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Qantas to stand down 2500 employees in response to outbreaks
By Alex Druce
About 2500 frontline Qantas and Jetstar employees will be stood down for an estimated two months in response to ongoing COVID outbreaks across Australia.
The national carrier this morning said the stand-down is a temporary measure to deal with a drop in flying caused by COVID restrictions in Greater Sydney, in particular and the knock-on border closures in all other states and territories.
Qantas says the decision will impact domestic pilots, cabin crew and airport workers. Credit:Jason South
No job losses are expected.
More on this story here.
‘Ministers have too much control’: $10b in taxpayer funds put at risk
By David Crowe
Federal funds are being put at risk in schemes handing out more than $10 billion with inadequate checks on ministerial power, according to a new study of programs ranging from job projects to commuter car parks.
At least eight schemes have fallen foul of audits that identify flaws including gaps in checking how the money is spent and, in the case of the $660 million car park program, no merit criteria at all to decide funding.
The Auditor-General was scathing about a $660 million fund used to pay for commuter car parks.Credit:Paul Jeffers
The Centre for Public Integrity, an independent group led by former judges and anti-corruption experts, said its analysis of the recurring failures proved the need for reforms in Parliament to increase scrutiny of mammoth spending.
Read the full story here.
Victoria records four new cases of COVID-19
By Broede Carmody
Victoria’s daily coronavirus numbers have landed.
The state has recorded four new cases of COVID-19. The Department of Health says all cases are linked to known outbreaks and were in isolation for all of their infectious period.
One case was detected in hotel quarantine. There are now 124 active cases of coronavirus across Victoria.
‘Mounting crisis’: Lockdowns may force RBA re-think on stimulus
By Shane Wright and Jennifer Duke
The Reserve Bank will consider increasing its purchases of government debt to stabilise the economy in the face of rolling coronavirus lockdowns that threaten to slow the jobs market and hit consumer confidence.
As figures confirm the RBA’s interest rate settings continue to underpin record high house values in almost every corner of the country, the bank board will on Tuesday debate how to respond to the lockdowns gripping Greater Sydney and south-east Queensland.
Westpac chief economist Bill Evans said the RBA should lift its weekly bond purchases to $6 billion, arguing this would send a “clear signal” the bank was committed to supporting the economy.Credit:Louie Douvis
More on this story here.
Woolworths opens pop-up vaccine clinics for south-west Sydney warehouse staff
By Sarah McPhee
Supermarket giant Woolworths has opened up pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinics for its warehouse staff in Sydney’s south-west.
Chief executive Brad Banducci said the first of the clinics are located at the chain’s distribution centres (DCs) and customer fulfillment centres, making it easier for onsite staff to access vaccines amid their busy lives.
Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci.
“It seems to be doing very well,” he told ABC’s News Breakfast on earlier this morning. “It’s still early days, we only started on Friday.
“We need to start there because the DCs, for ourselves and our competitors, are key to keeping food supply flowing into our stores.”
The clinics were established with assistance from the federal government.
Asked whether he would like to see compulsory vaccinations for supermarket and distribution centre staff, the Woolworths boss said it was not a simple issue and a conversation to have with stakeholders over the next couple of months.
“Right now, we’re so far from where we need to be on vaccinations levels. Our focus is just getting as many shots into as many arms as possible.”
Mr Banducci said in addition, 2000 workers have taken up the offer to be vaccinated through priority appointments with NSW Health at the Olympic Park hub.
Woolworths provides up to eight hours of paid leave for staff to receive their vaccination.
Since July 28, supermarket workers from Blacktown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield and Liverpool local government areas have been be eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine regardless of age, joining school teachers from Canterbury-Bankstown, Fairfield and Liverpool.
The program aims to see up to 500 workers at Woolworths, Aldi, Coles and Metcash stores – including IGA – in the area vaccinated each day, as well as supermarket warehouse staff.
Queensland asks for additional Pfizer doses amid Brisbane’s outbreak
By Jocelyn Garcia
Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath has called on the federal government to secure more Pfizer vaccines for the state in the midst of a COVID-19 outbreak in Brisbane.
“What Queensland needs more than anything else is additional Pfizer supply,” she said in a statement on Tuesday.
Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath. Credit:Matt Dennien
“Queensland Health can rapidly increase its Pfizer vaccinations, provided the Morrison Government can get us more supply.
“We’re calling on the Morrison Government to do more to secure Queensland with extra Pfizer in the fight against the highly infectious Delta strain.”
It comes after the federal government secured an extra 150,000 doses of AstraZeneca.
Ms D’Ath said Queensland would put the extra supply to good use.
“If the Morrison Government can supply these extra doses, they will go straight into people’s arms through the state’s pharmacy network in southeast Queensland,” she said.
“I’ve spoken to the Pharmacy Guild and we want pharmacies on the National Immunisation Program to be able to offer these extra AstraZeneca doses within days.
“With the current outbreak, there are more eligible people coming forward for vaccination and the extra supply will help to meet this growing demand.”
Fully-vaccinated staff member at major Sydney hospital tests positive to COVID-19
By Lucy Carroll
In case you missed it, late last night we learned a fully-vaccinated staff member at Sydney’s Westmead Hospital has tested positive to COVID-19.
The staff member worked for three days last week while infectious. Thirty-six hospital workers have been identified as close contacts and are in a strict two-week isolation.
Westmead Hospital.Credit:Kate Geraghty
A spokesperson for Western Sydney Local Health District said investigations into the source of the infection indicated the worker contracted the virus in the community.
“The affected areas have been deep cleaned and there has been no further transmission associated with this case to date,” the spokesperson said.“Patient care has not been affected. Our highest priority is always the safety of patients and our staff.”
It is the second healthcare worker at Westmead Hospital to test positive in NSW’s latest outbreak, with a fully vaccinated nurse contracting the virus in July. There was no onward transmission from the case.
Vaccination payments ‘unnecessary and won’t work’: Birmingham
By Broede Carmody
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham has come out swinging against Labor’s idea of paying people $300 for getting a COVID-19 vaccination.
Here’s what he had to say on the Today show earlier:
Minister for Finance Simon Birmingham during a Senate estimates hearing in June. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
“The evidence says this is unnecessary and won’t work. Frankly, it is insulting to the many millions of Australians who have already turned out to get a jab. They have done so because they know that this is the best way to protect their lives, the lives of their loved ones and the lives of the rest of the community.
“This is $6 billion we are talking about. Throughout the pandemic we have been willing to invest where it is needed, to invest as we are right now in supporting people with their jobs and businesses. To invest indeed in purchasing the vaccines ... These are all essential things you need to invest in but we can’t just throw $6 billion around against the evidence.”
Expect this debate to be a major talking point today.
Australia’s COVID-19 rules: the state of play
By Broede Carmody
More than 8 million Australians are waking up in lockdown this morning across NSW and Queensland.
Meanwhile, Victoria and South Australia recently shrugged-off their own stay-at-home orders.
Here’s the current state of play.
Labor’s COVID jab incentive would apply to those already vaccinated, Albanese says
By Broede Carmody
As we reported earlier, federal Labor is calling on the Morrison government to introduce a $300 payment for those who receive their COVID-19 vaccination in a bid to speed-up Australia’s rollout.
Speaking on the Today show earlier this morning, Labor leader Anthony Albanese suggested the payment would be back-paid to those who’ve already been jabbed – not just those who’ve been holding out – so that it’s fair to everyone.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
“You want to provide that incentive,” Mr Albanese said. “This is just one measure but, overseas, the Biden administration is looking at this, countries in Europe have done similar things. We just need to use every tool at our disposal.
“At a time where the economy is being predicted to actually go backwards in the September quarter as a result of these lockdowns [in NSW, Queensland and recently Victoria and South Australia], it would provide ... that much-needed economic stimulus at a time when businesses are really struggling.”
Mr Albanese urged Prime Minister Scott Morrison to “put politics aside” and adopt the plan as policy. We’ll be sure to bring you reactions from the Government as the day unfolds.
The policy, if adopted, is estimated to cost $6 billion.
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2021-08-02 22:38:27Z
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