The Informer: The end is nigh, Victoria, but that's a good thing

Let's just admit (ever-so quietly and to ourselves) that the snap lockdown could well be unsnapped right on cue.

Of course there was only "cautious optimism" (ugh) from authorities again after two new locally-acquired coronavirus cases and two new cases in hotel quarantine were recorded in Victoria in the past 24 hours.

Given the problems Victoria has endured with hotel quarantine, it's no surprise consideration is being given to purpose-built facilities on vacant land near Avalon and Melbourne airports.

Beyond lockdowns and quarantine, there was the AstraZeneca vaccine provisionally approved by TGA for use in Australia; a former Olympian arrested over a $2 million ice haul; and another discussion about dealing with allegations of sexual assault in the workplace.

This time that issue has a link back to the corridors of power in Canberra. Brittany Higgins is the third Liberal staffer to allege she was sexually assaulted by men in the party. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has apologised over the initial handling of the allegations.

Today it also was reported Australia joined more than 55 countries to condemn the malicious use of politically motivated arbitrary detention.

Even if only in the last few weeks such issues have come to the forefront. Beijing has confirmed Australian journalist Cheng Lei has been arrested on suspicion of illegally supplying state secrets and Sean Turnell, an Australian economic adviser to elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested during a military coup in Myanmar.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Australia would hold countries to account for their obligations to comply with international laws and commitments.

And also today: the Full Court of the Federal Court upheld a decision that the youngest of Priya and Nades Murugappan's two daughters, both of whom were born in Australia, was denied procedural fairness in her bid to apply for a visa.

You may know the Murugappans as the Tamil family from Biloela in Queensland. They have been detained on Christmas Island since August 2019.

Priya and Nades arrived in Australia by boat in 2012 and 2013 and are classified as "unlawful maritime arrivals".

No doubt the legal wranglers will continue to wrangle. In the meantime the couple's two Australian-born daughters, Kopika and Tharunicaa, now five and three (and their parents) continue to live in a personal lockdown that has lasted 18 long months.

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