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| Coronavirus Australia live updates: national Covid-19 cases pass 8,000 as Victoria suburbs in lockdown | Coronavirus Australia live updates: national Covid-19 cases pass 8,000 as Victoria suburbs in lockdown |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Prof Michael Kidd says the milestone was passed in the last 24 hours; stay-at-home orders in place for 10 postcodes in Melbourne’s north | Prof Michael Kidd says the milestone was passed in the last 24 hours; stay-at-home orders in place for 10 postcodes in Melbourne’s north |
| The Rail, Tram and Bus Union has written to the Victorian department of transport to demand the mandatory wearing of masks on public transport. | |
| The RTBU says masks should be made available to all commuters, to protect the health of both other passengers and the 8,000 staff who work in Victoria’s public transport networks. | |
| It says the union has repeatedly raised concerns about staff safety with public transport operators, but no action has been taken. | |
| RTBU branch secretary Luba Grigorovitch says: | |
| Grigorovitch said union members have reported poor social distancing on public transport, visibly unwell passengers, lack of available PPE to protect themselves and ongoing concerns about the shortcomings of the cleaning regime. | |
| NSW police taking organisers of another BLM protest to court, to stop the protest from going ahead | |
| O’Brien Criminal and Civil Solicitors, which represented the organisers of the Sydney Black Lives Matter protest when the NSW government tried, and failed, to stop it from going ahead last month, issued the following statement. | |
| Solicitor Peter O’Brien said: | |
| Worth remembering, as Australia passes the milestone of more than 8,000 coronavirus cases, that Texas recorded 8,076 coronavirus cases...yesterday. | Worth remembering, as Australia passes the milestone of more than 8,000 coronavirus cases, that Texas recorded 8,076 coronavirus cases...yesterday. |
| Texas has a population of 29 million; Australia 25 million. But Australia has conducted more than 2.5m tests, including increasing testing of people without any symptoms. | Texas has a population of 29 million; Australia 25 million. But Australia has conducted more than 2.5m tests, including increasing testing of people without any symptoms. |
| GetUp has released a statement about the proposed justice target in the draft Closing the Gap strategy, which Ken Wyatt has already said would be revised. | GetUp has released a statement about the proposed justice target in the draft Closing the Gap strategy, which Ken Wyatt has already said would be revised. |
| You’ll recall the draft strategy sets the target for achieving parity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous incarceration rates at 2093, and that Wyatt told the ABC this afternoon that target would be brought forward. | You’ll recall the draft strategy sets the target for achieving parity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous incarceration rates at 2093, and that Wyatt told the ABC this afternoon that target would be brought forward. |
| GetUp’s First Nations campaign director, Larissa Baldwin, said: | GetUp’s First Nations campaign director, Larissa Baldwin, said: |
| Wyatt did tell the ABC he had been reading back over the many reports recommending solutions to the over-representation of Indigenous people in jail, including the report of the 1991 royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody. Guardian Australia’s Deaths Inside project found that at least 437 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have died in the 29 years since that report was handed down. | Wyatt did tell the ABC he had been reading back over the many reports recommending solutions to the over-representation of Indigenous people in jail, including the report of the 1991 royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody. Guardian Australia’s Deaths Inside project found that at least 437 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have died in the 29 years since that report was handed down. |
| The 2093 target was heavily criticised by Aboriginal justice groups when it was made public today. Sophie Trevitt, the executive officer of Change the Record, said: | The 2093 target was heavily criticised by Aboriginal justice groups when it was made public today. Sophie Trevitt, the executive officer of Change the Record, said: |
| Never tell a journalist you are planning on getting a coronavirus test in a hotspot suburb, unless you are prepared for that journalist to recruit you as a stringer. | Never tell a journalist you are planning on getting a coronavirus test in a hotspot suburb, unless you are prepared for that journalist to recruit you as a stringer. |
| This just in, from the testing site at AG Gillon Oval in Brunswick. | This just in, from the testing site at AG Gillon Oval in Brunswick. |
| The end of September will be “an incredible danger zone” for the Australian economy, Danielle Wood from the Grattan Institute has warned. | The end of September will be “an incredible danger zone” for the Australian economy, Danielle Wood from the Grattan Institute has warned. |
| Her testimony to the Senate’s Covid-19 committee comes a few days after the Grattan Institute published a report arguing governments need to phase out coronavirus-related emergency support measures more slowly than currently planned to avoid a “fiscal cliff” that could “put a handbrake on the recovery”. | Her testimony to the Senate’s Covid-19 committee comes a few days after the Grattan Institute published a report arguing governments need to phase out coronavirus-related emergency support measures more slowly than currently planned to avoid a “fiscal cliff” that could “put a handbrake on the recovery”. |
| The institute also suggested pouring an extra $70bn to $90bn into stimulus and support measures to help the nation weather the biggest economic shock since the second world war. | The institute also suggested pouring an extra $70bn to $90bn into stimulus and support measures to help the nation weather the biggest economic shock since the second world war. |
| Wood – a budget policy expert and the incoming chief executive of the Grattan Institute – told the Senate committee this afternoon that a six-month cut-off for programs such as the jobkeeper wage subsidy was “very blunt” and a gradual transition would be a better approach. | Wood – a budget policy expert and the incoming chief executive of the Grattan Institute – told the Senate committee this afternoon that a six-month cut-off for programs such as the jobkeeper wage subsidy was “very blunt” and a gradual transition would be a better approach. |
| The Grattan Institute has proposed extending jobkeeper beyond September for a further three months for some industries still severely affected by government restrictions and expanding its coverage to include temporary migrants, short-term casuals and university workers – partly funded by introducing a lower rate for part-time workers. | The Grattan Institute has proposed extending jobkeeper beyond September for a further three months for some industries still severely affected by government restrictions and expanding its coverage to include temporary migrants, short-term casuals and university workers – partly funded by introducing a lower rate for part-time workers. |
| Wood said she understood the government had prioritised speed over design perfection when it announced the wage subsidy scheme at the end of March, but it was now time to fix some design flaws. | Wood said she understood the government had prioritised speed over design perfection when it announced the wage subsidy scheme at the end of March, but it was now time to fix some design flaws. |
| She said, from a macroeconomic perspective, including more workers would be a good idea. On the other hand, she said introducing a flat rate of $1,500 a fortnight – for administrative simplicity – meant most of the eligible people on part-time work arrangements got a pay rise under the scheme. | She said, from a macroeconomic perspective, including more workers would be a good idea. On the other hand, she said introducing a flat rate of $1,500 a fortnight – for administrative simplicity – meant most of the eligible people on part-time work arrangements got a pay rise under the scheme. |
| An update on the Balmain Covid-19 case: | An update on the Balmain Covid-19 case: |
| Meanwhile, the federal Indigenous affairs minister, Ken Wyatt, has already revised the draft closing the gap targets that were reported in the Australian today. | Meanwhile, the federal Indigenous affairs minister, Ken Wyatt, has already revised the draft closing the gap targets that were reported in the Australian today. |
| One of the targets aims for parity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous incarceration rates by 2093. | One of the targets aims for parity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous incarceration rates by 2093. |
| That’s not a typo. The ambitious target was 73 years. | That’s not a typo. The ambitious target was 73 years. |
| Wyatt told the ABC that date was not likely to make the final draft, saying “a parity date like that is not within our thinking now”. | Wyatt told the ABC that date was not likely to make the final draft, saying “a parity date like that is not within our thinking now”. |
| Wyatt confirmed that figure was in the draft document, but said “I suspect that on Friday when we have the discussions, that won’t be there”. | Wyatt confirmed that figure was in the draft document, but said “I suspect that on Friday when we have the discussions, that won’t be there”. |
| He said it set the goal too far in the future: | He said it set the goal too far in the future: |
| The ABC’s Indigenous affairs correspondent, Isabella Higgins, reported this with a fairly understandable typo: | The ABC’s Indigenous affairs correspondent, Isabella Higgins, reported this with a fairly understandable typo: |
| Victoria has recorded a significant increase in the number of cases linked to community transmission. | Victoria has recorded a significant increase in the number of cases linked to community transmission. |
| Yesterday, the Victorian department of health and human services (DHHS) said the state had recorded 301 confirmed cases of coronavirus acquired through unknown transmission. | Yesterday, the Victorian department of health and human services (DHHS) said the state had recorded 301 confirmed cases of coronavirus acquired through unknown transmission. |
| Today, that figure had gone up by 31 to 332. | Today, that figure had gone up by 31 to 332. |
| Even more worryingly, the daily DHHS update shows a marked increase in the number of people in hospital, having tested positive to Covid-19. | Even more worryingly, the daily DHHS update shows a marked increase in the number of people in hospital, having tested positive to Covid-19. |
| Yesterday it was 15, with two patients in intensive care. Today it is 20, with four patients in intensive care. So that’s five more hospitalisations in 24 hours. | Yesterday it was 15, with two patients in intensive care. Today it is 20, with four patients in intensive care. So that’s five more hospitalisations in 24 hours. |
| The national deputy chief medical officer, Prof Michael Kidd, noted that increase in his update earlier and said it was “very concerning”. | The national deputy chief medical officer, Prof Michael Kidd, noted that increase in his update earlier and said it was “very concerning”. |
| The new limits, implemented in all Coles stores in Victoria and Tasmania, as well as the NSW stores of Lavington, Albury and Deniliquin, are: | The new limits, implemented in all Coles stores in Victoria and Tasmania, as well as the NSW stores of Lavington, Albury and Deniliquin, are: |
| Customers cannot buy more than two of: | Customers cannot buy more than two of: |
| Fresh milk | Fresh milk |
| Canned tomatoes | Canned tomatoes |
| Cheese | Cheese |
| Canned beans | Canned beans |
| Butter | Butter |
| Canned garden veg | Canned garden veg |
| Margarine | Margarine |
| Pasta sauce | Pasta sauce |
| Chicken breast | Chicken breast |
| Canned fruit | Canned fruit |
| Chicken thighs | Chicken thighs |
| Canned baked beans & spaghetti | Canned baked beans & spaghetti |
| Pre-packed carrots | Pre-packed carrots |
| Canned meat | Canned meat |
| Pre-packed potatoes | Pre-packed potatoes |
| Frozen fruit and veg (incl. potato) | Frozen fruit and veg (incl. potato) |
| These new limits are in addition to the existing two-pack limits for pasta, mince, flour, eggs, hand sanitiser, UHT milk, sugar, and rice. | These new limits are in addition to the existing two-pack limits for pasta, mince, flour, eggs, hand sanitiser, UHT milk, sugar, and rice. |
| A one pack limit continues to apply for toilet paper and paper towel. | A one pack limit continues to apply for toilet paper and paper towel. |
| Before we go any further: this is not a reason to go out and panic buy yoghurt. Do not rush to your freezer section; you will be absolutely fine. | Before we go any further: this is not a reason to go out and panic buy yoghurt. Do not rush to your freezer section; you will be absolutely fine. |
| Right. So. Coles has announced this afternoon that it will introduce a purchase limit of two packets per customer for a range of chilled products. These limits will apply in Victoria and Tasmania. | Right. So. Coles has announced this afternoon that it will introduce a purchase limit of two packets per customer for a range of chilled products. These limits will apply in Victoria and Tasmania. |
| The reason for the limits is that a number of staff members at the Coles distribution centre at Laverton, western Melbourne, have tested positive to Covid-19 and that is causing staff shortages, because anyone who was a close contact of those staff members is under home quarantine. | The reason for the limits is that a number of staff members at the Coles distribution centre at Laverton, western Melbourne, have tested positive to Covid-19 and that is causing staff shortages, because anyone who was a close contact of those staff members is under home quarantine. |
| Coles said it has “worked with the Victorian health department to conduct contact tracing for positive cases” and asked “a significant proportion of team members at the Laverton distribution centre” to self-quarantine, as a precaution. | Coles said it has “worked with the Victorian health department to conduct contact tracing for positive cases” and asked “a significant proportion of team members at the Laverton distribution centre” to self-quarantine, as a precaution. |
| It goes on: | It goes on: |
| Hence, purchasing limits. I’ll tell you those products in the next post. | Hence, purchasing limits. I’ll tell you those products in the next post. |
| Lest anyone think Victoria police are the only ones currently enforcing coronavirus-related public health orders, NSW police have issued a statement this afternoon to say that they, too, are out and about fining people. | Lest anyone think Victoria police are the only ones currently enforcing coronavirus-related public health orders, NSW police have issued a statement this afternoon to say that they, too, are out and about fining people. |
| From the NSW police statement: | From the NSW police statement: |