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Australia coronavirus live updates: riot police enter Villawood detention centre amid Covid-19 protest by detainees – latest news Australia coronavirus live updates: riot police enter Villawood detention centre amid Covid-19 protest by detainees – latest news
(32 minutes later)
Rudd slams Trump’s ‘lunatic’ WHO decision as state and federal leaders to discuss Australian school attendance. Follow all the latest news, liveRudd slams Trump’s ‘lunatic’ WHO decision as state and federal leaders to discuss Australian school attendance. Follow all the latest news, live
And you’ll hear from the prime minister at 2.15, now that national cabinet has broken (for the day, not as a unit)
You’ll no doubt hear more about both the schools issue and the contact tracing app, tonight
National cabinet is ticking along.
The big issue still seems to be schools and how the states should go about reopening them. The health advice panel says, as it has the whole time, that it is OK to reopen schools. The states, led by Victoria, which is the strongest on this, says that goes against the limit on gatherings – not just inside the classroom, but what is happening outside, during pick-up and drop-off.
Don’t be surprised if the contact tracing app is also pushed more, as part of the conditions needed to be in place for the restrictions to be lifted.
For it to work, the government wants at least 40% of the population to take it up. It will be able to tell the government who you have been in contact with, or near, if someone tests positive.
As with everything though, that comes with a lot of privacy issues. How much are you willing to trade off?
G20 nations have decided to allow developing nations to suspend debt repayments, as the globe attempts to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
But that doesn’t mean repayments to private banks have to stop. And there is, as several advocacy groups have pointed out today, no plan for long term debt relief.
ACT Health has released its update:
There have been no new cases of Covid-19 recorded in the ACT in the past 24 hours. The ACT’s total is still 103.
A total of 79 cases have recovered from Covid-19 and have been released from self-isolation. This is more than three quarters of the ACT’s confirmed cases.
There are currently two (2) Covid-19 patients in Canberra hospitals. The remainder are isolating at home with ACT Health support.
The ACT has recorded three (3) deaths.
The number of negative tests in the ACT is now 6,516.
Asked about some of the stories of employers who are attempting to hold back some of the $1,500 wage subsidy, Michaelia Cash said eligible employers “must” pass on the full amount to their employees.Asked about some of the stories of employers who are attempting to hold back some of the $1,500 wage subsidy, Michaelia Cash said eligible employers “must” pass on the full amount to their employees.
Michaelia Cash is the latest “bright side of life” fan today, pointing to the strong participation rate in the unemployment figures, which surveyed the workforce before the Covid-19 impact to the economy.Michaelia Cash is the latest “bright side of life” fan today, pointing to the strong participation rate in the unemployment figures, which surveyed the workforce before the Covid-19 impact to the economy.
Well, this doesn’t seem the best optionWell, this doesn’t seem the best option
Australia’s immigration detention centres have been largely forgotten during this crisis. But detainees remain scared.Australia’s immigration detention centres have been largely forgotten during this crisis. But detainees remain scared.
AAP has this report:AAP has this report:
Riot police have entered western Sydney’s Villawood Immigration Detention Centre to stop a protest by detainees concerned about a Covid-19 outbreak in the facility.Riot police have entered western Sydney’s Villawood Immigration Detention Centre to stop a protest by detainees concerned about a Covid-19 outbreak in the facility.
Three detainees in the centre’s Blaxland compound have been holding a rooftop protest since Saturday while others remain on a hunger strike demanding Covid-19 virus testing and the release of detainees, according to the Refugee Action Coalition.Three detainees in the centre’s Blaxland compound have been holding a rooftop protest since Saturday while others remain on a hunger strike demanding Covid-19 virus testing and the release of detainees, according to the Refugee Action Coalition.
“Other detainees in Blaxland have been locked in their rooms,” the Refugee Action Coalition said in a statement on Thursday.“Other detainees in Blaxland have been locked in their rooms,” the Refugee Action Coalition said in a statement on Thursday.
The riot squad are on the scene with police working with Australian Border Force to control the situation, a NSW Police spokeswoman told AAP.The riot squad are on the scene with police working with Australian Border Force to control the situation, a NSW Police spokeswoman told AAP.
Brendan O’Connor says it is “important to note” that today’s unemployment figures are “not a reflection” of the Covid-19 impact, but a “reflection” of what were issues in the economy before the pandemic hit.Brendan O’Connor says it is “important to note” that today’s unemployment figures are “not a reflection” of the Covid-19 impact, but a “reflection” of what were issues in the economy before the pandemic hit.
With New Zealand looking to slightly wind back its restrictions (mostly to the restrictions Australia has now) and Australia working on its roadmap out of its restrictions (I am a person who now types words like “roadmap” unironically) cartoonist David Squires has taken a look at what normal life might look like:With New Zealand looking to slightly wind back its restrictions (mostly to the restrictions Australia has now) and Australia working on its roadmap out of its restrictions (I am a person who now types words like “roadmap” unironically) cartoonist David Squires has taken a look at what normal life might look like:
Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie says the government needs to set up a hotline for employees at risk of being exploited by employers under the wage subsidy scheme.Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie says the government needs to set up a hotline for employees at risk of being exploited by employers under the wage subsidy scheme.
That follows a call to her office from an employee who said their employer offered them their job back - but only if they gave the employer $600 of the $1,500 subsidy provided by the government.That follows a call to her office from an employee who said their employer offered them their job back - but only if they gave the employer $600 of the $1,500 subsidy provided by the government.
Penny Wong spoke to ABC Adelaide radio this morning, where she was asked about whether or not China should be reopening its wet markets (wet markets is an all-encompassing term for a fresh food market. Australia’s farmers’ markets or fish markets would be considered ‘wet markets’. The issue has been about the (much rarer) markets in some parts of China that sell wildlife, or slaughter onsite).Penny Wong spoke to ABC Adelaide radio this morning, where she was asked about whether or not China should be reopening its wet markets (wet markets is an all-encompassing term for a fresh food market. Australia’s farmers’ markets or fish markets would be considered ‘wet markets’. The issue has been about the (much rarer) markets in some parts of China that sell wildlife, or slaughter onsite).
Host: Should China be reopening its wet markets?Host: Should China be reopening its wet markets?
Wong: I think we all can agree that this can’t happen again. And China has to ensure that there are appropriate protections in place, and there is appropriate transparency.Wong: I think we all can agree that this can’t happen again. And China has to ensure that there are appropriate protections in place, and there is appropriate transparency.
Host: You’re satisfied that they’re there?Host: You’re satisfied that they’re there?
Wong:Wong:
As reported yesterday, NSW has joined the states which have expanded testing to anyone with symptoms, as it looks to assure itself community transmission is under control:As reported yesterday, NSW has joined the states which have expanded testing to anyone with symptoms, as it looks to assure itself community transmission is under control:
Labor’s First Nation caucus has released this statement, following the first meeting yesterday of its First Nation ministers and shadow ministers to discuss the issues facing Indigenous Australians under the Covid-19 crisis:
Labor First Nations ministers and shadow ministers held an historic first meeting yesterday to discuss issues confronting Indigenous Australians as the nation responds to the Covid-19 pandemic:
Indigenous Australians are particularly vulnerable to serious infection from Covid-19 due to higher rates of chronic illness.
The meeting was hosted by federal Labor’s First Nations Caucus Committee and chaired by senator for the Northern Territory Malarndirri McCarthy.
Some of the key issues identified in the discussion included:
Ensuring food security, particularly for remote communities;
Enforcing strict border controls;
Ensuring public health information is effectively communicated to First Nations communities; and
Personal protective and other medical equipment for Aboriginal community controlled health organisations.
There was strong agreement from the meeting that government and communities remain vigilant and disciplined, with consensus that current controls and restrictions protecting First Nations communities should not be wound back under the current circumstances.
These meetings will coordinate and optimise Labor’s response to the impact of Covid-19 on First Nations people nationally.
While we are on that data, it is worth taking a look at the underemployment rate as well:
So even before the economic impacts of Covid-19 were felt, underemployment was nearly at 9%.
That’s people who wanted more work, or more hours, but couldn’t get them.
That’s a pretty big issue as the economy continues to contract. Because it shows there was a lot of stress in the labour market *before* the lockdowns, despite the comparatively 5(ish)% unemployment rate (which is still 700,000 people who couldn’t find work).
The ABS has released the unemployment figures – but they only take in early March, so the figures only show a small uptick – 0.1% – in the unemployment rate, bringing it to 5.2%.
But that is BEFORE the major restrictions shut down entire industries virtually overnight.
That has led to this note from the chief economist, Bruce Hockman:
Jacinda Ardern says stage three lockdowns mean continuing to act “like you have Covid” and “those around you have Covid” to “keep your bubble safe”.
For those interested, you’ll find more information here.
It looks as though NZ will begin to reduce its restrictions next week but plans on spending quite a bit of time in level three, as it seeks to eliminate the virus entirely from its islands.
New Zealand is continuing with its elimination strategy.
Jacinda Ardern says the country is working towards returning to a level three lockdown – which means “expanding bubbles” but not opening borders.
It is now in level four, which is pretty much a complete lockdown, but is setting out the conditions for level three, which sounds a lot like what most of Australia is under right now.
Peter Dutton also tells Ray Hadley that while he “can certainly understand why President Trump has done what he has done” when it comes to cutting the US contributions to the World Health Organization, Australia relies on the WHO to help support the Pacific, and won’t be following suit.
But he says where the WHO’s position is compromised “I think it’s entirely appropriate that we call them out”.
The home affairs minister, Peter Dutton, has been given a clean bill of health by Queensland Health, a month after contracting Covid-19. Which is good to hear.
He was back on Sydney radio 2GB for his weekly chat with Ray Hadley, where he was asked about Malcolm Turnbull’s upcoming book, A Bigger Picture.
Nothing like a former prime minister’s memoir after a leadership coup to cut through a concentrated news cycle.
You can read some takeaways from the book, here, in this report from Katharine Murphy.
Dutton wished Turnbull “all the best in his retirement” and says he is not interested in getting into a “tit-for-tat” (Turnbull is reportedly not overly complimentary about Dutton’s leadership ambitions in his tome, but hey – at least it let the home affairs minister “smile” a bit more with the Australian public.)
“I really am very grateful everyday that Bill Shorten is not the prime minister of this country,” says the man whose inability to count kicked off the whole leadership coup, which ended with Scott Morrison as prime minister.
You can imagine what Hadley, who was never Turnbull’s biggest fan, has to say about the book.
The government is also establishing 83 mobile testing sites for Indigenous communities.
The sites will be equipped with rapid testing kits, to ensure results are received as quickly as possible for some of Australia’s most vulnerable communities.
Greg Hunt spoke to Sky News this morning about the national cabinet’s position on schools:
It is national cabinet meeting time, so it will be a bit quiet for the next hour or so as the state and territory leaders join that teleconference with their national counterparts.
Because I keep getting messages about this, for any Americans who are still not across it, or for those who have been paying more attention to someone on social media then their lessons on the Australian constitution, the national cabinet is part of the federation, featuring democratically elected leaders.
We have had a version of it for a long, long time. Every time we talk about Coag, the Council of Australian Governments, it’s the same principle – state and territory leaders, discussing funding agreements with the commonwealth. In this case, it is state and territory leaders, discussing funding agreements for a public and economic health crisis, and making sure everyone at least has the same information.