Coronavirus Australia live news: Scott Morrison open to ‘sorting out’ $130bn JobKeeper scheme
More than $11bn has been sapped from super funds, as deteriorating economic conditions push more than a million Australians into financial hardship.
- Issues to ‘sort out’ with JobKeeper
- Victoria goes into deficit
- Aged care nurse tests positive
- ‘US faces its darkest winter’
- Albanese pressured on China stance
Welcome to live coverage of the continuing coronavirus crisis. The PM says Treasury will review the $130bn JobKeeper scheme, saying there are ‘things to sort out’. The impact of coronavirus on Victoria has brought the state’s finances to at least a $773m deficit. Opposition leader Anthony Albanese is facing pressure from senior Labor MPs to stand against Chinese trade threats.
Matthew Denholm 9:10pm: Seven-day case-free streak ends in Tasmania
Tasmania’s run of seven days without a new coronavirus case has ended, with a new case in the state’s north confirmed on Friday night.
Mark Veitch, Director of Public Health, said the new case - the state’s 226th - was a man aged in his 70s, from northern Tasmania.
“Public Health Services has commenced investigations and contact tracing is underway,” he said.
Gerard Cockburn 7.20pm: Super funds sapped of billions amid hardship
More than $11bn has been sapped from the country’s superannuation funds, as deteriorating economic conditions sparked by the coronavirus pandemic pushes more than a million Australians into financial hardship.
Following a national cabinet meeting on Friday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said early release of super claims stood at roughly $11.7bn.
The latest estimate is a $1.1bn jump in claims since Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s Tuesday economics speech, which noted that total claims were sitting at around $10.6bn.
Mr Morrison said the head of the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority, Wayne Byres had updated national cabinet with the most recent figures not exceeding industry forecasts.
“It was noted that this was consistent with Treasury estimate and this was not presenting liquidity issues, the head of APRA has advised us,” Mr Morrison said.
However, an APRA spokesman confirmed with The Australian that the $11.7bn figure is not the regulator’s official number.
APRA is scheduled to release its official statistics on the early release of super on Monday.
The banking and superannuation regulator on May 11, said the total amount paid to super account holders through the scheme was $6.3bn.
It is understood the figures provided to the Prime Minister in Friday’s national cabinet meeting were from the Australian Taxation Office.
Read the full story here.
Agencies 6.30pm: NT eases lockdown as pubs reopen
NT eases lockdowns as pubs reopen After a 53-day shutdown, the Northern Territory’s pubs reopened at noon on Friday - and two English barramundi fishermen were waiting outside Darwin’s Cavenagh Hotel at 11.55am.
They only wanted to be known as Luke and Rob and were the first to grab a beer at the iconic “Cav”.
And the pubs in Darwin are open! Dozens have streamed through Hotel Darwin for an ice cold drink and lunch ðŸ»@TheNTNews #ScrewYouWereHavingaBrew pic.twitter.com/hkO66rkggo
— Judith Aisthorpe (@JudithAisthorpe) May 15, 2020
Luke arrived in Darwin from England on one of the last overseas flights into the country around March 23, when the coronavirus pandemic lockdown was imposed and the NT shut its borders.
“This is my first pint in Australia,” said a beaming Luke.
“I literally arrived on the day the borders closed, did my quarantine in a hotel I paid for.
“Two weeks after quarantine finished my mate Rob and I found a job on the boats, we only arrived back to land a few days ago.” The Cav was filling up on Friday with patrons happy to be allowed out and was possibly busier than usual, although it is not unknown for Darwin’s public servants to knock off early at the end of the week.
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Paul Garvey 4.35pm: Victorian-based AFL players ‘over-indulged and spoilt’
Western Australian premier Mark McGowan has doubled down on his criticism of the Victoria-based AFL clubs, labelling them “over-indulged and spoilt” over their refusal to temporarily relocate to WA.
A day after describing the Victorian clubs as “pampered”, Mr McGowan again attacked the Melbourne clubs for failing to embrace the prospect of a Perth-based hub.
“Did I say pampered? I obviously wasn’t strong enough. What I meant was over-indulged and spoilt,” he said on Friday.
“Clearly the Victorian teams haven’t covered themselves in glory here, and at least some of them could have made the effort to come and hub in Western Australia.”
Perth’s two AFL sides, the Fremantle Dockers and the West Coast Eagles, will spend the first five weeks of the resumed AFL season based on the Gold Coast in a hub with the South Australian and Queensland AFL teams.
The WA government had supported an earlier proposal from the AFL for a Perth-based hub, only for the AFL to back away from the plan.
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Paul Garvey 4.20pm: WA offers carrot for mining workers to relocate
The Western Australian government will offer incentives for thousands of interstate-based mining workers to relocate to WA permanently as part of its post-coronavirus recovery plans.
WA premier Mark McGowan said the plan, which will involve unspecified housing incentives, had been discussed with and supported by the state’s mining giants.
Thousands of workers who fly in to the state’s mines from their homes in eastern Australia have temporarily relocated to WA since the pandemic began in order to meet WA’s quarantine requirements and border restrictions.
Mr McGowan said on Friday that making those moves permanent was a “huge opportunity” for the state. The state’s mining companies will also focus on recruiting local workers.
“Flying back and forth across the country every two or three weeks is clearly not good for family life,” he said.
Around 6,000 mining workers fly in from interstate, with the majority arriving from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
An exodus of workers back to the eastern states after the last mining boom exacerbated the economic pain felt at the time, and luring those workers back would provide a boost to the WA economy as the state attempts to recover from the coronavirus outbreak.
The news came as WA confirmed it had recorded no new cases of coronavirus. The state now also has no coronavirus patients in its hospitals after the last intensive care patient was confirmed to no longer be carrying the virus.
READ MORE: How will travel to work be safe?
Remy Varga 4pm: McDonald’s restaurant shuts after employee tests positive
A McDonald’s in Melbourne’s far north has been closed after a worker tested positive for the coronavirus.
A spokesperson for the fast food chain said the employee was an “extended relative” of the COVID-19 positive worker from the Fawkner restaurant.
“The Craigieburn employee has been identified as an extended relative of one of the previously announced COVID-19 positive cases at Fawkner,” the spokesperson said.
“The employee has not worked at the Fawkner restaurant.”
The employee last worked at Craigieburn Macdonald’s on Tuesday May 12 and the restaurant will be closed for 14-days while it is deep-cleaned.
The spokesperson said there were four positive cases among the employees at the Fawkner restaurant with 93 negative.
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Courtney Walsh 3.50pm: Details of AFL season restart revealed
AFL players will be tested twice per week and four clubs will move to a hub on the Gold Coast as the code prepares for its return. Read more here
Staff Reporters 3.30pm: Virgin Australia field starts to take shape
Virgin administrators expect to receive eight non-binding bids for the airline by close of business, with plans for a shortlist of three by early next week. Read more here
Lachlan Moffet Gray 3pm: Northern Territory gets the drinks flowing
Meanwhile in the Top End, pubs and bars have officially reopened with NT residents allowed to visit their local for up to two hours for a few drinks, provided they have it with food and social distancing is maintained.
175,000 litres of beer was trucked up the Stuart Highway in preparation for the big day, with Hospitality NT CEO Alex Bruce telling the NT News that 2400 workers will be able to return to work.
In celebration, NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner pulled a schooner of the good stuff that made the long journey North in time.
Chief Minister Michael Gunner has poured a beer in celebration of Territorians getting back to the pub. #screwyouwerehavingabrew @TheNTNews @fanniebay pic.twitter.com/HfYEmlyIRV
— Madura McCormack (@MaduraMcCormack) May 15, 2020
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Olivia Caisley 2.10pm: Childcare subsidy ‘not a sustainable model’
Scott Morrison has confirmed that Education Minister Dan Tehan is considering adjustments to its childcare subsidy package after the free childcare pledge expires at the end of June, warning the current arrangement brought in to help parents amid the coronavirus pandemic is temporary and “not a sustainable model.”
The government’s COVID-19 rescue package for the childcare sector effectively suspended the normal payment arrangements to give greater certainty of income to facilities.
“But that is not a sustainable model for how the childcare sector should work, and nor was it intended to be and so at this point, no final decisions have been made on those issues,” the Prime Minister says. “But the intention was always to return to the payment arrangements and subsidy arrangements that had been put in place prior to those things coming into effect.”
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Olivia Caisley 1.50pm: ‘Things to sort out’ over JobKeeper program
Scott Morrison is asked about whether his government will expand the reach of the Jobkeeper program, to which the Prime Minister responds it’s “premature” to discuss any changes.
He flags that a review will be undertaken by the Treasury into the government’s wage subsidy package.
“What we have done with JobKeeper so far is we’ve dealt with anomalies or issues that have arisen,” he says. “Let’s not forget, as I reminded you the other day, that this is a $130bn program which has been able to connect with over six million Australians, and that has occurred in just over a month.”
Mr Morrison says that is an “extraordinary pace of change” for a program the likes of which the country has never seen before.
He acknowledges that as a result, there will be some “things to sort out”. “So far, the things that have required sorting out have been relatively modest and those changes have been able to be made.”
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Olivia Caisley 1.45pm: Substance abuse, gambling focus of health commission
Christine Morgan, who heads up the National Mental Health Commission, says the new mental health plan will assist those with substance abuse issues including gambling.
She says the Morrison government’s mental health plan will also deal with issues around violence, domestic, family, sexual violence.
“We have included that in this plan,” Dr Morgan says. “It belongs with us and we are committed, absolutely committed, to being there for anybody who needs help and we call it out, reach out, we are there for you.”
Olivia Caisley 1.35pm: Mental health challenges amid virus pandemic
Health Minister Greg Hunt says the stress of concerns about health, the loneliness of isolation and anxiety about work, have created specific mental health challenges.
He outlines the government’s three-part mental health and wellbeing pandemic response plan that includes a new national campaign based around the slogan “it’s ok not to be ok.”
“Everyone here will have seen or felt, in among their own families or friends or circles, the pressures that are in place right across Australia,” Mr Hunt says. “So, one of the most important things we can do is to provide mental health support.”
Mr Hunt says $7.3 million will be invested in “research and data into what’s happening in real time”.
“We’ve already had some information from Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania that is heartening, and more heartening than we’d expected,” Mr Hunt says. “For the first four months, there has been no known increase in suicide rates in those three states.”
$29.5 million will be invested in helping vulnerable communities, including the elderly, people from non-English speaking backgrounds, Indigenous Australians and those with pre-existing mental health conditions.
$11.3 million will go towards communication and outreach endeavours with $10.4 million of that to be spent on a national campaign based around the slogan “It’s OK not to be OK.”
Olivia Caisley 1.28pm: No end to strict quarantine for travellers
Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy confirms that strict quarantine periods for returning travellers will continue for the foreseeable future, declaring you can’t “test your way out of quarantine.”
Professor Murphy says he wants to make it clear that no amount of testing would alleviate the need for such measures.
He says returned travellers that got tested only showed whether they were positive on that day.
“It doesn’t mean that you’re not incubating the virus, and it doesn’t mean that you can get out of quarantine earlier,” Professor Murphy says. “So, there’s been a bit of misinformation around about that, but you can’t test your way out of quarantine, unfortunately.”
Olivia Caisley 1.25pm: Just 50 Covid patients in hospital in Australia
Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy says there are only 50 COVID-related patients in hospitals across the nation.
“That is a wonderful statistic and only 12 people on ventilators,” Professor Murphy says. “Our hospital capacity is around 50-60 per cent.”
“We are starting to see some increase, with elective surgery relaxations announced a few weeks ago but there is now pretty good room for further expansion.”
Olivia Caisley 1.22pm: Elective surgery to resume as ‘boom gate’ goes up
Scott Morrison announces the resumption of elective surgery across Australia, declaring the “boom gate” is going up on operations.
The Prime Minister has also revealed National Cabinet has adopted a National Mental Health and Wellbeing Pandemic Response Plan, which will receive $48.1m in funding.
Mr Morrison says elective surgery will be rolled out at a pace set by the states,
“but that will be welcome, particularly to the private health industry, in particular, and the jobs that are supported throughout that sector.”
On mental health, Mr Morrison says it is particularly encouraging to see that with a great take up of telehealth, “we are now seeing the number of presentations and consultations occurring for mental health now back to levels that were being experienced pre-pandemic.”
Olivia Caisley 1.18pm: Morrison praises reopening business ‘backing themselves’
Scott Morrison has thanked restaurants and bars across the country for starting to reopen, as the nation moves to ease restrictions as part of the government’s three-stage path to economic recovery.
The Prime Minister says that while there’s not much to celebrate after the release of yesterday’s unemployment figure that revealed almost 600,000 people have lost their jobs, the “reopening” is a “welcome sign that we are on the road back.”
Mr Morrison acknowledges that while social distancing limits will mean that many businesses will be restricted to serving 10 patrons at a time, which won’t necessarily be profitable, he’s happy “they’re backing themselves.”
“They’re backing their staff, they’re backing their communities, and they’re backing their country and I want to commend them for that brave step that they’re taking this weekend,” Mr Morrison says. “Good on you for reopening and I’m sure your patrons will come and support you strongly as well.”
Olivia Caisley 1.10pm: Unemployment ‘the nation’s biggest challenge’
Scott Morrison reaffirms his commitment to getting Australians back in jobs, declaring that addressing the nation’s unemployment curve is now the country’s biggest challenge.
“That is the curve we are now working on together,” the Prime Minister says. “We noted during that briefing that the stability had returned to financial markets. While they are fragile, they remain very functional.”
Mr Morrison says the banking system has “stood up well” but the nation must be conscious there are further economic shocks to come.
He says federal supports, which would include the government’s wage subsidy scheme, “have limits.”
“They are not endless,” Mr Morrison says. “They have capacities and it’s essential that, as we move forward, that we continue to enable the credit to flow through our banking system, to support those businesses who are taking decisions to reopen, to rehire, and to move ahead.
Olivia Caisley 1.05pm: PM says difficult decisions have had to be made
Scott Morrison kicks off his press conference in Canberra following a meeting of the National Cabinet.
The Prime Minister says the leaders of the states and territories have met more frequently in the last two months than in the past decade in order to confront the challenges associated with the pandemic.
Mr Morrison thanks the Premiers and Chief Ministers for helping him to respond to one of the biggest challenges that our country has seen, “and certainly in the postwar era.”
“It has been a very difficult time,” he says. “Australians are hurting right here and right now, as we were reminded so terribly yesterday, with almost 600,000 people having lost jobs.”
He says National Cabinet is very aware of these impacts and have had to make difficult decisions to protect the health and livelihoods of Australians.
Lachlan Moffet Gray 12.55pm: PM to provide National Cabinet update
Scott Morrison will update the nation on the decisions taken by National Cabinet at 1pm AEST.
The Prime Minister is expected to announce decisions made by himself and his state and territory counterparts in relation to mental health funding, the rollback of coronavirus restrictions and plans to get Australians back to work.
The press conference can be viewed live and in full on The Australian’s coronavirus live blog.
Lachlan Moffet Gray 12.45pm: NSW reveals new start date for HSC exams
Year 12 students in NSW will start their HSC exams five days later than originally planned.
The exams, which form the basis of each student’s Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) score that determines what higher education courses they are eligible for, were slated to begin with written English exams on October 15. Now they will start on October 20.
NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell on Friday told an upper house inquiry into the government’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic that exam results will still be delivered within a similar time frame to previous years despite the five-day delay.
The NSW Education standards authority said the extra five days would allow year 12 students, many of whom are now back in the classroom full-time, extra time to prepare for the exams.
HSC results will be available by December 18.
NSW Education Department secretary Mark Scott said the timing of exams would be spread out as usual, giving students more time in the classroom to prepare. The five-day delay will also ensure there’s no impact on university offers.
With AAP
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Craig Johnstone 12.35pm: Qld resorts ‘unprepared’ for sudden reopening
South-east Queensland’s popular resort islands have been given the all clear to welcome back day visitors from this weekend, but not everyone is happy.
Redland City Mayor Karen Williams fears the short notice of the reopening of North Stradbroke Island on Saturday after being locked down since March 26 may leave businesses and residents unprepared.
The Queensland government announced on Friday that North Stradbroke, Moreton and Fraser Islands would re-open to beach driving, but only for day-use visitors with a valid Vehicle Access Permit.
However, Mayor Williams said a longer lead time to the reopening would have been preferable to ensure business were ready for the expected increase of visitors.
She said the Local Disaster Management Group had asked the government for a staged approach to reopening to allow businesses time to prepare and restock basic items, which needed to be shipped from the mainland.
“We asked for those with holiday homes allowed to access the island in the first stage, followed by tourists in the second stage, to help manage crowds and give businesses time to re-establish themselves,” she said.
“Ferry companies have reduced the number of vessels they are operating and their staff have taken leave - they need time to return their services to normal.
“We want people to love visiting the island, but with less than 24 hours’ notice not all businesses will be open so people need to take that into account and call ahead before making the journey to the island.”
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Lachlan Moffet Gray 12.25pm: Qld says face-to-face schooling safe to resume
All students in Queensland will return to school in under a fortnight, with education minister Grace Grace confirming that face-to-face classes can resume safely.
From Mon May 25, Qld students in all year levels will go back to the classroom.
— Grace Grace MP (@gracextwo) May 15, 2020
A big win for all school communities & a credit to our state's incredible effort in flattening the curve.
Thank you to all principals, teachers, staff, parents, carers & students. #qldpol pic.twitter.com/QZwuG5JHmQ
Queensland, which initially did not want children to return to classrooms until week five of term two at the earliest, changed tack at the start of May, allowing prep, kindy, year one, 11 and 12-aged students to return last Monday, with a decision concerning remaining school years scheduled for Friday May 15,
That decision has been made and years 2 to 10 will return to classrooms on May 25.
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Lachlan Moffet Gray 12.15pm: Sydney cluster goes quiet of new cases
NSW’s biggest coronavirus cluster has now gone two consecutive days without recording an additional case.
NSW Health on Friday said that no further cases have been confirmed among staff or residents at Anglicare’s Newmarch House aged care centre, with the number of coronavirus cases linked to the facility remaining at 71.
34 staff members have been infected since the coronavirus was discovered at the facility on April 11. 37 residents have subsequently tested positive and 16 have died directly of coronavirus, two after contracting it.
Staff at the facility are subjected to coronavirus tests every second day.
NSW Health also said that all passengers and crew on flight QF537 from Brisbane to Sydney on Tuesday May 12 should monitor themselves for symptoms and present for testing if they become unwell after it was discovered that a man who flew from Brisbane to Sydney after quarantine for 14 days in Brisbane was likely infectious.
NSW Health is contact tracing all close contacts in NSW and on the flight to Sydney, and is working with other jurisdictions to identify any other close contacts.
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Lachlan Moffet Gray 12pm: Vic spike pushes cases above 7000 nationally
The addition of 20 new cases in Victoria has pushed the national tally above 7000.
This morning there were 6989 cases in Australia. NSW was the first to report in, with its eight additional cases followed by two from Queensland pushing the total to 6999.
Victoria’s then followed with 21 new cases, but with one pre-existing case reclassified to another state, the net increase was 20, pushing the total to 7019.
Of the 7019 confirmed cases, 98 have died and 6334 have recovered, leaving 587 active cases across Australia.
15/05/2020 10:15am
— COVID19 Australia (@COVID_Australia) May 15, 2020
🇦🇺 Total 7,019🔺30*
🔬Tests-956k ↑ 12.5k*
💚Recovered-6,311 ↑ 10*
👨â€ðŸ‘©â€ðŸ‘§â€ðŸ‘¦ Community-602 ↑ 3
🔴Deaths-98
🟠ICU-17 ↓ 1
🟢Active-610 ↑ 20*
NSW-3,071🔺8
VIC-1,540🔺21🔻1*
QLD-1,054🔺2
WA-552
SA-439
TAS-227
ACT-107
NT-29https://t.co/1AyHoPBIkz
Cluster outbreaks of the virus have driven Victoria’s comparatively high daily case numbers.
The Cedar Meats outbreak is the state’s biggest COVID-19 cluster and is linked to 91 cases of the virus.
A McDonald’s restaurant at Fawkner is linked to 10 cases and is currently open, staffed by employees from other McDonald’s stores. 100 employees have been tested for the virus, with results still due for many,
In the 24 hours to 11pm Thursday, police did 680 spot checks at homes, businesses and non-essential services across the state.
Eight fines were issued in relation to a protest at a business in Preston on Tuesday.
Officers have done a total of 45,078 spot checks since March 21.
With AAP
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Lachlan Moffet Gray 11.40am: China has ‘nothing to fear’ from inquiry
China’s ambassador to Britain has told Sky News UK that China has not withheld any information about coronavirus and will allow for an investigation into the coronavirus’s origin provided it was organised by the World Health Organisation and occurred “at the appropriate time”.
“There is not any cover- up at all,” Ambassador Liu Xiaoming told Sky News presenter Mark Austin. “We shared information with the WHO and the world without delay and we notified the United States from the very beginning on 13 January.”
“We are open, we are transparent, we have nothing to hide, we have nothing to fear. We welcome an international independent review but it has to be organised by the WHO. It should be international.”
Mr Xiaoming said that only a few countries were pushing for a “so-called independent investigation” and that “the theme of today is the focus on fighting this virus and saving lives instead of blaming.”
“There’s only a few countries - United States, Australia ... how many countries can you give me? You can give me ten countries to call for this so-called independent investigation,” Mr Xiaoming said. “I think many countries call for the global response, call for solidarity, co-operation, call for constructive (action).”
Mr Xiaoming said calls for an independent investigation into the origin of coronavirus in China was “a game of blaming and scapegoating”.
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Michael Erman 11.15am: Malaria drug no help for COVID-19: studies
Patients given the malaria drug touted by US President Donald Trump as a potential treatment for COVID-19 did not improve significantly over those who did not, according to two new studies published in the medical journal BMJ. Neither trial was placebo controlled, generally considered the gold standard for clinical data.
In a randomised, controlled trial of 150 patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 in China, researchers found that patients on hydroxychloroquine did not get better significantly faster than those not treated with the drug. Adverse events were also higher in patients receiving the malaria drug, according to the research.
An observational study of patients in France found that the drug did not significantly reduce admission to intensive care or death in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 pneumonia who required oxygen.
Demand for hydroxychloroquine surged after Trump touted it in early April, and US regulators have since authorised its emergency use for coronavirus patients. But the drug has not been proven effective against the disease. Moreover, the US Food and Drug Administration has warned against the use of hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients outside of the hospital or clinical trials due to the risk of serious heart rhythm problems.
The drug is still being widely studied in the United States and abroad as a potential COVID-19 treatment. — Reuters
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COURTNEY WALSH 11am: AFL eyes June restart, training on Monday
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has confirmed clubs will resume training from their home bases on Monday for at least a week with a view towards starting the season on June 11.
Clubs will initially train without contact for the opening week as they prepare for the second round of the interrupted 2020 season before embracing full contact from May 25.
The AFL will delay an announcement on how the fixture will look until next week but clubs now have some certainty as the league looks to resume an abridged 17 week season.
“Every club will be training out of its home base in their home states for at least a week,” he told 3AW on Friday morning.
READ THE FULL STORY here.
LACHLAN MOFFET GRAY 10.35am: Rockhampton aged care nurse tests positive
A coronavirus case in Rockhampton announced earlier on Friday has been revealed to be a nurse of the North Rockhampton Nursing Centre, an aged care facility.
Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said the employee worked at the 115-resident facility while infectious. “The first thing that’s happening is that the aged care facility is immediately working to assess every single one of their residents, there are 115 in the facility, every single one of their staff, there are 180 healthcare workers who work in that facility, to make sure that today, none of them have the infection,” she told reporters on Friday. “Then we will work with them (to discover) as to which of those staff members and residents need to immediately go into quarantine for 14 days.”
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the nurse’s positive test was of “some concern”.
An outbreak at Sydney nursing home Newmarch House has led to 71 infections and 16 deaths.
Dr Young said a senior public health physician from Brisbane has been sent to assist the facility and the local health department manage the scenario and urged anyone with symptoms in Rockhampton to present for testing.
“I’m asking every single person who lives in Rockhampton who has any symptoms at all to immediately go forward, go and see their own GP or go to one of the fever clinics and
get tested. That is really important,” she said. “We need to see whether there are any other cases that have occurred in Rockhampton as a result of this particular individual.
“Rockhampton has not had an active case for a number of weeks so this is brand-new.”
READ MORE: Police probe aged-care neglect claims at Newmarch House
LACHLAN MOFFET GRAY 10.10am: Victoria confirms 21 new cases in 24 hours
Victoria has confirmed 21 coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours. The total number of confirmed cases is now 1543, 112 of which are still active.
Six of the cases were returned travellers currently in quarantine, one was a household close contact of a case connected to the 90-case strong Cedar meats cluster and two are linked to the McDonald’s Fawkner cluster, bringing the number of cases connected to the location to 10.
Nine cases are still under investigation. Earlier this morning Myer confirmed that an employee at their Highpoint Shopping Centre store tested positive for the virus. The employee worked in online fulfilment at the store, which is closed to the public. All team members are in isolation and the store is being deep-cleaned.
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LACHLAN MOFFET GRAY 9.40am: Economic impact ‘140 times greater than bushfires’
Victoria would have hit its sixth consecutive budget surplus if it wasn’t for the coronavirus pandemic, says state treasurer Tim Pallas.
Mr Pallas told reporters on Friday that the government was projecting a $618 million surplus before the impact of coronavirus, but that if the budget was done now, the deficit would be in the range of $800 million.
“Let’s be honest, let’s be clear, we’re operating in anything but normal circumstances,” he said. “These are unprecedented times.”
The year to March recorded a deficit of $773 million and the full effects of the coronavirus pandemic will not be known for months with Mr Pallas warning the situation could worsen as the government will continue spending to ensure Victorians’ wellbeing.
“We’re not chasing surpluses and we won’t deliver a surplus in this year’s budget, let me be very clear,” Mr Pallas said.
“But what we will do is put a surplus of effort into looking after the welfare of Victorians.” The Andrews government, which has invested more than $5 billion to fight the pandemic, will hand down the state’s budget in October or November.
Mr Pallas said the economic effects of the coronavirus in Victoria would be up to 140 times greater than the bushfires. “If I could give you an appreciation of the order of magnitude of the issues that we are confronting, while these figures show hundreds of millions of dollars have been allocated to dealing with the bushfire event, we anticipated through Treasury that the cost of this event would be about 0.1 per cent on GDP,” Mr Pallas said.
“By contrast, the advice from Treasury is the impact of the pandemic event will be about 14% on gross state product.
“We are looking at something like a 140 times bigger economic event bearing down on the state’s economy going forward. So, that is a sign of the enormity of things that are really only just starting to unfold through these accounts.”
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LACHLAN MOFFET GRAY 9.25am: Palaszczuk reveals further easing of restrictions
Queensland has diagnosed two additional coronavirus cases, one “of some concern” as the state government announced that some restrictions set to ease on Saturday would be relaxed further still.
From Saturday restaurants and cafes will be able to serve 10 patrons, licensed venues in the bush will be able to serve up to 20, groups of 10 can gather in public and a household can receive five visitors. Travel restrictions will also be relaxed.
Here's a quick guide for Stage 1 of easing restrictions starting this weekend. See more details on our roadmap to a COVID-safe recovery at https://t.co/nYWoByb9FO #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/Ldb4ciwwZn
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) May 14, 2020
Of the two new cases, one was an “old case” and the other was an “active case” in Rockhampton. The number of confirmed cases in the state is now 1054 and more than 145,000 tests have been carried out since the beginning of the crisis.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said that Fraser, Moreton and North Stradbroke Islands would be reopened for day trips from Saturday.
“They will be reopened for day trips with the view, of course, that they will be open for camping and residential accommodation for the school holidays,” she told reporters on Friday.
From this weekend, K’gari (Fraser Island), Mulgumpin (Moreton Island) and Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) will reopen to visitors. You can visit the islands for day trips, as long as it’s within 150km of your home. Beach driving is allowed with a permit. #COVID19au pic.twitter.com/C4cel60dzP
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) May 14, 2020
The Premier also said that travel restrictions on regional and rural Queenslanders that come into force on Saturday will be further relaxed, with travellers in the outback now permitted to stay in a location overnight in addition to being allowed to travel 500km from their homes.
Queenslanders in metro areas can travel a maximum of 150km from Saturday.
“The chief health officer advised people travelling those distances can stay overnight with family and friends, or at accommodation in the outback areas. But they must remain in those outback areas,” Ms Palaszczuk said, while also warning that the case in Rockhampton proved coronavirus is yet to be defeated.
“There are cases still out there in Queensland,” she said.
“We are not out of the woods. We need to make sure that everybody is listening and practising their social distancing and adhering to the expert advice.”
READ MORE: Gottliebsen — Second wave will be a jobs tsunami
LACHLAN MOFFET GRAY 9.05am: Myer confirms Melbourne employee tested positive
The spread of coronavirus across workplaces in Victoria is continuing with an employee at Myer at the Highpoint Shopping Centre in the northwest Melbourne suburb of Maribyrnong testing positive.
Myer has confirmed to The Australian that the employee worked in online order fulfilment at the store — which is currently closed to the public — on May 11.
It comes after employees with coronavirus have been identified at the Cedar Meats Abattoir and a McDonald’s in Fawkner.
The retailer informed state health officials and store employees as soon as they were made aware of the diagnosis, with associated team members of the employee now in isolation.
The location will cease being used for online order fulfilment while a deep clean and sanitation of the store is undertaken.
“The health and wellbeing of our customers and team members is our absolute priority, so as soon as we were made aware of this case we enacted our COVID-19 protocols and suspended our fulfilment activities at the closed store, notified health officials immediately, and have advised associated team members to isolate and follow health advice,” a Myer spokesman said. “Despite having enhanced hygiene and safety measures in place, we are taking extra precautions and will be undertaking a deep clean and full sanitisation of the store before commencing fulfilment activities again. As our packing is being undertaken with increased hygiene and safety measures, customers can feel confident with any orders that have been, or will be, fulfilled from this store.”
READ MORE: Pandemic pain to hit wage rises for low-paid
LACHLAN MOFFET GRAY 8.45am: ‘If Dutton’s against it, you must be doing it right’
Queensland treasurer Cameron Dick has continued a media blitz defending the Queensland government’s bid for troubled airline Virgin Australia, hitting back at criticism from Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton.
“If Peter Dutton is against it, you must be doing something right,” Mr Dick told Sunrise on Friday, following days of criticism from the federal minister, who has called the move a political stunt.
Mr Dick said the $200 million bid through the Queensland Investment Corporation was not “really much about commercial return insomuch as it is protecting jobs.”
“We clearly don’t want the airline to make a loss but it’s about protecting our position as a state. We have 5000 people working for Virgin in Queensland.
“We know a whole lot of bidders are entering the process who won’t have any interest in our state, so Queensland needs to stand up.”
The first round of bidding closes on Friday night. Up to 19 organisations have reportedly registered interest in the airline.
READ MORE: Interest in Virgin Australia soars as bids fly in for airline
Agencies 8.30am: Whistleblower testifies: US faces its ‘darkest winter’
Despite White House claims, the US still lacks a comprehensive battle plan against the coronavirus in critical areas including masks, testing, treatments and vaccines, whistleblower Rick Bright warned in testimony before a House committee.
“Our window of opportunity is closing,” he declared.
The nation could face “the darkest winter in modern history” if the virus rebounds, the government vaccine scientist told lawmakers. Bright’s appearance came after his ouster last month as head of a Health and Human Services biodefense agency, an action he alleges was retaliation by the Trump administration.
“We need still a comprehensive plan, and everyone across the government and everyone in America needs to know what that plan is, and what role they play,” he told the House Energy and Commerce Committee. “There are critical steps that we need to do to prepare ... we do not still have enough personal protective equipment to manage our health care workers ... we still do not have the supply chains ramped up for the drugs and vaccines, and we still don’t have plans in place for how we distribute those drugs and vaccines. We still do not have a comprehensive testing strategy.”
At the White House, President Donald Trump said Bright looked like an “angry, disgruntled employee,” and Bright’s boss, HHS Secretary Alex Azar, said, “Everything he is complaining about was achieved.” “So this is like somebody who was in a choir and is now trying to say he was a soloist back then,” Azar added.
Trump, said later, at a Pennsylvania medical equipment distributor, that the US is ramping up production of COVID-related items and that “my goal is to produce everything America needs for ourselves and then export to the world, including medicines.” — AP
READ MORE: Richo — The world needs Trump to stand up to China
Lachlan Moffet Gray 8.10am: National Cabinet meets over further easing guidance
Federal Minister for Employment Michaelia Cash says that federal, state and territory leaders will provide further guidance to Australians on the easing of restrictions at the reopening of the economy after it meets later on Friday.
“Our focus at the moment is to literally reopen the economy and get, as Treasury estimates, around 850,000 Australians back into work,” she told Sunrise on Friday.
Senator Cash commended the Western Australian and Northern Territory governments for reopening their economies at a comparatively more rapid pace, and urged other states to open up their economies “safely, as quickly as possible.”
“We have made our position very, very clear. Reopen the economy safely, as quickly as possible. At $4 billion a week, that is what it is now costing us due to coronavirus.
“The faster you open your economy safely, the more people you move back into work. That has been the position of the Federal Government from day one.”
READ MORE: On the road again
Lachlan Moffet Gray 8.10am: Berejiklian’s warning as NSW confirms 8 new cases
NSW has detected eight new coronavirus cases out of 12,200 tests — a figure Premier Gladys Berejiklian called “outstanding.” It comes as restrictions in NSW ease to allow pubs, restaurants and cafes to serve up to 10 patrons, gatherings of up to 10 outside, and for a household to receive up to five visitors at once.
Ms Berejiklian said that Friday was “a good day for NSW” but warned residents that an approach of easing regulations can only occur if people are sensible.
“I know some may even have already started enjoying the new freedoms that come with easing restrictions today — but that also comes with personal responsibility and I can’t stress that enough,” she told reporters on Friday.
“Easing restrictions have failed in so many places around the world and I don’t want that to happen in NSW.”
She urged people to stop thinking that the easing of restrictions will happen in widespread “steps” outlined by the National Cabinet, saying the current approach is to lift restrictions on industries and activities on a case-by-case basis.
“I don’t want people talking about step two, step three, there will be multiple steps,” Ms Berejiklian said, adding that her government was looking at “What opportunities we have to address specific industry issues where they can increase their activity.”
“If we do find opportunities in the next days, or weeks, where parts of the community can be more active in getting back to work, we will certainly encourage that,” Ms Berejiklian said.
One objective of the NSW Government is to avoid crowding on public transport, with Ms Berejiklian government warning that: “If you’re not already on the bus or train in the morning, do not catch public transport in the peak. We know overseas public transport was the main reason why disease spread.”
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant warned that of the eight new cases, one was in a man who acquired the illness overseas and recently returned from Brisbane to Sydney on flight QF5357 on Tuesday, May 12. Three were people in a family group who are currently in a hotel quarantine, a further one was an individual in their 90s who had the illness months ago and was diagnosed via antibody testing.
There were three locally acquired cases — two men in their 30s in Dover Heights and Bondi, and a 39-year-old man from Penrith.
Ms Berejiklian encouraged people in these areas to present themselves for testing. Some 103 people are being treated for coronavirus by NSW Health, 79 per cent of which are being treated out of hospital. Seven people are in ICU, five of which are on ventilators.
READ MORE: France anger as Sanofi says US to get virus vaccine first
Lachlan Moffet Gray 7.55am: Gillard backs PM’s push for China probe
Former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has backed Australia’s push for an independent global inquiry into the origins of coronavirus in China upon her appointment as chair of the Wellcome Trust in the UK, one of the world’s largest investors in medical research, including in research for a COVID-19 vaccine.
Speaking to ABC News Ms Gillard said that “if a major health challenge for the world started anywhere, in any country on earth, then it is good to have a process which enables us to learn every lesson so that we can keep humanity safer for the future.”
Former Prime Minister @JuliaGillard has been appointed the next chair of one of the world's largest investors in medical research and pandemics.
— News Breakfast (@BreakfastNews) May 14, 2020
She is using her new role to join calls for an investigation into the coronavirus outbreak. pic.twitter.com/YppyN7JnYz
Ms Gillard said she understood the “emotional pull of nationalism” that drove China’s hostile response to the inquiry but asserted that “as rational human beings,” there was a responsibility to learn about COVID-19’s origin. “Whether a problem originates in Sydney, in China, in Canada, in Portugal, in Brazil, in the United Kingdom — in any country on earth — wherever a problem originates that has a possibility of having a profound impact on human health around the planet, then, of course, it needs to be studied, it needs to be understood,” she said.
“Not so that fingers can be pointed, but lessons can be learnt.” Ms Gillard will replace Baroness Eliza Manningham-Buller, former head of MI5 as chair of the Trust.
READ MORE: UK poised to take harder China line
Lachlan Moffet Gray 7.45am: Marles: Beijing-Canberra stoush puts jobs at risk
Deputy Labor Leader Richard Marles has compared the federal government’s approach to the Australian-Chinese relationship to the bar scene from the first Star Wars movie, saying it is a “complete rabble” full of “inflammatory comments” while Home Affairs Peter Dutton has accused Labor leader Anthony Albanese of being “caught out” on the issue.
The comments come as tensions between China and Australia exacerbate over Australia’s push for an inquiry into the origin of coronavirus in the country and China’s threat to hit Australian barley exports with tariffs and cancellation of four Australian abattoir’s export licences.
“What has happened in relation to the decisions of China put a whole lot of jobs at risk,” Mr Marles told Today on Friday. “What we’ve seen on the government side is a complete rabble when it comes to this relationship, we have got a foreign minister who essentially spends her time in hiding, A prime minister who doesn’t like to talk about this issue that much either.
“And the whole space is filled by basically the bar scene from ‘Star Wars’ who are making all these incredible comments about China, which are really inflammatory.”
The comments were instantly rebuffed by Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, who said the Australian Workers’ Union’s recent call to stand up against Chinese aggression showed that Anthony Albanese has been “caught out” on the issue.
“I mean, the union movement is shaking its head as to why the workers of Australia aren’t being supported by the Labor Party,” Mr Dutton said, adding that the federal government has been consistent in calling for an inquiry into the origins of coronavirus.
READ MORE: Labor split over Australian Workers’ Union’s China stance
Lachlan Moffet Gray 7.30am: Queensland Treasurer can’t answer Virgin costs question
Newly-installed Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick is continuing to prosecute the case for the state government’s $200m bid for Virgin Australia, saying the company would be viable once it emerged from administration — even though he was unable to say what the company’s current operating expenses were.
Mr Dick told Channel 9’s Today that the Queensland government should make a bid for the airline as “we think this is the right thing to do to protect Queensland’s interests”.
“When the administration goes through, the debt will be cleared. The debt will be taken off and there will be a viable airline,” he said.
The Queensland government is going ahead with its controversial plan to buy a major stake in Virgin Australia. #9Today pic.twitter.com/YGjIDotiNd
— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) May 14, 2020
“We know our nation needs a second airline and Queensland needs a second airline ... that it’s so important just for the people who work directly for Virgin, but also all of those regional communities (that) depend on tourism.”
When questioned by host Karl Stefanovic what Virgin’s current quarterly operating costs were, Mr Dick said “that’s a matter for the administrator, that’s not known to me,” before saying a decision about whether to proceed with the bid would be made after the preliminary bid process closes later on Friday.
Look mate, just stick to cruise ships ... https://t.co/Cb4AArVokL
— Cameron Dick (@camerondickqld) May 13, 2020
“That’s when QIC will engage with them and look at what they have got on the table, what those private sector entities want to invest, and then we will make a decision about whether we go forward with our commitment to save five thousand jobs here in our state or whether we withdraw,” he said.
READ MORE: Palaszczuk’s political play on Virgin
Lachlan Moffet Gray 7am: Trump to move supply chains out of China
US President Donald Trump has devised a plan to reclaim control of medical equipment supply lines, awarding contracts for almost 200,000 ventilators and 800,000 N95 face masks to domestic manufacturers.
In an TV interview on Thursday Mr Trump said the coronavirus pandemic highlighted the importance of US manufacturing and moving supply chains out of China.
“These stupid supply chains that are all over the world — we have a supply chain where they’re made in all different parts of the world,” he said.
President @realDonaldTrump talks supply chains—and why they should be completely in the United States! pic.twitter.com/5pinhaula6
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 14, 2020
“And one little piece of the world goes bad and the whole thing is messed up ... we should have them all in the United States.”
Hours later President Trump visited Owens & Minor, a personal protective equipment manufacturer in Allentown, Pennsylvania — a key battleground state in the upcoming presidential election — and told workers his goal was to produce “everything America needs for ourselves and then export to the world, including medicines”.
Mr Trump also urged Pennsylvania to “open up a little bit here,” referring to coronavirus restrictions.
“You’re going to be a nation of manufactures, and Pennsylvania workers will once again, you’re going to lead the way,” he told workers.
“With your help, we will vanquish the virus. We’ll get our nation back to work, and we will build our glorious future with American hands, and American grit, and American pride.”
READ MORE: US Navy has Malaysia’s back
Lachlan Moffet Gray 6.40am: France’s virus death toll again edges past Spain
France’s coronavirus death toll has again edged past Spain after an additional 251 fatalities yesterday.
With 27,425 deaths, France sits behind only the UK (33,692 deaths) and Italy (31,368 deaths) in Europe. Spain yesterday reported 217 new deaths, taking its toll to 27,321.
France, which first surpassed Spain’s total death toll on Tuesday but dipped below it on Wednesday, relaxed its lockdown on Monday after experiencing the lowest number of daily new cases — just 209 — on Sunday.
On Thursday, France recorded 622 new cases as people in certain parts of the country enjoyed their fourth day of being able to leave their homes without a certificate. The spike in the infection rate led the government to on Thursday advise that “the COVID-19 epidemic remains active and the virus is still circulating in France”.
The country has just under 179,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus and nearly 40,000 probable cases in nursing homes.
READ MORE: China, Iran hack vaccine research
Lachlan Moffet Gray 6.20am: New York businesses prepare for lockdown exit
Parts of New York State will emerge from lockdown for the first time in almost two months from Friday, with state Governor Andrew Coumo warning businesses to prepare COVID-19 safety plans for their businesses.
Central New York, the Mohawk Valley, the Finger Lakes, the North Country and the Southern Tier are expected to reopen for the first time since March 20 — but New York City and its surrounds have yet to meet criteria which includes a decline in occupied ICU beds and testing capacity.
NEW: Central New York has now met all seven metrics to begin Phase 1 of reopening on May 15th.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) May 14, 2020
It joins Mohawk Valley, Southern Tier, Finger Lakes, and the North Country.
The reopening will allow agriculture, forestry, fishing, manufacturing, hunting, construction and wholesale trade businesses to reopen at first, while retail stores can provide limited pick-up or drop off services.
Residents are still advised to wear masks, practice social distancing and avoid meeting with elderly or vulnerable people.
New York City, which represents most of the state’s death toll of 21,845, will broaden testing criteria in a bid to finally squash the spread of the disease through the city, mayor Bill de Blasio said overnight (AEST).
The strength of New Yorkers has been tested so many times. Have faith. We will not only overcome, but we will come back as a stronger, better city.
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) May 14, 2020
NEVER bet against New Yorkers.
READ MORE: Pandemic triggers global food crisis
Joe Kelly 5.15am: Senior Labor MPs pressure Albanese on China
Anthony Albanese has come under internal pressure after dismissing calls from one of the nation’s most powerful union bosses urging the government to “hold its nerve” in the face of Chinese trade threats.
With senior Labor MPs, including Bill Shorten and Penny Wong, strongly backing the five-page letter sent by Australian Workers’ Union national secretary Daniel Walton to Scott Morrison, the Opposition Leader said it “could have been written by any AWU secretary since 1891”.
“I haven’t read all the comments, to be frank,” Mr Albanese said. “There is nothing new about AWU secretaries standing up for jobs in Australia.”
Mr Albanese, facing a by-election battle to retain the marginal seat of Eden-Monaro, has historically been at odds with sections of the trade union movement, many of which back Mr Walton’s position on China.
Mr Shorten, a long-time leadership rival of Mr Albanese and former AWU chief, declared “all countries should play by the rules”.
Boss of my old union @danwaltonAWU is right to stand up for Aussie jobs & sovereignty.
— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) May 14, 2020
All countries should play by the rules. No exceptions just because they’re big.https://t.co/Ylia2GA4dX pic.twitter.com/tnQMzQeyXC
“Boss of my old union @danwaltonAWU is right to stand up for Aussie jobs and sovereignty. All countries should play by the rules. No exceptions just because they’re big,” Mr Shorten tweeted.
Read the full story from Joe Kelly and Geoff Chambers here.
Ewin Hannan 5.10am: Low-paid workers may have wage rises delayed
Hundreds of thousands of low-paid workers could have wage rises delayed for up to six months after the Fair Work Commission revealed it was looking at deferring minimum wage increases for stressed companies operating under the JobKeeper scheme.
As Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter said the commission’s top priority must be keeping workers in jobs and employers warned that wage rises would add to unemployment queues, Fair Work president Ian Ross canvassed the “merits’’ of the commission deferring an increase.
The FWC’s revelation will increase tensions between employers who want a wage freeze for 12 months and unions that want a $30-a-week rise for minimum wage earners from July 1.
Read the full story here.
Jacquelin Magnay 5am: Random coronavirus testing begins in England
Random testing across England has shown that one in 370 people is currently infected with coronavirus.
In the first of weekly government random testing that will continue for a year to provide a snapshot of the virus infection rates, 10,705 people were tested, with 33 positive cases.
This means about 148,000, but as many as 222,000 people, may have the virus right now in the UK.
Scientists believe that as much as a third of the UK’s 67 million population has already had the virus and recovered. More than 33,000 have died across the UK, but the number of deaths continues to slowly fall each week.
The new data, from the Office of National Statistics shows 0.27% of England’s population is currently testing positive for COVID-19.
Deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said the data showed “really quite a low level of infection”.
The testing also confirms earlier scientific studies that show children are contracting coronavirus in similar levels to the rest of the population, but their mild or asymptomatic state and next to no deaths means they don’t show up in hospital data.
Meanwhile, an antibody test that will determine if somebody has previously had coronavirus will be introduced within days and weeks, transport secretary Grant Shapps said.
He insisted the test was “very exciting” and a “very, very reliable antibody test”. Hospitals and care workers will be the first to receive the antibody test.
We all have a role to play in containing the virus.
— Boris Johnson #StayAlert (@BorisJohnson) May 14, 2020
Read the latest government advice here: https://t.co/9wx7FJCjWC#StayAlert pic.twitter.com/UmgLOn0G3l
READ MORE: UK poised to take harder China line
Tim Dodd 4.45am: University of Queensland chief defends China links
University of Queensland chancellor Peter Varghese has strongly defended his vice-chancellor Peter Hoj from a parliamentary attack by Liberal Senator James Paterson, who said Professor Hoj’s $200,000 bonus incentive was partly responsible for the university’s over-reliance on Chinese students.
Mr Varghese accused Senator Paterson of quoting selectively from leaked university documents “to unfairly attack Professor Hoj’s character under the cloak of parliamentary privilege”.
Senator Paterson told the Senate on Tuesday night that one of Professor Hoj’s KPIs for his $200,000 bonus in 2019 was to strengthen the university’s relationship with China.
Read the full story here.
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