10 SEPT WA
WA nurses in Victoria spared two stints in isolation
WA's coronavirus residential rent laws extended until March to stop increases and some evictions
10 SEPT FEDERAL
Virgin Australia scraps numerous regional routes
Woolworths boss warns of potential stock shortages during Christmas
<< We start getting fresh seafood (prawns, crabs, barra and snapper fillets in to portion and freeze usually in November - will move this forward to October this year to be sure we can get our seafood goodies in for the festive season , even If we are unsure if we'll have family visiting this or if we'll still be self isolating at Xmas & NY & AusDay this year.
Similarly we get our leg of ham in usually at start of December, will take our chances as it's nicer fresh than frozen then thawed.
Turkey , will get a thigh and a breast roll in November and keep in the freezer.
If we can't get a Ham , might get a roast leg of lamb and a pork roast ( I do super crackling !! ).
Drinks - will order in a month early.
Chips , lollies and Xmas nibbles in November rather than waiting til early December.
All our Xmas stuff will be bought online and delivered this year.>>
TRAVELLING SIDE SHOW ALLEYS ARE DOING IT TOUGH
Show rides sit idle as coronavirus pandemic stalls travel and rural shows cancelled
BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY
How error in numbers used to justify COVID-19 shutdown went unnoticed
DIRE PROVERTY PREDICTIONS
‘Distress and fear’: poverty looms for a million Australian children once coronavirus supplement slashed
WA nurses in Victoria spared two stints in isolation
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/wa-nurses-in-victoria-spared-two-stints-in-isolation/vi-BB18SoYN?ocid=msedgdhpA West Australian nurse who contracted COVID-19 while volunteering in Victoria, as well as her WA colleagues who are close contacts, will be spared from hotel quarantine in Perth after they complete two weeks of isolation in Melbourne.
WA's coronavirus residential rent laws extended until March to stop increases and some evictions
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/wa-s-coronavirus-residential-rent-laws-extended-until-march-to-stop-increases-and-some-evictions/ar-BB18SLnE?ocid=msedgdhpWestern Australia's emergency residential rent laws have been extended for another six months, barring rent increases and some evictions amid the ongoing economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The McGowan Government's moratorium was due to come to an end this month, but has been extended to March 28 next year to help "preserve stability and certainty in the rental market".
The measure is aimed at stopping renters in private and public housing, as well as tenants in residential long-stay parks and boarders and lodgers, from being dumped into the rental market.
"For residential tenancies, low vacancy rates for residential rental properties have and will continue to place upward pressure on rents," WA's Attorney-General John Quigley said.
"Western Australia is entering a period of economic recovery, albeit with the ever present threat of a second wave of infection.
"Those who have been able to return to work are only just starting to recover and adding significant potential rental housing affordability and availability issues to their worries at this time would be an awful proposition."
The moratorium also stops landlords from evicting tenants for not paying rent, if they are suffering financial hardship due to the pandemic.
But Mr Quigley said landlords maintained the right to terminate a lease if the tenant was not facing COVID-19 financial hardship.
"I want to stress, tenants who are not in COVID financial hardship must still pay their rent, otherwise they face the prospect of eviction."
Those same allowances for commercial tenants will also be extended, but the State Government is tweaking the rules around who is eligible to include only those who meet hardship thresholds, consistent with the JobKeeper payment tests.
Under the commercial measures, landlords must offer rent relief to businesses suffering a 30 per cent reduction in turnover.
Up to four weeks of Government-funded rent relief for those who can prove COVID-19 hardship will also continue.
The changes will be made through regulations being drafted.
Unnecessary protection, REIWA says
Real Estate Institute of WA (REIWA) president Damian Collins said he was incredibly frustrated by the decision, saying the Government needed to be "taught an economic lesson".
"The worst thing you can do when you have a shortage of rental stock is to dissuade investors from coming back in the market," he said.
He said REIWA estimated only two per cent of tenants were still impacted by COVID-19.
"We're putting in legislation extending a period for the other 98 per cent who don't need that protection," he said.
"Unfortunately, we're going to see investors sit on the sideline … the rental shortage is only going to get worse and the only party to blame for this will be the Government."
The Property Council said it was surprised by the six-month extension given the WA economy was "recovering so well".
"We're continuing to hear stories of retailers that are trading better than last year," Property Council executive director Sandra Brewer said.
"We think it was an extraordinary measure to require property owners to pay their rent of their tenants, and the case for that just isn't here in WA right now.
"So unless the Government is able to provide support for those landlords, we're quite concerned for the financial predicament they're in."
Rental advocates pleased with extension
Tenancy WA executive manager Carmen Acosta said the service had been bracing for an inundation of people facing evictions if the moratorium had ended on September 29 as planned.
"From April 1, 90 per cent of the callers to Tenancy WA have been COVID-related," she said.
"[They are saying] 'I am concerned, I have lost my job, I can't pay my rent, I have tried to negotiate — that's not working, I am worried that my tenancy agreement is coming to an end.'
"This is something that the sector has been advocating for so we are absolutely pleased the Government has listened to us.
"There is no question that we have been blessed here in WA, but we also know the immediate impact that has occurred in Victoria and New South Wales — that is the sort of thing that can happen in WA at any point in time.
"And we cannot deny the unemployment rate and how it has significantly increased over the last three months, so those are the things that I would caution the likes of REIWA to really be looking at."
10 SEPT FEDERAL
Virgin Australia scraps numerous regional routes
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/virgin-australia-scraps-numerous-regional-routes/ar-BB18SmJC?ocid=msedgdhpVirgin Australia will scrap several regional routes as part of its post-coronavirus restructure.
The airline will stop offering flights from Sydney to Albury, Uluru, Hervey Bay and Port Macquarie.
Other regional destinations to be phased out include Melbourne to Mildura and Mount Isa.
Airline bosses said the routes were not commercially viable with anticipated demand.
Woolworths boss warns of potential stock shortages during Christmas
https://www.msn.com/en-au/money/company-news/woolworths-boss-warns-of-potential-stock-shortages-during-christmas/ar-BB18T0tW?ocid=msedgdhpThe head of supermarket giant Woolworths Brad Banducci warned the Victorian government its stores in the state could suffer stock shortages of certain products in the lead up to Christmas if government restrictions that have crippled its supply chain are not eased.
Mr Banducci also expressed concens that potential shortages on shelves of key goods could prompt shoppers to move between stores looking for the items they need, running contrary to the Andrews' government's goal of limiting travel due to COVID-19.
Mr Banducci issued the warning in an industry roundtable with the Andrews government hosted by the Business Council of Australia on Wednesday night.
The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald have been told by multiple sources that Mr Banducci warned the government if supply chains were not operating at 100 per cent capacity over the coming months, individual stores could start to see stock shortages across certain products, similar to what was experienced in March and April.
This could lead to broader shortages across the Victorian network as customers shop around to find what they need.
Supermarkets are currently running at reduced capacity in their distribution centres and warehouses due to the Victorian government's restrictions on supply chain operations which required businesses to drop staff by a third.
The industry secured some concessions from the government after they warned the restrictions could cause food shortages across the state, however, the retailers are now concerned on how the strained supply chains will cope with the Christmas rush.
Fred Harrison, who operates 50 independent IGA supermarkets in Victoria, said supply chains were currently "fraying at the edges" and voiced similar concerns to Mr Banducci.
"We're starting to see warehouses not keeping up with stock requirements," he said. "It is right on maximum, so any extra volume, which you normally get in the spring and summer, that's the problem."
"We're going to struggle for Christmas hams this year."
Mr Harrison said independent wholesaler Metcash, which supplies IGA stores, had raised similar concerns.
In a statement, Mr Banducci said Woolworths recognised Victoria was facing a "unique challenge" and was working with the government to reduce movement around the community to prevent the spread of the virus.
"As part of this, we've shared data-driven insights on anticipated shopping behaviour in the lead up to the busy Christmas season to help inform policy-making as it relates to our supply chains," he said.
"We remain committed to working closely with the Government to help reduce community movement wherever possible, while also ensuring Victorians have access to their essential needs in a COVIDSafe environment this Christmas."
Major supermarkets, including Coles, Woolworths and Aldi, were recently granted approval from the competition regulator to work together on issues such as food supply until March next year.
<< We start getting fresh seafood (prawns, crabs, barra and snapper fillets in to portion and freeze usually in November - will move this forward to October this year to be sure we can get our seafood goodies in for the festive season , even If we are unsure if we'll have family visiting this or if we'll still be self isolating at Xmas & NY & AusDay this year.
Similarly we get our leg of ham in usually at start of December, will take our chances as it's nicer fresh than frozen then thawed.
Turkey , will get a thigh and a breast roll in November and keep in the freezer.
If we can't get a Ham , might get a roast leg of lamb and a pork roast ( I do super crackling !! ).
Drinks - will order in a month early.
Chips , lollies and Xmas nibbles in November rather than waiting til early December.
All our Xmas stuff will be bought online and delivered this year.>>
TRAVELLING SIDE SHOW ALLEYS ARE DOING IT TOUGH
Show rides sit idle as coronavirus pandemic stalls travel and rural shows cancelled
https://www.msn.com/en-au/money/markets/show-rides-sit-idle-as-coronavirus-pandemic-stalls-travel-and-rural-shows-cancelled/ar-BB18SuaR?ocid=msedgdhpWith the pandemic forcing the cancellation of many regional shows, travelling amusement ride operators and food van vendors are parked up with nowhere to go.
Steven Karaitiana has lived a career following in the footsteps of his showman grandfather who once spruiked show attractions while travelling across Australia.
But since the pandemic hit, Mr Karaitiana's amusement rides and food trucks have been gathering dust in storage.
The 58-year-old regional Showmen's Guild of Australasia representative said if the stalling persisted he feared the carnival atmosphere of sideshow alley would fade into the past.
"This [pandemic] has really got us on our knees at the moment," Mr Karaitiana said.
"This is a like a slow death."
During a normal year, Mr Karaitiana would have returned from events in the Northern Territory and started touring rural shows throughout central New South Wales.
But dozens of travelling show families like his are sitting idle throughout the region, eagerly awaiting borders to open and events to resume.
Mr Karaitiana said many of them were under financial strain despite having access to government wage subsidies.
"There's a lot of equipment under finance," he said.
"Some of them have had that three months' grace to hold their payments and that's ended.
"We're all worried about our future."
Border closures troubling
Fellow travelling showman Anthony Laurie, from Dubbo, is staying in Forbes until he could get back on the road with his family and amusement rides in tow.
But the third-generation showman and father of four children said state border closures were also hindering the travel of equipment safety inspectors.
"The inspector I usually use is located in Brisbane, so he can get down here but he can't go back otherwise he has to quarantine," Mr Laurie said.
"I'd probably have to pay for it. It just wouldn't be viable."
He said the cost of vehicle registrations, maintenance and insurance would be difficult for many operators to meet once events resume.
Mr Laurie wanted governments to reassess heavy vehicle registration fees for his industry.
"I'd probably be lucky to do 15,000 kilometres a year but in saying that we're paying the same registration as an interstate truck driver who does that in probably two weeks," he said.
"It's going to be a very costly operation to get moving again."
Financial help needed
Mr Karaitiana said the drought and recent bushfires also had an adverse impact on regional show societies and travelling show operators.
But he said current problems paled in comparison to what his showman grandfather, Roy Bell, survived.
"My grandfather went through the Great Depression and Second World War with absolutely no work at all," he said.
Mr Karaitiana was optimistic the industry would bounce back but was calling on governments for assistance to get operators back on the road.
"The economics, whatever happens in regional Australia, that plays a huge part on our existence," he said.
"We need help."
BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY
How error in numbers used to justify COVID-19 shutdown went unnoticed
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/how-error-in-numbers-used-to-justify-covid-19-shutdown-went-unnoticed/ar-BB18RPWt?ocid=msedgdhpAustralia was plunged into strict lockdown at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic based on incorrect figures and a massive over-estimation of how many patients would require ICU treatment.
Research by The Peter Doherty Institute had estimated a peak daily demand of 35,000 intensive care beds would be required in the scenario of an uncontrolled outbreak in Australia.
But the modelling had confused ICU admissions with the number of people who would need to be taken to hospital during the pandemic.
As a result, New South Wales hospitals were predicted to be hit with 12,000 ICU patients rather than the 3,000 admissions the modelling had meant to show.
The data was used by the federal government to justify nationwide business shutdowns, border closures and social distancing restrictions when the virus took hold in Australia in March.
<< We all saw what was happening in NY , Italy , Spain, UK , France in March and April, and the CMO can be forgiven for taking tough decisions what likely saved Australia from similar pandemic case loads and death rates.>>
Then-Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said at the time the figures forecast an 'horrendous scenario' with a 'daily demand for new intensive care beds of 35,000-plus'.
He said such a demand would be 'completely beyond the realm of any country to create'.
The Doherty Institute's Professor Jodie McVernon said the modelling mistake - which was published in April - was noticed in June and the government was notified, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Disease modelling experts at James Cook University in Queensland noticed the error when they discovered a large discrepancy in predicted ICU admissions between different parts of Australia.
James Cook University infectious diseases physician Emma McBryde claimed her researchers had told the Doherty Institute of the mistake and the organisation said the error would be corrected.
DOHERTY INSTITUTE'S STATEMENT ON COVID-19 ICU DATA ERROR
An error in the graphical representations of modelling conducted by the Doherty Institute utilised by the Commonwealth Government in the public health response to COVID-19 was noticed in June,' University of Melbourne professor and Director of Doherty Epidemiology Jodie McVernon said.
'The conclusions of the model regarding response strategies needed to ensure ICU capacity requirements were not exceeded, were accurate and didn’t affect its implications for policy.
'This error resulted from a single line in the code used to plot a graph, meaning that it showed the number of hospitalisations rather than the number of ICU bed admissions.'
'We informed the Commonwealth Government at the time this error was realised having cross-checked and confirmed that it only referred to two visual outputs.
'A more detailed description of the modelling with the corrected graphical representations was submitted for peer review to the Emerging Infectious Diseases journal and was accepted for publication on August 30 2020.'
But she claimed no revision had been made three months later.
'Leaving something inaccurate uncorrected on the public record is pretty close to research misconduct,' she said.
'I strongly believe we locked down too hard.'
The revelation comes as Australia's hopes for a coronavirus vaccine were put under threat after trials in the UK were paused over major safety concerns.
Late-stage studies of AstraZenec's vaccine candidate are on hold after a patient became seriously ill on Tuesday.
The company is investigating if the illness, which has not been specified, is a serious side effect or had nothing to do with the shot.
The federal and state governments have repeatedly said we will have to live with the virus until a vaccine is rolled out.
But the jab being developed at Oxford University is the only overseas candidate that Australia has agreed to buy while other developed countries have signed several deals.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has come under fire for 'putting all of Australia's eggs in one basket'.
Labor's health spokesman Chris Bowen said: 'The federal government needs to invest urgently in a range of potential Covid-19 vaccines.'
He pointed out that 18 countries have signed 51 deals to buy various vaccine candidates. The US has six and the UK has five.
Australia has also agreed to buy a vaccine being developed at the University of Queensland - but it only started human trials in July.
There are 37 vaccines in human trials around the world and Australia is trying to buy more of them.
Victoria meanwhile recorded another day of double-digit coronavirus infections on Wednesday, with just 76 new cases across the state.
A further 11 deaths have also been announced, taking the state's death toll to 694.
The figures are a marked jump from previous days after the state recorded 55 infections on Tuesday and 41 on Monday - the lowest number in two months.
In order to move to the next step of easing restrictions on September 28, Melbourne must record an average daily infection rate between 30 and 50 over the next two weeks.
Cafes, bars and restaurants will not be able to have customers dine outside until October 26, as long as the statewide case average has fallen under five for the previous fortnight.
Customers won't be allowed inside until November 23 and only if there have been no cases at all for the previous two weeks.
The strict draconian curfew enforced in Melbourne will be also be extended to October 26 but will be increased to 9pm-5am. Currently it begins at 8pm.
Retail shops are also expected to open their doors from October 26 along with hairdressers under strict safety measures.
Public gatherings will also increase to ten people.
Queensland recorded eight new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, the state's biggest daily rise in nearly five months, including three more workers from Ipswich Hospital.
The other five cases were members of the same family who were under quarantine in a household when they were diagnosed. These cases are linked to the cluster at the Queensland Correctional Services Academy.
The spike in cases follows New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian admitting she 'does begrudge' Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk of her decision to keep the southern border shut.
Speaking on Today on Wednesday, Ms Berejiklian said there was no health basis to keeping the border restrictions.
'I do begrudge her because the situation has got very low community transmission,' Ms Berejikilian said.
'And NSW has shown that you can have open borders.'
Tensions between the two leaders have been simmering for months over Queensland's decision to keep the southern border closed.
Ms Berejiklian said a number of Queensland residents were in New South Wales hotels under quarantine with COVID-19.
She claimed if NSW had high numbers like Victoria then closing the border was a sensible measure, however, states with a confident health system and low numbers should not be isolated.
'When the case numbers are so low at this stage and yes, it's a daily battle, why would you close your borders? Why would you hurt your businesses and jobs in your own state?'
DIRE PROVERTY PREDICTIONS
‘Distress and fear’: poverty looms for a million Australian children once coronavirus supplement slashed
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/distress-and-fear-poverty-looms-for-a-million-australian-children-once-coronavirus-supplement-slashed/ar-BB18RXMS?ocid=msedgdhpWelfare campaigners have warned 1.1 million children will be affected by this month’s cut to the coronavirus supplement, as a survey of single mothers finds the cash boost has reduced stress and anxiety.
The federal government has so far resisted demands to delay a cut to the pandemic top-up to jobseeker, student and parenting payments by $300 on 25 September, arguing the boost was always intended to be temporary.
But Terese Edwards, the chief executive of the National Council of Single Mothers and Their Children, said the $550-a-fortnight supplement had been “life-altering” and its reduction was causing “distress and fear”.
She pointed to a survey of 600 single mothers conducted by the organisation that found the income boost had reduced stress for 88% of respondents because they could now afford to pay their bills.
Related: Inequality is already rising in Australia. Tax cuts would entrench it for no economic benefit | Greg Jericho
It found 69% of respondents believed their family was healthier because they could now afford nutritious food, while 64% were sleeping better.
The extra income was most likely to be spent on groceries (79%), followed by energy costs (56%) and car expenses (51%).
Edwards said she had spoken to single mothers who had lost work in industries such as hospitality and tourism who were particularly worried about their futures.
“Women who have never been on jobseeker payment say they categorically don’t know how they are going to manage,” Edwards said.
About 244,000 single parents receive parenting payment ($790-a-fortnight plus the $550 Covid supplement and the family tax benefit), while those with children older than seven get jobseeker payment ($565 plus the $550 Covid supplement and the family tax benefit).
The coronavirus supplement is also provided to students receiving youth allowance or Austudy.
Toni Wren, the executive director of Anti-Poverty Week, said government data showed about 1.1 million children lived in families receiving the supplement in July.
That included 500,000 children whose parents were receiving the jobseeker payment.
“Our main concern is that now it is one-in-five Australian children whose parents are receiving that payment,” Wren said.
Among those facing the cut is Adelaide woman Lisa Birch, a single mum of two children aged four and two.
Birch, 34, studies and works one day a week at an after-school care program. She also receives parenting payment, with most of her income going to rent and childcare.
“Last year I was really struggling to make ends meet,” she said. “I was selling stuff on Facebook, using Foodbank and trying to get through.
“The supplement just balanced it all out. I’ve been able to get my car fixed, get textbooks for uni.”
Birch knew she would still get “a little bit more” than she had before the pandemic, but was “pretty gutted” about the cut.
“I know there is stuff I won’t be able to do anymore,” she said. “With the supplement I’m ahead on my bills so it’s probably back to just trying to get by.
“I used to be a teacher and work full-time and now I’m a single mum living on these payments. I understand it’s a stop-gap measure but to go without so much has just been really tricky. It’s not the life I want my kids to grow up with either.”
Edwards has been running a campaign – 550 Reasons to Smile – aimed at showing the tangible difference the payments have made for single mothers.
Birch sent Edwards a photo of the new tyres that she was able to buy to fix her car, while other photos included new lightbulbs, medication and a full fridge of food.
Edwards said several woman had told how the supplement allowed them to go to the dentist, while one mother had been able to buy her 15-year-old son a birthday present for the first time in years.
The reduction to the supplement on 25 September comes with about 5 million people in Melbourne under stage four restrictions that include a nightly curfew and the closure of key industries.
Under a Victorian government roadmap unveiled on Sunday, workplaces including retail and hospitality will remain closed until at least 26 October.
That is a month after the cut to the supplement, which coincides with reductions to the jobkeeper wage subsidy.
“I get messages from women in lockdown in Melbourne who have a feeling of real confusion,” said Edwards.
Related: Australia's jobless benefits will be among worst in OECD after Covid supplement cut
“Not only will their jobs not be there when they get out of lockdown, they are going to have the coronavirus supplement cut as well.”
Analysis by the Guardian last month estimated about 420,000 Melburnians under stage four lockdown would be affected by the coronavirus supplement cut.
Meanwhile, geographical analysis from the Parliamentary Library released this week found the largest increases in jobseeker recipients during the pandemic had taken place in Coalition electorates in south-east Queensland and Labor-held electorates in western Sydney and Melbourne’s west.
The largest increase was in the tourism-focused Liberal electorate of Moncrieff, which covers the Gold Coast, but there were also large increases in the Labor electorates of Calwell and Lalor in Melbourne’s north and west.
The Greens-held seat of Melbourne, which covers the CBD and inner suburbs, ranked eighth.
By raw figures, the electorate with the most jobseekers facing a cut to their incomes is the Labor seat of Spence, in Adelaide’s north, where 17,864 people were getting the payment in late June.
That was followed by the Liberal seat of Leichhardt which covers Cairns (17,114), Calwell (16,505), and the Labor seat of Lingiari in the Northern Territory (15,991).
Guardian Australia reported on Monday that by one measure the jobseeker benefit would be the third-lowest unemployment benefit in the OECD once the supplement tapers down to $815 a fortnight in two weeks.