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Victoria set for large budget deficit, almost 10 per cent unemployment
By Paul Sakkal
The Victorian government will likely run a $7.5 billion budget deficit for the 2019/20 calendar year, under new forecasts announced by Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas.
Unemployment will peak at about 9 per cent in the September quarter and gross state product, the overall size of the state’s economy, will drop by about 5.25 per cent for the calendar year.
"These predictions aren’t quite as grim as those in April, but that is no solace to many thousands of Victorians," Mr Pallas said.
The Victorian Treasurer said the state was not "counting the pennies" and instead was focussed on investing the money required to get the state through the pandemic.
"We have decided as a government that our priority is about the community, about the welfare of the community and making the necessary investments in the health system. And also, of course, investments in the efforts that we need to put in place to deal with a pandemic," he said.
"The coronavirus pandemic has really prompted a worldwide recession. And that is as a result of both social distancing arrangements that impact upon business and the closure of national borders … which has prompted dwindling demand for Victoria's key export sectors."
Childcare centre in Hunter region to close
NSW local member for Port Stephens Kate Washington has said the Goodstart Anna Bay Childcare Centre, in the Hunter region, will also be closed today for contact tracing and deep cleaning.
Earlier this morning, we reported Tomaree Public School and Tomaree High School, in Salamander Bay, had closed following a positive COVID-19 case.
"I understand all three new cases are connected with our first case, the 60-year-old man who was in contact with a visitor from Sydney," Ms Washington wrote on Facebook. "More information and advice will be provided tomorrow morning by Hunter New England Health."
"In the meantime, health advice remains the same - if you have any COVID-19 symptoms, get tested. All families at the schools and childcare service should have received email notification of the closures with more information.
"I understand that everyone will want more details, but this is a rapidly moving situation. Out of respect for the people involved, more facts and advice will be provided by Hunter New England Health tomorrow as this unfolds."
Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas gives economic update
Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas is due to provide an economic update at 9am.
Cleared for landing: Stokes' political clout unveiled as federal minister, Premier discuss hotel lockdown exemption
By Hamish Hastie
A federal minister discussed the April hotel quarantine exemption request of Kerry Stokes with the Western Australian Premier and personally sent the billionaire's doctor's note and flight itinerary on behalf of him to the Premier's office.
A trail of emails lay bare the Seven West boss' political connections as he sought approval to avoid hotel quarantine and self-isolate in the Kimberley instead, despite a federally enforced biosecurity lockout in place to protect vulnerable Aboriginal communities.
Kerry Stokes and WA Premier Mark McGowan.Credit:Nine Publishing
While thousands of returning travellers were being forced to quarantine in Perth hotels, WA Police granted Mr Stokes and his wife Christine an exemption to isolate at his Perth mansion on medical grounds as they returned to Perth from Beaver Creek, Colorado on April 8.
At the time, Colorado was in the grip of a coronavirus outbreak and Mr Stokes' exemption called into question whether the WA government's tough border and quarantine requirements were being applied equally.
No new Queensland COVID-19 cases, no change on NSW hotspots or interstate border
By Toby Crockford
There have been no new COVID-19 cases in Queensland overnight and three active cases remain in the state.
There had been speculation this morning that the Queensland/NSW border could close again or more areas of NSW could be declared hotspots.
However, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says there has been no changes on either front, but she is monitoring NSW COVID-19 case numbers closely every day and reassessing her decisions.
The Queenslander leader also expressed disappointment that NSW would not consider moving the border checkpoints further south to the Tweed River to ease delays at the interstate boundaries.
"I'm disappointed, this was just about easing the border communities and making their lives easier, but they are NSW residents and there is nothing I can do about that," Ms Palaszczuk says.
"We're trying everything we possibly can [to ease delays at the border crossings], we've got police down there, firefighters, Australian Defence Force personnel - it's a big job, but this is about keeping Queenslanders safe."
Australian Medical Association president wants national cabinet to reconvene
By Marissa Calligeros
Australian Medical Association president Tony Bartone wants the Prime Minister's national cabinet to reconvene with fears the crisis in Victoria is out of control and will spread across the country.
"War-time cabinet is something that has come to mind. We need that coordination between everybody in the space, not just the Victorian government because this is now a national problem," he told Channel Nine's Today show this morning.
Dr Bartone said it would be an "absolute disaster" if Melbourne remained in some sort of lockdown until Christmas, but a war-time cabinet could be the circuit breaker needed to get more people to take the second wave seriously.
"Clearly we need a circuit breaker, we need all Melburnians to understand this is serious.
"What we do know now is people are becoming frustrated and complacent, not listening to the messages and we need to re-assert that leadership and that's why we called on the national cabinet to reconvene."
Trump says he is comfortable having his son and grandchildren back in schools
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he is comfortable with his son, Barron, and grandchildren going back to school, arguing that schools should be open despite concerns from many that it could lead to more coronavirus infections.
At a news conference, Trump also urged young people to avoid packed bars and to take other steps to limit the spread of the virus.
Reuters
Victorians will need to prepare for a lockdown beyond six weeks if things don't improve: Hunt
By Marissa Calligeros
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt says Victorians will need to prepare for a lockdown beyond the current six weeks if things don't improve.
"Right now, obviously it's a six-week period and it will need all of that six weeks. Whether it goes beyond that, that will be a function of how we flatten that curve. We're not doing that yet," Mr Hunt told ABC News Breakfast this morning.
His comments echo those made by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews yesterday.
"People are taking important steps, but we clearly have a very significant way to go in Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire to flatten those numbers," Mr Hunt said.
"We have brought 1400 ADF into Victoria to help with that. We particularly want to make sure that this does not spread to the regions.
"There's an outbreak in Colac which is very serious and so the ADF is available to assist with testing, with tracing. Significantly tracing, getting each case every day followed up.
"We're achieving this in seven out of eight states. We have stepped in to help Victoria achieve that outcome.
"They're the fundamental things along with the individual distancing and hygiene habits that will help us to flatten that curve for a second time. This is our great shared task."
Queensland Premier provides COVID-19 update
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will provide a COVID-19 update at 8am.
'Finally the penny may have fallen'
By Marissa Calligeros
Melbourne resident Dino was relieved to see everyone at Queen Victoria Market this morning wearing face masks.
"I've just been to the Queen Victoria Market and not one person was not wearing a mask," Dino told radio station 3AW. "I'm very happy, finally the penny may have fallen."
In a statement issued last night, Victoria Police said it would be more lenient when issuing fines to people not wearing masks over the next week.
"As part of daily patrols, police will be able to issue on-the-spot fines of $200 to those not wearing a face covering without a legitimate reason," a police spokeswoman said.
"Police will exercise discretion over the next seven days, as we understand that for many people this is a significant adjustment."
But the message was qualified with a warning for those caught "blatantly" disregarding the mask rule.
"For example, if a person has a mask and refuses to wear it when requested, then that person can expect to be issued with the fine," the spokeswoman said. "Similarly, if a person persists with entering a supermarket when requested not to do so due to the absence of a mask then that person can expect to be issued with a fine."
Victoria Police have asked residents in the lockdown areas to only use the Police Assistance phone line to dob in breaches of mass gatherings, self-isolation and businesses operating in breach of the Chief Health Officer's directives, rather than non-mask wearers.
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2020-07-22 23:14:00Z
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