When Victorian students will return to the classroom remains a hot topic
Pressure is mounting on Victoria’s tough stance on schools, with the federal health minister saying there was no medical reason for schools to remain closed. It comes as students across the country prepare to head back to the classroom.
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Schools are safe for children and should reopen when possible, according to federal Health Minister Greg Hunt.
Mr Hunt said it was up to states when they lifted restrictions but insisted there was no medical reason for schools to remain closed.
“The medical advice is that it is safe for schools to go back, but one of the things that each state and territory is looking at is the safety of their teachers,” Mr Hunt said on 3AW.
“Each state and territory is understandably wanting to make sure that conditions for teachers are safe.
“We’re encouraging schools to return.
“Schools are a safe environment for children.”
When asked why Victorians schools were not broadly open to students, he said it was a “matter for Victoria”.
State Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien has demanded Premier Daniel Andrews follow the national advice and open classrooms today.
“All the expert evidence says that schools are safe and that students can attend school,” Mr O’Brien said.
But Education Minister James Merlino yesterday flatly rejected the push in a pointed tweet.
“Let me be very clear, particularly to the federal government who do not run any schools, we will only transition back to face-to-face teaching for all students when that is the advice of the Victorian Chief Health Officer,” he said.
“Not a moment before.”
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said it was “my call”.
“If other chief officers, in consideration with their state government, want to go about it differently than they are absolutely entitled to,” he said.
The comments come as dozens of Victorian children today crossed the South Australian border to return to school.
While a million students in Victoria have been ordered to remain home, 80 students enrolled at schools across state lines will be able to attend classes normally.
Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan and the state Opposition pushed for Victoria to dump its hard line approach and re-open schools within a month.
South Australian schools will reopen today and NSW students will return one day a week from May 11.
“The federal government’s hope is that we would have all schools reopened by the end of May, and hopefully we can all start working towards that across the nation,” Mr Tehan said.
Mr Hunt said on 3AW children were able to carry the disease, although they were less likely to be infected.
“We are respecting the views of every state and I respect the views of their medical experts,” Mr Hunt said.
“Across the country, where we can lift restrictions we are but what we want to do is protect against the second wave.”
Gus, 8, and Eva, 10, of Benayeo, Victoria, attend Frances Primary School, half an hour’s drive away in South Australia. Mum Brooke Sambell is glad they can return to school.
“The children understand there is a virus and that we all have to be very careful but they’re excited to see their friends because they haven’t been socialising at all over the school holidays,” she said.
Even principal Joyce Dinan lives in Victoria but will cross the border to run the school of 28 prep to year 7 students.
“All our students’ families are farmers so they’re a bit isolated anyway, which makes school hugely important for them socially,” Ms Dinan said.
South Australia’s borders are officially closed, but schooling has been deemed a valid reason for travel.
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VICTORIA RAMPS UP TESTING
Coronavirus tests in Victoria will almost double in just two weeks under a new blitz to assess the impact of the virus.
Premier Daniel Andrews announced up to 100,000 Victorians would be tested as they review what restrictions could be eased from May 11.
More than 104,000 people have been checked in Victoria since the virus was first identified, with the blitz representing a massive ramping up on activity.
The total number of COVID-19 cases in Victoria is 1349.
A new infection was recorded overnight while another was reclassified to New South Wales.
STAMP DUTY COULD BE DUMPED
Homeowners would pay an annual tax on their land instead of being slugged with stamp duty upfront in a radical reform that could be a centrepiece of Victoria’s post-coronavirus economic rebuild.
Victorians now have to stump up $45,770 when they buy a house at Melbourne’s median price of $845,000, with the state government reaping $6 billion a year.
But the Herald Sun can reveal the government is exploring a politically difficult plan to dump stamp duty in favour of a cheaper annual tax paid by homeowners, calculated on the value and size of their land.
Experts say an annual land tax would improve housing affordability by reducing upfront costs, while encouraging people to sell high-value land, speeding up the development of cheaper housing options.
AUSTRALIANS STRANDED OVERSEAS LAND IN MELBOURNE
More than 180 Australians left stranded in South America in recent weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic have touched down in Melbourne.
The mercy flight, operated by Qantas, arrived in Tullamarine Airport at around 7.30pm on Sunday after making the 15 hour journey from Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires.
After departing the flight, the passengers were brought straight to hotels to start 14 days of mandatory quarantine.
There were also approximately 20 New Zealand passengers on board the flight.
They will stay in Melbourne for one night before being flown back to New Zealand on Monday.
BILL SPIKE AFTER STAY HOME ORDERS
Households are being hit with higher energy costs as many workers and children are forced to stay at home all day.
Families running heaters, computers, televisions, ovens and other appliances for many more hours than usual say increases are already noticeable.
There are warnings of more hip-pocket shock to come as a result of heaters being switched on for longer periods once winter gets underway.
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre predicts winter energy costs for some households could shoot up by $200 or more a month if strict stay-at-home rules are still in place.
Research from comparison website Finder reveals half of Australians are worried about increased energy bills because of the coronavirus lockdown
Its survey of 1000 people found that concern was biggest for singles aged up to 41, families and renters.
Shane Jeganathan, of Clayton, said his next monthly electricity bill was on track to be up to $20 more than his previous payment.
“I’ve got three teenage kids at home doing schooling. There’s two laptops and a computer running all day, lights on all day, and heaters and the TV on,” Mr Jeganathan said.
“They’re using the air fryer and microwave and oven to make lunches instead of taking sandwiches to school.
“I haven’t even got the latest gas bill yet.
“I’m not happy about it but we’ve got no option.”
Nick Koulbanis, of Pascoe Vale South, said his latest combined electricity and gas costs amounted to $317 and he expected a greater increase.
“We now have two parents working from home and two children learning remotely,” Mr Koulbanis said.
Victoria Energy Policy Centre director Dr Bruce Mountain said winter household power bills for cold states were expected to be an average 10 to 20 per cent higher.
One Big Switch campaign manager Joel Gibson said it was more important than ever for consumers to shop around for energy deals.
The difference between the cheapest and most expensive offers could amount to several hundred dollars a year in combined electricity and gas savings, he said.
Public Interest Advocacy Centre head of energy policy Craig Memery said a rise in energy hardship due to COVID-19 was inevitable.
More financial support to help avoid unmanageable debt and upgrade to more efficient appliances was needed, he said.
– Karen Collier
COVID-19 APP HOPED TO DETECT VIRUS’ SPREAD
Australians are being asked to voluntarily download an app to stop people infected with coronavirus unknowingly spreading it.
The federal government’s COVIDSafe app, released on Sunday, was developed to shave critical time off contact tracing and stop localised breakouts, such as that at Melbourne’s Albert Road Clinic in March.
The Bluetooth-enabled app started accepting registrations at 6pm yesterday after being released for Android and Apple phones.
Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said he believed at least half of Australians would download the app, which would give him confidence to recommend the relaxation of social distancing.
“The stronger the uptake, the stronger the case,” Prof Murphy said.
“There are other elements to it, so there is no magic number. Australians will rise to the challenge because they have risen to the challenge of distancing.”
As of Sunday night, 83 people had died of COVID-19 in Australia and 6710 people had tested positive.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said the app would help ensure the more than 500 cases with an unknown source did not increase as Australia continued to “flatten the curve”.
“Every set of people who download will help us find those otherwise undiagnosed cases of community transmission,” he said.
The app requires a name, age range, postcode and mobile phone number. Users can enter a pseudonym.
Data collected by the app will be stored on the phone for 21 days then deleted.
To work, the app must be left open and allowed to run in the background, allowing it to detect other phones with the app installed that come within 1.5m for 15 minutes or longer.
No federal agency, department, police warrant or any court order can be used to access the app’s data.
Mr Hunt said more features would not be added to the app and it would remain voluntary to download.
“We have been fortunate through … the virus to develop this incredible Australian relationship and partnership and making it mandatory would have breached that partnership,” he said.
The app release came after Victorian authorities announced a man in his 90s had become the 17th person in the state to die of coronavirus.
Of 1349 cases in Victoria, 21 people were in hospital.
Despite an increase of just three cases yesterday and other states moving to ease restrictions, the Victorian government has ruled out lifting measures until at least May 11.
– Tamsin Rose and Alex White
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STATE’S DEATH TOLL RISES TO 17
Victoria’s coronavirus death toll has risen to 17 with a man in his 90s dying overnight and three new cases being diagnosed in the past 24 hours.
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos revealed the update this morning and urged anyone with “even mild” symptoms to get tested in the bid to ensure the virus is not circulating silently within the Victorian community.
Two previously recorded cases have been confirmed as community transmissions.
There has also been an additional case related to the outbreak at a Melbourne psychiatric facility.
Despite the death Ms Mikakos said the state’s hospitals were operating well.
Ms Mikakos said Victoria was still preparing for a peak of serious cases in the coming weeks.
This includes preparing by ordering “billions of PPE items”.
This includes 10 million pairs of gloves as well as millions of masks and hospital gowns.
“We’ve been preparing carefully for the peak of the coronavirus pandemic and Victorians can be assured we have PPE and other equipment on hand, and new deliveries coming in every day,” she said.
“Our healthcare workers are our heroes on the frontline – and we’re working hard to make sure they have the protective equipment they need to keep saving lives and doing their job safely.”
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