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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 live | 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 live |
| Labor’s Katy Gallagher has probed when treasury started work on the economic stimulus/support packages, and whether Kennedy was aware more restrictions were coming on 22 March, given the second stimulus package was announced that morning. | |
| Kennedy replied it started work on 1 March, and work was continuous from then. He confirms he was aware further restrictions were coming, defending the delay until 30 March for the government to unveil the $130bn jobkeeper wage subsidy program, by noting the second package did contain income support measures. | |
| “It is an open question whether we should have advised on more extensive wage subsidy arrangements ... [sooner],” he said. | |
| Kennedy argued there are advantages to not being first - because treasury could study other countries’ wage subsidy packages to ensure it didn’t create an incentive to stand people down. | |
| When Gallagher probed the fact just $10bn has been distributed so far - with three times that amount to come in the next month - Kennedy replied “I would regard that as a rapid payment of money”. | |
| “I think, from an administrative perspective, I’m incredibly impressed with ATO and Services Australia [in distributing funds].” | |
| You can find Steven Kennedy’s whole opening statement, here. | |
| Dr Steven Kennedy says Treasury began working on the Australian response to this, from the economic point of view, on the first of March. The first economic package (since superseded several times over) was announced on 12 March. | |
| “To be honest, we never stopped working on the response from the day we started because it was unfolding,” he said. | |
| The Treasury secretary, Dr Steven Kennedy, is delivering his opening statement to the Covid-19 Senate committee looking at Australia’s response. | |
| He offers up some data – none of it good and all of it pointing to just how hard the next few years will be: | |
| Two people in Victoria have been diagnosed with Covid-19 in the last 24 hours. | Two people in Victoria have been diagnosed with Covid-19 in the last 24 hours. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 six-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. | 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. | 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”. | 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”. | 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. | 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”. | 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 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). | 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. | 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. | 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. |