Category: Australian News

Emergency contingency measures will ensure aged care recipients continue to get the care they need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Federal Government today launches a joint strategy aimed at strengthening the workforce to ensure staffing gaps are filled.
The measures include:

• New emergency response teams on standby if there’s a significant outbreak in a residential aged care facility;
• Remote locums to support aged care providers in remote Australia if they are unable to source staff; and
• Access to a surge workforce through the online platform Mable, to help providers if they’re unable to fill critical skills because of infection or staff have to self-isolate.

Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck said COVID-19 Age Care Support Program funding will also help approved aged care providers with the costs of hiring additional staff and covering workers who are required to self-isolate.
“We are ready to help the Aged Care sector as we navigate through this difficult time together,” Minister Colbeck said.
“It’s absolutely critical we continue to have a strong workforce so there are no gaps in care, particularly in regional and remote areas.
“As unlikely as it might be, we have plans in place for worst case scenarios where an outbreak in aged care facilities mean local staff are unable to continue to provide care due to an infection in the service.”
It will be funded via the $101.2 million available for Age Care measures – part of the Federal Government’s $2.4 billion support package announced on March 11.
Healthcare solutions provider Aspen Medical has been engaged to deploy the emergency response teams immediately to an aged care facility if a significant outbreak occurs.
“Nurse first responders are on standby in every state and territory in the event of an outbreak,” Minister Colbeck said.
“Additionally, while it’s unlikely, we need to ensure we’re planning for parts of the workforce being unable to work.
“In an emergency situation, where large parts of the workforce or specific skills can’t be sourced through existing channels, providers can access the Mable workforce platform to recruit workers in nursing, allied health, personal care, domestic assistance and social support service.
“I want to stress these are temporary contingency measures and providers must show they’ve exhausted usual recruitment channels.
“There’s every chance these extraordinary measures won’t be required in full – but it’s vital we are ready.”

Australian Greens Senator for NSW and Education spokesperson Dr Mehreen Faruqi has said that the government’s Higher Education Relief Package fails universities, staff and students in a time of crisis. She also has said that the government’s messaging is unnecessarily parochial and alienating for hundreds of thousands of students.
Senator Faruqi said:
“Guaranteeing the funding already budgeted for 2020 does not provide stability. Universities and TAFEs are absolutely central to the research, reskilling, education and training we need to survive this crisis and build a just economy and society afterwards. We need more than just life support for higher education.
“University funding has been falling for many years. Now is the time to introduce free university and TAFE for all, with a big funding boost to secure jobs and ensure the long term success of higher education in Australia.
“The terrible decision by the government to abandon university staff means they will continue to face uncertainty and instability. Higher education providers should be eligible for JobKeeper payments and all staff, including all casuals, should be supported through this very difficult time.
“Stop-gaps like regulatory fee relief and online short courses aren’t enough, nor can they justify the government passing the buck on student welfare. Universities have been forced to become food banks by a government that refuses to give desperate international students any form of income support.
“The whole higher education sector needs support right now, and TAFE should not be neglected or forgotten about.
“The parochial flavour to the government’s ‘domestic students first’ messaging, while leaving international students destitute, is outrageous. A failure to support our international students also alienates and marginalises hundreds of thousands of students we welcomed here,” she said.

The Treasurer is in the box seat to fix the problems with the JobKeeper program that has locked workers in the arts, entertainment and events industries out of the $130bn package, the Greens say.
The Greens moved in the Senate last night to amend the Coronavirus legislation to ensure casuals employed less than 12 months, freelancers and other businesses with work structures unique to the arts industry were covered but the Government and One Nation voted it down.
“The Morrison Government has so far failed to save the multibillion dollar arts and entertainment sector from collapse and swift action is needed now before it’s too late,” Greens Spokesperson for the Arts Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“The fact remains the Treasurer does have the power under the legislation to allow workers in the arts, entertainment and events industries to access the JobKeeper program and he should act to do that now.
“The longer the Treasurer delays exercising his discretion, the more jobs are lost and the harder the recovery when this crisis is over.
“Australians across the country are relying on the work and contributions of Australia’s artists to help get us all through this very difficult period and we will when it comes to recovery. We are watching their shows, films and listening to their music. Yet the Government doesn’t seem to value this work even though it contributes $112 billion to our economy.
“Even the Minister responsible for the portfolio has only been able to find $27m to go towards the sector, and only today after weeks of suffering and when the industry has been screaming out for a tailored package in the vicinity of $1billion.
“The Greens have been backing the industry’s call for a specific and tailored package of $1bn. The Government has stepped in to support other sectors of the economy and they need to do the same here.
“Once again the Morrison Government is failing the arts, yet it could turn this around with the stroke of a pen today. I urge the Treasurer to do the right thing and ensure no worker is left behind in this crisis.”

Easter in Australia will be different this year, as it will be all around the world.
It’s still true that we’ll be able to gather together in our immediate family, but there won’t be the opportunity for that extended family gathering, special times I know, as well as going off to church and our religious services where we can remember the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The coronavirus means this Easter will be different and we will be staying at home.
And it’s important because we cannot undo the tremendous progress we have made together in recent times.
So this Easter we are staying at home. Don’t travel. Don’t go away.
For Christians, not being able to gather does not diminish the hope that we have through this important Easter period.
This year, we will live out our faith by doing the right thing.
That means staying at home, making sure we’re checking on our neighbours and supporting our communities and families, our friends.
That’s what living our faith is all about.
So as we go into this Easter long weekend, whatever your religious views might be, I do wish you a Happy Easter, Australia.
I hope it is a time as you come together in your homes, together with your immediate family, that it will be a strong reminder about what’s most important.
Happy Easter, Australia.

Australian governments met today as the National Cabinet to take further action to slow the spread of coronavirus to save lives, and to save livelihoods.
Leaders thanked all Australians who have acted responsibly towards their fellow Australians and have been undertaking social distancing and isolation measures.
It’s clear that social distancing measures are working, we’re slowing the spread of the virus. But there is a long way to go, we will be living with this virus for at least six months.
National Cabinet reminds Australians to stay home for the Easter break – stay home and save lives.
The Chief Medical Officer Dr Brendan Murphy provided an update on the measures underway on the latest data and medical advice in relation to coronavirus.
There are more than 6,100 confirmed cases in Australia and sadly 51 people have died.
Testing keeps Australians safe. Australia has one of the most rigorous coronavirus testing systems in the world with more than 323,000 tests completed.
National Cabinet stressed the critical importance of continuing to adhere to self-isolation, social distancing and quarantine arrangements for returned travellers. Leaders also highlighted the importance of people who are self-isolating and registering on the COVID-19 app.
National Cabinet noted that Australia was now in the suppression phase of the response, which will last for some time. Restrictions will be reviewed regularly and planning for the medium to long-term has begun.
National Cabinet agreed to meet again on Thursday 16 April 2020.
Updated quarantine arrangements for non-cruise maritime and air crew
Australia’s skilled maritime workforce plays a unique and strategically important role in Australia’s supply chains.
National Cabinet agreed that the Australian Government and all states and territories will implement a consistent and immediate exemption for non-cruise maritime crew to provide for the transiting to and from their places of work, within and across jurisdictions with agreed documentation.
National Cabinet noted that states and territories may adopt additional protocols in consultation with industry that creates protection for crews on board vessels, and will put in place appropriate penalties for companies and individuals that are found to be in breach of the requirements of the exemption which will be reviewed on 1 June 2020.
The Australian Border Force, in consultation with the Commonwealth Department of Health, will continue to manage the safe movement of maritime crew.
Air crew play a vital role in maintaining a connection between Australia and other nations.
National Cabinet agreed to implement the revised advice from the AHPPC in relation to air crew quarantine exemptions. As a result, air crew on international flights will be required to self-isolate at their place of residence (or hotel if not in their local city) between flights or for 14 days, whichever is shorter.
Domestic air crew are exempt from self-isolation requirements except when a state or territory specifically prohibits entry.
Hardship provisions for energy, water and rates
Today, the National Cabinet agreed to a nationally consistent approach to hardship support across the essential services for households and small businesses.
The Commonwealth is already taking action across the energy and telecommunications sectors to scale-up hardship support provided by those industries.
State and territory governments agreed to adopt similar principles for the essential services within their remit, including water utilities and local governments. They will work with the organisations supplying those services to apply the principles to each sector.
The principles will also ensure accessing support for essential services is as simple and easy as possible. They specify that businesses eligible for the JobKeeper payment will automatically be considered to be under ‘financial stress’ for the purposes of accessing hardship arrangements.
These principles, modelled on the Government’s recently released Statement of Expectations for the energy sector, include:

• Offering flexible payment options to all households and small businesses in financial stress – including small businesses eligible for the JobKeeper Payment;
• Not disconnecting restricting supply/services to those in financial stress;
• Deferring debt recovery proceedings and credit default listing;
• Waiving late fees and interest charges on debt; and
• Minimising planned outages for critical works, and provide as much notice as possible to assist households and businesses during any outage.

Those who can continue to pay their bills need to keep doing so – this is critical to ensuring the ongoing viability of essential services providers. But we need to ensure an appropriate safety net is in place for those experiencing financial stress.
These are extremely challenging times. It is vital that essential service providers work with governments to deliver the support the Australian people need.
Implementation of visa arrangements in the agricultural sector
The National Cabinet noted the approach to implementing measures to support the agricultural workforce needed to secure Australia food supplies:

• the Commonwealth has implemented the visa measures and is urgently working on the associated changes to the Seasonal Worker Programme and Pacific Labour Scheme to ensure appropriate labour market testing continues;
• the same conditions that apply under the Seasonal Worker Programme and Pacific Labour Scheme visa arrangements with regard to approved employers will be carried over to the new visa arrangements, including employer sponsorship to continue the link with the agricultural sector;
• industry is leading on protocols for managing the risks of coronavirus in farming workplaces, including social distancing to mitigate public health risks;

Commonwealth and state and territory Agriculture Ministers will oversee and coordinate implementation and will report back to National Cabinet on progress.
National Cabinet agreed that state and territory governments are responsible for:

• the introduction and enforcement of self-isolation requirements to avoid the spread of coronavirus;
• applying sanctions where those requirements are not met and, where appropriate, referring concerns about visa holder compliance to the Department of Home Affairs for action;
• ensuring accommodation complies with self-isolation and social distancing requirements, in conjunction with local governments and the National Farmers Federation;
• seeking to harmonise these requirements as far as practical.

National Cabinet agreed that state and territory Agriculture Ministers will support the adoption of – as consistent as possible requirements – in respect to declarations required from employers and employees to facilitate agricultural employment.
National Cabinet agreed that the Australian and state and territory governments will undertake best efforts for these arrangements to be in place by 17 April 2020, or as soon thereafter as practicable.
National Cabinet agreed that employers and employees must continue to adhere to Australian and State and Territory government health requirements in respect to the management of coronavirus.

The Morrison Government is today making the first round of offers to banks and non-bank lenders to participate in the Coronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme to support small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) get access to working capital to help them get through the impact of the coronavirus.
Under the Scheme, the Government will support up to $40 billion of lending to SMEs with turnover of less than $50 million, including sole traders and not-for-profit organisations, with the Government guaranteeing 50 per cent of new loans issued by eligible lenders until 30 September 2020.
The Government will make offers to 29 banks and 5 non-bank lenders in response to expressions of interest which will total $34 billion of potential lending to SMEs. Applications from a range of other lenders are currently being assessed for the remaining $6 billion in the Scheme.
The legislative and scheme rules have also been finalised following consultation with lenders and key stakeholders to ensure the Scheme provides the required support to SMEs during this period.
The Scheme complements other initiatives undertaken by the Government and the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to support lending to SMEs, including:

• $15 billion to allow AOFM to invest in wholesale funding markets used by small ADIs and non-ADI lenders.
• The RBA’s $90 billion term funding facility for ADIs with a priority for SME lending.
• Cutting red tape to ensure SMEs get access to credit faster.

The Scheme will also support the JobKeeper program to help businesses get access to the necessary working capital to continue operating when their revenues have been significantly impacted by the coronavirus.
Further information about the SME Guarantee Scheme can be found on the Treasury website: www.treasury.gov.au/coronavirus/sme-guarantee-scheme. A list of participating lenders will be available on the Treasury website once the offers to lenders have been accepted.
The Government will continue to help small businesses build a bridge to the other side to ensure that Australia bounces back even stronger.

A group of Australian manufacturing companies and engineering firms will work together to produce 2,000 invasive ventilators in Australia as part of the nation’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Federal Government has reached a $31.3 million agreement with Victorian company Grey Innovation, which is leading an industry consortium to produce the ventilators.
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said Grey Innovation and their cohort of industry partners are stepping up to meet the challenge of this unprecedented pandemic.
“This is another great example of Australian industry and the private sector working with our Government to ensure critical supply of medical equipment during the outbreak of this virus,” Minister Andrews said.
“This deal demonstrates the power of bringing Aussie manufacturers and clinicians together and is also a reflection of the highly advanced manufacturing capability that exists in our country.
“It also shows the incredible collaborative spirit that’s been on display as we respond to this unprecedented pandemic. Companies which are normally in competition are working together for the greater good.”
This contract builds on the extensive work already done to secure more ventilators, including agreement with another local manufacturer and our private hospitals.
Grey Innovation Executive Chair Jefferson Harcourt said his company is proud to be a part of Australia’s overall strategy to ensure adequate supply of lifesaving ventilators to meet demand during the COVID-19 crisis.
“Victoria has the highest concentration of leading engineering and manufacturing companies in Australia, and as such, we are well placed to work together to build the Notus emergency invasive ventilators as quickly as possible,” Mr Harcourt said.
“We thank the Federal and Victorian Governments and the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre for their support of the vision and rapid response to get the program under way, and are overwhelmed by the willingness of our industry colleagues to respond in this critical hour of need.”
The contract with Grey Innovation builds on $500,000 support from the Victorian Government for the project’s feasibility stage.
The supply of ventilators is set to start in June, with the 2000 machines expected to be produced by the end of July.

With workers in the arts, entertainment and event industry largely left out of the JobKeeper program despite being one of the hardest hit by the Coronavirus crisis, the Greens will move an amendment to the legislation when it comes before the Senate today to plug these gaps and call for a tailored package for the sector.
“Australia’s arts, creative and entertainment sector has been smashed by COVID-19, with events cancelled, productions closed and projects shut down,” Greens Spokesperson for the Arts and Tourism Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“The Government and Opposition should back the Greens amendment to ensure today’s $130 billion package does not exclude these crucial workers and Australian businesses.
“Leaving our arts and entrainment industry workers out in the cold is not good enough and will have long-term ramifications for Australia’s cultural fabric and international relations and exports.
“The Federal Government has shown a complete lack of understanding about work structures in the arts, entertainment and events industries, which is now to the detriment of hundreds of thousands of workers. Many workers have already lost their entire year’s income with projects shut down.
“The Greens, and industry groups, the union and artists, freelancers and crews have tried to explain the many ways businesses and workers in the sector are excluded by the arbitrary rules in the JobKeeper Program but the government still hasn’t budged.
“It is the nature of the arts, entertainment and events industry and the hospitality and tourism industries that workers are often transient and engaged on short-term contracts, from production to production, festival to festival.
“Even workers on some of Australia’s longest running and most loved TV shows like Neighbours and Wentworth are unable to receive the JobKeeper payment, highlighting that the intent of the Program to keep workers connected with their employers is not being achieved.
“It is unfair to penalise people who work very hard and contribute so much to our economy simply because of their work structure, and this huge flaw should be fixed today.
“The Greens amendment also calls for a tailored package for the arts, entertainment and creatives industry to provide adequate support immediately and to assist recovery after the crisis.
“The Australia Council Four Year Funding for Organisations announcement last week was another big blow for our arts sector at a time when they are already suffering. The funding the Government has cut to Australia Council over many years should be restored and increased to expand access for individuals and organisations to access grants, which will be crucial for recovery of this $112billion sector.
“The Greens are also calling for the establishment of a Content Creator Fund to set aside a grant fund of $50 million each year for the production of local content. This fund will support high quality local content, our creative industry and, importantly, allow Australians to keep telling their own stories. This goes hand-in-hand with the call for local content requirements for broadcast, radio, subscription and streaming services like Netflix, Amazon, Stan, Apple and Spotify to finally level the playing field.
“The Morrison Government has neglected the arts, entertainment and creative industry for far too long and these support initiatives were needed long before Coronavirus hit, but now they are more important than ever or there might not be an industry left on the other side of this crisis.”
 
The amendment in the name of Senator Hanson-Young
But the Senate is of the opinion that:
1. The arts, entertainment, creative and events industries, and hospitality and tourism industries have been severely hit by this crisis and are not getting adequate support from this Package, and the Senate calls on the Treasurer to ensure the following categories of businesses and workers are able to access the JobKeeper Program:
a) Casual workers who have not been with the same employer for 12 months;
b) Freelance performers, content creators, and crew who are engaged as direct employees on short-term contracts on a project by project basis but are not registered as a business;
c) Businesses that do not have a consistent stream of linear revenue across the year, such as those working on screen and stage productions, festivals and events, and therefore the revenue test is not applicable and should instead be for a comparable period not month;
d) Entities that are established as dedicated Special Purpose Vehicles which is common in the arts, entertainment and events sectors for individual projects, and are unlikely to meet the various tests and requirements therefore excluding many workers.
2. The arts, entertainment and creatives industry needs a tailored package to provide adequate support immediately and to assist recovery after the crisis, and this should include:
a) restoring and increasing Australia Council funding to expand access for individuals and organisations to access grants;
b) establish a Content Creator Fund to set aside a grant fund of $50 million each year for the production of local content. This fund will support high quality local content, our creative industry and, importantly, allow Australians to keep telling their own stories;
c) local content requirements for broadcast, radio, subscription and streaming services, like Netflix, Amazon, Stan, Apple and Spotify.

Australian Greens Senator for NSW and Education spokesperson Dr Mehreen Faruqi said the Greens would back 565,000 international students by today introducing amendments to make temporary visa holders eligible for the JobKeeper scheme.
Senator Faruqi said:
“Over the last two weeks, I have received hundreds of messages from international students who have lost their jobs and now face an incredibly uncertain future.
“The government has refused to listen to the thousands of international students who have been forced into poverty by this crisis, many of whom are now struggling to pay for food and rent.
“The Greens will move for temporary visa holders including international students to be made eligible for the JobKeeper wage subsidy today. We call on the Opposition and crossbench members to support this effort to ensure international students are not left destitute.
“We also continue to call for international student access to income support, including the Coronavirus Supplement, and Rent Assistance.
“Platitudes by the government are not going to help international students at this time of need. They need concrete help and financial support to get through this crisis.
“Many international students can no longer rely on family support from their home country, as the pandemic has shut down entire economies and ways of earning a living.
“In other countries like New Zealand and Canada, we’ve seen governments step up to support overseas students during the pandemic. There is no reason why Australia cannot do the same.
“For many years, Australia has benefited enormously from our international student population. Now, as they face an increasingly desperate situation, we must ensure they are supported and taken care of,” she said.

Australian Greens Senator for NSW and Housing spokesperson Dr Mehreen Faruqi has said that the National Cabinet has manifestly failed to provide any leadership or direction on national housing policy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Housing must be put back on the agenda for a national response.
Senator Faruqi said:
“After weeks of promising more information and direction, the National Cabinet has completely dropped the ball on housing. It must be put back on the agenda and dealt with urgently.
“It smacks of gross incompetence to put housing in the too-hard basket by dismissing it as a state or territory issue. Our response to COVID-19 requires a coordinated national effort.
“It’s revealing that while the National Cabinet has acted so quickly on commercial tenancies, vulnerable people who rent their homes have no clarity on whether their landlord will be allowed to increase their rent next month or evict them as soon as the pandemic is over.
“I urge the National Cabinet to support rental and mortgage holidays, an increase to rent assistance, and boost funding for crisis housing.
“Unemployment is increasing dramatically and the Coronavirus Supplement and JobKeeper payments are not due to land in bank accounts for weeks. People urgently need clarity and the assurance that they will have their home to live in during these trying times,” she said.