All options open in government’s coronavirus response: Treasurer

The Treasurer has defended Scott Morrison and the government amid criticism of mixed messaging and being too slow to act.

Josh Frydenberg has defended Scott Morrison and the government amid criticism of mixed messaging to the public and being slow to act, warning that “no options are off the table” as a newly formed national cabinet meets to discuss preventative measures against coronavirus.

The Treasurer also acknowledged the budget wouldn’t return to surplus, relaying the serious concerns he has for the economy as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

“I think the Prime Minister has been very upfront about the serious nature of this global pandemic,” Mr Frydenberg told Sky News when asked about the message Scott Morrison was sending when he said he would still attend an NRL match despite announcing a ban on gatherings of 500 people on Friday. Mr Morrison later pulled out.

“He’s been leading from the front in the National Security Committee. He’s been daily engaged with all the experts and we moved ahead of the rest of the world in putting in place some of those travel restrictions and the spread of the coronavirus here in Australia has not been as great as in other countries.”

Mr Frydenberg said the government’s strategy has been focused on containment and “flattening out that curve” of infection rates, saying “you can only take the best possible medical advice”.

Asked whether the public had been informed adequately, Mr Frydenberg said there has been “a constant flow of information” and touted a public awareness campaign launching on Sunday.

“It’s a global pandemic, it‘s a one in a 100 year event with far reaching consequences for the globe and Australia is not immune but we are well prepared.”

“We have one of the best health systems in the world, we have universal health care. What we have is a $17.6 billion stimulus package, which has been well received by not just the business community but far wider than that and that will give the support to the economy at this difficult time.

“Now we have the national cabinet coming together so that all chief ministers and premiers and the Prime Minister are accessing the same information, adopting a common approach and that should give the Australian community confidence at a time where it is obviously very difficult.”

Mr Frydenberg also opened the door to further rounds of stimulus support, less than a week after unveiling the $17.6 billion package, saying “the coronavirus is not going away the economic impact is significant”.

He also spoke about the impact of the virus on the budget, saying “the (projected) surplus was never an end in itself”.

“It was always about Australia living within its means and as you know, we took pretty conservative commodity price forecasts and we based our assessment as recently as MYEFO on the best available advice to us.

“We were actually on track for a surplus, but we consciously took decisions to spend money where it’s needed most. And that has been our priority and we would take the same decisions again. Our priority has been to support the Australian economy.”

He also revealed he had been tested for coronavirus after returning from a G20 meeting in Riyadh, but received a negative result on Friday, a day after announcing the stimulus package.