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Coronavirus Australia live update: NSW, WA and Queensland agree to raise caps on international arrivals Coronavirus Australia live update: NSW, WA and Queensland agree to raise caps on international arrivals
(31 minutes later)
NSW announces six new cases while Queensland says it will reopen border to ACT residents from 25 September Victoria reports 45 new cases and five more deaths as NSW announces six cases; Queensland will reopen border to ACT residents from 25 September. Follow live
Gutwein says that Tasmania will not receive any international flights even as other states raise their caps. But he said he has offered to pay a small amount to support other states.
“We’re not in a position where we will receive [international] flights into Tasmania as a result of any increase in the caps,” he says. “But...I’ve made it clear that as we can’t take flights, that if we were able to or if it were required, we could make a financial contribution on the basis of around 2% of the people that are coming back are Tasmanian”.
He also said that if there was need for an emergency flight or similar, the state could help out with that.
Tasmania’s premier Peter Gutwein is speaking now.
He says that from 25 September, the state will be relaxing restrictions on outdoor sporting events.
“The crowd capacity, venue capacity, will increase from 500 to 1,000 people from next Friday, 25 September, as long as Covid-safety plans are in place.”
Technical issues have just interrupted the ABC’s feed of Palaszczuk’s press conference, but in the meantime, here’s what was announced in Scott Morrison’s press conference today.
NSW, Queensland and WA will all eventually take an extra 500 international arrivals a week, as Australians return home. That process will be staggered in Queensland and WA to give the states time to set up hotel quarantine capacity.
There are 24,000 Australians currently overseas who want to return home, and Morrison said that the eventual aim was to have all arrival caps lifted.
The PM said no states asked for the federal government to help pay for quarantine, and said the government was providing additional ADF personnel.
He also said that the federal government would connect all state and territory contact tracing across one system.
Morrison also said the national cabinet was working on a travel bubble with New Zealand, with no quarantine requirement for travel with some places like the South Island. That would allow Australians in New Zealand to return home, but also for tourists from both countries to travel between them.
Queensland’s premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, is speaking now.
She reiterates that Queensland will be increasing its intake of returning Australians.
“This is heartbreaking to hear the stories of people trapped overseas, Queenslanders trapped overseas,” she says.
“And we know that the virus is spreading in some of these countries, especially Europe where we’re seeing large numbers of Covid cases, and I understand the desperation of mums and dads wanting their kids to come home, or uncles or aunts, or parents, and I want to do everything we possibly can.”
She says the federal government agreed to provide more ADF personnel to help.
Morrison is asked whether the federal government will be financially contributing to the states to help them set up the hotel quarantine system faster.
He says that no states asked for the federal government to pay.
He adds that the provision of Australian Defence Force personnel is the federal government’s contribution and that the returning travellers are paying for the quarantine themselves.
“The commonwealth can be accused of many things but in this Covid-19 pandemic, not stumping up when it comes to costs - I mean, jobkeeper alone is over $100 billion. If you add up every single thing that the states are doing, in their Covid response, you won’t even get to the cost of jobkeeper.”
He says no state asked for the government to help pay for quarantine.
“We were providing that in-kind support from the ADF. That’s all that’s been suggested from us from the states and territories.
“They haven’t asked for [funding]. That didn’t come from the Queensland government or the WA government. They didn’t ask for that. They weren’t asking for money. They were asking for ADF support and the answer is yes.”
Morrison says there are 24,000 Australians who are stranded overseas, who wish to come home.Morrison says there are 24,000 Australians who are stranded overseas, who wish to come home.
He says there are 4,000 people who have been identified as more vulnerable by the department of foreign affairs.He says there are 4,000 people who have been identified as more vulnerable by the department of foreign affairs.
He also says that not every Australian overseas actually wants to come home.He also says that not every Australian overseas actually wants to come home.
Morrison is asked whether he will relax restrictions on allowing Australians out of the country – so airlines don’t have to fly empty planes to collect returning Australians.Morrison is asked whether he will relax restrictions on allowing Australians out of the country – so airlines don’t have to fly empty planes to collect returning Australians.
He says thousands of exemptions are made every week to allow Australians out of the country.He says thousands of exemptions are made every week to allow Australians out of the country.
Morrison says that he would want to see arrival caps increased again in future – and eventually lifted.Morrison says that he would want to see arrival caps increased again in future – and eventually lifted.
“I believe it will [be lifted again], and we spoke about that today,” he says.“I believe it will [be lifted again], and we spoke about that today,” he says.
“So, let’s get to this next level, and then ultimately we’d like to see those caps lifted, as they were back in early July. That would be my goal.”“So, let’s get to this next level, and then ultimately we’d like to see those caps lifted, as they were back in early July. That would be my goal.”
The PM says there is no update on the debate over what constitutes a hotspot, as the AHPPC did not provide a paper on it today.The PM says there is no update on the debate over what constitutes a hotspot, as the AHPPC did not provide a paper on it today.
Morrison also says that Australia is looking again at a trans-Tasman travel bubble, where people from New Zealand could come into Australia without quarantine.Morrison also says that Australia is looking again at a trans-Tasman travel bubble, where people from New Zealand could come into Australia without quarantine.
He did not provide a set date, but said the government was working on it.He did not provide a set date, but said the government was working on it.
Scott Morrison has announced that caps will be lifted in NSW, Queensland and WA, meaning 1,500 Australians a week will be able to come back.Scott Morrison has announced that caps will be lifted in NSW, Queensland and WA, meaning 1,500 Australians a week will be able to come back.
From 27 September, NSW will be able to take an additional 500 returned travellers a week.From 27 September, NSW will be able to take an additional 500 returned travellers a week.
Queensland and Western Australia will be taking an additional 200 per week.Queensland and Western Australia will be taking an additional 200 per week.
That will then rise. From 4 October, Queensland will move to that full 500 extra a week, and by 11 October, WA will also move to the extra 500 a week.That will then rise. From 4 October, Queensland will move to that full 500 extra a week, and by 11 October, WA will also move to the extra 500 a week.
Morrison says he has received reports from the chief scientist, Dr Alan Finkel, and navy Commodore Mark Hill about comparing Victoria’s contact tracing system with New South Wales.Morrison says he has received reports from the chief scientist, Dr Alan Finkel, and navy Commodore Mark Hill about comparing Victoria’s contact tracing system with New South Wales.
He says that there have been “lots of lessons learned”, and that they will spread that work “across all the other states and territories”.He says that there have been “lots of lessons learned”, and that they will spread that work “across all the other states and territories”.
He also says that the federal government will “connect all the digital systems that the states and territories are using”.He also says that the federal government will “connect all the digital systems that the states and territories are using”.
Scott Morrison is speaking now from Sydney.Scott Morrison is speaking now from Sydney.
He says it has been a “very practical” day of discussions, as the states are discussing Australia’s arrivals caps and hotel quarantine.He says it has been a “very practical” day of discussions, as the states are discussing Australia’s arrivals caps and hotel quarantine.
Morrison also says that the virus cases in Victoria, and the improving job numbers nationally are heartening.Morrison also says that the virus cases in Victoria, and the improving job numbers nationally are heartening.
He says that Australia saw a 7% decline in the economy in the June quarter, but that New Zealand experienced 12%.He says that Australia saw a 7% decline in the economy in the June quarter, but that New Zealand experienced 12%.
Some more on that funding for AAP.Some more on that funding for AAP.
The chair of AAP, Jonty Low, and its chief executive, Emma Cowdroy, have welcomed the announcement.The chair of AAP, Jonty Low, and its chief executive, Emma Cowdroy, have welcomed the announcement.
Earlier this week, three crossbench senators had written to the prime minister urging him to fund the newswire, according to a report from AAP itself.Earlier this week, three crossbench senators had written to the prime minister urging him to fund the newswire, according to a report from AAP itself.
Senators Jacqui Lambie, Rex Patrick and Stirling Griff told the government an urgent intervention was needed. “If the work of AAP is as valued as it ought to be, the Morrison government must invest in it,” the trio wrote.Senators Jacqui Lambie, Rex Patrick and Stirling Griff told the government an urgent intervention was needed. “If the work of AAP is as valued as it ought to be, the Morrison government must invest in it,” the trio wrote.
The Greens have previously made a similar request.The Greens have previously made a similar request.
The senators have argued that the funding should be provided annually for three years.The senators have argued that the funding should be provided annually for three years.
AAP is also running a crowdfunding campaign which has so far raised $120,000 out of a $500,000 goal.AAP is also running a crowdfunding campaign which has so far raised $120,000 out of a $500,000 goal.
Scott Morrison will give his press conference at 1.30pm today.Scott Morrison will give his press conference at 1.30pm today.
The Australian Associated Press newswire will get $5m in funding from the federal government, the SMH report.The Australian Associated Press newswire will get $5m in funding from the federal government, the SMH report.
The communications minister, Paul Fletcher, said that AAP was vital for regional news and Australia’s media diversity.The communications minister, Paul Fletcher, said that AAP was vital for regional news and Australia’s media diversity.
The funding will come from the government’s public interest news gathering program.The funding will come from the government’s public interest news gathering program.
Andrews says that Victorians will not be fined if they tell contact tracers the truth about their travel, even if that means admitting they broke restrictions.Andrews says that Victorians will not be fined if they tell contact tracers the truth about their travel, even if that means admitting they broke restrictions.
That would apply to people who have already tested positive, and are being interviewed by contact tracers.That would apply to people who have already tested positive, and are being interviewed by contact tracers.
Andrews says that the Casey/Dandenong cluster is proof of the dangers of household transmission, and says that lesson applies to all socioeconomic groups.Andrews says that the Casey/Dandenong cluster is proof of the dangers of household transmission, and says that lesson applies to all socioeconomic groups.
Andrews says he is disappointed in the behaviour of some of the people in the cluster.Andrews says he is disappointed in the behaviour of some of the people in the cluster.