Australia Covid live update: NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian to announce Sydney lockdown extended by one week

Originally the 2021 Formula One race was delayed from March to November in the hopes that the vaccination rollout would have paved the way to hold the global event in the second half of the year. But, alas, it wasn’t to be!

It was stupid scheduling the grand prix for November. That is two weeks after our spring racing carnival and these major events require corporate Australia’s sponsorship. There is no way corporate Australia was going to be able to afford and get benefit from two major events, one after the other.

It would have been better to postpone it until its regular spot early next year in March or April*. But it is just profoundly disappointing that everyone says, “Let’s come out of this pandemic, let’s give and return economic activity. Let’s give people something to enjoy,” and yet here we are again shrinking. Victoria is literally shrinking within its own community. It is profoundly disappointing.