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Australia coronavirus live update: education minister orders independent schools to reopen – latest news Australia coronavirus live update: education minister orders independent schools to reopen – 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 live Dan Tehan wants all schools to provide in-person teaching to children whose parents want it. Follow live
The Queensland Property Council has welcomed the Palaszczuk government’s decision to refund the last three months of land tax, defer the implementation of the foreign land tax surcharge, and defer the issuing of next year’s land tax assessments for eligible landlords.
Its chief executive, Chris Mountford, said the decision would bring relief to landlords:
“Land tax is often the biggest outgoing for commercial, retail and industrial landowners,” he said.
“By granting this relief, landlords will have a greater capacity to support tenants [who] have been adversely affected, taking pressure off their cash flow at this critical time.
“We know the circumstances that landlords and tenants are finding themselves in vary greatly. A ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to these challenges simply does not work.
“Landlords, tenants and their financiers are going to need to work together to find solutions that suit their circumstances. We know many of these proactive discussions are already happening.”
NSW has introduced $5,000 fines for anyone who deliberately coughs or spits on a healthcare workers.
The health minister, Brad Hazzard, has to actually say these words, because of some incidents in NSW health and hospital services:
Josh Frydenberg has released information on small and medium business loans:
“Under the scheme, the government will support up to $40bn of lending to SMEs with turnover of less than $50m, including sole traders and not-for-profit organisations, with the government guaranteeing 50% of new loans issued by eligible lenders until 30 September 2020.
“The government will make offers to 29 banks and five non-bank lenders in response to expressions of interest which will total $34bn of potential lending to SMEs. Applications from a range of other lenders are currently being assessed for the remaining $6bn in the scheme.
“The legislative and scheme rules have also been finalised following consultation with lenders and key stakeholders to ensure the scheme provides the required support to SMEs during this period.
“The scheme complements other initiatives undertaken by the government and the Reserve Bank of Australia to support lending to SMEs, including:
$15bn to allow AOFM to invest in wholesale funding markets used by small ADIs and non-ADI lenders;
The RBA’s $90bn term funding facility for ADIs with a priority for SME lending;
Cutting red tape to ensure SMEs get access to credit faster.
“The scheme will also support the jobkeeper program to help businesses get access to the necessary working capital to continue operating when their revenues have been significantly impacted by the coronavirus.”
In this new social distant dystopia, even the Easter bunny must receive state-sanctioned approval.
Darren Chester and Mike Kelly are continuing their bipartisan friendship, which was cemented during the bushfires (which also feel like a million years ago, but I know are still severely impacting so many regional NSW, Victorian and South Australian communities).
Andrew Wilkie, who visited Julian Assange earlier this year (which seems like it was decades ago), has not forgotten about him.
Bill Shorten spoke to Adelaide radio 5AA this morning (in between documenting his drive back to Melbourne from Canberra) and the transcript has just dropped.Bill Shorten spoke to Adelaide radio 5AA this morning (in between documenting his drive back to Melbourne from Canberra) and the transcript has just dropped.
He says the coronacrisis has shown how Australia needs to bring manufacturing back home He says the coronavirus crisis has shown how Australia needs to bring manufacturing back home:
The federal education minister, Dan Tehan, has ordered independent schools to reopen and provide in-person education to children whose parents want it in term 2. The federal education minister, Dan Tehan, has ordered independent schools to reopen and provide in-person education to children whose parents want it in term two.
His letter sent to the Independent Schools Council of Australia and peak bodies in each state and territory on Thursday includes a condition that will make independent schools’ funding contingent on complying with the order.His letter sent to the Independent Schools Council of Australia and peak bodies in each state and territory on Thursday includes a condition that will make independent schools’ funding contingent on complying with the order.
In the letter, Tehan said:In the letter, Tehan said:
Despite the order, Tehan also recognised the need for schools to follow “the advice of the health or education authorities of the Commonwealth or the state or territory in which the school is located, including any directions they may issue in regard to school shut downs”. Despite the order, Tehan also recognised the need for schools to follow “the advice of the health or education authorities of the commonwealth or the state or territory in which the school is located, including any directions they may issue in regard to school shut downs”.
This could prove tricky in jurisdictions such as Victoria, where the advice is in favour of closure.This could prove tricky in jurisdictions such as Victoria, where the advice is in favour of closure.
We’ll bring you a full news wrap of the letter, and what the situation is for term 2 in each state shortly. We’ll bring you a full news wrap of the letter and the situation for term two in each state shortly.
WA’s health minister, Roger Cook, has announced a new mental health program for the west.WA’s health minister, Roger Cook, has announced a new mental health program for the west.
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.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.
From Jackie Trad’s office:From Jackie Trad’s office:
Rental supportRental support
“New eligibility criteria is now in place for rental grants of up to four weeks rent, or a maximum of $2,000.“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.”“This is a last resort for Queenslanders in need of support while they are waiting for federal government support to prevent homelessness.”
DFV protectionsDFV protections
“We want all Queenslanders to be safe at home, but for some people this is just not the case.“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.“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.”“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: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 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.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.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.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: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.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.
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.
It is law.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.”
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:
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.
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.
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”.
“[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”.
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.