an Indo-Pacific that is open, secure, resilient and prosperous … We’ll continue to work with our friends here in Malaysia and all of our partners to realise that vision and to ensure the security and the prosperity of our region as we recover together from the impacts of Covid-19 and look to a very positive future.”



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12.14am EDT00:14

NSW restrictions to ease further from tomorrow for fully vaccinated

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11.30pm EDT23:30

A new frog species, one of only two in Australia known to carry its tadpoles on its body, has been discovered in the Gondwana rainforests world heritage area in northern New South Wales.

The tiny frog measures 16mm and is found on one mountain in the Wollumbin national park.



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