Weekend Wrap 23 January 2022: Morrison wants kids driving forklifts, The Wiggles win the Hottest 100, WA keeps borders closed, Vic and NSW announce school restart plan

Ben Davison dives into Morrison's botched attempt to get children driving forklifts by National Cabinet decree and urges people to check out their health and safety rights at the Australian Unions free webinar this week with ACTU Leader Sally McManus, australianunions.org.au has the details.

Triple J's Hottest 100 has been announced with The Wiggles winning the annual song poll with their Like A Version cover of Tame Impala's track, Elephant.  

WA announced it will be keeping border protections in place beyond the initial February 5 date originally floated for reopening.  Premier McGowan has said that concerns about the efficacy of double vaccination against Omicron and the "shadow lockdowns" that Omicron outbreaks have caused in the rest of Australia are behind the move.

While NSW and Victoria suffer from shadow lockdown, staff shortages, supply chain constraints and collapsing consumer demand, both state governments have announced plans to get kids back to school.  Regular testing, combined classes, vaccine mandates for staff and mask mandates for grade 3 and up are all part of the approach designed to keep schools open.  Queensland has already delayed the restart of school to February 7th to have its plans in place.

While the states are rolling out RATs to schools the he said, he said of Commonwealth RAT procurement and supply continues.  Many organisations have claimed their RAT supplies have been diverted to meet Commonwealth procurement contracts while the Morrison government claims it hasn't "seized" any RATs from the private market.  While this is going on people are paying hundreds of dollars to regularly test disability support workers and pharmacies cannot get RATs to give out to those who would qualify for the Morrison concessional RATs program.

In New Zealand new gathering limits and mask rules have been announced as Omicron threatens to breakout.  New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has canceled her wedding in order to comply with the new protective measures.

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