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Australia coronavirus live news: Albanese sets Labor's vision for recovery; deficit could grow to $143bn – latest updates Australia coronavirus live news: Albanese sets Labor's vision for recovery; deficit could grow to $143bn – latest updates
(32 minutes later)
In a speech to caucus, the Labor leader will say Australia should not ‘snap back’ to insecure work. Follow all the latest news and updates, liveIn a speech to caucus, the Labor leader will say Australia should not ‘snap back’ to insecure work. Follow all the latest news and updates, live
The Australian Association of Social Workers want the government to increase the number of mental health sessions allowable under Medicare, given the increased pressure people are living under – and will have to live under, for sometime to come.
At the moment, you can get up to 10. The AASW wants that doubled (at least). From national president Christine Craik:
It’s been a slow start to the sixth day of hearings in the Ruby Princess special inquiry. But commissioner Bret Walker SC has passed some interesting comment on the responsibility of the NSW Port Authority.
The inquiry is deciding whether or not to ask more questions of Cameron Butchart, who was the duty harbourmaster on March 18 and 19. The legal team for Carnival Australia, who are the operators of the Ruby Princess, want to question Butchart on some of his evidence.
But Walker said he does not consider Butchart to be a “decision-maker” and his actions were not a “pivotal event” in the saga. “Neither the docking nor the decision to permit disembarkation as it occurred was affected by what Mr Butchart told anybody,” Walker said. He adds that there is “no Flying Dutchman” scenario – by which he means a scenario where the ship would never have docked at all. He says he’s more interested in why passengers were allowed off the ship before test results came back, which is not the responsibility of the NSW Port Authority.
“I am not interested in exploring some supposedly superior outcome where the ship was not permitted to dock [at all] in Sydney on the 19th,” he says.
David Littleproud has been doing the rounds this morning, spruiking the $650m bushfire recovery fund just announced by the government.
He was also very, very careful to point out that the states are in charge of the recovery. Here he is on the Seven Network this morning:
With politics resuming its normal Auspol-ness, and the Eden-Monaro byelection campaigns whirring up, expect to hear those lines a lot more.
The MPs are starting to arrive ahead of tomorrow’s sitting.
We are about an hour away from Victoria’s premier, Daniel Andrews, making his announcement on how that state will ease lockdowns.
Victoria’s state of emergency expires tonight.
The Eden-Monaro byelection has put the bushfire recovery back on the agenda – and truly, it is beyond time.
There are still many, many families with no accommodation. Insurance issues. Landlines down. Mobile towers down. Closed roads and collapsed bridges.
Cobargo was one of the communities hardest hit.
Andrew Haydon, president of the Cobargo Tourist and Business Association says there is a feeling in the town that people are in “a worse situation now, than they were immediately after the bushfires” and with the pandemic, phone calls to authorities are no longer being returned:
US Marines will be returning to the Top End. In case you missed it, Linda Reynolds gave the all-clear (with physical distance caveats) for the annual rotation of US defence troops to commence (it was meant to be in March but was delayed because of Covid).US Marines will be returning to the Top End. In case you missed it, Linda Reynolds gave the all-clear (with physical distance caveats) for the annual rotation of US defence troops to commence (it was meant to be in March but was delayed because of Covid).
Just remember, when restrictions are eased, all the health authorities are expecting infection numbers to go up.Just remember, when restrictions are eased, all the health authorities are expecting infection numbers to go up.
The lockdown hasn’t meant Australia has eradicated the virus, just suppressed the infection rate to a point where the health system can cope.The lockdown hasn’t meant Australia has eradicated the virus, just suppressed the infection rate to a point where the health system can cope.
No new cases in QueenslandNo new cases in Queensland
Not sure what the intention was then, or what John Barilaro thought would happen, but here is Murph’s much more elegant take on the whole sorry saga:Not sure what the intention was then, or what John Barilaro thought would happen, but here is Murph’s much more elegant take on the whole sorry saga:
NSW Nationals leader John Barilaro has the “full support” of Gladys Berejiklian and the NSW government, despite helping to turn the Coalition’s preselection for Eden-Monaro into an absolute circus, while the rest of the nation was focused on an international pandemic. Helpfully, the Nationals continue to make it all about them, while their communities suffer with poverty, natural disaster, ongoing drought, climate change and shrinking economic and social bases.NSW Nationals leader John Barilaro has the “full support” of Gladys Berejiklian and the NSW government, despite helping to turn the Coalition’s preselection for Eden-Monaro into an absolute circus, while the rest of the nation was focused on an international pandemic. Helpfully, the Nationals continue to make it all about them, while their communities suffer with poverty, natural disaster, ongoing drought, climate change and shrinking economic and social bases.
Barilaro has already announced he’ll be leaving NSW state politics in 2023, so he seems safe until then, although he has plenty of state colleagues from his own party pretty pissed at him for embarrassing the party (every branch needs its own Barnaby Joyce apparently. Must be in the secret Coalition agreement.)Barilaro has already announced he’ll be leaving NSW state politics in 2023, so he seems safe until then, although he has plenty of state colleagues from his own party pretty pissed at him for embarrassing the party (every branch needs its own Barnaby Joyce apparently. Must be in the secret Coalition agreement.)
His federal colleague, David Littleproud, who has the job of bushfire recovery, as well as trying to inject some calm into the Nationals crazy, was not on the “full support’ train when asked about Barilaro on ABC radio this morning:His federal colleague, David Littleproud, who has the job of bushfire recovery, as well as trying to inject some calm into the Nationals crazy, was not on the “full support’ train when asked about Barilaro on ABC radio this morning:
Over the weekend Guardian Australia’s Anne Davies wrote about the men in Gladys Berejiklian’s team who “are indulging in a kind of sabotage that should have been left behind when they graduated from the Young Liberals or Young Nationals”.Over the weekend Guardian Australia’s Anne Davies wrote about the men in Gladys Berejiklian’s team who “are indulging in a kind of sabotage that should have been left behind when they graduated from the Young Liberals or Young Nationals”.
Josh Frydenberg and Mathias Cormann will give an economic statement to the parliament tomorrow, laying out what they know so far.Josh Frydenberg and Mathias Cormann will give an economic statement to the parliament tomorrow, laying out what they know so far.
We saw some of that last week in Frydenberg’s press club address.We saw some of that last week in Frydenberg’s press club address.
The Australian Council of Social Services, Dr Cassandra Goldie says people on social security payments cannot be made the scapegoat:The Australian Council of Social Services, Dr Cassandra Goldie says people on social security payments cannot be made the scapegoat:
You can read more here about the experts who are calling for the federal government to put aside ideology and establish a permanent equitable safety net for Australians:You can read more here about the experts who are calling for the federal government to put aside ideology and establish a permanent equitable safety net for Australians:
And just excuse me a minute as I attempt to wrap my head around this quote. It’s been about 10 minutes and I am still trying to make sense of it, but I have always been a bit slow:And just excuse me a minute as I attempt to wrap my head around this quote. It’s been about 10 minutes and I am still trying to make sense of it, but I have always been a bit slow:
Bob Katter says he is being “forced” to travel to Canberra because north Queensland has not been quarantined from the rest of Queensland. From his release:Bob Katter says he is being “forced” to travel to Canberra because north Queensland has not been quarantined from the rest of Queensland. From his release:
*for the record, it is Dr Jeannette Young*for the record, it is Dr Jeannette Young
You’ll also find more information on Anthony Albanese’s coming announcement, here (thanks to Daniel Hurst).You’ll also find more information on Anthony Albanese’s coming announcement, here (thanks to Daniel Hurst).
A reminder for those looking for international Covid-19 news, you’ll find all you could want, and more, over at our other daily blog:A reminder for those looking for international Covid-19 news, you’ll find all you could want, and more, over at our other daily blog:
South Australians will also get some sit-down dining establishment time – as long as it is outside.South Australians will also get some sit-down dining establishment time – as long as it is outside.
From today, that state will allow outdoor dining, as well as open community services such as libraries and pools and churches, and reopen university and Tafe facilities for tutorials – but physical distancing restrictions remain in place.From today, that state will allow outdoor dining, as well as open community services such as libraries and pools and churches, and reopen university and Tafe facilities for tutorials – but physical distancing restrictions remain in place.
Michael Gunner just had a chat to ABC News Breakfast.Michael Gunner just had a chat to ABC News Breakfast.
The Northern Territory will ease restrictions even further from Friday, with residents able to go to a pub, cafe or other dining establishment, and actually sit down for a drink and meal with other patrons (as long as physical distance restrictions are still met and no one stays longer than two hours).The Northern Territory will ease restrictions even further from Friday, with residents able to go to a pub, cafe or other dining establishment, and actually sit down for a drink and meal with other patrons (as long as physical distance restrictions are still met and no one stays longer than two hours).
But it will be some time before the borders are opened:But it will be some time before the borders are opened: