crikey--2020-04-02--Ruby Princess fiasco: how inadequate rules helped fuel a pandemic

The Ruby Princess is Australia 's single-biggest source of coronavirus infections .
Inq examines the rules that allowed it to dock in Sydney .
The federal government has made a key change to the information it seeks from cruise ships in light of the escalating scandal of the Ruby Princess .
The change is an apparent admission that insufficient detail was given on the health of passengers on board the ship , though who is responsible for the failure — the company or health authorities — remains unclear .
The ship , the single-biggest source of COVID-19 infections in Australia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australia-wide and for five deaths .
A week after the Ruby Princess docked , as confirmed cases of COVID-19 infections were spiralling across Australia , the federal government changed a key question on a standard pre-arrival form which ships ’ captains are required to complete .
The information they declare matters because it shapes the assessment which health authorities make .
When the Ruby Princess docked on March 19 — two weeks ago today — the ship was asked to answer “ yes ” or “ no ” to the question of whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Persistent coughing and difficulty breathing with no apparent cause and no history or similar symptoms ( but not persistent coughing and difficulty breathing caused by asthma , heart disease , obesity , chronic bronchitis or emphysema ) .
The question was revised on March 25 , a week ago , to ask whether any passengers or crew had : • New coughing illness which developed in the past two weeks ( but not caused by an existing chronic disease e.g .
asthma , heart disease , obesity , chronic bronchitis or emphysema ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Health told Inq the question was revised to “ align ” it with screening processes used for ill travellers on arrival , and to “ address feedback from stakeholders ” that the question as it was previously worded was not clear regarding reporting of COVID-19 symptoms .
“ The decision to change the wording of the question was supported by the chief human biosecurity officers in each state and territory , ” a department spokesman said .
( The role of chief human biosecurity officer at the federal level is occupied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . )
The change was clearly aimed at flushing out any new coughing illness developed over the past 14 days .
But medical practitioners see the change as being too little , too late .
Dr Chris Moy , president of the Australian Medical Association of South Australia — a state which has been affected by a large number of cruise ship cases from NSW — said the change was “ quibbling at the edges ” .
“ Although there is a clarification on the matter the far bigger issue is using common @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
Yet why would a cruise ship docking at an Australian port on March 19 — with the virus pandemic gathering pace around the world — have any doubt at all about the intent of a question about the health of passengers ?
The federal government ’ s change — as unnecessary as it may seem — lays bare the defence being adopted by international cruise lines to account for infected passengers leaving their ships : that the government didn ’ t ask the right question .
And it underscores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under which a cruise company is asked to volunteer information which is potentially damaging to its reputation and to its bottom line .
Carnival Corporation , which owns the Ruby Princess , has refused to answer Inq ’ s questions on precisely what information it gave in answer to the health question as it appeared on the Maritime Arrivals Reporting System ( MARS ) .
The system is designed to document biosecurity risks , carried by humans on board a ship or by a ship ’ s cargo .
It is operated by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information with state health departments and the Australian Border Force .
NSW Health has also refused to answer the question of whether or not Carnival provided full and accurate information on the risk on board the Ruby Princess .
An elderly woman was removed from the ship shortly after docking at 2.30 on the morning of March 19 and was taken by a waiting ambulance .
She died six days later .
The silence from Carnival and NSW Health points to the breakdown of a system which has become riddled with conflicts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the lines between the regulator and the regulated .
Medical judgments on board the Ruby Princess — which might or might not be prejudicial to the business — are in the hands of doctors employed by Carnival .
Carnival ’ s chief medical officer , Dr Grant Tarling , is at the same time senior vice president of the multibillion-dollar Carnival Corporation , which is listed on the US and UK stock exchanges .
It is unclear who can compel the production of medical information given the Ruby Princess is registered in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bermuda — a jurisdiction known for the favourable conditions it offers shipping owners .
To date , Carnival has relied on the defence that it was acting on approvals from NSW Health , but did tell NSW Health that some of its passengers exhibited “ flu-like ” symptoms .
Yet in the case of the Ruby Princess — a leading “ stakeholder ” , to use the Federal Health department ’ s language — it is hard to see how there could be any doubt about the intention of the health question it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Princess docked in Sydney on March 19 , Tarling ’ s world had exploded with COVID-19 outbreaks on other ships .
In Japan , the Diamond Princess had been forced to hold 2000 passengers in quarantine off the coast of Japan for more than a fortnight .
In the US , on March 7 , two crew members of Carnival ’ s Regal Princess had to be tested for COVID-19 , leading to a delay in the ship docking .
In the US , on March 8 , the Royal Princess was subject @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discovered a crew member had been transferred to the ship from the Grand Princess cruise ship .
Off the coast of California , the Grand Princess had been sitting in quarantine after a passenger died due to COVID-19 infection .
That drama began on March 4 and continued through to March 16 when all passengers and more than half of the ship ’ s crew members were taken off the ship .
Perhaps most concerning , on March 17 ( in the US ) , as the Ruby Princess was closing in on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Control issued a preliminary report which pointed to staff involved in food preparation on board the Diamond Princess as hastening the spread of coronavirus on the ship .
The Ruby Princess entered Sydney Harbour on March 19 , Australian time .
Three crew have since tested positive to the virus and been brought ashore under police escort for treatment .
The cruise industry , led by Carnival , is a major profit spinner for the Port Authority of NSW , a corporatised government body which reports its financial results to the NSW Treasury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the power of the cruise industry .
“ Cruise is the fastest growing tourism sector in Australia .
It is also a growing trend for Australians , with 1.35 million people , or 5.8 % of the population cruising in 2018 , ” the Port Authority says , quoting from a report commissioned by the cruise ship lobby group , Cruise Lines International Association .
The Port Authority quotes the lobby group ’ s 2018 estimate that the cruise industry is worth $ 4.8 billion nationally , with 58 % “ attributed ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the movement of ships in Sydney Harbour .
It is paid fees for providing navigation and pilot services .
For passenger ships it is paid a $ 40-per-head berthing fee , which translates to around $ 110,000 for the Ruby Princess ’ 2750 passengers who disembarked on March 19 .
For its part , NSW has been investing in the cruise industry .
The government released a Cruise Development Plan in 2018 , setting out a long–term strategy to develop the industry in NSW , including a possible new terminal in Sydney , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of NSW and the NSW Treasury .
Carnival Corporation is the biggest cruise industry player internationally and in Australasia .
Last year it reported record total revenues of US $ 20.8 billion — an increase of US $ 2 billion over the previous year .
The glamorous image of cruising puts a lick of paint over a business model which relies on exploiting the legal and tax loopholes available in flag-of-convenience countries such Panama and Bermuda .
The jurisdictions allow cruise companies to employ crew from countries such as the Phillipines while avoiding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The revelation of the change to the key health question comes as Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton accuses some cruise ships of lying about the COVID-19 situations on board .
Carnival Corporation ’ s Australian head office has declined to answer these questions from Inq , provided Wednesday : • Ships — including the Ruby Princess — are required to self-report re illness on board .
Do you accept that on the face of it this is a conflict of interest , given that ships ’ doctors are paid by the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the chief medical officer , Grant Tarling , is a long-serving and now senior employee of the company .
What assurance does the public have that he is NOT acting in the interests of the company ?
• Can you shed light on who the on-board doctors are ?
NSW Health said that cruise ship voyages into Sydney linked to confirmed COVID-19 cases in NSW were : • Voyager of the Seas , docked March 18 — 34 cases plus five crew members As of this morning the number of confirmed coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NSW accounting for 2298 of those .
NOTE : This article has been updated to correct the name of the Port Authority of NSW .

The federal government has made a key change to the information it seeks from cruise ships in light of the escalating scandal of the Ruby Princess.
The change is an apparent admission that insufficient detail was given on the health of passengers on board the ship, though who is responsible for the failure — the company or health authorities — remains unclear.
The ship, the single-biggest source of COVID-19 infections in Australia, accounts for more than 500 infections Australia-wide and for five deaths.


crikey--2020-04-02--The lack of accountability at Home Affairs is costing Australian lives

The Home Affairs portfolio has been dysfunctional for years , and never held to account .
Why should we expect any different now that it is charged with protecting us from the coronavirus ?
For years under this government , what is now the Home Affairs portfolio has operated in a political culture of complete impunity , no matter how incompetently its officials have behaved , and no matter how many times it placed people at risk .
We ’ re now seeing the results of that absence of accountability in coronavirus illnesses and deaths that stem directly from failings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
The history of what was Immigration and Border Protection , since the merger of Immigration and Australian Customs in 2015 , and which became Home Affairs in 2017 , is a history of remarkable bungling , documented in a long line of audit reports and parliamentary committee inquiries .
They include a billion dollar tender process repeatedly stuffed up , a lack of oversight of compliance by visa holders , a spectacular blowout in illegal entries via airports , asylum seeker detainees killed and dying from lack of treatment , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cybersecurity failings , the abandonment of the 457 visa program , and the use of the Federal Police against journalists and whistleblowers for political purposes .
But at no stage has the leadership of the portfolio accepted responsibility for those failings .
Instead , journalists , refugee advocates , the Australian National Audit Office , the PNG government and asylum seekers themselves have all been blamed by Minister Peter Dutton or departmental officials at some point for failures within the portfolio — or they failed to understand that the problems didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misinterpretation .
Even when the government itself admitted the 457 visa program had “ lost credibility ” , this failure somehow seemed to have occurred without anyone being responsible .
The coronavirus crisis should have been a crisis tailor-made for management by Home Affairs .
Not merely was Home Affairs charged with keeping Australians safe , but it had responsibility for Australia ’ s borders and Australia ’ s biosecurity , it houses our emergency management and disaster preparedness functions , it has a major network across the region gathering information , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Home Affairs understands the particular biosecurity threat posed by cruise ships .
“ Cruise ships are subject to customs , immigration and biosecurity controls when entering and/or departing Australia , ” according to the Australian Border Force website .
But Home Affairs bungled again .
Three days later , ABF and NSW Health waved 2700 passengers , over 500 of whom were ridden with coronavirus , off the Ruby Princess and into the community .
Currently , more than 10 % of all virus cases in Australia were passengers on the ship , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths .
With another bungle came more excuses and blame-shifting .
Outram blamed NSW Health for the disaster , in contradiction of Morrison ’ s March 16 restriction ( which made clear the federal government would stop foreign ships ) and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian ’ s attribution of blame to ABF .
This morning , Dutton claimed that cruise ship lines were also guilty of “ lying ” about the state of health aboard their ships .
That marks quite a turnaround in attitude toward cruise ship operators : prior to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it worked with cruise lines to develop a “ trusted operator model ” to expedite immigration clearance for cruise ship passengers .
A number of cruise ships remain offshore of Sydney , and one in Perth , refusing to depart Australian waters .
The head of Carnival Australia is demanding that the Ruby Princess again be allowed to dock in Sydney , claiming cruise lines support 20,000 jobs .
The premier of Western Australia , Mark McGowan , is frustrated with the failure of Home Affairs to end a stand-off with a cruise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Remember that this is the portfolio that had no qualms about repeatedly forcing boats of asylum seekers back to Indonesia when they tried to enter Australian waters .
Yet it is apparently powerless to force the boats of “ trusted operators ” away .
Less clear is how many cases will result from another debacle , at Sydney Airport last week , when returning travellers were crowded together to access Customs , with ABF personnel reportedly saying the need for social distancing measures was “ not their problem ” .
That was blamed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be government-owned but which was privatised in the 1990s , meaning no one can be held to account for what might lead to another cluster of infections — a good example of how privatisation has allowed politicians and officials to evade responsibility for bungles that once would have led to resignations .
The entire point of Home Affairs — and the draconian and ever-increasing powers it wields — is that it was supposed to unify previously disparate security functions to improve the security of Australians , including biosecurity .
There would be no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , no more miscommunication between agencies around protecting Australians — we would have a tough-as-teak , bespoke super-portfolio dedicated to the task .
Hundreds of virus cases and multiple deaths later , all we ’ ve got from them is excuses .
But we shouldn ’ t be surprised — it ’ s how the department has operated for years .

For years under this government, what is now the Home Affairs portfolio has operated in a political culture of complete impunity, no matter how incompetently its officials have behaved, and no matter how many times it placed people at risk.
We’re now seeing the results of that absence of accountability in coronavirus illnesses and deaths that stem directly from failings by the Australian Border Force (ABF).
The history of what was Immigration and Border Protection, since the merger of Immigration and Australian Customs in 2015, and which became Home Affairs in 2017, is a history of remarkable bungling, documented in a long line of audit reports and parliamentary committee inquiries.


crikey--2020-04-01--Trump is the virus: Australia pays the price for being America's best buddy

US media and politics shape Australia 's politics , and the coronavirus data shows we 're now paying the price @ @ @ @ @ Ruby Princess , Australia had the United States .
The governmental dysfunction and chaotic health @ @ @ @ @ has not just made it the world leader in COVID-19 cases , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ to shifting the disease in Australia from challenge to emergency .
The COVID-19 data on @ @ @ @ @ infections -- particularly through US flight arrivals into Sydney -- show that Australia is paying @ @ @ @ @ social and political integration with North America .
Particularly now , in the age of @ @ @ @ @ the US has been marked with a profound systems failure -- a jackpot of denialism @ @ @ @ @ of policy and implementation and a profoundly irresponsible right-wing media .

Before we had the Ruby Princess, Australia had the United States. The governmental dysfunction and chaotic health care of our favourite ally has not just made it the world leader in COVID-19 cases, it’s made it the key contributor to shifting the disease in Australia from challenge to emergency.
The COVID-19 data on the high level of overseas infections –particularly through US flight arrivals into Sydney — show that Australia is paying a large price for our social and political integration with North America. Particularly now, in the age of Trump.
The epidemic in the US has been marked with a profound systems failure — a jackpot of denialism from the top, politicisation of policy and implementation and a profoundly irresponsible right-wing media.


crikey--2020-04-23--China races to control a 'second Wuhan' as a new COVID-19 wave surges

China is attempting to contain a fresh outbreak of COVID-19 in the country 's north .
World governments should be @ @ @ @ @ missed .
A serious COVID-19 outbreak in China 's north-east has seen new infections suddenly @ @ @ @ @ mark , jolting the country ’ s government into action .
It ’ s the @ @ @ @ @ Party 's assumed control of the disease ( and growing hubris ) may have been @ @ @ @ @ now .
It comes less than a week after Chinese authorities finally added to Wuhan @ @ @ @ @ it by an alarmingly neat 50 % to 3869 .

A serious COVID-19 outbreak in China’s north-east has seen new infections suddenly soar close to the 1000 mark, jolting the country’s government into action.
It’s the first sign that the Communist Party’s assumed control of the disease (and growing hubris) may have been misplaced — at least for now.


crikey--2020-04-14--How does Singapore's virus response really stack up?

Singapore has been praised for its COVID-19 containment plan .
But with local transmissions rising , some are now questioning @ @ @ @ @ world grapples with COVID-19 , Singapore has been praised for its ability to keep a @ @ @ @ @ without imposing major social and economic restrictions .
But with its government now `` very @ @ @ @ @ in locally transmitted cases , Singapore has ratcheted up its response .
On April 3 @ @ @ @ @ to curb further spread .
They include shutting non-essential businesses and schools .

As the world grapples with COVID-19, Singapore has been praised for its ability to keep a lid on new coronavirus infections without imposing major social and economic restrictions.
But with its government now “very concerned” by a rise in locally transmitted cases, Singapore has ratcheted up its response.
On April 3 it announced strict new measures to curb further spread. They include shutting non-essential businesses and schools.


crikey--2020-04-14--Corona curated: the parents aren't really OK. But let's not let the kids suffer

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There’s been a plethora of articles about parenting during the coronavirus: some instructional, about how to navigate a crisis with kids; others bleak dispatches from inside the family home. Here’s some of Crikey’s favourites.
There is a fine line between capturing moments of childhood joy and publicly lying to make yourself look good and your friends feel bad.


crikey--2020-03-31--Welcome to a brave new world where citizens have to prove their innocence

Australia 's descent into authoritariansim continues with state lockdown laws that assume citizens are guilty until proven innocent .
I ’ ve been writing about Australia ’ s sleepwalk into a police state for so long , you ’ d think I ’ d be the least surprised now that it ’ s finally happened .
But , like everyone else , I woke up on Tuesday morning and the reality hit me with its full dystopian force .
Brave new world indeed : police cars circling inside public parks , lights flashing , ordering stationary people to either get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ straight home .
A tense debate on social media about whether visiting your boyfriend who lives in a different house qualifies as a “ reasonable excuse ” to leave yours .
Reasonable excuse .
Let ’ s dwell on that choice of language , because there is the key to what ’ s wrong with this sudden descent into uncontained authoritarianism .
First though , the necessary disclaimer .
The lockdown is necessary , proportionate and life-saving .
I have quibbles about the details , like everyone , but we could never all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that girl in the park is planking or just having a lie-down .
But remember why we are doing this , why we are surrendering our most fundamental right — freedom of movement — outside of wartime and for an indefinite period .
That is for one reason only : to get us through this public health emergency as quickly and with as little death and damage as possible .
It is the perfect exemplar of communal action , requiring all of us to sacrifice precious elements of our humanity for the greater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is good .
Which is why it grates so horribly that the message we keep receiving is that it ’ s all bad .
Specifically , we ’ re all bad .
In the COVID-19 world , the persistent failure of our leaders to communicate effectively has led to confusion , complacency and bad behaviour .
These outcomes the same leaders have reflexively blamed on the public .
The roots of that reflex lie much deeper ; they can be seen in every step that has been taken down the path of authoritarianism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this moment of deep crisis , it is flourishing .
For that reason , when it came to “ Stage 3 ” as Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews called it , the lockdown was automatically treated by lawmakers as if it is a punishment for our recalcitrance .
We can not be trusted to stay home , so they ’ ve made it a crime to go out .
It is necessary , in a public health emergency , to arm the state with the ability to enforce what is needed to be done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appropriate , as is the availability of sanctions for those who flout it .
However , what we have is not a regime that enshrines our collective decision for the public good to stay indoors .
What we have is a law that makes it an offence to leave home .
Unless we have a reasonable excuse .
I object to the prospect of being stopped on the street by a police officer and required to satisfy him or her that I have a good enough excuse for being outside , to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the possibility ( in NSW ) of a $ 1,000 on the spot fine , or an $ 11,000 fine and six months ’ imprisonment if I get arrested and convicted .
I wouldn ’ t object to a regime under which I was required by law to remain home , with the proviso that I was able to lawfully leave home and go outside if I had a legitimate reason for doing so , subject to all the rules of physical distancing .
I also wouldn ’ t object if that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determine that my reason was not legitimate and to order me to go home ; or to fine or arrest me if I refused and they reasonably believed that I may be presenting a danger to public health by my actions .
Am I being stupidly legalistic about this ?
To put it another way , who gives a shit ?
I ’ d say we all should .
The lockdown regulations rushed into force by NSW , Victoria and other states are not just extremely draconian ; they start with the premise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the burden of proving that we ’ re behaving with social responsibility at all times .
That is unnecessary and wrong .
There is no evidence to support the assumption that we wouldn ’ t as a community do the right thing in this extreme crisis , if our leaders gave us the facts and communicated clearly and consistently about why we need to take these measures .
It is also wrong in principle .
Rights are hard-won and easily lost .
We have almost no human rights in Australia , but freedom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been at least assumed ( for white people ) .
We must suspend that right for the moment , but in a necessarily qualified way ( so we can still eat , exercise , go to the doctor and stay slightly sane ) .
The onus should not be on us to prove we are doing the right thing , but on the authorities to prove we are doing the wrong thing .
Then , the law may descend with appropriate consequences , as harsh as are needed .
As for NSW Premier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NSW Police really don ’ t want to have to enforce this law , sorry , but we ’ ve got no reason to share that faith .

I’ve been writing about Australia’s sleepwalk into a police state for so long, you’d think I’d be the least surprised now that it’s finally happened. But, like everyone else, I woke up on Tuesday morning and the reality hit me with its full dystopian force.
Brave new world indeed: police cars circling inside public parks, lights flashing, ordering stationary people to either get on with their exercise regime or go straight home. A tense debate on social media about whether visiting your boyfriend who lives in a different house qualifies as a “reasonable excuse” to leave yours.
Reasonable excuse. Let’s dwell on that choice of language, because there is the key to what’s wrong with this sudden descent into uncontained authoritarianism.


crikey--2020-04-01--Outdated law makes doctors criminals, leaves dying patients anxious

A clash in state and federal laws means doctors who are self-isolating because of COVID-19 are unable to assist terminally @ @ @ @ @ their lives .
Bill* died yesterday , and I wasn ’ t there .
He @ @ @ @ @ d prescribed for him and within four minutes was asleep , and dead shortly thereafter @ @ @ @ @ family and carer in attendance , exactly as he wanted .
But without his doctor @

Bill* died yesterday, and I wasn’t there. He swallowed the barbiturates I’d prescribed for him and within four minutes was asleep, and dead shortly thereafter.
Very peaceful, his family and carer in attendance, exactly as he wanted.
But without his doctor.


crikey--2020-06-28--George Pell Archives •

George Pell Archives •

A new climate in Eden-Monaro , while Morrison ’ s boats are changing course The new Liberal candidate for Eden-Monaro @ @ @ @ @ climate change , while Scott Morrison has a new attitude towards boats .
Catch up @ @ @ @ @ other latest tips and murmurs .

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crikey--2020-04-22--After the virus, what will drive Australia's economy and jobs?

In a world with lower growth and less immigration , Australia 's traditional sources of growth wo n't be able @ @ @ @ @ What will take their place ?
While big business ramps up its lobbying to push @ @ @ @ @ economic policies after the pandemic , the question of where exactly economic growth will come @ @ @ @ @ remains more unclear than ever .
While forecasts are n't worth a great deal at @ @ @ @ @ International Monetary Fund and the Reserve Bank -- via yesterday 's update from its governor @ @ @ @ @ similar story : Australia will bounce back relatively quickly , if not exactly in a @ @ @ @ @ this year and next year making up most , if not all , of the @ @ @ @ @ .
The path of the immediate recovery , though , is different from the longer-term @ @ @ @ @ will look like post-pandemic , and what those differences mean for economic growth .

While big business ramps up its lobbying to push a new round of neoliberal economic policies after the pandemic, the question of where exactly economic growth will come from once the virus recedes remains more unclear than ever.
While forecasts aren’t worth a great deal at the moment, both the International Monetary Fund and the Reserve Bank — via yesterday’s update from its governor Philip Lowe — have a similar story: Australia will bounce back relatively quickly, if not exactly in a V-shape, with growth later this year and next year making up most, if not all, of the contraction that is under way.


crikey--2020-04-27--Worm: The NT counts down to COVID-19 'eradication'

The Northern Territory is making the first tentative steps to easing its lockdown .
But Chief Minister Michael Gunner says that 's no reason to relax .
After a three-week stretch with no new cases in the Northern Territory , and with just five active cases remaining , the NT government has announced that territory-controlled parks will reopen from noon on Friday .
Police and park rangers will continue to monitor the 1.5 metre rule , but The NT News ( $ ) reports that Chief Minister Michael Gunner is preparing for a 28-day countdown to “ eradicate ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions , implementing longer-term border closures and following social distancing measures .
The idea has been simplified as “ trace , test and trap ” .
THE STRESS OF TRANSITIONING : Gunner also said that the risk of a second surge ( see , for example , Singapore ) meant easing restrictions has become more stressful than implementing them .
According to The Sydney Morning Herald , Foreign Minister Marise Payne has accused China of “ economic coercion ” .
This comes after ambassador Cheng Jingye warned the Morrison government ’ s pursuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s original outbreak risks a boycott from students and tourists .
The campaign has yet to receive official backing from other leaders ; the ABC reported at the time that , despite sympathy for the cause , Emmanuel Macron and Boris Johnson are prioritising suppression before investigation .
However , a senior WHO official backed plans to give the body more investigative powers .
Following a similar approval bounce for Scott Morrison , the latest Newspoll ( $ ) suggests all state premiers are experiencing overwhelming approval for their handling of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ participants , West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has enjoyed the highest score of the six , while Queensland ’ s Annastacia Palaszczuk trails at 72 % .
However , unlike the other premiers , Palaszczuk ’ s still-sizeable approval rating has apparently not borne out in overall satisfaction .
Her net approval rating was just 16 % , compared to the next lowest , Gladys Berejiklian , at 46 % .
IT COULD BE WORSE : US President Donald Trump has apparently bucked the global trend and slid in post-COVID polls .
With @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this does not come as a surprise .
• Tasmania has called for residents to volunteer through EVCREW ( emergency volunteers crew ) and assist with delivering essential services such as community transport , meal delivery , social connection , and shopping .
The state government also committed to an independent review into the North West coronavirus outbreak , just hours before reporting another two cases in the region .
• NSW is reportedly considering a $ 500 million property spending spree focusing on unsold apartments and fast-tracking construction .
NSW also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency energy bill support and a freeze on licence fees for community businesses that use school sites like canteens and uniforms shops up to the end of Term 2 .
• Victoria has announced a two-week “ testing blitz ” , with a target of 100,000 including anyone with mild symptoms .
Victoria ’ s state of emergency is currently set to expire on May 11 .
• South Australia ’ s online learning system LearnLink crashed on the first day of Term 2 yesterday .
The SA government also announced that an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment have started arriving ahead of the recommencement of essential elective surgery this week .
• Western Australian TAFE courses will commence Term 2 today , and the state government has outlined a “ blended ” delivery of online and interactive learning .
TAFE will also offer a fast-tracked infectious disease training program for disability and aged care .
Finally , in the first bit of non-COVID news in my lifetime , 10News reports that Energy Minister Angus Taylor refused interview requests from NSW Police throughout the investigation into the doctored documents scandal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his solicitor .
As The Guardian reports , new answers from NSW Police to questions on notice reveal that police also found no evidence that the altered version of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore ’ s travel expenses — first provided to the Daily Telegraph in an attempt to scold her climate advocacy — had ever appeared on the council ’ s website .
ANYTHING BUT WIND OR SOLAR : Following the Minister for Emissions Reduction ’ s win last week in securing a tonne of cheap US oil , The SMH reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Renewable Energy Agency ’ s plan for a bioenergy roadmap .
THEY REALLY SAID THAT ?
The prime minister who waited until March to attend a national crisis meeting , took a swing at “ herd immunity ” , and has overseen at least 20,000 deaths — not counting care homes — gives his first national address since recovering from the virus himself .
READ ALL ABOUT IT Frydenberg to update nation on coronavirus damage to economy , budget Business calls on national cabinet to smooth over state splits Q & A education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and students during coronavirus News Corp on the prowl for job cuts and efficiencies to survive corona crisis Eden-Monaro MP Mike Kelly ’ s retirement a loss for Labor and the nation ( $ ) — Greg Sheridan ( The Australian ) : “ A former army colonel who served in Somalia , Bosnia , East Timor and Iraq , Mike Kelly was the highest ranked officer to represent the modern Labor Party in parliament .
His departure accelerates a dangerous trend for the party to lose its few people with real national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shore : the Captain James Cook I know — Stan Grant ( The Sydney Morning Herald ) : “ I am reminded this week that we each have our Captain Cook , and how we see him tells us so much about how we see our country .
Black and white Australians enter this modern nation Australia differently .
My ancestors stood on the shore and watched the ships come .
Between the ship and the shore is two centuries of history ; history still untold and justice still denied.
” We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus is killing us — David Wallace-Wells ( New York Magazine ) : “ Over the last few weeks , the country has managed to stabilise the spread of the coronavirus sufficiently enough to begin debating when and in what ways to ‘ reopen , ’ and to normalise , against all moral logic , the horrifying and ongoing death toll — thousands of Americans dying each day , in multiples of 9/11 every week now with the virus seemingly ‘ under control.
’ ” • Treasury Secretary Steven Kennedy and other Treasury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the coronavirus .
• VOICE Australia , Human Rights Network of Australia , will appear at an inquiry into targeted sanctions to address human rights abuses .

THE NT EYES THE PRIZE
After a three-week stretch with no new cases in the Northern Territory, and with just five active cases remaining, the NT government has announced that territory-controlled parks will reopen from noon on Friday.
Police and park rangers will continue to monitor the 1.5 metre rule, but The NT News ($) reports that Chief Minister Michael Gunner is preparing for a 28-day countdown to “eradicate” the virus. This involves gradually loosening other restrictions, implementing longer-term border closures and following social distancing measures. The idea has been simplified as “trace, test and trap”.
THE STRESS OF TRANSITIONING: Gunner also said that the risk of a second surge (see, for example, Singapore) meant easing restrictions has become more stressful than implementing them.
CHINESE STAND-OFF
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Foreign Minister Marise Payne has accused China of “economic coercion”. This comes after ambassador Cheng Jingye warned the Morrison government’s pursuit of an external inquiry into the country’s original outbreak risks a boycott from students and tourists.
The campaign has yet to receive official backing from other leaders; the ABC reported at the time that, despite sympathy for the cause, Emmanuel Macron and Boris Johnson are prioritising suppression before investigation. However, a senior WHO official backed plans to give the body more investigative powers.
POPULAR PREMIERS
Following a similar approval bounce for Scott Morrison, the latest Newspoll ($) suggests all state premiers are experiencing overwhelming approval for their handling of the pandemic.
At 94% approval amongst participants, West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has enjoyed the highest score of the six, while Queensland’s Annastacia Palaszczuk trails at 72%. However, unlike the other premiers, Palaszczuk’s still-sizeable approval rating has apparently not borne out in overall satisfaction. Her net approval rating was just 16%, compared to the next lowest, Gladys Berejiklian, at 46%.
IT COULD BE WORSE: US President Donald Trump has apparently bucked the global trend and slid in post-COVID polls. With more than 50,000 deaths in the US, this does not come as a surprise.
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STATE WRAP
SOME NON-COVID NEWS
Finally, in the first bit of non-COVID news in my lifetime, 10News reports that Energy Minister Angus Taylor refused interview requests from NSW Police throughout the investigation into the doctored documents scandal, with all requests instead directed to his solicitor.
As The Guardian reports, new answers from NSW Police to questions on notice reveal that police also found no evidence that the altered version of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore’s travel expenses — first provided to the Daily Telegraph in an attempt to scold her climate advocacy — had ever appeared on the council’s website.
ANYTHING BUT WIND OR SOLAR: Following the Minister for Emissions Reduction’s win last week in securing a tonne of cheap US oil, The SMH reports that Taylor is today spruiking the Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s plan for a bioenergy roadmap.
THEY REALLY SAID THAT?
I know that there will be many people looking now at our apparent success, and beginning to wonder whether now is the time to go easy on those social distancing measures. Boris Johnson
The prime minister who waited until March to attend a national crisis meeting, took a swing at “herd immunity”, and has overseen at least 20,000 deaths — not counting care homes — gives his first national address since recovering from the virus himself.
READ ALL ABOUT IT
Frydenberg to update nation on coronavirus damage to economy, budget
Victorian government clears release of Pell royal commission findings
$95 million rescue package for locked-down zoos, aquariums
Mining makes case for tax help ($)
Chinese scientists linked to virus probe studied live bats in Australia ($)
Business calls on national cabinet to smooth over state splits
Q&A education special shines light on problems for teachers and students during coronavirus
News Corp on the prowl for job cuts and efficiencies to survive corona crisis
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un health rumours dismissed by South Korean intelligence
THE COMMENTARIAT
Eden-Monaro MP Mike Kelly’s retirement a loss for Labor and the nation ($) — Greg Sheridan (The Australian): “A former army colonel who served in Somalia, Bosnia, East Timor and Iraq, Mike Kelly was the highest ranked officer to represent the modern Labor Party in parliament. His departure accelerates a dangerous trend for the party to lose its few people with real national security gravitas.”
Between the ship and the shore: the Captain James Cook I know — Stan Grant (The Sydney Morning Herald): “I am reminded this week that we each have our Captain Cook, and how we see him tells us so much about how we see our country. Black and white Australians enter this modern nation Australia differently. My ancestors stood on the shore and watched the ships come. Between the ship and the shore is two centuries of history; history still untold and justice still denied.”
We still don’t know how the coronavirus is killing us — David Wallace-Wells (New York Magazine): “Over the last few weeks, the country has managed to stabilise the spread of the coronavirus sufficiently enough to begin debating when and in what ways to ‘reopen,’ and to normalise, against all moral logic, the horrifying and ongoing death toll — thousands of Americans dying each day, in multiples of 9/11 every week now with the virus seemingly ‘under control.’”
WHAT’S ON TODAY
Canberra
Treasury Secretary Steven Kennedy and other Treasury officials will appear at the Senate inquiry into the coronavirus.
VOICE Australia, Human Rights Network of Australia, will appear at an inquiry into targeted sanctions to address human rights abuses.
HOLD THE FRONT PAGE


Worm Archives •

Good morning , early birds .
Following Victoria 's spike in COVID-19 cases , Victorians have been advised against travel @ @ @ @ @ hotspots until control of community transmission has been confirmed , and last summer 's extreme @ @ @ @ @ Australia 's electricity and gas infrastructure to the brink .
It 's the news you @ @ @ @ @ Chris Woods .


crikey--2020-04-21--The national cabinet's rules, processes and information are shrouded in secrecy

The prime minister wants the new national cabinet to be permanent , but experts are worried it hinders Australia 's @ @ @ @ @ national cabinet may become a permanent fixture of Australian politics , Prime Minister Scott Morrison @ @ @ @ @ he praised the cabinet ’ s speedy response to the COVID-19 crisis .
Made up @ @ @ @ @ and chief ministers , the national cabinet is essentially the Council Of Australian Governments ( @ @ @ @ @ differences : the national cabinet meets far more frequently and documents remain secret for up @ @ @ @ @ the national cabinet has been praised for cutting through bureaucracy and red tape , experts @ @ @ @ @ hinders Australia 's democratic process -- especially with no sitting parliament to scrutinise its decisions @

The newly-formed national cabinet may become a permanent fixture of Australian politics, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced last week, as he praised the cabinet’s speedy response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Made up of state and territory premiers and chief ministers, the national cabinet is essentially the Council Of Australian Governments (COAG) with two key differences: the national cabinet meets far more frequently and documents remain secret for up to 30 years.
While the national cabinet has been praised for cutting through bureaucracy and red tape, experts have expressed concerns the cabinet hinders Australia’s democratic process — especially with no sitting parliament to scrutinise its decisions.


crikey--2020-04-27--No debate, no download: why I won't be taking up the tracing app

COVIDSafe is built on legally shaky foundations by a government operating with a trust deficit .
Not a great start @ @ @ @ @ ’ s contact tracing app , is among us , blessed with the hope that @ @ @ @ @ a speed that COVID-19 has so far failed to achieve .
Its arrival raises two @ @ @ @ @ ( if widely enough adopted ) ; and are our fears of its side effects @ @ @ @ @ is one for experts .
On the second , I have some troubling news .
@ @ @ @ @ Anzac Day , not by an act of parliament ( remember those ? )
but @ @ @ @ @ the Biosecurity ( Human Biosecurity Emergency ) ( Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential ) ( @ @ @ @ @ Contact Information ) Determination 2020 .
It was signed by Health Minister Greg Hunt .

COVIDSafe, the government’s contact tracing app, is among us, blessed with the hope that it will spread virally at a speed that COVID-19 has so far failed to achieve. Its arrival raises two questions: will it work (if widely enough adopted); and are our fears of its side effects misplaced?
The first question is one for experts. On the second, I have some troubling news.
COVIDSafe was made law on Anzac Day, not by an act of parliament (remember those?) but by this exotic beast: the Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency)(Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential)(Emergency Requirements — Public Health Contact Information) Determination 2020. It was signed by Health Minister Greg Hunt.


crikey--2020-04-26--Morrison trashes the arts to save decaying media empires

This government has run to the rescue of News Corp , Seven West Media and Nine , while the arts @ @ @ @ @ .
Two weeks , two big lifelines thrown to Australia ’ s large media corporations @ @ @ @ @ entertainment , crushed by the COVID-19 shock ?
A deliberately crafted ... nothing ( at @ @ @ @ @ ) .
And yet , ensuring Australia ’ s creative industries get to the other @ @ @ @ @ -- and a lot more important -- than attempting to bail out old media dependent @ @ @ @ @ .
According to former News Corp Australia boss Kim Williams , a 40 % funding @ @ @ @ @ base would provide the transformation the sector needs .
To an outsider , it must @ @ @ @ @ Yet in all the chatter of “ looking at all options with fresh eyes ” @ @ @ @ @ media , entertainment and arts industry pronouncements are the only real-time example we have to @ @ @ @ @ of a post-coronavirus Australia .

Two weeks, two big lifelines thrown to Australia’s large media corporations. And for arts and entertainment, crushed by the COVID-19 shock? A deliberately crafted… nothing (at least at the federal level).
And yet, ensuring Australia’s creative industries get to the other side is a lot cheaper — and a lot more important — than attempting to bail out old media dependent on collapsing ad-supported business models. According to former News Corp Australia boss Kim Williams, a 40% funding boost off the current low base would provide the transformation the sector needs.
To an outsider, it must seem an odd choice. Yet in all the chatter of “looking at all options with fresh eyes”, the government’s media, entertainment and arts industry pronouncements are the only real-time example we have to judge the actual Morrison-Frydenberg vision of a post-coronavirus Australia.


crikey--2020-05-26--As schools return, universities continue to be left behind

While classrooms begin to refill , fresh COVID-19 cases stoke fears that we 're jumping the gun .
Plus other @ @ @ @ @ .
While students make a bumpy return to full-time schooling , the higher education sector @ @ @ @ @ government picks some universities as losers .
Britain continues to meltdown over a naughty staffer @ @ @ @ @ the Tele ’ s credibility .
The return to school is now nationwide .
Yesterday @ @ @ @ @ and years one , two and 12 returned to the classroom .
In NSW and @ @ @ @ @ time , with attendance nearing regular levels .
But there have already been some blips @ @ @ @ @ case of coronavirus was confirmed at Waverley College , a private school in Sydney ’ @ @ @

While students make a bumpy return to full-time schooling, the higher education sector continues to struggle as the government picks some universities as losers. Britain continues to meltdown over a naughty staffer, and another dunk on the Tele’s credibility.
School’s in
The return to school is now nationwide. Yesterday, Victorian students in prep and years one, two and 12 returned to the classroom.
In NSW and Queensland, students returned full time, with attendance nearing regular levels. But there have already been some blips — this morning, one case of coronavirus was confirmed at Waverley College, a private school in Sydney’s east.


crikey--2020-04-15--Faux-accurate forecasts don't help when the economy has fallen in a data hole

There are a lot of forecasts of economic contraction floating around , and most of them are worthless .
We @ @ @ @ @ what happened .
So the International Monetary Fund thinks the Australian economy will shrink 6.7 @ @ @ @ @ its latest update to its global economic forecasts .
Not 6 % , or 7 @ @ @ @ @ .
And a 6.1 % rebound next year .
Just to give the impression that @ @ @ @ @ finger and sticking it up in the wind .
It 's only the latest in @ @ @ @ @ what is happening in the Australian economy and economies around the world , with dire @ @ @ @ @ double digit and negative , about unemployment and growth .

So the International Monetary Fund thinks the Australian economy will shrink 6.7% this year, in its latest update to its global economic forecasts.
Not 6%, or 7%, but 6.7%. And a 6.1% rebound next year. Just to give the impression that they’re not licking their finger and sticking it up in the wind.


crikey--2020-04-08--Forget the pandemic, it's time for enemies of industry funds to get square

The war against industry super funds by the Liberal Party and sections of the media is unceasing — even a @ @ @ @ @ to attack them .
The last few years have been a difficult time for enemies @ @ @ @ @ the Liberal Party , the finance industry , the Business Council and the media .
@ @ @ @ @ some long-awaited comeuppances for the employer and union-run sector not merely failed to work , @ @ @ @ @ .
A Productivity Commission inquiry commissioned by Scott Morrison intended to replace the default super @ @ @ @ @ funds recommended a new model , but along the way demonstrated that industry super funds @ @ @ @ @ funds controlled by big banks and AMP .

The last few years have been a difficult time for enemies of industry super funds in the Liberal Party, the finance industry, the Business Council and the media.
What were supposed to be some long-awaited comeuppances for the employer and union-run sector not merely failed to work, but backfired on their enemies.


crikey--2020-04-15--Worm: Global COVID-19 cases hit 2 million...

Global COVID-19 cases have doubled in a fortnight to pass the 2 million mark and Chief Minister Michael Gunner will today announce a $ 20 million package aimed at “ plugging gaps ” in the federal JobKeeper program .
Global COVID-19 cases have doubled in a fortnight to pass the 2 million mark , of which the Johns Hopkins centre has America accounting for over 610,000 , or roughly 30 % of global cases .
As the ABC reports , the news comes as the UK death toll rises by 700 in the last 24 hours .
A report from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the real death toll is likely to double the official count , and New Yorkers continue to dig mass graves , check out the Al Jazeera footage , if you can stomach it .
AUSTRALIA ’ S CURVE STAYS FLAT : In slightly better news back at home , Australia has kept new daily cases below 50 all week , an incredible effort after exceeding 450 on March 28 .
According to the NT News ( $ ) , Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner will today announce a $ 20 million package @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the federal JobKeeper program and covering businesses with casuals of less than 12 months ’ employment , international students , and other temporary visa holders .
Building off last month ’ s “ Small Business Survival Fund ” , the new scheme will offer businesses between $ 1,000 and $ 15,000 a fortnight — depending on how many employees the business had prior to the national shut down — for a maximum of eight weeks to help pay invoices and cover other costs such as rent and utilities .
ADELAIDE WIDENS TESTING @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progress , The Advertiser ( $ ) reports that South Australia will now test anyone feeling unwell with flu-like symptoms in a “ blitz ” after the state recorded zero new cases yesterday .
AUSTRALIA ON TRACK FOR LARGEST POPULATION DECLINE IN MODERN HISTORY According to Home Affairs figures and projections by former senior department official Abul Rizvi at The Australian ( $ ) , an exodus of tourists , temporary workers and international students during the pandemic could see the biggest population decline in modern Australian history .
300,000 temporary visa holders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rizvi ’ s analysis predicts that could double by the end of the year — bringing the January 2020 number of more than 2.4 million number down to 1.82 million — in a drop economists warn will further erode consumer spending and the housing market .
DEMO HITS : In other depressing demographics news , The Sydney Morning Herald ( $ ) reports that job ads have crashed amid projections that up to one in five workers lost their income in March .
According to The Guardian , The Australia Institute has launched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ package for the arts industry , as large swathes of the 193,600-strong workforce face exclusion from the JobKeeper program either due to turnover , casual , or residency requirements .
$ 50M FOR REGIONAL MEDIA : As the ABC reports , the federal government announced a $ 50 million support package for regional journalism yesterday , just a day after the Australian Community Media said it would suspend publishing of non-daily publications until at least June .
Finally , National Cabinet will meet tonight to discuss the increasingly vexed issue of school closures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : • Minister for Education Dan Tehan says the National Cabinet will consider reopening schools within “ four to six weeks , ” specifically getting high school students back into classrooms ( The Australian ( $ ) ) ; • While supporting Scott Morrison goal of moving from large-scale remote learning to more face-to-face lessons by May , NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian will not direct parents to send children to school ( The Sydney Morning Herald ( $ ) ) ; • Victorian principals have hit out at Scott Morrison ’ s Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , arguing it is inconsistent with state messaging to keep children home where possible and that confusion meant some schools turned away students yesterday ( The Age ) Additionally , The Courier Mail reports that Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will not release health advice the state government relied on when deciding to only open schools for children of essential workers .
THEY REALLY SAID THAT ?
Following Donald Trump ’ s explicit attempt to scapegoat the World Health Organisation — which , all things considered , is a far from perfect body — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for broke .
READ ALL ABOUT IT Landlords should oppose Queensland Government ’ s planned protections for COVID-19 tenants , says REIQ Emergency sitting of Parliament to deal with crisis measures Virgin could be put into voluntary administration within days Coronavirus : Canberra ‘ condescending ’ over withdrawal of ambassador to Indonesia ‘ Duty of care ’ : Calls for improved mental health screening in quarantine World Health Organisation responds to US President Donald Trump ’ s funding halt with regret The High Court rules in favour of News Corp , but against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reef ’ : $ 300m earmarked for novel coral research Regional media get COVID lifeline but ABC , SBS remain in peril — Alexandra Wake and Michael Ward ( The Conversation ) : “ After weeks of devastating reports of local newspaper closures and regional broadcast stations turning off local news services , media supporters and observers were united in joy as the Australian government announced a coronavirus relief package for local journalism.
” We can ’ t stand for the parliament not sitting — Niki Savva ( The Australian ) : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ navigate a vastly different future , with the help of sensible guidelines from officialdom ( emphasis on sensible ) instead of the morass of new rules which place surfing or sitting on a park bench as a greater threat to social order than golfing in some jurisdictions.
” Freezing public servant wages in response to coronavirus is just a sop — Greg Jericho ( The Guardian ) : “ As the first economic data revealing the horrific impact of the coronavirus are released , governments are perversely opting to freeze public-servants ’ wages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this will not only create large ongoing impacts for workers , it counterintuitively acts to reduce economic activity at time when the economy needs all the growth it can get .
”

GLOBAL CASES HIT 2 MILLION
Global COVID-19 cases have doubled in a fortnight to pass the 2 million mark, of which the Johns Hopkins centre has America accounting for over 610,000, or roughly 30% of global cases.
As the ABC reports, the news comes as the UK death toll rises by 700 in the last 24 hours. A report from the Islamic Parliament Research Center claims that the real death toll is likely to double the official count, and New Yorkers continue to dig mass graves, check out the Al Jazeera footage, if you can stomach it.
AUSTRALIA’S CURVE STAYS FLAT: In slightly better news back at home, Australia has kept new daily cases below 50 all week, an incredible effort after exceeding 450 on March 28.
NT JOBKEEPER UPDATE
According to the NT News ($), Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner will today announce a $20 million package explicitly aimed at “plugging gaps” in the federal JobKeeper program and covering businesses with casuals of less than 12 months’ employment, international students, and other temporary visa holders.
Building off last month’s “Small Business Survival Fund”, the new scheme will offer businesses between $1,000 and $15,000 a fortnight — depending on how many employees the business had prior to the national shut down — for a maximum of eight weeks to help pay invoices and cover other costs such as rent and utilities.
ADELAIDE WIDENS TESTING NET: In another bit of state progress, The Advertiser ($) reports that South Australia will now test anyone feeling unwell with flu-like symptoms in a “blitz” after the state recorded zero new cases yesterday.
AUSTRALIA ON TRACK FOR LARGEST POPULATION DECLINE IN MODERN HISTORY
According to Home Affairs figures and projections by former senior department official Abul Rizvi at The Australian ($), an exodus of tourists, temporary workers and international students during the pandemic could see the biggest population decline in modern Australian history.
300,000 temporary visa holders have already left Australia this year. Rizvi’s analysis predicts that could double by the end of the year — bringing the January 2020 number of more than 2.4 million number down to 1.82 million — in a drop economists warn will further erode consumer spending and the housing market.
DEMO HITS: In other depressing demographics news, The Sydney Morning Herald ($) reports that job ads have crashed amid projections that up to one in five workers lost their income in March.
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FUND THE ARTS
According to The Guardian, The Australia Institute has launched a campaign for a $750m rescue package for the arts industry, as large swathes of the 193,600-strong workforce face exclusion from the JobKeeper program either due to turnover, casual, or residency requirements.
$50M FOR REGIONAL MEDIA: As the ABC reports, the federal government announced a $50 million support package for regional journalism yesterday, just a day after the Australian Community Media said it would suspend publishing of non-daily publications until at least June.
SCHOOLROOM BLITZ
Finally, National Cabinet will meet tonight to discuss the increasingly vexed issue of school closures, with separate stories today reporting that:
Minister for Education Dan Tehan says the National Cabinet will consider reopening schools within “four to six weeks,” specifically getting high school students back into classrooms (The Australian ($));
says the National Cabinet will consider reopening schools within “four to six weeks,” specifically getting high school students back into classrooms (The Australian ($)); While supporting Scott Morrison goal of moving from large-scale remote learning to more face-to-face lessons by May, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian will not direct parents to send children to school (The Sydney Morning Herald ($));
goal of moving from large-scale remote learning to more face-to-face lessons by May, NSW Premier will not direct parents to send children to school (The Sydney Morning Herald ($)); Victorian principals have hit out at Scott Morrison’s Facebook plea for teachers to return to work, arguing it is inconsistent with state messaging to keep children home where possible and that confusion meant some schools turned away students yesterday (The Age)
Additionally, The Courier Mail reports that Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will not release health advice the state government relied on when deciding to only open schools for children of essential workers.
THEY REALLY SAID THAT?
President Trump’s decision to defund WHO is simply this — a crime against humanity. Richard Horton
Following Donald Trump’s explicit attempt to scapegoat the World Health Organisation — which, all things considered, is a far from perfect body — the editor-in-chief of medical-journal The Lancet goes for broke.
READ ALL ABOUT IT
Landlords should oppose Queensland Government’s planned protections for COVID-19 tenants, says REIQ
Emergency sitting of Parliament to deal with crisis measures
Virgin could be put into voluntary administration within days
Queensland doctor to run pop-up hospital in coronavirus-hit Tasmania
Coronavirus: Canberra ‘condescending’ over withdrawal of ambassador to Indonesia
‘Duty of care’: Calls for improved mental health screening in quarantine
World Health Organisation responds to US President Donald Trump’s funding halt with regret
The High Court rules in favour of News Corp, but against press freedom
‘Buying time for the Reef’: $300m earmarked for novel coral research
THE COMMENTARIAT
Regional media get COVID lifeline but ABC, SBS remain in peril — Alexandra Wake and Michael Ward (The Conversation): “After weeks of devastating reports of local newspaper closures and regional broadcast stations turning off local news services, media supporters and observers were united in joy as the Australian government announced a coronavirus relief package for local journalism.”
We can’t stand for the parliament not sitting — Niki Savva (The Australian): “Consenting adults will have to learn to navigate a vastly different future, with the help of sensible guidelines from officialdom (emphasis on sensible) instead of the morass of new rules which place surfing or sitting on a park bench as a greater threat to social order than golfing in some jurisdictions.”
Freezing public servant wages in response to coronavirus is just a sop — Greg Jericho (The Guardian): “As the first economic data revealing the horrific impact of the coronavirus are released, governments are perversely opting to freeze public-servants’ wages. However, a new report shows this will not only create large ongoing impacts for workers, it counterintuitively acts to reduce economic activity at time when the economy needs all the growth it can get.”
HOLD THE FRONT PAGE


crikey--2020-05-07--Tips & Murmurs: How to snoop your way to a resignation

Journo Mark Di Stefano resigns after a snooping scandal , and a News Corp editor crosses to the dark side ... sort of .
From the Crikey grapevine , it 's the ( all new ) Tips & Murmurs .
You asked , we listened .
Welcome to Crikey ’ s all-new Tips & Murmurs .
It ’ s the great law of a high profile figure in Australia ’ s tall-poppy filled media — when they fall , the response splits between their mates who can ’ t see what the big deal is , and those whose response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was former BuzzFeed Australia scoop getter Mark Di Stefano , who last weekend resigned from his new role with the Financial Times after it was found that he had spied on a meeting in which several reporters for The Independent and the Evening Standard found out they were being furloughed and/or facing pay cuts .
We in the Crikey bunker couldn ’ t help but notice the flood of warm wishes that followed ; Di Stefano ’ s tweeted announcement of his resignation was subject to the world ’ s nicest ratio .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ one thing .
And sure , it ’ s a helluva time to be looking for a job .
But obtaining potentially personal and sensitive information about people without identifying yourself and offering no right of reply is a fairly serious ethical breach .
And yet , you have Walkely-winning journalists Monica Attard and George Megalogenis , several writers of The Guardian , senior Nine editor Michael Koziol and many others tweeting the warmest support , with many implying it was some kind of injustice that he ’ d resigned .
Hey , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guy .
But one wonders whether we could have expected the same outpouring of support — rather than , say , crowing about ethics and the toxic media — if the exact same thing had befallen a News Corp flack .
Journalist Sharri Markson ’ s “ bombshell ” report of an apparent “ dossier ” laying out the case against China is a perfect example of how one story ( in this case apparently based on a single source ) can become part of the self-perpetuating cycle of conspiracy theory talking points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To recap : Markson — who has been toeing the “ China lies ” narrative put forward by parts of the US administration for a while — gets a leak ( we ’ re not sure from whom , though a source tells Nine papers “ they believed the research document was produced by a US author and was not an official Five Eyes collaboration ” ) .
She writes an “ explosive ” five page report for the Tele about this document , apparently from this one source .
International stable mates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Markson is interviewed about it by popular , bow-tie-sporting , white-supremacist sympathiser Tucker Carlson .
All it takes now is for Donald Trump to quote this report — which fits with his unsubstantiated claims that the coronavirus originated from the Wuhan Institute of Virology — and the circle shall be complete .
This week brought the news that The Courier-Mail ‘ s federal political editor Renee Viellaris will be joining the Australian Federal Police as a strategic media adviser .
Tips & Murmurs would agree with Nine ’ s CBD column that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the company ’ s Holt Street HQ ” — what with the AFP raiding the Canberra home of Walkley-winning Sunday Telegraph political editor Annika Smethurst and all that dodgy search warrant business which ended up in a High Court win for Smethurst .
Perhaps there will be a thaw in News-AFP relations .
Maybe , maybe not : News Corp is known for its long corporate memory .
Certainly , Viellaris seems a like perfect pick for Team Dutton .
For what we can see , she ’ ll fit right in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Immigration/Home Affairs portfolio , we suspect Viellaris ’ work would have pleased him .
There was the 2008 story on how taxpayers would be “ forced to pay thousands of illegal immigrants the dole ” under measures apparently then being considered by the Rudd government .
Except they weren ’ t , in case the Media Watch link didn ’ t tip you off .
In 2016 , she wrote that Asylum seekers on Nauru were “ blackmailing ” doctors into sending them to Australia for abortions — a combination of words we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of a light bulb if they could .
In 2017 she ran the “ Club Manus ” piece , sharing “ exclusively obtained photos ” of asylum seekers on Manus delivering an “ embarrassing blow ” to those advocating on their behalf by “ frolicking ” on a beach .
Oh sure , on the one hand many argue that Manus is an island prison full of suicide , mental health issues , police beatings and avoidable deaths from illness that has cost the Australian taxpayers billions .
On the other , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why does this Asylum seeker own a PAIR OF SUNGLASSES ?
Dutton must have been particularly pleased with the piece leading up to the last election — Dutton ’ s seat was one of the most marginal in the country — making the argument that he can ’ t be a monster because he has a wife .
And even after the raids , Viellaris was echoing Dutton talking points , telling Sky there were “ activist doctors ” using medivac laws as a back door to get asylum seekers into Australia and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s very hard to send them back ” .
Good luck with everything , Renee .
Please don ’ t raid us .

You asked, we listened. Welcome to Crikey’s all-new Tips & Murmurs.
More Mark Di Stef-oh-no!
It’s the great law of a high profile figure in Australia’s tall-poppy filled media — when they fall, the response splits between their mates who can’t see what the big deal is, and those whose response simply thrums with schadenfreude.
So it was former BuzzFeed Australia scoop getter Mark Di Stefano, who last weekend resigned from his new role with the Financial Times after it was found that he had spied on a meeting in which several reporters for The Independent and the Evening Standard found out they were being furloughed and/or facing pay cuts.


crikey--2020-05-13--Tale of three leaders: Morrison, Berejiklian, Andrews react to protesters

The prime minister and two premiers gave very different responses to recent anti-lockdown protests .
Their answers spoke volumes .
@ @ @ @ @ , you can detect the underlying truth in the responses of even the most practised @ @ @ @ @ an instructive example .
Scott Morrison , Gladys Berejiklian and Daniel Andrews were each asked @ @ @ @ @ they thought about Sydney and Melbourne 's eye-catching protests of a loose coalition of anti-lockdown @ @ @ @ @ and apparently anti-personal hygiene activists .
On the protesters , there 's really not much @ @ @ @ @ be stupid , deluded or nihilistic ; who knows , they may be conscientiously attempting @ @ @ @ @ in which the prime minister believes .

If you observe closely enough, you can detect the underlying truth in the responses of even the most practised politicians. This week delivered an instructive example.
Scott Morrison, Gladys Berejiklian and Daniel Andrews were each asked, naturally enough, what they thought about Sydney and Melbourne’s eye-catching protests of a loose coalition of anti-lockdown, anti-vaccination, anti-Bill Gates and apparently anti-personal hygiene activists.
On the protesters, there’s really not much to say. They may be stupid, deluded or nihilistic; who knows, they may be conscientiously attempting to bring on the rapture in which the prime minister believes.


crikey--2020-05-12--China uses COVID cover to push on with South China Sea expansion

As the US reels from the COVID-19 pandemic and Australia stares down an economic black hole , China is shoring @ @ @ @ @ disputed South China Sea .
As Scott Morrison and other leaders begin to eye a @ @ @ @ @ , they must be a little jealous as they cast their eye towards China .
@ @ @ @ @ -- or `` V-shaped '' recovery -- is something Beijing may not have managed to @ @ @ @ @ for its worst economic year since the days of the Cultural Revolution , the situation @ @ @ @ @ on the strategic front .
China ’ s gradual and relentless encroachment on the vast @ @ @ @ @ Sea , the site of a territorial dispute with seven neighbouring nations -- Vietnam , @ @ @ @ @ Philippines , Singapore , Brunei and Taiwan -- has barely taken a pause during the @ @ @

As Scott Morrison and other leaders begin to eye a return to something approaching normal, they must be a little jealous as they cast their eye towards China.
While a so-called snap back — or “V-shaped” recovery — is something Beijing may not have managed to execute economically as China heads for its worst economic year since the days of the Cultural Revolution, the situation is looking far more business-as-usual on the strategic front.


crikey--2020-05-13--Worm: Queensland bids for Virgin

Worm: Queensland bids for Virgin

Good morning , early birds .
State-owned Queensland Investment Corporation will make an official bid for a stake in Virgin Australia , and yesterday 's return to parliament did n't disappoint .
It 's the news you need to know , with Chris Woods .
Queensland ’ s newly appointed Treasurer , Cameron Dick , has announced that state-owned Queensland Investment Corporation will make an official bid for a stake in Virgin Australia , to take the form of a direct equity stake , a loan , a guarantee or another financial incentive , the ABC reports .
While Home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as “ laughable ” — and the state government as “ corrupt and chaotic ” — it has been welcomed by politicians on both ends of the spectrum , including federal Assistant Minister for Superannuation Jane Hume and Queensland ’ s sole Greens MP Michael Berkman .
The news comes as investment firms Brookfield , BGH Capital and Bain Capital emerge as the three frontrunners ahead of Friday ’ s deadline for non-binding initial offers for the company , The New Daily reports .
SPEAKING OF CHAOTIC : Dutton has had less success @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the threat of a Nationals revolt forced the Coalition to overhaul cost recovery arrangements under his security screening plan for regional airports , The Guardian reports .
The first day of federal parliament since cases started significantly dropping was dominated by debate about JobKeeper ; Labor and the Greens failed to expand the scheme to universities , but Scott Morrison did pledge at least some version of it will survive until September , The Australian ( $ ) reports .
• Scott Morrison argued the only “ authority ” Bridget McKenzie sought during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not grant decisions ( ABC ) ; • Because Australia somehow doesn ’ t have enough mass surveillance laws , Peter Dutton has introduced legislation that would allow ASIO to question 14-year-olds and use tracking devices without a warrant ( The Guardian ) ; and • The Australian Office of Financial Management reported a record $ 19 billion for April ’ s ten-and-a-half-year debt offering ( AFR $ ) .
PS : Sport Australia has told the Senate inquiry that , effectively , McKenzie piggybacked off its own authority to make the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Guardian reports .
The NSW government has announced that pubs and clubs will be allowed to reopen attached restaurants and cafes when state restrictions ease on Friday , the ABC reports .
They will , however , have to stick to the 10 patrons or fewer rule .
The ACT , which will create similar 10 or fewer rules on Friday , will allow playgrounds and parks to reopen from midnight , and limited library services to resume from Monday , May 18 .
Victoria has announced a $ 150 million experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and competitions — “ from grassroots to elite ” — as well as major tourist attractions , galleries and museums , live music workers and the racing industry .
Victoria also outlined a $ 3.7 million energy counselling package , designed to fund new financial counsellors and online training for more than 1,100 frontline community workers who will provide immediate electricity and gas management support .
Similarly , Western Australia has announced a $ 10.4 million tourism recovery fund , offering one-off grants for tourism operators to assist in adapting to post-pandemic conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all three racing codes , along with new operating procedures , will resume from Monday , May 18 .
Finally , the Queensland government announced that outback pubs and clubs will receive more than 3,000 litres ’ worth of free XXXX GOLD ahead of reopening this weekend .
THEY REALLY SAID THAT ?
The Shadow Home Affairs Minister ’ s dalliance with linking immigration to low wages gets the thumbs-up from a politician who called Islam a “ disease ” just three years ago .
Congrats , I guess ?
READ ALL ABOUT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symptoms not tested for COVID-19 Mark McGowan offers to help Scott Morrison smooth tensions between Australia and China amid trade war fears New ASIO law one more step towards a totalitarian state — Greg Barns ( The Sydney Morning Herald ) : “ With Federal Parliament flat out dealing with the social and economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic , now is hardly the right time for a government to introduce legislation giving ASIO the power to question 14-year-old children , interfere with the rights of legal advisers , and enable the tracking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warrant .
But Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has no such qualms.
” Time to reset Australia ’ s relationship with China ( $ ) — George Christensen ( The Courier Mail ) : “ Alarm bells rang throughout Canberra and Australian industry in late April , when communist China ’ s ambassador to Australia Jingye Cheng raised the spectre of a Chinese boycott of Australian exports .
Sadly , some of those alarm bells were sounding to warn off further criticism of the so-called People ’ s Republic of China.
” Never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caring for country and community during a pandemic — Declan Fry ( Meanjin ) : “ In my dream scenario ( and I emphasise the word dream here ) , the government would take the collapse in oil prices as an opportunity to phase out fossil fuel subsidies ( $ 29 billion annually , according to the IMF ) .
The money would then be invested into assisting those most at risk from the pandemic.
” • The parliamentary inquiry into Australia ’ s trade with Pacific Island countries will hear from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Office on Drugs and Crime .
• A report into Pinjin Station — specifically the granting of mining licences to Hawthorn Resources and allegations of intimidation , abuse and racial discrimination towards the Aboriginal owners of a neighbouring pastoral station — will be tabled in parliament .
• Finance Minister Grant Robertson will deliver the 2020 New Zealand budget .

LAUDABLE OR “LAUGHABLE”?
Queensland’s newly appointed Treasurer, Cameron Dick, has announced that state-owned Queensland Investment Corporation will make an official bid for a stake in Virgin Australia, to take the form of a direct equity stake, a loan, a guarantee or another financial incentive, the ABC reports.
While Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton described the move as “laughable” — and the state government as “corrupt and chaotic” — it has been welcomed by politicians on both ends of the spectrum, including federal Assistant Minister for Superannuation Jane Hume and Queensland’s sole Greens MP Michael Berkman.
The news comes as investment firms Brookfield, BGH Capital and Bain Capital emerge as the three frontrunners ahead of Friday’s deadline for non-binding initial offers for the company, The New Daily reports.
SPEAKING OF CHAOTIC: Dutton has had less success with his own aviation scheme, after the threat of a Nationals revolt forced the Coalition to overhaul cost recovery arrangements under his security screening plan for regional airports, The Guardian reports.
AUSPOL IS BACK
The first day of federal parliament since cases started significantly dropping was dominated by debate about JobKeeper; Labor and the Greens failed to expand the scheme to universities, but Scott Morrison did pledge at least some version of it will survive until September, The Australian ($) reports.
In other day-one highlights:
Scott Morrison argued the only “authority” Bridget McKenzie sought during the sports rort saga related to announcements, not grant decisions (ABC);
argued the only “authority” sought during the sports rort saga related to announcements, not grant decisions (ABC); Because Australia somehow doesn’t have enough mass surveillance laws, Peter Dutton has introduced legislation that would allow ASIO to question 14-year-olds and use tracking devices without a warrant (The Guardian); and
has introduced legislation that would allow ASIO to question 14-year-olds and use tracking devices without a warrant (The Guardian); and The Australian Office of Financial Management reported a record $19 billion for April’s ten-and-a-half-year debt offering (AFR $).
PS: Sport Australia has told the Senate inquiry that, effectively, McKenzie piggybacked off its own authority to make the $141 million in sports grants, The Guardian reports.
STATE WRAP
The NSW government has announced that pubs and clubs will be allowed to reopen attached restaurants and cafes when state restrictions ease on Friday, the ABC reports. They will, however, have to stick to the 10 patrons or fewer rule.
The ACT, which will create similar 10 or fewer rules on Friday, will allow playgrounds and parks to reopen from midnight, and limited library services to resume from Monday, May 18.
Victoria has announced a $150 million experience economy survival package to support sporting clubs and competitions — “from grassroots to elite” — as well as major tourist attractions, galleries and museums, live music workers and the racing industry.
Victoria also outlined a $3.7 million energy counselling package, designed to fund new financial counsellors and online training for more than 1,100 frontline community workers who will provide immediate electricity and gas management support.
Similarly, Western Australia has announced a $10.4 million tourism recovery fund, offering one-off grants for tourism operators to assist in adapting to post-pandemic conditions.
Tasmania has announced that trials for all three racing codes, along with new operating procedures, will resume from Monday, May 18.
Finally, the Queensland government announced that outback pubs and clubs will receive more than 3,000 litres’ worth of free XXXX GOLD ahead of reopening this weekend.
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THEY REALLY SAID THAT?
Reading through some of the recent comments made by Senator [Kristina] Keneally, I can only assume she has spent much of her time in quarantine reading through my speeches from 1996. Pauline Hanson
The Shadow Home Affairs Minister’s dalliance with linking immigration to low wages gets the thumbs-up from a politician who called Islam a “disease” just three years ago. Congrats, I guess?
READ ALL ABOUT IT
‘Flipping a coin’: COVID-19 antibody tests ‘should not be used’
More than half of Australians with symptoms not tested for COVID-19
Coronavirus: Australian Workers Union backs Morrison on China ($)
Hackers target WA’s major daily newspaper, putting data of subscribers at risk
Concern as China targets Pacific mobile networks ($)
Mark McGowan offers to help Scott Morrison smooth tensions between Australia and China amid trade war fears
ICAC funding ‘unlawful’ and puts independence at risk: legal advice
Shorten washes hands of isolation for birthday party ($)
WorkSafe launches investigation into Cedar Meats COVID-19 outbreak
Norway’s giant oil fund ditches stake in Australia’s AGL over fossil fuel concerns
Over 300 lawmakers worldwide urge IMF, World Bank to cancel poor countries’ debt
THE COMMENTARIAT
New ASIO law one more step towards a totalitarian state — Greg Barns (The Sydney Morning Herald): “With Federal Parliament flat out dealing with the social and economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, now is hardly the right time for a government to introduce legislation giving ASIO the power to question 14-year-old children, interfere with the rights of legal advisers, and enable the tracking of individuals without the need for a warrant. But Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has no such qualms.”
Time to reset Australia’s relationship with China ($) — George Christensen (The Courier Mail): “Alarm bells rang throughout Canberra and Australian industry in late April, when communist China’s ambassador to Australia Jingye Cheng raised the spectre of a Chinese boycott of Australian exports. Sadly, some of those alarm bells were sounding to warn off further criticism of the so-called People’s Republic of China.”
Never let a crisis go to waste: caring for country and community during a pandemic — Declan Fry (Meanjin): “In my dream scenario (and I emphasise the word dream here), the government would take the collapse in oil prices as an opportunity to phase out fossil fuel subsidies ($29 billion annually, according to the IMF). The money would then be invested into assisting those most at risk from the pandemic.”
WHAT’S ON TODAY
Canberra
The parliamentary inquiry into Australia’s trade with Pacific Island countries will hear from the Institute for International Trade and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
Perth
A report into Pinjin Station — specifically the granting of mining licences to Hawthorn Resources and allegations of intimidation, abuse and racial discrimination towards the Aboriginal owners of a neighbouring pastoral station — will be tabled in parliament.
New Zealand


crikey--2020-04-28--Here's the news about the mainstream news — the boom might be over

Media outlets experienced an initial audience surge as readers sought out COVID-19 news .
What happens now , as this @ @ @ @ @ The COVID-19 shock has generated a welcome boom for Australian journalism , with audiences up @ @ @ @ @ traditional and online outlets .
Around the country journalists are whispering hopefully to each other @ @ @ @ @ !
They really like us !
” Media have rewarded this attention with an all-COVID @ @ @ @ @ news product , shaping the dominant stories across the spectrum from politics to finance , @ @ @ @ @ to sport .
As these new audiences see what a great job the media does @ @ @ @ @ stick around !
Yeah .
Nah .
Looks like the boom may already be fading @ @ @ @ @ poll , trust in the media “ to provide honest and objective information about the @ @ @ @ @ 35 % in mid March to 51 % by the end of the month when @ @ @ @ @ peaked , before sliding back down to 41 % two weeks later .

The COVID-19 shock has generated a welcome boom for Australian journalism, with audiences up about 30% in both traditional and online outlets. Around the country journalists are whispering hopefully to each other: “They like us! They really like us!”
Media have rewarded this attention with an all-COVID, all the time, news product, shaping the dominant stories across the spectrum from politics to finance, to lifestyle and even on to sport. As these new audiences see what a great job the media does, surely they’ll stick around!
Yeah. Nah. Looks like the boom may already be fading. According to the Essential poll, trust in the media “to provide honest and objective information about the COVID-19 outbreak” rose from 35% in mid March to 51% by the end of the month when audience attention seems to have peaked, before sliding back down to 41% two weeks later.


crikey--2020-04-21--Foxtel's slow death proves pay TV was only ever a transitional technology

Foxtel 's decline is being accelerated by the pandemic , but it 's been on its way out for years @ @ @ @ @ to Australia .
It never had deep penetration , and now it ’ s all @ @ @ @ @ of changing watching habits accelerated by the COVID-19 crisis .
Like Wile E. Coyote , @ @ @ @ @ the canyon , pedalling hard at thin air to stay aloft .
Pay TV has @ @ @ @ @ on human activity : we can only watch one television show at a time .
@ @ @ @ @ end has been hurried on by News Corp ’ s long term determination to have @ @ @ @ @

Pay television came late to Australia. It never had deep penetration, and now it’s all but vanishing in the face of changing watching habits accelerated by the COVID-19 crisis.
Like Wile E. Coyote, it’s out over the canyon, pedalling hard at thin air to stay aloft.
Pay TV has always faced an unavoidable constraint on human activity: we can only watch one television show at a time. But in Australia, its end has been hurried on by News Corp’s long term determination to have monopoly control through Foxtel.


crikey--2020-04-20--Dumping local content right now would be a massive self-inflicted wound for TV

The TV networks were already struggling before the coronavirus hit , and unless they start thinking strategically , they 'll @ @ @ @ @ towards irrelevance .
Australia ’ s commercial television networks are in trouble .
Not simply @ @ @ @ @ but because they failed to develop effective strategies to counter the arrival of Netflix and @ @ @ @ @ -- something anticipated long before it happened .
Last week , the federal government threw @ @ @ @ @ lifeline .
It includes subsidies and deferred or waived fees and it reflects savage advertising @ @ @ @ @ the viewing public , however , local drama , children ’ s and documentary content @ @ @ @ @ With the exception of the local content initiative , they are all reasonable support measures @ @ @ @ @ However , they will do nothing more than tide things over for the moment .
@ @ @ @ @ more strategically , they are on a collision course sending them towards irrelevance for a @ @ @ @ @ loyal audiences .

Australia’s commercial television networks are in trouble. Not simply because of the coronavirus, but because they failed to develop effective strategies to counter the arrival of Netflix and other “streaming” platforms — something anticipated long before it happened.
Last week, the federal government threw the struggling networks a financial lifeline. It includes subsidies and deferred or waived fees and it reflects savage advertising revenue declines. Sadly for the viewing public, however, local drama, children’s and documentary content quotas have been suspended.
With the exception of the local content initiative, they are all reasonable support measures that are easily justified. However, they will do nothing more than tide things over for the moment. Unless the networks start thinking more strategically, they are on a collision course sending them towards irrelevance for a sizeable proportion of their erstwhile loyal audiences.


crikey--2020-04-21--After the collapse: what's next for Virgin Australia?

Having green-lighted Virgin Australia 's collapse into administration , the government will have to share in the fallout .
Not unlike what happened to Australia ’ s car manufacturing industry , Virgin Australia has been allowed to collapse into administration thanks to a conscious decision from the Coalition government .
It was formally announced to the ASX at 8.51am this morning .
The 11 person Virgin Australia board has lost control and four administrators from Deloitte are now in charge , although the management team remains in place under CEO Paul Scurrah .
The government formally rejected Virgin ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now have to own some of the consequences which flow from that .
Through this deliberate act , the government has decisively removed five foreign airline shareholders from the equation , crystallising collective losses for them of more than $ 1 billion : Frankly , the presence of three different sovereign governments — Singapore , UAE and China — on the register made it much harder to justify a bailout .
If those governments weren ’ t prepared to save Virgin in its current form why should Canberra ?
All have bigger battles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Branson has written a plaintiff letter seeking UK government support to save his 51 % owned Virgin Atlantic , plus the wider Virgin group .
Amongst the current shareholders , the government ’ s preferred owner of Virgin Australia is probably Singapore Airlines , but that will now be in the hands of administrators , who are seeking “ to restructure and refinance the business and bring it out of administration as soon as possible ” .
As was the case when Ansett collapsed , Virgin ’ s 10,000 staff will be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have first dibs on the $ 500 million-plus in cash still sitting on the Virgin Australia balance sheet .
But any new owner will have to be persuaded as to precisely how many planes , staff , airport leases and the like that it is prepared to take on .
So what happens next ?
The parties owed the $ 5.3 billion in debt — plus the additional huge sums that will be owed to staff , creditors , frequent flyers , airports and aircraft manufacturers — will need to be identified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A creditors committee will be formed and the creditors , including staff , will ultimately decide who owns Virgin going forward .
The federal government will no doubt be influential .
It is already a large and growing creditor which is directly funding Virgin ’ s skeleton service at the moment .
Virgin may also be one of the largest participants in the JobKeeper scheme .
If the company ’ s new owner is foreign , it will need approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board , and that would certainly be unlikely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government .
A quick sale is hard to comprehend because it ’ s unclear who would be prepared to pay serious money for Virgin until it is clear how long travel bans will last , how much cash this COVID-19 crisis will burn through and how much cost has been permanently taken out of the business during the administration process .
The Ansett administration process was very much driven by the Australian Council of Trade Unions , other unions and the workforce .
Its frequent flyer creditors were dismissed as silvertail creditors who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different this time — Virgin ’ s Velocity frequent flyer business was valued at more than $ 2 billion just last year when Virgin agreed to pay $ 700 million to buy back the 35 % stake it didn ’ t own from a private equity firm .
Today ’ s ASX announcement stressed that Velocity is a separate business which hasn ’ t gone into administration and is not branded “ Virgin ” .
However , without an associated flying airline that has a 32 % market share in Australia , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much diminished .
To preserve maximum value , the empire needs to be kept together .
Qantas was last night capitalised at $ 5.3 billion — the same nominal number as Virgin ’ s debt .
Realistically , the entire Virgin business should be worth around $ 4 billion , once the travel restrictions are lifted and assuming the federal government retains its policy position of supporting a domestic duopoly in the Australian aviation market .
However , whoever buys the business won ’ t necessarily have to keep calling itself Virgin .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ or even Australian Airlines would end the excessive $ 10 million a year that Richard Branson pocketed for many years just for the use of his Virgin brand .
Whatever happens , 17,000 small shareholders in Virgin have lost the lot , the lenders will clearly drop more than $ 1 billion in any restructure and thousands of staff will be negatively impacted .
Virgin has paid a heavy price for the controversial decision of former CEO John Borghetti to invest heavily in trying to match Qantas as a full-service airline , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will now be partially unwound — it is just a question of how much .
Qantas will be a clear winner as yet another of its competitors bites the dust .
The federal government is briefing out that Virgin will continue under new ownership and there is no way Qantas will be allowed to become a dominant monopoly .
Having green lighted today ’ s collapse , it will need to ensure that is the case .

Not unlike what happened to Australia’s car manufacturing industry, Virgin Australia has been allowed to collapse into administration thanks to a conscious decision from the Coalition government. It was formally announced to the ASX at 8.51am this morning.
The 11 person Virgin Australia board has lost control and four administrators from Deloitte are now in charge, although the management team remains in place under CEO Paul Scurrah.


crikey--2020-03-26--US jobless rate set to soar as ratings agency urges governments to spend, spend, spend

US economists fear unemployment could spike to 30 % in coming months .
The first indicator will emerge early tomorrow @ @ @ @ @ time tomorrow , we will get confirmation the world ’ s biggest economy has been @ @ @ @ @ brutal halt by the coronavirus pandemic .
That ’ s when the initial jobless claims @ @ @ @ @ reported by the US Labor Department .
It 's expected to be the biggest ever @ @ @ @ @ early warning system for the health of the US economy .
Last week , the @ @ @ @ @ of Americans filing for unemployment benefits had surged to 281,000 , up from 211,000 the @ @ @ @ @ across America ’ s services sector and some of its biggest industries , like airlines @ @ @ @ @

At 3.30am Sydney time tomorrow, we will get confirmation the world’s biggest economy has been brought to a dramatic and brutal halt by the coronavirus pandemic.
That’s when the initial jobless claims for last week will be reported by the US Labor Department. It’s expected to be the biggest ever rise seen in this key early warning system for the health of the US economy.
Last week, the Labor Department showed the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits had surged to 281,000, up from 211,000 the week before, as companies across America’s services sector and some of its biggest industries, like airlines, laid off workers.


crikey--2020-03-26--Inside Scott Morrison's very corporate COVID-19 commission

Prime Minister Scott Morrison 's new COVID-19 commission is a who 's who of Australian business leaders and bureaucrats .
@ @ @ @ @ refreshingly , at midday , Prime Minister Scott Morrison unveiled his new National Covid-19 Coordination @ @ @ @ @ whose job , the prime minister said , was `` quite simply , to solve @ @ @ @ @ that require the private sector working together with the private sector , CEOs , to @ @ @ @ @ be engaged with by CEOs to ensure that the private to private effort is there @ @ @ @ @ interest.
” It ’ s little surprise then , that the commission ’ s executive @ @ @ @ @ business leaders , with a few bureaucrats tossed in for good measure .

At a meeting held, refreshingly, at midday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison unveiled his new National Covid-19 Coordination Commission, an additional body whose job, the prime minister said, was “quite simply, to solve problems”.
“Problems that require the private sector working together with the private sector, CEOs, to talk to CEOs and to be engaged with by CEOs to ensure that the private to private effort is there solving problems in the national interest.”
It’s little surprise then, that the commission’s executive is stacked almost entirely with business leaders, with a few bureaucrats tossed in for good measure.