Coronavirus NSW live updates: Carnival Cruise boss begs government to allow Ruby Princess to return

Carnival Australia's boss has called on the government to allow the Ruby Princess's crew to return to NSW after they were told 'it's time to go home'. Five passengers aboard the ship, which docked in Sydney earlier this month, have died. LIVE COVERAGE

Jessica McSweeney, Georgia Clark with James O'Doherty and Miranda Wood

3 min read

March 31, 2020 - 5:09AM

Six Ruby Princess crew medically evacuated from ship

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It’s not safe for the Ruby Princess cruise to sail away from Australia while sick crew members are still on board, the boss of the vessel’s parent company has said.

It comes as the NSW government told six foreign ships in or near Australian waters that "it’s time to go home”.

A number of crew members on-board the Ruby Princess have been evacuated from the ship and taken to hospital in Sydney in recent days, some needing treatment in intensive care units.

Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said anyone on-board ships off the coast needing medical assistance is being taken in “at a cost to the NSW taxpayers”.

But Sture Myrmell, President of Carnival Australia, said the company is in “high level talks” with the government about repatriating all crew who aren’t needed to keep the ship running.

“Australia has maritime obligations to protect the welfare of seafarers and as such we need to care for foreign nationals as we would expect other nations to care for Australians in similar circumstances abroad,” he said.

“Repatriation of Ruby Princess’s crew would be an important step in upholding Australia’s reputation as a caring maritime nation.”

Around 1000 crew members are still on-board the vessel, that been linked to three new coronavirus deaths across Australia, after almost 2700 passengers disembarked the ship on March 19.

It can now be revealed that a 60 year old man who needed medical care was evacuated from the Ruby Princess and taken to hospital last Friday night.

Three people were transferred from the vessel on Monday night, in addition to three others over the weekend.

Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said the evacuated crew members had “cycled through intensive care”.

He said sick crew were being brought ashore as-needed.

“We are receiving people sensibly back into New South Wales,” he said.

The Police Commissioner accused the Ruby Princess, and other ships off the coast, of “lingering” near Australia.

“It’s time to go home,” Commissioner Fuller said.

But the Carnival Australia president said the ship had left territorial waters “as demanded by the NSW government”.

“However, we remain concerned that it is not safe for the ship to sail away from Australia while there are crew members on board who are ill.

“While illness on board has been reduced due to strong health management, the ship needs to remain within reach of Australia to access healthcare services if an urgent need arises,” Sture Myrmell said.

The border force boss Michael Outram and Home Affairs minister Peter Dutton spoke with NSW authorities about further measures to get foreign cruise ships to leave Australian waters.

“We are looking at active options,” Police Minister David Elliott told The Daily Telegraph after the phone hook-up.

Last night, state Labor called on everyone aboard the Ruby Princess to be tested for coronavirus, to stop the virus spreading on the ship.

Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said such actions need to stop.

“We’re arresting and charging people for spitting and coughing on people every day, it’s a disgrace, putting aside the racial slur. Please report it, we will take actions,” he said.

“If we see continual incline in people spitting and coughing on people then I won’t hesitate in asking for (more) powers.

“Maybe it’s a $5000 fine that’ll sharpen people up on this.

NSW residents already face massive fines and even jail time if they break laws restricting non-essential travel and all gatherings to two people.

From Tuesday, people who leave their home without a valid reason - for work or study, buying food or other essentials, seeking medical care or exercise - are liable for a fine of up to $11,000 and a maximum six months in jail.

Originally published as Coronavirus NSW live updates: Carnival Cruise boss begs government to allow Ruby Princess to return

Updates

Charlie.Hall

A QANTAS flight from Sydney to Adelaide has turned around and come back to NSW after six baggage handlers from Adelaide Airport tested positive to the coronavirus on Tuesday.
The flight was sent back to Sydney Airport because it couldn’t be serviced in Adelaide because most staff had been sent home to be quarantined.
SA Health chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier said a significant number of people were required to self-isolate as there were about 100 people who worked in the same area as the six baggage handlers.
“We have got a particular issue at Adelaide Airport today because we have had now a number of cases in baggage handlers and we are currently investigating that,” she said.

“We are also currently talking to Qantas about risk mitigation and there is going to be a requirement for a significant number of staff to go into quarantine so this is a serious situation.
“We’ve met with Qantas and we’re looking at implementing some workarounds so baggage can be offloaded and I’m absolutely hoping there will not be an interruption to flights.
“Qantas has done an amazing job bringing people home internationally and also continuing to carry people around Australia in domestic flights.
“It’s very important that we support Qantas but at the same time reduce the risk to the public.”
A Qantas spokesman said the company was working with SA Health to conduct the tracing process.
“Other employees who may have had contact with these employees will be required to self-isolate for 14 days,” the spokesman said.
“Seven flights to and from Adelaide are affected.
“This includes one Sydney flight that was on its way to Adelaide which will return to Sydney and passengers will be provided with accommodation and put on alternative services on Wednesday.”

-Campbell Gellie

Qantas flight turned back to Sydney after positive cases

-Campbell Gellie

Today's wrap of new private health measures

Clare Armstrong

MORE than 30,000 hospital beds including about a third of Australia’s intensive care capacity will be brought over from the private health system to boost the nation’s coronavirus response in an unprecedented partnership.

NSW is in the process of finalising a deal with local private hospitals, but an agreement between the sector, federal and state governments announced on Tuesday means the public health system will have significantly more resources at its disposal.

In exchange for being able to use the resources of 657 private hospitals into its coronavirus response plan, the Commonwealth will provide a guarantee of at least $1.3 billion to ensure the viability of the sector.

The cost has not been capped, however with Health Minister Greg Hunt confirming if more money was required, it would be available.

“While we're not taking ownership, we have struck a partnership, where in return for the state agreements and the Commonwealth guarantee, they will be fully integrated within the public hospital system,” he said.

Mr Hunt said the agreement would bring over about 105,000 full and part-time hospital staff, including 57,000 nurses and midwives.

“The activities are broad and they will work together, the hospitals have committed to be fully flexible,” he said.

“(Private hospitals) may be taking public hospital services, they will be making their ICUs available, they may see an exchange of staff or equipment in either direction.

“They have committed to be flexible in a way that has been beyond conception.”

It comes as Deputy chief medical officer Dr Nick Coatsworth said using private hospitals and repurposing existing supplies in Australia, the country could expand to 4400 ventilators to treat critical COVID-19 patients as needed, and was aiming to have a capacity of 7,500.

“We are working round the clock to procure ventilators,” he said.

“Locally, we will have 500 intensive care ventilators fabricated by ResMed, backed up by 5,000 non-invasive ventilators, with full delivery expected by the end of April.”

Mr Hunt said the National Cabinet made up of Commonwealth, state and territory leaders that had enabled to integration plan to occur would be looked back on as a historic moment in Australia.

“In 50 and 100 years' time, I suspect people will look back on this National Cabinet as being one of the most amazing achievements of the Federation in Australia's first 200 years. That's my honest view,” he said.

“It's a unique arrangement in Australian history, and it's been done at a time when everybody has been dealing with massive pressures on their economic, social and health systems, all at the same time.”

So far Victoria was the only state close to a final agreement, which would include the provision of a retention payment to keep private hospital staff employed, and an activity payment as they undertake COVID-19 response work.

Mr Hunt said he expected other states would follow the model.

“It does it in such a way that the hospitals will be available, and their staff will be available, to participate fully in our national response and to be able to bounce out and to support the needs of the population after we emerge from the period of coronavirus,” he said.

Australian Private Hospitals Association chief Michael Roff said the reduction in elective surgeries meant there would have been no revenue for many hospitals without the government guarantee.

“(This) means it was very difficult for us to pay our nurses, maintain buildings and maintain that capacity,” he said.

“We've heard the word ‘unprecedented’ a lot this year, but this is absolutely unprecedented in terms of the integration of the capacity of the private hospital system, including those 57,000 nurses and the third of all, intensive care beds into one health system to deal with this pandemic.”

Mr Roff said a lot of services that are normally provided in private hospitals won't be available in the next six months.

“So, there is going to be a big backlog when we’re on the other side of this pandemic, and this arrangement from the Commonwealth and the States means that private hospitals will be there to help with that backlog on the other side,” he said.

Charlie.Hall

MORE than 3000 retail workers have been stood down after several iconic brands including Bonds and Berlei became the latest to shut its doors due to the global health crisis.
Parent company Hanes Australasia, which is also home to Champion and Sheridan, announced on Tuesday it would be closing 450 stores around the country.
Permanent staff will be paid for at least two weeks and will be able to access annual leave.
David Bortolussi, Group President of Hanesbrand, said new strict government measures in the fight against coronavirus left the company with no choice but to close stores.
"We have been doing our best to keep our stores open and our people safe and in work," Bortolussi said.
"However, with the federal and state governments announcing over the past couple of days increasingly stringent measures for social distancing to keep us all safe, we now have no choice but to close all of our store networks across Australia, to protect our store teams and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.
"We are doing the best we can to support our team members during this difficult period and look forward to looking after our customers again in store when we get through this challenging period"
In a separate statement, Bonds, which first launched in Sydney in 1915, echoed similar sentiments.
"Following the latest social distancing requirements and updated federal and state government advice to stay at home unless it is essential, we now have no choice but to temporarily close our stores at the end of today."
Last week, one of the nation's biggest department stores Myer stood down 10,000 staff after closing its stores – taking retail job losses to more than 100,000.
Meanwhile, rival David Jones has only closed two of its stores at Barangaroo and James Street in Brisbane.

-Mibenge Nsenduluka

Bonds closes its doors

-Mibenge Nsenduluka

Carnival Australia cruise line calls for repatriation of Ruby Princess crew

Jessica McSweeney

Carnival Australia, the cruise line which operates the embattled Ruby Princess ship has today issued a statement calling for the repatriation of non essential crew.

The NSW government has forced the ship to leave state waters, despite multiple crew members falling ill.

The ship was allowed to dock earlier this month and passengers left to make their own ways home. Five passengers have died from coronavirus.

"Carnival Australia is participating in high level federal and state discussions with the aim of enabling the repatriation of crew currently on board Ruby Princess on compassionate and humanitarian grounds," Carnival Australia president Sture Myrmell said.

"Being able to send home those crew members who are not required for the safe operation of the ship is the right thing to do both from a humanitarian point of view and Australia’s international standing as a maritime nation that looks after foreign nationals in its care," he said.

"We are particularly concerned that a humanitarian approach should be taken in relation to the crew on Ruby Princess, which has left NSW territorial waters as demanded by the NSW Government.

"However, we remain concerned that it is not safe for the ship to sail away from Australia while there are crew members on board who are ill. While illness on board has been reduced due to strong health management, the ship needs to remain within reach of Australia to access healthcare services if an urgent need arises.

"Australia has maritime obligations to protect the welfare of seafarers and as such we need to care for foreign nationals as we would expect other nations to care for Australians in similar circumstances abroad.

"Repatriation of Ruby Princess’s crew would be an important step in upholding Australia’s reputation as a caring maritime nation."

Maccas to sell milk and bread to customers

Jessica McSweeney

McDonalds has become the latest business to start selling grocery staples to Australians in a bid to meet demand in the market for basic items.

Maccas will be selling milk, packs of English muffins and bread buns.

The products will be available through drive-through and contactless take-away.

“As part of our commitment to continue to support local communities during these uncertain times, Macca’s will now offer customers another way to access milk and bread, through its contactless drive-thrus and takeaway service, across the country," said a McDonald's spokesperson.

“From Wednesday onwards, in addition to our usual Macca’s menu, customers will also be able to pick-up two or three litre bottles of full cream or skim milk, as well as packs of English muffins and gourmet bread rolls.

“Our contactless service removes any need for touch contact between our employees and customers, making it a safe way for people to get food and drinks, as well as these essential basics.”

Charlie.Hall

A trial of two men, who allegedly meddled in a gangland shooting court case, has collapsed twice because of the coronavirus pandemic and one man is now being released on bail.

Michael Odisho and Ahmed Hoblos were facing the NSW District Court for their alleged roles in manipulating a 2016 gangland shooting trial.

They have both pleaded not guilty..

The jury had been told a gang member, in 2013, was shot three times in the leg after he went on a two-day bender with cocaine he was supposed to sell for the group.

Three years later Odisho faced trial for orchestrating the shooting after he loaded the gun and handed it to the trigger man.

The victim told the jury Odisho had nothing to do with his shooting.

Odisho was convicted anyway and, this year, faced trial again accused of paying the victim $25,000 in exchange for his silence.

Odisho is facing two counts of perverting the course of justice while Hoblos is accused of filing a false affidavit in support of Odisho.

Michael Odisho

The court case began earlier this month and lasted for six days before a juror fell ill with flu-like symptoms and self-isolated.

The juror chose not to test for COVID-19 and their GP refused to clear them to return to court so Judge Peter Zahra chose to discharge the jury on March 12 and assemble a second jury.

That second jury heard about seven days of evidence before the crown prosecutor was taken ill on March 23.

The court heard she had flu symptoms and her partner had just returned from Europe where the coronavirus pandemic is at its most widespread.

The prosecutor and her family would eventually test negative for the virus but, after almost a week of adjournments, Judge Zahra felt the jury would struggle to follow the complex evidence.

The court heard the pandemic may also become a distraction and concern for the jury who would need to focus clearly on the trial for at least another month.

“The burden of attendance for jury service is substantial and… (The jurors) have expressed concerns about their vulnerability while travelling to and from court each day,” the judge said.

Odisho appeared frustrated, rubbing his head and sighing heavily as the judge adjourned the trial again.

Hoblos’ legal team successfully applied for his release on bail following the second adjournment – he had been in custody since April last year awaiting trial.

His lawyer, Mostafa Daoudie, told The Daily Telegraph they’d continue to fight the charges and were determined to prove his innocence in court.

He said his client was pleased to be released given the escalating pandemic.

“The safety of the community is important but so is the safety of the individual – and my client has a right to be safe,” Mr Daoudie said.

“We will argue (in September) that the affidavit he signed was true and correct.”

The trial is expected to begin for a third time on September 28.

-Perry Duffin and Anton Rose

COVID-19 halts gangland trial for second time

A trial of two men, who allegedly meddled in a gangland shooting court case, has collapsed twice because of the coronavirus pandemic and one man is now being released on bail.

Michael Odisho and Ahmed Hoblos were facing the NSW District Court for their alleged roles in manipulating a 2016 gangland shooting trial.

They have both pleaded not guilty..

The jury had been told a gang member, in 2013, was shot three times in the leg after he went on a two-day bender with cocaine he was supposed to sell for the group.

Three years later Odisho faced trial for orchestrating the shooting after he loaded the gun and handed it to the trigger man.

The victim told the jury Odisho had nothing to do with his shooting.

Odisho was convicted anyway and, this year, faced trial again accused of paying the victim $25,000 in exchange for his silence.

Odisho is facing two counts of perverting the course of justice while Hoblos is accused of filing a false affidavit in support of Odisho.