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Coronavirus Australia live update: treasurer delivers 'sobering' economic update – latest news Coronavirus Australia live update: treasurer delivers 'sobering' economic update – latest news
(32 minutes later)
Josh Frydenberg says in statement in lieu of the federal budget: ‘There is no money tree. What we borrow today we must repay in the future.’ Follow the latest news liveJosh Frydenberg says in statement in lieu of the federal budget: ‘There is no money tree. What we borrow today we must repay in the future.’ Follow the latest news live
Or, you could word this as the NRL having major issues with its draw – caused by NRL anti-vaxxers’ firm stance to not get the flu vaccination as required to restart competition:
In case you missed the cough heard around Canberra:
Dan Tehan is speaking to Patricia Karvelas on the ABC’s Afternoon Briefing.
He is asked if he is confident there won’t be a mass repeating of the school year:
Josh Frydenberg is also supposed to be on the ABC’s 7.30 tonight.
Not sure whether or not it was pre-recorded.
A new chapter in the sports grants saga:
The health department was concerned Bridget McKenzie could make decisions on sports grants in the caretaker period, and officials recorded any decision taken after the election was called would require consultation with Labor.
The former sport minister did overshoot on the timing of the grants. In all, $2.7m was added to the $100m cost of the sports grants program during a flurry of late changes to project lists passed between McKenzie and Scott Morrison’s offices after the governor general dissolved parliament on 11 April 2019 – and Labor wasn’t consulted.
The concern of departmental officials is noted in evidence by the Australian National Audit Office to the Senate inquiry, which reveals new details of 11 late changes made after the starter’s gun was fired on the 2019 election.
The ANAO evidence notes in the preceding months McKenzie visited four of the clubs whose projects were funded on 11 April, including one visit for the purpose of discussing the “proposed funding announcement” of a “community sporting infrastructure [grant]”.
The ANAO identified 11 changes made between the version sent to the prime minister’s office at 8.47am on 11 April 2019 and the one sent at 12.35pm, with a total net increase of $2,767,071 in grant funding.
The ANAO noted that four of the late changes occurred in projects put forward by clubs McKenzie had visited in preceding months.
This statement has just been sent out by the Treasurer:
Question time, as seen by Mike Bowers this morning:
The industrial relations minister, Christian Porter, has signalled that he is open to Pauline Hanson’s idea that emergency changes to workplace pay deals should be limited to 12 months’ operation.
Labor and the Greens are trying to disallow rules that allow employers to give just 24 hours’ notice to seek changes to work conditions and pay, down from a week.
Of particular concern is that changes can be baked into agreements for up to three years.
Hanson at first suggested she wouldn’t support the move, but then suggested she may change her mind unless the government agrees that changes to workers’ pay and conditions should not last longer than 12 months.
Porter told Guardian Australia:”That seems a reasonable request and I will discuss with senator Hanson and other crossbench senators over the next 24 hours or so.”
The government is looking to change the NDIS rules so it can’t be used to fund sex work.The government is looking to change the NDIS rules so it can’t be used to fund sex work.
There have been 18 new cases of Covid-19 diagnosed in the past 24 hours across Australia.There have been 18 new cases of Covid-19 diagnosed in the past 24 hours across Australia.
Further to the post on the federal court decision to allow NDIS funding to pay for sex workers, is this story from Luke Henriques-Gomes:Further to the post on the federal court decision to allow NDIS funding to pay for sex workers, is this story from Luke Henriques-Gomes:
The crossbench has come together to ask the Senate select committee looking at the Covid response to include the impact on communities which were hit by the bushfires:The crossbench has come together to ask the Senate select committee looking at the Covid response to include the impact on communities which were hit by the bushfires:
We aren’t any clearer on the AFL’s return to play date but the league has announced that every player and staff member must undergo a Covid-19 swab test before a possible resumption to full contact training next week.
The AFL is still negotiating with state governments over protocols that will open the path to the season restarting, but in the meantime guidelines that have been in place since March remain. Those protocols include:
Club facilities to remain closed, including club gyms;
All coaching sessions and training programs must be provided remotely;
Clubs can mandate fitness programs for players but they can only be conducted in isolation either at home or in an outdoor space which complies with government social distancing requirements;
Ball work is permitted in open outdoor spaces and kick-to-kick with another single individual is permitted as long as social distancing is maintained and strict hygiene measures are employed (regular wiping of ball, washing/sanitising hands etc);
GPS monitoring during the shutdown period is strictly not permitted;
All medical services must be provided remotely.
The AFL said it would announce dates for both a return to training and the resumption of the season later this week.
“There they were with their ‘back in black’ mugs, congratulating themselves ... but they were treating the Australian people like mugs,” Anthony Albanese says, as he opens the matter of public importance debate (which is on the economy).
Maybe tomorrow ...
Question time ends – a little earlier than usual (there is usually at least an hour of questions, but we are a bit short of that today).
Lisa Chesters to Josh Frydenberg:
How much money has the government given to businesses which are receiving the jobkeeper payment, using them to subsidise their balance sheet whilst employees are running down their leave entitlements?
Frydenberg:
David Littleproud’s tie remains one of the most offensive parts of today.
#myeyes
Tanya Plibersek to Josh Frydenberg:
What does the Treasurer have to say to the one in three hospitality workers who have lost their job? The one in four workers in the arts and entertainment industries who have lost their jobs? Up to 11,000 casual workers in Eden-Monaro who can’t access JobKeeper? 21,000 university workers who are likely to lose their jobs over coming months? And the thousands of workers whose jobs are at risk, who are now facing the unemployment queue because the Government won’t extend the JobKeeper wage subsidy to more workers?
Frydenberg:
Two things: sex work is work and should not be stigmatised, and people are entitled to access a legal sex worker without judgment or discrimination.
Having said that, People with Disability Australia have released this statement on the recent (unanimous) decision by the federal court to uphold the right of a person with disability to use their NDIS funding to access sex work services:
“This courageous person with disability has fought for years to have her right to equal access to ordinary sexual expression funded through her NDIS plan,” said El Gibbs, director media and communications.
“She won her administrative appeals tribunal case, and has now emphatically won in the federal court of Australia. We urge the NDIS to accept this decision today, and allow people with disability to fund sexual expression through their plans.”
The respondent said: “I am very pleased about this decision, but it has been a very stressful process that has dragged out for four years. The NDIA have been difficult to deal with. I want to thank my legal team very much.”
The woman who brought the case wishes to stay anonymous.
Stephen Jones to Josh Frydenberg:
Treasurer, how many Australians are now earning more than their normal wage because they’re receiving the jobkeeper wage subsidy of $1,500 a fortnight?
Frydenberg: