At a certain time in Australia's TV-viewing life, Countdown was a Sunday night must-see.
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Now, during this time of coronavirus, it's limited to parts of Victoria but wow, it's a popular activity. And know, the rest of us are with you. The countdown is on in earnest.
Victoria is "absolutely on track" to take its next step out of lockdown this Sunday, according to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.
The state recorded 28 new cases of coronavirus and three deaths in the past 24 hours.
There are multiple movements on the border restriction front as states are beginning to shift their positions following months of stalemate.
Queensland has added five more northern NSW councils to its border bubble; South Australia is also reopening to NSW after lifting restrictions for the ACT; The Northern Territory is offering interstate travellers up to $1000 to visit the Top End during the wet season; and Tasmania is considering opening its borders to some states before the end of October.
For thousands of people in NSW, the news they might be just two weeks away from an open border with Queensland if no mystery cases are left untraced was received about as warmly as schooner on a 40-degree day.
Meanwhile, not so joyous is the coronavirus recession's disproportionate impact on women has fuelled fresh calls for an urgent rethink of pandemic recovery.
"Twice as many women as men will now have their wage subsidy payments halved because of the cuts for part-timers," the National Foundation for Australian Women's Sally Moyle told a Senate inquiry today.
Associate Professor Moyle said childcare workers - 95 per cent of whom are female - were the first to be excluded from JobKeeper.
"The government prioritised assistance to the construction industry," she said. "So it is regrettable to say the least that - despite women bearing the brunt of the pandemic - men are being increasingly targeted for government stimulus support."
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