PoliticsNow: New travel ban for South Korea, enhanced screening for Italy
Expanded travel bans and screening processes in response to coronavirus have been announced by the Prime Minister.
- New travel ban for South Korea
- Mass school closures on cards
- Aussie toddlers stuck in Wuhan
- ‘Keep family in nursing homes’
- Focus on small business
Hello and welcome to PoliticsNow, The Australian’s live blog on the happenings at Parliament House in Canberra. Coronavirus continues to dominate headlines as Australia records its second death from the disease, with the economy faltering and the government ramping up its response, announcing new travel bans and expanded screening. Mass school closures are also on the cards.
Richard Ferguson 8.00pm: McKenzie denies changing spreadsheets
Former sports minister Bridget McKenzie claims she did not know any changes had been made to controversial colour-coded sports grants spreadsheets following her office’s correspondence with Scott Morrison’s staff.
The Prime Minister’s office was drawn deeper into the ongoing sports grants scandal this week when it was revealed at Senate estimates that several projects were added and removed from lists of grant approvals sent to Sport Australia after Senator McKenzie’s staff had been in contact with them.
Read the full story here.
Elias Visontay 3.32pm: Albanese slams PM ‘conduct, false claims’
Labor attempts to suspend standing orders, accusing Scott Morrison of “deceptive conduct” in relation to his answers on bushfire recovery, the Urban Congestion Fund and other questions.
It goes to a division, but fails.
After, Anthony Albanese tells parliament Mr Morrison falsely claimed he rejected a meeting with Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy to be updated on the coronavirus, saying the CMO’s office had apologised for a miscommunication.
Question time ends.
Elias Visontay 3pm: ‘Why is government blaming Gladys?’
Anthony Albanese asks Scott Morrison about comments Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack made about the state’s responsibility in the bushfire recovery effort.
“On the bushfires, the Deputy Prime Minister has said, and I quote, ‘It really annoys me that I think states have been let off the hook largely this summer’. When people in bushfire-affected communities just want help, why is the Government blaming Gladys Berejiklian?”
Mr McCormack answers: “What I also said, Mr Speaker, was that, under the federation model, the state governments take on responsibility as first responders, and they performed that role in fighting the fires. And they have. And well done to them.”
“But as far as their recovery efforts, again, the states first and foremost rely on us when they call us. But we can’t do it all as a commonwealth, because that’s their obligation and responsibility.”
Elias Visontay 2.53pm: PM riled over ad suggestions
Anthony Albanese asks Scott Morrison about the government’s Urban Congestion Fund.
“Why is it that the Prime Minister ran an advertising campaign for the Urban Congestion Fund a year ago but still hasn’t spent any money reducing urban congestion from this fund?”
The Prime Minister accuses the Opposition Leader of putting politics above serious issues.
“I reject absolutely what the Leader of the Opposition put to this chamber,” Mr Morrison says.
Labor MP Clare O’Neil asks Mr Morrison if the government has started work on an advertising campaign for a stimulus package.
The Prime Minister responds “no”.
Elias Visontay 2.45pm: ADF role in bushfires video raised again
Deputy opposition leader and defence spokesman Richard Marles asks Scott Morrison about a government video released about the bushfire crisis response, saying Defence Force Chief General Campbell did not want defence imagery to be used in the video.
“Did General Campbell speak to the Prime Minister to object to the Liberal Party bushfire advertisement?”
The Prime Minister says: “I confirmed that in this House yesterday. Those opposite may not have been paying attention, Mr Speaker. But if they reflect on what I said yesterday, I confirmed that he and I spoke, Mr Speaker, on regular occasions. It includes this matter.”
“I would not characterise the conversation in the way that the member just did.”
Will Glasgow 2.40pm: IMF expects China to miss growth target
The International Monetary Fund will revise its economic growth forecast for China below the 5.6 per cent General Secretary Xi Jinping needs to meet the Chinese Communist Party’s much publicised “centenary” growth commitment. Read more here.
Elias Visontay 2.38pm: What happened to Urban Congestion Fund?
Labor MP Catherine King asks Scott Morrison about the government’s Urban Congestion Fund.
“Can the Prime Minister confirm the Urban Congestion Fund was announced in the 2018 Budget? Can he also confirm that, despite spending $17 million on advertising and marketing campaign ahead of last year’s election, not one cent has been spent reducing urban congestion, from this fund?”
Alan Tudge, the Minister for Population and Urban Congestion, responds: “I can confirm that already we have nine projects which are either under construction or are out to tender as we speak, and that this year we will have 69 projects which will be under construction.”
Elias Visontay 2.32pm: PM quizzed on coronavirus stimulation package
Opposition education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek asks Scott Morrison about the government’s stimulus package for coronavirus.
“How can we trust the government’s promised stimulus package will be effective when it’s already bungled the bushfire recovery, not spent a cent of its promised $4.8 billion Urban Congestion Fund on urban congestion, and still hasn’t implemented a business tax incentive that it flagged six months ago?” Ms Plibersek asks.
The Prime Minister responds: “We will have the discipline to ensure that these measures will be targeted to those affected who need it most, that they will be measured and proportional to the challenge, Mr Speaker, and that they will be scalable to ensure that the Government can continue to respond as is necessary to support to keep Australians healthy, to keep Australians in jobs, to keep Australian businesses in business.”
Elias Visontay 2.25pm: Delays on investment tax breaks
Opposition treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers asks Josh Frydenberg about tax breaks for business investment.
“The Treasurer flagged in September the Government would introduce tax breaks for business investment. It’s now March and still nothing has happened. Does the Treasurer acknowledge this delay has, in fact, caused businesses to hold back investment decisions for the last six months, at a time when business investment was already at a 28-year low on his watch?” Mr Chalmers asks.
The Treasurer responds: ‘When it comes to a business investment allowance, the Prime Minister and myself have made it very clear that this is under serious consideration.”
“And we are focused on strengthening the economy and generating more investment is key to generating more jobs.”
Charlie Peel 2.24pm: Brisbane hospital staff isolated
Staff from Brisbane’s Mater Hospital have gone into isolation after coming in contact with the University of Queensland student who tested positive for the virus this week.
It is unknown how many staff members have been affected or what roles they were employed in. A Mater spokeswoman told The Australian that more information would be made available via Queensland Health. Read more here.
Elias Visontay 2.18pm: Cuts ‘hurting pensioners’: Sharkie
Centre Alliance MP Rebekha Sharkie asks Scott Morrison about interest rates.
“Interest rate cuts are hurting Australia’s pensioners. Why doesn’t the Government automatically pass on changes in the RBA cash rate to the pensioner deeming rate?” Ms Sharkie asks.
The Prime Minister responds: “On the last occasion when there was a cut in rates, we also reconsidered the deeming rate.”
“We are currently in the process of pulling together the response to the economic challenges that the country is facing in relation to the coronavirus.”
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg also speaks to the question, saying: “This is a serious issue that we have under consideration and will be part of our broader response.”
Elias Visontay 2.14pm: Littleproud acknowledges inland rail concerns
Labor MP Catherine King asks Agriculture Minister David Littleproud about inland rail.
“Is the minister concerned about the impact of the government’s inland rail route on agricultural businesses on the Condamine Flood Plain? If so, what is he doing about it?” the opposition infrastructure spokeswoman asks.
Mr Littleproud says he does have concerns.
“I have been very public about those concerns. It is prime agricultural land. It is a complex floodplain in which inland rail is proposing to go across. This is an important piece of infrastructure for our nation,” Mr Littleproud says.
“I will stand with those farmers, who I represent and I know personally. They have significant businesses, they are important to this nation’s economy, they are important to those communities. So, we will work through this in a calm, methodical way, but ensure that this is predicated on science and engineering, not on emotion.”
Elias Visontay 2.10pm: PM quizzed on climate target
Anthony Albanese begins question time asking Scott Morrison about climate change impact modelling and how he will form a climate target ahead of a climate change conference in Glasgow later this year.
The Opposition leader’s question comes after a senate inquiry revealed no modelling had been conducted in the last seven years.
The Prime Minister responds: “Our government has the track record of meeting and beating the targets we set when it comes to meeting our emissions reductions targets.”
“Those opposite, Mr Speaker, can’t even tell us what they think the 2030 target should be. Is it 45 per cent, like the member Maribyrnong thought it should be? Should it be 26 per cent, like the member for Hunter thinks it should be? Should it be a target of 2035, as the member for Sydney thinks it should be? She was very happy with the 45 per cent target.
“Those opposite can’t even work out what should be done by 2030, but yet they want to parade around the place and talk about a target for 2050. And a 2050 target without a plan means one thing, Mr Speaker, it means a tax on Australians.”
Ewin Hannan 1.50pm: Cam hasn’t appeared once in $145k role
Television tradie Scott Cam has received $145,000 in taxpayers funds to be the government’s careers ambassador but has not attended one public event in the role beyond a media conference with Scott Morrison to announce the appointment last October.
The Block host is being paid $350,000 for the 18-month position, including $226,000 this financial year. He has received $145,000 for the first five months of the contract. Read more here.
Elias Visontay 1.47pm: Hunt plays down coronavirus funding row
Greg Hunt has played down a row over emergency coronavirus funding between the NSW and federal health ministers after an outbreak at a Sydney aged-care facility caused an exodus of staff who refused to turn up for work.
“I had a very constructive conversation with the NSW health minister and we have made progress on that,” the Health Minister said.
“I know that the Prime Minister has spoken with the premiers and we are working with all the states and territories and what happened yesterday was the plan was implemented.
“There was an aged care facility which did have an issue because of transmission. What occurred was that NSW Health delivered on what had been agreed.
“What had been prepared for and their response was exemplary and I want to thank and honour them for that.
“We are making significant progress to make sure we are sharing the responsibility.”
Elias Visontay 1.28pm: Korea ban starts tonight
PM Scott Morrison said the South Korean travel ban will take effect from 9pm Thursday.
The expanded travel ban — which had already been in place from mainland China and Iran — will only apply to non-residents, with Australian citizens returning from South Korea now subject to the same new, enhanced screening measures introduced for all travellers arriving from Italy.
Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy also sought to calm concerns over the disease, saying there is no reason to wear a face mask when walking around shops or to stop going to community activities.
Professor Murphy also warned against stockpiling of essentials including toilet paper.
“We should continue normal activity, we should watch the development of this and we will focus on any outbreaks and control.”
Health Minister Greg Hunt said the government had 20 million face masks stockpiled, and said that while it had already made them available to general practices, it would continue those efforts.
Elias Visontay 1.10pm: New travel ban for South Korea
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced a travel ban for South Korea as well as bolstered measurers for arrivals from Italy as the coronavirus spreads.
The decision came after several hours of a National Security Committee meeting that was brought forward on Thursday morning.
Screening measures have also been enhanced for travellers from Italy, which will include mandatory questioning at flight check in desks, with anyone failing a check denied approval to board a flight to Australia.
“If anyone gets sick on board bio security and health will meet the plane and manage those people directly,” The Prime Minister said.
“On arrival, travellers will not be able to use the smart gates. They will have to be dealt with directly by an officer.”
Mr Morrison explained the ban was put in place for South Korea and not Italy because there were about five times as many arrivals from South Korea.
Elias Visontay 12.15pm: Call for Newstart coronavirus payment boost
Adam Bandt has called for the government to raise the Newstart and Youth Allowance as part of its stimulus response to the coronavirus, arguing those who rely on the payment would boost the economy by spending it on food and essentials.
The Greens leader also called on government to deliver a disaster recovery allowance for gig economy and shift workers without sick leave who may be forced into isolation over coronavirus fears.
“The government needs to get its hand on the steering wheel,” Mr Bandt told Sky News.
“We need a bottom up stimulus package, one that is going to tackle inequality but also keep Australia out of recession. We need to lift Newstart and Youth Allowance by at least $95 a week.
“The advantage of doing that is that not only are we going to lift people out of poverty but you will find that money being spent on essentials. These are people who are going without basics already anyway, living below the poverty line
“It’s not only a good inequality measure, it’s a great stimulus measure because if you give the money to those people it will go straight out the door.
On establishing a disaster recovery allowance, Mr Bandt said it was an important step to prevent the virus spreading from workers who ignore isolation requirements because they have no sick leave.
“Think of … an Uber driver who has no paid sick leave. If they get affected by the virus and get told to go into quarantine for a couple of weeks they’re faced with a terrible job. Do you do it and lose your money and potentially lose your job? Or do you go to work and drive everyone around in your Uber and potentially contribute to spreading the disease?’
Rebecca Urban 11.05am: Mass school closures on cards
Mass school closures remain a possibility in the event of a coronavirus pandemic, with the nation’s top education bureaucrat revealing that any decision would be governed by expert medical advice.
Department of Education secretary Michelle Bruniges has told a senate hearing in Canberra that the Commonwealth government’s role would be to ensure there was a universal approach to dealing with the risks.
Questioned by Labor Senator Louise Pratt as to whether schools and childcare centres would be shut down or enforce exclusions for children who were unwell, Dr Bruniges said although such decisions were typically made by the states and territories, “we need to always take the expert call of health … regarding that.
“Some states and territories have thought very long and hard about their planning,” she said on Thursday.
“Next week we will come together with the states and territories across those two sectors to ask what they have in place and then seek further advice if we need to from the chief medical officer.”
Dr Bruniges stressed that teachers had always been “very much aware” of the possibility of transmission of the ordinary flu in a school setting and the importance of personal hygiene, such as handwashing.
“The important thing for us will be bringing those representatives from the schooling sector and early childhood sector together … to talk about what’s universal and then really take the advice of the medical experts in the field.”
Senator Pratt said community concern over the spread of COVID-19 was growing and “people are starting to take matters in their own hands”.
The role of schools has come under the spotlight after Italy announced it would close all schools and universities in an effort to stop the spread.
Elias Visontay 10.15am: Newstart payments and coronavirus
Welfare recipients will continue receiving payments if they’re under isolation because of the coronavirus, government officials say.
People on Newstart who self-isolate over suspected coronavirus may have their mutual obligation requirements suspended, Senate estimates has heard.
The Department of Social Service says it will look at this matter on a case-by-case basis, upon being alerted by the Newstart recipient.
Elias Visontay 9.55am: ‘Hand me world’s smallest violin’
Chris Bowen has lashed the government over reports of fighting with states over bushfire and coronavirus relief and health response.
The opposition health spokesman warned Michael McCormack to stop blaming states after he made comments to The Australian the states have been “let off the hook” over bushfire recovery responses.
Mr Bowen responded: “This morning we see the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia asking for the sympathy of Australians because his government has copped criticism over their pathetic handling of the bushfires. I mean, get me the world’s smallest violin.
“We have the Deputy Prime Minister saying it annoys him that the states have gotten away scot-free, blame-free, from the bushfires, but it’s fallen into his lap.
“It is your job to take criticism, to get it better, to do a better job. Don’t come around blaming state governments.”
Mr Bowen also criticised the government over a furious row that has erupted over emergency coronavirus funding between the NSW and federal health ministers after an outbreak at a Sydney aged-care facility caused an exodus of staff who refused to turn up for work.
“At a time when the coronavirus, from COVID-19, is causing such significant community angst and concern, this is not good enough,” he said.
“The federal government must act this morning to settle this matter with New South Wales.
“It is incumbent on them to fix this as a matter of urgency.”
Ben Packham 9.45am: 22 Aussie kids under 2 in Wuhan
Australian officials say there are 22 “unaccompanied” children under two who are Australian or Australian permanent residents who are trapped in Hubei Province with grandparents.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials told Senate Estimates the children were among 355 Australian citizens and permanent residents still in Wuhan seeking possible evacuation.
However, they said another evacuation flight to the original coronavirus epicentre was “not an immediate prospect”.
DFAT secretary Frances Adamson said Australian officials had repeatedly asked Chinese counterparts to allow the children to come out with their Chinese carers, but “the answer to that question has consistently been no”.
Rosie Lewis 9.40am: Virus to cut growth
The coronavirus will cut growth by “at least” 0.5 percentage points in the March quarter due to impacts on tourism, international education exports and some exchange rate effects, Treasury secretary Steven Kennedy has warned.
Dr Kennedy stressed that forecast did not include supply chain disruptions or other potential broader impacts.
“The global economic impacts of COVID-19 are continuing to emerge but there is little doubt that they are serious,” he told a Senate estimates hearing.
“The scale of the economic impact on Australia and the world will depend on a number of factors. The extent to which the virus spreads, how quickly it spreads, disruptions to ports and seaborne freight, and should COVID-19 become more prevalent in Australia, the direct impact it has on domestic economic activity.”
Treasury also expects the bushfires will detract around 0.2 percentage points from GDP growth across the December and March 2020 quarters, with most of the impact to fall in the March quarter before reconstruction and recovery activity picks up and supports growth from the June quarter onwards.
Dr Kennedy said while it was “very hard and even frankly potentially unhelpful” to speculate about the hit to the economy from the coronavirus past the March quarter, there was no doubt the June quarter “and beyond” would be affected by the shock.
Elias Visontay 9.15am: States ‘left to defend themselves’
Labor senator Kristina Keneally has accused Greg Hunt of leaving state health ministers “to fend for themselves” amid reports they have asked for assistance in their efforts to handle coronavirus.
The opposition home affairs spokeswoman was responding to a report in The Australian that a furious row has erupted over emergency coronavirus funding between the NSW and federal health ministers after an outbreak at a Sydney aged-care facility caused an exodus of staff who refused to turn up for work.
“We see here today in New South Wales, tragically a death in an aged care facility, staff in an aged care facility who have, with concerns, not turned up for work and New South Wales asking for help from the Federal Government and the Federal Government saying, ‘it’s not our problem; we’re not involved with this. This is your problem’,” Ms Keneally said.
”We are confronted with an international global health emergency.
“Where is the Health Minister Greg Hunt when his own Liberal colleagues at state level come to him ahead of time asking for a plan? He has gone missing.
“Greg Hunt has been jerking the state health ministers around now for weeks.
“They have been left to fend for themselves.”
Richard Ferguson 9.00am: Travel bans set to expand
Scott Morrison is currently meeting with the national security committee of cabinet to review Australia’s anti-coronavirus travel bans.
The Prime Minister is expected to keep — and perhaps expand — the current ban on foreign nationals coming from China and Iran.
The NSC will also consider extra travel restrictions on Italy and South Korea.
The latter two countries have not had travel restrictions on them so far due to their superior health systems and their clearer transparency on the number of virus cases.
Mr Morrison is expected to announce his decision in the next few hours.
Elias Visontay 8.50am: McCormack ‘shameful’ for state blaming
Labor senator Kristina Keneally has scolded Michael McCormack for “blaming the states” for their response to the bushfire crisis and coronavirus outbreak.
The opposition home affairs spokeswoman was responding to a report in The Australian where the Deputy Prime Minister said the states have been “let off the hook” over bushfire recovery responses.
“It really annoys me that I think states have been let off the hook largely this summer,” he said.
“Everything has fallen in the lap of the federal government. The states — some of their members have come out swinging, and swinging hard, when in fact they needed to look a little bit closer in their own backyard to see that their own governments, and some of them were in government, weren’t doing enough and weren’t doing anything, quite frankly,” Mr McCormack said.
Ms Keneally labelled Mr McCormack’s comments “shameful”.
“It is extraordinary to open up the front page of our national broadsheet and to see our National Deputy Prime Minister taking such a significant swipe at the states,” Ms Keneally said, holding up a copy of Thursday’s The Australian.
“And where was the state Premier Gladys Berejiklian? I’ll tell you where she wasn’t — she wasn’t in Hawaii. She was out every day, talking with communities, working with the Rural Fire Service and our other emergency services. She was leading; she was leading a response.
“While Scott Morrison was in Hawaii, where was and who was the acting Prime Minister? It was Michael McCormack.
“Michael McCormack, while Scott Morrison was in Hawaii, you should have been out leading. You should have been out as the acting Prime Minister.
“Inexplicably Michael McCormack is out blaming the states. That’s right, when it comes to the bushfire crisis and the bushfire recovery the Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack is not standing up and leading, he is sitting down and shifting blame … he is blaming the states.
“He is annoyed that somehow … this is all falling in the lap of the federal government. Well breaking news for you Michael McCormack you’re the Deputy Prime Minister you are the federal government and in a time of crisis the Australian people look for leadership.”
Lachlan Moffet Gray 8.40am: ‘Keep family in nursing homes’
Greg Hunt has urged Australians not to pull relatives out of aged care homes after three residents and a staff member in a BaptistCare facility in northern Sydney contracted the disease, telling Today that Australia has a “well-prepared coronavirus emergency plan.”
“Australia is as well prepared as any country. For children who have older parents in aged care homes, that remains the safest circumstance for them because they’re under care, they’re under management,” he said.
“I think it’s very important to have that confidence that we have over 200,000 residents around the country who are safely and carpingly taken care of by magnificent aged care workers.”
The health minister also urged aged care workers not to walk off the job over health concerns, saying the amount of cases in Australia is still relatively low.
“Our message is very clear – that in the general community we have a country which has had very few transmissions.
“We would respect the rights of the workers but encourage them to work with their facility managers to make sure they are well-informed and that they are in a position to understand every step … there has been isolation and containment within the facility with the top priority of the health, safety and care of the residents.”
Mr Hunt said the Chief Medical Officer is preparing additional advice for aged care facilities today.
Elias Visontay 8.20am: ‘Good case’ for Newstart hike
Jim Chalmers has said there is “a very good case” for the government to consider raising the Newstart allowance as a means of economic stimulus as it considers a fiscal response to the coronavirus.
The opposition treasury spokesman also warned Australia is entering an economic period defined by a coronavirus hit from a position of weakness, as he criticised the government’s financial performance preceding it.
“There are a number of troubling indicators in those national accounts which means that we enter this difficult period from a position of relative weakness and not strength,” Mr Chalmers told ABC Radio.
On updated figures for the December quarter released this week, Mr Chalmers said: “It wasn’t a good number, not just the headline number but wages were weak, business investment went backwards, for the third consecutive quarter consumption was weak right across the board.”
Mr Chalmers said of economic stimulus: “There are all kinds of ways that you can support consumption in the economy … you can do something about Newstart.”
“I think there’s a very good case to do that. Not just because it would be good from a social justice point of view but very good for the economy, because every dollar would find its way into the economy.”
Asked about the government’s economic performance and business tax investment, Mr Chalmers said: “The problem we’ve got here is that the Treasurer Josh Frydenberg flagged (business tax investment) in September, that he was going to do something about this. We’re now into March and still nothing.
“One of the reasons why we’ve just had three consecutive quarters of negative growth in business investment is because businesses have heard what the Treasurer said in September, that there’s an incentive coming, and they’ve decided to put their hands in their pockets and wait to see what that investment incentive looks like. So it’s actually been counter-productive.”
Lachlan Moffet Gray 7.40am: ‘No additional bank levy’
Josh Frydenberg has rejected the idea that the government was considering increasing or creating an additional levy on bank profits or revenue.
“We are not considering changes to the levy,” he told Today.
“Our focus has been on ensuring that money flows to borrowers and obviously we’re very pleased and we welcome the announcement by the big four banks to cut their interest rates by their full amount that was announced by the Reserve Bank.”
Mr Frydenberg told Sunrise that as part of the stimulus package the government would “have another look” at the deeming rate, which defines pension benefits for retirees with savings.
The Treasurer also said the economic impact of the coronavirus would be blunted by the strength of Australia’s economy.
“For Australia, we are in our 29th consecutive year of economic growth and we’ve seen the IMF talk about the strength of the Australian economy.
A couple of days ago, they singled out Australia and Germany as two countries that had the fiscal flexibility to respond to the coronavirus without endangering our debt sustainability.”
Elias Visontay 7.35am: Stimulus to focus on small business
Josh Frydenberg has announced the government will spend more than $1 billion on its stimulus package to respond to the impact of the coronavirus but warned its scope will be focused on helping small businesses.
The Treasurer went on a media blitz on Thursday morning, talking about the upcoming policy that would be announced “sooner rather than later.”
“We are focusing on ensuring that businesses stay in business, Australians stay in jobs and that the cash flow will be maintained,” Mr Frydenberg told Sky News.
The Treasurer is also talking a lot about ensuring business “cash flow†- so perhaps the Government is focusing on the tax relief side. Delays or forgiveness
— Laura Jayes (@ljayes) March 4, 2020
Mr Frydenberg said the stimulus would rely on a fast tracked state infrastructure project that Michael McCormack announced on Wednesday, as well as small business investment, but warned it would not be a “cash splash”.
“We’ll have a series of measures that is responding in a targeted, scaleable way but also a responsible way,” Mr Frydenberg told ABC Radio.
“What we are giving serious consideration to is an investment-type allowance.
“What we do want to focus on is supporting small business and we’ve also seen a direct impact in key sectors like tourism, like education, and our agriculture sector.
Asked about the dollar figure the government would spend, he said “it’s going to have a b in front of it, that’s for sure”.
Mr Frydenberg also said it was clear after an IMF phone meeting on Wednesday night with other economic leaders, that many countries were considering fiscal responses to revive economies.
“Ultimately it won’t be the economists that solve this problem it will be the scientists.”
Lachlan Moffet Gray 7.20am: ‘Tighten travel restrictions’
Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie has said the government should consider imposing further travel restrictions as the coronavirus crisis continues, warning that Tasmania’s health care system will be unable to cope with a widespread outbreak of the virus.
“It is better to be safe than sorry – I know the economy is paying the price for this but I think we need to be a little bit more invasive in our actions,” she told Today.
“If that means we have to shut the borders to certain countries, we need to do it. No good contemplating it, get it done.
“Our public system in Tasmania – God forbid, if we get a pandemic down there. We are struggling to deal with Tasmanians in our public health system. It is scary.”
What’s making news:
Treasury and the Reserve Bank are forecasting the coronavirus will cut growth by 0.5 percentage points, likely putting the economy in negative territory for the first three months of the year, despite a lift in consumer spending helping to push GDP up in the December quarter.
A furious row has erupted over emergency coronavirus funding between the NSW and federal health ministers after an outbreak at a Sydney aged-care facility caused an exodus of staff who refused to turn up for work.
Retail giant Gerry Harvey has called on the Morrison government to provide interest-free loans to manufacturing firms to stimulate local employment and industry as the coronavirus hits the economy.
Michael McCormack has warned that the Morrison government can’t provide economic recovery packages for “every industry and every downturn” fanned by the coronavirus and natural disasters, saying the states have been “let off the hook” over bushfire recovery responses.
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