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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
Very big 28 Days Later vibes going on here 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.
A reminder that national parks are closed – which includes to Easter visitors.
The Australian Academy of Science is continuing its great series, where scientists and researchers answer your questions.
They get it fact-checked too, so you don’t have to worry about the Malcolm Roberts of the world delivering your information.
The latest is on whether or not childcare centres are safe.
The national cabinet is about to meet. As we have mentioned, schools will be the big issue.
Tenancies not so much. It’s “fluid”, I’ve been told.
On schools, one of the issues is whether or not they will be prepared for students to be sent back. Officially they are all open; unofficially enrolments are falling, even before the most serious of the physical distance restrictions were in place.
If parents suddenly decide to return their children to school en masse after a month or so of home schooling, that presents its own challenges to education jurisdictions who have just spent the past month preparing for term two to be online.
Very big 28 Days Later vibes going on here:
All things considered though, the RBA in that April report says there is no need to panic, and that the lending restrictions put in place over the past five years have helped:All things considered though, the RBA in that April report says there is no need to panic, and that the lending restrictions put in place over the past five years have helped:
Labor’s Amanda Rishworth says the government’s childcare package still needs some work:Labor’s Amanda Rishworth says the government’s childcare package still needs some work:
The Reserve Bank has released its financial stability review April report, and on page 11 it included the tidbit about Australia’s rich withdrawing millions of dollars from their bank accounts in March:The Reserve Bank has released its financial stability review April report, and on page 11 it included the tidbit about Australia’s rich withdrawing millions of dollars from their bank accounts in March:
I guess its the 1% version of toilet paper.I guess its the 1% version of toilet paper.
Victoria Health has released its official update for the day:Victoria Health has released its official update for the day:
The total number of coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in Victoria is 1,228, an increase of 16 from yesterday.The total number of coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in Victoria is 1,228, an increase of 16 from yesterday.
There were no new deaths overnight. The number of people who have died in Victoria from coronavirus is 12.There were no new deaths overnight. The number of people who have died in Victoria from coronavirus is 12.
The total number of cases includes 642 men and 585 women. Cases range in age from babies to people in their early 90s.The total number of cases includes 642 men and 585 women. Cases range in age from babies to people in their early 90s.
There are 110 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Victoria that may have been acquired through community transmission. More than 62,000 tests have been conducted to date.There are 110 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Victoria that may have been acquired through community transmission. More than 62,000 tests have been conducted to date.
There are 50 people are in hospital, including 13 patients in intensive care, and 806 people have recovered.There are 50 people are in hospital, including 13 patients in intensive care, and 806 people have recovered.
Of the total 1,228 cases, there have been 992 in Melbourne and 225 in regional Victoria. Several cases are still being investigated.Of the total 1,228 cases, there have been 992 in Melbourne and 225 in regional Victoria. Several cases are still being investigated.
Gladys Berejiklian addressed the Don Harwin issue, after the Daily Telegraph caught the arts minister in his central coast holiday home.Gladys Berejiklian addressed the Don Harwin issue, after the Daily Telegraph caught the arts minister in his central coast holiday home.
Harwin says he chose to relocate there three weeks ago, because of his underlying health issues and didn’t break any NSW restrictions.Harwin says he chose to relocate there three weeks ago, because of his underlying health issues and didn’t break any NSW restrictions.
Berejiklian is calling him back to Sydney anyway:Berejiklian is calling him back to Sydney anyway:
Police commissioner Mick Fuller says he’ll review the case, and if there have been any breaches, Harwin will get a fine:Police commissioner Mick Fuller says he’ll review the case, and if there have been any breaches, Harwin will get a fine:
But he’ll keep his job.But he’ll keep his job.
Queensland is updating its border measures – which now includes Queenslanders who are seeking to return to Queensland after a trip over the border.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) hereYou’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:
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.
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:
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 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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
Of the 161 symptomatic travellers quarantined in hotels, 36 (22%) have tested positive.