covid-19 — q & a€¦ · child care sector on the other side of the crisis. it worked. 99% of...
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COVID-19 — Q & A
KEY POINTS
SITUATION AT A GLANCE
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
When will restrictions be relaxed?
COVIDSAFE APP
What is the COVIDSafe App?
What does the app do?
How is my privacy going to be protected?
PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
When should I isolate?
What does self-isolation mean?
When should I get tested, how do I get tested and where do I seek advice?
Expansion of coronavirus testing criteria
How can people avoid contracting COVID-19 and infecting others?
Will wearing a mask stop me from contracting coronavirus?
How can I access up to date Government information on coronavirus?
PUBLIC GATHERINGS AND RESTRICTIONS
What is the Government’s advice on indoor and outdoor public gatherings?
How will this be implemented?
Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia
What is National Cabinet’s position on attending mass gathering protests?
What is the advice for public transport?
What are the considerations for religious services?
What is the latest advice for senior Australians?
When will recommendations for sport and recreational activities be revised?
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TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS, TRAVEL ADVICE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Ban on Australians Travelling Overseas
How long will travel restrictions and quarantine requirements last?
How is the Government ensuring that international travellers will self-isolate?
What is the penalty for not self-isolating?
Should people avoid domestic flights?
Why is DFAT advising Australians not to travel overseas?
How is the Government assisting Australians overseas who want to return home?
Will a travel zone be established between Australia and New Zealand?
HEALTH RESPONSE
How is the Government ensuring Australia’s health system is ready to respond to COVID-19?
How is the Government working with private hospitals to ensure resources are available?
How is the Government providing support to Australians to access health services from home?
What is the Government response on elective surgeries?
What is the Government doing to support more mental health services for all Australians?
What relief services are being provided for vulnerable Australians?
How is the Government protecting and supporting people with a disability?
What support is the Government providing to people experiencing domestic violence?
What is the Government doing to support states and territories to ensure they have the resources to respond to the health impacts?
How are private health insurers providing financial relief to people affected by coronavirus?
How is the Government supporting COVID-19 research?
What happens now a pandemic is declared?
How far away is a vaccine for COVID-19?
What is the Government doing to secure vital Personal Protective Equipment for frontline medical personnel?
How does COVID-19 compare with the flu and other viruses?
How is the Government ensuring medical practitioners and the broader community can access reliable information on COVID-19?
What is the Government doing to ensure access to medicines?
ECONOMIC RESPONSE
What is the Government doing about the economic impacts of COVID-19?
How is the Government supporting workers and households?
What other measures is the Government assisting businesses to keep people in a job?
How is the Government providing regulatory protection and financial support for businesses to stay in business?
What is the Government doing to relieve pressure on commercial tenants?
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What assistance is being offered to residential tenants?
What assistance is being offered to severely-affected regions?
What is the Government doing to support the aviation industry?
How is the Government supporting local governments and community infrastructure?
THE BUDGET
Why has the Government made the decision to delay the Federal Budget?
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
How is the Government supporting employers and employees to deal with the impacts of COVID-19?
How is work health and safety being protected during the coronavirus pandemic?
What is the Government doing to support temporary visa holders?
JOBSEEKERS AND GOVERNMENT ALLOWANCES
What is the Government doing to support job seekers?
AUSTRALIANS OVERSEAS
What is the Government doing to support Australians stranded overseas due to the COVID-19 outbreak?
ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER AUSTRALIANS AND REMOTE COMMUNITIES
What is the Government doing to protect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians from COVID-19?
How is the Government supporting remote communities?
AGED CARE
How are we protecting aged care residents from COVID-19?
Industry Code for Aged Care Sector
What are the restrictions on entry to aged care facilities?
Where can I go if I need more assistance?
How can aged care facilities manage illness in visitors and staff?
What measures should be taken for symptomatic staff?
How will the Government relax international student nurse visa work conditions?
LAWS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
Can the Government restrict the movement of people to contain the spread of COVID-19?
What is involved in a Human Biosecurity Emergency?
EDUCATION SECTOR
When will schools reopen?
Is the Government changing funding arrangements to non-government schools?
What considerations are being made for boarding schools?
How is the Government ensuring child care is available to families with parents at work?
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What do I do if I have already removed my child from child care?
What is the health advice on child care and early learning centres?
Will universities and other higher education facilities be closed?
How is the Government supporting higher education?
How is the Government supporting Australian students?
When will international students be able to return?
What is the Government doing to limit the impacts on the education sector?
TOURISM AND TRADE
What is the Government doing to reduce the impact on the tourism sector?
How is the Government providing assistance to exporters?
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY
What is the Government doing to reduce the impact on the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors?
What changes are being made to support the agricultural workforce?
How are agricultural, fishery and forestry industries being engaged?
What is the Government doing to support agricultural exporters?
ENERGY AND UTILITIES
What is the Government doing to help Australians in hardship pay their energy and utility bills?
How is the Government ensuring fuel security?
DEFENCE & ADF CONTRIBUTION
OTHER ISSUES
Temporary changes to the foreign investment review framework
Recommendation on bulk purchase of supplies
Action to prevent price gouging and exportation of critical sanitary and medical products
Correctional Facilities
Legal Assistance Sector
Telecommunications
Cybersecurity
KEY POINTS
● Over the last few months Australians have worked together to suppress COVID-19, giving us the time to prepare our health system to live with the virus.
○ We have used this time well, sourcing additional ventilators and personal protective equipment, and making plans for our hospitals to respond to a surge in cases.
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○ We have expanded our testing regime, developed our capability to respond quickly to new cases and outbreaks, and improved our ability to quickly identify people who may have been exposed to the virus.
● On 8 May 2020 National Cabinet agreed to a three-step plan to gradually remove restrictions and move towards a COVID Safe Australia in July 2020.
○ States and territories are able to move between the steps at different times, in line with their current public health situation and local conditions. National Cabinet also committed – as part of the three-step plan – to regular reviews and assessments of progress every three weeks.
○ Our aim is to have a sustainable COVID Safe Australia in July 2020, subject to strong epidemiology results, testing, tracing and local surge health response capacity.
○ Continued suppression of COVID-19 is about collective action. Success depends on maintaining our new community norms – physical distancing, good hygiene practices and downloading the COVIDSafe app.
○ The Treasury estimates the plan will restore 850,000 jobs in the months ahead.
● At 17/06 all States and Territories have successfully transitioned to Step 2 with plans in place to transition to Step 3 in July 2020.
● Step 1 will focus on carefully reopening the economy, and giving Australians opportunities to return to work and social activities, including:
○ Gatherings of up to 10 people.
○ Up to five visitors in the family home.
○ Some local and regional travel.
● Step 2 builds on Step 1 with gatherings of up to 20, and more businesses reopening, including gyms, beauty services and entertainment venues such as galleries and cinemas.
○ Some interstate travel will be possible. Some higher risk settings and activities, such as nightclubs and dining at food courts, will still be restricted.
● Step 3 sees a transition to COVIDsafe ways of living and working, with non-essential gatherings uncapped but with COVIDsafe practices in place. Arrangements under step 3 will be the ‘new normal’ while the virus remains a threat. International travel will remain restricted.
● COVIDSafe arrangements mean we will all need to:
○ Keep our physical distance of 1.5m whenever and wherever we can.
○ Maintain 1 person per 4sqm
○ Maintaining good hand washing and cough/sneeze hygiene.
○ Staying home when we’re unwell, and get tested if we have respiratory symptoms or a fever.
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○ Download the COVIDSafe app so we can find the virus quickly.
● Vulnerable people should continue to stay home where possible.
● Restricted travel to remote and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities will continue.
● Aged Care restrictions will remain in place, balanced with the need for family and social contact.
● We need all Australians and businesses to respect and follow the social distancing measures endorsed by National Cabinet and implemented by the states and territories. It is a matter of civic duty. These social distancing measures will slow the spread of the virus and save lives.
● To support Australians, we have announced over $8 billion for the COVID-19 Health response.
● To deal with the significant economic impacts, we are investing over $260 billion to keep Australians in jobs, keep businesses in business, support households and keep investment flowing.
● Australians can be confident that our nation is one of the best prepared to respond to the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
● It is National Cabinet’s aim to have a sustainable COVID-19 safe economy in July 2020. This will be subject to strong epidemiology results, testing, tracing and local surge health response capacity.
SITUATION AT A GLANCE
As at 4.00PM AEDT, 5 August 2020, a total of 18,540,119 cases of COVID-19 had been reported in 219 countries and regions, including 700,647 deaths. In Australia more than 4,552,081 people have been tested for COVID-19. There are 19,444 confirmed cases in Australia, including 247deaths. There have been over 6.9 million registrations for the COVIDSafe App.
Detailed information on all measures and regular updates can be found at https://www.australia.gov.au/, https://www.health.gov.au/, or by calling the National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080.
Australians are also encouraged to download the Australian Government’s Coronavirus App and WhatsApp information service.
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE ● We have acted early and are now focused on slowing the spread and flattening the
curve. ● The Health National Incident Room was activated in January and is coordinating the
Australian Government health response with the states and territories.
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● On 21 January, ‘human coronavirus with pandemic potential’ was added as a Listed Human Disease under the Biosecurity Act 2015, enabling the use of enhanced border measures.
● We are ensuring a consistent national approach: ● On 27 February, we endorsed the Emergency Response Plan for
Communicable Disease Incidents of National Significance: National Arrangements. This sets out the non-health sector response.
● Also on 27 February, we fast-tracked the Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus, outlining how our health sector will respond to a COVID-19 outbreak in Australia.
● On 5 March, we commissioned the National Coordination Mechanism to coordinate activities across state and territory jurisdictions and industry, bringing a consistent national approach to providing essential services across a range of critical sectors and supply chains.
● On 13 March, the Prime Minister, Premiers and Chief Ministers established the National Cabinet to lead Australia’s response to COVID-19. During the COVID-19 period, National Cabinet continues to meet every two weeks. In the future, these meetings will take place once a month.
● On 18 March, the Governor-General accepted the Commonwealth’s advice to declare a ‘human biosecurity emergency’ under the Biosecurity Act – allowing targeted, legally-enforceable directions to combat COVID-19.
● On 25 March, we established the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission. The NCCC will coordinate advice to the Government on actions to anticipate and mitigate the economic and social effects of the global pandemic.The NCCC will be led by Mr Neville Power and an Executive Board of Commissioners.
● On 8 May, National Cabinet agreed to a three step plan to gradually ease restrictions to make Australia COVIDsafe by July 2020.
● On 29 May, National Cabinet agreed to the formation of the National Federation Reform Council and the cessation of the COAG model.
● National Cabinet has worked effectively to respond to COVID-19. The new National Federation Reform Council agreed to by Premiers, Chief Ministers and the Prime Minister, will change the way the Commonwealth and states and territories effectively and productively work together to address new areas of reform.
● At the centre of the National Federation Reform Council will be National Cabinet.
When will restrictions be relaxed?
● On 8 May, National Cabinet agreed to a three-step plan to gradually remove restrictions to make Australia COVID-safe.
● Step 1 focused on carefully reopening the economy, and giving Australians opportunities to return to work and social activities, including:
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○ Gatherings of up to 10 people. ○ Up to five visitors in the family home. ○ Some local and regional travel ○ All states and territories successfully moved to Step 1 by 1 June, 2020.
● Step 2 builds on this with gatherings of up to 20, and more businesses reopening, including gyms, beauty services and entertainment venues such as galleries and cinemas.
○ Some interstate travel will be possible. ○ Some higher-risk settings and activities, such as nightclubs and dining at food
courts, will still be restricted. ○ All states and territories moved to Step 2 by mid June 2020.
● Step 3 will see a transition to COVID-safe ways of living and working. Arrangements under step 3 will be the ‘new normal’ while the virus remains a threat. International travel will remain restricted.
● The Step 3 framework will include:
○ 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.
● High risk venues such as nightclubs do not form part of Step 3 and will be considered following further advice from medical experts.
● States and territories will determine when to implement these changes under Step 3. All states and territories have committed to move to Step 3 by July 2020 however Victoria has announced a delay in easing restrictions based on new outbreaks.
● Each state and territory will determine the timeframe for graduating between each stage and which individual restrictions to remove, recognising different local conditions in the pandemic response.
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● A detailed plan of the steps (PDF 174 KB), as well as a summary (PDF 175 KB) can be accessed via these links.
● Please note since the publication of this diagram, step 3 was updated to include uncapped gatherings with social distancing limits in place.
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Victorian COVID-19 Outbreak COVID-19 situation in Victoria
· Cases: As at 1600hrs 5 August 2020, Victoria reported record highs across key metrics:
o 725 newly confirmed cases in the last 24 hours (164 are linked to known outbreaks or complex cases, and 561 are under investigation), up from 439 new cases the previous day.
o 15 deaths (10 of which are linked to aged care facilities), up from 11 deaths the previous day (all of which were linked to aged care facilities). The deaths were:
§ 1 person in their 30s;
§ 4 persons in their 70s;
§ 6 persons in their 80s; and
§ 4 persons in their 90s.
o 7,227 active cases.
o 2,281 cases which may indicate community transmission.
o 729 active cases which are health workers.
· Current clusters: Current cases are linked to clusters across Melbourne and now, the greater Geelong region too. Community transmission is widespread, including through family households, retail businesses, schools, health care practices, aged care settings, hospitals, public housing towers, and workplaces such as the Bertocchi Smallgoods cluster (89 cases), and Somerville Retail Services in Tottenham (164 cases).
· Aged care: As at 0800hrs 5 August 2020, the Commonwealth Department of Health (Health) advises there are now 1,542 active cases (residents and staff) in aged care services in Victoria, up from 1,399 active cases (residents and staff) the previous day.
o 102 residential aged care facilities in Victoria have an active case/s, including:
§ 129 linked to Epping Gardens Aged Care in Epping;
§ 125 linked to Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes in Kilsyth; and
§ 122 linked to Arcare Cragieburn.
o 133 deaths of aged care recipients in Victoria have been reported.
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· Hospitalisations: As at 1600hrs 5 August 2020, the Victorian Government reported 538 cases in hospital, and 42 of those in Intensive Care Units (ICU).
· ICU capacity: As at 1000hrs 4 August 2020, Health reported:
o Of 445 available ICU beds (staffed and equipped) in Victoria, 372 (84 per cent) are being utilised. 73 staffed and equipped beds remain available for use.
o Of the 679 ventilators available for use in Victoria, only 134 (20 per cent) are currently being utilised. 545 ventilators remain available for use.
· Total hospital capacity: Of 25,133 available hospital beds (staffed and equipped) in Victoria, 14,457 (58 per cent) are currently being utilised. 10,676 staffed and equipped hospital beds remain available for use.
· Testing: As at 1500 hrs 5 August 2020, Victoria conducted approximately 24,000 tests over the past 24 hours. Around 1.7 million tests have been processed in Victoria to date.
· Mental health: Victorian use of Lifeline and Beyond Blue has been consistently higher than the rest of the country since the beginning of the pandemic, and remains so today.
Commonwealth response
· ADF Support: As at 5 August 2020, there are 3,407 ADF personnel directly supporting the COVID-19 response, with 1,644 deployed in Victoria (further information on ADF deployment numbers for each State and Territory (State) is at https://www.defence.gov.au/covid-19/).
· Commonwealth staff: Supplementing the 55 Commonwealth staff already deployed, hundreds of APS staff remain on standby and ready to be deployed in the event activities recommence.
o AUSMAT has been deployed to Victoria to support and act under the direction of the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre to assist with the management of COVID-19.
· Funding: To ensure that Victoria’s health system is prepared to manage any COVID-19 pressures, the Commonwealth is also paying 50 per cent of costs in diagnosing and treating confirmed or suspected patients with COVID-19, as well as efforts to minimise spread. In addition, the Commonwealth is paying 100 per cent of viability costs for private hospitals (reduced by any hospital revenue), to ensure the sector’s workforce and resources are available to integrate with the public health response.
o Under the COVID-19 NPA, the Commonwealth has already provided an estimated $1.097 billion in funding in Victoria for specific COVID-19 health costs.
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· GP-led Respiratory Clinics (GPRCs): 28 Commonwealth-funded GPRCs are now established in Victoria. As at 4 August 2020, GPRCs in Victoria have assessed over 123,600 people and conducted more than 110,700 tests.
· Testing for asymptomatic aged care workers and interstate truck drivers: $160 million for Medicare-funded COVID-19 testing, which is now available to asymptomatic aged care workers in areas of Victoria, and for asymptomatic interstate truck drivers. This will support early and proactive detection of cases and reduce the risk of spread.
· Contact tracing: The Commonwealth’s COVIDSafe App, downloaded and registered by more than 6.9 million Australians, is bolstering Victorian contact tracing capabilities.
o Because of the restrictions around movement and gatherings in Victoria, most people are not in situations that would trigger the use of the app (i.e. within 1.5 metres for 15 minutes or more).
o On 15 July 2020, the Commonwealth Health Minister publicly stated that over 200 cases have been identified using the app.
§ The Health Secretary and Commodore Hill are following up with State officials on re-instating use of the COVIDSafe App for contact tracing activities.
§ On 4 August 2020, the Commonwealth Health Secretary publicly stated that Victorian health officials had stopped using the app for a time.
§ On 4 August 2020, the Victorian Deputy Chief Health Officer publicly stated that Victorian health officials are now using the app, but that the app is generally picked up people already detected by the contact tracers.
o The National Incident Room (NIR) at Health has also stood up a team to assist Victoria with case interviews and contact tracing.
§ This team has been assigned around 846 interviews since 11 July 2020.
· Masks: The Commonwealth is making available millions of masks from the NMS for the aged care sector, disability workers and primary care.
o The Commonwealth is also making 500,000 face shields available from the NMS.
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· Treatments: As part of the Australian Government’s commitment to life-saving medicines, Australia’s first treatment option for people severely ill with COVID-19, remdesivir, has now received provisional approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Despite global supply issues, there are existing supplies of remdesivir in Australia, including supply in the NMS, which will be available for use over the coming weeks for suitable patients such as those in Victoria. Use of remdesivir will occur in hospitals and under strict supervision from the treating doctor.
o Negotiations with the provider are underway, with a view to reaching agreement soon. Expectation is 125 vials per month until October 2020, at which point 4,000 vials would be provided.
· Capping international arrivals: Effective from 13 July 2020, the National Cabinet agreed to cut the number of people coming home to Australia by around 4,000 each week.
o The Australian Border Force (ABF) is working with all Commonwealth and State agencies to manage the impact of this decision, including that capacity to receive repatriation flights is based on health resources and quarantine.
o The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will continue to provide travel advice and emergency consular assistance to Australians (where necessary).
o The National Cabinet will review the international air passenger caps in place for Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth at its next meeting.
· Aged Care: All services with an active case of COVID-19 are receiving support from the Australian Government (Department of Health and Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission) including a single case manager, access to PPE, testing in residential aged care facilities, and access to surge workforce and supplementation.
o On 4 August 2020, the Support for Aged Care Workers in COVID-19 (SACWIC) Grant Opportunity opened until 31 May 2021. The grant is designed to assist providers to minimise the risk of infection to aged care workers, residents and other consumers of aged care service. Examples of eligible workforce costs under SACWIC are those that will support eligible workers:
§ who normally work at multiple residential aged care facilities, but will be working solely at the facility being applied for;
§ who are not to work because they have been experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, have been diagnosed as COVID-19 positive, require testing or are subject to self-isolation or quarantine requirements; or
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§ to undertake training in the event a skills gap arises from where existing workers are not to work due to experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, or are subject to self-isolation or quarantine requirements.
o On 27 July 2020, the Fair Work Commission handed down its decision to amend various awards to introduce paid pandemic leave to employees (including casuals) who are employed under the Aged Care Award, the Nurses Award and the Health Professionals Award. The Commonwealth is currently determining its response to this decision.
o On 25 July 2020, the Australian and Victorian Governments announced the establishment of a dedicated Victorian Aged Care Response Centre in Melbourne to coordinate support to each aged care provider experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria.
§ The Victorian Aged Care Response Centre is supported by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Victoria, Emergency Management Australian (EMA) and Emergency Management Victoria (EMV). The Response Centre will be led by an executive team including clinical and operational leads. Staff will be provided from Health, Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, DHHS, EMA, EMV and Defence.
o On 23 July 2020, a set of guiding principles were developed by industry, with input from unions, peak bodies and government, to minimise the potential risk of workers unintentionally transmitting COVID-19 by working across multiple sites.
o From 16 July 2020, five new COVID-19 testing teams were established to support asymptomatic testing of staff and residents in aged care homes located across metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire.
o In addition, a new temporary Medicare item has been created for asymptomatic aged care workers in Victoria to access COVID-19 testing without a request from a medical practitioner. To support early and proactive detection of cases, the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre will identify aged care providers in areas where there is known community transmission and arrange for workers to be tested.
o The Commonwealth and Victorian Health Departments are working to establish private hospital wards that residents can transfer to when safe grouping is not possible in an aged care facility.
· Early childhood education and care: On 5 August 2020, the Commonwealth announced additional support for the child care sector in Victoria in recognition of the impacts of ‘Stage 4’ restrictions. In additional to existing Child Care Subsidy (CCS) funding arrangements, the Commonwealth will:
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§ Increase the Transition Payment for approved child care providers in metropolitan Melbourne from 25 to 30 per cent for the six-week period of ‘Stage 4’ restrictions.
§ For services with CCS revenue lower than 50 per cent and attendance under 30 per cent, provide further tiered support up to an additional 25 per cent of their pre-COVID revenue.
§ Provide payments of 15 per cent of pre-COVID revenue for Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) providers across regional Victoria.
§ Provide a further 30 days of allowable absences for families across Victoria, to directly support families and ensure they remain connected with their provider.
o From 6 August 2020, early childhood education and care (ECEC) services in metropolitan Melbourne will open only for vulnerable children and children of permitted workers. ECEC will remain open in regional and rural Victoria.
o The Commonwealth is allowing all services located in areas subject to ‘Stage 3’ COVID-19 restrictions to waive parent gap fees if children are not attending child care for COVID-19 related reasons. This will ensure child care services can maintain their enrolments and continue to be paid the child care centre, even if a child is absent for a COVID-19 related reason.
· Mental health: On 2 August 2020, the Commonwealth announced $7.3 million to provide 10 additional individual psychological therapy sessions under Medicare for people in areas impacted by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic who have used all of their ten existing sessions.
o The new sessions will be available from 7 August 2020, and can be accessed by people subject to public health orders restricting their movement within the state or territory issued at any time from 1 July 2020 to 31 March 2021, and by people who are required to isolate or quarantine under public health orders.
o This builds on the more than $500 million additional funding for mental health and suicide prevention announced since January 2020, including Medicare subsidies for telehealth consultations and investments to support implementation of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Pandemic Plan, and is consistent with the ten additional sessions provided earlier in 2020 to people impacted by the 2019-20 Bushfires.
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· Pandemic leave disaster payment: In addition to the JobKeeper and JobSeeker supports already available, the Commonwealth will provide a $1500 pandemic leave disaster payment to individuals who have exhausted, or do not have sick leave and have been directed to stay at home by a public health official.
o Available from 5 August 2020, the payment is intended to cover the fortnight the individual is isolating for.
o Should individuals need to self-isolate more than once, this payment will be available multiple times.
Victoria’s response
· ‘State of Disaster’: Effective from 6.00pm 2 August 2020 to 13 September 2020, Victoria has formally entered into a ‘State of Disaster’, giving police additional powers to make sure people are complying with public health directions. Victoria is now under both a ‘State of Disaster’ and a ‘State of Emergency’ arrangements.
· Melbourne-wide ‘Stage 4’ lockdowns: Effective 6.00pm 2 August 2020, all of metropolitan Melbourne is subject to ‘Stage 4’ stay-at-home restrictions for six weeks until 13 September 2020, including:
o A curfew across Melbourne from 8.00pm to 5.00am. The only reason to leave home during these times is work, medical care, caregiving, exercise and shopping for essentials.
o Exercise is limited to one hour a day within a five-kilometre radius of your home. Group size will be limited to two, regardless of if you are in the same household or not.
o Shopping for essentials is limited to one person per household per day. A five‑kilometre radius limit will also apply.
o Mitchell Shire will remain subject to ‘Stage 3’ stay-at-home restrictions.
· Victoria-wide ‘Stage 3’ lockdowns: From 11.59 pm 5 August 2020, all of Victoria (including all regional areas and the Mitchell Shire) will be subject to ‘Stage 3’ stay-at-home restrictions. Residents in these areas can only leave home for one of four reasons:
o to shop for food and essential goods or services;
o to provide care, for compassionate reasons or to seek medical treatment;
o to exercise or for outdoor recreation with your household, or one other person; and
o for work or study, if it cannot be done from home.
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· Hard lockdown for isolating individuals: On 4 August 2020, the Victorian Premier announced that people who are isolating are not permitted to leave their home for exercise, and must remain in their home or on their property.
· Industry/workplace shutdowns: Effective 11.59 pm 5 August 2020, workplaces in Melbourne must be closed unless:
o the workplace is part of a permitted activity (some shops, factories and call centres are not permitted); or
o all employees are working from home.
· Under the Permitted Worker Scheme, employers that require their staff to attend a work site must issue a worker permit to their employees – this is the employer’s responsibility.
· Quarantine: On 28 June 2020, the Victorian Premier announced that returned travellers in mandatory hotel quarantine will be tested twice during their 14-day quarantine. The day 11 test will be a mandatory requirement to be eligible for release after 14 days.
· Schools: From 5 August 2020, all students in Victoria have moved to remote and flexible learning:
o Schools will remain open for vulnerable children and children of permitted workers. In metropolitan Melbourne, specialist schools will open only for vulnerable children and children of permitted workers.
o Specialist schools will remain open in regional and rural Victoria.
o From 3 August 2020, all secondary students across Victoria who are attending school on-site are required to wear a face covering.
· Early childhood education and care: Under the Access to Childcare Permit scheme, people working in permitted industries will maintain access to kinder and childcare for their kids under ‘Stage 4’ restrictions, regardless of whether they are working onsite or at home.
· Mandatory masks (or ‘face coverings’): From 3 August 2020, everyone in Victoria is required to wear face coverings when in public. Exceptions include children under 12 years of age, and teachers when teaching), and people will be fined $200 if they fail to do so.
· Hospital capacity: To enable critical care surge capacity, deployment of staff into aged care settings, and to free up beds and staff to care for residents transferring out of aged care facilities, Victoria has:
o agreements in place with most major private operators to expand hospital bed and staffing capacity; and
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o capped elective surgeries across Victoria, including a pause on all Category 3 and all non-urgent Category 2 procedures.
· Aged Care: As part of the joint announcement with the Commonwealth on 20 July 2020, Victoria will provide financial support in the form of a one-off $1,500 payment to Victorian aged care workers who are self-isolating or in quarantine.
o On 23 July 2020, the Victorian Government announced the scheme will be extended to enable eligible workers to apply for a supplement of $300 once they get tested, and are isolating awaiting results.
o The Victorian Government will also commence additional intensive training in infection control for aged care workers, building on earlier training announced by the Commonwealth.
· Compliance: Ongoing lack of community adherence to public health restrictions and advice is likely continuing to jeopardise the Victorian situation. On 22 July 2020, the Victorian Premier publicly stated that 53 per cent of people waiting for a test result had not self‑isolated as required.
o To address the increase in outbreaks linked to workplaces, an inspection and enforcement blitz will be carried out in at-risk workplaces across Victoria, including distribution centres, call centres and meat processing centres.
o ADF personnel and public health workers have begun doorknocking all confirmed COVID-19 cases to check they are actually isolating.
§ On 4 August 2020, the Victorian Premier said that more than 800 people who were required to be isolating could not be found by door-knocking ADF and authorised health officers.
o In response to continued non-compliance with Victorian public health orders, from 4 August 2020, the Victorian Government has introduced tougher penalties:
§ Those who fail to self-isolate can be fined $4,957; and
§ Those who repeatedly breached the rules face court proceedings and fines of up to $20,000.
o On 5 August 2020, the Victorian Premier stated that Victoria Police issued 155 fines for suspected breaches of public health directions in the past 24 hours.
Commonwealth response - all other States and Territories
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New South Wales (NSW)
COVID-19 situation in NSW
· Cases: NSW continues to have a steady number of new cases each day, indicating some community transmission, particularly through Sydney-based clusters. As at 2000hrs 4 August 2020, NSW reported:
o 12 newly confirmed cases in the last 24 hours:
§ 6 cases are associated with the funeral gatherings cluster;
§ 2 cases are linked to the Apollo Restaurant in Potts Point, Sydney;
§ 2 cases are linked to the Thai Rock Wetherill Park cluster;
§ 1 case is locally acquired with an unknown source; and
§ 1 case is a returned traveller in their hotel quarantine program.
o 113 active cases being treated by NSW Health.
· Current Clusters: Current cases are linked to a number of social clusters, including the Thai Rock Wetherill Park cluster (105 cases), Crossroads Hotel Casula cluster (58 cases), funerals clusters (46 cases) and Potts Point cluster (30 cases).
· Aged Care: As at 0800hrs 5 August 2020, Health advises there are no active cases in aged care services in NSW.
· Hospitalisations: As at 1600hrs 5 August 2020, NSW reported 20 cases in hospital, including 9 cases in Intensive Care Units (ICU).
Commonwealth health-related support for NSW
· ADF Support: 814 ADF personnel are currently deployed to NSW to directly support the COVID-19 response.
· Funding: Under the COVID-19 NPA, the Commonwealth has already provided an estimated $1.074 billion in health funding in NSW for specific COVID-19 health costs.
· Testing: As at 5 August 2020, NSW has conducted around 1.56 million tests to date (around 560,000 tests have been covered through the MBS rebate).
· GPRCs: 50 Commonwealth-funded GPRCs have now been established in NSW.
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· Capping international arrivals: The Commonwealth is providing logistical support to enable NSW to cap its international arrivals to 350 persons per day.
Queensland (QLD)
COVID-19 situation in QLD
· Cases: As at 1600hrs 5 August 2020, Queensland reported 1 new case in the past 24 hours.
o This case is a 68-year-old Queensland woman, and authorities are still investigating the source of the infection.
· Aged Care: As at 0800hrs 5 August 2020, Health advises there are no active cases in aged care services in QLD.
· Hospitalisations: As at 1600hrs 5 August 2020, QLD reported 5 cases in hospital.
Commonwealth health-related support for QLD
· ADF Support: 505 ADF personnel are currently deployed to QLD to directly support the COVID-19 response.
· Funding: Under the COVID-19 NPA, the Commonwealth has already provided an estimated $345 million in health funding in QLD for specific COVID-19 health costs.
· Testing: As at 5 August 2020, QLD has conducted around 595,000 tests to date (around 291,000 tests have been covered through the MBS rebate).
· GPRCs: 34 Commonwealth-funded GPRCs have now been established in QLD.
· Capping international arrivals: The Commonwealth is providing logistical support to enable QLD to cap its international arrivals to 500 persons per week.
Western Australia (WA)
COVID-19 situation in WA
· Cases: As at 1600hrs 5 August 2020, WA reported 1 newly confirmed cases in the last 24 hours.
o This case is a returned traveller currently in hotel quarantine.
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· Aged Care: As at 0800hrs 5 August 2020, Health advises there are no active cases in aged care services in WA.
· Hospitalisations: As at 1600hrs 5 August 2020, WA reported no cases in hospital.
Commonwealth health-related support for WA
· ADF Support: 49 ADF personnel are currently deployed to WA to directly support the COVID-19 response.
· Funding: Under the COVID-19 NPA, the Commonwealth has already provided an estimated $188 million in health funding in WA for specific COVID-19 health costs.
· Testing: As at 5 August 2020, WA has conducted around 260,000 tests to date (around 44,500 tests have been covered through the MBS rebate, as at 4 August).
· GPRCs: 11 Commonwealth-funded GPRCs have now been established in WA.
· Capping international arrivals: The Commonwealth is providing logistical support to enable WA to cap its international arrivals to 525 persons per week.
South Australia (SA)
COVID-19 situation in SA
· Cases: As at 1600hrs 5 August 2020, SA reported no newly confirmed cases in the last 24 hours.
· Aged Care: As at 0800hrs 5 August 2020, Health advises there are no active cases in aged care services in SA.
· Hospitalisations: As at 1600hrs 5 August 2020, SA reported no cases in hospital.
Commonwealth health-related support for SA
· ADF Support: 125 ADF personnel are currently deployed to SA to directly support the COVID-19 response.
· Funding: Under the COVID-19 NPA, the Commonwealth has already provided an estimated $115 million in health funding in SA for specific COVID-19 health costs.
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· Testing: As at 5 August 2020, SA has conducted around 258,000 tests to date (around 35,500 tests have been covered through the MBS rebate).
· GPRCs: 10 Commonwealth-funded GPRCs have now been established in SA.
· Capping international arrivals: There is no cap in place for SA.
Tasmania (TAS)
COVID-19 situation in TAS
· Cases: As at 1600hrs 5 August 2020, TAS reported no newly confirmed cases in the last 24 hours.
· Aged Care: As at 0800hrs 5 August 2020, Health advises there are no active cases in aged care services in TAS.
· Hospitalisations: As at 1600hrs 5 August 2020, TAS reported no cases in hospital.
Commonwealth health-related support for TAS
· ADF Support: No ADF personnel are currently deployed to TAS to directly support the COVID-19 response.
· Funding: Under the COVID-19 NPA, the Commonwealth has already provided an estimated $75 million in health funding in TAS for specific COVID-19 health costs.
· Testing: As at 5 August 2020, TAS has conducted around 71,000 tests to date (around 11,000 tests have been covered through the MBS rebate).
· GPRCs: 4 Commonwealth-funded GPRCs have now been established in TAS.
· Capping international arrivals: There is no cap in place for TAS.
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
COVID-19 situation in the ACT
· Cases: As at 1600hrs 5 August 2020, the ACT reported no newly confirmed cases in the last 24 hours.
· Aged Care: As at 0800hrs 5 August 2020, Health advises there are no active cases in aged care services in the ACT.
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· Hospitalisations: As at 1600hrs 5 August 2020, the ACT reported no cases in hospital.
Commonwealth health-related support for the ACT
· ADF Support: 8 ADF personnel are currently deployed to the ACT to directly support the COVID-19 response.
· Funding: Under the COVID-19 NPA, the Commonwealth has already provided an estimated $42 million in health funding in the ACT for specific COVID-19 health costs.
· Testing: As at 5 August 2020, the ACT has conducted around 54,000 tests to date (around 8,000 tests have been covered through the MBS rebate).
· GPRCs: 3 Commonwealth-funded GPRCs have now been established in the ACT.
· Capping international arrivals: There is no cap in place for the ACT.
Northern Territory (NT)
COVID-19 situation in the NT
· Cases: As at 1600hrs 5 August 2020, the NT reported no newly confirmed case in the last 24 hours.
· Aged Care: As at 0800hrs 5 August 2020, Health advises there are no active cases in aged care services in the NT.
· Hospitalisations: As at 1600hrs 5 August 2020, the NT reported 3 cases in hospital.
Commonwealth health-related support for the NT
· ADF Support: 116 ADF personnel are currently deployed to the NT to directly support the COVID-19 response.
· Funding: Under the COVID-19 NPA, the Commonwealth has already provided an estimated $18 million in health funding in the NT for specific COVID-19 health costs.
· Testing: As at 5 August 2020, the NT has conducted around 26,000 tests to date (around 1,500 tests have been covered through the MBS rebate).
· GPRCs: 4 Commonwealth-funded GPRCs have now been established in the NT.
· Capping international arrivals: There is no cap in place for the NT.
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COVIDSAFE APP
What is the COVIDSafe App?
● On 26 April, the Government launched the voluntary COVIDSafe app.
● The app is an important public health initiative that will help keep Australians safe from further spread of coronavirus through early notification of possible exposure.
● The app uses technology to automate and improve what state and territory health officials already do manually.
● It will be one of the tools we will use to help protect the health of the community by quickly alerting people who may be at risk of having contact with the virus.
● Use of the app will help us to move more quickly to reduce restrictions than would otherwise be possible.
● The app has received strong support from states and territories and the health sector, which recognise it is a valuable tool that will enhance both the ability to respond rapidly to local outbreaks, and the confidence to know the virus is not silently spreading throughout communities.
What does the app do?
● The contact app will allow health officials to tell you if you have come into close contact with someone who is diagnosed with COVID-19 (coronavirus).
● If you become infected with coronavirus, the app will assist health officials to notify people you have been in close contact with so they can self-quarantine and get tested.
● This will speed up current manual processes and make it quicker to stop the spread of the virus, particularly if restrictions are eased.
● The app operates on a person’s phone as they go about their day.
● It securely notes the encrypted reference codes of devices of other people who are using the app who have been in close proximity to you.
● The close contact information is only uploaded from your phone if you are diagnosed with COVID-19, and can only be accessed by relevant health officials to help alert those who may need to be tested.
● The app will never track your location.
How is my privacy going to be protected?
● On 14 May, Parliament passed legislation to ensure strict privacy protections for users of the app.
● It is a criminal offence to use any app information in any way other than as an information source for state and territory state and health authorities for contact tracing.
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● That includes jail terms of up to five years, or a fine of $63,000 per offence. It is also a criminal offence under the legislation for anyone to coerce a person to use the app, to store or transfer COVIDSafe data to a country outside Australia, and to decrypt app data.
● Other agencies, including law enforcement, will not be able to access the information unless investigating misuse of that information itself.
● The app also has a range of privacy and security safeguards built in, including no collection of geolocation data and secure encryption.
● An independently developed Privacy Impact Assessment detailing the app’s compliance with the Privacy Act and Australian Privacy Principles has been made publicly available.
PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
● Fever is the most consistent symptom (although some cases have not reported fever).
● Other symptoms include breathing difficulty, coughing, fatigue and a sore throat. ● Based on available data, symptomatic cases are the main driver of transmission.
When should I isolate? ● The following self-isolation requirements apply:
o Every Australian returning to Australia from overseas must self-isolate. Since midnight, Saturday 28 March 2020, all travellers arriving in Australia have had to undertake their mandatory 14 day self-isolation at designated facilities.
o If you have had close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, you must self-isolate for 14 days from the date of that last contact.
● The people living with you do not need to be isolated unless they meet one of the isolation criteria.
o If you develop symptoms and are suspected of having contracted COVID-19, those living with you will be classified as close contacts and must be isolated.
What does self-isolation mean?
● If you are required to self-isolate, you must stay at home or in your hotel and not go to public places including work, school, childcare, university or public gatherings.
● Only people who usually live with you should be in the home and you should not see visitors.
● If you are in a hotel, you should avoid contact with other guests or staff. ● If you are well, there is no need to wear a surgical mask at home. ● If you must leave home, such as to seek medical care, you should wear a surgical
mask. ● If you don’t have a mask, take care not to cough or sneeze on others.
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When should I get tested, how do I get tested and where do I seek advice? ● When isolated, monitor yourself for symptoms including fever, cough, shortness of
breath, chills, body aches, sore throat, runny nose and muscle pain. ● If you develop symptoms within 14 days of isolation, arrange to see your doctor for
urgent assessment. ● You should telephone the health clinic or hospital before you arrive and inform them
of your travel history or any suspected contact with a potential case of COVID-19. ● You must remain isolated either in your home or a healthcare setting until public
health authorities declare it safe for you to return to usual activities.
How can people avoid contracting COVID-19 and infecting others? ● By staying at home if you are unwell and getting tested.
● By using a range of physical-distancing and hygiene measures. ● These include refraining from hand shakes and other close contact, and standing 1.5
metres from each other wherever possible. ● Good hygiene is most important:
o Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
▪ If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitiser that contains at least 60 per cent alcohol.
o Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. o Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you
don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow. o Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. o Get vaccinated for influenza this season. It is not yet known whether COVID-
19 could significantly increase the risk of influenza infection.
Will wearing a mask stop me from contracting coronavirus?
● The AHPPC does not currently recommend the wearing of face masks by the general population.
● The AHPPC has recognised that "in a public transport situation, people may choose to wear masks when up close to other people and we recognise that is not an unreasonable thing to do".
How can I access up to date Government information on coronavirus? ● Up to date information on local arrangements is provided on state and territory
websites.
● A new coronavirus app and WhatsApp channel has been released by the Commonwealth Government.
● The app is now available on apple and android devices. The WhatsApp channel can be reached by entering aus.gov.au/whatsapp in your internet browser.
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● These new platforms provide a trusted source of information and advice on how Australians can protect themselves and others, current restrictions on social gatherings, how to access support and the latest data on Australian cases.
● The app also allows Australians to voluntarily register if they are self-isolating to provide governments with important information to protect public health and safety.
● To improve access to timely information on coronavirus, the Commonwealth Department of Health will release a national daily dashboard of data and key facts. The dashboard is available on www.health.gov.au.
PUBLIC GATHERINGS AND RESTRICTIONS What is the Government’s advice on indoor and outdoor public gatherings?
● On 8 May, National Cabinet agreed to a three-step plan to gradually remove restrictions to make Australia COVID-safe.
● Each state and territory will determine the timeframe for moving between steps and the individual restrictions to remove, recognising different local conditions in the pandemic response.
● States and territories agreed they would implement additional measures specific to their region, including closing categories of venues where the medical advice supported it. These measures would be risk-based and targeted at non-essential activities.
● 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.
● States and territories will make decisions on when to move to Step 3 under COVIDSafe plans.
● At a minimum, COVID-Safe arrangements must be maintained including:
○ 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; and
○ downloading the COVIDSafe app to allow identification and traceability of people that have been in contact with a confirmed COVID case.
● High risk outdoor events without ticketed seating such as music festivals do not form part of Step 3 and will be considered following further advice from medical experts.
● For outdoor venues of more than 40,000 spectator capacity, crowd arrangements will be settled by the states and territories. For outdoor venues up to 40,000 spectator
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capacity, ticketed and seated events will be able to be held in front of a crowd of no more than 25 per cent of capacity.
How will this be implemented? ● States and territories will implement the 3 step framework agreed by the National
Cabinet through their own legislation (specifically through Public Health Orders). ● Each state and territory will continue to determine the timeframe for moving between
the three steps for relaxing current measures, based on local circumstances.
● Each state and territory will continue to monitor and enforce specific arrangements across jurisdiction. Specific state and territory information is below:
Australian Capital Territory
https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/protecting-yourself-and-others/groups-and-gatherings
New South Wales
https://preview.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/public-health-orders
Northern Territory
https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/community-advice/gatherings
Queensland
https://www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/legislation/cho-public-health-directions-under-expanded-public-health-act-powers
South Australia
https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/health+topics/health+topics+a+-+z/covid+2019/community/information+for+the+community+-+covid-19
Tasmania
https://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/publichealth/communicable_diseases_prevention_unit/infectious_diseases/coronavirus
Victoria
https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/state-emergency
Western Australia
https://www.wa.gov.au/government/document-collections/covid-19-coronavirus-state-of-emergency-declarations
What is National Cabinet’s position on attending mass gathering protests?
● National Cabinet reiterates the AHPPC advice that protests are very high risk due to the large numbers of people closely gathering and challenges in identifying all contacts.
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● AHPPC again urges the Australian community to not participate in mass gatherings.
What is the advice for public transport?
● On 29 May, National Cabinet agreed that public transport services are the responsibility of the states and territories, and that it was important to continue to work together to ensure services can continue to run as safely as possible for the workforce and passengers.
● To support this effort, National Cabinet endorsed principles approved by the AHPPC which will help manage the health and safety of workers and passengers on public transport networks.
● The principles outline the responsibility passengers must take when traveling on public transport, including not travelling when feeling unwell, maintaining physical distance from drivers and other passengers, and avoiding handling cash.
● The principles should be considered alongside Work Health and Safety requirements, public health advice and other advice jurisdictions provide about mass gatherings, including on public transport.
● National Cabinet agreed that the principles will be reviewed as governments progress through the three-step plan, to take into account any emerging challenges or innovative solutions or as interactions with international travel are considered.
What are the considerations for religious services?
● Churches and other places of worship will continue to put in place arrangements to ensure services can be live streamed to the community as restrictions are eased across jurisdictions.
● This will ensure that religious services remain accessible to congregations.
● Each state and territory will determine the timeframe for moving between steps, and the removal of restrictions.
What is the latest advice for senior Australians?
● The care and wellbeing of senior Australians remains a priority in this uncertain time. We are facing an extraordinary health challenge and we need to work together to protect Australians most vulnerable to COVID-19.
● Coronavirus has more serious impacts on older Australians, those over 70 years of age and Australians with existing health conditions or comorbidities.
● National Cabinet’s strong advice is for self-isolation at home where possible for Australians:
○ Aged over 70.
○ Aged over 60 with existing health conditions.
○ People with compromised immune systems;
○ Indigenous Australians aged over 50 with existing health conditions or comorbidities.
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When will recommendations for sport and recreational activities be revised? ● States and territories will be responsible for sport and recreation resumption
decisions at the professional and community levels. They will also determine progression through the phases, taking account of local epidemiology, risk mitigation strategies and public health capability.
● On 1 May, National Cabinet considered and endorsed the National Principles for the Resumption of Sport and Recreation Activities developed by the AHPPC in consultation with sporting bodies across Australia.
● The Principles will help provide a pathway for a staged return of community and professional sport, as well as recreational activities, without compromising the health of individuals or the community.
● National Cabinet agreed that the Framework for Rebooting Sport in a COVID-19 Environment developed by the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) provides a guide to the staged resumption of sport and recreation in Australia.
● National Cabinet also endorsed the AHPPC’s proposal to form a COVID-19 Sports and Health Committee to closely monitor and report on any COVID-19-related issues in the sector during the resumption phase, as well as further decisions about the resumption of sport, for a minimum of three months.
● Decisions on the application of the principles to sport codes is a matter for each state and territory.
● For outdoor venues of more than 40,000 spectator capacity, crowd arrangements will be settled by the states and territories. For outdoor venues up to 40,000 spectator capacity, ticketed and seated events will be able to be held in front of a crowd of no more than 25 per cent of capacity.
TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS, TRAVEL ADVICE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ● Based on our expert medical advice, Australia was one of the first countries in the
world to implement travel restrictions in response to COVID-19. ● From 28 March, all travellers arriving in Australia have been required to undertake
their mandatory 14 day self-isolation at designated facilities (for example, a hotel).
● From 9pm AEDT, 20 March, Australia’s borders were closed to non-citizens and non-residents.
o Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family, including spouses, legal guardians and dependants are exempt.
o We have taken this unprecedented action because the majority of COVID-19 cases in Australia are imported and our No. 1 priority is to slow transmission.
● On 27 March, National Cabinet agreed to further restrict the movement of incoming travellers – and increase compliance checks on those travellers already undertaking mandatory self-isolation at home.
● This is about reducing the spread of the virus in Australia and saving lives.
● Cruise ships from foreign ports are banned from arriving in Australia. Non-essential cruise ships operating in Australia must not continue if they cannot comply with social distancing and mass gathering requirements.
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● We have raised the advice for overseas travel to the highest level – ‘Do not travel’. ○ Exemptions, to be managed by the Australian Border Force, will apply to a
range of categories of travellers, including citizens ordinarily resident overseas; essential or necessary travel; travel in our national interest; and compassionate and humanitarian grounds.
Ban on Australians Travelling Overseas
● The Commonwealth Government has implemented a ‘do not travel’ ban on Australians travelling overseas, under the Biosecurity Act 2015. This ban came into effect on 25 March.
● Exemptions, to be managed by the Australian Border Force, will apply to a range of categories of travellers, including citizens ordinarily resident overseas; essential or necessary travel; travel in our national interest; and compassionate and humanitarian grounds.
● This will help avoid travellers returning to Australia with coronavirus, and reduce the risks of spreading coronavirus to other countries.
● The ban is aligned with the Government’s decision to raise the Smartraveller Travel Advice to Level 4 – Do Not Travel Overseas.
How long will travel restrictions and quarantine requirements last?
● The requirement for international arrivals to quarantine is indefinite.
● We will continue to take the advice of the medical experts on travel restrictions and quarantine directives.
How is the Government ensuring that international travellers will quarantine?
● From 28 March, all travellers returning to Australia will be quarantined for 14 days at designated facilities (for example, a hotel) in the city where their international flight lands.
a. Travellers will be transported directly to designated facilities after appropriate immigration, customs and enhanced health checks.
b. Designated facilities will be determined by the relevant state or territory government and will ordinarily be at the city of entry where travellers have cleared immigration. Facilities in other areas may be used if required.
c. These requirements will be implemented under state and territory legislation and enforced by state and territory governments, with the support of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Australian Border Force (ABF) where necessary.
d. The Commonwealth will provide support through the ABF and ADF for these arrangements across Australia, and states and territories will meet the costs and determine any contributions required for travellers arriving within their jurisdictions.
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e. Air and maritime crews will continue existing precautions they are following – self-isolating in their accommodation if they enter Australia until their next work voyage.
● Increased compliance checks will be carried on travellers in quarantine.
a. The ADF will begin helping state and territory governments to undertake quarantine compliance checks of those required to be in mandatory isolation after returning from overseas.
b. ADF personnel will bolster local police efforts in visiting the homes and residences of Australians in mandatory isolation as directed by state and territory governments – reporting to local police whether the identified individual was at the residence.
c. ADF assistance will be provided under the Defence Assistance to the Civil Community arrangements.
● Returned overseas travellers and small community outbreaks associated with returned international travellers continue to account for most of the new COVID-19 cases in Australia.
● This is about reducing the spread of the virus in Australia and saving lives.
● Decisions on whether to charge returning international travellers for the cost of accommodation are matters for the states and territories.
What is the penalty for not self-isolating? ● Implementing the self-isolation requirements is a matter for states and territories,
including penalties for non-compliance.
Should people avoid domestic flights?
● Each state and territory will determine the timeframe for moving between steps, and the removal of border restrictions including restrictions on non-essential travel.
● National Cabinet agreed that domestic air travel is low risk.
● Further information is available here: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/coronavirus-covid-19-travel-advice-and-restrictions-faqs
Why is DFAT advising Australians not to travel overseas? ● The National Security Committee of Cabinet has decided to raise overseas travel
advice to the highest level 4. Our advice to all Australians – regardless of your destination, age or health – is do not travel overseas at this time.
How is the Government assisting Australians overseas who want to return home?
● We understand this is difficult and stressful. We strongly recommend Australians follow the directions and advice of local authorities, and continue to monitor www.smartraveller.gov.au and the social media account of the closest Australian diplomatic mission.
● Australians who have decided to return home and are concerned about whether they can due to border restrictions or flight cancellations, should first check with their
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travel agent and transportation provider before contacting the local Australian embassy, high commission or consulate.
● Australians requiring consular assistance can contact the local Australian embassy, high commission or consulate or call DFAT’s Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135 and +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas.
● Our ability to provide consular assistance in some places may be limited due to restrictions on movement and other services.
● Australia is working with foreign governments, airlines and travel companies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Consular officials are doing all they can to help those most in need.
● Most countries still have arrangements in place to allow foreigners to leave. Australians who have decided to return home are advised to do so as soon as possible. They should first contact their travel agent or transport provider for options.
● Where there are difficulties because countries have closed their borders or airlines have stopped operating, we are consulting with governments, like-minded countries and the airline industry to help Australians find ways home.
● In some cases, Australians may have to stay where they are for longer until departure can be arranged or border closures are lifted.
Will a travel zone be established between Australia and New Zealand? ● On 5 May, National Cabinet agreed to start work on easing travel restrictions
between Australia and New Zealand through a trans-Tasman safe travel zone.
● This arrangement would be put in place once it is safe to do so, with necessary health, transport and other protocols to protect public health.
● A safe travel zone would assist both countries’ economic recovery, help kick-start our tourism and transport sectors, enhance existing sporting links, and reunite families and friends.
● A safe travel zone will not commence until state and territory border restrictions are removed.
HEALTH RESPONSE How is the Government ensuring Australia’s health system is ready to respond to COVID-19?
● To support Australians, we have announced over $8 billion for the COVID-19 Health response.
● On 11 March 2020, the Government announced a comprehensive $2.4 billion health package to protect all Australians, including vulnerable groups such as the elderly, those with chronic conditions and Indigenous communities, from the COVID-19 outbreak. The key components are - $1.1 billion to ensure patients and critical health workers have access to face
masks, surgical gowns, goggles, antibiotics and antivirals.
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- An estimated $500 million to pay for 50 per cent of costs (uncapped) incurred by states and territories in diagnosing and treating patients with COVID-19 or suspected of having the disease, as well as efforts to minimise spread.
- $206.7 million for up to 100 dedicated respiratory clinics. - $170 million for a Medicare-funded pathology test for COVID-19. - $100 million to enable aged care providers to hire extra staff for residential and
home care – helping to protect senior Australians. - $100 million for telehealth services to reach vulnerable Australians, including
those living alone. - $58 million for remote community preparedness and retrieval: minimising remote
communities’ exposure to COVID-19, increasing capacity to evacuate early cases and responding effectively if an outbreak occurs.
- $30 million for a communications campaign, delivering practical advice in up to 20 languages on containing the virus and staying healthy
- $30 million for COVID-19 research, with grants to be delivered through the Medical Research Future Fund.
● On 20 March 2020, the Government announced an additional $444.6 million aged care workforce support program, focussed on residential aged care and in-home aged care support.
● On 29 March 2020, as part of the $1.1 billion Community Health Package, the Government announced: - $669 million to expand Medicare subsidised telehealth services for all Australians
and provide extra incentives for general practitioners to ensure practices stay open to provide face to face services where they are essential.
- An additional $200 million to support charities and other community organisations which provide emergency and food relief as demand surges as a result of coronavirus.
- An initial $150 million to support Australians experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence due to the fallout from coronavirus.
- $74 million to support the mental health and wellbeing of Australians.
● On 31 March 2020, the Government announced a $1.3 billion partnership with the private hospital sector to ensure over 30,000 hospital beds, and the sector’s 105,000 skilled workforce, is available to integrate with the public hospital sector. The Commonwealth has guaranteed the viability of all 657 private and not-for-profit hospitals, in return for maintenance and capacity during the COVID-19 response.
● In two separate announcements on 3 April 2020 and 10 April 2020, we committed an additional $1.6 billion to fund further procurement of masks and other emergency medical or emergency health equipment to deal with COVID-19.
● Most recently on 1 May 2020 we announced an additional $205 million in payments to Commonwealth funded aged care providers aimed at covering the additional costs of caring for the health and wellbeing of residents during the pandemic.
● On 29 May, National Cabinet finalised the 2020-2025 National Health Reform Agreement which delivers an additional $131 billion to state and territory public hospitals.
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How is the Government working with private hospitals to ensure resources are available?
● On 31 March, the Australian Government announced it will partner with the private hospital sector to ensure the full resources of our world-class health system are ready and focused on treating patients during the pandemic.
● The agreement will ensure over 30,000 hospital beds and the 105,000 skilled workforce are available alongside the public hospital sector.
● The Commonwealth will offer agreements to all 657 private and not-for-profit hospitals to ensure their viability, in return for maintenance and capacity during the COVID-19 response.
● These facilities will be required to make fully available – to the state and territory hospital system or the Australian Government – infrastructure, essential equipment (including ventilators), supplies (including PPE), and workforce and additional resources.
● They will also continue to support the needs of long-stay public hospital National Disability Insurance Scheme participants, and aged care patients and general needs patients.
How is the Government providing support to Australians to access health services from home?
● To ensure continued access to essential primary health services during the pandemic, $669 million will be provided to expand Medicare-subsidised telehealth services for all Australians.
● This will take pressure off hospitals and emergency departments, allowing people to access essential health services (such as local GPs) in their home while supporting self-isolation and quarantine policies.
● Australians will be able to access support in their own home using their telephone, or video conferencing such as FaceTime to connect with GP services, mental health treatment, chronic disease management, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health assessments, services to people with eating disorders, pregnancy support counselling, services to patients in aged care facilities, services for children with autism, after-hours consultations and nurse practitioners.
● The GP bulk billing incentive will be doubled for GPs. And an incentive payment will be established to ensure practices stay open to provide essential face-to-face services for patients with conditions unable to be treated via telehealth.
● The new arrangements will be in place until 30 September 2020, when they will be reviewed in light of the ongoing need to fight coronavirus.
What is the Government response on elective surgeries?
● On 15 May, National Cabinet agreed to reopen elective surgery, by removing restrictions and restoring hospital activity, in three stages.
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● Each jurisdiction will determine which stage applies to its circumstances, the timeline for implementation, and ensure the level of normal surgical activity is safely restored in line with the agreed principles. The stages are:
○ Stage 1 – up to 50 per cent of normal surgical activity levels (including reportable and non-reportable).
○ Stage 2 – up to 75 per cent of normal surgical activity levels (including reportable and non-reportable).
○ Stage 3 – up to 100 per cent of normal surgical activity levels (including reportable and non-reportable) or as close to normal activity levels as is safely possible.
● Private Hospitals should mirror their own state’s approach to surgical activity unless agreed otherwise with the relevant state.
● The level of elective surgery will be reviewed monthly from May 2020 by the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council (AHMAC), to ensure that it remains safe and sustainable, and in line with the agreed principles.
● Australia’s health system will continue to ensure any patient in need of urgent attention receives treatment.
What is the Government doing to support more mental health services for all Australians?
● As we battle this crisis on the health and economic fronts with significant support packages and more to come, the Government is aware that many Australians are understandably anxious, stressed and fearful about the impacts of coronavirus.
● On 29 March, the Government announced an initial $74 million to support the mental health and wellbeing of all Australians battling the effects of coronavirus. This includes:
○ The Government’s digital mental health portal, ‘Head to Health’ (www.headtohealth.gov.au), which will be a single source of authoritative information and guidance on how to maintain good mental health during the coronavirus pandemic and in self-isolation, how to support children and loved ones, and how to access further mental health services and care.
○ A new national communications campaign, delivered in conjunction with the National Mental Health Commission, will provide information about maintaining mental wellbeing, raise awareness of the signs of you or a loved one requiring additional assistance, and point to where to find further information, support and care.
○ $10 million to be provided to create a dedicated coronavirus wellbeing support line, delivered by Beyond Blue, to help people concerned about a coronavirus diagnosis, or experiencing stress or anxiety from employment changes, business closure, financial difficulties, family pressures or other challenges.
○ $14 million to bolster mental health support providers facing an unprecedented surge in call volumes. The funding will increase their capacity, including $5 million for Lifeline and $2 million for Kids Helpline. It will also boost other existing services, including digital peer support for people with
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urgent, severe and complex mental illness who may have additional distress at this time.
○ Increased mental health support for health workers, who will be at the frontline of the pandemic.
○ $10 million to be provided to the Community Visitors Scheme to deliver extra staff to train volunteer visitors, who will connect with older people in aged care online and by phone, and help older Australians keep in touch with the community and loved ones.
○ $6.75 million to deliver the headspace digital work and study service. Mentors and headspace vocational specialists working in an integrated team will offer technical and life skills, providing a comprehensive digital support service for all young Australians during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
○ For Indigenous Australians, Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia will develop culturally appropriate mental health and wellbeing resources. These will be easily accessible across a range of platforms, including print, podcast, NITV, Indigenous print media and internet/social media platforms.
○ $28.3 million to deliver psychosocial support to Commonwealth community mental health clients for a further 12 months.
● On 15 May, National Cabinet endorsed the Mental Health and Wellbeing Pandemic Plan developed by the National Mental Health Commission.
● The Plan acknowledges the significant impact that COVID-19 has had on the mental health and wellbeing of so many Australians, including from economic downturn through loss of income and job losses.
● The Mental Health and Wellbeing Pandemic Plan has three core objectives:
1. Meet the mental health and wellbeing needs of all Australians to reduce the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the short and long term.
2. Outline seven key principles and 10 key priorities to inform the jurisdictions as they confront the challenges of COVID-19 during the response and recovery.
3. Define governance, coordination and implementation requirements across jurisdictions for informed planning and decision making.
● The Commonwealth Government will invest $48.1 million in the Plan, focusing on:
○ Improving data and research with more immediate monitoring and modelling of the mental health impacts of COVID-19, including boosting national capability in monitoring, anticipating and reacting to these impacts; expanding the national self-harm and suicide monitoring systems; and investment in the National Suicide Prevention Research Fund.
○ Supporting services accessible in homes, workplaces, aged care, schools and other community sites. A specific focus on vulnerable groups – aged care, carers and indigenous mental health support.
○ Better coordination and communications – more connectivity through improved service linkage and coordination. This will include a national mental health communication campaign to manage anxiety and encourage mental
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wellbeing, and systems to guide the care of people contacting federal digital and telephone support services (connecting them to appropriate local services that provide outreach care in the home).
What relief services are being provided for vulnerable Australians?
● An additional $200 million to support charities and other community organisations which provide emergency and food relief as demand surges with the impact of coronavirus.
● The Community Support Package will provide flexible funding to boost support to services where demand is quickly increasing, including:
○ Emergency Relief which will help vulnerable Australians who need help with bills, food, clothing or petrol, and increase and retain workforce capacity including volunteers.
○ Assistance for food relief organisations to source additional food and transport for emergency relief service providers, and rebuild workforce capacity.
○ Immediately scaling up services through the National Debt Helpline, often the first point of contact for people in financial difficulties, and to support one-on-one tele-financial counselling.
○ Creating a short-form Financial Counselling course through Financial Counselling Australia to train new financial counsellors to boost the workforce, potentially providing hundreds of new jobs.
○ Expanding access to safe, affordable financial products through the No Interest Loan Scheme, providing a financial relief alternative to high-risk, high-interest products such as credit cards and payday loans.
● On 11 April, the Government announced an immediate $100 million to more than 300 charities and community organisations to support Australians in the wake of the coronavirus economic downturn. This includes:
○ More than $37 million shared among almost 200 existing Commonwealth-funded Emergency Relief organisations to boost support and change service delivery methods to comply with social distancing guidelines.
○ $7 million to the Red Cross over the next six months to deliver emergency relief and some casework support to people facing significant vulnerabilities who are on temporary visas.
○ $16 million for food relief providers Foodbank Australia, SecondBite and OzHarvest to secure food supplies, transport options and required workforce.
○ An additional $20 million to financial counselling services including the National Debt Helpline, Money Support Hubs and Problem Gambling to increase their capacity to assist more Australians through the economic downturn.
○ $20 million to Good Shepherd to offer about 40,000 Australians access to safe, affordable financial products through the No Interest Loans Scheme.
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● This will be complemented by a new National Coordination Group to help lead the Government’s response to emergency relief across Australia.
● The sector-led group will be charged with identifying issues at the local, state and national level and providing advice directly to the Minister for Social Services on how to meet emerging needs.
How is the Government protecting and supporting people with a disability?
● On 16 April, National Cabinet endorsed the Management and Operational Plan for COVID-19 for People with Disability, and agreed to its release on the Australian Government Department of Health’s website.
● The Plan ensures a national approach to protecting and supporting people with
disability, their families and carers – with wide-ranging guidance on managing and preventing the transmission of COVID-19.
What support is the Government providing to people experiencing domestic violence?
● On 29 March, the Government announced that an initial $150 million will be provided to support Australians experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence due to the fallout from coronavirus.
● The funding will boost programs including:
○ Support for frontline services determined by the states and territories, such as crisis accommodation.
○ Counselling support for families affected by, or at risk of experiencing, domestic and family violence including men’s behaviour change programs which will provide a short, medium and longer term response to support men.
○ 1800RESPECT, the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling service, which already answers around 160,000 calls a year.
○ Mensline Australia, the national counselling service for men that provides support for emotional health and relationship concerns, where men are affected by or considering using violence.
○ Trafficked People Program to support the particularly vulnerable such as victims of human trafficking, forced marriage, slavery and slavery-like practices.
○ Support programs for women and children experiencing violence to protect themselves to stay in their homes, or a home of their choice, when it is safe to do so.
○ A new public communication campaign will roll out to support anyone experiencing domestic violence over this period, and to ensure those affected know where to seek help.
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What is the Government doing to support states and territories to ensure they have the resources to respond to the health impacts?
● State and territory hospitals systems will face unprecedented pressures from coronavirus.
● On 13 March 2020, the Government agreed to a 50-50 shared health funding deal with the states and territories to help them effectively prepare and respond to COVID-19.
● The Australian Government will pay 50 per cent of costs incurred by states and territories in diagnosing and treating patients with COVID-19 or suspected of having the disease, as well as efforts to minimise spread.
● A $100 million advance payment has already been delivered, on a population basis, to support states and territories.
● This recognises the need for immediate financial assistance, while providing maximum flexibility to respond as the outbreak evolves.
● Our funding is on top of funding available under the National Health Agreement which is delivering $31 billion to state hospitals over the next five years, the $2.4 billion Coronavirus health package and an additional $444.6 million aged care workforce support program.
How are private health insurers providing financial relief to people affected by coronavirus?
● On 9 April, the ACCC announced private health insurers have conditional interim authorisation to provide financial relief to policy holders during the COVID-19 pandemic, and broadening insurance coverage to include COVID-19 treatment, tele-health and medical treatment provided at home.
● This followed an application to the ACCC by Private Healthcare Australia (PHA), Members Health Fund Alliance and the members of both groups. PHA is the Australian private health insurance industry’s peak representative body, and represents the majority of people covered by private health insurance.
How is the Government supporting COVID-19 research?
● The Federal Government is investing $66 million into finding a vaccine and treatments for COVID-19, as well as better preparing for future pandemics.
● This research will enable Australia’s world-class researchers to contribute to global efforts to control and eliminate the virus.
● The funding is available through the Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), extending the $30 million already pledged for the Coronavirus Research Response.
● This investment will target four key areas of research:
1. Investing in a vaccine for COVID-19.
2. Investing in antiviral therapies for COVID-19.
3. Clinical trials of potential treatments for COVID-19.
4. Improving the health system’s response to COVID-19 and future pandemics.
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What happens now a pandemic is declared? ● On 11 March, the World Health Organisation assessed that COVID-19 can be
characterised as a pandemic. ● The declaration of a pandemic does not materially change what we are doing in
Australia. ● Australia anticipated this declaration and has been planning for the pandemic phase. ● A more significant development for Australia would be sustained community
transmission – and we are prepared for this. ● Our comprehensive $2.4 billion health package will ensure our health system has the
resources to fight COVID-19. ● As well, on 27 February we endorsed the activation of the Emergency Response
Plan for Communicable Disease Incidents of National Significance: National Arrangements for Coronavirus (National CD Plan).
o This outlines how non-health sector agencies (such as police, child care, transport and essential utilities) will support the community alongside the health sector response.
● On 27 February, we also fast-tracked the Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus (the COVID-19 Plan).
o On 15 March, we activated the second stage of this plan, enabling governments to take targeted action and ensuring the proper allocation of resources.
● Under a pandemic, the Health Emergency Plan moves our actions from containment, to managing and limiting spread of COVID-19 through measures such as:
o Epidemiological monitoring and contact management of patients. o Heightened border measures. o Communications supporting best practice. o Enhancing and supporting national testing capacity and capability. o Forward pandemic planning, including:
▪ Alternative Models of Care (e.g. fever clinics, designated hospitals and wards for coronavirus).
▪ Sector specific plans (e.g. aged care, primary care, critical care, childcare, including management of facilities).
▪ Supporting essential research (e.g. priority funding for medical research).
How far away is a vaccine for COVID-19? ● Our best and brightest medical minds and researchers are working tirelessly to develop
a vaccine. To support this effort, my Government has pledged AU$352 million towards the global effort to fight COVID-19 and find a vaccine.
- This includes $15 million to help develop COVID-19 vaccines and diagnostics to be shared equally between the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND).
● The University of Queensland is developing one of nine candidate vaccines championed by CEPI.
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- The Australian Government is contributing $3.35 million to UQ’s efforts, in addition to state government funding ($10 million) and a contribution from the Paul Ramsay Foundation ($3.5 million).
● The CSIRO has commenced the first stage of testing potential vaccines for COVID-19 at its high-containment biosecurity facility, the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), in Geelong.
- This involves pre-clinical trials for vaccine candidates from the University of Oxford and Inovio Pharmaceuticals (also CEPI candidate vaccines).
- The Australian Government has committed $220 million to upgrade the ACDP as well as up to $10 million to support the CSIRO’s work to help fast-track a vaccine for COVID-19.
● The Australian Government is also fast-tracking $2 million to support Australia’s researchers to help develop a vaccine through an open and competitive grant opportunity from the Medical Research Future Fund (grant outcomes to be announced shortly).
What is the Government doing to secure vital Personal Protective Equipment for frontline medical personnel?
● As part of our $2.4 billion health package, we are providing $1.1 billion to replenish the National Medical Stockpile with face masks, surgical gowns, goggles, antibiotics and antivirals.
o In addition, we’ve made further investments worth almost $1.6 billion to secure additional PPE and other critical medical supplies.
● We are also working to support Australian companies to increase the production of facemasks and other PPE.
o Support will include the purchase of new machinery, workforce training and securing immediate access to raw inputs.
How does COVID-19 compare with the flu and other viruses? ● For every infection, there are around two to three secondary cases.
o Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) was initially transmitted at the rate of about three secondary cases before public health measures reduced it to below 1. These figures compare with a rate of 1.3 for seasonal influenza.
● The global fatality rate for COVID-19 is about 3.8 per cent. o This compares to death rates of 37 per cent for Middle East Respiratory
Syndrome (MERS), 10 per cent for SARS and 0.1 per cent for seasonal influenza.
● Compared to COVID-19: o There were 774 deaths from SARS (as at 31 December 2003) and 858 deaths
from MERS (as at November 2019). The World Health Organisation estimates between 290,000 and 650,000 people die from seasonal influenza-related respiratory diseases each year.
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How is the Government ensuring medical practitioners and the broader community can access reliable information on COVID-19?
● As part of our $2.4 billion health package, we have announced $30 million for a new national communications campaign to provide practical advice on containing the virus and staying healthy.
o The information will be based on the latest medical advice and targeted at the entire community as well as high-risk groups in up to 20 languages.
o The campaign will keep the health and aged care industry informed, including providing up to date clinical guidance, development of an app and advice to workers about maintaining their own safety.
● The Department of Health is also enhancing communications to General Practitioners with two newsletters every week and regular webinars.
● We are also using existing Government systems such as www.australia.gov.au and MyGov to disseminate information.
What is the Government doing to ensure access to medicines?
● We have introduced new limits on dispensing and sales of prescription and over-the-counter medicines to ensure equitable access for Australians.
● From 19 March 2020: o Pharmacists are required to limit dispensing of certain prescription products
to one month’s supply at the prescribed dose, and sales of certain over-the-counter medicines to a maximum of one unit per purchase.
o Pharmacists are strongly encouraged to limit dispensing and sales of all other medicines to one month’s supply or one unit.
o Salbutamol (Ventolin, Asmol and Airomir) inhalers provided on an over-the-counter basis are subject to new controls, including requiring pharmacists to confirm the patient’s diagnosis and supply needs.
o Pharmacists are required to relocate some medicines, including children’s paracetamol, from front of shop to behind the counter to help allocate supplies equitably.
● Vulnerable people and people in self-isolation are also able to order their Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS) prescriptions remotely and have their medicines home delivered to reduce their potential exposure to COVID-19.
ECONOMIC RESPONSE
What is the Government doing about the economic impacts of COVID-19?
● On 30 March 2020, the Government released the third stage of its plan to cushion the economic impact of the coronavirus and help build a bridge to recovery.
● A total of $260 billion is being injected into the economy by all arms of government in order to keep Australians in work and businesses in business.
● This includes $17.6 billion for the Government’s first economic stimulus package, $90 billion from the Reserve Bank of Australia and $15 billion from the Government to
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deliver easier access to finance, $66.1 billion in the second economic support package, and $70 billion JobKeeper payment.
Our economic support package includes: o Support for households including casuals, sole-traders, retirees and those on income support. o Assistance for businesses to keep people in a job. o Regulatory protection and financial support for businesses to stay in business.
● The Government is taking unprecedented action to strengthen the safety net for Australians who are stood down or lose their jobs, and is increasing support for small businesses facing tough times.
● The $260 billion economic support package is equivalent to 13.3 per cent of GDP.
● Further details on the package can be found at: https://treasury.gov.au/coronavirus/resources
● On 26 May, the Prime Minister outlined a JobMaker plan for a new generation of economic success.
● The Prime Minister has set out a series of principles, while detailing our plans to reform skills and vocational education and a process that will govern industrial relations reform.
● The Prime Minister’s speech can be accessed here.
How is the Government supporting workers and households? $70 billion JobKeeper payment to keep Australians in a job
● The Federal Government is providing a historic wage subsidy to around 3.5 million workers who receive a flat payment of $1,500 per fortnight through their employer, before tax.
● The $70 billion JobKeeper payment helps keep Australians in jobs as we tackle the significant economic impact from the coronavirus.
● Payments are paid to employers, for up to six months, for each eligible employee who was on their books on 1 March 2020, and is retained or continues to be engaged by that employer.
● Where a business has stood down employees since 1 March, the payment will help maintain connection with these workers.
● Employers receive a payment of $1,500 per fortnight per eligible employee. Every eligible employee must receive at least $1,500 per fortnight from this business, before tax.
● The payment is open to eligible businesses that receive a significant financial hit caused by the coronavirus.
● Eligible employers are those with annual turnover of less than $1 billion who self-assess that they have a reduction in revenue of 30 per cent or more since 1 March 2020, over a minimum one-month period.
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● Employers with an annual turnover of $1 billion or more would be required to demonstrate a reduction in revenue of 50 per cent or more to be eligible. Businesses subject to the Major Bank Levy are not eligible.
● Eligible employers include businesses structured through companies, partnerships, trusts and sole traders. Not for profit entities, including charities, will also be eligible.
● Full time and part time employees, including stood-down employees, are eligible to receive the JobKeeper Payment. Where a casual employee has been with their employer for at least the previous 12 months, they are also eligible for the payment. An employee is only eligible to receive this payment from one employer.
● Eligible employees include Australian residents, New Zealand citizens in Australia who hold a subclass 444 special category visa, and migrants who are eligible for JobSeeker Payment or Youth Allowance (Other).
● Self-employed individuals are also eligible to receive the JobKeeper Payment.
● Eligible businesses can apply for the payment online and are able to register their interest via www.ato.gov.au
● The JobKeeper payment provides the equivalent of around 70 per cent of the national median wage.
● For workers in the accommodation, hospitality and retail sectors, it will equate to a full median replacement wage..
Coronavirus supplement ● The Government is temporarily expanding eligibility to income support payments and
establishing a new, time-limited coronavirus supplement to be paid at a rate of $550 per fortnight. It is paid to both existing and new recipients of the JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment, Partner Allowance, Widow Allowance, Sickness Allowance, Ausstudy, ABSTUDY Living Allowance, Farm Household Allowance and Special Benefit.
● The coronavirus supplement will be paid for the next six months. Eligible income support recipients receive the full amount of the $550 coronavirus supplement on top of their payment each fortnight.
● An increase of up to 5,000 staff for Services Australia will help support delivery of the new Government measures.
Income support partner pay income test
● JobSeeker Payment is subject to a partner income test, the Government is temporarily relaxing the partner income test to ensure that an eligible person can receive the JobSeeker Payment, and associated Coronavirus Supplement, providing their partner earns less than $3,068 per fortnight, around $79,762 per annum.
● The personal income test for individuals on JobSeeker Payment still applies.
Payments to support households ● As well as the $750 stimulus payment announced on 12 March 2020, the
Government will provide a further $750 payment to social security and veteran income support recipients and eligible concession card holders – except those who
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are receiving an income support payment that is eligible to receive the coronavirus supplement.
● This second payment will be made automatically from 13 July 2020 to around 5 million social security, veteran and other income support recipients and eligible concession card holders. Around half of those benefiting are pensioners.
● The first payment was made on 31 March 2020 to people who will have been on one of the eligible payments between 12 March 2020 and 13 April 2020.
Early release of superannuation ● The Government will allow individuals in financial stress as a result of the coronavirus
to access up to $10,000 of their superannuation in 2019-20, and a further $10,000 in 2020-21.
● Those eligible will be able to apply online through myGov for access of up to $10,000 of their superannuation before 1 July 2020.
● They will also be able to access up to a further $10,000 from 1 July 2020 for another three months.
● They will not need to pay tax on amounts released, and the money they withdraw will not affect Centrelink or Veterans’ Affairs payments.
Temporarily reducing superannuation minimum drawdown rates ● The Government is temporarily reducing superannuation minimum drawdown
requirements for account based pensions and similar products by 50 per cent for 2019-20 and 2020-21.
● This measure will benefit retirees by providing them with more flexibility as to how they manage their superannuation assets.
Reducing social security deeming rates ● On top of the deeming rate changes coinciding with the first package, the
Government is reducing deeming rates by a further 0.25 percentage points to reflect the latest rate reductions by the RBA.
● As of 1 May 2020, the lower deeming rate will be 0.25 per cent and the upper deeming rate will be 2.25 per cent.
● The change will benefit around 900,000 income support recipients, including Age Pensioners.
HomeBuilder Program
● The Federal Government is supporting jobs in the residential construction sector with the introduction of the new HomeBuilder Program.
● The HomeBuilder Program will create jobs and help support more than one million people from the construction sector including builders, painters, plumbers and electricians across the country.
● HomeBuilder is a time-limited and demand-driven program that will provide eligible owner-occupiers (not just first home buyers) with a grant of $25,000 to build a new home or substantially renovate an existing home.
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● The Government expects to invest between $580 million and $688 million, through around 27,000 grants.
● Australians earning less than $125,000 (or $200,000 as a couple) are eligible for the program.
● Grants can be used for building a new home as a principal place of residence, valued up to $750,000 (including land); or substantially renovate or rebuild an existing home as a principal place of residence, such as adding an extra storey, with rebuilds or renovations valued at between $150,000 and $750,000.
● It cannot be used for additions to the property that are unconnected to the principal place of residence such as swimming pools, tennis courts, outdoor spas and saunas, sheds or garages.
● To fast-track delivery, construction must start within three months of the contract date and the program will run until 31 December this year.
● The Federal Government will sign a National Partnership Agreement with states and territories so it can use their existing systems to distribute payments.
● HomeBuilder will complement existing State and Territory First Home Owner Grant programs, stamp duty concessions and other grant schemes, as well as the Commonwealth’s First Home Loan Deposit Scheme and First Home Super Saver Scheme.
What other measures is the Government assisting businesses to keep people in a job?
Boosting Cash Flow for Employers ● The Government is providing up to $100,000 to eligible small and medium sized
businesses, and not‑for-profits (including charities) that employ people, with a minimum payment of $20,000. These payments will help the cash flow of businesses and not-for-profits so they can keep operating and pay their rent, electricity and other bills and retain staff.
● Under the enhanced scheme from the first package, employers will receive a payment equal to 100 per cent of their salary and wages withheld (up from 50 per cent), with the maximum payment being increased from $25,000 to $50,000. In addition, the minimum payment is being increased from $2,000 to $10,000. The payment will be available from 28 April 2020.
● By linking the payments to business to staff wage tax withholdings, businesses will be incentivised to hold on to more of their workers.
● The payments are tax free, there will be no new forms and payments will flow automatically through the ATO.
● This measure will benefit around 690,000 businesses employing around 7.8 million people, and around 30,000 NFPs (including charities).
● Small and medium business entities with aggregated annual turnover under $50 million and that employ workers are eligible.
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● NFP entities, including charities, with aggregated annual turnover under $50 million and that employ workers are also eligible. This supports employment at a time where NFPs are facing increasing demand for services.
● An additional payment is also being made from 28 July 2020. Eligible entities will receive an additional payment equal to the total of all of the Boosting Cash Flow for Employers payments received.
How is the Government providing regulatory protection and financial support for businesses to stay in business?
Coronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme ● The Government will establish the Coronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme which will
support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to get access to working capital to help them get them through the impact of the coronavirus.
● Under the Scheme, the Government will guarantee 50 per cent of new loans issued by eligible lenders to SMEs.
● The Government’s support will enhance lenders’ willingness and ability to provide credit to SMEs with the Scheme able to support $40 billion of lending to SMEs.
● The Scheme will complement announcements the Government has made to cut red tape to allow SMEs to get access to credit faster. It also complements announcements made by Australian banks to support small businesses with their existing loans.
● This builds on the investment the Government is making to enable smaller lenders to continue supporting Australian consumers and small businesses, through providing the Australian Office of Financial Management an investment capacity of $15 billion to invest in wholesale funding markets used by small authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADI) and non-ADI lenders.
● The Government will guarantee up to $20 billion to support $40 billion in SME loans.
Providing temporary relief for financially distressed businesses ● The Government is temporarily increasing the threshold at which creditors can issue
a statutory demand on a company and the time companies have to respond to statutory demands they receive. The package also includes temporary relief for directors from any personal liability for trading while insolvent. The Corporations Act 2001 will be amended to provide temporary and targeted relief for companies to deal with unforeseen events that arise as a result of the coronavirus.
● This builds on other support for business and business investment provided in our first economic support package, which included:
○ Increasing the instant asset write-off. ○ Backing business investment by providing accelerated depreciation
deductions. ○ Supporting apprentices and trainees. ○ Targeted support for coronavirus-affected regions and communities.
What is the Government doing to relieve pressure on commercial tenants? ● As part of its work helping businesses to hibernate, National Cabinet agreed that
short-term intervention is required in commercial tenancies.
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● On 29 March, National Cabinet agreed to a moratorium on evictions over the next six months for commercial (and residential) tenants in financial distress and unable to meet their commitments due to the impact of coronavirus.
● Commercial tenants, landlords and financial institutions are encouraged to come together to find a way through, ensuring businesses can survive and be there on the other side.
● On 7 April, National Cabinet agreed that states and territories would implement a mandatory Code of Conduct (the Code), including via legislation or regulation as appropriate, to implement principles that were agreed on 3 April.
● The purpose of the Code is to impose a set of good faith leasing principles for commercial tenancies (including retail, office and industrial) between owners/operators/other landlords and tenants, where the tenant is a small-medium business (annual turnover of up to $50 million) and eligible for the Government’s JobKeeper program.
● National Cabinet agreed that there would be a proportionality to rent reductions based on the tenant’s decline in turnover to ensure that the burden is shared between landlords and tenants. The Code provides a proportionate and measured burden share between the two parties while still allowing tenants and landlords to agree to tailored, bespoke and appropriate temporary arrangements that take account of their particular circumstances.
● Binding mediation will be provided as needed through existing state and territory mechanisms.
● The Commonwealth Government is also acting as a model landlord by waiving rents for all its small and medium enterprises and not-for-profit tenants within its owned and leased property across Australia.
What assistance is being offered to residential tenants?
● National Cabinet has agreed to a moratorium on evictions over the next six months for residential tenants in financial distress and unable to meet their commitments due to the impact of coronavirus.
● Further decisions on residential tenancies will be determined by state and territory governments.
What assistance is being offered to severely-affected regions? ● The COVID-19 pandemic is having a disproportionate impact on some sectors,
regions and communities, including those heavily reliant on industries such as tourism, agriculture and education.
● This is why we are providing $1 billion to support them, including:
❏ Waiving fees and charges for tourism businesses that operate in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Commonwealth National Parks.
❏ A new $110 million International Freight Assistance Mechanism initiative backing Australia's exporters of high value agricultural and fisheries sectors by ensuring they have access to international freight capacity.
❏ Providing Australia’s zoos and aquariums with a much-needed funding lifeline through a $94.6 million support package to ensure they can provide their animals with food and medical care during the COVID19 shutdown.
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❏ Fee relief for the fishing industry affected by a COVID19 related global downturn
❏ An additional injection of $50 million into the Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) program in the 2019-20 financial year, allowing exporters and tourism businesses to get additional reimbursements for costs incurred in marketing their products and services around the world
What is the Government doing to support the aviation industry? ● The Australian Government is providing vital support to Australia’s aviation industry
through a range of initiatives. ● More than $1.2 billion has been provided to the following initiatives:
○ Australian Airline Financial Relief Package – providing refunds and fee waivers for aviation fuel excise, Airservices charges on domestic airline operations and domestic and regional aviation security charges.
○ Domestic Aviation Network Support (DANS) program – enabling Qantas and Virgin Australia Groups to operate a minimum domestic network, servicing the most critical metropolitan and regional routes in Australia.
○ Regional Airline Network Support (RANS) program – ensuring regional communities continue to receive essential air services, as well as supporting the movement of essential freight such as critical medicine and personal protective equipment.
○ Regional Airlines Funding Assistance program – supporting regional airlines to continue operating.
○ Allowing leased federal airports to seek partial relief from land tax charges to 31 December 2020, in line with state government land tax relief arrangements.
● The Government has also granted Sydney Airport approval to temporarily use its east-west runway to accommodate aircraft grounded as a result of managing the COVID-19 pandemic. The measure is a safe and practical response to the significant demand for aircraft parking from domestic and international airlines.
How is the Government supporting local governments and community infrastructure?
● In recognition of the critical role local governments are playing in responding to the impacts of COVID-19, the Australian Government has taken action to support local councils to accelerate priority projects that will provide employment opportunities for the local community and support local businesses.
● We are providing $2.5 billion in untied Financial Assistance Grants funding in 2019-20, including a bring forward of $1.3 billion of the 2020-21 funding allocation, to enable the immediate use of these funds on locally determined priorities and projects to help in the COVID-19 recovery.
● In addition, we have also announced additional funding of $500 million for the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, injecting further funds into local economies and enabling the fast-tracking of ‘shovel-ready’ infrastructure projects.
● Both the Financial Assistance Grant payment bring forward and the new Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program are in addition to the $1.2 billion we are providing in 2019-20 to support local governments deliver local infrastructure, and provide relief from the drought and bushfires.
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THE BUDGET Why has the Government made the decision to delay the Federal Budget?
● On 20 March 2020, the National Cabinet agreed that Commonwealth and State Governments were not positioned to deliver Budgets in such uncertain times.
● The Federal Budget will be handed down on Tuesday, 6 October 2020, with an Economic Statement on 23 July 2020.
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
How is the Government supporting employers and employees to deal with the impacts of COVID-19?
● The Government encourages employees and employers to work together on sensible, pragmatic solutions. This might include agreeing on more flexible working arrangements (such as working from home), allowing employees to access paid or unpaid leave, directing employees to take leave where possible, or introducing stand-down arrangements (with or without pay) if circumstances allow.
● The Fair Work Ombudsman has guidance available on its website, www.fairwork.gov.au, outlining rights and obligations as a result of COVID-19, as well as answers concerning leave, self-isolating employees and when employees can be stood down without pay. The Ombudsman has also established a new priority COVID-19 hotline – 13 13 94 – for anyone wishing to discuss their rights and obligations.
● States and Territories continue to have primary responsibility for workplace health and safety regulation, with guidance (including in relation to COVID-19) provided by Safe Work Australia.
● The Government has established a consultation page on the Attorney-General’s Department website to allow employers, employees and their representatives to tell us about their COVID-19-related issues.
● The Government has convened industry roundtables recently to bring unions and employers together to discuss working together in the national interest. These discussions have led to joint applications to the Fair Work Commission by unions and employer groups to vary terms of modern awards on a temporary basis. The aim is greater flexibility for businesses to remain in business and people to keep their jobs.
○ The Government will continue to examine how redeployment of labour across the workforce and within businesses can meet the rapid changes in supply and demand brought on by COVID-19.
How is work health and safety being protected during the coronavirus pandemic?
● On 24 April, National Cabinet agreed to develop nationally-consistent, industry-specific work health and safety guidance on COVID-19, accessible via a central hub provided by Safe Work Australia.
● The guidance will be developed and endorsed through Safe Work Australia, working with its members (the Commonwealth, states and territories, employer groups and unions). It will be available on a revamped Safe Work Australia website.
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● Australian workplaces will be able to use this central hub of WHS guidance and tools to help manage health and safety risks posed by COVID-19.
● To support the development of nationally-consistent guidance, National Cabinet agreed to the ‘National COVID-19 Safe Workplace Principles’. The Principles are available here.
● A toolkit has been developed for businesses to help them be work-ready in a COVID-19 safe environment. More information is available here: https://www.pmc.gov.au/nccc/resources/planning-tool-help-businesses-reopen-and-be-covidsafe
● The National Cabinet has further agreed that COVID Safe Plans for workplaces and premises are essential to removing restrictions between steps.
What is the Government doing to support temporary visa holders?
● The Government is making changes to temporary visa holder arrangements during the coronavirus crisis in order to protect the health and livelihoods of Australians, support critical industries, and help with the rapid recovery.
● While citizens, permanent residents and many New Zealanders have access to unconditional work rights and government payments (including the new JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments), temporary visa holders do not.
● There has always been an expectation that temporary visa holders are able to support themselves while in Australia.
● In line with changes being made for Australian citizens and permanent residents, most temporary visa holders with work rights will now be able to access their Australian superannuation to help support themselves during this crisis.
● Temporary visa holders who are unable to support themselves under these arrangements over the next six months are strongly encouraged to return home.
● Changes are also geared towards enabling temporary visa holders to remain in key industries, such as health, aged and disability care, agriculture and food processing.
● The following new measures will apply to the major classes of temporary visa holders. The situation will be reviewed periodically and further changes made if required.
Visitor visa holders
● International tourists should return to their home country as quickly as possible, particularly those without family support.
International students
● Students are encouraged to rely on family support, part-time work where available and their own savings to sustain themselves in Australia. As part of their visa application, international students have had to demonstrate that they can support themselves completely in their first year.
● Students who have been here longer than 12 months who find themselves in financial hardship will be able to access their Australian superannuation.
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● The Government will engage further with the international education sector, which already provides some financial support for international students facing hardship.
● The Government will also be flexible in cases where coronavirus has prevented international students meeting their visa conditions (such as not being able to attend classes).
● International students are able to work up to 40 hours per fortnight.
● International students working in aged care and as nurses have had these hours extended to support these critical sectors.
● International students working in the major supermarkets have also had these hours extended to help get stock on shelves during the high demand.
● From 1 May, their hours will return to the maximum 40 hours a fortnight as more Australians are recruited.
New Zealanders on 444 visas
● New Zealanders and Australians have reciprocal arrangements to stay and work in each other’s countries.
● New Zealanders who are on 444 visas and arrived before 26 February 2001 will have access to welfare payments and the JobKeeper payment.
● 444 visa holders who arrived after 2001 have access to the JobKeeper payment. Those who have lived in Australia for 10 years or more have access to JobSeeker payments for six months.
● New Zealanders should consider returning to New Zealand if they are unable to support themselves through these provisions, work or family support.
Temporary Skilled visa holders
● Temporary Skilled visa holders who have been stood down, but not laid off, will maintain their visa validity and businesses will have the opportunity to extend their visa as per normal arrangements. Businesses will also be able to reduce the hours of the visa holder without the person being in breach of their visa condition.
● These visa holders will also be able to access up to $10,000 of their superannuation this financial year.
● Those visa holders who have been laid off due to coronavirus should leave the country in line with existing visa conditions if they are unable to secure a new sponsor. However, should a 4-year visa holder be re-employed after the coronavirus pandemic, their time already spent in Australia will count towards their permanent residency skilled work experience requirements.
Working holiday makers supporting critical sectors
● To support the critical sectors of health, aged and disability care, agriculture and food processing, and childcare, some limited flexibility will be provided to working holiday makers in these sectors.
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● In particular, they will be exempt from the six-month work limitation with the one employer, and eligible for a further visa to keep working in these critical sectors if their current visa is due to expire in the next six months.
● In general, working holiday makers who do not have the confidence to sustain themselves over the next six months should make arrangements to leave the country.
● There are 185,000 other temporary visa holders in Australia, about half of them temporary graduate visa holders. They will also be able to access their Australian superannuation if needed for support.
JOBSEEKERS AND GOVERNMENT ALLOWANCES
What is the Government doing to support job seekers?
● Mutual obligation requirements remain suspended until Monday 8 June 2020 to ensure job seekers and employment service providers are given time to prepare for the new arrangements.
● This follows decisions of National Cabinet to gradually remove COVID-19 restrictions and allow many businesses across the economy to reopen.
● From 9 June, mutual obligation requirements for job seekers will restart in a limited capacity. Job seekers will be required to undertake at least one appointment with their employment services provider, which can be done online or over the phone.
● This will give job seekers an opportunity to discuss potential upskilling, training or employment opportunities with their provider.
● During the initial period following the reintroduction of mutual obligations, suspensions and financial penalties will not apply to job seekers who do not meet this requirement.
● As the economy continues to reopen over coming months, mutual obligation requirements will increase.
● The Government strongly encourages job seekers to maintain contact with their employment services provider at this time to ensure they are aware of opportunities available for training, upskilling or employment.
● Details of further changes to mutual obligation requirements will be made available in coming weeks.
Income support partner pay income test
● From 30 March, the Government is temporarily relaxing the partner income test to ensure that an eligible person can receive the JobSeeker Payment, and associated Coronavirus Supplement, providing their partner earns less than $3,068 per fortnight (around $79,762 per annum).
● The personal income test for individuals on JobSeeker Payment will still apply.
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ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER AUSTRALIANS AND REMOTE COMMUNITIES What is the Government doing to protect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians from COVID-19?
● Travel restrictions across remote communities in the NT, WA, SA and Qld have been lifted.
● In March, the Government made the decision to restrict travel into remote communities under the Biosecurity Act 2015, to minimise the risk of the spread of COVID-19 following calls from many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and remote communities.
● Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are at greater risk from COVID-19. This is due to higher rates of other health issues in remote communities and more difficult access to health care. People in these communities are very mobile, travelling often.
● As part of our $2.4 billion health package to help fight COVID-19, we have announced $58 million to protect people living and working in remote locations, in particular Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
o This includes tools to proactively screen visitors and fly-in, fly-out workers, additional support to evacuate early cases if required, and mobile respiratory clinics to quickly respond to outbreaks.
● An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group has also been established, comprising leaders from the Aboriginal Community Controlled Sector, Aboriginal Health Services, state and territory public health and medical officials, Aboriginal communicable disease experts, the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association and representatives of the National Indigenous Australians Agency.
● The Group is developing a Management Plan to consider the practical and specific health, social and cultural needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, as well as focusing on current containment activities and preparations for mitigation and treatment phases.
● The Government of Papua New Guinea has announced a ban on traditional border crossings in the Torres Strait.
o Under the terms of the Torres Strait Treaty, either the Papua New Guinean or Australian Government can halt border crossings for traditional purposes on the grounds of disease outbreaks, resources, security or quarantine concerns.
o The Government of Papua New Guinea has not reported any confirmed COVID-19 cases.
o There are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Torres Strait.
AGED CARE How are we protecting aged care residents from COVID-19?
● Like the flu, COVID-19 particularly affects the elderly. ● As part of our $2.4 billion health package, we announced $100 million to protect
senior Australians.
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o Funding will be used to educate and train aged care workers in infection control, and enable aged care providers to hire extra nurses and aged care workers for residential and home care.
o Extra aged care staff will be available for deployment to facilities as needed, where an urgent health response is required and to provide extra support for staff and training.
o The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission will receive additional funding to work with providers on improving infection control.
● On 18 March 2020, we announced that the National Cabinet had agreed to the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee’s recommendations for enhanced arrangements to protect older Australians in residential aged care facilities and the broader community.
● We are relaxing international student nurse visa work conditions to provide workforce continuity for aged care facilities, home care providers and other health care workers.
● The Government is supporting the aged care workforce, with $444.6 million of funding, including:
o $234.9 million for a COVID-19 ‘retention bonus’– ensuring the continuity of the workforce for staff in residential and home care.
o $78.3 million in additional funding for residential care to support continuity of workforce supply.
o $26.9 million to supplement the viability of residential aged care facilities (including the National Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Program, the Multi-Purpose Services Program and homeless providers).
o $92.2 million in additional support to home care providers and organisations delivering the Commonwealth Home Support Program, including for services such as meals on wheels.
o An extra $12.3 million to support the myAgedcare service to respond to the needs of older Australians.
● The Government is strengthening the aged care workforce to ensure staffing gaps are filled. On 12 April, the Government announced new emergency contingency measures to ensure aged care recipients get the care they need during the COVID-19 pandemic, including:
○ 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.
○ 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.
● On 1 May, the Government announced an additional COVID-19-specific support package for residential aged care providers, totalling $205 million.
● The payment – to all Commonwealth-funded residential aged care providers – will be linked to the number of residents being cared for by each facility, and is aimed at covering the additional costs of caring for the health and wellbeing of residents during the pandemic.
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● These costs include additional staffing, training, supporting visits and connections and personal protective equipment.
● Facilities outside major metropolitan areas will receive a 50 per cent loading to cover the additional costs of providing care in those areas.
● Providers will receive around $900 per resident in major metropolitan areas and around $1350 per resident in all other areas.
● This announcement brings the total COVID-19-specific Federal Government funding for aged care to more than $850 million.
Industry Code for Aged Care Sector
● On 1 May, National Cabinet endorsed the draft Code of Conduct on Pandemic Procedures for residential aged care. The sector-led Code will encourage providers to act compassionately while balancing the challenges of COVID-19, taking into account the wishes of residents.
● This Code of Conduct will drive a more responsive and consistent approach to visitation and communication across residential aged care. It will empower residents and their families to speak up, and provide an agreed course of action to resolve complaints.
● The Code has been developed by, and agreed with, peak bodies representing the majority of aged care providers and consumers, including:
○ Council of the Ageing (COTA)
○ Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA)
○ Leading Age Services Australia (LASA)
○ The Aged Care Guild (The Guild)
○ National Seniors Australia (NSA)
○ Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN)
○ Dementia Australia (DA)
● The Code is available here. It is with individual providers and consumers for consultation until 7 May.
What are the restrictions on entry to aged care facilities? ● It is not acceptable, fair or compassionate for any residential aged care facilities to
ban visits from carers and families. ● National Cabinet has reconfirmed principles already decided to minimise the spread
of COVID-19 in aged care facilities.
● The following visitors and staff (including visiting workers) should not be permitted to enter an aged care facility:
o Those who have returned from overseas in the last 14 days. o Those who have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the
last 14 days.
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o Those with fever or symptoms of acute respiratory infection (e.g. cough, sore throat, runny nose, shortness of breath).
o Those who have not been vaccinated against influenza (after 1 May). ● Aged care facilities should implement the following measures for restricting visits and
visitors: o Limit visits to a short duration. o Limit visits to a maximum of two immediate social supports (family members,
close friends) or professional service or advocacy at one time, per day. o Visits should be conducted in a resident’s room, outdoors, or in a specific area
designated by the aged care facility, rather than communal areas where the risk of transmission to residents is greater.
o No large group visits or gatherings, including social activities or entertainment, should be permitted currently.
o No school groups of any size should be allowed to visit aged care facilities. o Visitors should be encouraged to practise social distancing where possible,
including maintaining a distance of 1.5m. o Children aged 16 years or under must be permitted only by exception, as they
are generally unable to comply with hygiene measures. Exemptions can be assessed on a case-by-case basis, for example where the resident is in palliative care.
o Residents should have access to phone or video calls to enable more regular communication with family members.
● 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.
● The Government will continue to monitor the situation and will take steps, if necessary, to require facilities to seek an exemption from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission before implementing additional restrictions.
● Family members who may be concerned about the care being provided to loved ones in residential aged care facilities are encouraged to contact the Commission.
Where can I go if I need more assistance?
● You can contact the Older Person’s Advocacy Network (OPAN) on 1800 700 600. If an issue has not been resolved you can escalate it to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission on 1800 951 822.
● As the situation is changing rapidly, you can stay up to date with the latest information about the spread of COVID-19 and the steps being taken to slow the spread by visiting the Department of Health’s website: www.health.gov.au
● We understand that this time is difficult for many. The COVID-19 support line has been established to support the mental health of Senior Australians, their families and carers. The COVID-19 Support line number is 1800 171 866.
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How can aged care facilities manage illness in visitors and staff? ● Aged care facilities should advise all regular visitors and staff to be vigilant for illness
and use hygiene measures including social distancing, and to monitor for symptoms of COVID-19, specifically fever and acute respiratory illness.
● Given the high vulnerability of the elderly, aged care facilities should request that staff and visitors provide details on their current health status, particularly presentation of symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Screening for fever could also be considered upon entry.
● These additional measures should be implemented in order to better protect residents and prompt individuals entering the aged care facility to consider their state of health beforehand. Both individuals and management need to take responsibility for the health of visitors and staff at facilities to protect our most vulnerable community members.
● Individual facilities may choose to implement additional measures as they see fit.
What measures should be taken for symptomatic staff? ● Staff should be made aware of early signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Any staff with
fever or symptoms of acute respiratory infection (e.g. cough, sore throat, runny nose, shortness of breath) should be excluded from the workplace and tested for COVID-19. Staff must report their symptoms to the aged care facility.
How will the Government relax international student nurse visa work conditions? ● The Government will relax international student nurse visa work conditions to provide
workforce continuity for aged care facilities, home care providers and other health care workers.
● This will allow international student nurses and other aged care workers to work more than the 40 hours a fortnight that they are permitted currently.
● This measure will be examined on an ongoing basis. ● There are currently around 900 approved providers of residential aged care and
about 1,000 approved providers of Home Care Packages. Around 20,000 international student nurses are studying in Australia.
LAWS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT Can the Government restrict the movement of people to contain the spread of COVID-19?
● Under the Biosecurity Act 2015, the Commonwealth has powers to manage risks to public health in relation to listed human diseases, which includes COVID-19. This is mainly through the use of ‘human biosecurity control orders’.
o These powers complement a range of powers in state and territory legislation. ● A biosecurity officer may issue a control order if they are satisfied a person is
showing symptoms of, or has been exposed to, a listed human disease (such as COVID-19). These orders can include a requirement to undergo a medical examination or remain isolated in a medical facility.
● If a person fails to comply with an order, they can be detained by police. ● It is an offence to disobey a human biosecurity control order (punishable by up to 5
years jail).
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● In an extreme scenario, the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer may also declare a ‘human health response zone’ for an area or region (e.g. a building or town), with entry and exit restrictions to contain a biosecurity threat.
What is involved in a Human Biosecurity Emergency? ● On 18 March, the Governor-General considered the risks of COVID-19 in accepting
the Commonwealth Government’s recommendation that he declare a “human biosecurity emergency” under the Biosecurity Act 2015.
● The National Cabinet noted that the commonwealth, states and territories were implementing emergency powers under respective legislation to deal with the spread of COVID-19 as quickly and flexibly as possible.
● The declaration – recommended by the Chief Medical Officer in his capacity as Director of Human Biosecurity – will allow the Health Minister to issue targeted, legally enforceable directions and requirements to combat the virus.
● The first emergency requirement under the declaration was to formally prohibit international cruise ships from entering Australian ports for an initial 30 days.
● The human biosecurity emergency period will run until 17 September 2020.
EDUCATION SECTOR When will schools reopen?
● The AHPPC advice is that, on current evidence, schools can remain fully open. All schools across Australia have reopened.
● AHPPC does not believe that it is appropriate or practical to apply the ‘venue density rule’ of no more than one person per four square metres in classrooms or corridors, or maintain 1.5 metres between students during classroom activities.
● The latest AHPPC advice, considered by National Cabinet on 24 April, is available here.
● National Cabinet has also agreed to a series of National Principles for School Education, as follows:
1. Our schools are critical to the delivery of high quality education for students and to give our children the best possible start in life. Our education systems are based on the recognition that education is best delivered by professional teachers to students in the classroom on a school campus.
2. It is accepted that during the COVID-19 crisis, alternative flexible, remote delivery of education services may be needed
3. Our schools must be healthy and safe environments for students, teachers and other staff to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of education to students.
4. State and territory governments and non-government sector authorities are responsible for managing and making operational decisions for their school systems respectively, subject to compliance with relevant funding agreements with the Commonwealth.
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5. Decisions regarding the response to COVID-19 in the schooling sector must continue to be informed by expert, official, national- and state-based public health and education advice, consistent with these national principles.
6. All students must continue to be supported by their school to ensure participation in quality education during the COVID-19 crisis.
7. The health advice consistently provided by the AHPPC is that attendance at a school campus for education represents a very low health risk to students. The advice also notes that appropriate practices must be employed at schools, like at other workplaces, to provide a safe working environment for school staff, including teachers, and that the specific AHPPC advice regarding school campuses should be followed.
Is the Government changing funding arrangements to non-government schools?
● The Federal Government’s approach has been consistent – we will follow the expert medical advice from the AHPPC, which has repeatedly stated that schools can remain fully open.
● Getting children back to school – including senior secondary students and other students at critical transition points in their education – is a high priority for all governments.
● On 28 April, Minister for Education Dan Tehan sent a letter to the Independent Schools Council of Australia and National Catholic Education Commission offering non-government schools the option to apply for early payments of their July 2020 recurrent funding.
● Approved authorities will be able to access up to 25 per cent of their total annual recurrent funding early, which will be paid in two separate schedules in late May and early June.
● Non-government schools had requested an early payment to help them with cash flow.
● This early payment option will financially assist non-government schools in their response to COVID-19, and encourage the re-engagement of students within a classroom setting.
● To be eligible for the first payment of 12.5 per cent, non-government schools must be open for on-site learning in term 2 and have a plan to fully re-open classroom teaching by 1 June 2020.
● To be eligible for the second payment of 12.5 per cent, the approved authority will need to commit to achieving 50 per cent of their students attending classroom-based learning by 1 June 2020.
● Responses are due 1 May, so payments can be made to state and territory treasuries on 21 May and 9 June.
● The Federal Government is not withholding any funding, or providing new or extra funding. It is simply offering schools the option of an early payment of their existing funding.
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What considerations are being made for boarding schools?
● On 18 June, the AHPPC published a statement on how boarding schools can operate and manage risk
● More information is available here: https://www.health.gov.au/news/australian-health-protection-principal-committee-statement-on-risk-management-for-boarding-schools-and-school-based-residential-colleges
How is the Government ensuring child care is available to families with parents at work?
● Our Relief Package was designed at a point in time when parents were withdrawing their children from child care in large numbers due to health fears.
● Child care centres were telling us they were on the brink of collapse, with a large majority of the sector operating on a significant drop in attendance.
● Our rescue package funded child care centres at 50% of their revenue (as at the last two weeks of February), regardless of how many children attended the service.
● Providers can also apply to receive a Supplementary Payment for any exceptional circumstances, including an increasing number of children.
● We designed the relief package because we knew parents would need a functioning child care sector on the other side of the crisis.
● It worked. 99% of child care providers are still operating (as at end of May).
● Now that child care attendance has lifted to around 74%, we will implement transition arrangements from 13 July.
● Our three month transition package will provide $708 million in Transition Payments, freeze fees and guarantee employment levels.
● The JobKeeper legislation is in place until the end of September, but where there is a better way to do things, we won't step aside from doing them in a better way.
● This is in addition to the $2 billion in Child Care Subsidy that will go to eligible families again from 13 July.
● Under our child care package, those who earn the least receive the highest level of subsidy.
● The Child Care Package includes a generous Safety Net with higher subsidies for families transitioning to work (for example, families on JobSeeker).
What do I do if I have already removed my child from child care?
● If you have terminated your child’s enrolment since 17 February, you are able to utilise this scheme.
● You are encouraged to contact your centre and re-start arrangements.
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● Re-starting your enrolment will not require you to send your child to child care, or pay a gap fee.
● Re-starting your enrolment will hold your place until things start to normalise and you are ready to return your child to their centre.
What is the health advice on child care and early learning centres? ● On child care centres, the AHPPC has advised that “pre-emptive closures are not
proportionate or effective as a public health intervention to prevent community transmission of COVID-19 at this time”. AHPPC also provided a series of risk mitigation measures for early learning and child care, including:
o Exclusion of unwell staff, children and visitors. o Reducing mixing of children by separating cohorts (including the staggering of
meal and play times). o Enhanced personal hygiene for children, staff and parents. o Full adherence to the NHMRC childcare cleaning guidelines. o Excursions other than to local parks should be discouraged. o Influenza vaccination for children, staff and parents.
● AHPPC also noted that “there may need to be consideration of alternative arrangements for highly vulnerable children” and recommended “these parents seek medical advice.”
● AHPPC advice is that based on medical advice and consistent with the schools approach of observing 1.5m social distancing and 1 person per 4sqm does not apply to childcare
How is the Government supporting higher education? ● On 12 April, the Government announced a Higher Education Relief Package to
support the sector and encourage reskilling in national priority areas, such as nursing, teaching, health, IT and science.
● Under this package, the cost to study short, online courses from universities and private providers will be slashed to help Australians retrain. The courses will start at the beginning of May and initially run for six months.
● The Government will also guarantee funding for universities at current levels, even if there is a fall in domestic student numbers, and provide greater flexibility in the use of these funds than ever before.
● Tertiary and international education providers will get regulatory fee relief so they can better support domestic and international students.
● The Government will also enable fee relief through the waiving of fees charged by the Australian Skills Quality Authority and the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency.
● These measures will put about $100 million back into the cash flow of Australian education and training businesses, which can be used to retain employees, reshape education offerings and support domestic and international students.
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How is the Government supporting Australian students? ● The Government is working with the states and territories to limit the impacts of
coronavirus in early childhood and care settings, and on school and university students and VET providers.
● A working group of education officials from the Commonwealth, states and territories, along with education industry stakeholders, has been established to support the National Coordination Mechanism (NCM). The working group is focused on pandemic preparedness in the education sector.
● All members have agreed that strong communication across jurisdictions and within sectors will be necessary and have committed to ongoing collaboration.
● Parents seeking the latest health advice should call the 24/7 National Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080. Those needing translation or interpreting services should call 131 450.
● Child care centres, schools and tertiary institutions should contact their state and territory health authorities in the first instance. Health authorities will be responsible for determining local responses, including operational issues such as facilities closing.
● On 14 May, the Government announced an additional $10 million to improve COVID-19 hygiene measures in non-government schools that plan to have 50 per cent of their students back in the classroom by June 1.
When will international students be able to return?
● On 12 June, National Cabinet agreed to work closely and carefully to return international students on a small, phased scale through a series of controlled pilots.
● This planning process will take time and requires well thought through plans from state and territory governments.
● Preconditions will include the reopening of internal state and territory borders, as well as the return to on-campus learning for the benefit of domestic students and the international students who are already in Australia.
What is the Government doing to limit the impacts on the education sector? ● The Government continues to work with education providers to minimise impacts on
the sector and disruption to international students affected by travel restrictions. o Education regulators, the Australian Skills Quality Authority and the Tertiary
Education Quality and Standards Agency have agreed to allow international students increased access to online and offshore delivery of Australian education services.
● The Global Reputation Taskforce of the Council for International Education, established in response to the bushfire crisis, has been expanded to include the challenges of COVID-19.
o The Taskforce comprises senior representatives from sector bodies and all states and territories.
● The Department of Education, Skills and Employment continues to distribute updated advice for students, parents and educators across all sectors based on the latest medical advice.
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o Dedicated email and hotline – [email protected] or 1300 981 621 (9am to 5pm AEDST Monday to Friday).
o The Study in Australia website – www.studyinaustralia.gov.au
TOURISM AND TRADE
What is the Government doing to reduce the impact on the tourism sector?
● The need to restrict inbound international travel and limit domestic travel have inevitably had a serious impact on the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors.
● As part of the economic plan, the Government is providing $1 billion to support sectors, regions and communities that are being disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, including those heavily reliant on industries such as tourism, agriculture and education.
● This $1 billion support includes:
o Waiving fees and charges for tourism businesses that operate in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Commonwealth National Parks.
o Providing additional assistance to help businesses identify alternative export markets or supply chains.
o Targeted measures to further promote domestic tourism when it is appropriate to do so.
● State border restrictions are having a significant impact on domestic travel and tourism. These are matters for individual state and territory governments. The AHPPC has not recommended state border closures.
How is the Government providing assistance to exporters?
● On 15 April, the Government announced a new credit facility to help struggling exporters, particularly small and medium enterprises, access crucial finance to help them keep operating and reduce job losses.
● The new $500 million COVID-19 Export Capital Facility will help previously profitable Australian exporters who have been severely impacted by coronavirus.
● Exporters will be able to access loans from $250,000 to $50 million under the new Facility. It will complement other measures announced to enable banks to support new and existing clients.
● While many businesses have successfully negotiated new credit from commercial outlets, industry feedback reveals some exporters are struggling to secure finance. The Facility could provide the financing they need to continue operating and exporting their goods and services.
● The Facility will be administered by Export Finance Australia, the Government’s export credit agency. It provides financial expertise and solutions to Australian exporters. For more information, visit www.exportfinance.gov.au/covid19/
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AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY
What is the Government doing to reduce the impact on the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors?
● Agriculture, fisheries, forestry and fibre production and supply chain facilities are continuing through the current crisis.
● However, the operating environment will remain challenging as measures taken by all Australian governments take effect.
● Minister Littleproud is in constant dialogue with farming groups, the states and territories and supermarkets to make sure there’s food on the table for all Australians.
● The Government is providing $1 billion to support sectors, regions and communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, including people and businesses heavily reliant on industries such as tourism, agriculture and education.
● Agriculture, fisheries and forestry businesses will get a boost from the extra support, helping to cushion the economic impact and build a bridge to recovery.
○ The Government will provide up to $100,000 to eligible small- and medium- sized businesses and not-for-profits that employ people, so they can keep operating, pay their bills and retain staff. Employers will receive a payment equal to 100 per cent of their salary and wages withheld, over two payments of between $10,000 and $50,000. These payments will happen automatically across this and the next financial quarters with no new forms required.
○ Agriculture sector businesses are also expected to benefit from the increased instant asset write-off threshold as they continue to provide the food and fibre Australians rely on. The Government is increasing the threshold from $30,000 to $150,000 on a per-asset basis, and expanding access to include businesses with aggregated annual turnover of less than $500 million (up from $50 million) until 30 June 2020. This can help businesses replace older assets with more productive, energy-efficient and safer equipment.
○ The second stimulus package will also decrease taxes for businesses by accelerating depreciation deductions. Businesses with a turnover of less than $500 million will be able to deduct 50 per cent of the cost of an eligible asset on installation, with existing depreciation rules applying to the balance of the asset’s cost.
○ The COVID-19 payment supplement of an extra $550 per fortnight extends to those farmers already experiencing hardship and receiving the Farm Household Allowance.
● Those state and territory governments which have imposed border controls have recognised the importance of maintaining supply chains, and have exempted the provision of transport or freight and logistics from the 14-day interstate self-isolation requirements, subject to certain conditions. Contact your state or territory government for more information.
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What changes are being made to support the agricultural workforce?
● The Government announced a number of visa changes on 4 April 2020 including key changes to agricultural visas:
○ Seasonal Workers, Pacific workers and other overseas workers (Working Holiday Makers) will be able to continue to work in agriculture and food processing, and will have the ability to seek an extension of up to 12 months on their visas.
○ Conditions on Working Holiday Makers will also be relaxed to allow them to work for the same agricultural employer for longer than 6 months.
● The visa extension involves requirements to ensure overseas workers moving to regional areas do not impact the health of regional communities.
○ Before moving to other parts of the country visa holders will be required to self-isolate for 14 days and register at the australia.gov.au website.
○ If overseas workers fail to comply with these requirements or broader social distancing requirements they will face visa cancellation.
● The National Farmers’ Federation also has developed guidelines for farm businesses on managing farm workers, including appropriate accommodation arrangements. These guidelines do not replace state and territory requirements.
● It is important to note that there will still be variations in what different states may require.
● On 9 April, 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.
How are agricultural, fishery and forestry industries being engaged?
● On 23 March 2020, Mr Mark Tucker was appointed as the Senior Agriculture Industry Engagement Officer, focusing on coronavirus impacts and recovery.
● Mr Tucker will be the key liaison point for agriculture, fisheries and forestry stakeholders affected by COVID-19, and will work closely with the Coronavirus Business Liaison Unit, the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission, Australian Government departments and state and territory governments to ensure agriculture industry perspectives inform our decision-making. Mr Tucker can be contacted at [email protected].
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● Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud is meeting regularly with Agriculture Ministers and key stakeholders across the country to manage the impact of measures implemented to address COVID-19.
What is the Government doing to support agricultural exporters?
● On 3 April, the Government announced a $170 million exporter support package to back Australia’s agricultural, fisheries and tourism exporters.
● Getting our export sector back on its feet is crucial to reducing job losses through the crisis and a critical part of the ultimate economic recovery.
● This package includes:
○ $110 million International Freight Mechanism to help get high-quality produce into key overseas markets through freight flights, with return flights to bring back vital medical supplies, medicines and equipment. Exporters looking to participate are asked to visit: https://haveyoursay.agriculture.gov.au/international-freight-assistance or call (02) 6272 2444.
○ Injecting an extra $49.8 million into the Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) program in the 2019-20 financial year for exporters and tourism businesses to get additional cost reimbursements from marketing their products and services around the world.
○ Around $10 million in Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) levies will be waived for all Commonwealth fishers, ensuring they do not have to pay Commonwealth levies for the rest of 2020.
● This package is part of the Government’s $1 billion Relief and Recovery Fund to support regions, communities and industry sectors that have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
DEFENCE & ADF CONTRIBUTION ● Defence has established a COVID-19 taskforce led by Lieutenant General John
Frewen DSC AM. The taskforce is coordinating Defence’s contributions to support whole-of-government action to address the impacts of COVID-19.
● Defence has provided a range of logistical and personnel support including: o Supporting repatriations to Christmas Island and Howard Springs via RAAF
bases Learmonth and Darwin. o Providing health, logistics and movements support to the Department of
Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australian Border Force repatriation and care of Australian nationals.
o Supporting the Emergency Management Australia-led Whole-of-Government planning for the National Communicable Disease Incidence of National Significance Plan in response to COVID-19.
o Supporting the Department of Health with logistics and by providing specialist staff.
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● Defence is also developing options to provide ongoing support to Commonwealth and other state/territory agencies to work in step with priorities set by the National Coordination Mechanism.
OTHER ISSUES Temporary changes to the foreign investment review framework
● On 29 March 2020, the Treasurer announced temporary changes to the foreign investment review framework. These are designed to protect Australia’s national interest as we deal with the economic implications of COVID-19.
● Effective from the date of announcement, all proposed foreign investments in Australia will require approval, regardless of value or the nature of the foreign investor.
● This is not an investment freeze. Australia is open for business and recognises investment at this time can be beneficial if in the national interest.
● The temporary change will be achieved by reducing to $0 the monetary screening thresholds for all foreign investments under the Act.
● By temporarily reducing the foreign investment thresholds, the Government will ensure appropriate oversight of all proposed foreign investment during this time.
● To ensure sufficient time for screening applications, the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) will be working with existing and new applicants to extend timeframes for reviewing applications – from 30 days to up to six months.
● These are temporary measures that will remain in place for the length of the crisis. ● The Treasurer will continue to review foreign investment proposals against the
national interest on a case-by-case basis. Where appropriate, conditions will be applied to address identified risks on a non-discriminatory basis.
Permanent reforms
On 5 June 2020 the Government announced a number of permanent reforms to Australia’s foreign investment review framework to become effective on 1 January 2021.
● The reformed foreign investment review framework will include:
o a new national security test and new national security powers for the Treasurer;
o strengthened compliance measures; and
o streamlined investment in non-sensitive businesses and a simpler, fairer fee structure for all foreign investors.
● The reforms will ensure Australia’s foreign investment review framework continues to balance:
o maintaining Australia as an attractive place for foreign investment, with a framework that promotes business certainty and delivers timely decisions;
o maintaining public confidence in the integrity of the framework, including compliance; and
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o protecting Australia’s national interest and national security.
● The Government will consult on the design of these new measures ahead of introducing legislation to Parliament later in 2020.
Recommendation on bulk purchase of supplies ● The National Cabinet has strongly endorsed the Australian Health Protection
Principal Committee advice against the bulk purchase of foods, medicines and other goods.
● We strongly discourage the panic purchase of food and other supplies. ● Some advice has been provided to have a small addition of long shelf life products in
case of illness. A range of mechanisms is in place to support people in self-isolation, including food and other deliveries.
Action to prevent price gouging and exportation of critical sanitary and medical products
● The Government will take action to help prevent exploitative price gouging, and the export of products essential to preventing and controlling the spread of COVID-19.
● These measures will help stop people buying goods including face masks, hand sanitiser and vital medicines and either re-selling them at significant mark-ups or exporting them overseas in bulk, removing them from the reach of Australians who need them.
● This action will not affect normal consumer buying of goods, commercial imports and exports, or other appropriate bulk sales.
● The ACCC has set up a team to investigate businesses profiteering from shortages, scamming consumers or refusing to give refunds.
● If consumers are concerned about price gouging, they should contact the ACCC on 1300 305 502 or visit www.accc.gov.au.
● They may also contact their state or territory Department of Fair Trading.
● On 1 April, the Government implemented measures to stop exploitative exports of essential goods.
● The Minister for Health has now made a determination under the Biosecurity Act 2015 to enable the Australian Border Force to require that goods already in their custody be surrendered for provision to the National Medical Stockpile, or destroyed if the goods are defective.
● This applies to essential goods currently in the custody of the Australian Border Force, and which were attempted to be exported between 30 January and 29 March 2020 as the COVID-19 crisis was unfolding. It does not apply to exports by legitimate businesses or humanitarian organisations.
● As a further step to address exploitative practices, the Health Minister is stopping people who have purchased essential goods from reselling them at extortionate prices.
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● The Health Minister’s requirement prevents anybody who has bought essential retail goods on or after 30 January 2020, and for the length of the human biosecurity emergency period, from selling or offering to sell these goods at more than 120 per cent of the price paid.
● Where people have been found to be ‘price gouging’, they must surrender the essential goods to the Australian Federal Police for provision to the National Medical Stockpile. If defective, the goods will be destroyed.
● These measures will not apply to manufacturers or legitimate business activities, protecting key suppliers vital to maintaining Australia’s supply chains.
Legal Assistance Sector
● On 5 May, National Cabinet discussed the importance of ensuring access to legal support for those Australians who need it during this time.
● The Government announced an additional $63.3 million for the legal assistance sector, including
○ $49.8 million for extra frontline legal services, such as legal advice or representation, and with 40 per cent to be used for matters involving domestic violence.
○ $13.5 million for IT costs to support the sector’s transition to delivering assistance virtually and online.