Coronavirus Australia live news: Lib MPs push for early end to $130bn JobKeeper plan
Liberal MP Jason Falinski calls on the government to consider phasing out JobKeeper as early as June to ‘get the economy moving’.
- Treasurer: We’re at war
- China bans imports from Aussie abattoirs
- Victoria pupils back to school May 26
- Twitter warnings over ‘misleading content’
- Steps taken to protect Trump’s health
Welcome to live coverage of the continuing coronavirus crisis. Lib MPs are pushing for the $130bn JobKeeper program to be phased out as early as June. Josh Frydenberg has outlined the impact of COVID-19 on the economy and budget. Trade Minister Simon Birmingham expresses concern at China’s suspension of imports from four Australian abattoirs as the meat industry vows to solve the issue.
AFP 9.05pm Wuhan to test entire population after new cluster
Wuhan plans to conduct coronavirus tests on the Chinese city’s entire population after new cases emerged for the first time in weeks in the cradle of the global pandemic, state media reported on Tuesday.
Officials were ordered to submit by noon on Tuesday (2pm AEST) plans to administer nucleic acid tests on all residents in the city of 11 million people, according to an official notice carried by news outlets.
“Each district should make plans and arrangements to conduct nucleic acid tests on the entire population in its jurisdiction within a 10-day time limit,” the notice said, although it was unclear when testing would begin.
The plan come after Wuhan reported the first cluster of new COVID-19 infections since the city re-opened after a 76-day lockdown on April 8.
Six new cases were reported on Sunday and Monday from a residential compound in Dongxihu District.
China has largely brought the virus under control, but it has been on edge about being hit by a second wave as it has lifted lockdowns and restrictions across the country.
Virus clusters have appeared recent weeks in the northeastern provinces of Jilin and Heilongjiang, which border Russia.
With the virus taking hold in other nations, China has barred most foreigners from entering the country.
Wuhan has reported 3869 deaths since the novel coronavirus first emerged there in December, accounting for most fatalities in China. Scientists believe the virus jumped from animals to humans at a market that sold wildlife in the city.
READ MORE: Meat ban means trade war
Graham Lloyd 8.20pm Celebrities campaign against Indonesian wet markets
International celebrities including Dame Judi Dench, Ricky Gervais and Joanna Lumley have joined a video campaign calling on Indonesian President Joko Widodo to ban the country’s live animal markets.
“Stop eating everything that moves,” Gervais says in the video. “It is going to kill us all.”
The campaign, which is headed by Indonesian stars, has put a global spotlight on “the notoriously cruel and unsanitary live animal markets and dog and cat meat trades”.
Wet markets in China have been linked to the COVID-19 pandemic that has shut down economies and killed hundreds of thousands of people around the world.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has spoken out about the dangers posed by wet markets and criticised the World Health Organisation for allowing them to reopen in Wuhan, China, the source of the pandemic.
One group, Dog Meat Free Indonesia, has collected petition signatures from nearly 265,000 people calling for Mr Widodo to act.
It has warned of the potential for a national and global health catastrophe if the Indonesian government “continues to allow these markets and trades to continue operating unchallenged and in blatant disregard for existing laws and regulations pertaining to disease control.”
Humane Society International has circulated details of the petition and video footage of wet markets and the Celebrity campaign.
Dench says in the video: ”Indonesia, please close you wildlife markets. Now.”
READ MORE: Welcome to your post-pandemic office
Matthew Denholm 8.10pm Tasmania stretches to five days without a new case
Tasmania has recorded its fifth consecutive day without a new coronavirus case. The state total remains at 225.
READ MORE: Gates warned about the danger of a pandemic but no one listened
Rachel Baxendale 7.30pm Andrews to give $150m to sports, culture and tourism
The Andrews government is set to announce a $150m economic survival package for Victoria’s sporting, cultural and tourism organisations on Wednesday to help them recover after being shut down during the coronavirus pandemic.
The package includes $40m for community sport and recreation bodies including state sporting associations, leagues and clubs, $16m for national sporting organisations that support amateur and professional teams, $44m for Victoria’s racing industry and $32.3m for creative agencies and initiatives including funding for Museums Victoria, National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Melbourne Recital Centre and the Geelong Arts Centre.
Another $6m will go to live-music industry workers, in addition to a $16.8m support package recently announced for creative industries.
The tourism industry will receive $11m for attractions such as Puffing Billy, regional tourism boards and the Victorian Tourism Industry Council, while the State Sport Centres Trust and Kardinia Park Stadium Trust will share in $5.3m.
Tourism, Sport and Major Events Minister Martin Pakula said that while Victorians couldn’t attend the events they love, “this support will go a long way to making sure our tourism, sport and racing bodies are well placed to rebound quickly as restrictions are lifted”.
Read the full story here
AAP 5.40pm Private schools rush to fast-tracked money
More than 750 private schools have sought fast-tracked payments under a federal government scheme to encourage them to open following the coronavirus-driven closure.
Under the deal, private schools with a plan to fully reopen classrooms at the start of June have been offered one-eighth of their money — a total of almost $1.7bn — two months early on May 21.
The same amount would be paid on June 9 if at least half their students are back in regular classroom-based learning from June 1.
Education Minister Dan Tehan said he was encouraged by the response. “We have had over 750 who have said that they would like to have their payments brought forward,” Mr Tehan told the ABC on Tuesday.
He said there would be outbreaks in schools as students and teachers returned, but there were steps in place to deal with such incidents.
He said his department was researching whether the school shutdown had impacted on student learning.
“We will continue to work with (the states) to ensure that we are doing everything we can to enable all students to deal with what they might have missed out on with regards to their education,” he said.
READ MORE: Code of conduct agreed on aged care visits
AFP 5.30pm Ventilators blamed after five die in hospital fire
A fire at a hospital in Russia’s second city, Saint Petersburg, killed five coronavirus patients who had been attached to ventilators, officials and news agencies said on Tuesday.
A source in Russia’s emergencies ministry said five patients had died and 150 were evacuated after the fire broke out on the sixth floor of the city’s Saint George hospital.
News agency TASS reported that the hospital had been repurposed to treat coronavirus patients and the dead patients had been connected to ventilators when the blaze began.
News agency RIA Novosti quoted an emergency services spokesman as saying the fire appeared to have been caused by an electrical malfunction, while Interfax cited a source saying it was an “overload” with ventilators being “pushed to their limit”.
Russia’s Investigative Committee, which examines serious crimes, said it had launched a probe into the incident.
A fire at a Moscow hospital treating coronavirus patient last week killed one and forced hundreds of others to evacuate.
Investigators are also probing two recent fires at residence homes in Moscow, both of which left fatalities.
Russia has confirmed more than 220,000 virus cases and ranks fourth in a global tally of total infections after the US, Spain and Britain
READ MORE: Frydenberg tested for COVID-19 after coughing fit
Agencies 5pm: Unions set target of 2 million in new jobs
Unions have set an ambitious target of creating two million jobs by the end of next year and halving insecure work as Australia emerges from the coronavirus crisis, AAP reports.
The plan hinges on massive government spending on nation-building projects on top of the $320 billion in existing relief measures.
Australian Council of Trade Unions president Michele O’Neil urged the government to commit to the 2021 job targets to save workers from more devastation.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has warned there is no “money tree” as he signalled federal government stimulus had reached its limit.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is facing internal pressure to save on existing spending measures like the $130 billion JobKeeper wage subsidy scheme. “The answer is not spending more or spending forever,” he told coalition colleagues.
Ms O’Neil said the government was wrong, arguing the case for massive government spending had never been stronger.
“Otherwise we’ll be faced with mass unemployment which will have a colossal impact for generations,” she said.
“The notion the government should sit back and leave it all to the market is an abrogation of their responsibility.” Under the ACTU plan, major infrastructure projects like inter-city rail would be targets for government investment.
Building schools, hospitals, TAFE colleges, public housing and renewable energy would aim to provide immediate construction and manufacturing jobs alongside long-term services employment.
READ MORE: The government’s tracing app own goals
Agencies 4.45pm: ACT set for easing of restrictions on cafes, eateries
Canberra cafes and restaurants will able to reopen from midnight on Friday, but only with 10 seated guests, AAP reports.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr acknowledged the slight easing of coronavirus restrictions would only make economic sense for a small number of businesses. “It is clear that the vast majority of the hospitality industry will remain takeaway-only for now,” Mr Barr told reporters on Tuesday.
The number of patrons permitted will be gradually increased over coming months. ACT playgrounds, dog parks and outdoor gyms will also reopen this weekend, along with some national parks and reserves.
Community centres and halls will be able to host gatherings of up to 10 people and libraries will begin to reopen.
The ACT has no active cases of coronavirus. There have been 107 cases recorded in the national capital including three deaths, with 12,260 negative tests returned.
Greg Brown 4.30pm: Treasurer to be tested for coronavirus after coughing fit
Josh Frydenberg is awaiting results of a coronavirus test after a coughing fit interrupted his economic update address in parliament today. Read more here
Agencies 4pm: Tracing app privacy measures set in motion
Millions of Australians using the government’s coronavirus tracing app are a step closer to having their privacy protected in law, AAP reports.
Legislation introduced to federal parliament on Tuesday could see hackers face five years in jail as well as hefty fines for illegally accessing data stored by the app.
Already 5.6 million Australians have downloaded the COVIDSafe app and Attorney- General Christian Porter is hoping more will be encouraged to do so as a result of the proposed privacy laws.
Under the proposed privacy laws - which are expected to pass parliament by Thursday - business owners can’t ban or refuse to serve people if they don’t have the app.
It would also be illegal to access the data without authorisation or to store the data overseas.
All offences have a maximum penalty of five years in jail, a $63,000 fine or both.
READ MORE: Rental vacancies surge as CBDs empty
Christine Lacy 3.30pm: Virgin Australia bidders warned over sale
Administrators say Virgin will be sold as a job lot and won’t be broken up, as bidders are warned things could ‘get political’. Read more here
Richard Ferguson 3.05pm: Frydenberg: We’ve doubled wage support
Opposition education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek asks Josh Frydenberg what he says to casuals, students and arts workers who cannot access JobKeeper wage subsidies.
The Treasurer acknowledges the pandemic has hurt a lot of workers and notes the increase to the JobSeeker unemployment benefit.
“This government has acted decisively and comprehensively with $320 billion worth of economic support, equivalent to 16.4 per cent of GDP,” Mr Frydenberg says.
“Now, Mr Speaker, when it comes to the JobKeeper program, the forecasts were for around six million people to access it. And as the Prime Minister has said to the House, and
I’ve said today, currently, based on the 800,000-plus businesses that are formally applied to the JobKeeper program, that covers around 5.5 million Australian workers.
“As I said in my ministerial statement, more than a million people are on the JobSeeker payment. As the honourable member will know, we’ve effectively doubled the previous support through Newstart with a $550 JobSeeker coronavirus supplement.”
Richard Ferguson 2.55pm: Treasurer says timing of recovery ‘uncertain’
Opposition treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers asks Josh Frydenberg why he said the economy would snap back after coronavirus.
The Treasurer says the Reserve Bank have detailed how uncertain the speed and form of the economic recovery is.
“I stand by all my words, including that the Australian economy is better served by those on this side of the House (the Coalition),” Mr Frydenberg says.
“And the reality is that the Reserve Bank, as recently as last Friday, in its statement on monetary policy, said beyond the next few months, the speed and timing of the economic recovery is very uncertain.
“This uncertainty makes it extremely difficult to formulate reliable, economic and fiscal estimates over the next few months.”
READ MORE: Code agreed on aged care visits
Richard Ferguson 2.50pm: Morrison defends economy ‘snap back’ comments
Opposition innovation spokeswoman Clare O’Neil asks Scott Morrison why he believes the economy will “snap back’ after the coronavirus pandemic.
The Prime Minister says those comments were made in April and the economic situation has changed.
“What I was referring to was the other side of the 6-month period, and that of the change that would need to occur regarding the temporary measures we put in place for JobKeeper and for businesses to be able to restart. And that is certainly my hope,” he says.
“But back in April, there was a knowledge of economic issues as they were at that time and that has changed since then. There is no doubt about that.
“So the Opposition is at liberty to go back and refer to comments made back in April, and that is fine. But they cannot do so without adding the further contexts of the actions taken to the government, taking into account more recent information.
“But I can say this, I am looking forward to the time, Mr Speaker, and under our policies, we’ll be moving there as quickly as we can, where businesses can reopen.”
Rosie Lewis 2.45pm: Liberal MP wants early JobKeeper phase-out
Liberal MP Jason Falinski has called on the Morrison government to consider phasing out the $130bn JobKeeper program when schools return full-time, as early as June.
The moderate MP said the government should ensure it was preserving as much money as possible in order to “get the economy moving” quickly.
The $1500 fortnightly JobKeeper payments will be available until September 27 but some Liberal MPs believe they should be stopped sooner if they money is no longer required by employers and employees.
“When schools go back full time, that’s a natural point at which we should be talking about how we phase out of Jobkeeper,” Mr Falinski said.
“There will be unintended consequences that we’ll need to make rapid adjustments for. We have to make sure this is coordinated with all the other programs we’ve introduced in the last couple of months (such as free childcare).
“We need to keep as much money as we can because we’ll need it in the next two to three years to get the economy back to 100 per cent. There will be major sections of the economy that need money because they’re still in partial lockdown. It’s not going to be one-size-fits-all.”
Richard Ferguson 2.40pm: Albanese needles PM over ‘back in black’ budget
Anthony Albanese asks Scott Morrison if he regretted saying the federal budget was “back in the black” before the coronavirus pandemic hit.
The government ran a “budget back in black” campaign at the last election despite the fact the surplus was only projected to start from this year.
Mr Morrison says he does not have a crystal ball and that Coalition economic management has allowed the government to cushion the fiscal blow of the pandemic.
“Every time we have spoken about the economy, we have done it on the basis of the knowledge that we have and the certainties that are present at that time,” Mr Morrison says.
“I can tell you one thing - the Australian people don’t have regrets about what they did on May 19 last year, Mr Speaker.
“Because of the decisions and actions that have been taken by this Government, Mr Speaker. It has ensured that we are able to move through what has been a one in a 100-year event, and we remain focused on providing the leadership and the direction to ensure that we can continue to do that.”
Richard Ferguson 2.35pm: Labor presses for answers on debt, economy
Opposition treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers asks Josh Frydenberg when Australia’s gross debt will start to decline.
The Treasurer says he is unable to provide that forecast - as would often happen in a federal budget - due to economic uncertainty.
“The reality is there’s great uncertainty in the economic environment, and therefore, when it comes to forecasts about debt, when it comes to forecasts about unemployment, we make those on budget night,” he said.
“What we have done today is to provide a ministerial statement to the House with new numbers for the member for Rankin, around business investment, around dwelling investment, around consumption.”
The federal budget was due to be handed down this Tuesday, but has now been pushed back to October due to the pandemic.
READ MORE: Welcome to your post-pandemic office
Richard Ferguson 2.30pm: No timetable for unemployment rate fall
Anthony Albanese asks Josh Frydenberg when Australia’s unemployment rate will return to pre-coronavirus levels.
The Treasurer does not nominate a date but says the government will do everything it can to keep unemployment as low as possible.
“The forecasts from Treasury is that unemployment will reach around 10 per cent. That’s a doubling of unemployment in the June quarter,” Mr Frydenberg says.
“Now, Mr Speaker, when we came to government, unemployment was 5.7 per cent, but in February, it fell to 5.1 per cent.
“Then the economy was struck hard by the economic impact of the coronavirus. So Mr Speaker, we are doing everything we can to maintain that formal connection between employers and employees.
“It will take some time before unemployment comes back to the pre-coronavirus levels. But what I do know is that we are doing everything we can to keep people in a job and businesses in business.”
Richard Ferguson 2.25pm: Tracing app downloads top 5.6 million
Opposition health spokesman Chris Bowen opens question time by asking Scott Morrison how many Australians have downloaded the COVIDSafe contact tracing app.
The Prime Minister says more than 5.6m Australians have taken up the app and calls on all MPs to promote the digital contact tracing tool.
“Recently, I was part of a regular group which is now gathering of what are called First Movers, around various countries, who have had some success in our battle against the virus,” Mr Morrison says.
“And there has been great interest in Australia’s success to date with this app, where we’re only just around two weeks down with this app.
“Now as (people) go back out into the community, they will come across more people. And to protect those people, and protect themselves, and to protect their family, I would continue to
encourage Australians to download the COVIDSafe app today.”
READ MORE: Some will never reopen: Lew
Richard Ferguson 2.15pm: PM pays tribute to police after freeway tragedy
Scott Morrison has paid tribute to the four Melbourne police officers who were killed in a truck accident last month, saying their deaths sent a shudder through the nation.
Before question time begins, the Prime Minister said their deaths touched all those who know and respect Australia’s police forces.
“When we all heard of the deaths of leading senior constable Lynette Taylor, senior constable Kevin King, Constable Glen Humphris, and Constable Joshua Prestney last month, it sent a shudder through all of us,” he tells the House.
“We all felt it. Not only Victorians, but every Australian, because we know those who wear that police uniform, wherever they do it in the country, they stand between us and the harm that can befall any of us.
“The families of those police officers who serve understand this only too well. A loss during a time when we are all feeling vulnerable at this point, is also felt more sharply. Four police officers doing
their duty, keeping the peace, enforcing the law, upholding the community’s trust. Keeping us safe.”
READ MORE: Abattoir denies texting ALP amid outbreak
Richard Ferguson 2pm: Australia ‘not in any war’ with China
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham says Australia is “not in any sort of war” with China, as he tried to quell concerns Chinese trade actions against meat and barley exports are politically motivated.
Senator Birmingham on Tuesday said no political connections had been made by China to the suspension of four Australian abattoirs overnight, and denied a trade war had begun.
“Australia is not in any sort of war. Our intentions to work as co-operatively as we can with our partners and across the world,” he said in China.“Our export flows have been at incredibly strong levels.
“We continue to make representations at all levels we can with the Chinese government. Our approach is respond thoughtfully, carefully, methodically. That’s what we’ll do on these (trade matters) and on broader matters.”
READ MORE: Battle lines delicately drawn
Greg Brown 1.40pm: Frydenberg’s coughing fit interrupts statement
Josh Frydenberg’s economic update was interrupted by a coughing fit, with the Treasurer’s handling of COVID-19 etiquette on display with all eyes on him in the House of Representatives.
Mr Frydenberg began coughing – a key symptom of COVID-19 – just as he was telling parliament about the psychological boost the government’s stimulus package was having on workers and businesses.
“Too long a speech,” he quipped, trying to control the coughing fit.
His first cough was into his hand, which is against the Australian government’s official medical advice.
He then had a sip of water – straight from a bottle – which he choked on.
“Luckily I got some water,” Mr Frydenberg said as he continued to cough.
“My voice has gone now. Sorry.”
READ THE FULL STORY here.
Rosie Lewis 1.30pm: Craig Kelly backs airport workers in partyroom
Outspoken Liberal MP Craig Kelly has appealed to Josh Frydenberg to give Sydney Airport workers employed by a foreign-owned company access to JobKeeper payments. Mr Kelly said DNATS employees, who look after ground services at the airport including baggage handling and catering, were a “unique case” because many previously worked for Qantas.
He asked Josh Frydenberg during Tuesday’s Coalition partyroom meeting if he would give the employees special consideration but received no commitments.
Dubai National Air Transport Association is owned by the Emirates Group. JobKeeper does not extend to employees working for companies owned by foreign governments.
“The JobKeeper has been a lifesaver for many people. When it had to be done in such a short period of time there were always going to be some anomalies and that’s one of the anomalies that needs a second look at,” Mr Kelly said. “These people were all previously Qantas employees, it’s not as those they chose to work for a foreign company. They’re still contributing to Qantas, their super is through Qantas, they’re doing the same job and ultimately because their industry is effectively down 100 per cent, any JobKeeper payment that went to the company first goes 100 per cent to the employees.”
The Transport Workers’ Union last week warned prohibiting companies owned by foreign governments from accessing the $1500 fortnightly JobKeeper payments was threatening thousands of jobs in aviation. The union said there were 5500 DNATA employees in Australia responsible for 90 per cent of the catering needs of airlines.
READ MORE: Qantas Super dragging the chain
Rachel Baxendale 1.15pm: Cedar Meats denies alerting Labor MPs
The managers of a Melbourne abattoir now linked to 85 cases of COVID-19 have denied texting Labor MPs ahead of a Department of Health and Human Services decision not to name their facility.
The Australian last week revealed that when one of the founders of Cedar Meats died in 2010, three MPs who are now part of the Andrews government paid tribute with condolence motions in parliament, with one describing Samir Kairouz as “more than a brother to me”.
Samir’s brother Pierre Kairouz made a $15,000 donation to the Victorian ALP on the company’s behalf ahead of Labor winning government in 2014, and in May 2018, the Andrews government’s then agriculture minister, Jaala Pulford, announced the Kairouz family’s Meatco abattoir in Mildura would receive $2m in regional jobs funding.
Cedar Meats General Manager Tony Kairouz was also a member of the Victorian ALP from 1993 until 2017, when his membership lapsed.
Over the weekend of May 2 and 3, the Andrews government refused to name Cedar Meats, which was then linked to 15 COVID-19 cases, despite naming a northern suburbs school linked to one inactive case.
READ THE FULL STORY here.
Patrick Commins 12.55pm: Treasurer: backsliding will cost us dearly
The Treasurer is wrapping up. He details the Treasury estimates around the economic benefits of lifting restrictions, which over the three stages (as announced last Friday) will restore 850,000 jobs and add $9.4bn back to GDP per month. Backsliding will cost us dearly, however. If we had to reimpose restrictions, it would cost NSW’s economy $1.4bn per week, around $1bn in Victoria and $800,000 per week in Queensland, Frydenberg says.
The gains of easing restrictions “depend on us continuing to follow the health advice,” he says. “Failing to do so could see restrictions reimposed at a cost of more than $4bn a week to the economy.”
“Australians know that as a consequence of the action we have taken we are better placed than most, but there is still a long way to go. There will be more cases and it is vital we remain vigilant. The economic benefits are only realised if Australians continue to follow the health advice and download the app.”
Frydenberg finishes on a rallying note. The government’s economic measures are building a bridge to the recovery.
“Our measures are working by protecting lives and livelihoods. We can be confident about our future. The virus will not defeat us. We must stay strong, we must stay together. The fighting Australian spirit will see us get through this and help us to get to the other side.”
Opposition Treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers is up now and he is accusing the government of “fumbling” the implementation of the measures, saying the lower than estimated number of workers on JobKeeper is a failure.
READ MORE: Super showing signs of recovery
Patrick Commins 12.45pm: Underlying cash deficit in March: $22.4bn
All of this support has clearly come at a cost, the Treasurer says in parliament. The underlying cash deficit in March was $22.4bn — $9.9bn worse than expected in the last budget update late last year (MYEFO). And this is before accounting for a big boost in spending come April. The total value of government debt has jumped by more than $50bn thanks to COVID-related spending: from $560bn to $618bn.
This will take “many years to repay”, the Treasurer acknowledges. But the measures are temporary and “designed that protect the structural integrity of the budget”, he says. “Australians know there is no money tree and what we borrow today we must repay in the future,” he says.
Josh Frydenberg turns to the post-COVID reform effort, which he says will be guided by classic Coalition principles.
“The proven path to growth is not through higher taxes but growing the economy through productivity enhancing reforms.” He says the government will focus on “practical solutions”: reskilling and upskilling the workforce, keeping up the $100bn pipeline of infrastructure spending, cutting red tape, and tax and IR reforms “as a means of increasing our competitiveness”.
READ MORE: Welcome to your post pandemic office
Patrick Commins 12.40pm: Frydenberg: We’re at war with a faceless and flagless enemy
Josh Frydenberg is speaking to Federal Parlimaent and opens with a dramatic military analogy: “Australia finds itself at war with a faceless and flagless enemy”.
The coronavirus has triggered a “health and economic shock the likes of which the world has never seen”.
“Through strong and decisive action Australia has avoided the fate of many other nations,” he said. Already $25bn has flowed to households and businesses over the past month and there’s another $30bn on the way in the month ahead.
This is the “largest and fastest injection of economic support Australia has ever seen”.
Still, the economic data is “sobering”, he says, and runs through a laundry list of bad news, including the dour predictions for job losses and lost GDP.
Maybe halfway through, and the Treasurer is having a bit of a coughing attack — or maybe something stuck in his throat — which requires a pause and multiple drinks of water.
“Too long a speech,” he quips.
He’s back up and running again.
READ MORE: John Ferguson — Andrews plays dangerous game
Richard Ferguson 12.25pm: Federal Parliament to sit more regularly before Budget
Parliament will sit more regularly before the October federal budget than previously thought, with Attorney General Christian Porter set to add new sitting weeks before August 11.
The Attorney-General told the House of Representatives that he will release the new sitting calendar in the coming days.
Labor has been pushing for more sitting weeks since the government announced a long period without parliament at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
An opposition motion calling for more sittings is likely to fail as Mr Porter said the government would not support it, and would produce a new sitting calendar that suits Labor’s preferred timing.
READ MORE: Dennis Shanahan — Jobs, jobs and more jobs the test of success for PM
MATTHEW DENHOLM 12.20pm: Tasmania reveals dramatic economic fallout
Tasmania is on course for 12 per cent unemployment, $2 billion net debt and a budget deficit “significantly north” of $500 million.
Premier Peter Gutwein on Tuesday revealed the sharp economic and fiscal downturn, ending years of boom times in Tasmania.
While vowing to “rebuild” the economy for a second time, he would continue to prioritise public health and lift COVID-19 restrictions gradually to avoid a “second wave” of infections.
“After only a very few short months, we have a very different-looking Tasmania,” he said. “When we went into this we were leading the country on most economic indicators.”
A state Treasury economic and fiscal update to be released on Friday would show how dramatically those good times had receded in recent months.
“The deficit this financial year will be significantly north of half a billion dollars, we expect by the end of the June quarter more than 27,000 Tasmanians will have lost their job,” he said.
“Our unemployment rate will be around 12 per cent. The slowing national economy and the impact on GST has had a massive impact, along with the impact of our own source revenues.”
Combined with $1 billion in state COVID-19 support and stimulus measures, this would see the state – previously free of net debt – plunge back into the red by about $2 billion at the end of next financial year.
Some COVID-19 restrictions ease from today – allowing access to local national parks and reserves, as well as limited aged care visits – while further easing will follow in stages from May 18 until July.
The state has not recorded a new case of the virus since Thursday last week. Its total number remains at 225, with 185 people recovered, 27 cases active and 13 deaths recorded.
READ MORE: Chemists, doctors in power struggle
VICTORIA LAURIE 12.10pm: Perth hotel worker latest to test positive
A new case of COVID-19 has emerged overnight in Western Australia, a 47-year-old worker from the Pan Pacific Hotel in Perth which accommodated travellers returning from overseas and undergoing two weeks’ isolation. It is the state’s second new case in 13 days, bringing the state’s total to 553.
The WA government has announced COVID-19-related legal changes that will be introduced to parliament this week. One amendment will permit victims of domestic violence to apply for a restraining order online.
Family and Domestic Violence Minister Simone McGurk said the move was a response to a spike in family violence reports. She said there were risks around perpetrators exploiting the situation of families in COVID-19 lockdown to control and coerce victims.
“While this initiative has been brought forward to help victims through the current crisis, it will be a permanent service for applicants.”
The state will also make it mandatory for an offender apprehended by police to be tested for COVID 19, expanding laws that currently apply only to other infectious diseases like HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
WA Police Union president Harry Arnott said mandatory testing was an important and commonsense move in the current climate.
“The very nature of police work means that we inevitably come into contact with other persons’ bodily fluids,” Mr Arnott said. But he said the legislation fell short because it needed to compel doctors to complete testing for infectious diseases.
“We have experienced cases where the orders have been made to draw the bodily fluids and the doctor refuses to do the test, leaving our people in the lurch,” he said. “That is not the spirit of the legislation and needs to be addressed by the McGowan government as a matter of urgency.”
READ MORE: Elon Musk to defy rules and reopen California Tesla plant
EWIN HANNAN 12.05pm: Pauline Hanson demands EBA changes
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has called for changes made to enterprise agreements due to the coronavirus pandemic to be limited to 12 months.
Federal Labor will this week push for the Senate to disallow a government regulation cutting the required consultation period for enterprise agreement changes from seven days to one day.
Labor says that while the regulation will be in place for six months, the changes to an agreement will be much longer and at least for the life of an agreement.
The Greens and Centre Alliance are backing Labor’s disallowance motion while Senate crossbencher Jacqui Lambie has signalled she will support it. Labor requires the support of One Nation and Senator Hanson indicated she and Senator Malcolm Roberts would consider backing the ALP move if the Attorney-General Christian Porter did not set a 12-month limit on agreement changes.
“One Nation has listened to the concerns outlined by workers (and) unions across Australia and we have equally paid attention to employers who are in damage control nationwide,” she said. “Therefore Senator Roberts and I will be seeking further regulatory changes by the Attorney General that will limit any variation to enterprise bargaining agreements to 12 months. These are unprecedented times that need to be given a measured response. The careful consideration Senator Roberts and I have presented to the Government will create a happy medium for employees and employers.
“Should the Attorney General not see fit to protect workers and employers alike, we will reconsider our position on the disallowance motion.”
READ MORE: Etihad to resume Melbourne-London flights
Patrick Commins 11.50am: Treasurer’s Budget statement at 12pm | WATCH LIVE
Josh Frydenberg will deliver a key economic statement to Federal Parliament on Tuesday — the same day the budget was due to have been delivered. The Treasurer will warn that there is no “money tree”, with commonwealth assistance of $320bn having reached its limit. You can watch this speech here in The Australian’s coronavirus blog in the video above.
READ MORE: Prepare for a two-year virus hangover
GEOFF CHAMBERS 11.40am: Trade Minister ‘concerned’ by China’s Aussie meat ban
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham says the Morrison government is “concerned” by China’s actions after it suspended four Australian meatworks operations.
Senator Birmingham said the government was notified late on Monday that the meat facilities had been suspended by Chinese officials over issues related to “labelling and health certificate requirements”.
The action came after China over the weekend threatened to slap tariffs on Australian barley exports. “We are concerned that the suspensions appear to be based on highly technical issues, which in some cases date back more than a year,’’ he said.
Senator Birmingham began talks with industry leaders, colleagues and key departments overnight to “formulate a comprehensive response”.
“We will work with industry and authorities in both Australia and China to seek to find a solution that allows these businesses to resume their normal operations as soon as possible,” he said.
READ MORE: Gottliebsen— Australia should grab its once in a generation economic opportunity
Richard Ferguson 11.30am: Meat industry vows to continue working with China
Australia’s top meat industry body has vowed to continue working with China after four abattoirs were suspended overnight. Australian Meat Industry Council chief executive Patrick Hutchinson said that China was basing the suspensions over labelling issues and they would try to work through any problems with both Australian and Chinese authorities.
“Australia remains as one of the world’s most reliable exporters throughout the COVID-19 period, faring exceptionally well due to the preparedness measures implemented by establishments,” Mr Morrison said. “AMIC and its members are well aware that China has strict requirements for technical matters, including labelling, and the Australian meat industry takes these concerns exceptionally seriously.
“While not desirable, we have dealt with issues of this nature before and are working closelywith the Commonwealth. This is a trade and market access issue that is being led by the Commonwealth.”
Industry sources have told The Australian that Chinese authorities are claiming that meat products coming in from Australia do not match the health certificates being provided.
READ MORE: Adam Creighton — Post-COVID, the Australasian dollar gains currency
Stephen Lunn 11.20am: Aged care providers agree on code of conduct
Aged care providers have agreed with seniors advocates on a code of conduct for nursing home visits during the COVID-19 pandemic, ending a sector stoush that was creating confusion among care residents and their families.
Residents and providers must navigate an agreed approach to visits, though the code will give providers control over the numbers of visitors inside the home and the option to replace where necessary face-to-face visits with visits through a window or another way to connect.
The exception is for residents who are dying, or those who have a visitor that contributes regularly with their care, such as the family of people with dementia who help with meals or behaviour support, who can have longer visits.
“Residential care homes, residents and visitors need to work together to find the right balance between protecting residents from COVID-19 and providing them with vital social connections and support,” the industry code says.
“Wishes and preferences of residents will be at the centre of all decision making in relation to who visits them, and their choices will be sought and respected, unless the visitor is prohibited under state/territory directives,” the code says.
The code recognises some nursing homes have locked down facilities more strictly than government guidelines propose during the COVID crisis, causing angst among some family members of residents. Equally there have been concerns about visitors flouting entry procedures at homes looking to protect residents from coronavirus.
READ THE FULL STORY here
Richard Ferguson 11am: PM: Answer is not spending more or spending forever
Scott Morrison has told the Coalition party room that coronavirus spending must eventually end and that the biggest task now is to get people back into workplaces and jobs.
In the first major face-to-face gathering of government MPs since the pandemic struck, the Prime Minister warned that businesses will ultimately lead the recovery and not a further increase in government expenditure.
“The answer is not spending more or spending forever,” he said in Canberra. “The answer is that Australian businesses small, micro, medium, large will rebuild, will re-employ, will restart and engage in this COVID safe economy and do what they’ve always done. Theirs are the shoulders that Australians will stand on, those businesses that will provide the employment and provide the opportunities.
“Governments can support that. But at the end of the day, it’s that economy. You know, governments, we have no money of our own.
“The only money we have is what is provided to us by the Australian people and the hard work of Australian people and the success of Australian businesses.
“And that is our road map to recovery. That is our road ahead. By spurring those businesses on to ensure that they can provide the livelihoods that Australians desire on the other side of this crisis.”
READ MORE: Frydenberg rules out ‘endless money tree’
Ben McKay 10.45am: NZ to spend $920m on health in Budget 2020
New Zealand is moving to clear a backlog of surgeries and procedures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic with a bumper funding pledge. Finance Minister Grant Robertson and Health Minister David Clark announced new annual spending of $NZ980 million ($A918 million) on the country’s health system, or a nine per cent lift, would feature in the country’s budget, revealed in full on Thursday.
There is also a one-off boost of $NZ282 million ($A265 million), which will provide for 153,000 surgeries, procedures or scans. “That’s our best estimate of the number of surgeries that will need to be done,” Dr Clark said.
New Zealand’s health services scrambled to dramatically reconfigure after the arrival of COVID-19 to Kiwi shores, forcing tens of thousands of people to put off their health needs.
In total, fewer than 100 Kiwis were hospitalised during the pandemic. “The different abilities of governments around the world to respond to the global COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how important it is to have properly funded public services like our health system that New Zealanders are able to access,” Mr Robertson said.
“As a country we have historically under-invested in health. Budget 2020 continues this government’s record of tackling that legacy of neglect.” The spending will add to the mammoth deficit expected in Thursday’s budget owing to record stimulus spending, but Mr Robertson said health was not an area where pennies could be clawed back.
Dr Clark has endured a torrid two months after being caught breaching the lockdown rules on multiple occasions, which led to him offering his resignation as health minister to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Ms Ardern refused to accept it, saying the crisis was the wrong time to change ministers — a stance that left Dr Clark vulnerable at the end of the lockdown. However on Tuesday morning, Ms Ardern used an interview with Radio NZ to guarantee his job into the future, effectively closing the book on a sorry chapter for the Dunedin North MP. — AAP
READ MORE: Ardern shifts to ‘safer normal’
Agencies 10.20am: Trump walks out over reporter’s questions
Donald Trump walked out of his coronavirus press briefing on Monday after getting into a testy exchange with an Asian-American reporter.
CBS News reporter Weijia Jiang asked Mr Trump why he continued to insist that the US was doing better than other countries when it came to testing for the virus.
.@weijia: Why is this a global competition to you when Americans are losing their lives every day?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 11, 2020
TRUMP: Maybe that's a question you should ask China.
WEIJA: Why are you saying that to me, specifically?
TRUMP: I'm saying it to anybody who would ask a nasty question like that. pic.twitter.com/hokJOXASh8
“Why does that matter?” she asked. “Why is this a global competition when, every day, Americans are still losing their lives?” “They’re losing their lives everywhere in the world,” The president replied. “And maybe that’s a question you should ask China. Don’t ask me, ask China that question, OK?” Jiang, who identifies herself in her Twitter bio as a “Chinese born West Virginian,” pushed back.
“Sir, why are you saying that to me specifically?” she said, implying it was due to her race.
“I’m saying it to anybody who would ask a nasty question like that,” Mr Trump said. He then attempted to move on to another reporter as Ms Jiang continued to press him about his response.
M Trump called on another female reporter but then immediately called on someone else.
When the woman tried to ask her question, Mr Trump abruptly ended the press conference and walked back into the White House.
The internet was quick to rally round Ms Jiang, with the hashtag #StandWithWeijiaJiang soon trending on Twitter.
I #StandWithWeijiaJiang against Trump's racist tantrums.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) May 11, 2020
“I #StandWithWeijiaJiang against Trump’s racist tantrums,” tweeted “Star Trek” actor and prominent Asian-American activist George Takei.
Reporter and CNN political analyst April Ryan, who has also been on the receiving end of Trump’s words, tweeted: “Welcome to the club! This is sickening! It is his habit!”
READ MORE: Pence in isolation after aide infected
Rachel Baxendale 9.50am: Andrews on videolink to committee 100m away
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has insisted on appearing at state parliament’s Public Accounts and Estimates Committee via videolink from his office 100 metres away, citing social distancing protocol.
Mr Andrews and his department are set to answer questions from a range of Labor, Liberal and crossbench MPs regarding his government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic this morning.
His Health Minister Jenny Mikakos, Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton and the Department of Health and Human Services are due to appear before the committee from 11:13am.
Liberal MP and deputy chair of PAEC, Richard Riordan, has requested Mr Andrews appear in person, to no avail.
“We cannot engage with the Premier when he looks like a robot from a very poor quality 1950s sci fi (film),” Mr Riordan said.
“We talk to people in America with better connections from this”
“The premier is 100 metres from this room. We cannot continue the inquiry if the quality.. is going to be as poor as that.”
Inquiry chair and Labor MP Lizzie Blandthorn dismissed Mr Riordan’s point of order, saying she was satisfied with the quality of the connection.
Mr Andrews has attended all his press conferences in person for the duration of the pandemic.
It is not clear why it is safe to attend press conferences in person, but not to attend the PAEC hearing, given social distancing protocols are enforced in both settings.
The videolink soon dropped out completely.
“Perhaps if he speaks really loudly we’ll still be able to hear him,” Liberal MP and deputy PAEC chair Richard Riordan quipped.
READ MORE: Frydenberg rules out ‘endless money tree’
Rebecca Urban 9.45am: Tehan welcomes Vic return to school
Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan has welcomed Victoria’s announcement that students will begin returning to the classroom in two weeks, claiming that a continuation of remote learning would have negatively impacted many children.
“Today’s announcement is a win for Victorian students,” Mr Tehan said on Tuesday.
“The evidence is clear that nearly half of Australian children and young people are at risk of adverse effects on their educational outcomes by being physically disconnected from school.
“If online delivery were to continue, low SES, students with complex learning needs including students with disability, and Indigenous students would lose weeks of learning in numeracy and reading”.
Mr Tehan has been at loggerheads with the Victorian government over the schools issue, which is the last state to announce a plan to return students to school.
He was forced to withdraw his controversial comments a week ago, including an accusation that Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews had shown a “failure of leadership” over schools.
“Our Government has taken a consistent position to follow the expert medical advice and the expert medical advice has been consistent that schools are safe for students and teachers with the right protocols in place,” Mr Tehan said.
“Principle number one of the COVID-19 National Principles for School Education, endorsed by National Cabinet, is that education is best delivered by professional teachers to students in the classroom on a school campus.
“Every Australian student now knows when they will be back at school, this is wonderful news because we don’t want the coronavirus to take a year of our children’s education.”
Most Victorian students have not been inside a classroom for eight weeks.
READ MORE: Golf, fishing, footy now in play
Craig Johnstone 9.35am: Cruise ship adds to Queensland cases
Queensland has recorded six new COVID-19 cases overnight, four of them linked to the Coral Princess cruise ship.
All six are Queensland residents who were diagnosed interstate. The state’s total of cases is 1051, with 19 of them active.
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young confirmed that remote discrete indigenous communities remain closed to travel as part of efforts to contain the spread of the virus.
Dr Young also explained the more generous lifting of restrictions on people gathering for outback areas compared with the rest of the state.
“The outback has been determined according to those local government areas that have not had any cases at all,” she said.
READ MORE: Carnival director denies ‘business as usual’
Richard Ferguson 9.25am: China bans imports from Aussie abattoirs
China has suspended meat imports from at least four Australian abattoirs overnight, as trade tensions between Australia and the communist nation rise.
The Australian understands the Kilcoy plant, Beef City in Toowoomba, the Dinmore meatworks in Brisbane and the Northern Co-operative Meat Company at Casino in NSW have been suspended by Chinese authorities. It has been confirmed that those four plants have not been officially delisted, and the four have not yet lost their licenses in China.
The Beef City and Dinmore plants are both owned by JBS Australia. The Australian has contacted Kilcoy, the Northern Co-operative Meat Company and JBS for comment.
The meat bans come as China prepares to slap large tariffs on Australian barley as early as this Sunday..
Industry sources have told The Australian that it is possible a technical matter is behind the four suspensions.
READ MORE: WHO denies it bent to China pressure
Rachel Baxendale 9.00am: Essential workers’ Years 3 - 10 kids back to school
Vulnerable students and the children of essential workers in Years Three to 10 who cannot learn from home will still be able to continue to attend school until it resumes fully on June 9.
The Andrews government will invest up to $45 million for enhanced cleaning that will occur every day at every school across the state for all of Terms Two and Three.2 and Term 3.
All Victorian school staff will be prioritised for voluntary coronavirus testing for a two-week period from both mobile and fixed testing sites, starting on Tuesday.
Premier Daniel Andrews and Education Minister James Merlino said this would enable staff to seek testing during the preparation period before the return to on-site schooling.
Schools will also be encouraged to implement a staggered drop-off system to reduce the number of adults congregating outside the school at any one time, as well as staggered break times to manage the number of students mixing across year levels.
Schools will also implement social distancing measures for all adults.
READ MORE: Returning kids couldn’t be happier
Agencies 8.55am: Musk defies shutdown, reopens Tesla plant
Tesla chief Elon Musk says he is resuming production at the company’s California auto assembly plant, defying authorities and escalating a feud over the Pacific state’s pandemic shutdown.
Mr Musk made the announcement on Twitter after several days of raging online and a lawsuit seeking to resume operations at the factory.
“Tesla is restarting production today against Alameda County rules,” Mr Musk said in a tweet.
“I will be on the line with everyone else. If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me.”
Mr Musk said, moments later, that state officials had approved the reopening but that the move had been blocked by local authorities.
“California approved, but an unelected county official illegally overrode,” he said. “Also, all other auto companies in US are approved to resume. Only Tesla has been singled out. This is super messed up!”
Tesla is restarting production today against Alameda County rules. I will be on the line with everyone else. If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 11, 2020
Mr Musk’s move comes amid rising disputes over the pace of easing the lockdowns imposed by states to contain the deadly coronavirus outbreak.
READ the full story here
Rachel Baxendale 8.35am: Vic abattoir cases rise to 85
Of Victoria’s 17 new cases on Tuesday, eight have been linked to Melbourne abattoir Cedar Meats, including six in workers and two in close contacts.
The total number of cases linked to Cedar Meats has now reached 85.
Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said he was not surprised to see six new cases in Cedar Meats workers despite the facility being closed more than a week ago, because it was not unusual to see positive results for up for a fortnight after exposure.
“The entire workforce has been in quarantine so the risk to others is minimal,” Professor Sutton said.
Cedar Meats workers were mostly labour hire/casual workers. These workers didn't have access to paid sick leave. In fact, 1 in 3 workers have no access to paid sick leave. That's why we need paid pandemic leave for ALL workers so we can stop coronavirus. #qanda
— Australian Unions (@unionsaustralia) May 11, 2020
Another three of Tuesday’s cases have been attributed to community transmission, with no known links to overseas travel or other known cases.
The remaining six new cases remain under investigation.
READ MORE: Big cities stir into life
Yoni Bashan 8.25am: NSW reports no new cases for first time
For the first time since the COVID-19 infections spiked in Australia, NSW has reported no new cases of the virus.
“Fortunately there isn’t much to report today,” said NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian during her routine press briefing on Tuesday morning. “But it shouldn’t give us a false sense of security or complacency.”
Dr Jeremy McAnulty, Executive Director Health Protection NSW, said the results were pleasing but it did not mean the virus was no longer prevalent.
A total of 6,048 tests were conducted in the 24 hours to 8pm on Monday, a slightly higher figure than the previous day’s testing of 5,258 people, but lower than the testing numbers above 10,000 recorded prior to the weekend.
“It’s great news,” Dr McAnulty said. “But we know the virus will be bubbling around beneath the surface. Testing is really the key. We need to find every person who has the infection.”
READ MORE: Should mild cases be forced out of home?
Rachel Baxendale 8.20am: Victoria confirms 17 new cases
Victoria has confirmed 17 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday. Premier Daniel Andrews said two cases had been reclassified and removed from Victoria’s tally, bringing the state’s total to 1509.
Rachel Baxendale 8.10am: Victoria pupils back to school from May 26
Victorian school students will begin a staggered return to the classroom from May 26, with all back by June 9.
Premier Daniel Andrews announced on Tuesday morning teachers would return for a pupil free day on May 25, with students in Prep, Grade One, Grade Two and Years 11 and 12 to return on May 26.
Students in Years Three to 10 will return on June 9.
“This is really important, but it is an equally important opportunity for me to thank parents for the contribution they’ve made to flattening the curve,” Mr Andrews said.
“I know the last four weeks have been incredibly challenging … but it has made a profound difference.”
Mr Andrews said safeguards including extra cleaning, staggered drop-offs and pick-ups and social distancing for teachers and parents would be in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The Premier refused to make the announcement over the weekend and yesterday, saying he was not yet ready to do so.
Today’s announcement is being made an hour before Mr Andrews and later his Health Minister Jenny Mikakos, Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton and the Department of Health and Human Services are due to face several hours of questions about their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic by the parliamentary Public Accounts and Estimates Committee.
It also comes as news breaks that 200 workers are to be stood down from the Andrews government’s signature West Gate Tunnel project, amid a dispute between toll road company Transurban, its building contractors and the government over the disposal of toxic soil.
READ MORE: Premier keeps parents hanging
Scott Henry 7.45am: Cormann: JobKeeper reviewed in June
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has restated the government’s commitment to maintain its JobKeeper program for six months but says it will be reviewed in June.
With Treasurer Josh Frydenberg preparing to tell Australians today there is no “money tree’’ as commonwealth assistance of $320 billion reaches its limit, Senator Cormann did not rule out changes to the $130bn jobs program.
“Of course we want to get more people back to work, we want businesses to get back to profitability, so we want a situation where we don’t need to continue to rely on JobKeeper,’’ he told Sunrise.
“In June there will be a review conducted by the Treasury as we flagged from the outset.
“This is a massive program and we had to put it into place very quickly. We knew there would be some challenges at the edges, but ... with a program of this magnitude, it is entirely appropriate to assess how it is going as you are halfway through.
“And also to make adjustments if there is a problem.’’
Asked whether it remain in place for six months, Senator Cormann said: “That is absolutely what we have committed to.’’
READ MORE: Opening lifts hope of cooking with gas
Jason Gagliardi 7.40am: Birmingham: Keep to hygiene basics as nation opens
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham issued a plea to Australians to observe “the basics” of hand-washing and social distancing as the nation begins to open up and ease restrictions, saying those simple measures could be worth $9.4 billion to the economy.
“If we can stick with those basics and follow the guidelines, we can work through all the stages of reopening our economy,” Mr Birmingham said this morning. “And if we can work through all of those stages, it will be worth around $9.4 billion a month in additional economic activity across Australia.
“And that means hundreds of thousands of Australians more secure, back in their jobs. And that’s what we desperately need to see. And that’s why we all have to play our role in making sure that we keep COVID-19 under control, and that can get the country back to work.”
Mr Birmingham, speaking on ABC, denied the $320 billion spent on protecting jobs and reviving the economy so far was the “absolute limit” but he said further spending “needs to be targeted, needs to be proportionate to the problems people are facing, and needs to be temporary, because we cannot have the rate of spending that’s in place at present going on forever.
“Australia is incredibly fortunate and Government has been able to respond with additional investment way above what most other economies have. And we have been able to do that because we had lower debt levels and a stronger budget position to start with. We’ve gotta make sure, again, that we are well-placed for the long term as well as dealing with the short term. And that does mean getting spending back under control.
“I think Australians do understand as well that you can’t have a society function where lots of people don’t go to work and government is just paying out billions of dollars of money on the never-never. We’ve got to find a way to bring it back to the equilibrium.”
READ MORE: What will survive the virus
Anne Barrowclough 7.35am: White House staff told to wear masks
The White House has ordered officials to wear masks in the West Wing except when sitting at their own desks, after two staffers tested positive for coronavirus last week.
The memo also directs officials to restrict in-person visits to the White House unless they are necessary, one of the officials said.
Donald Trump has declared that Mike Pence has tested negative after an aide was diagnosed with the virus, but said he might limit contact with his vice-president.
White House officials have largely resisted wearing masks both in public and in private. Mr Pence has drawn criticism in recent weeks for not wearing a mask during a visit to the Mayo Clinic.
The memo, does not say whether the president or vice president are included in the guidelines. Aides have said they don’t expect the president to start wearing a mask.
“We are requiring everyone who enters the West Wing to wear a mask or facial covering,” the memo says, according to a copy reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. “Unless you absolutely need to conduct in person business in the West Wing, we respectfully ask you to avoid unnecessary visits.” The memo is signed by the White House Management Office.
READ MORE: Chemists, doctors in power struggle
Daniel Sankey 7.25am: JobKeeper needs ‘tapering off’ period: Albanese
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese has called on the Morrison government to consider a “tapering off” period at the conclusion of the six-month JobKeeper program.
Speaking to Channel 9’s Today, Mr Albanese people could not be expected to come off the $1500 fortnightly JobKeeper payment and straight onto a reduced $40 a day JobSeeker payment at the end of the six months flagged for coronavirus assistance.
“The idea that you’ll go back to $40 a day is untenable. It’s bad economics. It’s bad for job seekers to be too worried about surviving from day-to-day to be in a position to seek employment,” Mr Albanese said.
“What we say is the plan is there for six months now but there will need to be some form of
tapering off.”
READ MORE: Anthony Albanese channels his inner Gough
Damon Kitney 7.15am: Etihad to resume Melbourne - London flights
Etihad Airways is resuming flights between Melbourne and London via its Abu Dhabi hub from this Friday with strict hygiene protocols.
In a statement the airline also said it will offer London to Melbourne flights via Abu Dhabi from May 21.
Etihad plans to maintain this link until it fully resumes its previous double daily connection between the two cities.
The flights feature Business and Economy cabins.
“Etihad continues to follow UAE and international government, regulatory and health authority directives, and is playing its part in helping to limit the spread of COVID-19. The airline has implemented an extensive sanitisation and customer safety program and is practising the highest standards of hygiene at every part of the customer journey. This includes catering, aircraft and cabin deep-cleaning, check-in, health screening, boarding, inflight, crew interaction, meal service, disembarkation and ground transportation, among others, it sad.
Etihad was a shareholder in the collapsed Virgin Australia and has reportedly been in talks with Oaktree Capital Management about making a bid for the Australian carrier.
First round indicative bids are due to Virgin’s receiver Deloitte by Friday.
READ MORE: ‘Happy’ victims defy medical expertise
Scott Henry 7.10am: Greens to block $87,000 pay rise for top cop
NSW will attempt to use state parliament to block an $87,000 pay rise for the Police Commissioner Mick Fuller awarded by Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
The Greens, which labelled the move “offensive and excessive”, believe they have the numbers in the Upper House to support a motion to reverse the pay rise using the Parliament’s oversight role under the Statutory and Other Officers Act 1975, Section 19A, The Daily Telegraph reports.
Greens MP, David Shoebridge, said the pay rise was unthinkable given the pandemic and the economic fallout.
The rise takes Commissioner Fuller’s salary to $649,500, making him one of the highest paid public servants in the country.
“The Premier should have never offered this, and the Commissioner should have never accepted it. Both of them have shown a lack of true leadership here,’’ Mr Shoebridge said
“Commissioner Fuller’s pay rise is more money than most of his police constables get paid in a year.’’
Shooters and Fishers Upper House MP Robert Borsak said he would also support the motion from the Greens.
The move comes after the state government flagged a freeze on the annual 2.5 per cent pay rise for public servants. NSW Treasurer Dom Perrottet said last month that MPs should also not get a pay rise during the COVID-19 pandemic.
READ MORE: Big cities stir into life
Anne Barrowclough 6.40am: New cluster reported in Wuhan
A new cluster has been reported in Wuhan and China’s north-eastern province of Jilin.
Wuhan reported five new cases on Monday, after confirming its first case since 3 April on Sunday.
Authorities said the small cluster of cases were all from the same residential compound.
China has been easing restrictions in recent weeks and cases had been declining.
The small Wuhan cluster is the first to emerge since the end of the strict lockdown on 8 April. One of the five cases reported on Monday was the wife of an 89-year-old man who became the first confirmed case in the city in well over a month on Sunday.
READ MORE: US missing in action on vaccine
Daniel Sankey 6.35am: Trans-Tasman bubble may begin with Qld, NSW, Tas
New Zealand deputy prime minister Winston Peters hopes the easing of lockdown restrictions in his country will be the first step to establishing a Trans-Tasman bubble for travel.
In moving to level two restrictions from Thursday, New Zealand will allow restaurants to re-open with social distancing, while bars will open a week later.
Speaking to Channel 9’s Today, Mr Peters said Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania were the likely first states who would be able to join with New Zealand in again allowing tourists to travel.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced the country will move into Level Two restrictions this week. #9Today pic.twitter.com/XXA8aKsgIg
— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) May 11, 2020
“And as soon as we do, 55 per cent of our tourists come from Australia — and New Zealanders, funnily enough, even though we are only a country of five million people, are the second highest tourist numbers to Australia,” Mr Peters said.
“Particularly to the eastern seaboard — Tasmania, New South Wales and Queensland would be helped by that happening.
“We have nowhere else to go, by the way!”
READ MORE: Ardern shifts NZ to ‘safer normal’
Agencies 6.25am: ‘Extreme vigilance’ needed as countries reopen
The World Health Organisation says “extreme vigilance” is needed as countries begin to exit from lockdowns imposed to curb the spread of the new coronavirus. Germany earlier reported an acceleration in new coronavirus infections after it took early steps to ease its lockdown.
South Korea, another country that had succeeded in limiting virus infections, has seen a new outbreak in nightclubs.
“Now we are seeing some hope as many countries exit these so-called lockdowns,” head of the WHO’s emergencies program Mike Ryan told an online news briefing on Monday.
But Dr Ryan warned “extreme vigilance is required”.
“If the disease persists at a low level without the capacity to investigate clusters, there’s always the risk that the virus takes off again,” he said.
Governments around the world are struggling with the question of how to reopen their economies while still containing COVID-19.
Dr Ryan said he was hopeful Germany and South Korea would be able to suppress new clusters and praised their surveillance, which he said was key to avoiding large second waves.
“It’s really important that we hold up examples of countries who are willing to open their eyes and willing to keep their eyes open,” he said. In contrast, he said other countries were “trying to drive through this blindly”.
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Marine Villeneuve 6.05am: New York death toll ‘may be thousands worse’
New York City’s death toll from the coronavirus may be thousands of fatalities worse than the tally kept by the city and state, according to an analysis released by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Between March 11 and May 2, about 24,000 more people died in the city than researchers would ordinarily expect during that time period, the report said. That’s about 5,300 more deaths than were blamed on the coronavirus in official tallies during those weeks.
Some of those excess fatalities could be COVID-19 deaths that went uncounted because a person died at home, or without medical providers realising they were infected, the researchers at New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said. It might also represent a ripple effect of the health crisis, they wrote.
Public fear over contracting the virus and the enormous strain on hospitals might have led to delays in people seeking or receiving lifesaving care for unrelated conditions like heart disease or diabetes.
Today we enter a new phase in the battle against COVID-19.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) May 11, 2020
We have established criteria for reopening based on 7 metrics: pic.twitter.com/Ar1QzxLUyl
“Tracking excess mortality is important to understanding the contribution to the death rate from both COVID-19 disease and the lack of availability of care for non-COVID conditions,” the report said. — AP
READ MORE: Big cities finally stirring to life
Daniel Sankey 5.45am: Twitter to warn users about ‘misleading’ content
Twitter will roll out new labels that will warn users if a tweet contains misleading information about the coronavirus.
The social media giant, which has more than 330 million monthly active users, said its goal was to make it easy to find credible information on Twitter and to limit the spread of potentially harmful and misleading content.
The information you see on Twitter should be accurate and reliable. That's why we're expanding our use of Tweet labels and warnings to address misleading information. Here’s more on how and when we decide to use them: https://t.co/XolohhJ5qf
— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) May 11, 2020
“Our teams are using and improving on internal systems to proactively monitor content related to COVID-19,” Twitter’s head of site integrity Yoel Roth and head of public policy Nick Pickles said in a statement.
“These systems help ensure we’re not amplifying tweets with these warnings or labels and detecting the high-visibility content quickly. Additionally, we’ll continue to rely on trusted partners to identify content that is likely to result in offline harm.
“We’ll learn a lot as we use these new labels, and are open to adjusting as we explore labelling different types of misleading information.
“This process is ongoing and we’ll work to make sure these and other labels and warnings show up across Twitter. Embedded tweets and tweets viewed by people not logged into Twitter may still appear without a label.”
READ MORE: Online tool will help business
Alan Suderman 5.15am: New White House measures to ‘protect President’s health’
As he encourages the country to reopen, US President Donald Trump is confronting cases of the coronavirus in his own home, spotlighting the challenge the White House faces in instilling confidence in a nation still reeling from the pandemic.
Two known cases of COVID-19 among staffers in one of the most-protected complexes in America have sent three of the nation’s top medical experts into quarantine and Vice President Mike Pence into “self-isolation.”
The scare came as the White House emphasised to the American people the steps being taken to assure their safety — in hopes that will coax them to resume normal activities.
Overnight (AEST), Mr Pence led the White House’s weekly call with governors from an isolated room after his press secretary tested positive on Friday. Dr Deborah Birx and other staffers participated as usual from a conference room in the Situation Room, Mr Pence said, explaining the “slightly different circumstance.”
“We are taking the appropriate countermeasures to protect the president’s health,” Mr Pence added. The White House was moving to daily testing of some staff members to detect the disease.
Already in quarantine after exposure to the White House staffer are Dr Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr Robert Redfield, director of the CDC, and the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, Dr Stephen Hahn. — AP
READ MORE: Editorial — US missing in action on coronavirus vaccine
Jacquelin Magnay 5am: Boris Johnson’s 51-page road map to recovery
Boris Johnson has published a 51-page road map to “give people hope” and ease lockdown measures over the coming months to deal with the coronavirus, although he has warned the country may have to face a worst-case scenario where a vaccine is never found.
The detailed document, released overnight AEST), builds on the UK Prime Minister’s national address and allows for a lengthy and slow plan to deal with the virus for the long haul, “even while doing all we can to avoid that outcome’’.
He added: “While we hope for a breakthrough, hope is not a plan. A mass vaccine or treatment may be more than a year away. Indeed, in a worst-case scenario, we may never find a vaccine.’’
WATCH LIVE: Prime Minister @BorisJohnson makes a statement in @HouseOfCommons on #coronavirus https://t.co/zmlynxGbaO
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) May 11, 2020
Read the full story here.
Patrick Commins 4.45am: Worst-hit industries face two-year recovery period
The industries most severely damaged in the COVID-19 shutdown — hospitality, accommodation, air transport and retail trade — will take two years to recover the losses inflicted by the pandemic.
Some industries — such as healthcare and social assistance, public administration and heavy and civil engineering — can expect by the end of this year to be ahead of where they were before the coronavirus hit
Research by leading accounting firm KPMG, obtained by The Australian, shows the economy as a whole will not recover its losses until the September quarter of next year — a full 18 months after the pandemic first gained a foothold within the country.
The findings emerged as Treasurer Josh Frydenberg prepared to deliver a key economic statement on Tuesday — the same day the budget was due to have been delivered.
Read the full story, by Patrick Commins and Simon Benson, here.
Additional reporting: Rachel Baxendale
Misconduct finding over WA ombudsman’s globetrotting
Chris Field created a ‘sham’ process to approve his own extensive travel to destinations around the world, WA’s Corruption and Crime Commission finds.
Why should an arts degree cost more than medicine?
Everyone agrees arts courses cost too much. But imagine how increasing what students pay to become teachers and nurses to subsidise humanities courses would go down in the electorate.