WA border reopening roadmap revealed; Two people who attended the Melbourne Cup tested positive for COVID-19; NSW registers 249 new local cases; 1,343 new cases, 10 deaths in Victoria

Thanks for following our breaking news blog today.

Western Australia has become the latest state to release its COVID-19 reopening plan. As part of the plan, WA will not open until 90% of residents over the age of 12 are fully immunized. This should happen in late January or early February.

A man accused of the alleged kidnapping of four-year-old Cleo Smith has been transferred to maximum security prison in Perth. Terence Darrell Kelly, 36, of Carnarvon, has been charged with various kidnapping-related offenses, police said.

Sydney’s Inner West light rail service will be out of service for up to 18 months after the discovery of cracks in all 12 trams. NSW Transport Minister Rob Stokes said today the cracks in the streetcar fleet are “bigger than initially thought”.

The Northern Territory has registered a new case of COVID-19. The new infection is close contact with the positive case reported to Katherine last night. The city is currently in 72-hour lockdown.

Two people who attended the Melbourne Cup Day races in Flemington this week have since tested positive for COVID-19. The two are fully vaccinated and unrelated. Victoria registered 1,343 new infections today.

Thanks for joining us and don’t forget to come back when our breaking news blog returns on Monday. In the meantime, you can stay up to date at nine.com.au and 9news.com.au.