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Australia coronavirus: education minister orders independent schools to reopen – as it happened Australia Covid-19: education minister orders independent schools to reopen – as it happened
(about 3 hours later)
Dan Tehan wants all schools to provide in-person teaching to children whose parents want it; NRL says it will return on 28 May. This blog is now closedDan Tehan wants all schools to provide in-person teaching to children whose parents want it; NRL says it will return on 28 May. This blog is now closed
We’ll leave it here for tonight. I’ll be back first thing tomorrow. In the meantime, you can follow our global coverage for all the latest.We’ll leave it here for tonight. I’ll be back first thing tomorrow. In the meantime, you can follow our global coverage for all the latest.
Here’s what we learned today:Here’s what we learned today:
Australia recorded its lowest number of new cases in three weeks, with 96 people diagnosed since the last update, nationally. It was the first time in three weeks Australia’s new cases have dropped below 100.Australia recorded its lowest number of new cases in three weeks, with 96 people diagnosed since the last update, nationally. It was the first time in three weeks Australia’s new cases have dropped below 100.
One man, 76, from regional South Australia, died on Wednesday night in Royal Adelaide hospital.One man, 76, from regional South Australia, died on Wednesday night in Royal Adelaide hospital.
Officers investigating the Ruby Princess boarded the ship overnight and “seized” the ship’s black box equivalent, the New South Wales police commissioner, Mick Fuller, said.Officers investigating the Ruby Princess boarded the ship overnight and “seized” the ship’s black box equivalent, the New South Wales police commissioner, Mick Fuller, said.
The federal education minister, Dan Tehan, ordered independent schools to reopen and provide in-person education to children whose parents want it in term two. Tehan said he would make independent schools’ funding contingent on complying with the order.The federal education minister, Dan Tehan, ordered independent schools to reopen and provide in-person education to children whose parents want it in term two. Tehan said he would make independent schools’ funding contingent on complying with the order.
The NRL said it would resume its season on 28 May, but it’s still unclear in what form it will happen. It came on the same day the game’s free-to-air broadcaster, Channel Nine, issued a withering statement slamming the management of the game.The NRL said it would resume its season on 28 May, but it’s still unclear in what form it will happen. It came on the same day the game’s free-to-air broadcaster, Channel Nine, issued a withering statement slamming the management of the game.
The Block star Scott Cam has agreed to forgo his $345,000 salary as Australia’s “national careers ambassador”. The employment minister, Michaelia Cash, said Cam had agreed to give up his salary given his “role has fundamentally changed” in the midst of Covid-19.The Block star Scott Cam has agreed to forgo his $345,000 salary as Australia’s “national careers ambassador”. The employment minister, Michaelia Cash, said Cam had agreed to give up his salary given his “role has fundamentally changed” in the midst of Covid-19.
Virgin Australia suspended all of its domestic flights except one between Sydney and Melbourne. The company said it was a commercial decision driven by lack of demand.Virgin Australia suspended all of its domestic flights except one between Sydney and Melbourne. The company said it was a commercial decision driven by lack of demand.
The Daily Telegraph is reporting that the New South Wales arts minister, Don Harwin, has been fined for breaching the state’s public health orders.The Daily Telegraph is reporting that the New South Wales arts minister, Don Harwin, has been fined for breaching the state’s public health orders.
It has been a bad 24 hours for Harwin. The Telegraph reported today that he’d been commuting to his property on the central coast, despite the Berejiklian government urging the public to delay non-essential travel.It has been a bad 24 hours for Harwin. The Telegraph reported today that he’d been commuting to his property on the central coast, despite the Berejiklian government urging the public to delay non-essential travel.
Harwin had relocated to the property on 13 March, before travel restrictions came into place, but had travelled back to Sydney during that period.Harwin had relocated to the property on 13 March, before travel restrictions came into place, but had travelled back to Sydney during that period.
In a statement on Thursday, Harwin said he had been “working remotely” from his holiday home prior to the public health orders coming into effect.In a statement on Thursday, Harwin said he had been “working remotely” from his holiday home prior to the public health orders coming into effect.
“I took advice from my department officials about the public health order to ensure I adhered to the guidelines during this period,” said Mr Harwin, whose ministerial responsibilities include the arts, Aboriginal affairs and being special minister of state.“I took advice from my department officials about the public health order to ensure I adhered to the guidelines during this period,” said Mr Harwin, whose ministerial responsibilities include the arts, Aboriginal affairs and being special minister of state.
My colleague Paul Karp has been dutifully chasing down news that Scott Cam has decided to forgo his salary as the government’s “national careers ambassador”. The gig would have seen the Block star paid $345,000 for 15 months. And the news is true!My colleague Paul Karp has been dutifully chasing down news that Scott Cam has decided to forgo his salary as the government’s “national careers ambassador”. The gig would have seen the Block star paid $345,000 for 15 months. And the news is true!
The employment and skills minister, Michaelia Cash, said in a statement that given Cam’s role had “fundamentally changed” since the Covid-19 outbreak, he had decided to forgo his salary. Rest assured, though, that he “remains committed to his role as the national careers ambassador”.The employment and skills minister, Michaelia Cash, said in a statement that given Cam’s role had “fundamentally changed” since the Covid-19 outbreak, he had decided to forgo his salary. Rest assured, though, that he “remains committed to his role as the national careers ambassador”.
Cash’s statement:Cash’s statement:
My goodness, this video – on how Covid-19 has changed all of our lives so profoundly – is really something.My goodness, this video – on how Covid-19 has changed all of our lives so profoundly – is really something.
It’s a must watch, I’d say. Particularly for us in Australia. With the number of new cases dropping and some sections of the media questioning why we’re enduring this lockdown, it’s a timely reminder of how different things could be and how quickly that could happen.It’s a must watch, I’d say. Particularly for us in Australia. With the number of new cases dropping and some sections of the media questioning why we’re enduring this lockdown, it’s a timely reminder of how different things could be and how quickly that could happen.
Rugby Australia’s chief executive, Raelene Castle, will take a 50% pay cut as the code continues to work on an agreement over player payments.Rugby Australia’s chief executive, Raelene Castle, will take a 50% pay cut as the code continues to work on an agreement over player payments.
No resolution was reached before the start of Easter, as planned discussions with the Rugby Union Players’ Association on Thursday were postponed after a Rugby Australia director fell ill.No resolution was reached before the start of Easter, as planned discussions with the Rugby Union Players’ Association on Thursday were postponed after a Rugby Australia director fell ill.
AAP reports that both sides are looking to advance the situation and will resume talks on Saturday morning.AAP reports that both sides are looking to advance the situation and will resume talks on Saturday morning.
Rugby Australia is believed to have asked the players to take a 65% pay cut until the end of September.Rugby Australia is believed to have asked the players to take a 65% pay cut until the end of September.
The players’ association is still working its way through information-sharing and clarity on Rugby Australia’s cash flows, after last weekend receiving the details it had been asking for.The players’ association is still working its way through information-sharing and clarity on Rugby Australia’s cash flows, after last weekend receiving the details it had been asking for.
Players at three of the four Australian Super Rugby franchises are believed to be due payment shortly after the Easter break.Players at three of the four Australian Super Rugby franchises are believed to be due payment shortly after the Easter break.
While Castle has taken a 50% pay cut, her executives are taking 30%. The cash-strapped governing body last week stood down 75 per cent of its non-player workforce, after announcing a $9.4m loss.While Castle has taken a 50% pay cut, her executives are taking 30%. The cash-strapped governing body last week stood down 75 per cent of its non-player workforce, after announcing a $9.4m loss.
Western Australia reports 14 new cases of Covid-19 today, bringing the state’s total to 495.Western Australia reports 14 new cases of Covid-19 today, bringing the state’s total to 495.
Of the new confirmed cases, 10 are from metropolitan Perth, two from the Kimberley, one from the goldfields region and the other from the wheatbelt.Of the new confirmed cases, 10 are from metropolitan Perth, two from the Kimberley, one from the goldfields region and the other from the wheatbelt.
WA’s department of health says 10 of the new cases are related to cruise ships and overseas travel. Four are close contacts of confirmed cases.WA’s department of health says 10 of the new cases are related to cruise ships and overseas travel. Four are close contacts of confirmed cases.
WA has 34 confirmed Covid-19 patients in Perth metropolitan hospitals, and of those 15 are in intensive care.WA has 34 confirmed Covid-19 patients in Perth metropolitan hospitals, and of those 15 are in intensive care.
Via AAP, here’s some detail on the virtual masses that will replace traditional Easter festivities as Christians observe their holiest day on the calendar amid coronavirus restrictions.Social distancing rules have been eased to allow places of worship to organise Easter service broadcasts and webcasts, but ceremonies will take place in near-empty places of worship across the nation.Anglican archbishop Glenn Davies will lead prayers for health workers in a televised Easter service at St Andrew’s cathedral in Sydney.Dean Kanishka Raffel will preach from the pulpit, book-ended by songs performed by the trimmed-down cathedral choir.The service will air at 9am across Australia on Sunday on Channel 9.St Andrew’s Sunday mass normally attracts about 400 people, Raffel says. But tourists and devout or irregular church-goers swell those numbers into the thousands for Easter, he adds.And via social media, Dr Davies’ service is expected to lure many more, curious ears.Via AAP, here’s some detail on the virtual masses that will replace traditional Easter festivities as Christians observe their holiest day on the calendar amid coronavirus restrictions.Social distancing rules have been eased to allow places of worship to organise Easter service broadcasts and webcasts, but ceremonies will take place in near-empty places of worship across the nation.Anglican archbishop Glenn Davies will lead prayers for health workers in a televised Easter service at St Andrew’s cathedral in Sydney.Dean Kanishka Raffel will preach from the pulpit, book-ended by songs performed by the trimmed-down cathedral choir.The service will air at 9am across Australia on Sunday on Channel 9.St Andrew’s Sunday mass normally attracts about 400 people, Raffel says. But tourists and devout or irregular church-goers swell those numbers into the thousands for Easter, he adds.And via social media, Dr Davies’ service is expected to lure many more, curious ears.
Raffel told AAP:Raffel told AAP:
Just around the corner, Catholic archbishop Anthony Fisher will be broadcast preaching Good Friday and Easter Sunday mass on Channel 7.The archbishop kicked off Holy Week, which marks the end of Lent and climaxes with commemorations of the resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday, with a livestream on Palm Sunday.He said in a video that to talk about the resurrection and its message of hope might seem crass when people were suffering due to the coronavirus.Just around the corner, Catholic archbishop Anthony Fisher will be broadcast preaching Good Friday and Easter Sunday mass on Channel 7.The archbishop kicked off Holy Week, which marks the end of Lent and climaxes with commemorations of the resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday, with a livestream on Palm Sunday.He said in a video that to talk about the resurrection and its message of hope might seem crass when people were suffering due to the coronavirus.
Scott Morrison’s church, the Pentecostal Horizon, will be posting a string of videos online over the long weekend, while Orthodox churches have switched to live-streaming mass in the lead up to Pascha on 19 April.Scott Morrison’s church, the Pentecostal Horizon, will be posting a string of videos online over the long weekend, while Orthodox churches have switched to live-streaming mass in the lead up to Pascha on 19 April.
Australian Greek Orthodox was the first church to lock down its congregation in response to the Covid-19 threat.Australian Greek Orthodox was the first church to lock down its congregation in response to the Covid-19 threat.
Here’s Labor’s response to foreign minister Marise Payne’s comments earlier today about flights to bring Australians stranded overseas home.Here’s Labor’s response to foreign minister Marise Payne’s comments earlier today about flights to bring Australians stranded overseas home.
Payne said a Qantas service from Lima to Australia was scheduled to depart Peru on Monday 13 April, while the government was working on further flights from locations including India and the Phillipines.Payne said a Qantas service from Lima to Australia was scheduled to depart Peru on Monday 13 April, while the government was working on further flights from locations including India and the Phillipines.
Health minister Greg Hunt urging Australians to stay home over the Easter long weekend.Health minister Greg Hunt urging Australians to stay home over the Easter long weekend.
Not even Scott Cam is immune to Covid-19 job losses.Not even Scott Cam is immune to Covid-19 job losses.
Police in Western Australia will investigate whether Fremantle Dockers star Nat Fyfe breached restrictions by surfing in Margaret River.Police in Western Australia will investigate whether Fremantle Dockers star Nat Fyfe breached restrictions by surfing in Margaret River.
After the West Australian newspaper reported the AFL player had been photographed surfing, the WA police minister Chris Dawson said police would investigate.After the West Australian newspaper reported the AFL player had been photographed surfing, the WA police minister Chris Dawson said police would investigate.
“I think that’s something for Nat himself to answer, in terms of, whether he’s done the right or wrong thing,” he said.“I think that’s something for Nat himself to answer, in terms of, whether he’s done the right or wrong thing,” he said.
“Police will investigate that matter but on the face of it there are questions to be answered.“Police will investigate that matter but on the face of it there are questions to be answered.
“An essential service is not surfing unless you are a professional surfer, I’ll leave it at that.”“An essential service is not surfing unless you are a professional surfer, I’ll leave it at that.”
It’s worth noting that policy contradicts other states, where surfing has been classified by police as legitimate exercise.It’s worth noting that policy contradicts other states, where surfing has been classified by police as legitimate exercise.