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| Coronavirus Australia update: ABC to cut 250 jobs as Victoria records Covid-19 death and 20 new cases reported – live news | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Public broadcaster urges against further government budget cuts as it confirms plan for $40m in savings per year will result job losses; Victoria records 20th coronavirus death. Follow live | |
| The ABC has urged the government against pursuing any further budget cuts, as the national broadcaster confirmed its plan for $40m in savings each year would result in job losses and an impacts on audiences. | |
| Australian’s national broadcaster outlined the planned cuts in a new five-year plan released on Wednesday, a couple of weeks after it foreshadowed up to 250 jobs would go. | |
| The long-term plan makes clear that the ABC is struggling to deliver its range of services “within a smaller funding envelope”. | |
| The report says “significant funding cuts” since 2014–15, and an indexation pause from 2019–20, “must be absorbed at the same time as the ABC grapples with new cost pressures”. It says the ABC has developed a package of measures designed to achieve ongoing savings of at least $40m a year from 2021–22. | |
| “The savings measures target several areas, including renegotiating third-party contracts, addressing areas of discretionary spending, finding production efficiencies, reducing the ABC’s property costs, and reviewing content and services,” the report says. | |
| “While these measures aim to minimise cuts to services and output, they will result in job losses and have an impact on audiences.” | |
| In an implicit warning to the government, it adds: “Any further budget reductions beyond this will have an even more significant impact on services, such as consolidating TV channels, radio networks, and some regional services.” | |
| Regional services are a particularly sensitive topic among the National party, given the strong support the ABC’s broadcasting services have in rural and regional areas. | |
| In a section of the report on the broader economic environment, the report says it is “possible” the Australian government may pursue further budget cuts. The ABC will, however, continue to argue for its value and the public benefits it delivers. The report points to the bushfire crisis last summer and the Covid-19 pandemic which reinforced “the ABC’s importance as a trustworthy source of vital information”. | |
| The five-year plan aims to set out the ABC’s long-term direction. The ABC’s purpose, according to the plan, is “to deliver valued services that reflect and contribute to Australian society, culture and identity”. | |
| The ABC’s vision is to be “the home of Australian stories – accessible, bold, creative”. | |
| The plan spells out six priorities: | |
| Deliver personalised digital experiences | |
| Remain Australia’s best and most trusted source of news and information | |
| Strengthen local connections | |
| Prioritise quality over quantity | |
| Invest in the workforce of the future | |
| Be creative, flexible, efficient, and accountable. | |
| On that last point, the ABC aims to “deliver against our Charter, while always working efficiently to identify savings and reinvestment opportunities”. | |
| Some news from the ABC decisions | |
| In non-Covid news for a moment, ABC workers are finding out what areas and jobs will be cut as part of the changes the national broadcaster is introducing, after funding indexation cuts as you read this. | |
| The inclusion of hypertension in the list of the most common comorbidities of people who died in Australia after being diagnosed with Covid-19 is perhaps one of the scariest, as many people can have it and not realise it. | |
| Hence why authorities warn you don’t really know how Covid-19 will hit you. | |
| The ABS is also tracking changes in Australia’s mortality rate and causes during the pandemic. It has released this statement: | |
| The first in a new series of monthly, provisional reports aimed at tracking changes in mortality during the Covid-19 pandemic was released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). | |
| Director of Health and Vital Statistics at the ABS, James Eynstone-Hinkins, said the reports would provide insights into patterns of mortality during the Covid-19 pandemic, and allow early identification of emerging health issues during the recovery period. | |
| “The report shows that more than 33,000 doctor certified deaths occurred from 1 January to the end of March 2020,” said Mr Eynstone-Hinkins. “The highest number of deaths were recorded in the last week of March. | |
| “Deaths in that last week of week of March from pneumonia, diabetes and dementia were higher than expected numbers based on historic averages. | |
| “It will be important to confirm whether those increases are sustained before drawing any conclusion from this data.” | |
| Additional information on Covid-19 deaths registered since the start of the pandemic shows the most common comorbidities were hypertension, diabetes, chronic lower respiratory diseases, cancer, and dementia. | |
| AAP has had a look at a recent study headed by University of New South Wales academic Dr Holly Seale over how the pandemic has changed our behaviours: | AAP has had a look at a recent study headed by University of New South Wales academic Dr Holly Seale over how the pandemic has changed our behaviours: |
| 41.9% of respondents perceived the level of Covid-19 risk as very low or low. | |
| 93.4 % performed one or more of six avoidance behaviours such as avoiding public transport, staying away from public areas or work, and postponing events. | |
| 84.9 % performed one or more of three recommended hygiene behaviours such as washing hands or covering a cough or sneeze. | |
| 56.8% used alcoholic hand gel or hand sanitiser more often than usual. | |
| 37.8% increased the time spent cleaning or disinfecting things they might touch. | |
| Almost 94% displayed faith in health authorities’ recommendations. | |
| It is important we stay across what is happening the Pacific as well as this pandemic rolls on. | It is important we stay across what is happening the Pacific as well as this pandemic rolls on. |
| Victoria is now offering workers free training in how to manage the coronavirus risk: | Victoria is now offering workers free training in how to manage the coronavirus risk: |
| The Senate committee looking at the Covid-19 response is continuing with business today. | The Senate committee looking at the Covid-19 response is continuing with business today. |
| Business Council of Australia president Tim Reed has delivered an opening statement, here is part of what he had to say: | Business Council of Australia president Tim Reed has delivered an opening statement, here is part of what he had to say: |
| Back to the Black Lives Matter blame game for a moment, the protests occurred at the same time the government was pushing, very, very hard for closed states to bring down their hard border restrictions. There was talk of bringing crowds back to the football and the message was the economy was out of hibernation and reopen for business. | Back to the Black Lives Matter blame game for a moment, the protests occurred at the same time the government was pushing, very, very hard for closed states to bring down their hard border restrictions. There was talk of bringing crowds back to the football and the message was the economy was out of hibernation and reopen for business. |
| Make up your own mind, but remember to take in all the facts and put it all in context. | Make up your own mind, but remember to take in all the facts and put it all in context. |
| The New South Wales inquiry into Crown Resorts and its suitability to hold a casino license is to resume immediately, the state’s Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority says. | The New South Wales inquiry into Crown Resorts and its suitability to hold a casino license is to resume immediately, the state’s Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority says. |
| It may seem like a long time ago but, prior to the world coming to a crashing halt, former NSW supreme court judge Patricia Bergin, SC, was running an inquiry into allegations against Crown including that it or its subsidiaries engaged in money-laundering, breached gambling laws and partnered with junket operators with links to drug traffickers, money launderers, human traffickers, and organised crime groups that were aired by Nine’s newspapers and its flagship current affairs TV show, 60 Minutes. | It may seem like a long time ago but, prior to the world coming to a crashing halt, former NSW supreme court judge Patricia Bergin, SC, was running an inquiry into allegations against Crown including that it or its subsidiaries engaged in money-laundering, breached gambling laws and partnered with junket operators with links to drug traffickers, money launderers, human traffickers, and organised crime groups that were aired by Nine’s newspapers and its flagship current affairs TV show, 60 Minutes. |
| Bergin is also looking into whether the proposed sale of 20% of Crown to Hong Kong-based Melco, controlled by the Ho family, breached Crown’s license to run the casino it is building at Barangaroo, in Sydney. | Bergin is also looking into whether the proposed sale of 20% of Crown to Hong Kong-based Melco, controlled by the Ho family, breached Crown’s license to run the casino it is building at Barangaroo, in Sydney. |
| The inquiry was put on hold in April due to the coronavirus crisis, but the ILGA now says that “after carefully considering the current covid-19 situation, and Commonwealth and NSW Government advice and restrictions, the Authority considers it safe and practicable to resume the inquiry’s work”. | The inquiry was put on hold in April due to the coronavirus crisis, but the ILGA now says that “after carefully considering the current covid-19 situation, and Commonwealth and NSW Government advice and restrictions, the Authority considers it safe and practicable to resume the inquiry’s work”. |
| It appears Bergin is still looking into the proposed sale of shares to Melco, even though it was called off and the person of key concern, Ho family patriarch Stanley Ho, died last month. | It appears Bergin is still looking into the proposed sale of shares to Melco, even though it was called off and the person of key concern, Ho family patriarch Stanley Ho, died last month. |
| The alleged links of Stanley Ho to triad organised crime groups were among reasons he and a number of companies linked to him were banned from being involved in Barangaroo. | The alleged links of Stanley Ho to triad organised crime groups were among reasons he and a number of companies linked to him were banned from being involved in Barangaroo. |
| For the record: | For the record: |
| Two of the four people diagnosed with Covid-19, who have been linked to the Black Lives Matter protest work for the same retail store. They were diagnosed almost two weeks after the protest and authorities don’t believe they picked up the virus there, but can’t be sure. | Two of the four people diagnosed with Covid-19, who have been linked to the Black Lives Matter protest work for the same retail store. They were diagnosed almost two weeks after the protest and authorities don’t believe they picked up the virus there, but can’t be sure. |
| The other two (one I believe tested negative after testing positive) were diagnosed shortly after the protest, and authorities have said they did not get infected at the protest. | The other two (one I believe tested negative after testing positive) were diagnosed shortly after the protest, and authorities have said they did not get infected at the protest. |
| All were wearing masks. | All were wearing masks. |
| As Brett Sutton said earlier this week: | As Brett Sutton said earlier this week: |
| There were also protests in every other major city in Australia and we are not seeing an uptick in cases anywhere else. | There were also protests in every other major city in Australia and we are not seeing an uptick in cases anywhere else. |
| Greg Hunt is now shifting blame, again, to the Black Lives Matter protests for the uptick in cases in Victoria: | Greg Hunt is now shifting blame, again, to the Black Lives Matter protests for the uptick in cases in Victoria: |
| Greg Hunt is being asked what was done to engage migrant communities, in terms of passing on information about the pandemic: | Greg Hunt is being asked what was done to engage migrant communities, in terms of passing on information about the pandemic: |