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Coronavirus live update Australia: premiers from Victoria, NSW and Queensland join Q&A to discuss Covid-19 – latest news Coronavirus live update Australia: premiers from Victoria, NSW and Queensland join Q&A to discuss Covid-19 – latest news
(32 minutes later)
State premiers Daniel Andrews, Gladys Berejiklian and Annastacia Palaszczuk join Q&A host Hamish Macdonald as Victoria and Queensland plan to lift lockdown restrictions. Follow live updatesState premiers Daniel Andrews, Gladys Berejiklian and Annastacia Palaszczuk join Q&A host Hamish Macdonald as Victoria and Queensland plan to lift lockdown restrictions. Follow live updates
So, we’ve got NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian in the room with host Hamish McDonald and Victorian premier Daniel Andrews and Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on a fancy ABC version of Zoom.
I have moved the cat off my lap and am ready to go.
Alright, here we go. I have a cup of tea, you might want to go ahead and indulge in something stronger. The bad show will begin shortly.
We will be providing live coverage of state premiers Daniel Andrews, Gladys Berejiklian and Annastacia Palaszczuk on the ABC’s Q&A program at 9.30pm. But before we get there, here’s what’s happened today:We will be providing live coverage of state premiers Daniel Andrews, Gladys Berejiklian and Annastacia Palaszczuk on the ABC’s Q&A program at 9.30pm. But before we get there, here’s what’s happened today:
Victoria announced it would relax its restrictions from midnight tomorrow, allowing people to have up to five visitors in their home and outdoor gatherings of up to 10. Regional daytrips are allowed but not staying overnight.Victoria announced it would relax its restrictions from midnight tomorrow, allowing people to have up to five visitors in their home and outdoor gatherings of up to 10. Regional daytrips are allowed but not staying overnight.
AFL training is resuming from Wednesday.AFL training is resuming from Wednesday.
Hugs are still not recommended.Hugs are still not recommended.
Another resident of Newmarch House has died, bringing the death toll at that facility to 17. This resident had tested positive to Covid-19, then tested negative twice before they died.Another resident of Newmarch House has died, bringing the death toll at that facility to 17. This resident had tested positive to Covid-19, then tested negative twice before they died.
The CovidSafe app now has 5.5 million registered users and is “operational and working”.The CovidSafe app now has 5.5 million registered users and is “operational and working”.
Scott Morrison has indicated jobkeeper might be “adjusted” to provide more targeted (read: less broad) support. Labor says it may back it if the savings are redirected at workers who missed out.Scott Morrison has indicated jobkeeper might be “adjusted” to provide more targeted (read: less broad) support. Labor says it may back it if the savings are redirected at workers who missed out.
Morrison still doesn’t want to talk about sports rorts.Morrison still doesn’t want to talk about sports rorts.
And he says he would be “extremely disappointed” if China’s proposed barley tariffs were in response to Australia’s push for an independent investigation into the origins of Covid-19.And he says he would be “extremely disappointed” if China’s proposed barley tariffs were in response to Australia’s push for an independent investigation into the origins of Covid-19.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese has laid out his vision for a post-Covid world, saying he doesn’t want things to just snap back.Labor leader Anthony Albanese has laid out his vision for a post-Covid world, saying he doesn’t want things to just snap back.
Carnival Cruises’s port operations manager has told the Ruby Princess inquiry that they didn’t implement a 1.5 metre distancing policy between disembarking guests because he “does not remember it being a requirement at the time”.Carnival Cruises’s port operations manager has told the Ruby Princess inquiry that they didn’t implement a 1.5 metre distancing policy between disembarking guests because he “does not remember it being a requirement at the time”.
Across the ditch, New Zealand has moved to stage two restrictions, meaning schools have reopened, workers are back in offices, and restaurants and shops are reopening.Across the ditch, New Zealand has moved to stage two restrictions, meaning schools have reopened, workers are back in offices, and restaurants and shops are reopening.
You can follow our rolling global coverage here and read a more detailed summary of the day’s news in Australia here. I’ll see you in an hour or so.You can follow our rolling global coverage here and read a more detailed summary of the day’s news in Australia here. I’ll see you in an hour or so.
Chief medical officer Brendan Murphy is currently on ABC’s 7.30 program.Chief medical officer Brendan Murphy is currently on ABC’s 7.30 program.
It’s a repetition of the lines he said yesterday, and his deputies were saying today.It’s a repetition of the lines he said yesterday, and his deputies were saying today.
Asked what keeps him awake at night, Murphy says:Asked what keeps him awake at night, Murphy says:
The eased restrictions in NSW do not actually come into effect until Friday, but you have been allowed to surf — where beaches are open — for some time. “Exercise” is not narrowly defined in the public health orders.The eased restrictions in NSW do not actually come into effect until Friday, but you have been allowed to surf — where beaches are open — for some time. “Exercise” is not narrowly defined in the public health orders.
But it certainly feels less locked down this week, which may or not be a good thing.But it certainly feels less locked down this week, which may or not be a good thing.
The problem throughout the lockdown period has not been individuals going to the beach, but crowds, or apparent crowds, at beaches. So you can go to the beach for exercise purposes provided no one else has the same idea.The problem throughout the lockdown period has not been individuals going to the beach, but crowds, or apparent crowds, at beaches. So you can go to the beach for exercise purposes provided no one else has the same idea.
Paul Karp and Luke Henriques-Gomes have been looking into reports the Morrison government is considering “adjusting” the $1,500 jobkeeper payment, just days after the money actually started flowing.Paul Karp and Luke Henriques-Gomes have been looking into reports the Morrison government is considering “adjusting” the $1,500 jobkeeper payment, just days after the money actually started flowing.
And there are reports that some employers are exploiting the scheme. They write:And there are reports that some employers are exploiting the scheme. They write:
In sad news:In sad news:
Forget golf – Melbourne’s true favourite pastime, purchasing real estate, will be able to resume from Wednesday.Forget golf – Melbourne’s true favourite pastime, purchasing real estate, will be able to resume from Wednesday.
And the Real Estate Institute of Victoria is excited.And the Real Estate Institute of Victoria is excited.
Auctions and open-for-inspections will be restricted to 10 people (significantly reducing rubbernecking) and the REIV is “encouraging” real estate agents and anyone attending an auction or open house to download the Covidsafe app. The app isn’t compulsory, and real estate agents will also be taking people’s contact details for contact tracing purposes.Auctions and open-for-inspections will be restricted to 10 people (significantly reducing rubbernecking) and the REIV is “encouraging” real estate agents and anyone attending an auction or open house to download the Covidsafe app. The app isn’t compulsory, and real estate agents will also be taking people’s contact details for contact tracing purposes.
REIV president Leah Calnan said:REIV president Leah Calnan said:
Labor’s foreign affairs spokeswoman, Penny Wong, says Australia’s relationship with China is “not in a great place”.Labor’s foreign affairs spokeswoman, Penny Wong, says Australia’s relationship with China is “not in a great place”.
Speaking to ABC TV this afternoon, Wong said the relationship would benefit from “consistency and discipline and leadership” from the prime minister and foreign minister rather than backbencher-led commentary.Some Coalition backbenchers, including George Christensen and Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, have been pushing for Australia to take a hard line in its relations with China. Wong also called on the government to provide detailed briefings to parliamentarians on how Australia is handling the China relationship:Speaking to ABC TV this afternoon, Wong said the relationship would benefit from “consistency and discipline and leadership” from the prime minister and foreign minister rather than backbencher-led commentary.Some Coalition backbenchers, including George Christensen and Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, have been pushing for Australia to take a hard line in its relations with China. Wong also called on the government to provide detailed briefings to parliamentarians on how Australia is handling the China relationship:
The call comes in the wake of a diplomatic dispute between the two countries over Australia’s call for an international investigation into the origin and handling of Covid-19, which China took to be directed against it.The call comes in the wake of a diplomatic dispute between the two countries over Australia’s call for an international investigation into the origin and handling of Covid-19, which China took to be directed against it.
Tensions intensified when China’s ambassador to Australia gave an interview to a newspaper late last month saying Chinese tourists and students may rethink their plans to visit Australia in the future “if the mood is going from bad to worse”, while consumers may also decide against buying Australian wine and beef.Tensions intensified when China’s ambassador to Australia gave an interview to a newspaper late last month saying Chinese tourists and students may rethink their plans to visit Australia in the future “if the mood is going from bad to worse”, while consumers may also decide against buying Australian wine and beef.
The government is currently trying to persuade China not to proceed with plans to impose tariffs on Australian barley imports, with Scott Morrison saying the proposal stems from an 18-month-long process and he doesn’t believe it is connected to the recent inquiry proposal.The government is currently trying to persuade China not to proceed with plans to impose tariffs on Australian barley imports, with Scott Morrison saying the proposal stems from an 18-month-long process and he doesn’t believe it is connected to the recent inquiry proposal.
Cafes and restaurants in South Australia were open to sit-down customers today, for the first time in seven weeks. I say sit down, not sit-in, because customers have to dine alfresco. It’s limited to a maximum of 10 customers.Cafes and restaurants in South Australia were open to sit-down customers today, for the first time in seven weeks. I say sit down, not sit-in, because customers have to dine alfresco. It’s limited to a maximum of 10 customers.
People will not be able to eat indoors at restaurants until June.People will not be able to eat indoors at restaurants until June.
The SA premier, Steven Marshall, says the change that came into effect today will mainly benefit restaurants that have already switched to take-away service.The SA premier, Steven Marshall, says the change that came into effect today will mainly benefit restaurants that have already switched to take-away service.
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive, James Pearson, has commented on proposals to modify the $130bn jobkeeper program.
He told Guardian Australia:
A final very important question for those of us watching the snowfalls at the start of this month: will we be able to go skiing in Victoria?
Sutton says yes – to the extent that you can socially distance while skiing, so daytrips and groups of less than 10. But no staying overnight, no dorms, possibly only cross-country skiing at this point. The full details are likely to be worked out later. The ski season doesn’t open until the Queen’s birthday weekend in June.
Sutton says that by the end of the month, Australia should have a “decent antibodies test”.
He says a testing program using that test should be up and running in the next couple of months. That will give an indication of how many people in Australia have had Covid-19 and have antibodies.
But he warns it’s likely to be quite low. Even in New York, only about 20% of the population has had and recovered from Covid-19.
Is it possible we could have a second wave bigger than the first? Epstein asks.
Yes, Sutton says, mainly because our first wave was so small.
He says the limiting factor is how well people can maintain social distancing, even if the restrictions lift.
Epstein asks Sutton about the protest outside parliament in Melbourne yesterday.
Sutton says it’s “not ideal for people to be in close contact, and if there are significant gathering size, then the potential for transmission increases”.
Suttons says it’s not a matter of people just risking their own health. If the disease spreads, the chance of vulnerable people getting it grows exponentially.
Sutton says his advice to the Victorian government on if and when schools can reopen is cabinet-in-confidence.
He says he would not oppose a staggered approach to returning to school, which is what Queensland and Tasmania are doing, but won’t be drawn on what he has actually told cabinet.
Sutton is echoing a lot of the comments made by the national chief medial officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, about personal responsibility and making judgement calls about what is safe to do under these loosened restrictions.
Just as hugs are a matter of personal judgement, when and what to shop for will be matter for a personal judgement, Sutton says.
On gatherings, which are now allowed (groups of 10 outdoors and five indoors), he says “don’t gather more than you have to”.
Victoria’s chief health officer, Professor Brett Sutton, has been on ABC radio in Melbourne talking about the restrictions that will be lifted from 11.59pm tomorrow. He says lifting those restrictions is an “experiment” so the changes will be incremental.
Sutton says there is no number that will trigger the Victorian government to go back to stage three restrictions (which is what we have been in for several weeks). The key concern is community transmission, and Sutton says he would like the daily increase in cases with no known source of infection stay in single figures.
Raf Epstein asks if hugs will be allowed, if he and his kids visit his parents this weekend.
Sutton:
Sutton says he has not made a call on whether he should see his parents yet – it will be based on his health and that of his family, and also the health of his mother and her partner. “I’ll be seeing my brother first,” he says.
If anyone is unwell, he says, they should not join the group – even if they are very mildly unwell.
Good evening, it’s Calla Wahlquist here taking over from the wonderful Naaman Zhou. I’ll be taking you right through to Q&A (9.35pm on ABC), which tonight will host the east coast premiers, Daniel Andrews, Gladys Berejiklian and Annastacia Palaszczuk.
They run the biggest states and have been the strongest voices in the national cabinet, so it has the potential to be really quite interesting.
Adelaide Crows players have escaped bans or fines for their part in breaching social distancing rules during a club training session but assistant coach Ben Hart has been stood down from coaching duties for six weeks.
The AFL found the breach was “inadvertent and not done to create a competitive advantage”, and the 16 players each received a suspended one match sanction, in place for the remainder of the 2020 premiership season. Barring any further breaches, they will be available to play once the season resumes.
But Hart, who took the session involving 16 players last Thursday when the club was supposed to be self isolating in the Barossa Valley after returning from interstate travel, was not so lucky.
The Crows maintained they were not deliberately trying to break any rules, but after concluding its investigation on Monday, the AFL found the club to have been in breach of protocols.
South Australia police opted to caution, not fine the club last week, leaving the AFL to mete out punishment, with Hart now largely shouldering responsibility for the aberration. He will not be able to access the club facilities or have contact with players until 22 June.
An AFL statement read: