THE HON DAN TEHAN MP

Minister for Education

MEDIA RELEASE

26 March 2020

STATEMENT ON CHILD CARE

The current expert medical advice is that the child care sector should remain open except where individual services have been directed to close by health authorities.

The Government is aware of the challenges facing the Child Care sector because of reduced attendance.

I am working with the sector to minimise the impact of COVID-19, and we already have implemented additional support arrangements.

To support the sector, we have increased the number of days, up to 62, that a child care service will continue to receive the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) when a child is absent from care. The CCS covers up to 85 per cent of the daily costs of a child’s care.

Grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 are available for child care providers through the Community Child Care Special Circumstances Fund to help cover business costs, including wages, to ensure services impacted by COVID-19 can continue to operate.

Families with financial difficulty can apply for funding through the ACCS (temporary financial hardship fund) to cover child care gap fees.

One of the key ways all governments can support the sector is through regulatory relief and this is on the agenda for Education Council tomorrow.

We continue to assess the issues facing the sector and we will continue to work with them to manage the impact of the coronavirus.

I will have more to say on this in the coming days.

Senator the Hon Anne Ruston

Minister for Families and Social Services

Manager of Government Business in the Senate

 Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash

Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business

Joint Media Release

26 March 2020

SUPPORTING SOLE TRADERS THROUGH THE EFFECTS OF CORONAVIRUS

The Morrison Government is expanding the eligibility criteria for JobSeeker Payment to support sole traders and Australians who are self-employed if their income is negatively affected by the economic impact of the Coronavirus.

Under temporary changes to social security rules, sole traders will be encouraged to keep their business operating but may be able to access income support should their earnings take a significant hit.

Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston said the changes mean that sole traders who were now eligible for JobSeeker or Youth Allowance (other) would also receive the $550 fortnightly Coronavirus supplement.

“The Government is absolutely committed to supporting all Australians get through the coming months so we can all bounce back stronger than ever,” Minister Ruston said.

“These rules are designed to make sure sole traders can access income support if they find their income significantly reduced through no fault of their own.”

Previously to determine if a self-employed person was unemployed for the purpose of accessing social security payments they had to be genuinely willing to seek and be available to take up alternative work effectively requiring their business to close.

If someone remained committed to continuing with their business then they were not considered unemployed and could not access payments.

This test has been temporarily removed to allow sole traders to continue operating. Income testing will apply consistent with current arrangements which allows individuals to earn more than $1000 per fortnight before losing access to payment.

Under the temporary arrangements a range of JobSeeker Payment eligibility criteria has been relaxed including waiving the assets test, liquid assets waiting period, seasonal work preclusion period and newly arrived residents’ waiting period.

Minister for Employment, Skills and Small and Family Business Michaelia Cash said in line with the changes sole traders would be able to use work in their own business to meet their mutual obligations.

“We are making sure that sole traders have maximum flexibility to maintain cash flow in these extraordinary circumstances,” Minister Cash said.

For more information go to www.dss.gov.au/about-the-department/coronavirus-information- and-support

NEW TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS FOR REMOTE AREAS

 From 11.59pm tonight, anyone wanting to access remote indigenous communities will need to self-isolate for 14 days before they can enter.

The areas where restrictions apply will be communicated by the State and Territory Governments prior to commencement.
Governments will support people who do not have appropriate alternate arrangements to self-isolate.

There will be exemptions to the travel restrictions for people entering to supply and deliver essential services.
People already in remote communities should stay there unless it is essential to leave for medical treatment.

Communities affected by this announcement include Wujal Wujal and Cape York to Torres Strait, Doomadgee, Woorabinda and Cherbourg.

More information is being posted on www.niaa.gov.au and www.indigenous.gov.au

If you intend to travel to those areas, you will need a permit which is available here Travel in Cook Shire Entry Permit Application – March 2020.v9

The Australian Government is working in close collaboration with State and Territory Governments to help save Australian lives by stopping the spread of COVID-19.

Following agreement from the National Cabinet, the movement into certain remote areas is being restricted to protect some of our most vulnerable Australians.

From 11:59pm Thursday 26 March 2020, anyone wishing to enter designated areas will need to self-isolate for 14 days before they can enter. This is a requirement that will be made by the Minister for Health under the Commonwealth’s Biosecurity Act 2015 and includes residents of communities in these areas.

The areas where restrictions apply will be communicated by the State and Territory Governments prior to commencement.

Governments will support people who do not have appropriate alternate arrangements to self-isolate.

There will be exemptions to the travel restrictions for people entering to supply and deliver essential services and Governments are working hard to make sure these essential services and supplies will continue to remote areas.

People already in remote communities should stay there unless it is essential to leave for medical treatment.

Information relevant to Indigenous communities is being posted on www.niaa.gov.au and www.indigenous.gov.au

The Hon. Scott Morrison MP

Prime Minister

MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday 26 March 2020

Further statement on hairdressers, barbers and funerals from National Cabinet

Following the receipt of feedback on the practical implementation of measures announced regarding barbers and hairdressers it was agreed by Premiers and Chief Ministers at National Cabinet last night that the instruction regarding 30 minutes per patron will be lifted (effective immediately), but that the 4sqm rule per person must be strictly observed within the premises and that personal contact during the patron’s visit should be minimised wherever possible.

Also it was noted that in hardship cases, States and Territories can provide exemptions in relation to attendance at funerals, but only at the margin.

National Cabinet will meet again on Friday, March 27.

The Hon. Scott Morrison MP
Prime Minister

MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday 25 March 2020
NATIONAL CABINET UPDATE

Australian governments continue to work together to slow the spread of coronavirus to save lives.

Every extra bit of time allows us to better prepare our health system and put measures in place to protect Australian lives.

The Prime Minister, state and territory Premiers and Chief Ministers continued their meeting on 25 March as the National Cabinet to discuss enhanced health measures to support our efforts to quickly test and contact trace coronavirus in our community.

Expansion of coronavirus testing criteria

Australian has one of the most rigorous coronavirus testing systems in the world. To further protect Australia, National Cabinet agreed to an Australian Health Principal Protection Committee (AHPPC) recommendation to expand the current coronavirus testing criteria to include testing people with fever or acute respiratory infection in:
• all health workers
• all aged/residential care workers
• geographically localised areas where there is elevated risk of community transmission as defined by the local public health unit
• where no community transmission is occurring, high risk settings where there are two or more plausibly-linked cases, for example:
o aged and residential care
o rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
o detention centres/correctional facilities
o boarding schools
o military bases (including Navy ships) that have live-in accommodation.

National Cabinet also agreed that testing will be expanded to include hospitalised patients with fever and acute respiratory symptoms of unknown cause, at the discretion of the treating clinician.

This is the minimum testing criteria. States and territories have the discretion to expand their own criteria for testing if they have capacity.

Temporary suspension of all semi-urgent elective surgery

National Cabinet endorsed the recommendation for states and territories to suspend all non-urgent elective surgery.

National Cabinet agreed to extend the deadline for the suspension of semi urgent Category 2 and 3 elective surgeries at private hospitals to 11.59pm on 1 April 2020.

National Cabinet agreed that states and territories will continue to work with private hospital groups to ensure they can support efforts to protect Australians against coronavirus.

The changes will allow greater transition for the community to the new arrangements and ensure the national supply of essential PPE – such as masks, gowns, gloves and goggles for the healthcare workforce.

Nationally consistent public directions on self-isolation for individuals

National Cabinet agreed to implement nationally consistent public health directions, at the state and territory level, on self-quarantine for individuals diagnosed with coronavirus.

Further measures

National Cabinet will consider the need for any further measures at their next meeting on Friday 27 March 2020.

Telehealth Access Improved

25 March 2020

Vulnerable patients and doctors have received improved protection from Coronavirus (COVID-19) after increased access to telehealth services passed Parliament last night.

Government has extensively consulted with AMA, RACGP, ACCRM, RDAA, and other key peak bodies and members of the medical profession and health professions, to ensure Medicare is responsive to the challenges of COVID-19.

Regional Health Minister, Mark Coulton, said the changes would provide peace of mind for many regional communities.

“As the coronavirus situation develops, we need to ensure we protect the vulnerable and it remains important regional Australians can access their regular medical services.

“To help ensure these services continue, the government is expanding access to telehealth services so vulnerable patients and doctors alike needn’t risk unnecessary human contact.

“As of last night, the Government enables all vulnerable general practitioners and other vulnerable health professionals who are currently authorised to use telehealth item numbers, to use telehealth for all consultations with all their patients.

“This includes health care providers who are:

• Aged at least 70 years old;

• Indigenous and aged at least 50 years old

• Pregnant;

• A parent of a child under 12 months;

• Immune compromised; or

• Have a chronic medical condition that results in increased risk from coronavirus infection.

Amendments to Medicare are being implemented quickly, in a staged and proportionate way, to ensure critical health services can continue to operate and the integrity of our health system is maintained.

The Government is also consulting with the AMA, RACGP, ACCRM, RDAA and other critical parts of the medical profession during the course of this week to further expand our telehealth response.

This co-designed approach will look to the best practise expansion of telehealth items for all patients, with or without COVID-19, to see any general practitioner or medical specialist during the COVID-19 health emergency.

For details on when telehealth items can be used please consult: www.mbsonline.gov.au

Government will continue to communicate changes at:www.health.gov.au; with regular webinar updates listed online, and through peak bodies.

25 March 2020

New support for families and child care services

Families using child care now have 62 days available to them for absences. They will continue to receive the Child Care Subsidy if their child is absent from care for any reason for these days.

Families will be able to use the additional 20 days of absences this financial year. Beyond 62 days the Government has waived the requirement to produce medical evidence if a child is absent due to COVID-19 reasons.

Families will now be able to access an additional 20 days of child care this financial year while still receive the Child Care Subsidy to support families impacted by COVID-19.

Families will be able to access a total of 62 days of allowable absences as well as additional absences, where a child is ill, quarantined or unable to attend child care due to COVID-19, and without the medical evidence usually required.

The Government has also waived the requirement for services to enforce payment of out of pocket fees by families for child care services who have been directed to close on public health advice as a result of COVID-19.

The current expert medical advice is that the child care sector remains open except where individual services have been directed to close by health authorities.

The health and safety of all Australians is our number one priority, and that includes the 1.3 million children in child care, and 200,000 staff working in the child care sector.

Families experiencing a loss of income, such as casual workers or those in self-isolation, may be eligible for the Additional Child Care Subsidy (temporary financial hardship). This subsidy is available for up to 13 weeks and, in most cases, the full cost of child care will be covered.

The Federal Government is working with the sector to protect the viability of child care providers so they can continue to provide their services to Australian families.

The new rules give effect to the amendments passed by Parliament on Monday to the Families Assistance Act and Family Assistance Administration Act, and provide fee relief to families and child care services.

Grants are also available for child care providers through the Community Child Care Special Circumstances Fund to help cover business costs, including wages, to ensure services impacted by COVID-19 can continue to operate.

Child care services seeking health and situation information about COVID-19 should contact the 24/7 National Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080. Information is also available from https://www.dese.gov.au/news/coronavirus-covid-19.

Today I announce the creation of a new National COVID-19 Coordination Commission (NCCC) that will coordinate advice to the Australian Government on actions to anticipate and mitigate the economic and social effects of the global coronavirus pandemic.

The Commission will ensure the Government receives the most comprehensive advice to meet the challenges ahead to cushion the economic impact of the coronavirus and help build a bridge to recovery.

This is about working cooperatively across private-to-private and public-to-private networks to unlock resources, break bottlenecks and fix problems so Australian families, businesses and communities are supported through the challenging months ahead.

Mr Neville Power has been appointed Chairman and brings both high level business expertise and a strong commitment to social issues.

An Executive Board of Commissioners, will advise the Prime Minister on all non-health aspects of the pandemic response. The Board will work in tandem with the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Brendan Murphy, who continues to lead the Commonwealth’s health response.

The National COVID-19 Commission Executive Board includes leaders across the private and not-for-profit sectors: Mr Greg Combet AM, Ms Jane Halton AO, Mr Paul Little AO, Ms Catherine Tanna and Mr David Thodey AO (Deputy Chair).

They will be joined by the Secretaries of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Mr Philip Gaetjens and Home Affairs, Mr Mike Pezzullo.

The National Cabinet, comprising State Premiers and Territory Chief Ministers, continues to lead the national response at a government level. The Australian Government’s National Security Committee of Cabinet’s COVID-19 Taskforce and the Expenditure Review Committee of Cabinet continue to take decisions that determine the Commonwealth’s response to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The National COVID-19 Coordination Commission is about mobilising a whole-of-society and whole-of-economy effort so we come through this unprecedented health crisis.  The Commission will assist the Government to ensure all resources are marshalled to this vital task in a coordinated and effective manner.

At all times, our actions are guided by the best possible medical advice, while putting the economic and social wellbeing of all Australians front and centre of our response.

The NCCC will be based in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.  The existing National Coordination Mechanism based in the Department of Home Affairs, which coordinates the cross jurisdictional response to non-health aspects of the pandemic, will report to the Commission, as will the Coronavirus Business Liaison Unit based in the Treasury Department.

The Hon. David Littleproud MP

Minister for Agriculture, Drought and 

Emergency Management 

Deputy Leader of the Nationals

Wednesday 25th March 2020

Agriculture jobs essential to Australia

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud says Australia’s food production and supply chain will not be affected by coronavirus shutdowns.

“The Commonwealth is guaranteeing food production and supply as we deal with the virus’s spread,” Minister Littleproud said.

“I am in constant dialogue with farming groups, the States, supermarkets and my department to make sure there’s food on the table for all Australians.

“As far as the Commonwealth is concerned, food production and supply is an essential service.

“Feeding our nation is an essential service.

“That means State-imposed border shutdowns will not affect agricultural supply chains.

“The trucks carrying food and produce will get through to the shops.

“Feed, hay, fertilizer and other agriculture products will continue being delivered to farms.

“We’ve got plenty of supply and the freight lanes across the country are being kept clear.

“Australians can be assured that their farmers will be able to keep producing the great food they’re renowned for the world over.

“This food will arrive fresh and on time at their local supermarket the same as it’s always done but they don’t need added pressure of senseless hoarding. Australians should stay calm and know Australian agriculture will be there for them.

“Maintaining food production, access to workers, agricultural supply lines, transportation and logistics is absolutely critical and will not be affected by any of the measures aimed at curbing the virus’s spread.”