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Coronavirus Australia live update: Melbourne's hard lockdown prompts economic fears – latest news Coronavirus Australia live update: Melbourne's hard Covid lockdown prompts economic fears – latest news
(32 minutes later)
Economists say stage-four restrictions will take a heavy toll, while the Andrews government is under pressure over hotel quarantine failures. Follow liveEconomists say stage-four restrictions will take a heavy toll, while the Andrews government is under pressure over hotel quarantine failures. Follow live
It’s a tough time for a lot of community organisations - but NSW has offered some help to some of the more famous ones:
There’s been no community car washes, biscuit bake sales or sausage sizzles to top up the coffers of Scouts, Girl Guides and Police and Community Youth Clubs during the coronavirus pandemic in NSW.
These are bread and butter fundraising activities run by the groups that offer more than 120,000 young people fun, friendship and adventure.
NSW Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey has announced a $3 million top-up to help them get through the crisis.
Ms Pavey noted the disruptions to the groups haven’t been unable to meet face-to-face or do their normal fundraising activities.
“It has also had a major impact on PCYC which rely on income from its network of youth centres across the state to generate more than half of its annual revenue,” she said.
The $3 million will be used for maintenance and improvements to Scout, Girl Guide and PCYC facilities on Crown land in NSW.
The measure is also expected to benefit communities by generating work for local economies, Ms Pavey said on Thursday.
(AAP)
Labor’s Stephen Jones has asked the auditor-general to look into the Coalition’s early superannuation release scheme.
The policy, which was designed to help people who are struggling financially during the Covid crisis, has seen $30bn taken out of superannuation - and left many under-35s with nothing in their account balances.
It was recently revealed the ATO did not check to see if those who removed the super had suffered financial difficulties.
Jones says the way the scheme was designed left people open to fines from the tax office.
Labor’s Linda Burney and Jason Clare want more housing made available for victims of family and domestic violence:
A second test on the Ipswich woman who tested positive for Covid-19 has come back negative.
Which is good news, because authorities couldn’t trace how she could have contracted the virus.
There have been cases of false positives previously - which is part of the reason you hear of cases being ‘reclassified’.
IbisWorld is predicting the Victorian lockdowns will change how consumers shop - possibly forever:IbisWorld is predicting the Victorian lockdowns will change how consumers shop - possibly forever:
People are still trying to get into South Australia:People are still trying to get into South Australia:
(via AAP)(via AAP)
Two people, including a teenager, have been charged with breaching coronavirus restrictions in South Australia.Two people, including a teenager, have been charged with breaching coronavirus restrictions in South Australia.
The boy, 17, was arrested at Adelaide Airport on Wednesday after getting off a flight from NSW, via Victoria.The boy, 17, was arrested at Adelaide Airport on Wednesday after getting off a flight from NSW, via Victoria.
SA Police became involved because although he had government approval to fly home from NSW, he did not have approval to travel from Victoria.SA Police became involved because although he had government approval to fly home from NSW, he did not have approval to travel from Victoria.
“While police were clarifying his status, he allegedly became abusive and refused to comply with the direction to wear a mask,” police said in a statement on Thursday.“While police were clarifying his status, he allegedly became abusive and refused to comply with the direction to wear a mask,” police said in a statement on Thursday.
The boy, from Christies Beach in Adelaide’s south, was charged with breaching COVID-19 directions and disorderly behaviour and sent to hotel quarantine for 14 days.The boy, from Christies Beach in Adelaide’s south, was charged with breaching COVID-19 directions and disorderly behaviour and sent to hotel quarantine for 14 days.
Elsewhere, police picked up a man in the Glenburnie Pine Forest about 2km inside the border with Victoria on Wednesday.Elsewhere, police picked up a man in the Glenburnie Pine Forest about 2km inside the border with Victoria on Wednesday.
The man from Renmark is accused of breaching the border earlier in the day and was charged with breaching coronavirus directions.The man from Renmark is accused of breaching the border earlier in the day and was charged with breaching coronavirus directions.
Queensland has reported no new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours.Queensland has reported no new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours.
Authorities are still trying to work out how a woman in West Moreton (Ipswich) contracted the virus. She was diagnosed yesterday.Authorities are still trying to work out how a woman in West Moreton (Ipswich) contracted the virus. She was diagnosed yesterday.
Helen Sullivan has all your international coronavirus news hereHelen Sullivan has all your international coronavirus news here
Greg Hunt was also asked about the open/close situation with the nation’s internal borders. This time round, he is more conciliatory than what we have heard previously on the issue:Greg Hunt was also asked about the open/close situation with the nation’s internal borders. This time round, he is more conciliatory than what we have heard previously on the issue:
Greg Hunt was asked about the Australian story that the South Australian Liberals were planning an event with 700 people.Greg Hunt was asked about the Australian story that the South Australian Liberals were planning an event with 700 people.
As David Penberthy reports:As David Penberthy reports:
Speaking to ABC News Breakfast, Hunt says he can’t answer the question – because he doesn’t have any details:Speaking to ABC News Breakfast, Hunt says he can’t answer the question – because he doesn’t have any details:
Q: But things might be compliant, but it’s also about messages and perception, isn’t it? You’d be hoping surely that people were setting examples from your own party?Q: But things might be compliant, but it’s also about messages and perception, isn’t it? You’d be hoping surely that people were setting examples from your own party?
Hunt: Well, look, I won’t comment on something where I don’t have the details.Hunt: Well, look, I won’t comment on something where I don’t have the details.
Included in that cybersecurity plan are increased powers for the Australian Signals Directorate. Which is what the News Corp political editor, Annika Smethurst, reported, and was dragged over the coals for. The government loudly proclaimed the story to be wrong. Smethurst endured an AFP investigation, complete with raids, before it was announced that no prosecution would move ahead.Included in that cybersecurity plan are increased powers for the Australian Signals Directorate. Which is what the News Corp political editor, Annika Smethurst, reported, and was dragged over the coals for. The government loudly proclaimed the story to be wrong. Smethurst endured an AFP investigation, complete with raids, before it was announced that no prosecution would move ahead.
And now here we are.And now here we are.
It’s a bit behind schedule but there have been a few things going on.It’s a bit behind schedule but there have been a few things going on.
Australia has a new cybersecurity plan, as Katharine Murphy reports:Australia has a new cybersecurity plan, as Katharine Murphy reports:
The concerns around food shortages centre around the changes to Victoria’s on-site work arrangements.The concerns around food shortages centre around the changes to Victoria’s on-site work arrangements.
Food production, including meat, seafood, dairy, fruit and vegetable processing businesses can remain open under the restrictions which came into force at midnight – but they have to be at one-third capacity.Food production, including meat, seafood, dairy, fruit and vegetable processing businesses can remain open under the restrictions which came into force at midnight – but they have to be at one-third capacity.
What that looks like we don’t entirely know as yet – it’s a work in progress and is different for each industry.What that looks like we don’t entirely know as yet – it’s a work in progress and is different for each industry.
Meanwhile, there is some concern about how the national food supply will be impacted by the Victorian workplace restrictions.
Brad Hazzard was asked about that too:
But the NSW decision, which comes after it closed its border to Victoria, means there are not quite as many calls for Queensland to open its border now that it has decided to bar people from NSW and the ACT from entering again.
Brad Hazzard:
Brad Hazzard has been chatting to ABC News Breakfast about NSW’s decision to put all people returning from Victoria into mandatory hotel quarantine (which you will have to pay for yourself). He repeated his warning to Victorians to stay away:
There is now a list of permitted businesses in Victoria:
To avoid doubt, the following are Permitted Work Premises in the following circumstances:
Ancillary and support businesses are able to open on-site to ensure the necessary production, supply, manufacture, repair, maintenance, cleaning, security, wholesale, distribution, transportation or sale of equipment, goods or services required for the operations of a Permitted Work Premises, or for Closed Work Premises where there are safety or environmental obligations. The business cannot operate on-site for any other purpose.
Services and ancillary services that relate to the COVID-19 health response are Permitted Work Premises.
Services connected with animal health, husbandry or welfare, including the RSPCA, are Permitted Work Premises.
Union/peak body/employer organisation officials attending a worksite as permitted by law or for Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) advice is permitted.
The ACTU boss, Sally McManus, says she is heartened by changes in Scott Morrison’s language which suggest the federal government paid pandemic leave may be made available to other jurisdictions without a state of disaster needing to be declared first. She told ABC News Breakfast this morning:
Daniel Andrews has denied his state rolled back contact tracing efforts, thinking it had the virus under control, before the hotel quarantine and meatworks outbreaks.
Nine News reported allegations Victoria had scaled back contact tracing in May/June which the premier denies.
The Nine reports says in mid-June there were 57 contact tracers in Victoria. That number grew to 2,000 by the end of last month.
Annnnd NSW has announced another school will be closed for cleaning – this time in Newcastle:
(via AAP)
NSW has announced another school closure. As AAP reports:
A lot of these police media updates involve people of “no fixed address”:
A man has been charged after police at a border checkpoint at Albury discovered he was trying to cross into NSW driving a stolen ute.
NSW Police manning the checkpoint stopped the utility on the Hume Highway at Albury about 7am today (Wednesday 5 August 2020).
The 27-year-old driver was unable to produce permits or ID, and further checks revealed the ute had been reported stolen from a business in West Melbourne yesterday (Tuesday 4 August 2020).
The man was arrested and was taken to Albury Police Station where he was charged three offences
• Receive property stolen outside NSW
• Not comply with noticed direction – COVID-19, and,
• Drive conveyance taken without consent of owner.
The man, of no fixed address, appeared in Albury Local Court today, where he was refused bail to re-appear in the same court on Friday 11 September 2020.
Victoria is approaching the end of its first week with Melbourne under stage-four restrictions, and still reeling from yesterday, when 15 people, including a man in his 30s, died from Covid-19.
Work permits will be needed to head into the workplace under the next stage of lockdowns – and permits will also be needed to send your child to a childcare centre.
Meanwhile, the inquiry into what went wrong with the hotel quarantine system in Victoria has had its report delayed until November – although the head of that inquiry has said there is no reason Daniel Andrews and his government can’t answer questions about the issue.
Under all that is the economic warnings of the financial cost of the stage-four lockdown, with economists trying to put a figure on it.
As AAP reports:
We’ll cover everything that happens today in Victoria and across the nation right here, and we thank you for joining us. You have Amy Remeikis with you for most of the day.
Ready?