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Australia coronavirus update live: Australian government to buy $100m of fuel for stockpile – latest news Australia coronavirus update live: Australian government to buy $100m of fuel for stockpile – latest news
(32 minutes later)
New South Wales chief medical officer says 231 people are now being treated for Covid-19, with 20 in intensive care. Follow live Energy minister Angus Taylor says ‘now is the time to buy fuel’ as Senate committee into government’s response to Covid-19 crisis prepares for first hearing. Follow live
Was the advice to stop cruise ships too slow? Kelly says it’s easy to judge in hindsight, and there are so many ships and thousands of people on them.
“We made a decision very early in the epidemic in Australia about limiting cruise ship arrivals into Australia. We have allowed cruise ships to come for two main reasons. One, to allow Australians to come home, but also for ships that have demonstrated that they are in distress from Covid-19 or other reasons have docked. And we’ve seen what that has led to. So, in terms of cruise ships, we said very early on – and there was very specific advice given to Australians about cruise ships as early as mid-March – that people should reconsider whether they should go on cruise ships as part of the advice that came from the prime minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, as I recall. So, we’ve been clear in our advice. Most people have taken that on board. There are only two cruise ships still in Australian waters, and none of those have passengers on them.”
Given there are fewer cases there, could regional and remote areas open up sooner and act as test cases for the rest of the country? Best to wait and see, Kelly says.
“We do know that remote areas, regional areas, and rural areas of Australia have less capability to cope with a large outbreak in terms of health facilities, for example, or even public health facilities to investigate such outbreaks. So, I think it’s reasonable for us to wait a bit longer to really protect those healthcare assets in those places and to protect the communities in our rural, remote and regional areas.”
Aged care minister Richard Colbeck has put out this information on what the federal government is doing for the Newmarch aged care centre in Sydney, given the large number of cases of coronavirus at the facility:
Deputy chief medical officer Paul Kelly is holding a press conference.
Since 3pm yesterday afternoon, there are only four new confirmed cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 6,649 across Australia.
“We’re doing well in terms of flattening the curve.”He says that is key to easing restrictions.
I just got back from a press conference held by Victorian health minister Jenny Mikakos.
I’ve been trying to establish whether state and territory governments will require people to be downloading and using the federal government’s contact tracing app in order for restrictions to be eased.
Mikakos told me that no, Victoria will not make it a requirement for easing restrictions, nor will Victoria need a proportion of the population using the app before it will consider easing restrictions.
“We won’t be compelling people to use that app,” she said.
“This is a proposal that the federal government has taken to the national cabinet to encourage Australians to utilise the contact tracing app. I think it has some merit, personally I will download the app. I have no qualms about using the app but I do think it is important that reassurances are given to the community about how their privacy will be protected and how the app will be working.”
Importantly, she said Victoria “won’t be setting any preconditions” on uptake of the app, but preconditions would be set up around other factors, such as more testing, more tracing, and response activity if there is an outbreak in a particular area.
“But that work will be done regardless of the success or otherwise of this new application,” she said.
That is in contrast to prime minister Scott Morrison who indicated 40% of the population would need to be using the app as we begin to ease restrictions.
Deputy chief medical officer professor Paul Kelly is about to give the national update, but from the numbers we have heard so far today, it is looking good.
Josh Taylor will take you through that. Thank you so much for joining us once again, and for welcoming me back. Winter lurgies will find a way to get you, if they can, so keep washing your hands and stay safe. I’ll be back tomorrow. In the meantime, as always, take care of you.
Reinforcing just how non-existent retail trade outside supermarkets is going to be for the next month or so, department store Myer has just extended the closure of its outlets to at least 11 May.Reinforcing just how non-existent retail trade outside supermarkets is going to be for the next month or so, department store Myer has just extended the closure of its outlets to at least 11 May.
They were closed on 29 March.They were closed on 29 March.
Myer said the vast majority of its staff remained stood down but it has applied for the jobkeeper scheme.Myer said the vast majority of its staff remained stood down but it has applied for the jobkeeper scheme.
AAP has some NRL news:AAP has some NRL news:
The NSW Rugby League plans to resume its grassroots competition seasons in July, but the NRL’s reserve grade competition will remain cancelled due to the coronavirus.The NSW Rugby League plans to resume its grassroots competition seasons in July, but the NRL’s reserve grade competition will remain cancelled due to the coronavirus.
NSWRL boss Dave Trodden confirmed on Wednesday it was working towards resuming the Ron Massey Cup, Sydney Shield and women’s premiership on July 18.NSWRL boss Dave Trodden confirmed on Wednesday it was working towards resuming the Ron Massey Cup, Sydney Shield and women’s premiership on July 18.
Players will be able to return to training from the start of July, with the comeback to be rubber stamped on June 1, depending on state government approval.Players will be able to return to training from the start of July, with the comeback to be rubber stamped on June 1, depending on state government approval.
The development will also include all park football, ranging from under-6s to open age with 100,000 participants involved.The development will also include all park football, ranging from under-6s to open age with 100,000 participants involved.
But the top-tier competitions, including NSW Cup, Jersey Flegg, Harold Matthews, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale Cup will not come back.But the top-tier competitions, including NSW Cup, Jersey Flegg, Harold Matthews, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale Cup will not come back.
It’s thought the cost of running what effectively would have been a 10-week season was far too great.It’s thought the cost of running what effectively would have been a 10-week season was far too great.
The decision will also take a strain off NRL clubs, who had already accounted for the reserve grade competitions not returning in 2020.The decision will also take a strain off NRL clubs, who had already accounted for the reserve grade competitions not returning in 2020.
Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos has addressed media this afternoon to discuss plans to open the water at Bondi, Bronte and Tamarama beach.Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos has addressed media this afternoon to discuss plans to open the water at Bondi, Bronte and Tamarama beach.
She has emphasised that people will not be allowed to exercise on the sand. There will be fences erected on the beach, tunnelling swimmers and surfers into and out of the water.She has emphasised that people will not be allowed to exercise on the sand. There will be fences erected on the beach, tunnelling swimmers and surfers into and out of the water.
“If people are not going to be respecting the current rules, and they’re not going to be taking instruction ... they will be asked to leave,” she said.“If people are not going to be respecting the current rules, and they’re not going to be taking instruction ... they will be asked to leave,” she said.
“I really wanted to ensure that we don’t have to close this down. I’m asking people, please abide by the social distancing requirements. If you do come and see that the corridors are really busy or there is a line, please, leave and come back another time.”“I really wanted to ensure that we don’t have to close this down. I’m asking people, please abide by the social distancing requirements. If you do come and see that the corridors are really busy or there is a line, please, leave and come back another time.”
Bondi and Bronte beaches will be opened to surfers and ocean swimmers, while Tamarama will only be open to surfers due to dangerous conditions.Bondi and Bronte beaches will be opened to surfers and ocean swimmers, while Tamarama will only be open to surfers due to dangerous conditions.
The water will be opened next Tuesday after the NSW school holidays have ended.The water will be opened next Tuesday after the NSW school holidays have ended.
You’ll be hearing these words a lot more often:You’ll be hearing these words a lot more often:
A new hotline has been set up for older Australians, who might need some extra advice, or just have some questions, about Covid-19 and their care:A new hotline has been set up for older Australians, who might need some extra advice, or just have some questions, about Covid-19 and their care:
Council on the Ageing (Cota) Australia, National Seniors Australia, Older Persons Advocacy Network (Opan) and Dementia Australia have banded together, supported by the commonwealth government, to create the National Covid Older Persons Information Line. Older people and carers are encouraged to call 1800 171 866 to speak to friendly, specially trained staff from a senior’s advocacy organisation.Council on the Ageing (Cota) Australia, National Seniors Australia, Older Persons Advocacy Network (Opan) and Dementia Australia have banded together, supported by the commonwealth government, to create the National Covid Older Persons Information Line. Older people and carers are encouraged to call 1800 171 866 to speak to friendly, specially trained staff from a senior’s advocacy organisation.
Opan CEO Craig Gear said the hotline will provide particular support to those accessing aged care services who are disproportionately impacted by health precautions and restrictions.Opan CEO Craig Gear said the hotline will provide particular support to those accessing aged care services who are disproportionately impacted by health precautions and restrictions.
And then on the flip side, Citibank reports:
Citibank’s economists have taken a look at the ABS’s retail spending figures for March.
They have some thoughts:
WA premier Mark McGowan:
Western Australia has also recorded no new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours.
The ATO has deferred payments and lodgements, as part of the Covid response.
From Michael Sukkar:
The Morrison government welcomes the decision of the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to ease the burden on tax professionals during this difficult time by providing a short-term blanket deferral for a number of lodgement and payment obligations.
These lodgement deferrals will be automatically applied, and tax professionals with clients in bushfire-affected areas will continue to have the benefit of deferrals already in place as announced by the ATO on 20 January 2020.
Bushfire-affected clients will have their payment due date aligned with the same due date as the blanket deferral giving these taxpayers additional time to pay.
The ATO has also indicated that tax professionals will not be adversely affected if their lodgement performance does not meet the 85% performance benchmark during this time. I thank the ATO for providing this assistance to tax practitioners and for taking commonsense steps that will ease the burden on them at this time.
Further information can be found on the ATO’s webpage at: www.ato.gov.au/General/COVID-19/Support-for-tax-professionals/
A crew member on the Ruby Princess had a temperature of 39.2C, but had tested negative for influenza A and B, on the day that 2,700 passengers disembarked in Sydney, the special commission into the cruise ship has heard.
According to the ship’s internal “human health” report and logs, revealed in the special commission, 128 people had also become ill in the 14 days before it docked on March 18, and 24 had temperatures above 38C.
The commissioner, Bret Walker SC, is questioning the ship’s senior doctor, Dr Ilse Von Watzdorf today.
He asks, of that crew member with a 39.2C fever, “does that amount to that crew member showing symptoms of Covid-19?”
“Yes,” says Von Watzdorf. “Those symptoms are potential Covid-19.”
Strangely, Christian Porter has also discovered that talking with the union movement, instead of treating employee representatives as organisations which need to be crushed, can actually lead to better outcomes for everyone.
Who. Knew.
From that same interview, on the subject of industrial reform:
For the record, there were ‘massive pressures’ on wage growth in Australia, BEFORE the pandemic. And by massive pressure, I mean wages had no growth.
But here is Christian Porter speaking to Perth radio 6PR this morning on the economy on the other side of these most recent restrictions:
But given the fuel won’t be kept in Australia, and, in the case of a conflict, or a supply chain break (which is the point of having an emergency strategic fuel reserve in the first place) what is the point?
If something happened, Australia’s emergency fuel supply would be sitting in the US. Not exactly handy.
Angus Taylor says its a step-by-step process:
It’s not just commuters who are buying up if you are lucky enough to live somewhere the fuel price drop has been passed along to the bowser – the Australian government is using the price war to finally do something about Australia’s own fuel reserve. It just won’t be kept in Australia as yet, because Angus Taylor says we have no where to keep it.
Taylor: