Category: Australian News

The Australian Government in partnership with states and territories, peak surgical bodies, the AMA and the private hospital sector will be increasing the availability of elective surgery in a safe and carefully considered way which ensures the wellbeing of both patients and healthcare workers.
This is possible due to the strong collaboration across governments to build capacity and strengthen the health system to reduce the threat of COVID-19.
Through our containment measures we have successfully suppressed the virus: closing our borders, testing, tracing, and in particular, the social distancing and the isolation. These continue to be our strongest weapons against the coronavirus.
We have been boosting the capacity of the hospitals and in addition secured over 3000 new ventilators and we have now received 60 million masks into the national stockpile. From that, perhaps most importantly, we have secured an extra 100 million masks over the next six weeks to protect our vital health care workers in what has been an intensely competitive global environment.
Through testing we have had a rate of increase of less than 1 per cent per day for nine days straight now.
All these measures are helping to bring down the rate of transmission, flattening the curve and giving us the opportunity to relax some of our measures.
Restrictions on elective surgery have been a difficult but important part of ensuring the capacity across the health system to manage the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, thanks to the efforts of all Australians – National Cabinet has agreed with the health advice that we are in a position to reintroduce some elective procedures.
We particularly acknowledge those patients who have had their elective surgery deferred and recognise the effect this has had on their lives and wellbeing.
The first phase of the reintroduction will occur on 27 April.
Our central aim is to increase the availability of elective surgery in a safe and equitable way, on a nationally consistent basis for public and private patients.
Reintroduction of elective surgery will be done using a staged and controlled process which balances the ongoing need for the capacity to treat COVID-19 patients, while allowing our hospitals to treat elective surgery patients.
The selection of patients to undergo elective surgery will ultimately be a clinical one, guided by the following principles, recommended by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) and endorsed by National Cabinet:

• Procedures representing low risk, high value care as determined by specialist societies
• Selection of patients who are at low risk of post-operative deterioration
• Children whose procedures have exceeded clinical wait times
• Assisted reproduction (IVF)
• Endoscopic procedures
• Screening programs
• Critical dental procedures.

This first stage of reinstating elective surgeries will require health administrators to monitor supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE), ICU and bed capacity, while preparing for the next phase.
On the advice of AHPPC, in addition to Category 1 elective surgeries, hospitals will initially recommence one in four closed operating lists, with a focus on Category 2 and some important Category 3.
In reintroducing elective surgery we acknowledge the safety of patients and healthcare workers is paramount. A thorough risk assessment of patients planned for elective surgery is essential, based on national guidelines.
There will be a national a study into asymptomatic carriage of COVID-19 in elective surgery patients to further inform testing policy.
Personal protective equipment is a critical element of staff safety and the use of PPE should be in accordance with national guidelines. The grade of PPE should be determined according to the national suspected case definitions.
The Australian, state and territory governments have put in place clear timeframes to monitor and review the situation as part of our commitment to protect patients, health care staff and consistent with AHPPC advice.
An overall review for additional support will be undertaken at two weeks and at four weeks based on:

• The number of positive cases, in both healthcare workers and patients, linked to increased activity
• PPE use and availability
• The volume of procedures and hospital/system capacity.

Making tech giants like Facebook and Google pay for the content they take from Australian journalists and creators is a welcome, albeit long overdue, move by the Morrison Government, the Greens say.
Greens Spokesperson for Media Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“Big tech giants have been ripping off Australians by taking content for free and making huge profits. It’s beyond time to put the blowtorch on Big Tech and make them pay for content they’ve been taking for free and pay proper taxes in this country.
“The Greens have been calling for Big Tech to have to pay for the content they take from Australian journalists and creators for many months.
“Finally the Government is doing something, albeit late and after much suffering for Australian media and creators. Waiting until November for tech giants and media companies to reach a deal was never going to cut it and would’ve seen more news outlets hit the wall.
“Australian media outlets were already under pressure because of this content theft before COVID-19, but the loss of advertising revenue during this crisis has been the last straw for many.
“The key issue now is what the code will look like and how it will be enforced. Other jurisdictions have been grappling with this issue and Australia must learn their lessons.
“Public interest journalism is vital for a robust democracy and Big Tech must be held to account if we are going to protect Australia’s right to know and Australian jobs.”
Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt MP said:
“If the government can force Google to pay Rupert Murdoch, they can make tech giants pay our authors and artists as well.
“People working in the arts and creative sectors regularly have tech giants use their work without remuneration, and now their sectors are hit hard by coronavirus too.
“Just as we need a media industry with fearless and independent reporting to ensure politicians and business leaders are accountable to the public, we need a well-paid arts and creative sector to sustain us through times of isolation and give our nation a voice.
“Whether it’s printed on a newspaper, hung on a wall or piped through our speakers, content creators deserve to get paid for their work. Google’s CEO doesn’t work for free and neither should Australia’s creators.”

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann’s comments today that the Federal Government will take an “aggressive deregulation agenda” post-Covid19, is code for cutting corners for big business, the Greens say.
Greens Spokesperson for the Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“Australians should be concerned that the first thing the Morrison Government will attack will be laws that protect the environment. The Greens will fight this and fight hard.
“If the Government wants to stimulate the economy post-COVID-19 it should be looking at environmental recovery and conservation and biodiversity measures as an opportunity to generate employment and enhance and protect our environment at the same time.”
“This was their agenda well before the Coronavirus but they’re setting the stage to use this crisis as an excuse for helping their mates in mining and development.
“When the Environment Minister announced the 10-yearly review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) last year, she declared it was the ‘season to cut green tape’.
“Minister Ley also said the EPBC Act Review will ‘play a significant role across a wide range of sectors, from agriculture to mining and infrastructure’ and that ‘we should protect the environment, but business must be freed from laws that strangle the economy’.
“Any move to save the economy money by speeding up environmental approvals will come at the expense of Australia’s precious natural environment.
“We need strong laws to save our natural places and native animals, especially after the devastating bushfires over summer and when we already have one of the worst extinction rates in the world.”

Virgin Australia entering voluntary administration is devastating for its 16,000 employees and contractors, our tourism industry and regional economies.
This is a failure of leadership from Scott Morrison whose complacent approach to aviation did nothing to support the airline through this crisis.
Our aviation, tourism and freight industries were brought to their knees by necessary travel restrictions imposed by governments to limit the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak.
For weeks, Labor and unions called for Scott Morrison to extend a lifeline to Virgin Australia through extending or guaranteeing a line of credit and taking an equity stake.
The Government refused to support Virgin despite the fact they signed off on $100 million in cash grants exclusively for regional airlines, including the majority foreign-owned Regional Express.
Labor repeatedly urged the Government to also be open to supporting large aviation companies, like Virgin.
The current structure of our aviation industry with two major airlines supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, promotes competition and ensures services regularly reach all Australians.
Now that he has let the airline fall into administration, Scott Morrison must outline a plan to take an equity stake in Virgin and ensure we continue to have two major airlines in this country.
Allowing private equity investors to pick over Virgin will see thousands of workers lose their jobs and provides no guarantee of ongoing access to affordable flights for the travelling public.
Sixteen thousand workers cannot afford further inaction from Scott Morrison.
Our regional tourism economies from Cairns to Broome to Launceston cannot afford further inaction from Scott Morrison.
Giving up on Australia’s aviation industry is not an option for Labor.

The National Cabinet met today to take further decisions to save lives, and to save livelihoods.
The Chief Medical Officer Dr Brendan Murphy provided an update on the measures underway, the latest data and medical advice in relation to COVID-19.
There are more than 6,600 confirmed cases in Australia and sadly 71 people have died.
Australia will continue to progress a successful suppression/elimination strategy for the virus. National Cabinet noted data that confirms the measures put in place to suppress the virus have largely been successful in slowing and reversing the growth of cases in Australia, to ensure our health system has the capability to manage the epidemic.
It is estimated that overall, Australia is currently detecting approximately 92 per cent of all symptomatic cases, with each state and territory individually detecting at least 80 per cent. Australia’s point estimate when compared with other countries is 84 per cent, the highest reported detection rate globally.
For COVID-19 suppression strategies to be effective, Reff (the number of people a single case infects on average) needs to be less than 1.0. The results continue to look very encouraging.
To continue to suppress COVID-19, National Cabinet has commenced further work on Australia’s public health response including enhanced testing, tracing and local health response capabilities. This work will feed into National Cabinet’s review of baseline restrictions by 14 May 2020.
National Cabinet was briefed on the new app currently under development to support state and territory health authorities to notify close contacts of a person diagnosed with COVID-19. National Cabinet provided its in-principle support for the app. The Government will provide further information on the app closer to its release.
National Cabinet agreed to meet again on Friday 24 April 2020.
Elective surgery
National Cabinet received up-to-date data on the stock of personnel protective equipment (PPE) in the National Medical Stockpile, and PPE held by state and territory health systems. PPE stocks and other equipment such as ventilators are now largely sufficient to meet expected demand for Australia’s COVID19 response through to December 2020, with current social distancing and travel restriction measures in place.
National Cabinet noted that the National Medical Stockpile does not replace state, territory or private processes to source and deliver PPE to meet their needs. To date, the National Medical Stockpile has dispatched over 22 million masks primarily to state and territories, GP’s, Community Pharmacy, ACHHOS and aged care, with a further 11.5 million being dispatched this week.
Unnecessarily delaying elective surgeries can worsen health outcomes, increase anxiety and reduce social and economic productivity.
As result of Australia’s success in flattening the curve, our low rates of COVID related hospitalisation and new data on stocks of PPE, National Cabinet agreed that from 27 April 2020, category 2 and equivalent procedures can recommence across the public and private hospital sectors.
As result of Australia’s success in flattening the curve, our low rates of COVID related hospitalisation and new data on stocks of PPE, National Cabinet agreed that from 27 April 2020, category 2 and some important category 3 procedures can recommence across the public and private hospital sectors.
National Cabinet further agreed that the following procedures can recommence from 27 April 2020:

• IVF
• Screening programs (cancer and other diseases)
• Post cancer reconstruction procedures (such as breast reconstruction)
• Procedures for children under 18 years of age.
• Joint replacements (incl knees, hips, shoulders)
• Cataracts and eye procedures
• Endoscopy and colonoscopy procedures

PPE stocks for these elective surgeries and procedures will not be taken from the National Medical Stockpile.
It is estimated that a gradual restart of elective surgeries will see 1 in 4 closed elective surgery operating lists reopen, with flexibility for states to determine the appropriate levels of elective surgery within this general framework
Reintroduction of elective surgery in a staged manner balances the ongoing need for the capacity to treat COVID-19 patients, while allowing our hospitals to treat elective surgery patients.
These arrangements will be reviewed by 11 May 2020, to determine if other elective surgeries and procedures can recommence and volumes increased.
National Cabinet further agreed to the Australian Dental Association recommendation that dentists move to level 2 restrictions (such as fitting dentures, braces, non-high speed drill fillings and basic fillings), allowing a broader range of dental interventions to occur where the risk of transmission can be managed and PPE stocks procured by the private sector.
National Cabinet again thanked Australia’s health care professionals for their work to support our COVID-19 response.
Aged Care Response
National Cabinet discussed the lessons learned from recent COVID-19 outbreaks in residential aged care facilities and acknowledged the critical importance of adequate infection prevention and control measures in minimising the spread of COVID-19.
It is not acceptable, fair or compassionate for any residential aged care facilities to ban visits from carers and families.
National Cabinet reconfirmed the principles announced on 18 March 2020 regarding visits to aged care facilities. In line with these principles, visits should be limited to a short duration, a maximum of two visitors at one time per day, and conducted in line with social distancing practices. This is designed to limit the spread of COVID-19 in residential aged care facilities.
Infection prevention and control measures must be balanced against the needs and best interests of residents. Aged care providers are best placed to make these assessments on a case by case basis.
National Cabinet also reiterated that the following visitors and staff (including visiting workers) should not be permitted to enter the aged care facilities:

• Those who have returned from overseas in the last 14 days;
• Those who have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the last 14 days;
• Those with fever or any (even mild) symptoms of acute respiratory infection (e.g. cough, sore throat, runny nose, shortness of breath); and
• Those who have not been vaccinated against influenza (after 1 May).

All Governments are committed to protecting and supporting elderly and vulnerable Australians and are working together, with aged care providers, to manage infection control. This extends to supporting health and aged care workers to be safe and healthy while at work, including appropriate use of PPE and screening of staff.
Family members who may be concerned about the care being provided to loved ones in residential aged care facilities are encouraged to contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
Schools
National Cabinet re-emphasised that the one person per four square metres rule does not apply in school classrooms. Schools should consult the most recent AHPPC advice, issued on 16 April 2020.

More than 3000 ventilators have been delivered to the Federal Government from Australian manufacturing company ResMed to assist in the response to the coronavirus pandemic.
This represents more than half of the 5500 ventilators purchased from ResMed by the Federal Government for the COVID-19 Stockpile.
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the delivery from ResMed follows extensive work across Government.
“The Government has been working hard to secure supply and increase the domestic manufacture of ventilators as we respond to the COVID-19 crisis,” Minister Andrews said.
“ResMed is a wonderful Aussie manufacturer that has stepped up in these unprecedented times to ramp up its production of ventilators.
“ResMed is a terrific example of the incredible manufacturing capacity that Australia has right here at home and shows how Aussie ingenuity can save lives.”
The Government has purchased 500 ‘Astral’ invasive ventilators and 5000 ‘Lumis’ non-invasive ventilators from ResMed. So far 260 ‘Astral’ invasive ventilators and 3000 ‘Lumis’ non-invasive ventilators have been produced and delivered.
Minister for Health Greg Hunt said the more than 3000 ventilators delivered by ResMed with 2500 more to come, builds on the 4400 existing units in Australia and a further 2000 being manufactured by Grey Innovation – another Aussie company – and its consortium of local manufacturers and engineering firms.
“We have been working closely with ResMed, and across Government to establish procedures to use the company’s non-invasive ventilators within the care continuum for COVID 19 patients,” Minister Hunt said.
“These additional ventilators will help to ensure we have sufficient supplies to meet the increased demand we expect in coming months.”
“Our national aim over the next few months is simple, suppress the virus, increase our testing and tracing, and slowly ease the restrictions,” Minister Hunt said.
ResMed President and COO Rob Douglas said ResMed is proud to support the Australian Government in their efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We will continue to work with the Australian Commonwealth, State and Territory governments, as well as with suppliers and governments from around the world, in a strong public-private partnership to support health care workers in their valiant efforts to save lives,” Mr Douglas said.

Making tech giants like Facebook and Google pay for the content they take from Australian journalists and creators is a welcome, albeit long overdue, move by the Morrison Government, the Greens say.
Greens Spokesperson for Media Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“Big tech giants have been ripping off Australians by taking content for free and making huge profits. It’s beyond time to put the blowtorch on Big Tech and make them pay for content they’ve been taking for free and pay proper taxes in this country.
“The Greens have been calling for Big Tech to have to pay for the content they take from Australian journalists and creators for many months.
“Finally the Government is doing something, albeit late and after much suffering for Australian media and creators. Waiting until November for tech giants and media companies to reach a deal was never going to cut it and would’ve seen more news outlets hit the wall.
“Australian media outlets were already under pressure because of this content theft before COVID-19, but the loss of advertising revenue during this crisis has been the last straw for many.
“The key issue now is what the code will look like and how it will be enforced. Other jurisdictions have been grappling with this issue and Australia must learn their lessons.
“Public interest journalism is vital for a robust democracy and Big Tech must be held to account if we are going to protect Australia’s right to know and Australian jobs.”
Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt MP said:
“If the government can force Google to pay Rupert Murdoch, they can make tech giants pay our authors and artists as well.
“People working in the arts and creative sectors regularly have tech giants use their work without remuneration, and now their sectors are hit hard by coronavirus too.
“Just as we need a media industry with fearless and independent reporting to ensure politicians and business leaders are accountable to the public, we need a well-paid arts and creative sector to sustain us through times of isolation and give our nation a voice.
“Whether it’s printed on a newspaper, hung on a wall or piped through our speakers, content creators deserve to get paid for their work. Google’s CEO doesn’t work for free and neither should Australia’s creators.”

The Morrison Government has directed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to develop a mandatory code of conduct to address bargaining power imbalances between digital platforms and media companies.
The development of a code of conduct is part of the Government’s response to the ACCC’s Digital Platforms Inquiry final report to promote competition, enhance consumer protection and support a sustainable Australian media landscape in the digital age.
In its final report the ACCC identified that Facebook and Google have each become unavoidable trading partners for Australian news media businesses in reaching audiences online, resulting in an imbalance in bargaining power.
In December last year, the ACCC was directed by the Government to facilitate the development of voluntary codes to address bargaining power imbalances between digital platforms and news media businesses. The Government indicated at the time that if an agreement was not forthcoming, the Government would develop alternative options to address concerns raised, which may include the creation of a mandatory code.
The Government has decided that the original timeframe set out in its response requires acceleration. The Australian media sector was already under significant pressure; that has now been exacerbated by a sharp decline in advertising revenue driven by coronavirus. At the same time, while discussions between the parties have been taking place, progress on a voluntary code has been limited according to recent advice provided by the ACCC following a request by the Government for an update. The ACCC considers it is unlikely that any voluntary agreement would be reached with respect to the key issue of payment for content.
As a result, the Government has instructed the ACCC to develop a mandatory code to address commercial arrangements between digital platforms and news media businesses. Among the elements the code will cover include the sharing of data, ranking and display of news content and the monetisation and the sharing of revenue generated from news.
The mandatory code will also establish appropriate enforcement, penalty and binding dispute resolution mechanisms.
A draft mandatory code will be released for consultation by the ACCC before the end of July, with a final code to be settled soon thereafter.
The Government is delivering a regulatory framework that is fit for purpose and better protects and informs Australian consumers, addresses bargaining power imbalances between digital platforms and media companies, and ensures privacy settings remain appropriate in the digital age.

Australians are being encouraged to honour the service and sacrifice of our veterans and serving Defence personnel on ANZAC Day from home this year by watching the nationally broadcast Dawn Service from the Australian War Memorial and participating in the RSL’s #lightupthedawn campaign.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said while ANZAC Day will be different this year, with no community commemorative services or marches, we will be doing all we can to honour and commemorate the sacrifice of our Anzacs and thank all those who have served and continue to serve Australia in our defence forces.
“ANZAC day is a sacred day for all Australians. It is an important time to remember the sacrifices of those who have gone before us, those who have laid down their lives or suffered great hardship to protect Australians’ way of life,” the Prime Minister said.
“This year, we will not be gathering at the local cenotaph, or attending gunfire breakfasts at the local RSL, or gathering together to bow our heads in silence and listen to the bugles at dawn.
“But we will still remember the sacrifice of those who gave so much for us at Gallipoli and on many fronts, as we ourselves give what we can to protect Australian lives while we face this terrible virus.”
This year, a Dawn Service will be broadcast across Australia from the Australian War Memorial.
The Australian Wall Memorial is the home of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as well as the Roll of Honour which contains the names of the 102,000 servicemen and women who have given their lives for Australia.
In keeping with the national commitment to social distancing, this will be a service without crowds.
The Prime Minister will deliver the commemorative address at the Australian War Memorial’s Dawn Service alongside dignitaries representing Australia, New Zealand, the Returned and Services League, and veterans.
There will be a ceremonial piper, didgeridoo player and bugler among other traditional elements, supplied by the Australian Defence Force.
RSL State and Territory branches are also urging Australians to show their Anzac spirit at home by safely participating in a private dawn service at their own home.
The RSL’s #lightupthedawn campaign year asks Australians to stand in their driveway, balcony or living room, with a torch or candle, immediately following in the televised dawn service, to remember all those who have served and sacrificed.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Darren Chester said Australians are at their best when they come together to support one another and while we cannot physically gather to commemorate the service and sacrifice of our Defence personnel, we can show them our respect.
“Whether it’s a solitary driveway tribute, baking Anzac biscuits, a small ceremony with your household, sharing a message for our service personnel, or watching the televised service from the Australian War Memorial on the morning of 25 April, I encourage everyone to pause, reflect and say a simple ‘thank you for your service’,” Mr Chester said.
“We should think about all those who have served and died during their service in the Australian Defence Force, we should think about those who continue to serve in uniform today and we should think about those who love and support them in their service.”
The coverage of the commemorative service will take place at the Australian War Memorial on Anzac Day, 25 April 2020, with the ABC starting pre-service coverage from 5am AEST, with the service broadcast live from the Commemorative Area and Hall of Memory from 5.30am AEST.
The event will not be open to the public but will be broadcast live across Australia and streamed online. The ABC will make the broadcast available to other networks under a host broadcaster arrangement to enable people to mark Anzac Day safely and respectfully from home.

The NSW Government today announced a $140 million Bushfire Industry Recovery Package to support forestry, horticulture and agriculture industries impacted by the recent bushfires.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Disaster Recovery John Barilaro said the package will help industries significantly impacted by bushfires to rebuild, recover, regrow and remain the heartbeat of regional economies.
“This funding will support the recovery and resilience of key industries by backing projects that retain and create jobs, strengthen local supply chains and support a return to production,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Regional NSW relies on these key driver industries to help generate jobs and economic activity and this funding will provide the direct help many businesses need to recover from devastating losses, which in turn will help their wider industry remain viable.”
Mr Barilaro said regional NSW is the backbone of this State and it is critical to support the key regional industries which keep our economy thriving.
“Our farmers feed this State and this Nation, and not only have they endured the worst drought on record, but many have suffered horrific bushfires and now COVID-19 is affecting our regional economies,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Bushfire impacted towns cannot afford to suffer further job losses and economic downturn, which is why we are delivering this funding to keep our key regional industries in business.
“Industries with the greatest impact will be given the greatest share of this funding. The program will focus on recovery in the short term and will support valuable investments to help these sectors plan for recovery in the longer term.”
Details of funding criteria including amounts available for businesses under this package will be made available with the release of program Guidelines in the coming weeks.
Other bushfire support measures include the NSW and Australian Governments sharing the cost for the clean-up of residential and small business properties, the NSW Government’s $1 billion fund to replace vital state infrastructure, $75,000 grants for bushfire affected primary producers and $50,000 grants for bushfire affected small businesses.
For a full list of all available bushfire support, go to www.service.nsw.gov.au.