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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
Queensland is updating its border measures – which now includes Queenslanders who are seeking to return to Queensland after a trip over the border.
You’ll find the border measures (when they are updated) here
The foreign affairs minister, Marise Payne, is joining the health minister, Greg Hunt, and deputy chief medical officer, Nick Coatsworth, for today’s briefing, which will be at 12.30.
And just like in Queensland, where a freeze was put in place last week – after which the government realised it also froze frontline worker pay – the commonwealth public servant union says the Morrison government has just done exactly the same thing:
Labor has responded to the arts funding announcement the government made today.
Tony Burke says it doesn’t come near to being close enough:
Larger charities still miss out on being eligible for the jobkeeper wage subsidy, despite the drop to 15% revenue loss (it is 30% for other entities under a $1bn and 50% for those over a billion) with government grants making some things tricky: the money is spent, but counted, and funds for future projects and staff is drying up.
Plan International, which misses out, and focuses on international aid, has some other ideas on how agencies like theirs can be helped:
Plan International Australia’s chief executive, Susanne Legena, said although this result was disappointing, there were a range of other measures the federal government could implement in the short term to provide relief.
These include:
Introduce tax breaks for individuals in a position to donate to charities, including a tax deduction of 150% for the rest of the financial year;
Lift the cap for fringe benefit tax to help charity employees. This will help alleviate the impact on staff wages in the reduction of employee hours as donations fall;
Introduce a $300m Australian charities stabilisation fund, including providing flexible grants over at least the next six months of a value of between $20,000 and $100,000 which are rapidly assessed by the commonwealth;
A fully flexible, 0% government loan facility for charities.
These are still dribbling out:These are still dribbling out:
The Greens senator Rachel Siewert wants the government to check itself when it comes to debt collection over this period:The Greens senator Rachel Siewert wants the government to check itself when it comes to debt collection over this period:
While there are early indications that Australia is managing to flatten the curve, there are still preparations everywhere you look for a potential worse-case scenario.While there are early indications that Australia is managing to flatten the curve, there are still preparations everywhere you look for a potential worse-case scenario.
That includes increasing Australia’s ventilator access. The federal science minister, Karen Andrews, has just announced a new deal on that:That includes increasing Australia’s ventilator access. The federal science minister, Karen Andrews, has just announced a new deal on that:
Now that the payment has been legislated, this should be able to answer your questions about whether or not you are eligible:Now that the payment has been legislated, this should be able to answer your questions about whether or not you are eligible:
It’s happening across the states – now it’s happening across the federal agencies:It’s happening across the states – now it’s happening across the federal agencies:
The assistant minister to the prime minister and cabinet, Ben Morton, has deferred general wage increases for commonwealth public servants for six months.The assistant minister to the prime minister and cabinet, Ben Morton, has deferred general wage increases for commonwealth public servants for six months.
“The Australian public service remains a critical part of our efforts to minimise the impacts on Covid-19 on the Australian economy for workers and their families. Everyone from the prime pinister down appreciates the outstanding work the APS is doing.“The Australian public service remains a critical part of our efforts to minimise the impacts on Covid-19 on the Australian economy for workers and their families. Everyone from the prime pinister down appreciates the outstanding work the APS is doing.
“Every APS employee will have someone in their families, or know someone, affected by the current economic circumstances. While communities are doing it tough, it’s important the APS helps share the economic burden.”“Every APS employee will have someone in their families, or know someone, affected by the current economic circumstances. While communities are doing it tough, it’s important the APS helps share the economic burden.”
Last month the government implemented a stay for senior public servants’ salary increases and also requested a stay for all ministers, parliamentarians and parliamentary office holders.Last month the government implemented a stay for senior public servants’ salary increases and also requested a stay for all ministers, parliamentarians and parliamentary office holders.
The deferral of wage increases commences from 14 April and will remain in effect for 12 months. During this period, agencies will defer upcoming wage increases by six months as they fall due. This will ensure the deferral is shared equally by all APS employees.The deferral of wage increases commences from 14 April and will remain in effect for 12 months. During this period, agencies will defer upcoming wage increases by six months as they fall due. This will ensure the deferral is shared equally by all APS employees.
NSW Health has released its official update:NSW Health has released its official update:
As at 8pm Wednesday 8 April, an additional 39 cases of Covid-19 have been diagnosed since 8pm 6 April, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in NSW to 2,773.As at 8pm Wednesday 8 April, an additional 39 cases of Covid-19 have been diagnosed since 8pm 6 April, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in NSW to 2,773.
The 39 new cases represent the lowest daily count since 16 March.The 39 new cases represent the lowest daily count since 16 March.
There are 221 Covid-19 cases being treated in NSW. This includes 31 cases in intensive care units, and 21 of these require ventilators.There are 221 Covid-19 cases being treated in NSW. This includes 31 cases in intensive care units, and 21 of these require ventilators.
A further 3,906 people were tested for Covid-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm Wednesday 8 April, a 32% increase from the 24 hours before (2,945).A further 3,906 people were tested for Covid-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm Wednesday 8 April, a 32% increase from the 24 hours before (2,945).
There have been 12 new cases at Gosford hospital including two patients and six staff and four family/friend cases. The affected ward was closed yesterday and community contact tracing is ongoing.There have been 12 new cases at Gosford hospital including two patients and six staff and four family/friend cases. The affected ward was closed yesterday and community contact tracing is ongoing.
Of the 161 symptomatic travellers quarantined in hotels, 36 (22%) have tested positive.Of the 161 symptomatic travellers quarantined in hotels, 36 (22%) have tested positive.
How lucky for Victorians who have holiday homes.
The Tasmanian premier, Peter Gutwein said:
On those additional measures Queensland has put in place, Queensland residents who want to head into NSW will need a permit to return to Queensland. (Previously they did not need that.)
Also they may be forced into the 14-day quarantine, which includes police checks.
So basically, you can leave the state but getting back in is going to be a major pain.
Queensland just did this and is now having to deal with the fact it also included frontline health workers and teachers in the freeze.
‘Public servant” is not a one-fits-all term.
Queensland looks like it is implementing new travel restrictions for Queenslanders looking to travel into New South Wales.
That’s after Queensland had to close some of its most famous Gold Coast beaches after it claimed Brisbane and Logan residents were flouting the physical distance restrictions.
Well I’ve seen photos of concrete road blocks being put in place at “just-over-the-border-but-we-all-consider-Queensland” beaches like Dbar, so it looks like the restrictions are going further.
In better news, just 10 Queenslanders were newly diagnosed with coronavirus since the last update yesterday.
Anthony Albanese also takes aim at some of the “informed” commentary, saying Labor has been very constructive during the 2020 crises.
Anthony Albanese is also keeping an eye on the future – and the political issues which have been left behind
“The gap between the rhetoric of this government and the reality has been extraordinary,” he said. “And we know that with regard to money, they treated taxpayer money in the lead-up to the election as if it was LNP money. We won’t let go and Australians shouldn’t forget the sports rort fiasco, the use of infrastructure money, the $3bn fund, to just marginal seats and LNP seats, the great spending in seats like Kooyong and Higgins, for example.”
“I am not for a ramping up of authoritarian measures,” Anthony Albanese says, on whether road blocks need to be put in place to stop people from travelling into regional communities this Easter.
It should just be commonsense, he says.
“We shouldn’t need for that to be reinforced.”
Anthony Albanese says Labor will continue to try to have more people included in the wage subsidy, including those on temporary visas who are unable to return home because of flight and border restrictions.
“People can’t self isolate if they can’t have somewhere to self isolate,” he says.
He says marginalised people, left without support, are also a health risk to the wider community.
A lot of arts performers have fallen through the cracks of the government’s stimulus packages.
This announcement may help some, but there will be many, many who still need assistance:
“To help the arts sector deal with the devastating impact of Covid-19, which has seen performances cancelled, venues closed and many performers and crew hit by the loss of gigs, the Morrison-McCormack government is committing $27m in targeted support across three particularly vulnerable areas of specific need.
“The government is providing $10m to help regional artists and organisations develop new work and explore new delivery models. The funding will be delivered through Australia’s regional arts fund.
“In remote Australia, self-isolation due to Covid-19 means Indigenous arts centres are unable to receive visitors, and the income that many artists rely on to support themselves and their families has dried up.
“To support Indigenous artists and arts centres, the government is providing $7m in additional funding. The funding will be delivered under the Indigenous visual arts industry support program.