My colleague Paul Karp reports that Labor has called for parliament to continue to sit and scrutinise government emergency powers to deal with coronavirus.
It was confirmed today that parliament will return next Wednesday to consider the government’s jobkeeper wage subsidy package.
Just extraordinary, #abcPM@abcsydney understands some bankers were advising businesses to “pocket” the government’s JobKeeper subsidy when it arrives in May... but the ATO is one step ahead and can now track what businesses do with the cash...
We told you earlier that the deputy chief medical officer, Prof Paul Kelly, appeared to be walking back comments that he would be releasing the modelling that health authorities are relying on to make their decisions.
My colleague Daniel Hurst has filed this report on Kelly’s press conference.
Some interesting comments from the Victorian chief health officer, Brett Sutton, on ABC Radio National.
He’s asked whether people are able to just sit in the park without doing exercise.
“I think it’s acceptable,” he said. “We obviously want to reinforce common sense with all this. Other people might come to that shared space, but you need to make sure that you’re away from those individuals and that we’re not transmitting to others.”
Tasmania has reported two more cases of Covid-19. A man in his 20s and another in his 70s have tested positive after returning from overseas, bringing the state’s tally to 71.
Fair Work Commission proposes two-week unpaid 'pandemic leave'
The Fair Work Commission has proposed giving workers two weeks of unpaid leave without their employer’s permission if they need to self-isolate.
The commission has also provisionally ordered that workers on 103 modern awards - covering such sectors as hospitality, clerical, retail and cleaning - should be given greater flexibility to take accrued annual leave at half pay.
“By addressing the ‘regulatory gap’ the new entitlement to unpaid pandemic leave will enable more people to remain in employment,” the full bench said.
“The proposed entitlement will also support the important public policy objective of encouraging those who should self-isolate to do so and thereby limit the spread of COVID-19 in workplaces, allowing businesses to continue to operate.”
Yesterday, Austender published a contract between the department of health and Mediabrands worth $32m. So the media buy is already worth more than $48m.
The Greens senator Rachel Siewert has pointed to this new advice from Services Australia warning people against swapping from the disability support pension to the jobseeker payment.
The Guardian has reported that the six-month $550 per fortnight boost to the jobseeker payment means people with disabilities and carers will now receive less in income support than unemployed people.
“We have been very concerned that people on DSP may be tempted to change to the jobseeker payment because of the additional $550 a week granted for six months but this would not be prudent given the difficulty in getting the DSP in the first place,” Siewert said.
“By not raising DSP and carer payments the government is incentivising people to make decisions for a short-term gain.
“However, I do understand that many people on DSP are in desperate situations at the moment.
“It is incredibly difficult to meet the requirements to be eligible for DSP and I would imagine if people wanted to get back on it they would struggle greatly.
“Those on jobseeker have mutual obligations requirements and I don’t want more disabled people being subject to work for the dole, looking for jobs every fortnight or having to volunteer to ensure their payment.”
“The disability support pension and carer payment exist in recognition of the fact that disabled people and carers have higher everyday costs and aren’t in a position to enter the workforce. People’s costs and barriers have increased, not decreased, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Tasmania had 69 cases of Covid-19 as of Wednesday afternoon, 11 of whom have recovered.
More than 2,200 tests have been carried out, with about 200 done on Tuesday.
The state government has halted renter evictions for 90 days, after emergency legislation passed though parliament last week.
“This is not a licence not to pay rent. If you can pay your rent, you should. That is the very clear expectation,” Gutwein said, flagging similar safeguards for commercial tenants.
Financial relief on energy bills was also announced on Wednesday
While small business customers and community service organisations will have their next quarterly energy bill waived, all energy consumers will see energy prices capped for a year.
The government also said Aurora Energy will not disconnect any residential or small business customers without their agreement.
Health authorities continue to investigate two virus cases in the Devonport area, in the northwest, where the source of infection is unknown.
School attendances have dropped to below 10 per cent as parents opt to keep children home.
A man from northern Tasmania is facing several criminal charges after allegedly falsely telling police officers he had the coronavirus.
The 29-year-old, who was pulled over on Tuesday night in Launceston, is accused of breaching public health directions by being away from his primary residence without a lawful reason.
He was charged with resisting arrest after allegedly telling officers he had the virus.
The man appeared in Launceston magistrates court on Wednesday on charges including breaching a family violence order, evading police and driving unlicensed.
Tasmania is strictly policing orders that prevent people from leaving their home unless for essential tasks, work or school, exercise, medical reasons or when providing compassionate care.
Fines of up to $16,800 or three months’ jail are on the cards for those who don’t comply.
Premier Peter Gutwein has bluntly warned people to not be complacent after the island state went a day without recording a new Covid-19 case.
Two elderly people have died from the virus this week, but no positive cases were confirmed on Tuesday – the first time in about a fortnight.
Gutwein said the number of cruise ship passengers and overseas travellers arriving in the state was easing amid tight border restrictions.
But he said policing of quarantine and social gathering orders would not ease.
“If this was a game of football, we would not even be through the first quarter yet,” Gutwein told reporters.
“This is serious. It is going to need us to play a long game.”
Queensland police has issued a statement clarifying its position on the enforcement of social distancing laws.
“The community should be aware that chief health officer directions are in effect and that police will take appropriate action to ensure they are complied with,” said state disaster coordinator deputy commissioner Steve Gollschewski.
“Blatant disregard of the directions such as house parties will be enforced.
“Police will use discretion in other instances acting on intelligence or reported complaints.
“Compliance checking of non-essential businesses and people in quarantine will continue as necessary.
“Police will not be going door-to-door to check on random residences for compliance unless an issue has been identified or complaints need follow up action.
“Where police will take action is if there are blatant or wilful breaches happening in the community.”
Fines of up to $13,345 for individuals and $66,672.50 for corporations are in place, along with on-the-spot fines of $1334.50 for individuals and $6,672.50 for corporations that fail to abide by the health directions.
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