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Australia coronavirus live update: parliament passes $130bn jobkeeper package and Ruby Princess raided – latest news Australia coronavirus live update: parliament passes $130bn jobkeeper package and Ruby Princess raided – latest news
(32 minutes later)
Scott Morrison has described the government’s economic stimulus package as ‘the biggest economic lifeline in Australia’s history’. Follow liveScott Morrison has described the government’s economic stimulus package as ‘the biggest economic lifeline in Australia’s history’. Follow live
Australians on the special chartered flights, will have to pay for the flights themselves (as is usual) with the Lima flights costing about $2500 each. On top of the eviction freeze, Queensland has announced rental support for eligible tenants, which includes domestic and family violence protections. If your lease expires, and you want to stay, your landlord has to extend your lease by six months – they can’t kick you out. But if you want to leave your lease early because of the impacts of coronavirus, you will be allowed to do so.
Those who can’t afford the flight are being offered access to emergency loans from the government. From Jackie Trad’s office:
Rental support
“New eligibility criteria is now in place for rental grants of up to four weeks rent, or a maximum of $2,000.
“This is a last resort for Queenslanders in need of support while they are waiting for federal government support to prevent homelessness.”
DFV protections
“We want all Queenslanders to be safe at home, but for some people this is just not the case.
“If you need to escape in a hurry, we won’t allow paperwork to stand in your way.
“Immediate support to end tenancies quickly, change locks without seeking approval, access bond and separate from co-tenancies will be introduced.”
Greg Hunt on those numbers I mentioned a little earlier:
The ACT government will build its temporary Covid-19 emergency department on Garran Oval, adjacent to the Canberra hospital.
The location has been selected to mitigate any interruptions to the Canberra hospital operations through this critical period.
It provides flexibility for the facility to have adequate area available for logistics and essential equipment servicing the facility. The facility is intended to be fully self-sufficient by way of public and staff car parking and amenities.
The ACT government, along with partners Aspen Medical, will commence site investigation for the temporary ED over the coming days to inform final design and site layout. Construction will begin shortly after.
Nick Coatsworth says the aim of 7,500 ventilators is part of worst-case scenario planning:
Australians on the special chartered flights will have to pay for the flights themselves (as is usual). The Lima flight tickets cost about $2,500 each. Those who can’t afford the flight are being offered access to emergency loans from the government.
The deputy chief medical officer, Nick Coatsworth, says the number of ventilators in Australia is growing:As you are aware, we have been building capacity in the system.The deputy chief medical officer, Nick Coatsworth, says the number of ventilators in Australia is growing:As you are aware, we have been building capacity in the system.
Australia may have recorded its lowest number of coronavirus cases for one day in the past few weeks – 96 new cases is the first time in three weeks we’ve seen figures below 100 – but Greg Hunt says the government acknowledges people are struggling with the restrictions which have been put in place:Australia may have recorded its lowest number of coronavirus cases for one day in the past few weeks – 96 new cases is the first time in three weeks we’ve seen figures below 100 – but Greg Hunt says the government acknowledges people are struggling with the restrictions which have been put in place:
The governor general has signed off on the $130bn wage subsidy legislation, giving it the royal assent.The governor general has signed off on the $130bn wage subsidy legislation, giving it the royal assent.
It is law.It is law.
Greg Hunt steps up to the podium.Greg Hunt steps up to the podium.
He says 6,068 Australians have been diagnosed with Covid-19. Of those, 82 are in intensive care and 35 are on ventilators. And 51 people have died.He says 6,068 Australians have been diagnosed with Covid-19. Of those, 82 are in intensive care and 35 are on ventilators. And 51 people have died.
But in better news, Australia recorded its lowest number of new cases in three weeks, with 96 people diagnosed since the last update, nationally.
Hunt says that is the first time in three weeks Australia’s new cases have dropped below 100.
He says while the early signs are encouraging, there is still “a long way to go” and uses what has become one of his favourite lines:He says while the early signs are encouraging, there is still “a long way to go” and uses what has become one of his favourite lines:
Special arrangements are being made to help Australians out of other countries, including the Philippines, India and Nepal, and the deputy prime minister, Michael McCormack, is helping facilitate discussions with Qantas and Virgin.Special arrangements are being made to help Australians out of other countries, including the Philippines, India and Nepal, and the deputy prime minister, Michael McCormack, is helping facilitate discussions with Qantas and Virgin.
There are also talks about what to use as the transfer hubs, LA, NZ among them, Marise Payne says.There are also talks about what to use as the transfer hubs, LA, NZ among them, Marise Payne says.
But the foreign affairs minister includes a reminder that Australia had declared a pandemic and some people still decided to go traveling, so a reminder that yes, this has taken some time, but things got difficult pretty quick on the global scale:But the foreign affairs minister includes a reminder that Australia had declared a pandemic and some people still decided to go traveling, so a reminder that yes, this has taken some time, but things got difficult pretty quick on the global scale:
In relation to our Covid-19 response internationally I am pleased to indicate we have finalised and secured agreement with Qantas to carry out special facilitated flights, initially to three countries: Peru, Argentina and South Africa.In relation to our Covid-19 response internationally I am pleased to indicate we have finalised and secured agreement with Qantas to carry out special facilitated flights, initially to three countries: Peru, Argentina and South Africa.
Those planned Qantas flights are anticipated to take place over the next week, and follow on from another successful facilitated flight that occurred today, carrying about 280 Australians from Peru, who are now on their way to Australia.Those planned Qantas flights are anticipated to take place over the next week, and follow on from another successful facilitated flight that occurred today, carrying about 280 Australians from Peru, who are now on their way to Australia.
Marise Payne opens her appearance at Greg Hunt’s daily press conference with an update on cyclone Harold and its impact on our pacific neighbours – Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga have all been hit.Marise Payne opens her appearance at Greg Hunt’s daily press conference with an update on cyclone Harold and its impact on our pacific neighbours – Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga have all been hit.
Australia is supporting a caretaker government in Vanuatu and defence personnel is being sent over to help with the recovery.Australia is supporting a caretaker government in Vanuatu and defence personnel is being sent over to help with the recovery.
Channel Nine has launched a scathing broadside at the NRL over the league’s plans to restart a shortened competition as early as 21 May, claiming the broadcast rights holder has not been consulted on the proposal and accusing the NRL of squandering millions of dollars over a number of years.Channel Nine has launched a scathing broadside at the NRL over the league’s plans to restart a shortened competition as early as 21 May, claiming the broadcast rights holder has not been consulted on the proposal and accusing the NRL of squandering millions of dollars over a number of years.
In a strongly worded statement, the national broadcaster criticised the NRL’s handling of the coronavirus crisis, which forced the 2020 season to be put on hold after just two rounds and plunged the game into financial crisis.In a strongly worded statement, the national broadcaster criticised the NRL’s handling of the coronavirus crisis, which forced the 2020 season to be put on hold after just two rounds and plunged the game into financial crisis.
“At Nine we had hoped to work with the NRL on a solution to the issues facing rugby league in 2020, brought on so starkly by Covid-19,” a Channel Nine statement read.“At Nine we had hoped to work with the NRL on a solution to the issues facing rugby league in 2020, brought on so starkly by Covid-19,” a Channel Nine statement read.
“But this health crisis in our community has highlighted the mismanagement of the code over many years. Nine has invested hundreds of millions in this game over decades and we now find they have profoundly wasted those funds with very little to fall back on to support the clubs, the players and supporters.“But this health crisis in our community has highlighted the mismanagement of the code over many years. Nine has invested hundreds of millions in this game over decades and we now find they have profoundly wasted those funds with very little to fall back on to support the clubs, the players and supporters.
“In the past the NRL have had problems and we’ve bailed them out many times including a $50m loan to support clubs when the last contract was signed. It would now appear that much of that has been squandered by a bloated head office completely ignoring the needs of the clubs, players and supporters.”“In the past the NRL have had problems and we’ve bailed them out many times including a $50m loan to support clubs when the last contract was signed. It would now appear that much of that has been squandered by a bloated head office completely ignoring the needs of the clubs, players and supporters.”
The league’s innovation committee is due to report to the ARLC today with a restart in May having received the backing of the NSW government. The most likely solution to getting the 2020 season back underway is for a shortened 15-round competition to be given the green light, with teams to be temporarily relocated to a hub in western Sydney.The league’s innovation committee is due to report to the ARLC today with a restart in May having received the backing of the NSW government. The most likely solution to getting the 2020 season back underway is for a shortened 15-round competition to be given the green light, with teams to be temporarily relocated to a hub in western Sydney.
Full story here:Full story here:
The federal government has just taken a fairly significant step in its attempt to boost the number of ventilators available in Australian hospitals. Emergency powers have been enacted allowing the minister to exempt ventilators from parts of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 which ensure conformance with safety and performance requirements. Such exemptions can be made only by the minister “so that the devices can be made available urgently in Australia in order to deal with an actual threat to public health caused by an emergency”. A description of the new powers says:The federal government has just taken a fairly significant step in its attempt to boost the number of ventilators available in Australian hospitals. Emergency powers have been enacted allowing the minister to exempt ventilators from parts of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 which ensure conformance with safety and performance requirements. Such exemptions can be made only by the minister “so that the devices can be made available urgently in Australia in order to deal with an actual threat to public health caused by an emergency”. A description of the new powers says:
“The effect of the instrument is to exempt these ventilators from certain requirements under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 in order to deal with the threat to public health caused by the Covid-19 emergency.”The new powers were registered on Wednesday and will cease on 31 January 2021. You can read the full detail on those exemption powers here.The powers appear designed to allow new suppliers of ventilators to get them into Australian hospitals as quickly as possible to deal with the Covid-19 crisis.“The effect of the instrument is to exempt these ventilators from certain requirements under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 in order to deal with the threat to public health caused by the Covid-19 emergency.”The new powers were registered on Wednesday and will cease on 31 January 2021. You can read the full detail on those exemption powers here.The powers appear designed to allow new suppliers of ventilators to get them into Australian hospitals as quickly as possible to deal with the Covid-19 crisis.
Ventilators are critical in the fight against the virus because they aid the failing lungs of the most seriously ill patients. Australia had about 2,300 ventilators in intensive care units across the country before the crisis, but the government is seeking to dramatically increase that number as it surges ICU capacity. Only one company in Australia, Resmed, manufactures ventilators and it has been working overtime to increase its output. The government has also been attempting to procure more ventilators from abroad and kickstart new domestic manufacturers by securing existing designs used by foreign companies.Ventilators are critical in the fight against the virus because they aid the failing lungs of the most seriously ill patients. Australia had about 2,300 ventilators in intensive care units across the country before the crisis, but the government is seeking to dramatically increase that number as it surges ICU capacity. Only one company in Australia, Resmed, manufactures ventilators and it has been working overtime to increase its output. The government has also been attempting to procure more ventilators from abroad and kickstart new domestic manufacturers by securing existing designs used by foreign companies.
I was curious how the government could just declare that pay rises will be deferred in the public service, because most employees would be covered by enterprise agreements, with pay increases agreed, scheduled and seemingly locked in.Assistant minister to the prime minister and cabinet, Ben Morton, explained it will be done through a determination using s.24(3) of the Public Service Act.I was curious how the government could just declare that pay rises will be deferred in the public service, because most employees would be covered by enterprise agreements, with pay increases agreed, scheduled and seemingly locked in.Assistant minister to the prime minister and cabinet, Ben Morton, explained it will be done through a determination using s.24(3) of the Public Service Act.
That section says:”The Public Service Minister may, by legislative instrument, determine the terms and conditions of employment applying to APS employees, if the Public Service Minister is of the opinion that it is desirable to do so because of exceptional circumstances.”That section says:”The Public Service Minister may, by legislative instrument, determine the terms and conditions of employment applying to APS employees, if the Public Service Minister is of the opinion that it is desirable to do so because of exceptional circumstances.”
Professor Anthony Forsyth told Guardian Australia the Act “does appear to allow” a determination to overrule enterprise agreements although it “depends on the meaning of exceptional circumstances”.Professor Anthony Forsyth told Guardian Australia the Act “does appear to allow” a determination to overrule enterprise agreements although it “depends on the meaning of exceptional circumstances”.
“[But the] opinion that it is desirable to do so is not the same as necessary,” Forsyth said.“[But the] opinion that it is desirable to do so is not the same as necessary,” Forsyth said.
He also noted that according to the Act section 42 of the Legislation Act - on disallowance - does not apply - meaning that one of the “ordinary processes of parliamentary scrutiny ... looks like [it] doesn’t apply”.He also noted that according to the Act section 42 of the Legislation Act - on disallowance - does not apply - meaning that one of the “ordinary processes of parliamentary scrutiny ... looks like [it] doesn’t apply”.
The Community and Public Sector Union is upset about the move, but agrees with the conclusion that it is legal.The Community and Public Sector Union is upset about the move, but agrees with the conclusion that it is legal.
So there you have it - one of the quirks of working in the public service, maybe better job security than the private sector but employment conditions altered at the stroke of a pen.So there you have it - one of the quirks of working in the public service, maybe better job security than the private sector but employment conditions altered at the stroke of a pen.