Australia news live update: Dylan Alcott is Australian of the Year; Invasion Day protests planned; NSW to record millionth Covid case | Australia news

Here is a telling exchange with the Russian ambassador to Australia, Aleksey Pavlovsky, when speaking to ABC radio:

Sanctions don’t work when applied to Russia.

Host Patricia Karvelas:

So you’re saying nothing Australia could do will have any impact?…

Pavlovsky:

The Russian ambassador to Australia, Aleksey Pavlovsky:

Isn’t it a funny way to prepare an invasion? Just gather troops on the border and let them sit there for months…

When you prepare an invasion, you just do it promptly.

The Russian ambassador to Australia, Aleksey Pavlovsky, has told ABC radio that Russia has no intention to invade Ukraine.

We don’t intend to invade at all. It’s very regrettable that the situation is portrayed the other way here and by our Western partners.

As to the sanctions, by now everybody should understand the language which should be used when talking to Russia. The sanctions just don’t work.

These troops are not a threat, they are a warning. A warning to Ukraine’s rulers not to attempt a reckless military adventure.

In Covid news, NSW is expected to report its one-millionth infection of the pandemic today. Half of those cases were added in the last two weeks and more than 90% of them in the last two months.

On Tuesday, NSW premier Dominic Perrottet announced that reintroduced restrictions for mask use, hospitality density limits and bans on singing and dancing – due to end on Thursday – would be extended until the end of February in a bid to suppress the spread of Omicron as children return to school, AAP reports.

He said extending restrictions to February 28 was “the right approach” as it would suppress the spread of Omicron ahead of increased movement once schools return next week, he said.

It’s better to have the two-square-metre rule than no square-metre rules and not having the confidence in the community to go out to restaurants and bars.

Under the continuing restrictions, hospitality venues including pubs, nightclubs and cafes will keep an indoor density limit, masks are required in all indoor settings except homes and QR code check-ins are compulsory at certain premises, including hospitality venues and shops.

Good morning everyone, it’s Matilda Boseley here today, and wow there is a lot to talk about already.

Australian tennis star Dylan Alcott is the 2022 Australian of the Year, being awarded the title the same day as advancing to another Australian Open wheelchair final.

But, he said in his speech, “winning grand slams and gold medals isn’t [his] purpose”.

It’s like the 30th priority of my life. My purpose is changing perceptions so people with people like me can get out there and live the lives they deserve to live.

We have to have greater representation of people with a disability absolutely everywhere.

In our boardrooms, in our parliaments, in our mainstream schools, on our dating apps, on our sporting fields, in our universities, absolutely everywhere.

He also used his platform to advocate for free rapid antigen tests for people with disabilities, after the federal government announced they could be purchased through people’s NDIS funds.

Of course, the changing of the Australian of the Year mantel means today is 26 January, and Invasion Day protesters plan to gather at Canberra’s Aboriginal Tent Embassy – which marks 50 years of advocacy – before an expected march to Parliament House.

Ngambri-Ngunnawal elder Matilda House Williams told AAP the struggle was ongoing.

Just because 50 years have gone by, the struggle of maintaining rights, for land rights and all those other inequalities is still there.

[The government] say all these wonderful things but we still have the struggle of carrying on, of still not having the things other people have in this country have.

I will bring you all the updates on these protests and other events, rallies and celebrations here on the blog.

With that, why don’t we jump right into the day?