1. Almost half the Australian population now under lockdown

Over 12 million Australians, or close to half the population, are now under lockdown restrictions after Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk yesterday announced a snap lockdown for south-east Queensland, Townsville and Palm Island. Queensland's lockdown is currently set to last until 6pm on July 2, while restrictions are currently in place in Greater Darwin until 1pm on July 2, in Perth and Peel until 12:01am on July 3 and in Greater Sydney until 11:59pm on July 9.

2. Australian Medical Association says Pfizer remains preferred for under 60s

After a surge of younger Australians headed to their doctor yesterday to book in the AstraZeneca vaccine, Australian Medical Association (AMA) president Dr Omar Khorshid said that its advice to follow the recommendations of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation remains the same. "The experts have said that the preferred vaccine under the age of 60 is the Pfizer vaccine and that is still the health advice," Dr Khorshid said.

3. Oil and gas companies to be hit by new levy of $367 million a year

The federal government has proposed a temporary levy of 48 cents per barrel on offshore production to cover the cost of a decommissioning an abandoned oil field in the Timor Sea which is expected to cost oil and gas companies $367 million a year and a total of up to $1 billion. "Any levy is unreasonable in any form but one being so extreme will be a major disincentive for investment at a time when policy stability and certainty is critical," said Andrew McConville, the chief executive of the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association.

4. Barnaby Joyce fined for not wearing mask

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce received a fine on Monday morning after not wearing a mask inside a Caltex petrol station in Armidale. "I forgot to get fuel for Vikki, filled the car up with fuel, went in. 30 seconds later, $200 it cost me because I didn’t wear one of these," Joyce told Alan Jones on Sky News while holding a mask, before adding: "But that's life".

5. S&P 500 and Dow Jones edge higher

On Wednesday, the Dow Jones rose by 9.02 points or 0.03% to 34,292.29 and the S&P 500 fourth record-high close in a row with a gain of 1.19 point or 0.03% to 4,291.80. The Nasdaq performed slightly better with a rise of 27.83 or 0.19% to 14,528.34, also a record-high close.