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Coronavirus Australia live updates: Victoria records 77 new cases as 300,000 enter lockdown in Melbourne hotspot suburbs Coronavirus Australia live updates: Victoria records 77 new cases as 300,000 enter lockdown in Melbourne hotspot suburbs
(32 minutes later)
Stay-at-home orders are now in place for 10 postcodes in city’s north as state steps up action to contain Covid-19Stay-at-home orders are now in place for 10 postcodes in city’s north as state steps up action to contain Covid-19
In case you missed it, Australia is considering providing safe haven to Hong Kong residents, Scott Morrison confirmed.
That was raised a little bit ago, when China first started floating its new security laws.
Those laws, which makes any activism against the Chinese Communist Party regime illegal, with life in prison among the penalties, were passed a little earlier this week.
The UK has responded by offering safe haven to 3m Hong Kong citizens, opening up the pathway for them to receive citizenship.
Morrison said Australia was considering similar proposals:
He then remembers that he needs to spruik the Liberal Eden-Monaro candidate, Fiona Kotvojs, and pivots from just how challenging the economy is going to be, to how amazing Kotvojs will be in fighting for jobs.
I mean, hopefully the prime minister doesn’t actually need someone barging into his office to remind him to do his job, but that seems to be a popular line.
The press conference was held in the ACT suburb of Hume, which is just over the Eden-Monaro electoral border, but it’s about JOBS and, presumably, workers at the defence contractor they were featuring are from the electorate du jour.
Scott Morrison will meet with his finance team again this afternoon to work through the phase three plan.
When it comes to the next phase of the government’s Covid-19 response in terms of the economy, Scott Morrison says:
He goes on:
Asked about the early access super program, which with the turnover into the new financial year yesterday means people financially impacted by the Covid-19 impacts can access up to $10,000 more from their retirement payments, Scott Morrison says:
Asked about the allegations about security breaches in Victorian quarantine hotels, Scott Morrison says:
Asked about the Hong Kong situation, Scott Morrison says:
The former ACTU boss and Labor pollie Greg Combet has quit the Nev Power-chaired Covid-19 commission.
In a statement, Combet said: “I am pleased to have been able to give my attention and support to the early response to the pandemic, but with other capable hands taking forward the Commission’s evolving program of work, it’s time for me to focus on my business responsibilities, including as chair of IFM Investors.”
(IFM Investors is an investment vehicle run by industry super funds.)
Combet will continue in his role as a special adviser to attorney general, Christian Porter, which is part of a working group process that is supposed to work out how industrial relations laws should change in a Post-covid world.
The National Covid-19 Coordination Commission said Power “commended Mr Combet on his and the working group’s significant achievements and contribution to mitigating the impact on lives and livelihoods and supporting a safe reopening for businesses as the first step in our economic recovery”.
Scott Morrison says there are no disputes between the Liberal and Nationals in NSW and everything is fine.
I’m not sure how a vote for the party who is not in government and cannot set government policy is a vote for uncertainty, as the one thing is certain is that this byelection will do nothing to change the government, but hey – that’s politics.
Scott Morrison is asked about his reference to the 1930s in his defence speech yesterday, and how Australia needed to be prepared for any coming changes in environment.Scott Morrison is asked about his reference to the 1930s in his defence speech yesterday, and how Australia needed to be prepared for any coming changes in environment.
Did that draw a link between China and 1930s Germany?Did that draw a link between China and 1930s Germany?
Morrison:Morrison:
Scott Morrison is holding his press conference - the Liberal candidate for Eden-Monaro has prime nodding position behind him, as they talk about defence spending. Scott Morrison is holding his press conference – the Liberal candidate for Eden-Monaro has prime nodding position behind him, as they talk about defence spending.
Brett Sutton again reminds people of just how easily spread this virus is, and what that can mean for lives, health systems, and day to day life until there is a vaccine: Brett Sutton again reminds people of just how easily spread this virus is and what that can mean for lives, health systems and day-to-day life until there is a vaccine:
For those who woke up in a lockdown, the professor says he understands the frustration, but there is no other option:For those who woke up in a lockdown, the professor says he understands the frustration, but there is no other option:
Victoria was one of the first to stop on-site school attendance.Victoria was one of the first to stop on-site school attendance.
It’s health officer does not rule out a return to at home learning when term three starts. Its health officer does not rule out a return to at home learning when term three starts.
Victorian students are currently on school holidays, but Brett Sutton says it is a situation they are watching closely. It is not just the student/staff transmission risk, it is also the transmission risk during pick up and drop off. Victorian students are now on school holidays, but Brett Sutton says it is a situation health officials are watching closely. It is not just the student/staff transmission risk, it is also the transmission risk during pick up and dropoff.
On transmission in schools, Professor Brett Sutton says: On transmission in schools, Prof Brett Sutton says:
What does “routine testing” mean, in terms of infection?What does “routine testing” mean, in terms of infection?
Brett Sutton:Brett Sutton:
It’s the community transmission that’s the key stressor.It’s the community transmission that’s the key stressor.
It looks as though in the last 24 hours, the amounts of infection with no known source – picked up in the community – is up by 31.It looks as though in the last 24 hours, the amounts of infection with no known source – picked up in the community – is up by 31.
That’s not good. At all.That’s not good. At all.
Again, Brett Sutton says he takes some solace in the number of infections appearing to stabilise, but he is not taking a breather just yet:Again, Brett Sutton says he takes some solace in the number of infections appearing to stabilise, but he is not taking a breather just yet:
Asked if the Covid-19 strain in Melbourne is more virulent than what has been previously seen, Professor Brett Sutton says:
The Victorian health officer is asked if he played any role in the state’s hotel quarantine plan:
Q: Are you involved now?
Sutton:
Victoria tested 26,320 people yesterday.
There have been, so far, 27 cases of Covid-19 found in people outside the hotspot areas.
Asked if Victoria, or just Melbourne, will have to go into a wider lockdown, Brett Sutton says:
Victoria’s chief health officer, Prof Brett Sutton, is giving an update on the situation in the state. As he warned a couple of days ago, the numbers are worse:
Linda Reynolds is the latest minister to single out China in a speech (via AAP):
The defence minister has accused China of deeply unsettling the Indo-Pacific as Australia shifts its full military focus to the region.
Linda Reynolds says China’s expansion has put Australia in a precarious position.
“They have not positively contributed to Australia’s – or the region’s – security and stability,” Senator Reynolds will tell defence leaders in a speech on Thursday.
“Australia has watched closely as China has actively sought greater influence in the Indo-Pacific. Australia is far from alone in being troubled by this.”
The federal government is spending another $270 billion on defence over the next decade to protect against China’s militarisation and the fallout from coronavirus.
The government has also instructed the Australian Defence Force to focus squarely on the region, rather than far-flung conflicts.
Peter Jennings from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute believes the country could be heading to a potential military crisis off the coast of China within the next year or two.
“What is new is the realisation that the risk of conflict is upon us right now, not a comfortably distant 20 years away,” he said. “The [defence strategic] update abandons a long-held strategic view that we would have 10 years of ‘strategic warning time’ to prepare for a large-scale conflict.”
Mr Jennings has also urged the prime minister to apply his strategic lens to Australia’s “thin diplomatic effort” in Southeast Asia.
“We must work with the region to show that it’s possible to push back against [Chinese] domination,” he said.
Senator Reynolds does not believe Australia’s concerns will surprise the Chinese government. “We have been very clear in expressing our concerns about developments that are inconsistent with international law or may undermine the sovereignty of nations,” she will say.
Ahead of the speech, Senator Reynolds said Australia’s security environment was changing “very, very quickly” and the region was becoming less safe.
She said while the prospect of high-intensity conflict in the region was still unlikely, the possibility was less remote than in the past.
“We have not changed, our values have not changed, and how we engage with the region has not changed,” Senator Reynolds told ABC radio. “But the region has changed and China’s behaviour has changed in the region.”
Tensions between the US and China have put the region on edge. So too have border skirmishes between China and India, and Beijing’s intransigence over the South China Sea.
Australia is also concerned China is exercising “soft power” by offering Pacific nations unsustainable loans, which critics describe as debt traps.
Things are all very normal between the NSW Nats and the NSW Libs.
We’re expecting an update from Victoria at 11am.
What’s it like in a locked-down suburb at the moment?
If the result from polling booths is close on Saturday, it could be days until we get a result. Postals could play a very important role.