National cabinet agreed to remove the 100-person limit on non-essential indoor gatherings under step 3 and replace it with:
· 1 person per 4sqm;
· staying 1.5 metres away from other people whenever and wherever possible;
· maintaining good hand washing and cough/sneeze hygiene;
· staying home when unwell, and getting tested if you have respiratory symptoms or a fever;
· downloading the CovidSafe app to allow identification and traceability of people that have been in contact with a confirmed Covid case; and
· developing CovidSafe plans for workplaces and premises.
States and territories will determine when to implement these changes under step 3.
National cabinet requested further advice from the AHPPC on the one person per 4 sqm density rule and application for small premises.
National cabinet reiterated that it is vital for our society and our economy that we can live with this virus, and keep ourselves and others safe. We cannot risk a second wave and having to step backwards, especially now that we are making such good progress.
National cabinet reiterated that high-risk venues such as nightclubs do not form part of step 3 and will be considered following further advice from medical experts.
Statement on risks of Covid and attending mass gathering protests:
National cabinet reiterated the AHPPC advice that protests are very high risk due to the large numbers of people closely gathering and challenges in identifying all contacts. AHPPC again urges the Australian community to not participate in mass gatherings.
Progress on restrictions
National cabinet reconfirmed the commitment to the three-step framework for a Covid-safe Australia to be completed in July.
All states are now in step 2 or 3, the number of new cases has remained low, and localised outbreaks have been responded to effectively. Active case numbers continue to drop, community transmission remains low, and we are starting to see days with no new cases in most parts of the country. This progress needs to be maintained in order to make further economic and social gains – by living and working in Covid-safe ways as restrictions continue to ease.
National cabinet agreed to further changes based on AHPPC advice to enable extended removal of restrictions under step 3 for indoor gathering density rules and reopening ticketed and seated outdoor events, including in stadiums.
Universities Australia happy with moves toward international students' return
Universities Australia is happy with the pilot international student program:
Universities Australia has welcomed the prime minister’s announcement of a pilot program, beginning as early as next month, aimed at enabling international students to return to Australia.
The prime minister, Scott Morrison, today confirmed plans were being considered for the safe return of international students “in a very controlled setting”.
Universities Australia’s chief executive, Catriona Jackson, said the safety and welfare of the community was paramount.
“It is important that our hard-won success in limiting the spread of Covid-19 isn’t jeopardised,” she said. “That is why a trial for the safe return of students is a sensible approach.
“Universities Australia has been talking to the federal government about an overarching framework for a safe return for some time. It is good to see progress today with specific pilot proposals under consideration.
“The gradual reintroduction of international students into Australia requires careful planning with coordination between universities, governments across jurisdictions, health authorities and other key stakeholders.
“Any trial will rigorously test the controlled entry of international students and will include robust quarantine arrangements put in place by state and territory governments.”
Scott Morrison finishes his dixer with a plea for protesters not to go to any events this weekend:
“We have made great, great progress, but the challenge ahead is even greater, so the decisions we make now are about the next five years and the five years of changes we make will set up the next 30 years of prosperity. And we cannot put it at risk. And that’s why I ask those, this weekend, who are contemplating engaging in a mass rally, don’t do it. Follow the health advice. Don’t attend.
“Do the right thing by your fellow Australians. Protect the lives and the livelihoods, protect the businesses.
“Now is a time not to talk about what people want to tear down, but what we are going to build up, Mr Speaker, together. And, Mr Speaker, I would urge those who are considering this, I say it in total respect for the issues they wish to raise, please find another way to do it and do it with the support of your fellow Australians.
He then asks if Anthony Albanese wants to add to his answer on indulgence:
“Did you want to support that otherwise I was going to say further questions will be placed on notice. I ask that further questions be placed on the notice. I thought you were going to speak on indulgence, if not I apologise.”
Albanese gets up:
I am quite happy to take up the prime minister’s invitation. How long would you like me to have, prime minister?
I certainly have, consistently, Mr Speaker, as the prime minister knows full well, say that people should follow the medical advice and should not participate in gatherings that are against medical advice.
He goes to ask another question, but question time has ended.
Has the government modelled how many Australians will have to join the unemployment queues when the job giveaway subsidy is suddenly withdrawn under the prime minister’s hard snap back in September?
Frydenberg: Well, Mr Speaker, as the secretary of the Treasury said ... recently, he expects unemployment in the September quarter to reach about 8%. Now, Mr Speaker, we know people are doing it tough at the moment. We have gone through a 1-in-100-year event. But we also know that we are starting to see confidence pick up across the Australian economy, and Mr Speaker, we have seen consumer confidence pick up around 90% and business confidence pick up from around 70%. So Treasury, in relation to the question that was asked by the member for Rankin, will continue to assess the economic situation and we are undertaking a review into jobkeeper, Mr Speaker, and we will make decisions about the future of that program and we will announce those decisions on the 23 July. Mr Speaker, I’ll tell you what helps create jobs, its lower taxes, Mr Speaker ...
After the second point of order on relevance (one premature) we get this:
Treasury and the government continue to assess the situation, decisions will be taken about the future of the jobkeeper program and announcements will be made in an orderly fashion.
I refer to reports today that Coalition MPs, including the member for Leichhardt, want JobSeeker extended beyond September. But the Prime Minister is refusing to rule out kicking workers in other industries off JobSeeker before September. Why can’t the Prime Minister be clear - which Australians will he leave behind?
Morrison:
From the very outset of this crisis, the Government has put in place the most comprehensive, the largest set of income support and economic lifeline measures that this country has ever seen. And the one we started with was JobSeeker, because JobSeeker, the unemployment benefit is the safety net that sits right under all Australians if they find themselves out of work. That’s what we did first.
The second measure, substantial measure that we put in place for income support was JobKeeper. Now, JobKeeper was put in to ensure that Australians could find themselves continuing to be on the books of employers and doing some work in some cases, and they would be there in that arrangement for six months.
That has bought our economy critical time. If businesses were put in a position that they had to make decisions back in March and April about whether those employees could stay in those businesses, we would have seen millions more find themselves on their way seeking support through the unemployment system.
Now, Mr Speaker, that decision bought those businesses time. It bought Australia time. When other countries were only going for three months, we took the decision to go for six months.
And that provided some certainty and confidence, and since that time, we have seen consumer confidence restored under the ANZ Index, and 70% restore by business since the COVID crisis hit. Now we are going through the same thoughtful, meticulous process of considering the data and looking forward and reviewing the program to make the right set of decisions about the right combination of income supports and fiscal supports to the economy that would be in place after the end of September.
This is how our Government makes decisions. We do things carefully, considering the advice, looking at the economic environment and ensure that we make those decisions at the right time.
JobKeeper is there until the end of September, Mr Speaker. That’s why we put it in place. It will remain in place until the end of September.
And Mr Speaker, it will continue to provide that confidence. At the same time, the Treasurer and I and the members of the Cabinet will work together with the members of the Government to ensure that we get the right balance and mix of fiscal policies, because it’s the fiscal policies, given the absence of monetary ammunition that’s in the system that will be so important. But we want, above all things, above all things, is to get Australians back into jobs. Australians don’t want to be on JobKeeper or JobSeeker. They want to be in jobs, Mr Speaker.
And what we hear from the Opposition all the time is how they would seek to keep people back, not allow them to go forward. And the policies we will put in place and continue to put in place will be about them - not only getting the support they need when they need it. But in the jobs they need.
Will the prime minister look at extending the jobkeeper wage subsidy beyond September as suggested by the Reserve Bank governor?
Josh Frydenberg gets the nod:
Thank you. I thank the member for Rankin for the question. I too, enjoyed that profile piece in the Weekend Australian on the leadership credentials, but maybe not as much as the leader of the opposition. Now, the reality is – as the honourable member knows – the Reserve Bank governor said that it is actually too early to tell what the state of the economy will be in a number of months.
But what he did say is that the economic support that the government has been providing has been very, very substantial Mr Speaker, and making a real difference in helping to keep people connected to their employer, and staying in a job. Now, we’ve announced that we will be doing a review.
A review over the course of this month and the outcomes of that review into the jobkeeper program, and the assembly of the data will inform decisions that the government will take about the future of that program.
And any announcements around the future of that program will be made on 23 July when the finance minister and I provide an economic and fiscal update. But Mr Speaker, the jobkeeper program has been saving lives and protecting livelihoods.
It is helping millions of employees and hundreds of thousands of businesses right across the country.
But, Mr Speaker, what I do know is that at a time of need, because the economy was in a position of economic strength, because we had balanced the budget, because we had provided substantial tax cuts and got people off welfare into work, we were in a position to support the Australian economy with some $260bn, or over 13% of GDP, which is massive macroeconomic support in the words of the OECD and has seen Australia perform remarkably well on not just the health front, but on the economic front as well.
Anthony Albanese asks Scott Morrison about the VC for Tasmanian Teddy Sheean, again, and Morrison is NOT impressed:
Albanese: the prime minister has received a recommendation from the defence honours and awards appeals tribunal that Tasmania’s Teddy Sheean be awarded a Victoria Cross for “the most conspicuous act of valour in the presence of an enemy”. Why does the prime minister need another review to tell him that Teddy’s sacrifice should be honoured with a Victoria Cross?
Morrison: there is absolutely no doubt that Teddy Sheean was an extraordinary Australian who did extraordinary things. At a time that none of us in this place can possibly imagine. And the issues that were confronted by servicemen and women at that time is nothing we can imagine. Their commanders and those who were there at that time and made judgment on these issues. So when one goes back and looks at these matters again, one must be very careful when they’re putting themselves in the place of others who were there at the time.
Now, Mr Speaker, the tribunal, the four members of the tribunal, not all 11, but the four members of it, was unanimous. Not 11, just four. I point that out to the leader of the opposition. As he represented that all 11 members of the tribunal made that decision. That is in fact not the case. There was four, Mr Speaker.
But Mr Speaker, equally, then the government receives the recommendation from the tribunal, the government then needs to consider that recommendation informing a view, and indeed, the minister and then the prime minister needs to form a view. And so you take advice from all of the agencies that would have a relevant view on this, as I have done.
And I tabled, Mr Speaker, the letter from the chief of the defence force, Gen Campbell, for the purposes of the question and for the House. I can assure you, as prime minister and as chair of the national security committee of cabinet, that I do not consider the advice of the chief of the defence Force lightly. I consider it very carefully. And it wasn’t just the current chief of defence force, Mr Speaker. Not just the current chief of the defence force that I have consulted on this matter. But many others, many others, Mr Speaker, who have served in that capacity in recent times.
So I’m not going to consider the advice that comes from the single person who commands every single man, woman who serves in our defence forces lightly. So the issue that is raised in relation to this matter, Mr Speaker, is whether compelling new evidence has been presented and is available for me to take a decision that would enable me to make a recommendation to Her Majesty.
Now Mr Speaker, that matter, on my advice, is in dispute, and so I have sought advice from the former defence minister, the former solicitor general, the former secretary of the department of prime minister and cabinet, and one of the most renowned military historians in this country, to consider that very precise question. And Mr Speaker, if that advice comes back and says that very high bar has been passed, then that is helpful advice. And I can assure you, because I consulted the chief of the defence force on this matter.
Albanese tries to table the document, but a snippy Christian Porter says it is a public document, so no. (He was pretty snippy.)
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