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Australia coronavirus live: Scott Morrison sets out three conditions to lift lockdown – latest news Australia coronavirus live: Scott Morrison sets out three conditions to lift lockdown – latest news
(32 minutes later)
Kevin Rudd slams Donald Trump’s ‘lunatic’ WHO decision as state and federal leaders discuss Australian school attendance. Follow all the latest news, liveKevin Rudd slams Donald Trump’s ‘lunatic’ WHO decision as state and federal leaders discuss Australian school attendance. Follow all the latest news, live
Scott Morrison’s government has agreed to pay airlines to keep what’s described as a “minimal domestic schedule” of flights in the air.
The move means Virgin Australia, which is under intense financial pressure and had grounded its fleet, will resume flying tomorrow and continue the routes for at least the next eight weeks.
“The minimal domestic schedule will enable Virgin Australia to reinstate some of its stood down flight, cabin and ground crew, along with other operational team members,” the airline said in a statement.
It is understood bigger rival Qantas, which has been considering closing some flights because they are running at less than a third full, has also been funded under the program.
Details of the total cost and scope of the program weren’t immediately available but announcements by the government and Qantas are expected this evening.
Virgin Australia said that it would use the money to fly between capital cities and regional centres.
Service frequencies range from seven return flights a week on popular routes including Melbourne-Sydney down to just twice a week for routes such as Perth-Kalgoorlie.
AAP is reporting a passenger on a Qantas flight from from Sydney to Brisbane on Monday was infectious with COVID-19.
Queensland Health warned other passengers of the diagnosis by text and then a phone call before directing them to self-quarantine in an email on Thursday.
The flight, QF520, arrived at Brisbane domestic terminal early on Monday afternoon.
“A person on this flight was infectious with COVID-19,” the Queensland Health email stated.
“You may be at risk of becoming unwell from exposure until midnight 27th April, 2020.”
Queensland Health did not answer questions and instead referred AAP to its “contact tracing alerts” web page.
Scott Morrison outlined this afternoon the three conditions that need to be met before Australia’s social distancing restrictions can be eased. If you missed it, you can catch up with this short video.Scott Morrison outlined this afternoon the three conditions that need to be met before Australia’s social distancing restrictions can be eased. If you missed it, you can catch up with this short video.
And in some Covid-19 but also non-Covid related news, you might have missed this story earlier today about the statutory review of Australia’s environmental laws.And in some Covid-19 but also non-Covid related news, you might have missed this story earlier today about the statutory review of Australia’s environmental laws.
This is a major independent review of Australia’s conservation act that happens once every 10 years. Six major environment groups want completion of the review delayed because of the back-to-back bushfire and coronavirus crises, as well as the departure of the environmental law specialist from the government’s expert panel.This is a major independent review of Australia’s conservation act that happens once every 10 years. Six major environment groups want completion of the review delayed because of the back-to-back bushfire and coronavirus crises, as well as the departure of the environmental law specialist from the government’s expert panel.
Adam Bandt has now commented on the government’s decision to reduce the consultation period for enterprise bargaining agreements to 24 hours.Adam Bandt has now commented on the government’s decision to reduce the consultation period for enterprise bargaining agreements to 24 hours.
The Financial Review has published this story about some modelling for the Institute of Actuaries that suggests the number of coronavirus cases in Australia could be higher than official figures. Their results suggest as many as 20,000 cases.The Financial Review has published this story about some modelling for the Institute of Actuaries that suggests the number of coronavirus cases in Australia could be higher than official figures. Their results suggest as many as 20,000 cases.
The chief medical officer, Brendan Murphy, has told the AFR the modelling is unlikely to be correct.The chief medical officer, Brendan Murphy, has told the AFR the modelling is unlikely to be correct.
In Queensland’s daily update, the state says it will launch a jobs portal aimed at helping those who are out of work due to the Covid-19 crisis.In Queensland’s daily update, the state says it will launch a jobs portal aimed at helping those who are out of work due to the Covid-19 crisis.
The state’s treasurer, Jackie Trad, said Queenslanders looking for work could upload information on their skills and work experience to jobsfinder.qld.gov.au to be matched to available jobs and free online training courses.The state’s treasurer, Jackie Trad, said Queenslanders looking for work could upload information on their skills and work experience to jobsfinder.qld.gov.au to be matched to available jobs and free online training courses.
Queensland recorded five new cases of Covid-19 overnight. There are now 554 active cases in the state, 442 people have recovered and five have died, for a total of 1001 cases.Queensland recorded five new cases of Covid-19 overnight. There are now 554 active cases in the state, 442 people have recovered and five have died, for a total of 1001 cases.
The state’s chief health officer, Jeannette Young, said the current case numbers were “excellent news” but warned they would get worse when more people returned from overseas. People returning from overseas would go into hotel quarantine.The state’s chief health officer, Jeannette Young, said the current case numbers were “excellent news” but warned they would get worse when more people returned from overseas. People returning from overseas would go into hotel quarantine.
Western Australia has published its daily Covid-19 update:Western Australia has published its daily Covid-19 update:
There were three new confirmed cases overnight, bringing the state’s total to 535.There were three new confirmed cases overnight, bringing the state’s total to 535.
All three cases are in metropolitan Perth. Two cases are related to cruise ships, one from the Artania and one from the Costa Victoria. One case is still under investigation.All three cases are in metropolitan Perth. Two cases are related to cruise ships, one from the Artania and one from the Costa Victoria. One case is still under investigation.
Contact tracing is under way to ensure all close contacts are notified and advised of the requirement for them to self-isolate.Contact tracing is under way to ensure all close contacts are notified and advised of the requirement for them to self-isolate.
There are currently 33 confirmed Covid-19 patients in Perth metropolitan hospitals, eight of whom are in intensive care.There are currently 33 confirmed Covid-19 patients in Perth metropolitan hospitals, eight of whom are in intensive care.
To date, 25,088 Western Australians have tested negative for Covid-19. Of those, 5,279 are from regional WA.To date, 25,088 Western Australians have tested negative for Covid-19. Of those, 5,279 are from regional WA.
WA has 340 recovered cases.WA has 340 recovered cases.
I’m going to hand over to my colleague Lisa Cox now. Stay safe and healthy. And have a good night.I’m going to hand over to my colleague Lisa Cox now. Stay safe and healthy. And have a good night.
Peak body Ai-Group has backed the industrial relations changes that Labor is railing against in the previous post.Peak body Ai-Group has backed the industrial relations changes that Labor is railing against in the previous post.
In a statement, chief executive Innes Willox says:In a statement, chief executive Innes Willox says:
Labor’s industrial relations spokesman, Tony Burke, says the government’s decision to reduce the consultation period for changes to enterprise agreements “will rob workers of an important safeguard that protects their pay and conditions”.
Burke accused the attorney general, Christian Porter, of undermining the “tremendous goodwill” between unions and employer groups that had emerged during the coronavirus crisis.
The government’s changes reduce the required consultation time from one week to 24 hours.
Burke said: “Labor recognises the need to move quickly to vary awards during the coronavirus crisis in order to keep people in jobs when businesses are doing it tough. But this tips the balance too far in employers’ favour.”
Burke warned that the change applied also to businesses that were doing well in the current circumstances.
Tehan says his 16-year-old daughter agreed to go back to school because she understood it might put the education minister in a difficult situation if she didn’t.
He says: “As I said yesterday, I was going to have a discussion with my daughter and she’s obviously been following this debate closely. And has understood the role that I’ve been playing in saying that schools do remain safe.
“Now there is online supervised learning taking place at her school. And she said to me, ‘Dad, I’m happy to go along. ‘I’ve been watching and following what’s going on and I understand it might place you in a difficult situation if I don’t.’”
He adds: “I must say I was very proud of her in the way she understood the predicament that I was in and was prepared to say that I’m happy to back you and support you.”
Tehan says that it’s a possibility that parents will not be allowed onto school grounds.
He says: “Obviously the medical experts will provide that advice but it’s very clear that the greatest risk to teachers comes from contact with other adults.
“So every step that can be put in place which limits the ability of parents to interact with teachers and make sure there’s proper social distancing between teachers, obviously would make a lot of sense.”
Does he accept that Victoria won’t reopen schools for the majority of students in term two at all?
Tehan says: “Well ultimately, as the prime minister has made clear, that will be a decision for the premier and the education minister in Victoria. So they’ll continue to look at the situation there and if they think it’s possible to ease restrictions, I’m sure schooling would be one of the things they’d look.”
Tehan is asked about the “principles” on schools that have come out of national cabinet. Karvelas puts it to him that ultimately states will just go it alone.
“They’re important principles,” Tehan says. “And I think we shouldn’t dismiss them. And the first one is an incredibly important statement and the best way we can educate our children is in the classroom and being delivered by professional teachers.”
Hello everyone, and thanks Amy. Get well soon. We might start with the education minister, Dan Tehan, who is speaking to Patricia Karvelas on the ABC.
On that note, I am going to hand the blog over to Luke Henriques-Gomes and take my (non-Covid) cold back to bed.
I’ll be back tomorrow morning. Take care of you.