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Coronavirus Australia update: Victoria reports 11 new cases as NSW records five local infections – live Coronavirus Australia update: Daniel Andrews gives press conference as Victoria reports 11 new cases and NSW 10 – live
(32 minutes later)
The number of locally-transmitted cases in Sydney is growing, dashing hopes of the Queensland border reopening next month. Follow live The number of locally transmitted cases in Sydney is growing, dashing hopes of the Queensland border reopening next month. Follow live
So is Victoria still towards the end of its hard line of restrictions, even with these new outbreaks?
Professor Brett Sutton:
Professor Brett Sutton says it is not just about contact tracing - people need to take their own precautions:
The tax changes have passed the senate (the cut price jobkeeper program – the labour hire credits, have been sent to a committee for review).
The tax changes means the rate will change from the moment the bill becomes law – and then anything else you are owed will form part of next year’s tax return.
The finance minister is delivering his final speech to the Senate.
He’s taking a light-hearted approach – Penny Wong appears to be enjoying it.
The pair have been sparring partners, but (usually) take the same approach – getting things done. The biggest blowups have occurred when one has disappointed the other by playing politics.
Victorian chief health officer Prof Brett Sutton is up now:
From Monday, Victorians must wear a fitted face mask – no more face shields. (This was announced two weeks ago.)
Daniel Andrews:
Happy 99th Dan Andrews consecutive press conference day.
Daniel Andrews:
NSW CHO Dr Kerry Chant has also given an update:NSW CHO Dr Kerry Chant has also given an update:
Gladys Berejiklian is asking Sydney residents to get tested for Covid if they have any symptoms.Gladys Berejiklian is asking Sydney residents to get tested for Covid if they have any symptoms.
There have been 10 cases in total recorded for NSW – five are in hotel quarantine:There have been 10 cases in total recorded for NSW – five are in hotel quarantine:
While the Senate is debating the omnibus tax cut bill, it’s worth noting that the second stimulus bill, to give the government power to create the jobmaker hiring credit (youth wage subsidy) has been referred to an inquiry.While the Senate is debating the omnibus tax cut bill, it’s worth noting that the second stimulus bill, to give the government power to create the jobmaker hiring credit (youth wage subsidy) has been referred to an inquiry.
The Senate Economics Legislation Committee will examine the bill and report by 6 November.The Senate Economics Legislation Committee will examine the bill and report by 6 November.
So while Labor will wave through tax cuts today, there’ll be a few days of hearings to dig into the hiring credit.So while Labor will wave through tax cuts today, there’ll be a few days of hearings to dig into the hiring credit.
The omnibus tax bill just passed the second reading stage, 30 votes to six, a foregone conclusion because only the Greens are opposing it.The omnibus tax bill just passed the second reading stage, 30 votes to six, a foregone conclusion because only the Greens are opposing it.
Just a reminder that childcare as an industry makes money as well.Just a reminder that childcare as an industry makes money as well.
And it should not be treated as welfare.And it should not be treated as welfare.
Dan Tehan was on ABC radio with Hamish Macdonald this morning as well, talking child care.Dan Tehan was on ABC radio with Hamish Macdonald this morning as well, talking child care.
Macdonald: Labor is promising an extra $6bn for day care. That will work, won’t it, on two levels: helping families doing it tough in this recession. Also, though, getting Australia working again, as Anthony Albanese puts it.Macdonald: Labor is promising an extra $6bn for day care. That will work, won’t it, on two levels: helping families doing it tough in this recession. Also, though, getting Australia working again, as Anthony Albanese puts it.
Tehan:Tehan:
Macdonald: They, Labor, though, is targeting a bit of a sore point, though, for this government, that it’s been a fairly blokey budget. Aren’t they?Macdonald: They, Labor, though, is targeting a bit of a sore point, though, for this government, that it’s been a fairly blokey budget. Aren’t they?
Tehan:Tehan:
Macdonald: … With respect, minister, you’re talking about the past, they’re talking about the future here and the recovery, and getting more people into work and enabling more women to return to the workforce. Why don’t you do something to support women back into the workforce, specifically?Macdonald: … With respect, minister, you’re talking about the past, they’re talking about the future here and the recovery, and getting more people into work and enabling more women to return to the workforce. Why don’t you do something to support women back into the workforce, specifically?
Tehan:Tehan:
Macdonald: But, you do acknowledge, though, don’t you, under the current system that we have with the subsidy cap, there is a disincentive for some individuals in a two person relationship with a kid to go back to work more than two and a half days a week. That the financial scenario under the current subsidy means there’s a disincentive. You accept that, don’t you?Macdonald: But, you do acknowledge, though, don’t you, under the current system that we have with the subsidy cap, there is a disincentive for some individuals in a two person relationship with a kid to go back to work more than two and a half days a week. That the financial scenario under the current subsidy means there’s a disincentive. You accept that, don’t you?
Tehan:Tehan:
Macdonald: … I understand that. I’m just trying to get you to speak to the disincentive that’s there. I mean, you would have read the, the figures yourself. This is not something that’s come from Labor. You acknowledge that there is a structural disincentive for people to work over three days, if they’re the second partner in the relationship?Macdonald: … I understand that. I’m just trying to get you to speak to the disincentive that’s there. I mean, you would have read the, the figures yourself. This is not something that’s come from Labor. You acknowledge that there is a structural disincentive for people to work over three days, if they’re the second partner in the relationship?
Tehan:Tehan:
Daniel Andrews will hold his press conference at 11am as well.Daniel Andrews will hold his press conference at 11am as well.
As previewed many, many times by the government, mental health funding was increased in the budget. More people than ever are struggling with their mental health, given *gestures wildly at everything*.As previewed many, many times by the government, mental health funding was increased in the budget. More people than ever are struggling with their mental health, given *gestures wildly at everything*.
AAP reports that includes people who are dealing with it for the first time:AAP reports that includes people who are dealing with it for the first time:
It’s 11am for Gladys Berejiklian today.
The former Victorian health minister, Jenny Mikakos, has delivered an explosive final submission to the hotel quarantine inquiry on her way out.
Mikakos quit the ministry and parliament after premier Daniel Andrews gave evidence to the inquiry that he believed she was responsible for the botched program that caused Victoria’s second wave of Covid cases.
However, in her final submission to the inquiry published on Friday, Mikakos has placed the blame on the premier for tasking another department, the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions with the program, meaning she was not kept informed about it.
Mikakos said her resignation should not be viewed as an admission of responsibility, and said the failure of the program in part could be due to the lack of the regular cabinet committee process in the establishment of the program in March.
She said his belief she was responsible for the program was inconsistent with the evidence of the crisis council of cabinet submission from that time which listed the program as being the joint responsibility of DJPR and the Department of Health and Human Services.
The former minister also suggested the inquiry should “treat with caution” Andrews’ claim that a decision to use private security had not been made by the time he held a 3pm press conference on 27 March where he mentioned private security.
The state opposition has called for Andrews’s staff to be called before the inquiry about their involvement on the day the program was established.
It has been quite the morning, so I am only now reading through the final submissions to the hotel quarantine inquiry.
Jenny Mikakos has quite the interesting one – the former health minister will not be going quietly. Her submission includes a warning for the inquiry to treat her former leader, Daniel Andrews’s evidence with “caution”.
Mikakos’s submission also included this:
Meanwhile, here is how the Oz saw Anthony Albanese talking to his colleagues, more than the Australian people (as per Peter Dutton’s assertions).
Of course, deflection is one of the best tools out there, which then leads to this exchange.
Peter Dutton: Well, I just think if you drill down, last night was all about Anthony Albanese talking to his colleagues, more than the Australian people. The leadership drum is already beating in the Labor party. I mean, Richard’s, you know, he’s got that, that killer, you know, the assassin look there – that smiling assassin look. I don’t want to give it away, Richard but–
Richard Marles: I am the least assassin–
Dutton: You need to empty out his pockets.
Host: He has been called many things. Richard, I don’t think that though.
Dutton: You need to empty out his pockets and see what’s there.
Marles: You’ll need to teach me what that look looks like, Peter.
Dutton: Albo, Albo will not see the next election. Albo will not see the next election and last night was all about a pitch to his colleagues, to say give me a bit more time. Nothing more, nothing less. The election’s two years away and Labor promising to spend more money, as Richard just said, he agrees with everything we said. But the debt is too high, and we should spend more money. So, it’s pretty confusing.
Host: Is Albo going to be your leader at the next election, Richard?
Marles: Yes. Yes, he absolutely is. And I enjoy the – I enjoy Peter’s comedy. But I do want – you know, Peter will be the guy who gives the assassin-look lessons in this parliament. But I do enjoy his comedy today. It’s about spending money better, that’s the question, and they have been spending it badly. They’ve spent a trillion dollars in debt and what is there to show for it? That’s the real point about Tuesday night’s budget, what on Earth is there to show for that?
Sigh.
Peter Dutton did his regular Dutton on the Nine network this morning.
Australia is headed for a trillion dollar debt in the medium term – as a BEST case scenario – but apparently, Labor is still to blame for how money is spent in this country (the debt doubled under the Coalition, before the pandemic – not that debt and deficit really matter, because money has never been cheaper for governments, the bonds they buy have those low interest rates locked in for years and years, and well, governments should be building and paying for things. It’s the job).
Dutton was defending the Coalition’s lack of new policies on child care costs – the figure he quotes here is the existing subsidies, and includes the three months of free childcare:
The money for the government comes from borrowing – which is apparently fine (and is) but when Labor announces a policy, it needs to be entirely paid for, says Dutton. Sound logic there.
The federal Labor president has responded to Brad Hazzard:
Simon Birmingham spoke to Adelaide radio 5AA about the man he is replacing this morning:
The Senate is about to resume its sitting, to pass the budget bills.
NSW health minister Brad Hazzard has made some bold, and mysterious, claims against the Queensland premier during a radio interview this morning.
On ABC’s RN Breakfast, host Hamish Macdonald asked Hazzard why it was wrong for Annastacia Palaszczuk to try and protect Queenslanders from the virus with a hard southern border.
Hazzard replied:
Macdonald: What’s the evidence of that? With respect.
Hazzard:
Hazzard declined to expand on this point but went on to provide a scorching condemnation of the Queensland premier.
The Queensland has given NSW 48 hours to determine the source of a number of mystery cases before they reset the clock on the required 28 days of no community transmission required to open their borders.