Coronavirus: Scott Morrison urges G20 to do whatever it takes on COVID-19

PM tells an extraordinary virtual G20 leaders meeting to save lives and cushion economic blow.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison takes part in a G20 video conference. Picture: Adam Taylor/PMO

Scott Morrison has used an extraordinary virtual G20 leaders meeting to advocate for an urgent twin response to the health and economic crisis fuelled by the COVID-19 pandemic, as the world’s leading economies pledged to accelerate the discovery of a vaccine and antiviral drugs.

The Prime Minister urged G20 leaders, including Donald Trump and Boris Johnson, to do “whatever it takes to fight” the spread of coronavirus.

“The COVID-19 virus respects no borders. On behalf of Australia, I urged G20 leaders to do whatever it takes to fight this twin crisis: to save lives and overcome the pandemic, and to cushion the economic blow,” Mr Morrison said.

“Collectively, G20 economies are injecting trillions into the global economy, as part of targeted fiscal policy and economic measures to counteract the social, economic and financial impacts of the pandemic.

“Australia has already announced economic measures worth nearly 10 per cent of GDP. I urged the G20 to act with resolve and urgency.”

Mr Morrison said “collective G20 action will amplify our efforts”, as leaders who took part in the late Thursday night meeting agreed to resolve disruptions to supply chains to “secure the flow of vital medical supplies”.

G20 nations committed to working together to speed up research and the discovery of a vaccine and antiviral drugs.

Mr Morrison said while countries had closed their borders to stop the spread of coronavirus, they would continue “sharing ideas and collaborating on research”.

“Australia’s world-leading researchers are working tirelessly with international partners to strengthen testing, develop treatments and, critically, to find a vaccine,” he said.

“The G20 will take all necessary health measures to contain the pandemic and protect the world’s citizens.

“Crucially, we agreed to expand manufacturing capacity for medical supplies to ensure these are made widely available, at an affordable price, on an equitable basis, where they are most needed and as quickly as possible.”

Mr Morrison also told G20 leaders that Pacific Island nations and Timor-Leste must be a “focus of international support”.

“Since January, Australia has provided support for laboratories and public information campaigns, medical equipment, health expertise and for the WHO’s regional preparedness plan.”

“We are reconfiguring our development assistance to ensure critical health services can continue to function and to help our Pacific neighbours and Timor-Leste to manage the immediate economic impacts of the pandemic.

“As we fight this virus on our shores, in our region or around the world, the G20 has committed to working together to stop the spread and to save lives.”