Rachel Baxendale @rachelbaxendale Twitter profile

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Rachel Baxendale

12 days

In other news, I’m now on maternity leave until July 2025. Please contact @tricialeerivera or @damonTheOz with news tips in my absence.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

11 months

UK activist Kellie-Jay Keen has issued the entire Vic Lib leadership team with defamation notices, giving them 28 days to apologise & pay compo for making “grossly misconceived, wilfully vexatious & wretchedly false” claims, or face court action #springst

UK women’s rights activist sues Victorian Liberals

UK women’s rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen has issued John Pesutto’s entire Victorian Liberal leadership team with defamation concerns notices, giving them 28 days to apologise and pay compensation...

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

I've largely been off Twitter over the last 24-48 hours for reasons that will be obvious to anyone who looks at my mentions, but I want to say a huge thanks to the 100s of people who have sent kind words. I can't reply to all, but please know they are very much appreciated.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

Interesting that the feds are highlighting the slightly higher per capita amount of JobKeeper paid to Vic last year. ($4,220 in Vic vs $3,684 in NSW). Vic was locked down for 163 days in 2020, NSW 45. So that’s $25.89 per person per day of lockdown for Vic vs $81.87 for NSW.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

2 years

#BREAKING : The Morrison government is on track to lose four seats – enough to lose power – in Melbourne’s leafy eastern suburbs alone. #auspol

‘Four Lib seats to go’ in Melbourne’s east

The Morrison government is on track to lose four seats – enough to lose power – in Melbourne’s leafy eastern suburbs alone.

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

Fully vaxxed AZ! When I got my first jab at my GP clinic 11 weeks ago, I was by far the youngest person there (I’m 34). Was delighted to be one of the oldest getting AZ there today.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

When Vic's 2nd wave peaked on Aug 4, 2020 w 687 cases (compared with today's 766), with 7227 active cases (6,666 today), there were 15 deaths (4 today), contributing to a toll of 162, which would rapidly grow to 820. So far we've had 20, none of whom were vaxxed. Vaccines work.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

There are fake news stories circulating which make various claims about teens in Syd dying/being in a coma following vaccination. This did not happen. If it did, every major media org would be reporting it. Please stop getting your news from dodgy corners of the internet!

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

6 years

Just bought a bottle of water at the tennis. Turns out the "official water of the @AustralianOpen " is Chinese. In what universe do we need to import bottled water?

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

For the record.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

Victorians might not be able to go to the MCG tomorrow. But enough to fill the MCG got vaccinated yesterday. 101,878 doses administered in Vic on Thursday (second only to the record 105,018 on Sep 1).

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

5 years

Twitter lefties convinced the Coalition won the election because Australians are "dumb, mean-spirited and greedy" or variations thereof, take a good, hard look at yourselves. Lose the contempt for your fellow Australians if you ever want to be taken seriously. #ausvotes

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

If I hadn't got AZ weeks ago, I really wouldn't know what to do right now as an under-40. You could get AZ ASAP, or you could wait for Pfizer and you *might* (or might not) actually be double vaxxed quicker. Messaging for our age group couldn't have been more confusing.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

#springst #QT kicks off with @michaelobrienmp asking @DanielAndrewsMP why he doesn't scrap the 5km limit. "Most Victorians don't support the 5km limit", O'Brien says. "Most Victorians don't support the Liberal Party", Andrews responds.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

The feds have bungled the vaccine rollout. The states are insisting on locking stranded Aussies out & locking the rest of us down because they can't get infection control basics right. So like so many other under-40s who want to do their bit I've gone & got the AZ jab this arvo.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

2 years

Your regular reminder that the Andrews government was happy to require police to fine you for sitting on a park bench or failing to wear a mask outdoors, but not happy to cooperate with a police investigation into their own misuse of almost $400,000 of your money #springst

Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

2 years

#BREAKING from @damonTheOz : @VictoriaPolice won’t reopen their investigation into Red Shirts. Key to their decision is the refusal of Labor MPs to cooperate with the investigation & agree to interviews. #springst

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

Can we ditch the sexist, ageist "Karen" term and stick to attacking today's COVIDiots for their stunning disregard for others' health, rather than the fact that they happen to be middle aged women?

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

New from me: A Chinese-owned regional Vic hotel received more than $500K to be part of the Andrews govt’s hotel quarantine program despite never housing a guest, weeks before it went into receivership owing creditors, including 174 employees, >$1m.

Resort’s $500k for quarantining no one

A Chinese-owned regional Victorian golf resort received more than $500,000 to be part of the Andrews government’s hotel quarantine program despite never housing a single quarantine guest, weeks...

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

I'm confused. It's OK for the CHO to drive to the Yarra Ranges for a walk, even though @DanielAndrewsMP Andrews stressed over the weekend that "you should not be travelling to exercise". But a learner driver staying within the confines of a car gets a $1652 fine.

Chief Health Officer, Victoria

@VictorianCHO

4 years

Got out for a walk today. Chilly but beautiful.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

1 year

#BREAKING : @MoiraDeemingMP has served @JohnPesutto with a defamation concerns notice, 24 hours before the state parliamentary party is due to vote on a second motion to expel her. She's hired the lawyer who wrote the textbook on Australian defamation law.

Deeming serves Pesutto with defamation notice

Moira Deeming has served John Pesutto with a defamation concerns notice, 24 hours before the state parliamentary party is due to vote on a second motion to expel her.

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

NEWSPOLL: 2PP Labor leads 58-42 (was 57.3-42.7 in 2018). Primary: 44-36. Andrews: satisfied 56, dissatisfied 42, uncommitted 2. Guy: sat 34, dissat 42, uncommitted 24. Better Premier 54-33. Andrews' handling of Covid: 60 well, 39 poorly #springst

Andrews on track for third term

Daniel Andrews is on track to win a third term as Victorian premier with an increased majority with 12 months to go to next year’s state election, according to the first major Newspoll since the 2018...

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

Hundreds of thousands of Vic casual workers are locked down at home today and don't know when they'll get their next pay cheque. The other three times we were locked down, most were eligible for JobKeeper. This time, there's crickets from Canberra so far.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

Today there are 723,137 known active Covid cases in Australia, of whom 102 (0.014%), are ventilated. When Delta peaked on 16 Oct, 184 of 27,529 active cases were ventilated (0.67%). In other words, those with Covid on Oct 16 were almost 48 times more likely to need a ventilator.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

Re @DanielAndrewsMP 's reference to avoiding a "NSW-style, long, lengthy lockdown": The situation in NSW will unfortunately no doubt get worse. But so far they've been locked down for 25 days and there've been five deaths. Vic last year was 112 days and 801 deaths.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

1 year

The Liberal Party’s Federal Women’s Committee has passed a motion expressing concern at the actions of John Pesutto and his Victorian leadership team in relation to expelled MP Moira Deeming, and demanding he apologise and reinstate her. #springst

Liberal women demand Moira Deeming’s return

The Liberal Party’s Federal Women’s Committee has passed a motion expressing concern at the actions of John Pesutto and his Victorian leadership team in relation to expelled MP Moira Deeming, and...

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

1 year

#BREAKING : Suspended Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming has given Opposition Leader John Pesutto an ultimatum to issue a media statement making it clear that he does not believe she is a Nazi or Nazi sympathiser by 2pm on Thursday afternoon, or face legal action. #springst

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

A Daniel Andrews staffer with CCP links has been secretary, director & a shareholder in a mysterious Chinese international investment fund which owns massage outlets across Melb & last year established a US-listed joint venture worth almost AUD$70m.

Andrews staffer link to mysterious fund

A Daniel Andrews staffer with Chinese Communist Party links has served as the secretary, director and chief marketing director of a mysterious Chinese international investment fund which last year...

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

Not sure where this crazed theory being peddled by Dan fans that the $511,500 given to The Sands Torquay was federal money has come from, but my article includes comment from an Andrews govt spokesman confirming their March 29-May 29 contract. Keep wearing those tinfoil hats!

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

There are fewer people in ICU in NSW and Vic atm than there were during either state’s Delta peak, @MarkMcGowanMP

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

I'm on leave until Tuesday (booked weeks ago in anticipation of a non-work assignment due Monday). I'll be off Twitter and keeping an eye on the pressers from home like a normal person. Please feel free to keep sending tips, but be aware that I might not see them for a while.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

BREAKING: Vic is revising the interval between AstraZeneca doses at state hubs down from 12 weeks to six. Book today & w medical approval you can be fully vaxxed in six weeks rather than waiting until who knows when for a Pfizer appointment.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

Just to be clear, "Dan fan idiots" wasn't a reference to the very many decent people who quite like our Premier, or a criticism of the man himself. It was a reference to the cult-like cabal of nitwits on this website who can't cope with journalists doing their jobs.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

Turns out anti-vaxxers used the recent tragic death of a boy in Syd who had never been eligible for a Covid vax, let alone received a dose, to attempt to advance their cause. I have no words for how f***ed in the head someone would have to be to do this. Thinking of his family.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

State opposition not holding a press conference today. They rightly condemn the government for avoiding scrutiny, but at the first sign of slightly tricky questions of their own to answer, they’ve gone into hiding.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

I’m on leave again doing exams this week, back Sunday October 25. I’ll therefore be ignoring most vitriol, praise and “must ask” questions received in the interim. Capacity to reply is limited leave or no leave, but thanks to so many who have sent kind words and/or useful tips.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

2 years

Premier says of Kaushaliya Vaghela's bullying allegations he "won't dignify those claims by commenting on them". But he has seen the need to front today's presser flanked by 4 women from his Socialist Left faction (including leader of Legislative Assembly & Minister for women).

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

Very reassuring letter in today’s Age from an 86-year-old with lung disease who caught Covid at Christmas. Get vaccinated, get boosted, and you’ll almost certainly be fine.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

The fact that this thing has had four generations of transmission in six days shows just how fast Delta is moving. We had the removalists, who passed it on to the man in his 60s, who gave it to the teacher, who gave it to his family, all between Thurs last week & yesterday.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

These @VicGovDH graphics illustrate the spread of primary close contacts and red zone arrivals across Victoria. Almost a third, or 5177 of 15,800 PCCs linked to the current outbreaks are spread throughout regional Vic. That’s why the lockdown is likely to remain statewide.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

THESE are the issues. Every sane person is happy Vic's numbers are coming down. But we wouldn't have had those numbers or the associated deaths & crippling lockdown if mistakes hadn't been made. Until we establish who made the mistakes and why, the risk of repeating them remains.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

Yesterday DHHS listed the Wonga Estate winery in Strathbogie as an exposure site. That’s disappeared & appears to have been replaced with the Wyanga winery in Lakes Entrance. How do you get two places which are a five hour drive from each other mixed up?

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

2 years

Most Victorians weren’t watching the news this evening, and that’s just the way the Andrews government wanted it #springst

Timing of deadly ambulance findings stinks

Most Victorians won’t be watching the news on Saturday evening, and that’s just the way the Andrews government wants it.

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

8 months

Moira Deeming has lodged her statement of claim against John Pesutto in the Federal Court, formally initiating legal proceedings in defamation action which could cost the Opposition Leader more than a million dollars in legal fees & compo, if not his job.

Deeming lodges legal action against Pesutto

Expelled Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming has lodged her statement of claim against John Pesutto in the Federal Court, formally initiating legal proceedings in expensive defamation action which...

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

I'm seeing in the New Year at home with Covid. I wrote a thing. I'll be fine, and my overwhelming sentiment is gratitude that I caught it at a time and in a country where everyone's had the opportunity to be vaccinated. Happy 2022, all!

Seeing in the New Year with Covid

The look of utter dejection on my partner’s face as I returned home from a press conference on the Tuesday morning before Christmas said everything.

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

So Vic’s not counting ICU patients in hospital with the effects of Covid as Covid patients, because they’re no longer infectious. But we are counting deaths of people with Covid whose primary cause of death was not Covid as part of the Covid death toll. 🤔

casey briggs

@CaseyBriggs

3 years

COVID data for ICU patients cannot be directly compared between Victoria and New South Wales, per ⁦ @theage ⁩ Victoria does not report COVID-19 patients in ICU if they are deemed to be no longer infectious. NSW does report them.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

I did ask the Premier whether it made sense for someone in regional Vic going for a walk by themselves in circumstances where they might be the only person in a square kilometre to be obliged to wear a mask. I don't think that's an unreasonable question.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

1 year

BREAKING: The Victorian ALP branch associated with one of Daniel Andrews’ key ministers and closest allies forged the signatures of at least two dead people, multiple times, on party membership forms. #springst

Andrews stands by key ally amid branch scandal

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has continued to stand by key frontbencher Lily D’Ambrosio and says revelations about a state branch associated with her are matters for the state party, not for him.

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

Woke up with scratchy throat so headed to @AlfredHealth for Covid test. Almost certainly just a cold but can’t be too careful. In & out in 5 mins & staff brilliant. Process couldn’t have been smoother. Isolating until I get result so will be covering today’s presser from home.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 months

The ABC has published a clarification and reached a confidential settlement with Kellie-Jay Keen ( @ThePosieParker ), in a turn of events which could have implications for the three defamation cases against @JohnPesutto . #springst

ABC issues clarification, settles over Keen portrayal

The ABC has been forced to publish a clarification, conceding that viewers of a 7.30 interview with Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto “may have understood the interview to suggest” that UK gender...

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

Point is, they’re refusing to provide further support now. $46bn in the past is pretty much meaningless to workers who’ll be waiting until at least next week for their next bit of paid work. It’s no lie to say the feds haven’t stepped up this time.

Matthew Guy MP

@MatthewGuyMP

3 years

The feds have provided $46billion in jobkeeper to bail out the state government yet Merlino claims ‘no help’. A liar, just like Andrews.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

My take: After weeks of cross-examination of ministers and public servants in legal proceedings costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars a day, no one has been able to provide those answers, least of all the man ostensibly in charge. #springst

Inquiry shows why nothing has stuck to the Premier

Daniel Andrews is “sorry” that “unacceptable mistakes” have been made.

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

Daniel Andrews says he does not need to prove the efficacy of a curfew in bringing down coronavirus case numbers, despite having chosen to impose one on five million Melburnians.

‘I don’t have to prove that curfews work’

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says he does not need to prove the efficacy of a curfew in bringing down coronavirus case numbers, despite having chosen to impose one on five million Melburnians.

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

A former royal commissioner, chief crown prosecutor & deputy IBAC commissioner are among 60 QCs who have signed an open letter condemning the Andrews government’s pandemic bill. #springst

QCs warn bill will grant Andrews ‘unlimited’ power

Some of Melbourne’s most prominent legal figures are among 60 QCs who have now signed an open letter expressing concern that the Andrews government’s pandemic legislation could allow the Premier to...

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

🙃

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

Yet again today's CHO press release poses more questions than answers. Apparently 5 of today's 16 new cases are linked to "a complex case". No explanation of what "complex case" means, whether it's linked to workplaces, households. But apparently we've nothing to learn from NSW🤷‍♀️

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

Victoria is set to receive enough Pfizer and Moderna vaccines by the end of October to fully vaccinate 100 per cent of its population aged over 12 – and have half a million doses left over.

State on track for surplus of shots

Victoria is set to receive enough Pfizer and Moderna vaccines by the end of October to fully vaccinate 100 per cent of its population aged over 12 – and have half a million doses left over.

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

Entire industries were shut down or dramatically curtailed to contain the spread of the virus, and yet the government was allowing its own subcontracted workers to move from hotel quarantine - now linked to 783 deaths - to aged care (linked to 636 of those deaths).

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

Ran 19km within my 5km radius & 2hrs. Heartily recommend sunshine & endorphins (and time spent off this platform)!

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

A hotel quarantine worker who was also working shifts in an aged care facility at the height of Victoria‘s second wave of coronavirus worked for two days at Melbourne’s Grand Chancellor quarantine hotel while infectious in late July. #springst

Hotel quarantine worker was infectious

A hotel quarantine worker who was also working shifts in an aged care facility at the height of Victoria‘s second wave of coronavirus worked for two days at Melbourne’s Grand Chancellor quarantine...

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

I am a Victorian Political Reporter. By definition my job involves scrutinising the government of the day, which happens to be the Andrews Labor government. If you’re struggling to comprehend that, maybe you need to examine your own partisanship. 2/2

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

2 years

Victoria’s Ombudsman has confirmed she is investigating claims the Andrews government has stacked the public service with Labor mates. #springst

Victoria’s ombudsman probes Labor mates in public service

Victoria’s Ombudsman has confirmed she is investigating claims the Andrews government has stacked the public service with Labor mates.

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

2 years

Leading epidemiologists have described the Andrews government’s decision to maintain a mask mandate for some primary school children, despite dropping it for their older siblings, as “inconsistent” and lacking evidence. #springst

Dan ‘inconsistent’ on child mask rule

Leading epidemiologists have described the Andrews government’s decision to maintain a mask mandate for some primary school children, despite dropping it for their older siblings, as “inconsistent”...

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

“She said that in all the union’s dealings with the health minister, ‘not once has she displayed even a basic understanding of her portfolio’.” Health Services Union boss Diana Asmar is not holding back! #springst

New call for Premier to sack ‘clueless’ Mikakos

A leading health union is calling on Daniel Andrews to sack his “clueless” Health Minister Jenny Mikakos, accusing her of “breathtaking incompetence”.

www.heraldsun.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

2 years

And meanwhile on #springst , huge breaking yarn from @damonTheOz : @DanielAndrewsMP has been questioned in a secret anti-corruption hearing over his association with a property developer under investigation for allegedly corrupt land deals.

Andrews’ secret grilling in corruption probe

Daniel Andrews has been questioned in a secret anti-corruption hearing over his association with a property developer under investigation for allegedly corrupt land deals.

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

Host of national broadcaster's flagship current affairs show asks a bunch of entirely reasonable questions at a Premier's press conference when she happens to be stuck in his state amid a statewide lockdown (aka does her job). Twitter goes into complete meltdown. 🙄

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

Just had this confirmation from @VicGovDHHS . Worker they believe caught COVID at an aged care facility was working shifts at the facility and at the Grand Chancellor quarantine hotel #springst

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

If you’re yet to get vaccinated, please consider AstraZeneca. Given the relative scarcity of Pfizer, we’ll be out of this much quicker if you take the safe, effective AZ vaccine that’s in abundant supply. (I had my 1st AZ dose in early July & am looking forward to 2nd next month)

Stephen Parnis

@SParnis

3 years

When the history of this pandemic is written, one of the greatest tragedies will be that we waited around like sitting ducks while millions of doses of locally-made, safe, effective AstraZeneca vaccine doses lay waiting in fridges for beneficiaries who wouldn't come. #COVID19Aus

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

“Nowhere in this often-opaque democracy has a less transparent court system, bureaucracy, police force or government than Victoria. The people there have been badly served, even as some revelled in the servitude,” writes @CUhlmann

COVID-19 has hammered home some uncomfortable truths about us as a people

As a nation we seem comfortable with authoritarianism and too many relish the role of prefect.

www.smh.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

Hard to believe Sue isn’t a parody, but here we are.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

1 year

#BREAKING : Property developer John Woodman gained repeated “privileged access” to Daniel Andrews and his most senior ministers through donations to the Labor Party, Victoria’s corruption watchdog has found. #springst #Sandon

IBAC exposes Andrews’ cash-for-access culture

Property developer John Woodman gained repeated “privileged access” to Daniel Andrews and his most senior ministers through donations to the Labor Party, Victoria’s corruption watchdog has found.

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

5 years

Why is a bloke looking after his own kid a headline in 2019?

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

11 months

Moira Deeming’s lawyer says he does not believe Victoria’s Opposition Leader, John Pesutto, has been genuine in seeking to resolve his dispute with the expelled Victorian Liberal MP, and she will launch action against him in the Federal Court. #springst

Deeming v Pesutto off to court

Moira Deeming’s lawyer says he does not believe Victoria’s Opposition Leader, John Pesutto, has been genuine in seeking to resolve his dispute with the expelled Victorian Liberal MP, and she will...

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

It was September 4, seven and a half weeks ago, when I asked @VictorianCHO for data on how many people have contracted coronavirus as patients in Vic hospitals, and how many have died. We still don't have these answers. #Covid19VicData

Chief Health Officer, Victoria

@VictorianCHO

4 years

Agreed. Didn’t have a number at hand but we can and should collect this. Will look into it.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

Went to book a haircut (for a couple of weeks’ time) and discovered my awesome hairdresser has closed down her salon. Sad reminder that there are many businesses which never got to make it out of lockdown. Let’s spend wisely in weeks to come to make sure as many as poss survive.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

A late Friday night thread on Twitter abuse and Victoria’s COVID-19 crisis, for those who are interested #springst 👇🏼

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

The Burnet Institute’s “world-first” Australian study into face masks has been ripped to shreds as “very, very low quality”, with questions over how it was even published - via ⁦ @franks_chung ⁩

Brutal take-down of mask rule claim

EXCLUSIVE

www.news.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

Just had clarification from the Vic government re: booze at picnics. They will not be making changes to the ban on removing masks to consume alcohol outside the home. Which effectively makes drinking at your picnic illegal, unless you get creative with a straw.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

For those wondering, Vic's 1438 cases today are the equivalent of 1758 cases in NSW if we're talking per capita. The NSW peak was 1599 local (1603 total) cases reported on September 11. Get vaccinated! The decline in case numbers in NSW should give Vic hope of achieving the same.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

5 years

I say this as a swinging voter with centrist views, and a journalist trying to understand how my profession (and we're almost all in inner-city bubbles) got last night's result so wrong. Essentially, you don't win people over by disrespecting their concerns. #ausvotes

Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

5 years

Twitter lefties convinced the Coalition won the election because Australians are "dumb, mean-spirited and greedy" or variations thereof, take a good, hard look at yourselves. Lose the contempt for your fellow Australians if you ever want to be taken seriously. #ausvotes

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

Compare the pair.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

1 year

Hundreds of supporters have attended a sold-out Liberal Party fundraiser in Melb’s west, headlined by expelled Moira Deeming, alongside a panel that included two federal shadow cabinet ministers and two Indigenous leaders. #springst

Deeming centre stage at sold-out party fundraiser

Hundreds of supporters have attended a sold-out Liberal Party fundraiser in Melbourne’s western suburbs, headlined by expelled Victorian Liberal Moira Deeming, alongside a panel that included two...

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

2 years

New from me: Teal independent @zdaniel has formally threatened her Liberal opponent @TimWilsonMP with a defamation suit, accusing him of making comments implying that she and her campaign are “anti-Semitic” and “racist”. #auspol

Independent calls in lawyers

Teal independent Zoe Daniel has formally threatened her Liberal opponent Tim Wilson with a defamation suit, accusing him of making comments implying that she and her campaign are “anti-Semitic” and...

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

Scrutinising a government is not partisanship. It’s a journalist’s job. Last time the PM came to Melb I asked him whether Stuart Robert deserved to keep his job in light of the $1.2bn robodebt settlement. Strangely enough, the Dan fans didn’t appear to notice/get upset. 1/2

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

A lot of Dan fans with a lot to say about Adem Somyurek today. Not much of it nice, some of it entirely accurate. Worth remembering though, that it was @DanielAndrewsMP who promoted Adem to his cabinet not once, but twice - the 2nd time following bullying allegations. #springst

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

2 years

When your response to “Can you guarantee a future Labor government won’t cut health, education or the NDIS?” is to twice deflect, then angrily claim it’s the journalist who’s trying to play word games, reporters ain’t your problem. #alsojustsaying

Chip Le Grand

@Melbchief

2 years

For those complaining about @AlboMP getting rough treatment from reporters, @andrewprobyn cut to the chase tonight by describing the campaign as policy-light. If either party was offering a serious policy choice they would get more serious policy questions. Just saying.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

2 years

#BREAKING : Daniel Andrews is poised to secure a historic third term despite a swing against Labor, with Newspoll showing him on track to retain a diminished majority. #springst #vicvotes

Newspoll puts Dan on track for win in Victoria

Daniel Andrews is poised to secure a historic third term despite a swing against Labor, with Newspoll showing him on track to retain a diminished majority.

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

For all those complaining about me using the word “detained” to refer to people in Victorian hotel quarantine, please be aware that that’s the word used on the “detention notice” they receive on arrival. I’m using it advisedly.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

But if a politician or health bureaucrat cites a particular Covid case to highlight the risk posed to the general public, it’s my job as a journalist to ask questions that help establish the genuine nature and level of that risk.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

. @DanielAndrewsMP 's ability to deflect damage from scandals is unrivalled among his contemporaries in Australian politics. Part of his secret is the appearance of contrition and accountability while ultimately blaming someone else. That's exactly what he did today.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

7 months

Victoria’s Energy Minister has refused to say if she has replaced gas appliances with electrical ones at any of the six investment properties in which she has an interest, claiming they are managed by trustees, not by her. #springst

Minister silent on own gas switch

Victoria’s Energy Minister has refused to say if she has replaced gas appliances with electrical ones at any of the six investment properties in which she has an interest, claiming they are managed...

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

What I am saying is that people have a right to the full picture and it’s my job to help them get it. Over & out & happy Friday.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

2 years

The Liberal Party has lodged a formal complaint with the Victorian Electoral Commission, accusing Climate 200, its founder, Simon Holmes a Court, four teal independent candidates and their associated entities of “criminal conduct”. #springst #vicvotes

Libs lodge ‘criminal conduct’ complaint over teals

The Liberal Party has lodged a formal complaint with the Victorian Electoral Commission, accusing Climate 200, its founder, Simon Holmes a Court, four teal independent candidates and their associated...

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

2 years

Having received the Ashton review into deadly failures in Victoria’s emergency call taking services in March, the Andrews government has chosen to release it two days before a federal election. Says everything about how much they welcome scrutiny. #springst

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

Yes, @JoshFrydenberg , Victorians are owed answers on abysmal failures with hotel quarantine, contact tracing & as @Joe_Hildebrand aptly put it, an aged care system that was a tinderbox of the fed govt's creation, for which the Andrews govt provided the spark & accelerant. 1/2

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

Yep. Most Victorians know Delta has destroyed zero. Government needs to stop pretending we might be out of this soon & focus solely on three things: 1. Vaccinations 2. Boosting hospital capacity 3. Making lockdown tolerable by easing low gain measures like curfew/playgrounds

Mark Santomartino

@msanto92

3 years

Last time Victoria had 92+ cases was September 3, 2020 - 112 cases. It took 61 days to get back to sustained zeros - Nov 3, 2020 - and that wasn't Delta. 70% of Victorians 16+ will be fully vaccinated in 65 days @migga Thursday's lockdown extension must accept that reality

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

2 years

Labor leader @AlboMP said during his presser that the Coalition hadn’t yet made their costings public. That is not correct. They’re available here: With early voting opening tomorrow, onus is on Labor to publish their costings. #auspol

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

This 10% hospitalisation rate @DanielAndrewsMP keeps citing (thankfully) isn't stacking up. We've got 8538 active cases & 363 in hospital (4.25%). Is it perhaps based on an avg unvaxxed population, not the reality where the vast majority of our elderly & vulnerable are vaxxed?

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

Information about a Covid sewage detection in @DanielAndrewsMP ’s hometown turns out to have been incorrect, but 1.6 million regional Victorians remain in lockdown. #springst

Premier’s false justification for region lockdown

A key piece of information used by Daniel Andrews to justify locking down 1.6 million regional Victorians turns out to have been false.

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

4 years

Yet another perverse example of people who pose zero risk to Vic stuck on the other side of the border. Bunch of teens from Wangaratta who spent NYE camped 10km into NSW in remote bush with no phone reception, only to find themselves indefinitely stranded.

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

Has anyone told @AlboMP that the Vic ALP which arranged Red Shirts is the same Vic ALP running his federal campaign in Victoria?

ABC Melbourne

@abcmelbourne

3 years

Should the investigation into Labor's Red Shirts scandal be reopened? @AlboMP : I don't follow all of the Victorian state issues, I've got to say @LaTrioli : This is a pretty big one not to follow... @AlboMP : Not a big issue in Sydney, I've got to tell you

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Rachel Baxendale

@rachelbaxendale

3 years

State opposition's messaging has been all over the place on restrictions. Why don't they stick to advocating for better small business support? And take a leaf out of the NSW opposition's book & try to be helpful on things like home schooling & CALD community engagement?

Bridget Rollason

@bridgerollo

3 years

Two weeks ago when the Health Minister refused to rule out a hard border with NSW, Matthew Guy had a different view.. “14 months in & Foley is still talking about hard state borders? Is this 1901 or 2021, I mean hard state borders, are we colonies or a country?” #springst

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