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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
Questions are being put in the negative, so no one has to move sides for the divisions.
The motion to suspend standing orders is under way.
Labor supports it, but Tony Burke is using the opportunity to talk about the need to reinstate parliament sittings as usual.
Still no date for the Eden-Monaro byelection.
The bells have rung and the parliament is once again sitting (just in a very socially distant way).
Prayers are being said, and then it will be into the Josh Frydenberg statement.
For those who have asked, Scott Morrison’s children are back at school, for on-site learning.
Bryce Cartwright and Brian Kelly, the Gold Coast Titans pair who have refused to have a flu jab, are unlikely to play again this season with the Queensland government standing firm on its “no jab, no play” policy.
The state’s chief health officer, Dr Jeannette Young, said on Tuesday flu shot exemptions would be granted for NRL players but only on medical grounds. That would appear to rule out Cartwright and Kelly, who have been stood down since they refused the vaccination for philosophical reasons.
“I sent a letter to the NRL yesterday in which I did exempt them for medical contrary indications, no different to the exemptions I provide for children who are attending childcare or for people going to aged care so they have those same exemptions,” she said. “If they have got medical reasons for not being vaccinated [they will receive an exemption]. If they have had an anaphylactic reaction to previous flu vaccine or any component of a flu vaccine, you do not need to be vaccinated so I have provided that exemption.”
Young said an exemption on any other grounds is “not covered”.
Labor is taking advice on whether the $130bn jobkeeper wage subsidy can be improved by disallowing bits of the rules they disagree with in the Senate. Guardian Australia understands one of these elements is changes excluding universities.
Today the Greens will give notice of a disallowance motion in the Senate that would allow universities to access the more generous 15% downturn test enjoyed by other charities and to count their losses over one month, rather than six, in line with other employers.
Universities were incensed by the changes to the wage subsidy program which have left them technically eligible to access the $1,500 per work fortnightly payment but in practice removed all of them from contention.
The Greens are confident the Senate can disallow rules that disadvantage universities without also scrubbing out provisions that benefit other charities – but Labor is not sure and taking advice.
The Greens education spokeswoman, Mehreen Faruqi, told Guardian Australia:
“Through multiple changes to the rules, universities have been targeted by this government and deliberately excluded from the jobkeeper wage subsidy scheme.
“30,000 jobs are on the line, with impacted staff in every corner of the country.
“The unfair treatment must end this week. Parliament has the opportunity to reject this malicious exclusion of universities.
“The government keeps shifting the goalposts and the madness has to stop. The failure to support universities through this crisis jeopardises not just our recovery but also our long-term future.”
The Australian meat industry has responded to the delistings, and also says it is a “technical matter”.
Yes. Yes it is.Yes. Yes it is.
Simon Birmingham has confirmed the Weekly Times story we posted a little earlier about the Chinese government delisting Australian abattoirs.Simon Birmingham has confirmed the Weekly Times story we posted a little earlier about the Chinese government delisting Australian abattoirs.
The trade minister says it is four abattoirs due to “technical issues”.The trade minister says it is four abattoirs due to “technical issues”.
The international borders are still closed.The international borders are still closed.
You’ll find more information on why the security at regional airports became an issue, here:You’ll find more information on why the security at regional airports became an issue, here:
With parliament back in something approximating normal fashion, angst has also resumed. Regional Coalition MPs raised concerns pre-Covid about regulations imposed by the home affairs minister, Peter Dutton, that will make regional airports do more security screening.With parliament back in something approximating normal fashion, angst has also resumed. Regional Coalition MPs raised concerns pre-Covid about regulations imposed by the home affairs minister, Peter Dutton, that will make regional airports do more security screening.
The government is covering the costs of the new screening equipment for small airports but I gather not the operating costs, or the staff to do the security checks and perform the screening services.The government is covering the costs of the new screening equipment for small airports but I gather not the operating costs, or the staff to do the security checks and perform the screening services.
This will mean the small airports will have to seek cost recovery through increases in landing charges.This will mean the small airports will have to seek cost recovery through increases in landing charges.
Government MPs, including Rowan Ramsey and Barnaby Joyce, have spoken against the proposal.Government MPs, including Rowan Ramsey and Barnaby Joyce, have spoken against the proposal.
There have also been objections from Labor senators. We are getting to the sharp end of this now because Rex Patrick will seek to disallow the regulations tomorrow.There have also been objections from Labor senators. We are getting to the sharp end of this now because Rex Patrick will seek to disallow the regulations tomorrow.
I’m told that Labor (despite the internal objections) has resolved to oppose the Patrick disallowance this morning.I’m told that Labor (despite the internal objections) has resolved to oppose the Patrick disallowance this morning.
But its home affairs spokeswoman, Kristina Keneally, says Labor “remains concerned about the Morrison government’s implementation of airport security upgrades to date, which have caused confusion and led to the potential loss of airports, airline services and jobs in regional Australia”.But its home affairs spokeswoman, Kristina Keneally, says Labor “remains concerned about the Morrison government’s implementation of airport security upgrades to date, which have caused confusion and led to the potential loss of airports, airline services and jobs in regional Australia”.
Labor’s caucus meeting has broken – we’ll bring you an update on that a little later.Labor’s caucus meeting has broken – we’ll bring you an update on that a little later.
The privacy app legislation will be entered into parliament just after Josh Frydenberg’s statement to the house.The privacy app legislation will be entered into parliament just after Josh Frydenberg’s statement to the house.
The transcript from the PM’s speech to the party room has just lobbed (bad coverage in parliament meant the broadcast cut away early) and it includes this message for Australia’s Chinese community:
Tasmania is also reporting no new cases of Covid-19 in the past 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; what are their strengths and weaknesses?There are 10 vaccine candidates in clinical trials globally, the report says. Many are being developed using new technologies. It is likely several will generate initial human safety and efficacy results this year, and the results could inform the use of a limited number of doses under emergency or compassionate grounds for at-risk populations such as frontline health workers, the elderly and those with significant co-morbidities.
“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 82% attendance 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 past 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.
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.
Of all the takes, this ain’t it.
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: