Coronavirus Australia live news: Sydney protest rally ‘to go ahead’, say organisers
Black Lives Matter rally organisers vow the protest will go ahead despite the NSW Supreme Court ruling that it would violate public health orders.
- NSW Premier moves against protests
- Abbott, Kennett line up against protests
- Protests shouldn’t go ahead: Treasurer
- Ardern pours cold water on ‘travel bubble’
- Tasmania funds $3.1bn construction blitz
Welcome to live coverage of the continuing coronavirus crisis. The expert medical panel advising national cabinet has warned it is “extremely concerned” about the Black Lives Matter protests. Scott Morrison has urged Australians not to attend the protests on medical grounds as debate rages over the decision by state governments to allow the protests to go ahead while gatherings for weddings and funerals remain restricted amid fears of a second wave of infections. NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has poured cold water on plans for Canberra-Wellington flights from July, saying she will ban Australian flights until coronavirus cases decrease.
Angelica Snowden 8.40pm: Protesters vow rally will go ahead
Organisers and supporters of the Black Lives Matter rally have vowed the protest - that was expected to draw a crowd of 10,000 people - will go ahead despite the NSW Supreme Court ruling that it would violate public health orders.
Greens MP David Shoebridge, who was cross examined at the hearing, said he expected the rally to go ahead.
“I will expect that a significant number of First Nations people will still come out tomorrow,” Mr Shoebridge said.
Protest organiser Raul Bassi said even though he “lost” in court, he would continue to fight for the Black Lives Matter movement.
“I will never lose my decision to fight for what is true... I am never going to stop doing that,” Mr Bassi said.
Assistant Commissioner Michael Willing said police will be out in force on Saturday.
“I would ask people to abide by (the court’s decision),” Assistant Commissioner Willing said.
“Police will be out in numbers to enforce that,” he said.
Angelica Snowden 8.00pm: Supreme court ruling blocks rally
The NSW Supreme Court has ruled the Black Lives Matter rally planned in Sydney on Saturday cannot go ahead because of the high risk of COVID-19 transmission.
Judge Desmond Fagan said the prospect of more than 10,000 people was not “acceptable” due to the public health threat.
“I refuse the application for authorisation under section 26,” Judge Fagan said.
Measures proposed to keep protesters safe included marshals to enforce social distancing, hand sanitiser and face masks would not “remove the risks” of a COVID-19 outbreak.
Judge Fagan said there was “no special risk of violence erupting” at the protest and people participating would exercise greater caution than usual” to “avoid tarnishing” their cause.
“I don’t diminish the importance of the issue,” Judge Fagan said.
“No one would deny them the opportunity in ordinary circumstances,” he said.
”But we are talking about a situation of a health crisis.”
Counsel for the protest organiser, Emmanuel Kerkyasharian, argued the rally should go ahead on that basis that if the protest could not proceed in the large spaces of Town Hall and Belmore Park people would be at a greater risk of COVID-19 transmission because they would march on the street anyway.
“(The) safer course is to permit it to go ahead with social distancing,” Mr Kerkyasharian said.
Mr Kerkyasharian also said it was a “political statement that is being made around the world against this type of violence”.
The protest organiser, Raul Bassi, was cross examined and said he had worked with the police to come to an “agreement” on the number of people set to participate in the rally.
Judge Desmond Fagan said the court had to strike a balance between “two competing public interests”: the right to free speech and assembly and public health interests.
Agencies 6.50pm: SA looks to travel bubbles to open borders
Travel bubbles with various states could form part of South Australia’s first moves to reopen its borders, Premier Steven Marshall says.
Mr Marshall has described suggestions of travel between Western Australia and SA as “definitely an option” and says other proposals are also on the table. “Western Australia has done extraordinarily well in terms of their fight against the coronavirus, just like we have done in South Australia,” the premier said on Friday.
“It’s up to (Premier) Mark McGowan to make his decision with regard to the border and I know that our transition committee is looking at issues like borders as we speak.
“I think that we’re in a good position with Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Tasmania and maybe also Canberra.
“This is the potential for almost a first wave of lifting the border restrictions very safely and gradually.” Mr Marshall said he would hope the state government could announce something on border measures “very soon”.
SA recorded no new COVID-19 cases again on Friday and has no active infections remaining.
It has had 440 total cases including four deaths.
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Brent Read 5.22pm: NRL to open gates to crowds next weekend
Major sponsors and corporate supporters are expected to get first crack as the game prepares to open the gates next weekend to crowds under strict social-distancing guidelines.
It is understood ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys secured a major victory for the code on Friday after convincing the NSW government to allow rugby league to adhere to the same guidelines as pubs and clubs.
That means they will be allowed to open corporate suites and function rooms to a limited number of people, starting on the Central Coast on Thursday night when Manly host Brisbane.
The NRL and their clubs have already set up a working group to decide who should be given priority access to the games given there will only be a limited number allowed into the stadium.
The decision is a huge victory for the clubs because it will allow them to assuage some of their corporate supporters and high-profile sponsors.
Rachel Baxendale 5.04pm: Victoria Police beef up message to protesters
Victoria Police have beefed up their message to those considering attending a Black Lives Matter protest in Melbourne on Saturday, vowing to issue infringements to people who breach the Chief Health Officer’s ban on gatherings of more than 20.
The warning comes as protest organisers from activist group the Warriors of Aboriginal Resistance vow to take to the streets regardless, saying “protest is not a choice”, but urging attendees to maintain physical distance.
Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton, who takes up the role of Chief Commissioner next month, said police would “probably be having to apply a lot of discretion because you can’t practically issue thousands and thousands of infringements to people who gather in a large protest” at a press conference alongside Premier Daniel Andrews on Friday afternoon.
Less than two hours later, police clarified the message, issuing a statement saying: “Claims in the media this week that Victoria Police will not be issuing infringement notices to people who breach Chief Health Officer directions at tomorrow’s planned protest in the CBD are wrong.”
Victoria Police wish to keep tomorrow’s planned protest in the CBD a peaceful one. pic.twitter.com/A2TzXHl0wd
— Victoria Police (@VictoriaPolice) June 5, 2020
“In the exercise of police discretion, those who intentionally break the law will be held to account, and we have again contacted the organisers of the protest this morning to ensure this point is understood,” a police spokeswoman said.
“As Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius made clear earlier this week, it is our strong preference that the protest does not occur at this time, while the restrictions in relation to public gatherings remain in place.
“There are obvious and potentially dire public health consequences should this event lead to an outbreak of coronavirus.
“If it is to proceed then it must be conducted in a manner which does not breach the Chief Health Officer directions.
“We have also been clear that it would not be practical to issue infringements to thousands of persons congregating for a protest. We wish to keep the protest a peaceful one.
“That said, after the event and as per other recent protests, we will assess the evidence of the protest and if it did breach CHO guidelines we will not hesitate to issue infringement notices to the organisers. We will also consider other persons whom it may be appropriate to infringe.”
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Angelica Snowden 4.56pm: Greens MP leads protest outside Supreme Court
Greens MP David Shoebridge led a group of about 50 protesters outside the NSW Supreme Court on Friday afternoon who are vowing to go ahead with the Black Lives Matter Rally on Saturday.
Mr Shoebridge said police were “not working with protesters” to ensure there was a safe and peaceful Black Lives Matter rally.
“The police are coming out and threatening violence and the use of power against the protester,” Mr Shoebridge said.
Aunty Rhonda Dixon spoke at the gathering and said protesters had a right to rally for the Black Lives Matter movement and against the death of George Floyd.
“We have a right to gather on our country,” Ms Dixon said.
“We have a right to speak and a right to express ourselves as human beings,”
Leetona Dungay, mother of David Dungay - a 26-year-old Indigenous man who died in police custody in 2015 - said she planned to march in the rally on Saturday regardless of the Supreme court decision.
“I am going to march for George Floyd,” Ms Dungay said.
“Black lives matter... and we are not going to stop we are going to march,” she said.
“We don’t care what any acts of law tell us what to do.”
NSW police officers were visible outside the court while the group gathered.
The NSW Supreme Court is holding an urgent hearing over the NSW Police Commissioner’s injunction to deem the protest illegal.
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Amos Aikman 3.31pm: NT to review border controls weekly
The Northern Territory will review its border controls weekly from the middle of this month with the aim of giving businesses 30 days notice ahead of the simultaneous resumption of all interstate travel as soon as possible.
Chief Minister Michael Gunner on Friday distanced himself from proposals to establish travel “bubbles” between jurisdictions with comparatively few active coronavirus cases.
“I think we’re close to just nailing this as a country,” he said.
“We’ll do it once, and we’ll do it right, and we’ll do it for everyone.”
The Territory on Friday moved to the nation’s most permissive coronavirus control regimen with nightclubs, cinemas and casinos allowed to reopen, few restrictions on the numbers of people in pubs and clubs and patrons able to buy a drink without a meal.
Mr Gunner said tight border controls had allowed virtually all businesses to resume quasi-normal trading conditions sooner than in other states by keeping the spread of deadly COVID-19 to an absolute minimum.
“Our businesses can essentially operate as normal, or as close as possible to the old normal because of our strong borders,” he said.
“There’s absolutely no doubt in my mind there’s over 6000 Territorians back at work only because of our strong borders.”
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Max Maddison 3.08pm: Vic Police won’t fine protesters - just organisers
Victorian Police won’t fine thousands of protesters at tomorrow’s rally - just the organisers.
In a statement, Victorian Police said reports in the media that claimed fines wouldn’t be issued were “wrong”.
“We have also been clear that it would not be practical to issue infringements to thousands of persons congregating for a protest. We wish to keep the protest a peaceful one,” the statement said.
However, an assessment would be made after the event to consider whether CHO guidelines were breached.
“... if it did breach CHO guidelines we will not hesitate to issue infringement notices to the organisers. We will also consider other persons whom it may be appropriate to infringe,” the statement said.
Victoria Police wish to keep tomorrow’s planned protest in the CBD a peaceful one. pic.twitter.com/A2TzXHl0wd
— Victoria Police (@VictoriaPolice) June 5, 2020
Victorian Police said they had contacted organisers to reiterate that people who “intentionally break the law will be held to account”.
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Joe Kelly 2.57pm: Experts warn against Black Lives Matter protests
The expert medical panel advising national cabinet has warned it is “extremely concerned” about the Black Lives Matter protests planned in major cities across Australia because of the risk of a “major resurgence of cases.”
The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee led by Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy has released a statement reminding Australians that a single person infected with coronavirus infects 35 others.
It has recommended that Australians refrain from attending mass gatherings “of any kind, including protests” and urged individuals who do attend protests to “maintain appropriate physical distancing and hand and respiratory hygiene”.
“This virus is very, very infectious. It will be with us in one way or another for many months to come,” the AHPPC said. “It is advised that Australians follow the health advice and regulations about public gatherings, and adhere to restrictions on gathering sizes in their state or territory.”
“COVID-19 is transmitted via close contact, and large crowds and gatherings greatly increase the risk of infection, as the ability to maintain physical distancing is reduced.
“These large protests encourage mixing of people in the population who are not part of usual social networks. These types of contacts – between people who are from different social groups and geographical locations – pose a significant risk for the spread of COVID-19.”
The AHPPC warned that contact tracing was “made much more difficult in situations such as protests, as close contacts cannot be identified and followed up.”
“If you are older, immunocompromised or sick, stay at home.”
“It is still too early to tell whether the significant relaxation of distancing measures across the country will result in increased transmission and new significant outbreaks. We need to be very cautious about further relaxing measures until we are confident there is not a major resurgence of cases.”
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Max Maddison 2.54pm: Think again on going to protests: Greg Hunt
Health Minister Greg Hunt has urged people to “think again” and hold a “private vigil” rather than turning out en masse to protest.
Speaking at a press conference, Mr Hunt says there’s always a time for protest, but just not right now.
“The right to protest is fundamental. The means of coming together and risking the spread of COVID-19 is something we say to people, “Please think again. Please do not do this,” Mr Hunt.
“Exercise your compassion. Express yourself. But do it in a way which is safe, sound and respectful of our most vulnerable Australians”.
Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy reinforces Mr Hunt’s message, warns that the threat of community transmission is “very real”.
“The reason the state and territory health departments have regulations on gathering sizes are very sound reasons - the more people you have together, the closer they are together, the higher the risk,” Dr Murphy said
“A mass gathering, even if people try to make it safe by trying to practise distancing and hand
hygiene is inherently dangerous because people can’t really keep apart”
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Max Maddison 1.54pm: WA coronavirus restrictions eased from tomorrow
West Australian Premier Mark McGowan says phase three of easing restrictions will begin tomorrow due to the success of limiting community transmission.
This means non-work, indoor and outdoor gatherings of up to a hundred people will be allowed - a five-fold increase. Social distancing will only require 2sqm as opposed to 4sqm currently in place across the rest of Australia.
In addition, indoor and outdoor venues with multiple divided spaces are able to have a hundred people in each space, what Mr McGowan refers to as the “100/300 person rule” - up to 300 people will be allowed in some venues, with exemptions available to have more.
All ages will be able to start competitive contact sports, including full-contact sport and training. Gyms, health clubs, indoor sports centres - including the use of all gym equipment - will be able to operate as normal.
Alcohol can be served without a meal at licensed premises, while TABs will also be open again.
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David Penberthy 1.48pm: Anti-racism protest given green light in Adelaide
An anti-racism protest has been given the green light to go ahead in Adelaide on Saturday and is expected to attract up to 3000 people after the SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens gave an exemption to the organisers from social distancing rules.
With SA still banning private gatherings of up to 20 people, limiting pub attendance to 80 and banning all junior and club sport and SANFL football, Commissioner Stevens announced on Friday that the protest at Victoria Square would be allowed to proceed.
Mr Stevens said he had tried to balance public health considerations with the right of people to hold peaceful protests.
“Commissioner Grant Stevens, in his role as state co-ordinator, is considering the information relative to the protest planned for this weekend and he will provide some further information (on Friday),” a police spokesman said before the decision.
The protest in SA has been organised by a Socialist Alliance-linked organisation called Adelaide Campaign Against Racism and Fascism and an indigenous rights group, Sosblakaustralia SA Action Group.
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Max Maddison 1.06pm: Protesters in groups over 10 will receive fine
Police will fine groups of more than 10 protesters who show up to the Black Lives Matter rally tomorrow, says Police Commissioner Mick Fuller.
“If ten people turn up in Pitt St tomorrow, we wish them well,” Mr Fuller said.
“But if hundreds and thousands of people turn up, then they’re in breach of the health order and if they haven’t complied with the Supreme Court, then obviously all of the police powers available to us can be used.
Ms Berejiklian says the chance of a second wave and an outbreak of coronavirus is “extremely high”, and says as such, any protest is a public health safety issue.
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Max Maddison 12.45pm: NSW Premier won’t allow protests to proceed
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has reversed her decision to allow the Black Lives Matter protest to proceed tomorrow, saying after discussion with the Police Commissioner the rally has been deemed “illegal”.
Speaking at a press conference in Sydney, Ms Berejiklian says the protest has grown significantly over the course of the week, which meant the organisers could no longer guarantee “safe social distancing”.
BREAKING: Premier Gladys Berejiklian has withdrawn permission for the BLM protest to go ahead tomorrow
— Max Maddison (@maxmaddison) June 5, 2020
"... to have the intended protest tomorrow that was intended to go ahead deemed illegal. This is because the protesters could not guarantee adherence to the health orders."
“But I want to make this point clear. The New South Wales Government never has and never would give the green light to thousands and thousands of protesters who do not support the health orders,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“When a protester, when a protest organisation cannot guarantee that those participating in the protest will adhere to social distancing, will adhere to the health orders, that is deemed an illegal act.
She says an injunction will be sought in the Supreme Court to ensure the rally can’t proceed.
Responding to questions, Ms Berejiklian says she never gave the green light for people to flout social distancing restrictions.
She says what was initially put forward by protest organiser to police was “extremely different to what it is now”, and the rally currently planned is a “flagrant disregard for health orders”.
“In New South Wales, we wouldn’t ever want to be in a position where people are denied that expression of freedom, but do it in a different way. We cannot have thousands and thousands of people gathering together. It only takes a couple, one or two people, to have the virus,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“That is never anything we agreed to. If you look at every single word I said, if you look at every single word any member of my government has said, and I’ve taken swift actions against those in my own team who’ve breached the health orders.”
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Craig Johnstone 12.35pm: Show protest support at home: Qld Premier
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has urged people who want to protest the treatment of indigenous Australians at the weekend to stay home and show their support on social media.
She said those who chose to attend public protests should ensure they follow social distancing rule sand “be respectful” but stopped short of agreeing police should arrest those disobeying the law.
“That is a matter for police,” she said.
Ms Palaszczuk said people should be “very mindful” of social distancing and keep to family groups if they attended protests.
She said it was important they people followed official health advice to stop the spread of COVID-19.
“We have zero (new) cases in Queensland and we want to keep zero cases in Queensland,” she said.
Ms Palaszczuk also said the Queensland Government will grant casual workers who test positive to coronavirus a $1500 payment to help them cope with having to go into quarantine and not work.
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Max Maddison 12.24pm: Opening NT borders ‘will be a medical decision’
The Chief Minister of the Northern Territory Michael Gunner says a decision on opening the border is pending, but will be a “medical decision” about “saving territory lives”.
Speaking at a press conference in Darwin, Mr Gunner said the excitement in southern states about having 20 people in a pub was a reminder “about how far ahead we are of the rest of the country”.
“We all have a job to do. I’ve got a job, you’ve got a job. My job is to do whatever it takes to save territory lives, and my priority right now is keeping our borders strong so that we can do that,” Mr Gunner said.
“I think we are close to just nailing this as a country. We will do it once and right and for everyone. That is largely about how we do this on the borders.”
Announcing the next and final stage of the roadmap, Mr Gunner said the easing of restrictions would mean 2,000 people would return to work.
From this weekend sporting events will resume with spectators, while pubs, clubs and
cafes can open without time limits.
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Max Maddison 12.05pm: NSW Police could challenge decision to allow protests
The decision to allow the Black Lives Matter and Aboriginal Lives Matter protests to proceed tomorrow may end up in the Supreme Court, with NSW Police confirming they are considering challenging the permission.
NSW Police told The Australian that a decision regarding the protest would be made “within the hour”, with the Premier Gladys Berejiklian set to make an announcement about the protest at 12.30pm.
It is understood that NSW Police are threatening to go to the Supreme Court in a bid to shut down the rally.
The news follows significant outrage over the protest, with NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Police Minister David Elliott both publicly criticising the decision on 2GB this morning.
“As a father of six kids I go home to a mass protest every day and I can’t take my kids to my brother’s house under these social restrictions that we have in place. You can’t defend the indefensible. I think it’s ridiculous,” Mr Perrottet told host Ben Fordham.
Also on 2GB, Mr Elliott said there was nothing politicians who didn’t approve of the protests could do about the protests going ahead, saying because of the lawful right to protest, the gathering was “virtually impossible to stop”.
“Not all politicians approve it, but there’s nothing we can do about it,” Mr Elliott told Fordham.
“I have literally been up half the night speaking to senior policemen, taking legal advice … there are things in our society which are virtually impossible to stop and the right to protest is one of them.”
While Premier Gladys Berejiklian has urged participants to maintain social distancing, her critics are questioning the decision to let the public march take place.
“Is (Premier Berejiklian) really giving her approval for a mass rally with potentially thousands of participants, when the maximum number of people allowed to visit a private home remains just five,” Labor leader Jodi McKay told The Daily Telegraph.
Tens of thousands of protesters are expected across several rallies around the nation in solidarity with the George Floyd protests currently taking place across the US, while calling out racial injustice in Australia.
While Chief Medical Officers across the country have urged people to not risk spreading coronavirus and stay at home, Ms Berejiklian and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews have conceded that protesters will not face fines for attending.
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Rosie Lewis 11.54pm: PM defends new foreign investment laws
Scott Morrison has rejected suggestions the government’s new national security test for foreign investment bids will create further tension with China.
“No, I don’t believe why it should. Countries make decisions on their own interests for their own rules and we respect the rules and interests of other countries so I see no reason why that should be the case,” he says.
“Australia will always design its foreign investment rules on that basis as other countries do there. So I don’t think there is anything extraordinary about that.”
Asked if the government could resume ownership of the Port of Darwin as a last resort, the Prime Minister says the sale to a Chinese company was not done with the federal government’s authority and was a decision solely of the Northern Territory government.
“The wisdom of that decision or otherwise can only be explained by the Northern Territory government at that time (in 2016) which was obviously different to the government we have today,” the Prime Minister says.
“The weaknesses in the system that that sale identified were addressed and it was addressed by our government, it was addressed by me as treasurer. What we announced today only provides further supports to deal with those issues but obviously the Commonwealth government is sovereign on other matters and if there are any issues that presented in relation to any asset that compromise Australian national interests, there are broader actions the government can take which are common to all governments around the world.”
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Rosie Lewis 11.45am: PM: government must be careful about expenditure
Scott Morrison says government must be careful “more than ever” about the expenditure it engages in during the coronavirus pandemic, after the Parliamentary Budget Office estimated additional net debt could reach up to $620bn by the end of the decade.
The Prime Minister says the coronavirus crisis has hit not just expenditure but taken a “massive hit” on revenue. “I would stress that is why, more than ever, we have to be careful about the expenditure we are engaged in. It has to be well measured, it has to be well targeted, it has to be time-limited,” he says.
“It can’t provide long lasting heavy burdens on the fiscal side down the track, baked in expenditure. We’ve avoided all of that, which was the lesson of the GFC, don’t bake in long-term expenditure, because your revenues get hit as well and the revenues will be hit and that’s why we need to be very careful.”
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Rosie Lewis 11.30am: PM doesn’t want COVID ‘sacrifices’ to be undone
Scott Morrison has urged Australians not to attend Black Lives Matter protests on the weekend on medical grounds, saying the health advice is “it’s not a good idea to go”.
He says the health risks in gatherings of such large numbers “are real” and he does not want the hard work and “great sacrifices” made to be undone.
The Prime Minister says one of the greatest fears at the start of the pandemic of himself, premiers and federal ministers was the potential impact on indigenous communities in remote and metropolitan Australia.
While it was important people have the right to protest, individuals had a great responsibility for others.
“I say to them, don’t go,” Mr Morrison says. “Let’s not misuse that liberty. Let’s respect it. Let’s respect other Australians. And let’s say to those who had the absolute agony of not being able to say goodbye to a loved one, let’s thank them by showing responsibility this weekend.
“Let’s find a better way and another way to express these sentiments, rather than putting your own health at risk, the health of others at risk, the great gains we have been able to make as a country in recent months.
“Let’s not forget the terrible economic consequences of that as well, let’s not put that at risk, let’s exercise our liberties responsibly this weekend and encourage people not to attend for those reasons and those reasons only.”
Mr Morrison says it’s a “national shame” there have been at least 432 indigenous deaths in custody since the 1991 royal commission, with only two-thirds of recommendations implemented.
“Well, of course it is,” he says. “That is why the Closing the Gap initiatives that all states and territories, the Commonwealth government are so focused on delivering and that’s why we’ve gone through the reforms of that process as we have engaged with Indigenous peak groups.
“In Australia, we understand the problems we have in this area and I get only cooperation from all levels of government in trying to address these issues.
“No one has a mortgage on concern about this issue. I share these concerns, all Australian share these concerns. And so I don’t diminish them for a second. But what I do say is that Australia is not other places. So let’s deal with this as Australians and not appropriate what’s happening in other countries to our country at this time.”
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Patrick Commins 11.15am: Debt to rise by $620bn: Parliamentary Budget Office
Australia’s legacy of the COVID-19 crisis will be additional net debt of up to $620bn by the end of this decade, while the budget deficit will peak at nearly $200bn in the next financial year and will remain in deficit through to 2030, according to new Parliamentary Budget Office projections.
The PBO estimates are based on the Reserve Bank of Australia’s three economic scenarios outlined last month in its Statement on Monetary Policy. “Our analysis shows that the impact of COVID-19 may result in Commonwealth government net debt in 2029-30 being between 11 and 18 per cent of GDP ($500bn to $620bn) higher than it would have been otherwise,” the PBO reports reads.
“At last December’s Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook, net debt was projected to fall to 1.8 per cent of GDP by 2029-30.”
The PBO said the higher debt burden is “largely the result of lower revenue and significant borrowing in 2019-20 and 2020-21 to fund the Government’s pandemic response measures”.
“While the impact of these policies on the underlying cash balance reduces over time, the impact on net debt endures through to 2029-30.”
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Rosie Lewis 11.05am: Childcare extension decision ‘soon’: PM
The government will announce whether its free childcare program will be extended beyond June “in the not too distant future” but Scott Morrison says childcare facilities and parents want it to move “back towards a more normal arrangement”.
“(That) would enable greater capacity, with more people going back to work there are rising levels of demand, which was the issue some time ago, and the guarantees we put in place (with) both JobKeeper and the direct support provided to childcare facilities, I think, has been very important,” the Prime Minister says.
“But it was never a permanent measure, it was a measure designed for the times and, like all of our measures, we constantly keep looking at them and applying them to the circumstances as we know them.”
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Rosie Lewis 10.55am: Investing must be on our terms: PM
“Investment in Australia must be on our terms, on our rules and in our interests. That has always been the strong position of our government,” Scott Morrison says as he and Josh Frydenberg outline a new national security test to be applied to all foreign investment bids for sensitive assets.
The Prime Minister says many years ago treasurers merely had to deal with commercial transactions and protecting against anti-competitive behaviour but that has changed.
“In more recent times there has been other elements of foreign investment that we need to be very careful about and we need to have strong rules to protect Australia against. Investments in critical infrastructure and sensitive businesses and data centres and things of that nature, we need to ensure that the appropriate protections are in place,” he says.
The Treasurer says the geopolitical climate has become more complex and governments are seeing foreign investment being used for strategic objectives, not purely commercial ones.
The rules are as follows:
The government will also streamline the approval process for passive investments by foreign governments where they are partnering with private capital. “There is trillions of dollars being invested by such funds where foreign governments, through their entities, partnering with private capital and where those investments are in non-sensitive sectors. We want to streamline and speed up that process,” Mr Frydenberg says.
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Agencies 10.50am: Cause trumps virus concerns: rally organiser
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has asked Victorians not to attend the rally as it “carries real risks for all Victorians, particularly those in vulnerable groups”.
But Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance organiser Meriki Onus said indigenous communities believe the cause trumps that concern. “We think that this is an essential service to stand up for an Aboriginal person’s right to life, and also stand in solidarity with George Floyd and the more broader Black Lives Matter movement in the US,” she told ABC Melbourne on Friday.
Organisers are doing what they can to help minimise health risks and are working with health services to distribute masks and hand sanitiser before and during the event.
“We’ve given really strong health advice for people attending,” Ms Onus said. Organisers would “feel pretty bad” if the event led to a spike to COVID-19 cases, but Melbourne wasn’t alone in holding the rallies.
“We’re rising to the call to action. We’re marching like they marched in Paris, we’re marching like they marched in New Zealand. We’re marching like marched in both Perth, Sydney and Brisbane are marching tomorrow,” she said. “Melbourne will be no different to any other city in this world in marching for Black Lives Matter.”
While Premier Daniel Andrews has acknowledged how strongly people feel about the issue, he’s asked people not to protest because of coronavirus risks.
Victoria Police plan to exercise discretion when fining people for any breaches of COVID-19 restrictions at the event. Officers would “exercise their discretion, as we always do, proportionate to the circumstances we find ourselves having to contend with”.
“We are very conscious of the need to conduct our policing operations in a way which de-escalates sources of conflict, keeps people safe and prevents incitement of violence and aggression,” it said in a statement on Friday. — AAP
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Agencies 10.40am: Albanese says protesters must be cautious
Anthony Albanese says people taking to the streets this weekend in Black Lives Matter protests need to be cautious.
“I understand people’s desire to protest and to make their voice heard. But we are still in a pandemic and we need to be extremely cautious about the way that we behave and to keep those social distancing rules in operation,” he told 2SM radio.
Thousands of people are expected at protests in Canberra on Friday as well as in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Hobart on Saturday. — AAP
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Tracey Ferrier 10.30am: Queensland seeks advice about legality of protest
Queensland’s deputy premier is seeking advice about the legality of a Black Lives Matter protest planned in Brisbane on Saturday. Strict limits on public gatherings remain in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus, with a public health directive stating outdoor events must not involve more than 20 people.
Deputy Premier and Health Minister Stephen Miles says he understands some will want to march in support of American man George Floyd, whose death during an arrest has sparked global protests.
But he says protesters must also understand their legal obligations. “That’s something I’ll need to get some advice on today,” Mr Miles told ABC radio on Friday. “And then we’ll make that advice public so people choosing to attend can know the regulations that apply to them.”
Mr Miles acknowledged the painful scenes coming out of the United States. “It’s really distressing to see what’s going on there. I understand there will be Brisbane folk who feel motivated to want to show solidarity.”
Mr Miles said he had not been involved in discussions about the local rally. “But the police generally manage protest permits and I’m sure they’ve been in discussing with the organisers (about) what the rules are.” The Black Lives Matter - Stop Black Deaths In Custody protest is due to begin at King George Square at 1pm. Protesters will then march through the city to Musgrave Park. — AAP
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Richard Ferguson 10.20am: PM’s press conference at 10.30am | WATCH LIVE
The Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will address the media in Canberra at 10.30am. You can watch it live above.
Rachel Baxendale 10.15am: Victoria closes school, records three new cases
Victoria’s number of confirmed coronavirus cases has increased by three to 1681.
Two of those cases have been detected in returned overseas travellers in hotel quarantine, while the third has been confirmed in a Prep student at Newbury Primary School in the outer northern Melbourne suburb of Craigieburn.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the school had been closed for cleaning, but the risk of transmission to other students remained low. Professor Sutton said it was clear that community transmission was taking place in Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs, where recent cases have been concentrated. Victoria currently has 74 active cases.
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Agencies 10.05am: Dutton: protest from home instead of streets
Federal Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton on Friday said he understood how strongly people feel about the death of George Floyd, who died at police hands in Minneapolis on May 25.
“Here’s where it gets difficult. In the middle of this pandemic, 20,000 people are expected to turn out in ... Melbourne and that puts at risk everything we’ve been working so hard to achieve in terms of COVID-19,” Mr Dutton told the Nine Network.
“I ... would encourage everybody that’s thinking about the protests to do it from home.”
Later, he added that was worried about people breaking social distancing rules.
“People need to express their peaceful thoughts, their deeply held thoughts and concerns, online,” he told reporters in Canberra. “That’s a really important way in the current environment to be able to express, in a democracy like ours, any concern you’ve got.
“Firstly, in a peaceful way, but preferably online.”
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Max Maddison 9.55am: No new virus cases recorded in Queensland
Queensland has recorded another day of no new cases of coronavirus, with only three cases remaining active across the state. With an additional 4112 tests conducted yesterday, Queensland has only had one confirmed case in the past week, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said in a post on Twitter. The state has 1,060 total confirmed cases, with six people having died from the outbreak.
Friday, 5 June – coronavirus cases in Queensland:
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) June 4, 2020
• 0 new confirmed cases
• 3 active cases
• 1,060 total confirmed cases
• 212,870 tests conducted
Sadly, six Queenslanders with COVID-19 have died. 1,049 patients have recovered.#COVID_19 pic.twitter.com/Fxqo8RK6ZB
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Max Maddison 9.35am: ‘Why should 10,000 make merry at Town Hall steps?’
Debate continues to rage over the decision to allow Black Lives Matter protests to go ahead this weekend.
On Sydney radio 2GB, former prime minister Tony Abbott and his sister Christine Forster both said the decision to allow the protest to go ahead was ridiculous.
“You can’t go to the footy. Why on earth should 10,000 people be allowed to make merry at the Town Hall steps?,” Mr Abbott said.
“People have been fined for living their lives.”
Ms Forster, a Liberal councillor in the City of Sydney, also questioned the inconsistency in allowing the protests to go ahead.
“If you can protest ... then you should be allowed to go to the footy,” Ms Forster said.
Meanwhile, former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett took to Twitter to have a shot at the Victorian government’s acquiescence to protesters.
“Is anyone really surprised? One rule for law abiding citizens, another for those who gather to protest and put the communities health at risk,” Mr Kennett said.
“Police will not enforce a law the Government enacted. No one from tomorrow should be fined for any COVID offence.”
Is anyone really surprised? One rule for law abiding citizens, another for those who gather to protest and put the communities health at risk. Police will not enforce a law the Government enacted. Noone from tomorrow should be fined for any COVID offence.
— Jeff Kennett (@jeff_kennett) June 4, 2020
Richard Ferguson 9.05am: Follow medical advice, avoid protest: Marles
Deputy opposition leader Richard Marles is calling for Black Lives Matter protesters to heed medical advice and avoid mass protests, a day after saying Australians could take “inspiration” from anti-racism riots in the United States.
Victoria’s chief health officer Brett Sutton sent out a late Thursday night plea for people to avoid protests in Melbourne this weekend over Aboriginal deaths in custody.
Mr Marles earlier yesterday said protesters here could take “inspiration” from the BLM movement in America to fight racial inequality in this country.
But the deputy ALP leader ended up backing the Victorian chief health officer on Friday morning and said he did not want coronavirus to spread at any mass protests.
“The right to protest is obviously a critical part of our democracy and everyone wants to stand up against racism, and that is a cause that we would commit to and believe in,” he told Nine News. “But the pandemic is affecting our lives in every way and that includes the right to protest. And we do need to be listening to medical advice in this moment. I mean, obviously, if people gathering ended up spreading the disease with the result of somebody doing, that would be a very bad outcome.”
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Max Maddison 8.45am: Global coronavirus death toll passes 388,000
The global death toll from COVID-19 continues to balloon, passing 388,000 overnight, according to John Hopkins University. The grim figure — currently at 388,499 — continues to be led by the US with 107,979, followed by the United Kingdom at 39,987. In third and fourth are Italy and Brazil with around 33,000 each. The total number of confirmed cases globally stands at 6,589,090.
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Max Maddison 8.15am: Masks made obligatory on UK public transport
Face coverings will be obligatory for passengers on England’s public transport system from June 15, after the British government belatedly mandated their use. Grant Shapps, Secretary for Transport, said face masks would be “a condition of travel” and consequently, passengers without one could be fined.
While Mr Shapps said a select group of people would be exempt — very young children and disabled people — he also said passengers needed to observe “every precaution” on buses, trams, trains, coaches, aircraft and ferries.
However, with surgical masks needed for healthcare workers, travellers would be asked to wear homemade face coverings, such as a bandana or scarf tied around the head which covered the mouth and nose.
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Max Maddison 7.50am: Protests like this shouldn’t go ahead: Treasurer
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet has weighed into the debate surrounding the George Floyd solidarity protests planned across Australia, saying “You can’t defend the indefensible. I think it’s ridiculous”.
Speaking to Ben Fordham on Sydney radio 2GB, Mr Perrottet said when people across the state were making “enormous sacrifices”, protests like this “shouldn’t go ahead”.
Despite the apparent disquiet within the NSW government — Police Minister David Elliott also wasn’t having a bar of it — it appears the protests will go ahead as planned this weekend.
The protest on Saturday in Sydney’s CBD is expected to attract hundreds of people.
But while Premier Gladys Berejiklian has urged participants to maintain social distancing, her critics are questioning the decision to let the public march take place.
“Is (Premier Berejiklian) really giving her approval for a mass rally with potentially thousands of participants, when the maximum number of people allowed to visit a private home remains just five,” Labor leader Jodi McKay told The Daily Telegraph.
Under restrictions put in place to help stop the spread of COVID-19, up to 20 people can attend weddings and up to 50 can go to funerals, places of worship, restaurants, pubs and cafes. Householders are allowed up to five visitors and outdoor gatherings are restricted to 10 people.
The government on Thursday urged NSW residents to be cautious and observe social distancing this June long weekend, after restrictions on intrastate travel were lifted earlier in the week.
Victorians are being urged not to attend a weekend protest planned in Melbourne out of concerns it could spark a second wave of coronavirus cases. Thousands are expected to attend the Melbourne rally organised by the Aboriginal community to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton released a statement on Thursday asking Victorians not to attend the demonstration. “We are still in the middle of a pandemic and this protest carries real risks for all Victorians, particularly those in vulnerable groups,” Professor Sutton said.
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said there was pain and anguish about Aboriginal deaths in custody, but now was not the time to take action in the streets. “We are concerned about the potential for a second wave,” Ms Mikakos said, urging protesters to contact their MPs instead.
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Max Maddison 7.30am: Floyd rally can’t be stopped: Police Minister
People attending the George Floyd solidarity protests across the country this weekend are “certifiably insane, they’re nuts”, but there’s nothing politicians can do, says NSW Minister for Police, David Elliot.
Mr Elliott said there was nothing politicians who didn’t approve of the protests could do about the protests going ahead, saying because of the lawful right to protest, the gathering was “virtually impossible to stop”.
“Not all politicians approve it, but there’s nothing we can do about it,” Mr Elliott told Ben Fordham on Sydney radio 2GB. “I have literally been up half the night speaking to senior policemen, taking legal advice … there are things in our society which are virtually impossible to stop and the right to protest is one of them.”
However, Mr Elliott said he wouldn’t pass judgment on the policemen who had allowed the protest to go ahead, but hinted that a sizeable police presence would be overseeing the march.
Thousands of protesters across Australia will march in solidarity with George Floyd while calling out indigenous deaths in custody.
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Max Maddison 7am: Concerns protesters could accelerate virus’ spread
Ongoing protests across New York could accelerate the spread of coronavirus, Governor Andrew Cuomo said as he urged protesters to get tested.
With an estimated 30,000 attendees, Mr Cuomo was particularly concerned about the daily protests in New York City, which has been the epicentre of the outbreak in the US, with 205,000 confirmed cases and almost 17,000 deaths.
“If you were at a protest, go get a test, please,” Mr Cuomo said.
Coronavirus tests are available to all protesters. We ask protesters to be responsible.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) June 4, 2020
Wear a mask. Get tested.
Act as if you may have been exposed.
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Carla Johnson 6.30am: Lancet retracts report on hydroxychloroquine study
Several authors of a large study that raised safety concerns about malaria drugs for coronavirus patients have retracted the report, saying independent reviewers were not able to verify information that’s been widely questioned by other scientists.
Thursday’s retraction in the journal Lancet involved a May 22 report on hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, drugs long used for preventing or treating malaria but whose safety and effectiveness for COVID-19 are unknown.
Today, three of the authors have retracted "Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine with or without a macrolide for treatment of COVID-19: a multinational registry analysis" Read the Retraction notice and statement from The Lancet https://t.co/pPNCJ3nO8n pic.twitter.com/pB0FBj6EXr
— The Lancet (@TheLancet) June 4, 2020
Even though the Lancet report was not a rigorous test, the observational study had huge impact because of its size, reportedly involving more than 96,000 patients and 671 hospitals on six continents.
Its conclusion that the drugs were tied to a higher risk of death and heart problems in people hospitalised with COVID-19 led the World Health Organisation to temporarily stop use of hydroxychloroquine in a study it is leading, and for French officials to stop allowing its use in hospitals there.
The drugs have been controversial because President Donald Trump repeatedly promoted their use and took hydroxychloroquine himself to try to prevent infection after some White House staffers tested positive for the virus. — AP
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Richard Ferguson 5.05am: NZ PM cool on trans-Tasman ‘travel bubble’
A trans-Tasman travel blueprint designed by diplomats, border officials and major airlines is in the hands of Scott Morrison and Jacinda Ardern, with the New Zealand Prime Minister saying she will ban Australian flights until coronavirus cases here decrease.
The Australia-New Zealand Leadership Forum has developed a comprehensive plan for travel that has been compiled by experts from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Border Force, New Zealand’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Aviation Security Service, Qantas and Air New Zealand.
Ms Ardern shot down a rival plan by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday to start a Canberra-to-Wellington route from July, saying she would not open up New Zealand until COVID-19 cases in Australia decreased further.
“Australia is still dealing with cases so a little more progress is required. I’ve been really careful not to put a date,” Ms Ardern said yesterday.
Read the full story here.
Matthew Denholm 5am: Tasmania to fund $3bn ‘construction blitz’
Tasmania will try to kickstart its economy and rebuild state finances through a $3.1bn “construction blitz” targeting housing, roads and irrigation.
Premier Peter Gutwein said his Liberal government would spend $1.8bn over two years to support a $3.1bn spend overall, including private-sector involvement.
“The best way to get our budget back on track and grow business confidence and create jobs is to grow the economy, and that is what we are doing,” he said.
An extension of the state $20,000 homeowners grant, combined with the federal government $25,000 scheme, meant up to $45,000 would be available to those building a new house.
Read the full story here.
Richard Ferguson 4.45am: Government MPs concerned over HomeBuilder spending
Several government MPs have voiced concerns over the government’s $668m HomeBuilder stimulus package and ballooning post-COVID public debt in a weekly tele-town hall meeting with Scott Morrison.
Coalition backbenchers interrogated the plan to hand out $25,000 grants to new home builders and renovators at both a tele-hook up with the Prime Minister on Thursday and a gathering of the backbench economics committee the night before.
More than 39,000 individual viewers have visited the HomeBuilder site since it went live, with the construction industry saying the package will lead to a $15bn boost in economic activity.
Nationals senator Matthew Canavan — one of those to voice reservations about the stimulus package aimed at propping up one million construction sector jobs — told The Australian he worried more government spending could put the nation in a weaker condition to recover from the coronavirus-induced economic crisis.
Read the full story here.
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