• COVID troubles in South Australia went to another level yesterday with the state’s Parliament shut down after former premier Jay Weatherill tested positive for the virus. Sixteen of the 18 cases reported there yesterday were linked to a high school reunion he attended last weekend before he called in on his old workplace earlier this week.

• NSW health authorities are “concerned” after new cases of the Omicron variant were confirmed yesterday – including the first traveller who had not come from southern Africa. There are now 8 cases with the new variant in NSW and one in the Top End.    

• And Victoria has new pandemic laws after weeks of debate, protests and a marathon 21-hour sitting to work through amendments. The legislation gives the premier and health minister the power to declare a pandemic and enforce restrictions, taking those powers away from the chief health officer.