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Australia coronavirus update live: Two more deaths reported in NSW as national death toll reaches 74 – latest news Australia coronavirus update live: Two more deaths reported in NSW as national death toll reaches 74 – 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 liveNew South Wales chief medical officer says 231 people are now being treated for Covid-19, with 20 in intensive care. Follow live
QLD Greens MP for Maiwar, Michael Berkman, took to Twitter to warn that new residential tenancy laws being voted on in state parliament tonight will incidentally create new grounds for a landlord to evict a tenant.
Instead of passing a moratorium on all evictions, the legislation will only outlaw evictions for tenants that can prove their income has been affected by Covid-19.
But Berkman says the laws will also make it legal to evict a tenant on a fixed-term lease if they want to sell that property with vacant possession, something landlords can’t do at the moment.
The Tasmanian premier Peter Gutwein was just talking about the temporary visa holders which have largely been left without help during this crisis.
They are not the only group who have been left stranded by this in Australia though.
The lockdown in Tasmania’s north-west coast, which was put in place after an outbreak in two hospitals in the region, will be relaxed on Sunday, which is the end of the two week quarantine period.
There has been one new case of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours.
On tenancy agreements, Peter Gutwein says:
The Tasmanian premier, Peter Gutwein says a lot of temporary visa holders have been left out of the federal government assistance measures, which he wants to address:
It has been floating around again for a while, but this morning Josh Frydenberg put company tax cuts firmly back on the table.
Business Council of Australia chief executive, Jennifer Westacott told Sky News’s Laura Jayes they were absolutely needed (but she would say that, wouldn’t she).
In case you haven’t seen this as yet, or cried today, I am giving this another run, because we all need a bit of heartbreakingly lovely in our lives.
A group of friends who gathered at one of their homes to play video games are among 95 people to be issued with a $1,600 on-the-spot fine for allegedly breaching Victoria’s social distancing laws in the past 24 hours.A group of friends who gathered at one of their homes to play video games are among 95 people to be issued with a $1,600 on-the-spot fine for allegedly breaching Victoria’s social distancing laws in the past 24 hours.
Police in Victoria said they also fined three people who, they claim, “booked a short stay accommodation so they could hand out and take drugs”, as well as two people who were stopped in a car in Box Hill.Police in Victoria said they also fined three people who, they claim, “booked a short stay accommodation so they could hand out and take drugs”, as well as two people who were stopped in a car in Box Hill.
As we have seen in a number of these cases in recent weeks, police allege another offence was being committed at the same time – the driver of that car in Box Hill was unlicensed, the passenger was apparently brandishing a weapon.As we have seen in a number of these cases in recent weeks, police allege another offence was being committed at the same time – the driver of that car in Box Hill was unlicensed, the passenger was apparently brandishing a weapon.
The social distancing laws give police another reason to stop people and question their movements.The social distancing laws give police another reason to stop people and question their movements.
As Michael McGowan reported yesterday, a number of people fined in Victoria say the police were “intimidating” or “aggressive” and the laws were confusing.As Michael McGowan reported yesterday, a number of people fined in Victoria say the police were “intimidating” or “aggressive” and the laws were confusing.
But police have the discretionary power to issue on-the-spot fines and question people’s movements, and they are using that power.But police have the discretionary power to issue on-the-spot fines and question people’s movements, and they are using that power.
The first suspension was always going to be too short:The first suspension was always going to be too short:
The lifting of mutual obligations will continue until 22 May 2020 as a result of the impact of Covid-19.The lifting of mutual obligations will continue until 22 May 2020 as a result of the impact of Covid-19.
During this time employment services remain open and available to support jobseekers to prepare for and find available jobs.During this time employment services remain open and available to support jobseekers to prepare for and find available jobs.
The government has a strong expectation that jobseekers will continue to work positively with their employment service provider and take advantage of all the support that is available.The government has a strong expectation that jobseekers will continue to work positively with their employment service provider and take advantage of all the support that is available.
To further assist jobseekers to prepare for and move quickly back into work, the Morrison government is also bringing forward the Employment Fund credit for the most job-ready jobseekers to be available immediately, rather than after 13 weeks, which is currently the case.To further assist jobseekers to prepare for and move quickly back into work, the Morrison government is also bringing forward the Employment Fund credit for the most job-ready jobseekers to be available immediately, rather than after 13 weeks, which is currently the case.
This change will apply to jobseekers who commence in jobactive from 4 May 2020.This change will apply to jobseekers who commence in jobactive from 4 May 2020.
The Employment Fund can be used by employment service providers to purchase work-related items including licences, equipment, training or qualifications to ensure workers are prepared and able to take up critical roles in the economy.The Employment Fund can be used by employment service providers to purchase work-related items including licences, equipment, training or qualifications to ensure workers are prepared and able to take up critical roles in the economy.
These arrangements by the Morrison government continue to support Australians through the challenges presented by Covid-19 and will be continually reviewed.These arrangements by the Morrison government continue to support Australians through the challenges presented by Covid-19 and will be continually reviewed.
A few people have asked about the Newmarch House employee.
She was asymptomatic, meaning she was not showing any symptoms, when she went to work. She felt fine, but was tested after learning a contact of hers had been diagnosed with the virus.
The NSW Department of Health have been in contact with the woman and have reported she is “understandably distraught” over the situation.
Aged care workers in NSW are encouraged to get tested for the virus, given the danger it poses for the elderly.
Anglicare Sydney CEO Grant Millard has told the ABC the aged care sector has been in the eye of the storm of Covid-19.
It’s Newmarch centre, in western Sydney, has more than 40 cases of the virus after an employee unknowingly went to work while infected.
Three residents, who had been diagnosed with Covid-19, have died.
Millard:
Tim Pallas, the Victorian treasurer, has released some details on Victoria’s economic modelling:
Queensland – 0
NSW - five
Victoria - 2
The Victorian premier has once again warned that there will be no quick rush to remove the restrictions:
Dan Andrews is giving Victoria’s update:
This has been an issue which has been bubbling along since the childcare subsidy was announced.
There have been reports of childcare centres struggling to stay open under the plan, because of cut incomes.
Amanda Rishworth has released this statement:
Canberra has still not seen much flow-on effect on petrol prices, despite the falling price of oil. It’s not alone, and the ACCC wants Australian retailers to address it:
The future of Virgin airlines in Australia continues to stoke a pre-Covid tit for tat between the major parties.
Bill Shorten was happy to stand in Melbourne’s cold pre-winter dark morning to chat about it with the ABC:
Josh Frydenberg then weighed in.
If you visit Coles or Woolworths online, you will probably find that many of the delivery restrictions have been loosened.
The community shopping hour is still in place though.
Also, there no longer seems to be a problem finding toilet paper*.
*A sentence I could never have predicted I’d be writing in a news blog