This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2020/apr/09/australia-coronavirus-update-live-ruby-princess-nsw-victoria-qld-parliament-jobkeeper-packages-latest-news-updates

The article has changed 28 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 18 Version 19
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)
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
Independent Schools Victoria has blasted a decision by Dan Tehan to threaten schools funding if they do not all open their doors in term 2.
Michelle Green, chief executive of ISV, said:
Victorian Independent schools have been placed in an impossible position.
They are caught between conflicting advice from state and federal authorities.
This week ISV strongly encouraged the 220 Independent schools in Victoria to follow the direction of the Victorian Government when it announced that, following advice from the Chief Health Officer, ‘all Victorian government primary, secondary and special schools will move to remote and flexible learning and teaching’.
The Victorian Government’s advice was that all children who can learn at home must learn from home – with exceptions only in extremely limited circumstances.
Many Victorian Independent schools had already decided to take this course of action, even before the State Government’s announcement.
Today, the Federal Government told these same schools they had to provide on-site learning facilities for the children of all parents who want it – not just the children of emergency service and health workers.
They were warned that their federal funding was conditional on them following the government’s direction.
This has left teachers, parents and, ultimately, their students, confused and frustrated at a time of extraordinary stress.
I have alerted the federal minister to the practical implications of his announcement and pressed him for urgent clarification.
As Josh mentioned a little earlier, Virgin Australia has suspended all of its flights except one between Sydney and Melbourne.
I’ve now got their statement. The company says this is basically a decision based on demand. The company will continue to operate local and international cargo transport as well as charter flights for Australians trapped overseas.
A spokeswoman from Virgin said:
In the meantime, the Tasmanian government has said today that it will use helicopters to monitor people’s movement over the Easter long weekend.
The apple isle has had tough Covid-19 rules limiting movement for some time, but today the premier, Peter Gutwein, told residents that if they left their homes unnecessarily over the long weekend, they could face fines of up to $16,800 or six months’ jail.
Patrols will be increased in the state’s north-west, where an outbreak of Covid-19 has hit two hospitals. Gutwein said:
Good evening. This is Michael McGowan, taking over from Josh Taylor. I’ll get you some more on that Virgin announcement as soon as I can.
Virgin Australia has suspended all its flights except one between Sydney and Melbourne.Virgin Australia has suspended all its flights except one between Sydney and Melbourne.
The dreams of many were dashed this week when NRL island was taken away from us all, but maybe there’s hope yet for UFC island?The dreams of many were dashed this week when NRL island was taken away from us all, but maybe there’s hope yet for UFC island?
The PM’s Easter message, telling people to stay home.The PM’s Easter message, telling people to stay home.
On the restart of the NRL season at the end of May:On the restart of the NRL season at the end of May:
“The details on the competition structure we haven’t got yet because the landscape is changing around government boundaries. That will feed into the complexity structure,” said ARL commissioner Wayne Pearce, who is also a member of the NRL’s innovation committee.“The details on the competition structure we haven’t got yet because the landscape is changing around government boundaries. That will feed into the complexity structure,” said ARL commissioner Wayne Pearce, who is also a member of the NRL’s innovation committee.
Pearce suggested the proposal to split the league into conferences was off the table.Pearce suggested the proposal to split the league into conferences was off the table.
WA premier Mark McGowan is talking after national cabinet.WA premier Mark McGowan is talking after national cabinet.
He says there will be monthly reviews on the restrictions currently in place, but he doesn’t want to pre-empt the outcome of those reviews.He says there will be monthly reviews on the restrictions currently in place, but he doesn’t want to pre-empt the outcome of those reviews.
“We’re certainly not guinea pigs,” he says on whether WA could be a test ground for other states.But he says WA was stronger in its initial response.“We’re certainly not guinea pigs,” he says on whether WA could be a test ground for other states.But he says WA was stronger in its initial response.
Here’s the latest from national cabinet via a press release from the prime minister’s office (no press conference):Here’s the latest from national cabinet via a press release from the prime minister’s office (no press conference):
Social distancing measures are working, we’ll be living for the virus for at least six monthsSocial distancing measures are working, we’ll be living for the virus for at least six months
Stay at home over EasterStay at home over Easter
The suppression phase will last a while: “Restrictions will be reviewed regularly and planning for the medium- to long-term has begun”The suppression phase will last a while: “Restrictions will be reviewed regularly and planning for the medium- to long-term has begun”
National cabinet to meet again in a week (April 16)National cabinet to meet again in a week (April 16)
There will be a consistent and immediate exemption for non-cruise maritime crew to be transiting to and from work and across jurisdictions with documentationThere will be a consistent and immediate exemption for non-cruise maritime crew to be transiting to and from work and across jurisdictions with documentation
Air crew on international flights will need to self-isolate in their home or hotel if not local city between flights for 14 daysAir crew on international flights will need to self-isolate in their home or hotel if not local city between flights for 14 days
Domestic air crew stay exempt except where a state or territory specifically prohibits entryDomestic air crew stay exempt except where a state or territory specifically prohibits entry
National cabinet agrees for consistent “hardship” responses for utilities, including telcos, energy companies etcNational cabinet agrees for consistent “hardship” responses for utilities, including telcos, energy companies etc
Flexible payment offers should be offered to all households and small businesses in financial stressFlexible payment offers should be offered to all households and small businesses in financial stress
No disconnectionsNo disconnections
Deferring debt recovery/credit default listingDeferring debt recovery/credit default listing
Waiving late fees and interest charges on debtWaiving late fees and interest charges on debt
Minimising planned outages and giving as much notice as possible for that which can’t be avoidedMinimising planned outages and giving as much notice as possible for that which can’t be avoided
And work between the states and the federal government around seasonal workers. States are responsible for the self-isolation requirements for those wanting to go pick fruit in regional areasAnd work between the states and the federal government around seasonal workers. States are responsible for the self-isolation requirements for those wanting to go pick fruit in regional areas
There’s been no change to the requirements previously announced around that.There’s been no change to the requirements previously announced around that.
The NRL season will recommence in late May, but it’s still unclear in what form it will happen.
Victoria police made 54 arrests in the CBD in the past week of people attempting to rob stores that were shut during the pandemic.
And 110 people caught up on other offences were also given a fine for breaching the stay at home orders.
NBN Co has just put out its latest report on how much internet we’re using while stuck at home.
It’s interesting. You’d think that it would keep going up as more and more people are home, but in the past week there has been a stabilisation, and a slight decline in evening “busy” hours.
NBN Co has taken about 40,000 activation orders in the past two weeks with people seeking to get connected, and a lot of people are upgrading their speed plans. The vast bulk are on 50Mbps, but about 16% of new orders are at the 100Mbps tier.
Let’s see what happens over the long weekend with a lot of people stuck at home and not going away for the break.
There’s due to be a car convoy on the Sydney Harbour Bridge this afternoon – organised by the Maritime Union of Australia Sydney branch and the NSW CFMMEU construction division, among others – protesting against jobkeeper leaving millions of workers out.
It’ll cross the bridge at 4pm and head up to NSW parliament and NRMA headquarters.
Not sure how NSW police will respond to this and if it will consider it an activity within the guidelines for people to be out of the house. We shall see.
The unions want jobkeeper extended to those left out, and for sackings and stand downs of workers in the private ferry business in Sydney to be stopped.
They also say it is racist and unacceptable to direct international students and migrant workers to leave Australia, and they should get support, too.
Good afternoon everyone.
I’ve been looking into the ongoing conspiracy theory linking 5G to coronavirus. Facebook has already started removing content linking the two, and I’ve observed that YouTube search results are favouring official sources disproving the claims rather than all the conspiracy videos.
The communications minister, Paul Fletcher, even wrote to YouTube expressing concern about it.
But where did it all come from? This from Wired is a very interesting read.
On that note, I am going to hand you over to Josh Taylor for the rest of today.
Please take care, and try to squeeze in some at-home fun in between all the isolation drudgery this Easter.
Stay safe and take care of you. I’ll be back Monday.
Marise Payne’s office has released some more information on those flights:
“A Qantas service from Lima to Australia is scheduled to depart Peru on Monday 13 April. Subject to confirmation of regulatory and operational approvals, the details of commercial services to Buenos Aires and Johannesburg will be confirmed in the coming days.
“This is in addition to a flight organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with South American airline LATAM, which departed from Lima, Cusco and Iquitos in Peru today. We are pleased that 280 Australians and four New Zealanders are scheduled to arrive in Melbourne tomorrow morning.
“We are also working on facilitated flights from further destinations in the coming weeks, including to India and the Philippines.
“Border closures and internal restrictions on movement in many countries around the world, along with the complexity of arranging such flights, should not be underestimated. Australian officials are working closely with relevant governments to support Australians to travel internally to major airports and gain the necessary flight approvals and airport clearances in locations where Australian airlines do not typically fly.
“These further flights are the latest outcome of the hard work of Australia’s consular and diplomatic staff and Australia’s airlines to assist Australians overseas. It follows the return of more than 280,000 Australians in recent weeks, including more than 6,200 Australians who have safely disembarked 45 cruise ships around the world.
“Details for these latest flights will be confirmed in coming days, with information provided directly to registered travellers. As they are commercial services, passengers are responsible for purchasing tickets.
“The Australian government will, where possible, support non-scheduled commercial services to further locations to bring Australians home where there are few other options to depart.”
Seems like a particular social service may be getting a lot of calls today. Which goes to show just how desperate people are right now for reassurance they’ll be getting help, and for answers.
Katy Gallagher has responded on behalf of Labor to the commonwealth public servant wage freeze: