Christian Porter resigns from Morrison ministry.

Christian Porter has resigned as the federal minister for industry after failing to explain who was behind an anonymous donation to pay for his court case.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters in Sydney on Sunday he had accepted Mr Porter's resignation and had appointed Energy Minister Angus Taylor to act in his role.

"His actions have been about upholding the standards," Mr Morrison said.

A "blind trust" paid the settlement for an outstanding court case of Mr Porter's stemming from when he sued the ABC in March. The legal action was over a story that revealed a now-deceased woman's historical rape allegation against a cabinet minister.

Christian Porter has just released a 1600-word statement on his resignation says he was "not willing to put pressure on the Trust to provide me with any further information" on donors, claiming it would make them "targets of the social media mob" pic.twitter.com/OFShiMJaWD

— Josh Butler (@JoshButler)

Mr Porter emphatically denied the allegation and the case was settled before trial.

Mr Morrison said that in discussion with Mr Porter over the last few days, the minister was unable to practically provide further information because of the nature of the donation arrangements.

"He has this afternoon taken the appropriate course of action to uphold those standards by tendering his resignation as a minister," Mr Morrison said.

"I expect my ministers, all of them, and myself, to uphold the ministerial standards and to act in accordance with those ministerial standards."

Mr Porter will now return to the backbench to serve as the member for the Western Australian seat of Pearce.

Body found in search for missing American, Gabby Petito.

Authorities have found a body at Grand Teton National Park in Moosey, Wyoming, which they believe to be missing 22-year-old American Gabby Petito.

FBI personnel and local law enforcement started searching the camping area on Saturday.

While they don't have an ID "100 percent" confirmed, an FBI press conference has expressed their condolences to Gabby's family as they "mourn their loss."

A cause of death is yet been confirmed.

#BREAKING: FBI Denver says human remains found earlier today are consistent with #GabbyPetito ’s description. Full forensic ID still pending. Cause of death is under investigation. https://t.co/9kHx7wKMdw

— Heather Monahan (@HeatherMonahan_)

Gabby and her fiance Brian Laundrie have been travelling full-time in a mobile home since earlier this year, however in late August he returned home to Florida without her and is yet to cooperate with police.

The couple was documenting their trip via social media, and the most recent post on Gabby's Instagram was on August 25. She also had a conversation with her mother just days earlier.

She was believed to be in the Grand Teton National Park, which is where a body has been found.

While he has been named as a person of interest in Gabby's disappearance, Brian has not been arrested or charged and no formal police interview has taken place. He has been missing himself since Tuesday.

Read more: here.

Vic plan to reopen criticised by business.

Victoria's roadmap out of lockdown has been described as a "roadblock" by business groups, who say it is too conservative when compared with NSW's.

Premier Daniel Andrews on Sunday unveiled the state's roadmap out of lockdown.

It details some small changes to Melbourne's restrictions when 80 per cent of Victorians aged over 16 have received a single vaccine dose, including an increase of the 10-kilometre travel limit to 15km.

But lockdown will remain in place until 70 per cent of Victorians are double vaccinated, which is forecast for October 26.

At that stage, the city's curfew will be lifted, the travel limit will increase to 25km and hospitality can open outdoors with a limit of 50 fully vaccinated people.

Today we are releasing our roadmap. As well as laying out how we will deliver the National Plan, the roadmap lets Victorians know when we can catch up with friends and family, and get back to the things we love. pic.twitter.com/ogMuUGrdGA

— Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP)

Fully vaccinated people will also be able to get a haircut and gather outdoors in groups of 10.

Once Victoria reaches its 80 per cent double-dose target, forecast for November 5, the travel limit is scrapped altogether, retail, gyms and beauty services can reopen for the fully vaccinated and hospitality can resume indoors.

Home gatherings of up to 10 people will be allowed, while at Christmas the figure is expected to increase to 30.

The reopening of schools will not be tied to vaccination coverage, with Year 12 students going back to class on October 6 and a staggered return of other years starting with Prep to Grade 2s on October 18.

Mr Andrews said the plan was "cautious" and would prevent the state's hospital system from being overrun.

But the opposition and business groups have described it as conservative, given Sydney is on track to enjoy far more freedoms about a fortnight earlier than Melbourne, despite having recorded more COVID-19 cases, hospitalisations and deaths.

The Australian Hotels Association Victorian president David Canny said he was "gutted" and called for consistency between states.

The Australian Retailers Association chief executive Paul Zahra said the road map was "disappointing" and would cost the industry $6 billion.

On Sunday, Victoria recorded 507 new COVID-19 cases and the death of a man in his 90s, bringing the toll from the latest outbreak to 11.

Three more Victorian towns last night entered a seven-day lockdown, Greater Geelong, the Surf Coast and Mitchell shires, due to rising COVID-19 case numbers.

At 11:59pm, Sunday 19 September the following Local Government Areas will enter a 7-day lockdown: 🔷City of Greater Geelong 🔷Surf Coast Shire 🔷Mitchell Shire Restrictions will be the same as in metropolitan Melbourne, excluding the curfew. pic.twitter.com/B3RSmQHOpc

— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH)

Rules relax in Sydney COVID hotspots

Those in Sydney's hardest hit suburbs are set for their first taste of freedom in months, with recreation rules relaxing as vaccination rates continue to climb.

Reporting 1083 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases on Sunday, Premier Gladys Berejiklian thanked residents in a dozen LGAs of concern for their resilience before offering them the extra freedoms granted to the rest of the city a week earlier.

"The opportunity for us to ease the restrictions in the areas of concern, or equalise them in line with the rest of Sydney, is due in large part to the high rates of vaccination," Ms Berejiklian said.

❗️Restrictions to ease in LGAs of concern❗️ From 12.01am Monday, 20 September, restrictions in local government areas of concern will start to align with other lockdown areas, as vaccination rates continue to rise in Sydney’s West and South-West. pic.twitter.com/2SmW5iOigl

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth)

"We have seen some of those communities go from rates of around 19 or 20 per cent up to nearly 90 per cent and that is extremely encouraging."

Fully vaccinated adults in the 12 government areas will from Monday be able to exercise outdoors with no time limits, and gather in groups of five for outdoor recreation within five kilometres from home. Children under 12 are not included in the gathering limit.

Conditions for authorised workers and travel permit requirements will remain in place in the LGAs of concern, however.

Public pools will also reopen in NSW from September 27.

Despite the relaxation of some restrictions, Ms Berejiklian warned the state's situation remains "precarious", as NSW reported 13 deaths on Sunday – an outbreak record.

"We are anticipating our worst weeks in ICU and hospitals will be in October," she said.

Of the 13 people who died with COVID-19 in the latest reporting period, one was in their 40s, two in their 50s, two in their 60s, five in their 70s, and three in their 80s.

There are 1238 COVID-19 cases in hospital, with 234 people in intensive care, 123 of whom require ventilation.

Cop union asks why riot squad not at violent Melbourne rally.

The police union will ask Victoria Police why the riot squad was not deployed to a violent anti-lockdown rally in Melbourne that left several officers in hospital.

Between 500 and 700 demonstrators gathered in Richmond about midday on Saturday, after the location of the protest was changed from Melbourne city centre at the last minute in an attempt to evade authorities.

At one stage, dozens of people ran at police in a clash that saw officers knocked to the ground and protesters doused with capsicum spray.