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Coronavirus Australia live update: NRL proposes 25% staff cut as Victoria reports 11 new cases and NSW four Coronavirus Australia live update: NRL proposes 25% staff cut as Victoria reports 11 new cases and NSW four
(32 minutes later)
Victoria’s infections continue to fall as Covid testing rates drop across Australia. Follow liveVictoria’s infections continue to fall as Covid testing rates drop across Australia. Follow live
Hello everyone, Luke Henriques-Gomes here taking over from Amy. I’ll be with you into the evening. You can get in touch via email luke.henriques-gomes@theguardian.com or on Twitter @lukehgomes.
There is a national Covid update coming up at 3.30 - Luke Henriques-Gomes will take you through that and the rest of the afternoon.
I’ll be back tomorrow morning - take care of you Ax
Another outcome of the migration dropped because of covid:
Steven Marshall does not seem as positive when it comes to potentially opening the South Australian borders to NSW travellers, following the case of an infected taxi driver. The SA transition committee will meet tomorrow to discuss the NSW situation:Steven Marshall does not seem as positive when it comes to potentially opening the South Australian borders to NSW travellers, following the case of an infected taxi driver. The SA transition committee will meet tomorrow to discuss the NSW situation:
Apprenticeships are at their lowest numbers in 20 years.Apprenticeships are at their lowest numbers in 20 years.
Labor’s Tanya Plibersek had a bit to say about that a little earlier:Labor’s Tanya Plibersek had a bit to say about that a little earlier:
Dnata was one of the firms ineligible for jobkeeper, as it was bought by a foreign owned company.Dnata was one of the firms ineligible for jobkeeper, as it was bought by a foreign owned company.
Now the TWU is saying more workers will lose their jobs:Now the TWU is saying more workers will lose their jobs:
The workers were denied jobkeeper after last minute changes in March to the scheme by the federal government which stopped Australian workers from receiving the payment whose companies are owned by foreign governments. Dnata is owned by the Emirates Group and employs 6,000 workers in Australia.The workers were denied jobkeeper after last minute changes in March to the scheme by the federal government which stopped Australian workers from receiving the payment whose companies are owned by foreign governments. Dnata is owned by the Emirates Group and employs 6,000 workers in Australia.
Dnata workers have had little income for seven months with many ineligible for full jobseeker. The majority of the redundancies will hit Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth airports.Dnata workers have had little income for seven months with many ineligible for full jobseeker. The majority of the redundancies will hit Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth airports.
TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said he hoped the Prime Minister would address Dnata workers on the loss of their jobs.TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said he hoped the Prime Minister would address Dnata workers on the loss of their jobs.
Queensland’s chief health officer wants to run an AFL grand final test run – but the LNP opposition is not happy:Queensland’s chief health officer wants to run an AFL grand final test run – but the LNP opposition is not happy:
Two hundred AFL fans have volunteered to act as guinea pigs and sit in close quarters during the Collingwood-Port Adelaide game at the Gabba on Monday night.Two hundred AFL fans have volunteered to act as guinea pigs and sit in close quarters during the Collingwood-Port Adelaide game at the Gabba on Monday night.
“Tonight, stadiums have agreed to trial increasing the density for a small number of people at the Gabba stadium,” chief health officer Jeannette Young said.“Tonight, stadiums have agreed to trial increasing the density for a small number of people at the Gabba stadium,” chief health officer Jeannette Young said.
Currently, stadiums are at 50% but the plan is to increase capacity to 75%, or 30,000 people, for the grand final on 24 October.Currently, stadiums are at 50% but the plan is to increase capacity to 75%, or 30,000 people, for the grand final on 24 October.
“To suddenly go and increase from 50% to 75% without trialling all those processes doesn’t make sense,” Dr Young said.“To suddenly go and increase from 50% to 75% without trialling all those processes doesn’t make sense,” Dr Young said.
She was not concerned about the risk of infection as outdoor areas were “much, much safer” than indoor venues.She was not concerned about the risk of infection as outdoor areas were “much, much safer” than indoor venues.
But opposition leader Deb Frecklington accused the state government of putting the interests of AFL players over the health of ordinary Queenslanders.But opposition leader Deb Frecklington accused the state government of putting the interests of AFL players over the health of ordinary Queenslanders.
“It is staggering double standards when people can’t have more than 10 people in their home but [premier] Annastacia Palaszczuk wants to trial jamming people into a footy stadium,” she said.“It is staggering double standards when people can’t have more than 10 people in their home but [premier] Annastacia Palaszczuk wants to trial jamming people into a footy stadium,” she said.
(via AAP)(via AAP)
Here’s New Zealand’s biggest political scandal – a selfie.Here’s New Zealand’s biggest political scandal – a selfie.
(via AAP)(via AAP)
We got the unemployment figures last week – which came with a surprise drop in unemployment – from 7.5% to 6.8% – but in real terms, unemployment remains at between 13% and 14% (and don’t underestimate the impact the gig economy has had on unemployment – and you are counted as employed if you do one hour of work).We got the unemployment figures last week – which came with a surprise drop in unemployment – from 7.5% to 6.8% – but in real terms, unemployment remains at between 13% and 14% (and don’t underestimate the impact the gig economy has had on unemployment – and you are counted as employed if you do one hour of work).
Tomorrow, we get the payroll data, which will help give us a broader idea of what is actually happeningTomorrow, we get the payroll data, which will help give us a broader idea of what is actually happening
So what happens to what is left of the Covid supplement past 31 December?So what happens to what is left of the Covid supplement past 31 December?
Anne Ruston:Anne Ruston:
Will that be in the budget?Will that be in the budget?
Ruston:Ruston:
Given there is not a lot of work around, isn’t applying for eight jobs a bit of a burden for both job seekers and employers?
Anne Ruston:
There are reports from the agricultural community that they can’t find fruit pickers.
This has been one of the government’s lines – but it is a complicated issue and not just as cut and dried as people turning down work.
Anne Ruston:
Anne Ruston’s shadow minister, Linda Burney, had a bit to say about this issue a little earlier today:
Anne Ruston won’t say what happens to the Covid supplement beyond 31 December, or whether or not the pension will be increased (given there is no indexation increase this year) although on the latter point, Scott Morrison has basically said it will be happening.
On jobseeker changes, Anne Ruston, who very clearly has a tickle in her throat, says:
The social services minister, Anne Ruston, is talking about the coming changes to income support:
Don’t put your cloth masks into the dryer.
I can not stress this enough. Particularly if your cloth mask has a filter in it. For example.
That ended with this exchange:
Norman Swan: Why haven’t you revealed what’s in the research funding package? ANU vice-chancellor Brian Schmidt said on this program last week, the sector would be in real trouble unless the government revealed what was in that package. When will universities see what’s on the table for research? I mean, this is our research future we’re talking about here.
Dan Tehan: So, I’ve been working very cooperatively with the sector on what we need to do to put ballast into our research sector, as a result of the declining international students. We’ve got the Budget coming up in less than three weeks now. I think it’s two weeks. So, what we will be doing is we will be continuing to work with the sector, and we’ll have more to say in the Budget about it.
And it looks like there is some sort of program being put together to allow more international students to attend Australian universities.
Norman Swan: The ANU, University of New South Wales, RMIT, all announced very large cuts in jobs. The unions estimate the losses at around 12,000 since the pandemic first struck. This could be your legacy. It’s on your watch. How worried are you about the cumulative effect on our tertiary education system of these losses?
Dan Tehan: Look, it’s an incredibly difficult time for the higher education sector, no doubt about that …
Swan: … But, aren’t you making it worse with changes to, you know, how the universities are funded and research and so on?
Tehan:
Swan: But, we could, we could bring back these students, couldn’t we? It’s not beyond [inaudible]. We could do rapid testing, we could put them into quarantine facilities, on universities or elsewhere. Twenty universities in the UK are chartering their own flights to get thousands of Chinese students back. I mean, there’s lots of things happening, which could lock us out of this international market for a long time. Surely, we could be innovative.
Tehan:
Dan Tehan spoke to Norman Swan on ABC radio this morning, where Dr Swan asked him about what was happening with childcare:
Swan: You announced yesterday more support for child care operators in Victoria, which will be in place for most of January. So, obviously, Victoria’s taken an economic hit, but we also hear that child care operators are finding it tough in tourist areas in Australia, so it’s not just Victoria. Why aren’t these provisions being made available in other states, even in a targeted fashion?
Tehan: Yeah, look, it’s a good question, and there are some measures which we are keeping in place for the rest of Australia, and we also have other support mechanisms for those child care centres that we can target on a case by case basis, and that’s what we will be doing. So, for all those providers who might be in areas hard hit, such as tourism areas, we can provide case by case support to those facilities as well. So, the package yesterday, predominantly for Victoria, obviously they’ve been very hard hit by this second Victorian wave, but, case by case, there are support mechanisms there for other providers around the nation.
Swan: But, what we’ve been told by the sector is that it can be eye wateringly complex, and some child care centres are just giving up on applications for funds. How can you simplify it?
Tehan: Look, so, one of the things that we’ve obviously been very successful at through this pandemic is keeping 99 per cent of our child care providers operational, and providing that important care to young children. Now, with these additional measures, we are looking to make sure, for those centres who need support and relief, that we will be simplifying those measures, and, obviously, we will continue to work with the sector and engage with them to make sure that those application processes are as seamless as possible and as quick as possible. But, one of the things that we have been able to do, unlike many other countries, is keep the sector up, operational and viable, and I take my hat off, in particular, to all those early childhood educators who, right through this pandemic, have provided that really important care to young Australians.
Swan: Do you think parents understand the activity test? I tried to read about it last and I thought, I just, I don’t understand that, if I was a parent.
Tehan: Look, what the activity test is, in simple terms, is what we want you to do is either, through work or volunteering, is to be contributing, and, in return, what the government does is provide you with subsidised child care. Now, the way it works is rather complex, but what, that’s why we’ve now extended the activity test, or exemptions from the activity test, for all families, right through till, to April. This is something that the sector asked for us to do nationally. It’s something that we’ve done nationally, because, most importantly, what it will enable is those families who have lost work or lost working hours to be able to get additional support.