Victoria records 278 new cases, eight deaths
Victoria has 278 new cases of coronavirus, and sadly there have been another eight deaths overnight.
We will bring you today's press conference via a live stream when it's on - we'll get confirmation on a time later.
Latest updates
Flight Centre flags $800m loss, slows cash burn
By Patrick Hatch
Flight Centre has told investors to expect a loss of more than $800 million when it reports its full-year results in a fortnight as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic bringing travel and tourism to a virtual standstill.
The ASX-listed travel agency had some good news on Thursday, however, revealing that it had slowed its cash burn thanks to higher than expected revenue while winning new clients in its corporate travel business, which would be profitable at an underlying level.
“COVID-19 and, specifically, the government responses to it have clearly had devastating impacts on businesses worldwide and on the airline, travel, tourism and hospitality industries in particular,” Flight Centre managing director Graham Turner said in a statement.
“This has severely impacted us and our people and some very tough decisions have been made over the past four or five months. Despite ongoing restrictions, revenue has now started to increase, particularly in Europe, and we have surpassed our initial cash flow target, thereby extending our liquidity runway.”
'Bad pimple' no excuse for maskless man
By Simone Fox Koob
A man who visited a friend while he was waiting for the results of a coronavirus test and another who wasn't wearing a mask because he had a "bad pimple" were among those fined in the past day in Victoria for flouting COVID-19 restrictions.
A total of 204 fines were issued in the past 24 hours by Victoria Police. Of these, 29 were issued to people not wearing a face covering, nine were at vehicle checkpoints, and 71 were for people breaching curfew.
Police said a man was caught visiting a friend and admitted to police that he was waiting for the results of a coronavirus test.
A fine was also issued to a man in the Port Phillip area who wasn’t wearing a mask because he had a "bad pimple" on his chin.
Seven people drinking alcohol in Prahran Square, five men gathered at a Braybrook home to celebrate a birthday and multiple people intercepted on their way to visit a friend during curfew hours were also among those fined.
Police conducted 4708 spot checks on people at homes, businesses and public places across the state on Wednesday, taking the total number of spot checks since 21 March to 266,527.
Public transport after the pandemic
By Rachael Dexter
The Victorian Public Accounts and Estimates Committee discussion has now moved on to what Melbourne’s public transport network will look like once restrictions begin to lift after the pandemic.
Transport Minister Jacinta Allan has acknowledged that after such a long period of people working from home, it’s unlikely travel patterns will return to what they were before.
"If that [working from home] becomes more of a feature of people's work and life patterns, then yes we need to think about the public transport provision," she said.
She suggested it was likely there would be less people moving in and out of the city centre, but more between suburbs on local buses, and pointed to the government’s urban city rail loop project as a way the government was addressing that concern.
Ms Allan was also asked by Liberal Democrats MP David Limbrick whether it would have been cheaper for the government to stop trains and trams completely after curfew during stage four and providing essential workers with vouchers for taxis or rideshares.
She responded saying that train and tram networks have "big fixed costs" such as the maintenance of tracks and stations that remain regardless of how many trips run.
She said paying staff to run those services between 8pm and 5am were "quite a modest additional cost" comparatively.
Notably, Ms Allan acknowledged there was going to be many more drivers on the road during and after the pandemic as people avoid public transport, referencing $340 million worth of road projects.She said those were to "help people moving through the suburbs".
"We know that our interventions have to be out in the suburbs," she said.
New Zealand may delay election amid fears imports caused outbreak
By Giovanni Torre
New Zealand's PM Jacinda Ardern is considering delaying New Zealand's general election as investigators examine whether a cluster of new cases in Auckland was imported via freight.
Health authorities implemented a rapid lockdown in Auckland, the country's largest city, where four more probable infections have been uncovered, which would bring the outbreak's total to eight.
New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern has announced a new three-day lockdown for Auckland.Credit:Getty Images
With 1.5 million people under three-day stay-at-home orders, and millions more at risk of a wider outbreak, Ardern said she was seeking advice on delaying the September 2020 election.
Parliament was meant to be dissolved on Wednesday to allow the election to take place, but the centre-Left leader held off the move until Monday to monitor how the crisis evolves.
The prime minister's Labour Party is expected to win next month's ballot. It currently dominates the polls on 55 per cent, with the opposition National Party on 28 per cent.
"At this stage, it's too early to make any decision but this means there is some flexibility if required," said Ardern, who is well ahead in opinion polls and expected to win a second term.
Read more: New Zealand may delay election amid fears imports caused outbreak
Telstra profit slides under pressure from fires, virus
By Zoe Samios
Telstra's profit has fallen by 14.1 per cent as the coronavirus pandemic and the national bushfire crisis put pressure on the company.
Australia's largest telco reported a 6 per cent dip in total income to $26.2 billion and net profit of $1.8 billion for the full financial year, but the lower result is in line with its guidance and the company will pay its final 8¢ dividend to shareholders. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation came in at $8.9 billion.
Telstra chief executive Andrew Penn said the result showed the telco's resilience.Credit:Ryan Stuart
Telstra chief executive Andrew Penn said the result highlighted the telco's resilience. Like many businesses, Telstra has been hit by the multiple crises that have taken place this year. Outside of headwinds caused by customers moving to the NBN, the telco has faced financial challenges because of the bushfire crisis and the pandemic.
Free mobile services for firefighters and infrastructure repairs amounted to $44 million. Mr Penn said the pandemic impacts were reduced international roaming, a fall in professional services revenue and increased financial support for customers.
Read more: Telstra sees profit slide by 14 per cent, maintains dividend
Victoria 'actively investigating' online learner driver test
By Rachael Dexter
A tidbit out of the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee hearing that may be of interest, particularly to our regional Victorian readers.
The state government seems to have taken up complaints from would-be learner drivers who are unable to go for tests to get their L-plates because of the closure of VicRoads offices due to lockdown restrictions.
There is a petition circulating from Victorian parents to allow the computer test required for 16-year-olds to get their learner permits to be conducted online at home, rather than on a computer at VicRoads offices.
Head of Transport Services Nick Foa told the committee it was something his department was “actively investigating”, but was unable to provide a timeline for when it would happen due to time running out for his response.
States and territories put on notice over unnecessary border restrictions
By Jennifer Duke
Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham has warned state and territory leaders will need to rely on their own budgets to prop up businesses reliant on interstate travel should they keep borders closed for longer than necessary.
International and interstate travel has been heavily restricted to limit the spread of coronavirus, prompting the tourism lobby group to push for national cabinet to intervene to reduce confusion and create nationally consistent rules about border restrictions.
Simon Birmingham said state border restrictions shouldn't remain in place for one more day than needed.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
Senator Birmingham told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age that state and territory governments should not expect federal assistance for the tourism industry if it was affected by unnecessary state government decisions to limit travel between non-affected areas.
"State border restrictions need to be proportionate to the health risk and shouldn't remain in place for one more day than they need to," he said.
"If a state or territory border were to remain closed to a jurisdiction that had successfully suppressed the spread of COVID-19, then that state or territory government will need to be accountable to their tourism industry and will ultimately need to provide additional support."
Read more: States and territories put on notice over unnecessary border restrictions
Woodside sinks to $5.7b loss as virus hammers energy sector
By Nick Toscano
Australian oil and gas giant Woodside has plunged to a half-year loss of more than $5 billion as coronavirus lockdowns pummel the world's fuel demand and force severe writedowns across the company's operations.
Woodside's first-half loss of $US4.067 billion ($5.7 billion) comes after the company slashed up to $6 billion from the value of its assets last month due to the severity of the pandemic's impact demand for crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG), one of Australia's most lucrative exports.
"I would rate the external conditions created this year by the COVID-19 pandemic and oversupply in global oil and gas markets as the most difficult I've seen in nearly four decades in the industry," Woodside chief executive Peter Coleman said.
Stripping out one-off charges, the company's underlying net profit for the six months to June 30 fell 28 per cent to $US303 million, beating analysts' expectations.
Mr Coleman said the company and its people had demonstrated resilience in the face of the market crisis, posting record-breaking half-year production. Woodside declared an interim dividend for the half of US26¢ a share.
Shares in the company closed at $20.59 on Wednesday and have shed 40 per cent in 2020, against an 8.3 per cent decline for the ASX 200.
Qld warns of 'danger on the doorstep', vows to keep border closed
By Lydia Lynch
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has warned of “danger on the doorstep” as almost 300 COVID-19 cases remain active in neighbouring New South Wales.
No new cases were detected in Queensland on Thursday and the state has now gone 12 days without recording any community transmission.
“As of this morning, New South Wales had 297 active cases, we have 11,” Ms Palaszczuk told state parliament on Thursday morning.
“New South Wales had 96 additional cases in the past week, they’re having to take appropriate measures.
“Like Victoria, we wish New South Wales every success in containing the virus but Queensland isn’t taking any chances.
“Our borders will remain closed for as long as the risk remains.”
NSW help for domestic violence victims
By Kate Aubusson
NSW Victims of domestic and family violence without Medicare cards will be able to access free hospital care for their injuries without having to file a police report.
The NSW Government has changed its hospital fees policy to allow victims ineligible for Medicare - like Temporary Protection Visa holders - to access hospital care without incurring big bills after national data showed an increase in domestic and family violence during the pandemic.
Circuit breaker: Dr Maria Nittis heads up the forensic medical unit at Blacktown Hospital in Sydney's west.Credit:Wolter Peeters
Attorney General and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, Mark Speakman, said despite the increase, the Australian Institute of Criminology report found victims were not reporting the violence they suffered to police.
“This reform is focused on removing obstacles for especially vulnerable victim-survivors to ensure immediate medical support is available and accessible when it’s needed most,” Mr Speakman said.
He said many women contact the Domestic Violence Line before they’re ready to report to police for a range of reasons, including fear of repercussions.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said it was vital that people facing violence at home felt safe to seek support and care in our public hospitals, without fear of reprisal from perpetrators.
“A tragic, often hidden cost of the COVID-19 pandemic is the rise in violence on the homefront and fewer opportunities to reach out for support,” Mr Hazzard said.
“The NSW Government is helping to clear the way for victims of domestic and family violence to receive essential medical treatment and care in our hospitals, whenever they need it.”
Read more: Easier hospital access for victims of family violence
If you or anyone you know is experiencing domestic violence, when it’s safe to do so, you can contact the following supports:
· NSW Domestic Violence Line, for crisis counselling, referral or support on 1800 65 64 63;
· 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 for sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling and support services;
· Link2Home on 1800 152 152 who can help refer women experiencing domestic violence to crisis accommodation; and
· Men's Referral Service for men who use violence, or their friends and family on 1300 766 491 or https://ntv.org.au/.
Most Viewed in National
https://news.google.com/__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?oc=5
2020-08-13 00:49:00Z
52780993148268
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Coronavirus updates LIVE: Active Victorian cases drop for first time in two months; NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian warns of harsher restrictions - The Sydney Morning Herald"
Post a Comment