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Coronavirus Australia update latest: NSW to relax restrictions to allow two adults to visit a household – live news Coronavirus Australia update latest: NSW to relax restrictions to allow two adults to visit a household – live news
(32 minutes later)
Bondi reopens for swimming and surfing but the beach itself remains closed given the area boasts the highest number of Covid-19 cases in Australia. Follow liveBondi reopens for swimming and surfing but the beach itself remains closed given the area boasts the highest number of Covid-19 cases in Australia. Follow live
Clive Palmer took out a three page ad today, boasting about buying 32,900,000 doses of hydroxychloroquine because he is Clive Palmer and Australia has a Donald Trump sized hole he loves to do his best to fill. Two people in Victoria have been diagnosed with Covid-19 in the last 24 hours.
A friend of the blog alerted me to this discussion on Melbourne radio 3AW. Infectious disease experts are not in to it. Sorry for the incorrect figures on Queensland a little bit ago – they have no new cases – I am watching a lot of press conferences at once, and the way the information is now being presented is a little haphazard because it is no longer those big numbers we had been seeing just a couple of weeks ago. Which is good news.
Those insurance council updates are coming through to you now that they have the sound working, because teleconference dramas are now part of our daily lives.
Insurance Council of Australia witnesses have said that landlords have made 3,000 claims for loss of rent due to Covid-19 so far.
The ICA said that “nearly all” insurers have adjusted the triggers for claims so that an eviction notice or notice of arrears is no longer required - an important step given the national cabinet has agreed on a 6 month moratorium on evictions. Instead, they’re accepting application forms for government relief programs as evidence of tenants in distress.
The ICA said it reminds its members of “community expectations” but doesn’t punish them if they don’t adjust their policies, and nor does it advise them not to sue tenants in arrears for lost rent.
Robert Whelan noted that insurers abide by their contracts and “so too should tenants”. Decisions to sue a tenant for rent in arrears are made on a “case by case basis”.
Queensland has reported no new people with Covid-19 in the last 24 hours.
Liberal senator James Paterson was on Sky News this morning, where he was also asked about China’s “threats”.
Robert Whelan, the chief executive of the Insurance Council of Australia, is giving evidence to the house economics committee about what he called the “worst natural disaster season on record”.
In his opening statement, Whelan said Australians made $4.6bn of insurance claims since September above and beyond the normal level of claims, some 242,000 claims for damage to family homes, small businesses, cars and belongings.
Of that, some $2.26bn of claims related to the Black Summer bushfires, in which some communities were “virtually wiped out”.
Whelan also noted the “severe summer hail storms” that hit Canberra particularly hard.
Whelan said insurers support the aims of and are responding to the recommendations of the Hayne royal commission, but adds that it found “no systemic issues with general insurance industry” (earlier, he noted the ICA does not cover the life insurance or private health insurance industries).
Clive Palmer took out a three-page ad today, boasting about buying 32,900,000 doses of hydroxychloroquine because he is Clive Palmer and Australia has a Donald Trump-sized hole he loves to do his best to fill.
A friend of the blog alerted me to this discussion on Melbourne radio 3AW. Infectious disease experts are not into it.
For the record, research is being carried out, but so far, it has been found not to be an effective treatment. Also, DO NOT undergo any drug treatment without talking to a doctor. I know I shouldn’t have to say that, but then again, we know people have started injecting themselves with disinfectant so you can never be too careful.For the record, research is being carried out, but so far, it has been found not to be an effective treatment. Also, DO NOT undergo any drug treatment without talking to a doctor. I know I shouldn’t have to say that, but then again, we know people have started injecting themselves with disinfectant so you can never be too careful.
Here is the whole program for that Senate committee hearing today.Here is the whole program for that Senate committee hearing today.
The select Senate committee which was set up to examine the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic will meet again today.The select Senate committee which was set up to examine the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic will meet again today.
Treasury is the main guest.Treasury is the main guest.
Paul Karp will be watching that for you.Paul Karp will be watching that for you.
Malcolm Farr has the latest Essential poll.Malcolm Farr has the latest Essential poll.
The usual poll caveats apply.The usual poll caveats apply.
For those who were asking, this is what Anthony Albanese had to say about Mike Kelly’s future when the Labor leader was asked on ABC radio this morning:For those who were asking, this is what Anthony Albanese had to say about Mike Kelly’s future when the Labor leader was asked on ABC radio this morning:
Fran Kelly: Just finally, Anthony Albanese, there’s many reports that the Labor member in Eden Monaro, Mike Kelly, is about to retire from parliament for ill health. Has he told you he is retiring?Fran Kelly: Just finally, Anthony Albanese, there’s many reports that the Labor member in Eden Monaro, Mike Kelly, is about to retire from parliament for ill health. Has he told you he is retiring?
Albanese: Look, he is dealing with some health issues, there is no secret in that. And he is not the only member of parliament who has been dealing with health issues in recent times on both sides of the House. And it’s important at times like that, that people’s privacy and their capacity to deal with those health issues is dealt with.Albanese: Look, he is dealing with some health issues, there is no secret in that. And he is not the only member of parliament who has been dealing with health issues in recent times on both sides of the House. And it’s important at times like that, that people’s privacy and their capacity to deal with those health issues is dealt with.
Kelly: Are you preparing for a byelection in Eden-Monaro?Kelly: Are you preparing for a byelection in Eden-Monaro?
Albanese: What I’m preparing for is parliament coming back in May. And in terms of Mike Kelly’s health issues, they are well-known. They actually arise from his service in the defence force and his exposure that occurred whilst serving our nation overseas. And that’s deserving of respect and deserving of something better than speculation which has been around for the last year also about Mike Kelly.Albanese: What I’m preparing for is parliament coming back in May. And in terms of Mike Kelly’s health issues, they are well-known. They actually arise from his service in the defence force and his exposure that occurred whilst serving our nation overseas. And that’s deserving of respect and deserving of something better than speculation which has been around for the last year also about Mike Kelly.
Swimmers were also back in the water at Bronte and Bondi in Sydney’s east.Swimmers were also back in the water at Bronte and Bondi in Sydney’s east.
NSW police have confirmed that NRL players Josh Addo-Carr and Latrell Mitchell are being investigated for firearm breaches after the pair went camping with a group, breaking social distancing rules, and then posted about it on social media.NSW police have confirmed that NRL players Josh Addo-Carr and Latrell Mitchell are being investigated for firearm breaches after the pair went camping with a group, breaking social distancing rules, and then posted about it on social media.
Among those social media posts was the pair shooting firearms. So that is the next investigation.Among those social media posts was the pair shooting firearms. So that is the next investigation.
NSW police said everyone was being “very cooperative” though. So there is that.NSW police said everyone was being “very cooperative” though. So there is that.
But Anthony Albanese says Labor does hold common ground with the government when it comes to pushing back against China’s threats of consumer retribution to get Australia to back off its calls for an independent inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus, and China’s response.But Anthony Albanese says Labor does hold common ground with the government when it comes to pushing back against China’s threats of consumer retribution to get Australia to back off its calls for an independent inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus, and China’s response.
Marise Payne has said Australia will not be cowed by threats of economic coercion. Albanese agrees:Marise Payne has said Australia will not be cowed by threats of economic coercion. Albanese agrees:
Some heartwarming pictures are coming from Bondi this morning of surfers reclaiming their waves.Some heartwarming pictures are coming from Bondi this morning of surfers reclaiming their waves.
You can tell the eye of the (first and hopefully only) storm is passing because politics is starting to return to normal.
And normal in Australia means we are talking about Angus Taylor.
Here was Anthony Albanese on the ABC this morning:
Gladys Berejiklian on the NSW changes:
NSW Health has recorded five new cases since the last announcement. That is from 4,112 tests.
NSW wants to get to 8,000 tests a day.
Gladys Berejiklian says there will be a staged approach to bringing back schools but, from mid-term, schools should be back to on-site learning.
That matches what Queensland has indicated it will be doing – its schools will be pupil-free until 22 May, with a decision on returns to be made in the week of 15 May, which is mid-term for that state.
Victoria is still to announce its concrete return plan.
Berejiklian:
Berejiklian also says NSW will relax some of its physical restriction rules:
On whether or not Mike Kelly will announce his retirement (Kelly has been unwell for sometime, after suffering severe dehydration while serving in the Middle East), sparking a byelection Labor is in no way guaranteed to win, Anthony Albanese says Kelly deserves privacy to make his own decisions about his future.
Anthony Albanese is speaking to Fran Kelly on ABC radio about this story:
He says Labor will pursue it in parliament, and while the doctored documents have not been the opposition’s focus during the pandemic response, questions still need to be asked.
Albanese says trust is a fundamental underpinning of Australia’s democracy.
Josh Frydenberg and Mathias Cormann will make a statement to parliament about the impact on the economy from the coronavirus measures:
The Morrison government will give $95m to zoos, wildlife parks and aquariums suffering from the downturn in tourism owing to Covid-19.
Although privately operated zoos are eligible for wage subsidies, the tourism minister, Simon Birmingham, has cited their high operating costs caring for animals as the reason for the government to turn from jobkeeper to zookeeper.
Under the plan, exhibiting zoos, aquariums and wildlife sanctuaries can apply for payments of up to $1m.
The bailout package comes from a $1bn relief and recovery fund for sectors disproportionately affected by Covid-19 administered by Michael McCormack’s infrastructure and regional development department.
The fund has paid to underwrite commercial airlines ($198m), supported smaller regional airlines ($100m) and provided air freight to agriculture and fishery industries ($110m).
Birmingham said:
Apparently zoos can face costs of up to $500,000 to maintain a large chimpanzee exhibit, such as at Taronga zoo in Sydney, or Monarto zoo in South Australia. A large herd of elephants at a zoo like Melbourne or Western Plains will eat more than $100,000 in hay a year. A single lion needs about $250 in red meat a week, or $13,000 worth of red meat in a year.
Anglicare has just announced the death of a seventh resident from its western Sydney Newmarch House facility:
Happy Tuesday.
Schools are back across the country but the debate about whether pupils should be on-site continues, despite most jurisdictions hinting at a plan for how that will happen.
In the UK things became a little more complicated for children, in terms of Covid-19, which will no doubt play into the debate here.
Newspoll has looked at the personal popularity of the state leaders and they’ve all seen a boost – but none quite like WA’s Mark McGowan, who now holds an approval rating of 89%. And all it took was finally closing WA’s borders. On the flip side, Annastacia Palaszczuk in Queensland saw a bump but still had the lowest personal approval rating of the state leaders, at 55%. That state is headed to an election in October.
Elsewhere, more than 2 million Australians have downloaded the government’s Covid tracing app. That comes as the chief medical officer again warns that even with restrictions lifted, without a vaccine, Australians won’t be going back to what they knew as normal life.
But slowly, little things which mean a lot are opening up. Bondi should be open for swims/surfs, the Northern Territory will be opening its parks, WA will allow gatherings of up to 10 people and, in Queensland, you can have picnics and drives again (soon).
But the list of industries and sectors impacted continues to grow – the federal government has just announced it will be spending $95m on keeping zoos afloat.
We’ll have all the day’s events and more as they pop up. You have Amy Remeikis with you for most of the day.
Ready?