Coronavirus Australia live updates: Heat builds on Scott Morrison over $53m WHO funding
Scott Morrison faces pressure to make Australia’s taxpayer-funded contribution to World Health Organisation conditional on reforms.
- WHO shifts position on wet markets
- ‘We won’t follow Trump on WHO’
- Qld cases rise by five
- Trump halts funding to WHO
- Special probe ordered into Ruby debacle
Welcome to live coverage of the continuing coronavirus crisis. The World Health Organisation is backing away from its previous advice that Chinese wet markets do not need to close, saying they pose a “real danger’’, as the PMfaces pressure over Australia’s contribution after Donald Trump’s decision to halt funds to the WHO over its ‘mismanagement’ of the pandemic.
Damon Kitney 7.45pm: COVID-19 test pioneer hopes for quick approval
The blood test company backed by billionaire property developer Lang Walker, former Macquarie Bank CEO Allan Moss and a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-backed social impact fund is confident of getting regulatory approval to sell its COVID-19 rapid testing equipment to health professionals in Australia “within weeks” after receiving a second purchase order for the product from French diagnostics company, NG Biotech.
Ahead of its listing on the Australian Securities Exchange on Thursday, the first company to make its ASX debut in the past six weeks amid volatile global sharemarkets, Atomo Diagnostics founder and chief executive John Kelly said the company was keen to ensure its COVID-19 testing product was made available locally.
“We are in regular discussions with the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration). We would be thinking this is kind of weeks, not months, in terms of getting approvals,’’ Mr Kelly said on Wednesday.
READ MORE: COVID-19 test pioneer hopes for quick approval as ASX listing looms
Richard Ferguson 7.07pm: Morrison faces backbench pressure on WHO funding
Scott Morrison faces backbench pressure to make Australia’s nearly $53m-a-year taxpayer-funded contribution to the World Health Organisation conditional on reforms to the UN body, after Donald Trump’s move to halt WHO funding.
The Prime Minister, who sympathised with the United States’ move, said Australia would not halt or cut funding to the WHO because of its work in the Pacific.
But Mr Morrison continued to attack the organisation’s shifting position on the future of China’s wet markets.
Some Liberal and Labor MPs now believe there should either be a review of Australia’s funding of the WHO, or the government should add conditions to its WHO contributions after the COVID-19 pandemic.
READ MORE: WHO failed in its basic duty: Trump
Elias Visontay 4.55pm: AFP recruits face sack over virus breach party
Several Australian Federal Police recruits are facing dismissal for holding a party in breach of social distancing regulations.
AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said an investigation into the party held at its residential training college in Canberra on Friday 3 April had concluded, and that “a number of officers” have been served with show cause notices.
The recruits will be required “to show cause why your employment shouldn’t be terminated”.
“It’s at the highest end. We’ll also be taking action into a number of other individuals that were involved in that,” Commissioner Kershaw said on Wednesday.
“(Actions can range) From managerial guidance to some sort of disciplinary outcome … It may be extending probation or it may be that you’re exited out of the agency.”
ACT Police officers attended the party and spoke with recruits involved, with video of the incident later surfacing.
READ MORE: CMO retracts ‘dinner link’ to Tassie cluster
Victoria Laurie 4.25pm: WA has five news cases: three from cruise ships
Western Australia has reported five new cases of COVID-19 overnight, bringing the state’s total to 532.
There are currently 33 patients in Perth metropolitan hospitals, 11 of whom are in ICU.
Three of the five new cases are from cruise ships – two from the Costa Victoria and one from the German liner Artania, which remains in Fremantle but is due to leave on April 18.
The new case on the Artania comes one day after three COVID-19 positive cases were taken off the ship and placed in isolation in a Perth hotel, bringing the total number of virus cases to 75.
It also comes a day after Health Minister Roger Cook said he had been told the virus outbreak on board was under control and that the ship was able to sail away once all medical issues had been addressed.
“We are confident they will be able to comply with an Australian Border Force order to leave by April 18.’
The ship, which arrived on March 25 and has repeatedly delayed its departure, has 400 crew members still aboard. AFP commissioner Michael Outram said last week the Artania had been granted temporary stays to give large numbers of sick crew access to potentially life-saving medical support.
An AFP spokesperson said today the ship is still subject to quarantine, but it had indicated it would be ready to depart following clearance by health authorities.
READ MORE: Health fear for Ruby’s Captain Corona
Elias Visontay 4.10pm: We must maintain gains we’ve made: Deputy CMO
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth has cautioned the path out of COVID-19 could be “even more challenging than the way in” as authorities explore what options to pursue in lieu of a vaccine.
Dr Coatsworth said Australians needed to continue practicing hand hygiene and social distancing, and warned the virus can behave “unpredictably”.
“This is a period of maintaining the gains that we’ve made,” Dr Coatsworth said.
“It may feel, to a lot of us, like limbo. But I can assure you that it’s not.
“Charting a way out of where we are now with COVID-19 will be very challenging. And perhaps even more challenging than the way in.
He said health advisers to the government are “deeply and thoroughly” exploring how and where the virus will next spread, and what measures to take to prevent further spread.
Dr Coatsworth said while the majority of Australia was containing the virus, the outbreak in north west Tasmania was a reminder that the virus “can behave unpredictably”.
READ MORE: WHO failed basic duty: Trump
Rachel Baxendale 4pm: Remote learning: Vic Chief Health Officer digs in on schools
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer has reiterated his advice that children should learn from home during Term Two, despite Prime Minister Scott Morrison stressing in a Facebook message on Wednesday morning that: “It’s so important that children are able to keep physically going to school”.
The advice also appears to conflict with that of Professor Sutton’s federal counterpart, Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy, who yesterday said he was concerned state governments were closing schools “not from a health recommendation but almost because of parental fear”.
Taking to Twitter on Wednesday afternoon, Victorian CHO Brett Sutton said: “My advice to the Victorian government was and continues to be that to slow the spread of coronavirus, schools should undertake remote learning for Term Two.”
“This is because having around a million children and their parents in closer contact with each other, teachers and other support staff has the potential to increase cases of coronavirus not just in schools but across the community,” Professor Sutton tweeted.
“By having remote learning, it can contribute to physical distancing and therefore supports efforts to drive transmission down.”
My advice to the Victorian Government was and continues to be that to slow the spread of coronavirus, schools should undertake remote learning for term two.
— Chief Health Officer, Victoria (@VictorianCHO) April 15, 2020
1/3
This is because having around a million children and their parents in closer contact with each other, teachers and other support staff has the potential to increase cases of coronavirus not just in schools but across the community. 2/3
— Chief Health Officer, Victoria (@VictorianCHO) April 15, 2020
By having remote learning, it can contribute to physical distancing and therefore supports efforts to drive transmission down.
— Chief Health Officer, Victoria (@VictorianCHO) April 15, 2020
3/3
Professor Sutton’s comments come after Professor Murphy told the New Zealand parliament’s epidemic response committee on Tuesday that the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, of which Professors Sutton and Murphy are both members, had never recommended closing schools because there was no evidence of transmission between children “to any significant extent”.
“We’re concerned our governments are keeping schools closed not from a health recommendation but almost because of parental fear and some reaction in local governments,” Professor Murphy told the committee.
READ MORE: Teachers resisting return to classrooms
Elias Visontay 3.51pm: ‘Not possible to rule out school transmissions’
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth has warned it’s not possible to rule out new COVID-19 cases being diagnosed among children as schools return for term two.
However Dr Coatsworth said that health authorities believed transmission among children is “very low”, and that a child to child transmission is unlikely to lead to the kind of coronavirus outbreaks that have been seen in adult environments including weddings and aged-care facilities.
He said there were currently 136 cases of COVID-19 of Australians aged between 5-18, representing about 2 per cent of total cases.
“It’s not possible to rule that (school transmissions) out at all. And it’s clear...that there will be cases amongst children.”
Dr Coatsworth also said the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee will be meeting on Wednesday to discuss increased safety measures for school teachers and students, and that the advice will be handed to the National Cabinet for consideration this week.
READ MORE: I’m not at odds with PM on schools: Andrews
Elias Visontay 3.30pm: Australians won’t be forced into phone tracing: PM
Scott Morrison has said at least 40 per cent of Australians will need to download and sign up for a future government-developed smartphone app if it is to successfully help authorities conducting COVID-19 contact tracing.
The Prime Minister said Australians won’t be forced to sign up for the soon to be released app, and that he believed there would be significant take up of the app because people would want to save lives and “open our economy up more”.
“You wouldn’t be mandatorily required to sign up to these apps. That’s not how Australia works. But I don’t know, you tell me? If people believed and understood that if we could trace people’s contacts quicker and tracked down the coronavirus faster and save people’s lives, which meant we could open our economy up more,” Mr Morrison told 6PR Radio on Wednesday.
“It’s a bit like buying war bonds during the war. I mean, there are things that we might not ordinarily do. But in these circumstances, to keep people safe, to save lives and to save people’s livelihoods and get them back to work. If that tool is going to help people do that, then this may be one of the, one of the sacrifices we need to make, we’re working on the privacy issues very hard.”
Mr Morrison said Australia’s contact tracing app is modelled off one developed by the Singaporean government, and that the Sinagporean Prime Minister has been providing some of the code used in their app to the Australian government.
Mr Morrison said the app would record where a user was, who they were in proximity to, and for how long. He said if a user of the app was later diagnosed with COVID-19, anyone else who had the app installed and was recorded as spending 15 minutes or more near the confirmed case, would then be contacted by health authorities informing them of their risk.
“The health authorities ... would be the only ones who’d have access to that data.
“This would just enable us to get it more quickly and not be relying on people’s memories, which at the end of the day would mean we’d save more lives and save more livelihoods and protect people from the virus,” Mr Morrison said.
READ MORE: Apple, Google detail COVID plans
Elias Vistonay 3.20pm: Kids die from this: Plibersek’s call for schools consistency
Opposition education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek is calling for consistent advice from the federal and state governments about the health risks of children and staff returning to school for term two.
Ms Plibersek said “we’ve seen kids die from this” overseas, and said parents were concerned for their children’s safety.
“What’s confusing for parents is you’ve got the Prime Minister seeming to urge parents to start sending kids back to school physically and you’ve got state leaders including Daniel Andrews, with the Victorian schools due to go back now, saying that parents should keep educating their children at home if they possibly can,” Ms Plibersek told Sky News.
“It would be great to get some consistent advice from that COAG (National Cabinet) about what the plan is for returning kids to school safely.
“The thing that all parents are concerned about are their kids health and their kids education. That predated the Coronavirus. The two things that you spend most of your time thinking about. So we want schools to be safe for kids and for teaching staff and other school staff as well.
“And then making sure we actually have the dedicated resources to help the kids who have missed out educationally during this time. We’ve got a Prime Minister that has cut funding to public schools, and we need to see that funding available. We know that kids who fall behind if they don’t catch up by the age of eight, they struggle for the whole of their schooling.
“We’ve seen kids die from this, particularly overseas. So I don’t think we should completely discount the medical advice,” Ms Plibersek said.
READ MORE: I’m not at odds with PM on schools: Andrews
Craig Johnstone 2.40pm: Qld Health won’t confirm Hanks, Wilson given drug
Queensland Health will not confirm that Tom Hanks or Rita Wilson have been prescribed chloroquine after the Hollywood couple was diagnosed with coronavirus in Australia.
It comes after Wilson detailed her experience of the virus in an interview in the US, detailing the “nauseating” effects of the drug chloroquine.
However, a spokesman for Gold Coast Hospital, where the couple recovered from COVID-19, has confirmed that the drug has been administered to some patients.
“Gold Coast Health has used a variety of medication in patients with more severe COVID-19,” the spokesman said.
“Chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir-ritonavir have been used on selected patients.
“There is much scientific debate worldwide about how best to treat COVID-19. So, we are currently identifying new international clinical trials in which our patients may be able to participate.”
READ MORE: Wilson details ‘extreme’ drug side effects
Jack the Insider 2.05pm: Scammers out in force to make a dollar
Scammers, charlatans, hucksters, grifters – they all come out of their hidey holes in times of strife.
Last week we were treated to a new episode in the unfolding epic of addled celebrity chef, Pete Evans and his vexed relationship with medical science.
Not content with pushing a diet of the type that promises adherents will live longer if they eat like humans did during the Stone Age when the average life expectancy was 27, Paleo Pete excitedly told those dumb enough to listen that he was in possession of a light source which had “recipes” that could fight the “Wuhan Coronavirus”.
Read more from Jack the Insider here.
READ MORE: Coronavirus infection rates - check your suburb
1.55pm: Man jailed for breaking hotel quarantine
A man who ignored a coronavirus quarantine directive and repeatedly snuck out of a Perth hotel to visit his girlfriend has become the first Australian jailed for the offence.
However, he will only serve one month behind bars.
Jonathan David, 35, pleaded guilty in Perth Magistrates Court to two counts of failing to comply with a direction.
He was sentenced on Wednesday to six months and two weeks in prison but the majority of the term was suspended.
That means if he commits another crime over the next 12 months, he could be forced to serve the rest of the prison sentence.
He was also fined $2000.
David had travelled from Victoria and was sent into quarantine at the Travelodge Hotel in Perth for 14 days, but instead snuck out and used public transport. Police said he even wedged open a fire exit door at the hotel so he could leave and return without staff seeing him.
A police prosecutor previously described David’s actions as “gross stupidity”. Magistrate Elaine Campione said David had been “more than foolish” and was “selfish in the extreme” during a state of emergency.
“You chose to roll the dice with other people’s lives and that was breathtakingly arrogant,” she said.
AAP
READ MORE: Let’s hope the economic train crash is worth it
Elias Visontay 1.45pm: Australia won’t follow suit on WHO funding: PM
Scott Morrison says he sympathises with the criticisms of the World Health Organisation that US President Donald Trump has used to justify a funding halt, but warned Australia will not follow suit by throwing “the baby out with the bathwater”.
The Prime Minister was responding to Mr Trump’s announcement earlier on Wednesday (AEST), which came on the same day the US recorded about 1,500 deaths - its highest daily death toll from COVID-19.
Mr Morrison’s comments come after the WHO backed away from its earlier advice that wet markets were safe, on Wednesday clarifying they are a “real danger”.
Speaking to 6PR Radio, Mr Morrison said “I sympathise with his criticisms, and I’ve made a few of my own,” referring to Mr Trump’s announcement.
President @realDonaldTrump is halting funding of the World Health Organization while a review is conducted to assess WHO's role in mismanaging the Coronavirus outbreak. pic.twitter.com/jTrEf4WWj0
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 14, 2020
“We called this thing weeks before the WHO did. If we were relying on their advice, then I suspect we would have been suffering the same fate that many other countries currently are.
“We were calling it a pandemic back in ... mid January.
“While I have many criticisms of the WHO and most significantly the unfathomable decision that they’ve had about wet markets... I’m talking about the ones that have wildlife.
“To be sanctioning that is just completely mystifying to me. But that said, the WHO also as an organisation does a lot of important work including here in our own region in the Pacific and we work closely with them.
“We’re not going to throw the baby out with the bathwater here but they’re also not immune from criticism and immune from doing things better,” Mr Morrison said.
READ MORE: Working from home, Julie Bishop style
Elias Visontay 1.35pm: Morrison won’t join NZ on politician pay cuts
Scott Morrison has thrown out a suggestion that politicians and public servants should take a pay cut to help the nation’s finances cope during the coronavirus pandemic.
It comes after a move by New Zealand to cut its politicians’ pay by 20 per cent as the nation reels from the economic hit of COVID-19.
The Prime Minister reiterated his government’s decision to freeze pay rises across the public service, but said a pay cut is “not something that’s been considered”.
“Let me tell you what’s happening with public servants in this country at the moment. I’ve got 6000 public servants, some of whom we’ve just recently contracted, others who are working at senior levels in the public service sitting down at Centrelink right now processing people’s JobSeeker applications,” Mr Morrison told 6PR Radio.
“I’ve got people in the public service that are working like they’ve never worked before I suspect. They do a great job and they’re as much on the frontline saving people’s livelihoods as frankly nurses working in hospitals.
“They’re getting payments to people that they desperately need to get through the weeks and months ahead. So everyone’s working hard, everyone is working hard here, and everyone who is in a job is in an essential job and I just want to support them in those jobs. I’m not keen to get into a competition.”
READ MORE: Obama launches rare public attack on Trump
Angelica Snowden 1.14pm: Ruby Princess passenger dies, bringing ship toll to 19
Another Ruby Princess Passenger has died, bringing the death toll from the ship death toll from the ship to 19.
The woman aged in her 60s from the ACT died at the Canberra Hospital.
ACT Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman said it brings the territory’s toll to three.
“It is with sadness that I report that the ACT has recorded its third death from COVID-19,” Dr Coleman said.
“I offer my sincere condolences to this person’s family and friends,” she said.
“My thoughts are with you in this very difficult time.”
READ MORE: Virus’ hidden damage to the brain
Richard Ferguson 1pm: WHO shifts its position on Chinese wet markets
The World Health Organisation is backing away from its previous advice that Chinese wet markets do not need to close, with its COVID-19 envoy saying they are a “real danger”.
The UN body’s Western Pacific headquarters had previously told The Australian that it would not advocate for the closing of the markets — blamed for the initial COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan — as they were sources of livelihood and food security.
But amid growing outcry over the advice, WHO special COVID-19 envoy David Nabarro told the BBC that wet markets were a threat.
“We don’t have the capacity to police the world. Instead, what we have to do is offer advice and guidance, and there’s very clear advice from the Food and Agriculture Organisation and WHO that said there are real dangers in these kinds of environments,” he said.
“75 per cent of emerging infections come from the animal kingdom. It’s partly the markets, but it’s also other places where humans and animals are in close contact. Just make absolutely certain that you’re not creating opportunities for viral spread.”
A spokesman for the WHO Western Pacific headquarters earlier told The Australian:
“WHO does not advocate to prohibit wet markets because they are a source of livelihood to many people and a source of food security to many people. But it is necessary to regulate them and introduce measures to decrease the risk of transmission of diseases at them. With adequate facilities, proper regulation and good hygiene practices it is possible to have safe food sold in wet markets,” he said.
“In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, we have engaged directly with China’s National Health Commission to advocate safety improvements at wet markets and safety precautions that wet market workers should take. We’ve also been advising the public about safe food preparation and safety precautions at wet markets.
“The Government of China banned the trade of wildlife and strengthened hygiene standards in local wet markets in February. It is WHO’s understanding that these laws continue to be enforced through provincial and municipal authorities under Central Government oversight”
READ MORE: Scott Morrison pressures WHO as China reopens wet markets
PATRICK COMMINS 12.45pm: Treasurer plays down dire IMF outlook
Josh Frydenberg has played down the IMF’s dire outlook for the Australian economy, saying the international body’s economists finalised their forecasts before the announcement of the government’s $130bn JobKeeper package and before we successfully “bent the curve” of new coronavirus cases.
The International Monetary Fund’s latest World Economic Outlook, released overnight, predicts the worst year for the global economy since the Great Depression in the 1930s, with the hit to growth eclipsing that seen during the GFC. Australia’s economy will contract by 6.7 per cent this year, the IMF said, before rebounding 6.1 per cent in 2021.
Notably, the IMF forecasts the jobless rate will reach 7.6 per cent this year, before climbing to 8.9 per cent in the next, despite the expected economic recovery.
When quizzed about the prediction of a climbing jobless rate, the Treasurer this morning said the IMF’s outlook was completed before the announcement of the $1500 a fortnight wage subsidy program, a measure which “will ensure many Australians remain in their jobs and won’t be joining the dole queue”.
Mr Frydenberg also said that at the time the IMF was putting together their figures, the Australian “curve” tracing the rate of new COVID-19 cases was “heading in the wrong direction”.
At that time “we were seeing an exponential increase in the number of infected people, but since that time we have bent that curve,” he said.
“The success on the health side also helps determine the broader economic impacts.”
Mr Frydenberg agreed that this reasoning also supported the view that the IMF may be too pessimistic in its GDP growth forecasts.
Treasury economists believe the unemployment rate will peak at 10 per cent this year, 5 percentage points lower than would have otherwise been the case had the JobKeeper program not been implemented.
READ MORE: Worst year since Great Depression says IMF
ANGELICA SNOWDEN 12.35pm: 66 residents isolated in Sydney aged-care outbreak
NSW Health says 66 residents 31 staff and are in isolation after an outbreak of COVID-19 in an aged-care facility in western Sydney. At the Anglicare Newmarch House aged care facility in Caddens six staff and four residents have tested positive to coronavirus.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said earlier today that the source of the outbreak, a health care worker, was “distraught” she had unknowingly passed on the virus after going to work with mild flu-like symptoms. The health care worker also worked at Greystanes Disability Services in Jamisontown in Sydney’s west where four residents and six staff are also in self isolation after they came into close contact.
The health authority said 140 Ruby Princess crew members have now tested positive for COVID-19, up by 13 confirmed cases in 24 hours. A total of 369 passengers have COVID-19. There have been no changes in the number of passengers diagnosed since yesterday.
READ MORE: Infected Sydney aged-care worker spreads virus to nine others
ELIAS VISONTAY 12.30pm: Smartphone app’s legal and privacy issues
The government is working through privacy-related legal issues ahead of the release of a smartphone app to help health authorities who are contact tracing confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Josh Frydenberg said Attorney-General Christian Porter is working through the legal ramifications of the location recording app, which the Treasurer said will be modelled on the technology used by the Singaporean government and will be voluntary to sign up to.
Mr Frydenberg did not respond directly to a question about whether uptake of the app would lead to an easing of social restrictions. “It’s all about protecting the safety of Australians and if you’ve come into contact with someone who has the coronavirus, that obviously increases the chances that you’ve been affected by it, and of course it’s in your interests to know that and it’s in the interests of people around you to know that. The app is voluntary, it’s an opt in, and the privacy issues are being worked through by the Attorney-General.”
READ MORE: Virus contact-tracing app to help set us free
Rachel Baxendale 12.25pm: Vic unveils $500m package for renters, landlords
The Andrews government has announced a $500 million relief package for Victorian residential and commercial renters and landlords, which will include rent relief for tenants experiencing financial hardship, as well as land tax relief for property owners.
The legislation, which will also include the temporary ban on evictions and pause on rental increases for six months agreed upon by National Cabinet, will be voted on at an emergency sitting of state parliament on Thursday week.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the social distancing restrictions designed to help slow the spread of coronavirus had had “widespread economic consequences, leaving many businesses with no cashflow to pay their rent, and many workers without jobs — making it increasingly difficult for them to pay rent at home.”
“To get through this crisis, we all have to work together. Partnerships will have to be formed between tenants and landlords, and landlords and their banks — to help people continue to pay the rent and keep a roof over their heads,” Mr Andrews said in a joint statement with Treasurer Tim Pallas and Consumer Affairs Minister Marlene Kairouz.
“Tenants and landlords who struggle to strike a deal over rent reductions will be given access to a fast-tracked dispute resolution service, with Consumer Affairs Victoria or the Victorian Small Business Commission mediating to ensure fair agreements are reached.”
Mr Andrews said the government was providing $420m in land tax relief to encourage landlords to “do the right thing by their tenants”.
If a landlord provides tenants impacted by coronavirus with rent relief, they will be eligible for a 25 per cent discount on their land tax, while any remaining land tax can be deferred until March 2021
The government will appoint a new Coronavirus Relief Deputy Commissioner, working out of the State Revenue Office, to manage land tax relief claims.
Evictions will be banned for residential tenancies for six months, except in “special circumstances” such as malicious damage to property, or a landlord needing to move back into their own property. Evictions will also be banned for six months for the non-payment of rent for commercial tenancies involving small and medium-sized businesses.
READ MORE: Landlords show home renters little mercy
PATRICK COMMINS 12.15pm: Consumer confidence’s record slump: Westpac
Consumer confidence has suffered a historic collapse in April, with Westpac’s monthly sentiment gauge plunging the most in its 47-year history to around levels last seen during the recessions of the 1980s and 1990s.
The Westpac-Melbourne Institute index fell 18 per cent to 75.6 in April, from 91.9 in March, tracing the extraordinary spread of the coronavirus around the world and the ramping up of social isolation measures to control the rate of new infections in Australia and abroad.
Consumers are now almost as gloomy as they were during the deep recession of the early 1990s, when the index reached as low as 64.6 points, and as pessimistic as they were during the downturn a decade before that.
READ THE FULL STORY here
ELIAS VISONTAY 12pm: Frydenberg acknowledges role WHO plays in Pacific
Josh Frydenberg has blasted the World Health Organisation’s view on the safety of wet markets as “unbelievable”, while distancing Australia from US President Donald Trump’s decision to halt funding to the body.
The Treasurer acknowledged the right of the United States to withdraw funding, but said Australia would instead make its concerns known to the WHO.
“It’s extraordinary that the World Health Organisation sees it fit for these wet markets to continue in China. They shouldn’t,” Mr Frydenberg said.
“They’ve been the source of outbreaks that have killed people around the world.
“In terms of Australia, we see the World Health Organisation playing an important role, particularly in our region, and that’s important to Australia and, as you know, we have funded the World Health Organisation but that doesn’t mean that we’ve agreed with them on everything
“We see the World Health Organisation contributing to Health Engine outcomes in our region. Some of the work they do in developing countries is important. And we play our role in supporting global organisations through the UN.
Mr Frydenberg said while Australia acknowledges the role the WHO plays in the Pacific region, it doesn’t mean “we don’t disagree with them from time to time”.
“So we will make those views known about areas where we think the World Health Organisation can do a better job but we’ll obviously continue to support global bodies.”
READ MORE: WHO an expensive lame duck
ANGELICA SNOWDEN 11.50am: Keyboard warriors who target health workers slammed
Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein said it is “not acceptable” for keyboard warriors to harass healthcare workers online amid the COVID-19 outbreak in the state’s north west.
“This shouldn’t be an opportunity for those that want to get online and vilify and take aim,” he said.
“Anyone that’s thinking about lining up a health care worker, taking a pot shot at them, should just draw breath and accept that there is a process under way.”
Yesterday the Premier quashed claims made by Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy about an “illegal” dinner party hosted by healthcare workers. Mr Murphy retracted his claims after Mr Gutwein branded them as “rumour” and said there was no evidence such a gathering took place and led to the outbreak in two hospitals in Burnie.
The Premier said there are 15 new cases of coronavirus in the state — all of them are linked with the north west cluster. There are now 165 cases in Tasmania and a total of six deaths after health authorities confirmed a 91-year-old woman died on Tuesday.
READ MORE: Tasmania’s health system is done like a dinner
Ben McKay 11.40am: Ardern and her Cabinet to take 20 per cent pay cut
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced that her Cabinet will take a 20 per cent pay cut for the next six months to reflect the tough economic conditions during the COVID-19 crisis.
“This is not going to change the government books but for us it’s about leadership,” she said.
“It’s an acknowledgment of the hit many New Zealanders are taking right now.” The pay cut will also be extended to senior public servants.
Health officials have announced 20 further cases of the virus on Wednesday, but no further deaths. However, local news outlet Stuff reports an Invercargill man who tested positive for the disease has died in his home.
That death would be the 10th New Zealander to die during the global pandemic. — AAP
READ MORE: Pay rise freeze for MPs, judges and senior public servants
Agencies 11.30am: NYC death toll soars as tally adds ‘probable’ cases
The official death toll from the coronavirus has soared in New York City after health authorities began including people who probably had COVID-19, but died without ever being tested. Officials reported 3778 “probable” deaths, where doctors were certain enough of the cause of death to list it on the death certificate, and 6589 confirmed by a lab test. Combined, that would put the total fatalities in the city over 10,000.
The change in the city’s accounting of deaths came after officials acknowledged that statistics based only on laboratory-confirmed tests were failing to account for many people dying at home before they reached a hospital or even sought treatment.
“Behind every death is a friend, a family member, a loved one. We are focused on ensuring that every New Yorker who died because of COVID-19 gets counted,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. “While these data reflect the tragic impact that the virus has had on our city, they will also help us to determine the scale and scope of the epidemic and guide us in our decisions.” New Yorkers continue to die at an unnerving pace even as the number of patients in hospitals has levelled off. Officials said 778 deaths were recorded statewide Monday, bringing New York’s total to more than 10,800.
READ MORE: WHO failed its basic duty: Trump
Charlie Peel 11.10am: Palaszczuk: keep your kids home from school if you can
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has continued to urge parents to keep their children home from school if they are able to do so, despite Prime Minister Scott Morrison encouraging students to return to classrooms.
The state government on Monday announced lessons would be conducted online for the first five weeks of Term 2, which starts on Monday. Ms Palaszczuk said the national cabinet had supported the state’s decision, which has been replicated in other states.
“In terms of what we announced, there was support for that position,” she said. “I took that position to the previous national cabinet. If you look at what the Prime Minister said, schools are open, teachers will be at the schools in Queensland, they will be open for the students of essential workers and they are also open for vulnerable students. I think we’ve got that mix right, here in Queensland.”
Ms Palaszczuk said the children of parents who could supervise them should not go to school “at this stage”.
“We have talked about this at length and I’m very comfortable about the position Queensland has taken on this,” Ms Palaszczuk said. “Anyone who is in the workforce is considered an essential worker.”
Ms Palaszczuk said parents who were unsure if they could send their children to school should contact their school’s principal. Asked what would happen if an influx of students turned up for school and put social distancing measures in jeopardy, Ms Palaszczuk said: “I doubt that will happen”.
The Premier has praised the national cabinet model that has been adopted to deal with the crisis and has previously praised Mr Morrison for his collaborative approach. “I’m very comfortable with the national cabinet continuing in its current situation,” she said on Wednesday. “I think Australians and Queenslanders have seen the national cabinet working very well together and making decisions.”
READ MORE: Premiers back PM move to keep crisis cabinet
Nick Evans 11am: Panoramic forced to mothball Savannah mine
Troubled West Australian nickel producer Panoramic Resources says it has mothballed its Savannah nickel mine in the Kimberley region over the impact of coronavirus lockdowns, saying it cannot continue to operate the mine in the face of the restrictions.
While most mines in WA have won exemptions from internal movement restrictions and increased the length of work shifts to reduce the number of people moving within the state, the remote Kimberley has tougher rules because of fears the virus could devastate vulnerable indigenous communities.
Panoramic said in late March it believed it could operate the mine despite the restrictions, but now says it has been forced to mothball Savannah.
READ THE FULL STORY here
Rachel Baxendale 10.55am: Andrews says Vic strategy is working, 8 more cases
Only eight more cases of coronavirus have been recorded in Victoria in the past 24 hours, bringing the state’s total to 1299.
Victoria’s death toll remains 14, with no deaths in recent days. There are 39 Victorians in hospital with COVID-19, including 18 in intensive care.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the stable numbers showed the social distancing “strategy is working”.
Victoria’s parliament will hold an emergency sitting next Thursday April 23 to pass urgent legislation to help deal with the economic crisis sparked by the COVID-10 pandemic.
Laws currently being drafted include tenancy reforms agreed upon by National Cabinet and appropriation bills to ensure healthcare workers and other key public sector staff continue to be paid despite the postponement of the 2020 state budget.
In a joint statement Leader of the House Jacinta Allan and Leader of the government in the Legislative Council Jaclyn Symes said all members of parliament would be offered briefings on the legislation before it is introduced to the parliament, with Question Time held in both houses.
“While Parliament House is normally a busy place with large numbers of staff, media and visitors in addition to members, this emergency sitting will follow practices observed by the commonwealth parliament to protect members of parliament and staff,” Ms Allan and Ms Symes said. “A reduced number of MPs will be present in each chamber and a skeleton staff will be present to ensure both houses are able to function.
“The government will move motions in each house to amend the arrangements for the day to allow for urgent passage of these bills and make other temporary changes to allow MPs to continue representing their communities by tabling members statements rather than having to read them out in each house.”
The government has also agreed to allow state parliament’s Public Accounts and Estimates Committee to conduct an inquiry into the management of the COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria.
READ MORE: $500m to keep tourism afloat
Charlie Peel 10.50am: Qld cases rise by 5, elective surgeries to resume
Queensland is preparing to resume elective surgeries and health screenings after services were suspended to make available hospital beds and equipment for an expected influx of coronavirus patients. It comes as the state’s virus tally rose by only five cases overnight, the lowest rise since early March.
Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles said the state’s low number of cases — at 999 as of Wednesday morning — meant hospitals were preparing to reintroduce elective surgeries.
“We have a high-level taskforce within Queensland Health, including representatives from our hospital and health services, interpreting how and what elective surgery and screenings can recommence,” he said. “We suspended all non-urgent elective surgery on the expectation that we would see that accelerated number of COVID-19 cases. Thanks to the efforts of Queenslanders, we haven’t.
“(There is) a very low number in our hospitals — just 24, so that means there is scope to recommence surgeries for more urgent, more debilitating cases as well as screenings for those cancers and other diseases which if we identify them early we can increase the chance of people surviving.”
Mr Miles said breast screening would also be introduced as soon as possible. “We don’t want to see women dying of breast cancer because they weren’t breast screened during this pandemic,” he said. “Wherever possible, and whenever safe, our hospitals will work hard to deliver those services.”
Category 1 surgeries have been allowed to continue, while Category 2 surgeries could soon be expected to recommence. Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said many of the recently recorded positive COVID-19 cases were from people who had travelled interstate and returned to Queensland.
Police last week increased the lockdown measures on the state’s borders, requiring anyone entering Queensland to have a permit or to go into quarantine. Hundreds of motorists have been turned away at the border. “We now have 17 Queenslanders who acquired their COVID-19 infection from having travelled interstate and then returned to Queensland,” Dr Young said.
“So it is really, really important if you don’t need to leave your own community, please don’t.
“Definitely don’t travel interstate and if you do travel interstate, in most cases, you will be required to go into quarantine for 14 days on return.”
READ MORE: All is in place for nation to reconsider the rate of GST
Elias Visontay 10.45am: Tehan defends decision to keep schools open
Education Minister Dan Tehan has defended the government’s decision to keep schools open as maintaining “a very consistent message right across the nation” despite concerns about adherence to social distancing measures. Mr Tehan’s comments come as schools in some states return after the term one break, with facilities remaining open for children of essential workers and parents in other circumstances.
Last week, Mr Tehan said independent school funding from the government would be contingent on the sector remaining open. “The clear message is for all those parents who are working, and they can’t look after their children safely at home, schools are open and your students can attend school. For all those vulnerable children, school’s open and you can attend school,” Mr Tehan said on Wednesday.
He noted that schools had been advised to have extra hand sanitiser, encourage extra washing of hands, stagger lunchtime breaks for different cohorts, and give teachers over 65 a non-classroom teaching role.
“Can I say too to all those parents who are out there working, please do not feel guilty about sending your students to school. You are playing a vital role in helping our economy.”
He also said it was important for schools to remain open for families where there were limited access to computers, and for remote communities where online learning is not possible.
“We want to make sure that our schools are open for those children.”
READ MORE: PM’s plea — send your kids back to school
LILLY VITOROVICH 10.40am: Embattled media industry secures $90m in support
The Morrison government will provide some short-term financial relief to the embattled media industry, including $41m in spectrum tax rebates and $50m for regional journalism, as the coronavirus crisis wipes out advertising revenue.
The government has also agreed to suspend Australian drama, children’s and documentary content quotas this year, which has been a thorn for the free-to-air television and subscription television companies for years. It will also fast-track the consultation process on how best to support Australian stories on screens.
Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said “many Australians are doing it tough right now and the media sector is sharing that pain, especially in regional areas”.
“Broadcasters and newspapers face significant financial pressure and COVID-19 has led to a sharp downturn in advertising revenue across the whole sector,” he said in a statement on Wednesday. “We are acting to offer urgent short-term support to the media sector. At the same time we are progressing our December 2019 commitment to consult on the future framework to support Australian stories on our screens.”
The government’s announcement, which was foreshadowed by The Australian on Tuesday, comes a day after regional publisher Australian Community Media became the latest to suspend the publication of several newspapers and stand down staff as the coronavirus crisis wipes out advertising revenue.
READ MORE: Virus cash for media
Elias Visontay 10.20am: Marles: Don't walk away from WHO
Deputy Opposition Leader Richard Marles says Australia “should not be walking away” from the World Health Organisation despite concerns over its handling of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Mr Marles’ comments come after US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday morning (AEST) he was halting financial support to the WHO over its response to the coronavirus.
It comes after China reopened its wet markets – understood to be the first source of human transmission of COVID-19 – with Liberal MP Dave Sharma calling on Australia to make significant demands of the WHO for its “underwhelming” action on wet markets.
Speaking to Sky News on Wednesday, Mr Marles said: “There’s a conversation that can be had about how the World Health Organisation can be reformed.
“But at the end of the day, we should not be walking away from it and the world needs a strong organisation and that means our participation with it.”
Regarding the development of a smartphone app to assist in COVID-19 contact tracing, Mr Marles said the government had not yet consulted Labor about the technology.
“It’s not surprising that the government is thinking about this if they are, because these apps have been used and used, to be frank, with some success in other parts of the world where this virus is being managed well.
“But...it comes at a very significant cost in terms of the people’s individual liberties and so this is a conversation that needs to be had with the Australian people.”
READ MORE: Trump halts funding for WHO
Remy Varga 10.10am: Skaters, tennis players hit by fines
Skaters, tennis players and eight youths socialising at a closed school are the latest to be hit by social distancing fines.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said 52 infringements had been issued in the last 24 hours with 824 spot checks conducted at homes, businesses and non-essential services in the state.
Breaches of social distancing included 10 youths at a skate park in Greater Dandenong, six people playing tennis together in Maribyrnong and eight youths socialising at a closed school as well as multiple instances of private gatherings.
Robert Gottliebsen 9.40am: Are experts or the sharemarkets right?
For the second time in three months, global sharemarkets have taken the opposite stance to the “experts”. Back in February sharemarkets boomed, despite countless warnings from medical experts of the virus crisis ahead.
That time the markets were wrong, and a huge fall followed. Now the economic “experts” are saying that the world faces a severe downturn and medical experts are warning that there will be no lasting relief from the clampdown unless a vaccine is discovered and tested, which will take at least a year. But markets expect a much quicker recovery with the help of contact testing technology. Will the markets be right on the second time around? Naturally no one knows. but it is fascinating to see the drivers.
READ the full story here.
Elias Visontay 9.25am: Sharma: Tie WHO funding to reforms
Liberal MP Dave Sharma says Australia and other countries that fund the World Health Organisation should make significant demands for reforms in the way it operates after the COVID-19 crisis.
Mr Sharma’s comments come after US President Donald Trump announced he was halting funding to the body on Wednesday morning (AEST), in response to its handling of the coronavirus outbreak.
On Wednesday morning, Mr Sharma told Sky News the WHO’s attitude toward wet markets – where exotic animals are sold – had been underwhelming as China looks to reopen the controversial marketplace that was the Ground Zero COVID-19.
“We’re a significant donor to the WHO as well in terms of assessed contributions and also voluntary contributions. So I expect that we’ll be having more to say on this once the worst of this crisis is behind us,” Mr Sharma said.
“I think countries like Australia, Korea, Japan, the United States, together we account for a significant part of the WHO’s budget and I think it’s pretty obvious that we’ll all be demanding some significant reforms to how the WHO operates after this crisis.
“I think we should make sure that we condition our future funding upon necessary reforms. Now we’ll need to settle on those reforms with a group of other countries and like-minded countries as well. This is generally how we drive change in the international system, is we make our continued contributions, continued support for an international organisation, contingent upon reforms that must be done.”
“I think the WHO’s attitude towards (wet markets), and they only give advice, has been a little underwhelming. They seem to have given the all clear for wet markets in China to reopen. Now I think that’s very worrying. It seems pretty obvious that the source of this COVID-19 was a wet market in Wuhan, China.
“I think any responsible government would be keeping their wet markets closed until we can be certain that we’ve got proper safeguards in place.”
READ MORE: WHO failed in its basic duty: Trump
Adeshola Ore 9.20am: Infected aged care worker ‘had no symptoms’
Anglicare Sydney CEO Grant Millard s-id the healthcare worker who passed the virus on to residents at her aged care facility was not displaying symptoms of the virus when she was at work.
Earlier, NSW’s chief medical officer Dr Kerry Chant said the employee had a “scratchy throat” and pleaded with aged care workers to carefully monitor their health.
The staff member last worked at Newmarch House in Caddens on April 6, before requesting time off. Mr Millard said he was unsure of the reason for leave, but said the worker was not unwell at work.
“Nothing was disclosed to us. She did not display any symptoms.”
The latest outbreak comes as aged care providers plead with the federal government for a $1.3 billion rescue package to keep the sector afloat during the coronavirus pandemic.
Australia’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly has backed calls for casual healthcare workers in the aged car sector to be supported when they are sick.
Mr Millard said the staff member was a permanent part-time employee. He described the federal government’s funding of the aged care sector as “woefully inadequate”
“We still provide quality of care and we’re proud of what we do”.
“In order to reduce the risk of casual staff members turning up, even though they are unwell, thinking, ‘I have to get food on the table,’ we put in place several weeks ago a policy where any staff member who is feeling unwell, even rostered casuals, we will still pay them, so they don’t run the risk and turn up to work.”
READ MORE: Infections tipped to rise in winter
gelica Snowden 9.10am: Berejiklian ‘keen’ for return to school
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she is “keen” to see an increase in face-to-face teaching at schools in term two.
The premier said she would make sure she kept the public updated on those developments.
“I anticipate the first couple of weeks will be similar to what parents experienced in term one,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We will have something to say before term two goes back,” she said.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said ongoing research has revealed that most COVID-19 transmission occurred between adults, not children in a promising sign that students would be encouraged to return to school.
She said research was ongoing and would be released publicly shortly.
READ MORE: PM’s plea: send kids back to school
Angelica Snowden 8.40am: Infected aged care worker ‘distraught’
New Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant says a staff member at an aged-care facility in western Sydney is “distraught” she passed COVID-19 onto 10 people at the centre.
She confirmed that there are 10 cases linked with the outbreak at the Anglicare Newmarch House in Caddens.
Six staff and four residents tested positive to coronavirus.
Dr Chant said the health care worker had very mild symptoms.
Anglicare Sydney’s CEO said the centre was contacting family members of all affected residents.
“Obviously some family members are very distressed by this. We are organisationally distressed by this as well,” Grant Millard told the ABC on Wednesday.
The female health carer worked six shifts at the Anglicare Newmarch House in Caddens, which was placed in lockdown on Saturday after she tested positive.
Mr Millard said the staff member was a permanent part-time employee.
READ MORE: Staff told to isolate after nurse falls ill
Cameron Stewart 8.30am: Trump halts WHO funding over virus ‘mismanagement’
Donald Trump has halted US funding of the World Health Organisation, saying the UN agency failed in its responsibility to warn the world about the deadly nature of the coronavirus.
Mr Trump said WHO failed in its “basic duty’’ to “obtain information in a timely and transparent fashion’’ about the nature and contagious risk posed by the virus as it emerged in Wuhan in China.
"It would have been so easy to be truthful," says @POTUS of the @WHO. pic.twitter.com/bkBOUm7O2n
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) April 14, 2020
The president accused WHO of “severely mismanaging and covering up’’ the coronavirus and of taking China at its word about claims that the virus could not be transmitted to humans.
“The WHO willingly took China’s assurances at face value...even praising China for its so-called transparency,’’ Mr Trump said “The WHO said it was not communicable, saying there was no need for travel bans.’’
He said the US, which is easily the largest funder of WHO, would suspend its $US400 million to $US500 million annual contribution pending a review into the actions of the agency.
“The US has a duty to insist on full accountability...we will continue to engage with WHO to see if it can make meaningful reforms,’’ he said.
Read the full story here
READ MORE: WHO an expensive lame duck
Angelica Snowden 8.15am: Berejiklian orders probe into Ruby debacle
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced a special commission of inquiry into the Ruby Princess debacle.
The inquiry, which will last three to four months, will be overseen by Bret Walker SC, who successfully had Cardinal George Pell’s conviction for historical sexual abuse overturned by the High Court last week.
Ms Berejiklian said Mr Walker has unlimited powers and can choose how to use them.
“Everyone wants answers, everyone wants to get to the bottom of that issue,” she said.
The terms of reference will be determined in the next few days and the inquiry is due to start immediately.
Ms Berejiklian also announced the NSW State Government would provide an additional $50 million worth of funding to support small business.
Any business which pays a license fee to the state government will have that fee waived.
New Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said 16 additional cases of COVID-19 were reported in the state overnight.
She said 214 were being treated by NSW health, with 29 in the ICU and 18 on ventilators.
No deaths have been reported in the past 24 hours.
NSW Health revealed on Tuesday that the number of infected personnel on the Ruby Princess had more than doubled in the past week, with 128 of the 1056 crew confirmed to have the disease — 69 crew members remained symptomatic for the virus, while 59 who were thought to have recovered have since tested positive.
However, The Australian has learned the number of those infected could be far higher, with only a quarter of those on-board so far tested.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said he is working towards Ruby Princess departing NSW on Sunday.
Mr Fuller said authorities would fly in additional crew if need be to help the vessel to depart if commodore Giorgio Pomata has COVID-19 and is too ill.
Mr Fuller said police would provide all information they gleaned over the initial weekend of investigation to support the special inquiry.
He said a 20-year-old man was taken off the ship last night to be treated for appendicitis.
READ MORE: Health fear for Princess’ Captain Corona
Elias Visontay 8.00am: Government ‘extraordinarily intransigent’ over Virgin
Labor is continuing its calls for the government to intervene to stop Virgin Australia from collapse, with opposition transport spokeswoman Catherine King arguing it is not in the national interest to have a monopoly airlines industry.
Ms King urged the government to consider taking an equity stake in the struggling airline, which halted trading on the ASX earlier this week, the second time since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have seen the government already do some extraordinary things that we would never ever have thought to see a Liberal government do in order to make sure the national interest is served. And we’re very clearly arguing we think it’s in the national interest to continue to have two carriers,” Ms King told ABC Radio National on Wednesday morning.
“I think (the government) has been extraordinarily intransigent when it comes to Virgin. I fail to understand why they don’t think it is in the national interest to have two carriers.”
Ms King pointed out the government has equity in the Inland Rail project which “is not expected to recoup its investments…(for) 40 years). She also noted government support for the Regional Express airline, which she said is 59 per cent foreign owned.
“It can’t argue that it’s not got equity investments in other sorts of industries.”
READ MORE: PM refuses to budge on Virgin bailout
Angelica Snowden 7.55am: Latham: relax restrictions in regions
One Nation MP Mark Latham says it is time to develop a COVID-19 “exit strategy”, calling for social distancing practices to be relaxed in regional areas.
NSW One Nation leader believes a "geographic" approach is the best way to end restrictions.https://t.co/EUB0w1tU6m
— 2GB 873 (@2GB873) April 14, 2020
“I think there are over 100 local government areas that haven’t had a single infection,” Mr Latham said on 2GB.
“With regional travel restrictions still in place wouldn’t it be safe to reopen their economy? Reopen their cafes, restaurants, hospitality sector to give those country towns a sense of normality,” he said.
“I think you could have a geographic easing of restrictions.”
Mr Latham also said that resources should be dedicated to protecting the most vulnerable in society rather than locking up everyone indefinitely.
“You could also have the isolation for the most vulnerable group, the elderly,” he said.
“We haven’t had a single person under the age of 50 who has passed away because of the virus,
“If we take the group 65 and over who are most vulnerable and urge them to self isolate then that would be effective.”
READ MORE: Paul Kelly writes: Nothing will challenge our pre-crisis values
Adeshola Ore 7.45am: Qld teachers union lashes PM over school return plea
The President of the Queensland Teachers Union has criticised Scott Morrison for interfering with state’s messages on schools during coronavirus, labelling it as a “blunder,” and telling the PM to “butt out” of the issue.
The President of the Queensland Teachers Union has told Scott Morrison to "butt out" after he advised parents that it is safe to send children back to school. #9Today pic.twitter.com/EIOdMgexfA
— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) April 14, 2020
In a video message posted to social media on Wednesday, the Prime Minister urged parents to send their children back to school, saying the education of students “hangs in the balance”.
Kevin Bates told the Today show on Wednesday: “It’s a bit ironic when just over a fortnight ago, teachers and principals’ roles in all of this was invisible to the prime minister.
“Suddenly the Prime Minister turns all of this on its head and sends a message out to the community that’s in complete contradiction to what the premiers of Victoria and Queensland have said to their people.”
In Victoria, state schools will begin a remote learning program on Wednesday. Queensland schools will also offer remote learning until at least May 22.
Mr Bates said student’s education would continue during the coronavirus shutdown.
“Our young people will not suffer from a short period of hiatus around their learning and teachers are prepared to deliver in a wide variety of ways.”
READ MORE: PM’s plea: Send kids back to school
Angelica Snowden 7.40am: Berejiklian to announce Ruby inquiry at 8am
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian will hold a press conference on the coronavirus pandemic in her state at 8am AEST.
The Premier is expected to announce a special inquiry into the Ruby Princess and provide an update on the number of COVID-19 cases in the state.
Ms Berejiklian’s press conference can be watched live above.
Anne Barrowclough 7.25am: UK deaths 50 pc higher than official total
Deaths from coronavirus in the UK are 50 per cent higher than the official total according to the country’s Office for National Statistics.
ONS statistics show 6,253 deaths in England and Wales with Covid-19 mentioned on the death certificate on April 3. In comparison, the official toll was 4,093. The disparity has arisen because the daily government announcements cover only deaths in hospitals, not the community, The Times reports.
The data also shows that the week up to April 3 saw the highest weekly death total from all causes in England and Wales since recording began in 2005, at 16,837.
In London, almost half (46.6 per cent) of recorded deaths were coronavirus-related. A high proportion of deaths in the Midlands were also linked to the virus.
Angelica Snowden 7.15am: Lambie: no knowing if Tassie has enough resources
Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie says she is worried the state might not have enough resources to cope with the coronavirus pandemic, as cases jumped by nearly 50 on the weekend.
Senator Lambie said the pandemic “scares the hell” out of people living in Tasmania.
“I think that scares the hell out of us,” Ms Lambie said on the Today Show.
“We don’t know whether we have all the resources that we need down here,” she said.
“It depends who you ask.”
The Senator said she does not know whether rumours about an illegal dinner party are true, but is confident the police investigation will bring the truth to the surface.
“I don’t know, to be honest with you, with the rumours,” she said.
“The Tasmanian police are investigating it,
“I think that the premier is not putting up with any rubbish throughout this whole situation.”
READ MORE: We might never get rid of virus: experts
Adeshola Ore 7.05am: US deaths double in one week
The number of deaths from coronavirus in the US have doubled in one week, topping 25,000 according to a Reuters tally.
The country has more COVID-19 fatalities than any other country, with deaths rising by about 1,500 on Tuesday. There are almost 597,000 cases in the country.
While sweeping lockdown restrictions have helped to curb the spread of the virus, it has taken a painful toll on the economy. Government officials have now begun debating when it might be safe to begin reopening some sectors of the economy.
The Governor of New York has labelled Donald Trump “schizophrenic†amid a feud over reopening strategies. #9Today pic.twitter.com/sabymHksDH
— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) April 14, 2020
In China, early-stage human tests of two coronavirus vaccines have been approved. China has reported 82,249 coronavirus cases and 3,341 deaths. It reported no new deaths on Tuesday
In Singapore, a further 334 new coronavirus cases were recorded on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases to 3,252 since the start of the outbreak. The countryvbis under partial lockdown to try to curb a recent surge in infections
India has extended its lockdown until May 3 as the number of coronavirus cases surpassed 10,000. Neighbouring countries Pakistan and Nepal also extended their curbs.
READ MORE: Trump finally understands how serious this is
Angelica Snowden 6.45am: Pandemic peak yet to come, WHO warns
The pandemic peak is yet to come despite new cases of COVID-19 cases tailing off in some parts of Europe, including Italy and Spain, the World Health Organisation has warned.
As cases continued to grow in the UK, WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told a briefing in Geneva that the peak was still ahead.
“The overall world outbreak – 90 per cent of cases are coming from Europe and the United States of America. So we are certainly not seeing the peak yet,” Ms Harris said.
Britain
The UK, whose government has come under criticism for its slow approach to testing and for not getting protective equipment to the frontlines of health care, has the fifth-highest death toll globally.
The toll in British hospitals rose to 12,107 as of Wednesday local time but is expected to be much higher when deaths in the community are included.
On Wednesday, the UK had recorded 94,845 COVID-19 cases.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said there would be no easing of lockdown measures when they come up for review this week.
Mr Raab, deputising for Prime Minister Boris Johnson who is recuperating from the virus, would extend the curbs until at least May 7.
Spain
Some Spanish businesses, including construction and manufacturing, are allowed to resume work. Shops, bars and public spaces are to stay closed until at least April 26.
Health Minister Salvador Illa said on Tuesday. Spain was flattening the curve.
The overnight death toll from the coronavirus rose to 567 on Tuesday from 517 a day earlier, but the country reported its lowest increase in new cases since March 18.
Total deaths climbed to 18,056.
Italy
Italy, which has the world’s second highest death toll at 21,067, maintained tight restrictions on movement.
The number of new positives for the coronavirus is at its lowest level in a month.
Italy’s civil protection agency reported 2,972 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, the lowest number since March 13, when 2,547 cases were reported.
Italy has registered a total 162,488 positives since the virus broke out on February 21.
France
The death toll in France has passed 15,000, rising to 15,729 as new cases appear to be stabilising in the country.
National health agency chief Jerome Salomon says France registered 762 deaths over the past 24 hours in hospitals and nursing homes.
The number of people admitted to a hospital every day is slowing down and the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care units slightly dropped for the sixth straight day, he says.
France also passed 100,000 people testing positive for the virus since the outbreak began, one day after French President Emmanuel Macron announced the lockdown in the country will be extended until May 11.
The French foreign minister summoned China’s ambassador to France to express his “clear disapproval” of recent comments over France’s dealing with the coronavirus crisis.
In a statement Tuesday, Jean-Yves Le Drian said some public remarks from Chinese officials were not in line with the relation of “trust and friendship” between French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
A long statement in French was released on the website of China’s embassy in France in an apparent response to criticism from Western media, experts and politicians over China’s handling of the virus outbreak.
READ MORE: Britain may be through the worst
Jacquelin Magnay 6.40am: UK economy set to fall off cliff
Britain’s Office for Budget Responsibility has issued dire predictions that the United Kingdom economy is set to plummet off a cliff edge, with GDP potentially shrinking by 35 per cent between April and June, with unemployment surging by more than two million.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said he was “troubled’’ by the OBR figures, saying the public would feel the impact of the coronavirus crisis but he was hopeful that the government measures would make a difference.
Mr Sunak said he wants the economy to bounce back “quickly and strongly’’ but admitted life would be difficult in the short term.
READ the full story here.
Rosie Lewis 6.30am: PM’s plea – send kids back to school
Scott Morrison has turned to social media to urge parents to send their children back to school, saying the education of students “hangs in the balance”.
It comes as Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy pushes for children to return to school, warning state governments are keeping them closed not on health advice but because of the fear of parents and teachers.
In a move aimed at forcing the issue to the top of the national cabinet’s agenda, the Prime Minister says in a video message posted to Facebook: “It’s so important that children are able to keep physically going to school.”
Mr Morrison underscored the importance of teachers, saying Australia “needs you more than ever.”
“I want teachers to know, from me, as a parent and a Prime Minister, just how appreciated you are and how important the job is that you’re doing and how much you’re doing,” he said.
“At this time, as our nation fights coronavirus, your job has become even more important.”
He said some children from vulnerable backgrounds would not get an education if they were at home.
“It’s the sad reality, but we know it’s true and we need to face it. These children need you for our schools to remain open.”
“We cannot allow a situation where parents are forced to choose between putting food on the table through their employment to support their kids and their kid’s education,”
READ the full story here.
Agencies 6.15am: Tour de France postponed for at least a month
The virus has forced the postponement of the Tour de France, French President Emmanuel Macron said big public events would be halted until mid-July.
Marc Madiot, president of the French cycling league and director of the Groupama-FDJ cycling team, said Macron’s comments, which included extending measures to slow the coronavirus outbreak, paved the way for the Tour to be held in August rather than its usual July.
“Based on what he told us, it seems conceivable to hold the Tour de France in the course of August,” he told Reuters.
French newspaper Le Dauphine Libere reported on Tuesday that the Tour would run from August 29-September 20.
A source with direct knowledge of the matter said the UCI, cycling’s governing body, would need to approve any new dates for the Tour. Thousands of fans gather along the roadside every day to watch the Tour and urge on the riders during the three-week race, posing a risk of spreading the virus further among the public and the cycling teams alike.
READ MORE: Peace breaks out between NRL and Nine
Agencies 5.15am: Donald Trump fires back at ‘mutinous’ US governors
Invoking the movie Mutiny on the Bounty, President Donald Trump has suggested that objections by governors to his claim of absolute authority over when to lift guidelines aimed at fighting the coronavirus were tantamount to insurrection.
Democratic and Republican governors sounded the alarm after Trump asserted that he and he alone will determine when and how to reopen the economy, despite clear constitutional limitations on federal powers.
Mr Trump, for his part, indicated he was relishing the fight with state officials who have voiced fears that the president’s ambitious timetable could lead to a resurgence of a virus that is still killing more than 1,000 Americans a day.
Tell the Democrat Governors that “Mutiny On The Bounty†was one of my all time favorite movies. A good old fashioned mutiny every now and then is an exciting and invigorating thing to watch, especially when the mutineers need so much from the Captain. Too easy!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 14, 2020
“A good old fashioned mutiny every now and then is an exciting and invigorating thing to watch, especially when the mutineers need so much from the Captain,” Mr Trump tweeted Tuesday, adding, “Too easy!”
Anxious to put the crisis behind him, Mr Trump has been discussing how to roll back federal social distancing recommendations that expire at the end of the month. He is set to launch a new advisory council that will hash out plans to reopen the American economy, which has dramatically contracted as businesses have shuttered, leaving millions of people out of work.
But after weeks of saying he would leave major decisions in the hands of states, Mr Trump abruptly reversed course on Monday, claiming that his power, despite clear constitutional limitations, was absolute.
“When somebody is president of the United States, the authority is total,” Mr Trump said at the White House. “The governors know that.” He declined to offer specifics about the source of his asserted power, claiming he would provide a legal briefing at a later date.
But governors in both parties made clear they saw things differently, and said they would decide when it was safe to begin a return to normal operations, just as they were the ones who closed things down.
We lost 778 New Yorkers yesterday to this vicious virus.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) April 14, 2020
We mourn each of them.
Remember: Our actions determine our destiny.
We flattened the curve and we must keep it up.
“The president’s position is just absurd,” said New York Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo on CBS This Morning. “It’s not the law. It’s not the Constitution. We don’t have a king. We have a president.”
New Hampshire Republican Governor Chris Sununu told CNN that “All of these executive orders are state executive orders and so therefore it would be up to the state and the governor to undo a lot of that.”
I am not running for office to be King of America. I respect the Constitution. I’ve read the Constitution. I’ve sworn an oath to it many times. I respect the great job so many of this country’s governors — Democratic and Republican — are doing under these horrific circumstances. https://t.co/vMtcfD45mG
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) April 14, 2020
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden also piled on, tweeting that he’s “not running for office to be King of America” and respects “the great job so many of this country’s governors — Democratic and Republican — are doing under these horrific circumstances.”
Leadership is about never proclaiming power. It’s about collaboration, it’s about coming together in a crisis and finding common ground. It’s about results.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) April 14, 2020
That’s who I am and the role I aspire to fulfill in guiding this democratic nation to better times.
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Yoni Bashan 5am: Fears Ruby Princess captain was exposed to virus
Fears that the commodore of the Ruby Princess has been exposed to COVID-19 have emerged as Gladys Berejiklian bowed to pressure and called a commission of inquiry into the handling of the ill-fated cruise ship.
The Australian can reveal that the crew member responsible for serving meals to commodore Giorgio Pomata was among the latest of those on-board to test positive.
The revelations of continued infections on the Ruby Princess came as the NSW Premier ordered an inquiry into the arrival of the ship into Sydney Harbour on March 19 and the decision to allow passengers to disembark before COVID-19 testing was completed.
The inquiry, to be announced today, will be overseen by Bret Walker SC, who successfully had Cardinal George Pell’s conviction for historical sexual abuse overturned by the High Court last week.
Read the full story here.
Rosie Lewis 4.45am: Send your children back to school, Morrison urges
Scott Morrison will turn to social media today to urge parents to send their children back to school, saying the education of students “hangs in the balance”.
It comes as Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy pushes for children to return to school, warning state governments are keeping them closed not on health advice but because of the fear of parents and teachers.
In a move aimed at forcing the issue to the top of the national cabinet’s agenda, the Prime Minister will say in a video message posted to Facebook: “It’s so important that children are able to keep physically going to school.”
The message coincides with the start of term two in Victoria, with students told to learn from home unless their parents are essential workers. In the video, Mr Morrison reassures parents that attending school is safe, and implores teachers to support his stance.
Read the full story here.
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