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Australia coronavirus live update: Qld premier hits back at pressure to open borders, as Labor MP says Coalition demonises China – latest news Australia coronavirus live update: Qld premier hits back at pressure to open borders, as Labor MP says Coalition demonises China – latest news
(32 minutes later)
Annastacia Palaszczuk says she won’t be lectured to by NSW, ‘a state that has the highest number of cases in Australia’, as Joel Fitzgibbon opens new front in China row. Follow liveAnnastacia Palaszczuk says she won’t be lectured to by NSW, ‘a state that has the highest number of cases in Australia’, as Joel Fitzgibbon opens new front in China row. Follow live
Given that it will be another big issue as Australia moves into a post-Covid world, Labor’s response, delivered through Tony Burke, to the fair work ruling on casuals working permanent hours being eligible for permanent benefits is worth noting:
This is just one of the reasons why the end of September, when jobkeeper and the Covid supplement for jobseeker are due to end, is very, very concerning:This is just one of the reasons why the end of September, when jobkeeper and the Covid supplement for jobseeker are due to end, is very, very concerning:
South Australia is planning on dropping back down to stage two restrictions from 5 June.South Australia is planning on dropping back down to stage two restrictions from 5 June.
The premier, Steven Marshall, says he understands the wait is frustrating, but the state needs time:The premier, Steven Marshall, says he understands the wait is frustrating, but the state needs time:
The Tasmanian premier, Peter Gutwein, said something quite similar.The Tasmanian premier, Peter Gutwein, said something quite similar.
Phil Lowe says the Reserve Bank is not considering negative interest rates for Australia.Phil Lowe says the Reserve Bank is not considering negative interest rates for Australia.
At 0.5% Australia has hit its ceiling. At 0.25% Australia has hit its ceiling. (floor, technically, but the limit of the rate cuts, so six of one)
Attorney general’s department officials have revealed that although the attorney general, Christian Porter, announced on 14 May that emergency changes to workplace pay deals will be limited to 12 months, the regulation to give effect to that has not been put in place yet.Attorney general’s department officials have revealed that although the attorney general, Christian Porter, announced on 14 May that emergency changes to workplace pay deals will be limited to 12 months, the regulation to give effect to that has not been put in place yet.
Porter slashed consultation periods to change enterprise agreements from seven days to 24 hours. In order to stave off a disallowance motion pushed by Labor and the Greens, Porter agreed to a One Nation demand that changes, once made, can’t have effect for more than 12 months.Porter slashed consultation periods to change enterprise agreements from seven days to 24 hours. In order to stave off a disallowance motion pushed by Labor and the Greens, Porter agreed to a One Nation demand that changes, once made, can’t have effect for more than 12 months.
Kristina Keneally’s questioning reveals that agreements varied now are not subject to the 12-month sunset period. Officials take on notice when the new regulation will be ready.Kristina Keneally’s questioning reveals that agreements varied now are not subject to the 12-month sunset period. Officials take on notice when the new regulation will be ready.
Officials explained the shorter consultation period was put in to “speed up” variations of agreements, because businesses wanted to match rapid changes being made to modern awards. They take on notice who they consulted before the change was made.Officials explained the shorter consultation period was put in to “speed up” variations of agreements, because businesses wanted to match rapid changes being made to modern awards. They take on notice who they consulted before the change was made.
Martin Hehir confirms the department is still looking at IR reform options commissioned by Porter last year: casuals, bargaining, greenfields agreements, “awards and their complexity”, and the broader compliance including wage underpayment.Martin Hehir confirms the department is still looking at IR reform options commissioned by Porter last year: casuals, bargaining, greenfields agreements, “awards and their complexity”, and the broader compliance including wage underpayment.
Christian Porter will be talking about this decision at 2.30pm eastern time.Christian Porter will be talking about this decision at 2.30pm eastern time.
Jim Chalmers has been listening to Steven Kennedy’s testimony at the Covid Senate committee.Jim Chalmers has been listening to Steven Kennedy’s testimony at the Covid Senate committee.
He says it proves the need for a longer term plan from the government:He says it proves the need for a longer term plan from the government:
This word just keeps popping up, again and again and againThis word just keeps popping up, again and again and again
Labor’s Murray Watt has asked about which organisations are responsible for complaints about jobkeeper.Labor’s Murray Watt has asked about which organisations are responsible for complaints about jobkeeper.
The Fair Work Ombudsman says the ATO deals with eligibility including the application of the one-in all-in rule; the FWO deals with general workplace rights including the minimum wage and not to be discriminated against; and the Fair Work Commission hears disputes about directions to work.The Fair Work Ombudsman says the ATO deals with eligibility including the application of the one-in all-in rule; the FWO deals with general workplace rights including the minimum wage and not to be discriminated against; and the Fair Work Commission hears disputes about directions to work.
Asked about a worker in a cafe who was told they wouldn’t get jobkeeper unless they helped with construction and renovation of the cafe, Martin Hehir, deputy secretary, of the industrial relations group at the attorney generals department, says:Asked about a worker in a cafe who was told they wouldn’t get jobkeeper unless they helped with construction and renovation of the cafe, Martin Hehir, deputy secretary, of the industrial relations group at the attorney generals department, says:
Treasury has also not done any modelling on what would happen if all the people who are receiving the Covid supplement as part of jobseeker, which doubles it to $550 a week, remain on the payment when it drops back down to the pre-Covid level.Treasury has also not done any modelling on what would happen if all the people who are receiving the Covid supplement as part of jobseeker, which doubles it to $550 a week, remain on the payment when it drops back down to the pre-Covid level.
Luke Henriques-Gomes has an update on the closure of the Abbotsford Services Australia centre (Centrelink) which Stuart Robert said, in a letter to Adam Bandt, was due to a tenancy agreement coming to an end.
Robert said the department was unable to negotiate a new lease. The landlord has told Luke that the first they heard of the decision was on Twitter.
The ACT is still (known) active Covid free – no new cases have been diagnosed in the past 24 hours.
That is from 311 tests.
Phil Lowe again says there is a limit to what can be achieved through monetary policy.
He says there needs to be moves in terms of reform.
“There is no shortage of reports filled with ideas on how to do this and how to make Australia a great place to expand, to innovate [and invest in],” he says.
Philip Lowe is speaking at this event.
The RBA governor says total hours worked fell by 9% in the past month, but early indications for May show that the drop may not be as large as first thought.
He says the sooner the economy can be opened once again – safely – the better the reversals. But he says confidence has taken a pretty big hit and people are facing reluctance to go out and spend.
Treasury officials have revealed that the list of employers claiming the jobkeeper payment will not be published. This is standard for the Australian Tax Office, according to officials, but Rachel Siewert queries why, given it’s public money.
Siewert (and Labor’s Kristina Keneally) also want to know whether employers are making use of new provisions allowing as little as 24 hours notice to seek changes to enterprise agreements.
The attorney general’s department said there have been 30 enterprise agreement variations since the new rules were introduced. The Fair Work Commission’s general manager, Bernadette O’Neill, says just 14 applications sought to make use of the short consultation period (the old rules required at least seven days’ notice). Only five have been decided, and they ranged from consultation periods of one day to six days.
O’Neill takes on notice whether the 14 variations were agreed by the relevant union. She said the FWC was not consulted before attorney general Christian Porter made the change – but it is “not necessarily the case” that there is always consultation. The FWC is “completely agnostic” as to the merits of the change, she said.
Asked about FWC president Iain Ross’s comments, reported in Workplace Express, of an expectation of a “surge” in unfair dismissal complaints, O’Neill confirms Covid-19 has caused “significant pressures” at the FWC due to jobkeeper and an increase in lodgments for unfair dismissal. O’Neill confirms FWC has asked for extra resources.
AAP has this dispatch from Western Australia, which, in the light of the current environment, you may find interesting:
Over in the Covid Senate select hearing, Treasury has confirmed it won’t be releasing, at least publicly, which employers have signed up for jobkeeper.
Richard Marles was asked to respond to Joel Fitzgibbon’s comments that Coalition governments had been “demonising” the Chinese and their system of governance when he was on Sky News a little later. He attempts to walk back the comments to Labor’s established lines:
You are going to be hearing more and more about this issue
If you have enjoyed your iso-bubble, you may enjoy this