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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
(31 minutes later)
Dan Tehan wants all schools to provide in-person teaching to children whose parents want it. Follow liveDan Tehan wants all schools to provide in-person teaching to children whose parents want it. Follow live
For anyone who may have missed the earlier announcement and needs the information
Here is one of those flights Marise Payne was talking about:
It seems like national cabinet is about to break for the day (it will regroup after the weekend) but it doesn’t look like we will be getting a press conference from Scott Morrison.
That is not unusual. He has only been standing up when he has something to say, which means the announcement can’t be too big today.
Not sure we should be making coronavirus a friend, but if it helps your kids understand whats going on, you’ll find some materials here:
The ACT has recorded one other case, a man in his 50s who contracted the virus while overseas.
The Australian has an update on the Don Harwin story which was broken by the Daily Telegraph this morning:
From the Oz:
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.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: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.“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.“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.“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.”“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.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: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: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.“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 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 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:“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;$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;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.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.”“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.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.
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 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.
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”.
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 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.
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:
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.