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Coronavirus Australia live update: parliament resumes as Victoria details plans to reopen schools – latest news Coronavirus Australia live update: parliament resumes as Victoria details plans to reopen schools – latest news
(32 minutes later)
Daniel Andrews says Victorian schools to start returning from 26 May; NSW records no new cases of Covid-19 and Josh Frydenberg to deliver an economic statement in lieu of the federal budget. Follow the latest news liveDaniel Andrews says Victorian schools to start returning from 26 May; NSW records no new cases of Covid-19 and Josh Frydenberg to deliver an economic statement in lieu of the federal budget. Follow the latest news live
Tasmania is also reporting no new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours.
Parliament will sit at midday.
You can expect Josh Frydenberg’s budget update to come shortly after.
The Rapid Research Information Forum, chaired by the chief scientist, Dr Alan Finkel, to provide independent and evidence-based answers to the federal government’s questions about Covid-19, has published its latest report which examines vaccines.
The report answers the questions: What are the most promising Covid-19 vaccines in development globally/nationally, how do they work, what stage of development are they at, and what are their strengths and weaknesses?’There are now 10 vaccine candidates for Covid-19 in clinical trials globally, the report says. Many of these vaccines are being developed using new technologies. It is likely that several vaccines candidates will generate initial human safety and efficacy results this year, and that these results could inform the initial use of a limited number of vaccine doses under emergency or compassionate grounds for at-risk populations.
For example, frontline health workers, the elderly and those with significant comorbidities could be given the vaccine first, the report says.
“It is too early to select the ‘most promising’ vaccine candidate as we do not yet know their safety or efficacy, or our capability to manufacture them at large scale,” the report says.
“Furthermore, it is not a given that vaccines licensed first will be the most effective. An Australian-produced vaccine candidate is expected to enter human clinical trials in July 2020.
“It will be important for Australian researchers and industry to maintain strong collaborations with global vaccine consortia.”
Western Australia’s premier, Mark McGowan, says WA schools had an 82% attendance rate yesterday.
A 47-year-old man who was working at one of the quarantine hotels has tested positive for Covid-19 – he is the only positive test in WA in the last 24 hours, and comes after quite a few days of no cases.
Pauline Hanson has announced One Nation’s position on a Labor and Greens plan to restore the one-week consultation period for employers seeking to vary workplace deals setting pay and conditions.
The attorney general, Christian Porter, has cut the consultation period to just 24 hours, and Labor and others are concerned changes made in the Covid-19 contraction will be baked in for up to three years.
As a compromise, Hanson has suggested limiting the time for which emergency cuts can apply to 12 months.
She said:
There is no news as yet on whether parliament will sit, as originally scheduled, at the end of this month.There is no news as yet on whether parliament will sit, as originally scheduled, at the end of this month.
The original schedule has a house of reps sitting and estimates from 25 May. The original schedule has a House of Reps sitting and estimates from 25 May.
Parliament was adjourned until August. This is a “trial” sitting (also not a thing – parliament sits, or it doesn’t and technically it is not the government which decides that, it is the parliament), so one would imagine that at some point, someone will let the country know what is going on with its democracy. Parliament was adjourned until August. This is a “trial” sitting (also not a thing – parliament sits or it doesn’t and technically it is not the government which decides that, it is the parliament), so one would imagine that at some point, someone will let the country know what is going on with its democracy.
Of all the takes, this ain’t it.Of all the takes, this ain’t it.
But this is at the crux of Labor’s economic argument today. Jim Chalmers:But this is at the crux of Labor’s economic argument today. Jim Chalmers:
Jim Chalmers stopped by doors this morning – which is what MPs do when they have the lines they need to get out for the day:Jim Chalmers stopped by doors this morning – which is what MPs do when they have the lines they need to get out for the day:
An important point on the exemptions the Queensland chief medical officer has issued for the NRL players who can’t get the flu vaccination – it doesn’t cover the ones who won’t get it.An important point on the exemptions the Queensland chief medical officer has issued for the NRL players who can’t get the flu vaccination – it doesn’t cover the ones who won’t get it.
Step three of the plan is the road back to a “Covid-safe economy” which is not actually a thing until we get a vaccination but I suppose someone got paid a lot of money to come up with that term, or at the very least received a gold star, so get used to hearing it.Step three of the plan is the road back to a “Covid-safe economy” which is not actually a thing until we get a vaccination but I suppose someone got paid a lot of money to come up with that term, or at the very least received a gold star, so get used to hearing it.
Stuart Robert then gets a shout-out, for ... reasons, I suppose, because while the department and its staff have done a great job, I don’t think there would be a lot of people who would claim the minister has done the same.Stuart Robert then gets a shout-out, for ... reasons, I suppose, because while the department and its staff have done a great job, I don’t think there would be a lot of people who would claim the minister has done the same.
But hey – he did pray for righteousness during the leadership spill, so I suppose there’s that.But hey – he did pray for righteousness during the leadership spill, so I suppose there’s that.
Scott Morrison:Scott Morrison:
Scott Morrison:Scott Morrison:
Hunt gets applause.Hunt gets applause.
Scott Morrison is addressing the Coalition in parliament’s Great Hall.Scott Morrison is addressing the Coalition in parliament’s Great Hall.
He opens with some brilliant double speak:He opens with some brilliant double speak:
All the MPs are here for this sitting, but there will be a rotating roster for who gets to sit in the House to ensure social distance requirements are met. So keep an eye on Twitter because you are bound to be getting a lot of “watching it from the office” tweets with various books and items moved in front of the TV in an approximation of a personality.All the MPs are here for this sitting, but there will be a rotating roster for who gets to sit in the House to ensure social distance requirements are met. So keep an eye on Twitter because you are bound to be getting a lot of “watching it from the office” tweets with various books and items moved in front of the TV in an approximation of a personality.
The budget tree is ready, but today’s second Tuesday in May will pass without a budget (it has been delayed until October).The budget tree is ready, but today’s second Tuesday in May will pass without a budget (it has been delayed until October).
Instead you’ll hear a lot about how there is no “money tree” in Australia, as Josh Frydenberg hands down the budget update at about midday.Instead you’ll hear a lot about how there is no “money tree” in Australia, as Josh Frydenberg hands down the budget update at about midday.
Spoiler – it is not great.Spoiler – it is not great.
The Queensland chief health officer, Dr Jeannette Young, says she has sent an email to the NRL regarding some of the players who refuse to get the flu vaccination:The Queensland chief health officer, Dr Jeannette Young, says she has sent an email to the NRL regarding some of the players who refuse to get the flu vaccination:
Victoria has recorded 17 new Covid-19 cases, including eight from the Cedar Meats facility.Victoria has recorded 17 new Covid-19 cases, including eight from the Cedar Meats facility.
Queensland has added six cases to its total – all people who were diagnosed interstate, and have recovered, but are Queensland residents, so it is added to the Queensland total.Queensland has added six cases to its total – all people who were diagnosed interstate, and have recovered, but are Queensland residents, so it is added to the Queensland total.
But in terms of new cases, there have been no new cases of Covid-19 diagnosed in Queensland for the second day in a row.But in terms of new cases, there have been no new cases of Covid-19 diagnosed in Queensland for the second day in a row.