RECAP: Scott Morrison announces reduced JobKeeper, JobSeeker rates as Victoria records 374 new cases

21 Jul 2020 4:23pm

Thanks for reading and goodbye!

And that’s where I’ll leave the live blog today. You can keep up with the latest coronavirus news via the SBS News social media channels and website. You can also catch SBS World News at 6:30pm AEST tonight and listen to SBS Radio podcasts on demand.

Before I go, here’s a recap of the main stories of the day:

The federal government detailed its revised JobKeeper and JobSeeker schemes. My colleagues have broken the changes down and rounded up the reactions
Victoria recorded three new coronavirus deaths and 374 new cases
NSW reported 13 new cases, two of which are linked to the Crossroads Hotel cluster in Casula, which is now at 50
WA, the ACT and Queensland reported no new cases, but the latter is looking at possibly blacklisting more areas in NSW

See you next time, and remember:

Residents in metropolitan Melbourne are subject to stay-at-home orders and can only leave home for essential work, study, exercise or care responsibilities. People are also advised to wear masks in public.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
News and information is available in 63 languages at sbs.com.au/coronavirus

21 Jul 2020 3:57pm

AHPPC 'fully supports' mask-wearing in Melbourne

Prof Kidd says the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, the peak decision-making committee for public health emergency management, “fully supports” the move to enforce mask use in Melbourne from tomorrow.

“To the people of Melbourne, this measure will help keep you, your family and other members of the community safe from COVID-19. I know that it may seem odd to have to wear a mask and that the first time you wear one you may feel a little uncomfortable. But please be assured that you will very quickly become used to wearing a mask as millions and millions of people have right around the world.”

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews leaving his press conference in Melbourne earlier today. Source: AAP

He also says it “would be wise” for some people in Sydney to wear masks in certain situations, echoing comments from Gladys Berejiklian earlier in the day.

“Certainly for people in the areas where we're seeing community transmission in New South Wales, it would be wise for people to be wearing a mask, particularly in situations where physical distancing is not going to be possible and this may include, of course, being on public transport, going into the supermarket if it is crowded, going into elevators in high buildings.”

21 Jul 2020 3:45pm

Authorities remain 'deeply concerned' about number of new cases

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd has been speaking to reporters in Canberra.

He says the Department of Heath remains “deeply concerned” about the number of new COVID-19 cases being reported in Australia. He also, again, urges people to get tested if they show symptoms and asks people who’ve been diagnosed with the virus to follow the rules:

“If you are diagnosed with COVID-19, isolation is mandatory. It is essential that you follow the instructions of your state health authorities and you remain in isolation in your home. You must remain in isolation until your public health authority has advised you that it is safe to leave. You should keep a distance from other people in your home to avoid infecting others.”

He also breaks down some nationwide stats:

In the past 24 hours, 388 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 (including 374 people in Victoria and 13 in New South Wales)
In the past seven days, less than two per cent of new cases of COVID-19 have been overseas-acquired
In the past seven days, there have been 2,192 people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19
Nationwide, there are currently 183 people with COVID-19 in hospital, 174 of those people are in Victoria. Among those in hospital, 38 people are in intensive care units and 22 people are reported to be on ventilators.
To date, more than 3. 5 million COVID-19 tests have been carried out, more than 56,000 of them in the past 24 hours.
There has now been 126 deaths reported from COVID-19 in Australia

21 Jul 2020 3:28pm

Meanwhile, in Melbourne ...

Those familiar with Federation Square and the corner of Swanston and Bourke Streets in Melbourne will recognise these statues.

It appears someone's given them a facelift(mask).

Source: SBS / Rachel Cary, SBS News

Masks are seen on a statue along Swanston street in Melbourne, Monday, July 20, 2020.

Source: AAP / James Ross, AAP

21 Jul 2020 3:14pm

Tassie steps up hotel testing efforts

Here’s a story from earlier in the day: Tasmania is ramping up coronavirus testing efforts in hotel quarantine facilities after the state recorded its first infection in more than two months yesterday. AAP has more:

“From Wednesday, all people in state government-run quarantine facilities will be "strongly recommended" to get COVID-19 tests on days five and 12 of their fortnight stay.

The government stopped short of mandating the tests but said people could be forced to take one under public health orders.

It comes after a young woman who had returned from Victoria about a week ago tested positive while in hotel quarantine on Monday.

She is being treated in the Royal Hobart Hospital and is in a stable condition. As a precaution, current and former guests and staff at the hotel in Hobart are being offered testing.”

21 Jul 2020 2:53pm

Rush on masks keeping Melbourne migrant and refugee women in jobs

There has been at least one silver lining to come out of the second coronavirus lockdown in Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire.

Not-for-profit organisations that have pivoted into making reusable fabric face masks say they have been working around the clock to meet demand, which means more employment opportunities for migrant and refugee women.

You can read the full story from my colleague Maani Truu here.

SisterWorks employee Nur making reusable face masks from her home. Source: Supplied

21 Jul 2020 2:49pm

Tracing the last six months of COVID-19 via voice memo

The last six months have seen people lose jobs, return home, find new hobbies, and experience isolation not heard of since the Spanish Flu. SBS’ The Feed has been asking Australians to record their experiences on voice memo.

They’ve now compiled them for a special half-hour episode that airs tonight at 9:35pm on SBS.

You can also read a digital version here and explore an interactive website here.

21 Jul 2020 2:37pm

More mutual obligation details

Employment Minister Michaelia Cash and Social Services Minister Anne Ruston have issued a joint press release detailing the return of mutual obligation requirements on 4 August.

“Job seekers are expected to participate in appointments with providers, agree to a Job Plan, undertake a job search, and attend activities if it is safe to do so. If a job seeker is unable to meet their requirements no payment suspensions or financial penalties will be applied.

However, the Government expects job seekers who are in receipt of an income support payment to be willing to accept any offer of suitable paid work. From 4 August 2020, if a job seeker refuses an offer of suitable employment – without a valid reason – they may have their payment cancelled, and may need to wait for four weeks before they can reapply for income support."

Special circumstances exemptions will continue to be available, while sole traders and those who are self-employed will continue to be exempted from requirements, the ministers added.

More information is available here.

21 Jul 2020 2:05pm

More reaction to welfare extensions, from 'thrilled' to 'out of touch'

Here is some more reaction to today's JobSeeker and JobKeeper announcements.

The Victoria Tourism Industry Council is “thrilled” and says JobKeeper has made “all the difference in keeping the tourism, hospitality and events sectors alive”. Chief Executive Felicia Mariani says:

“JobKeeper has been the lifeline that every business across Australia has pointed to that’s allowed them to navigate the COVID-19 crisis over the last three months. Today’s announcement of the continuation of JobKeeper 2.0 in a tiered structure to end in March 2021, is the support that our industry has been praying for.”

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has also praised the JobKeeper move, but CEO James Pearson says people in business still face "tough decisions" over the coming six months, particularly with financial liabilities mounting up and reduced freedom of movement.

“It is important that the National Cabinet updates the national roadmap to provide more clarity to help businesses make decisions on if, and how, to continue to operate. Furthermore, as the cost of entitlements continues to back up, it is likely that downsizing in some businesses is inevitable. There are, however, markers indicating an uptick in employment in some industries.”

The Australian Unemployed Workers' Union has been, uh, rather less supportive.

The Australian Council of Social Service, which has long campaigned for a higher rate of JobSeeker, has criticised the government’s move as “out of touch”. CEO Cassandra Goldie says:

“The decision to reduce the JobSeeker payment in September will hurt millions of people just keeping their heads above water. It means from 25 September, a person on JobSeeker will lose $300 per fortnight or $150 per week, and face the prospect of a further cut just after Christmas. People need financial security and certainty at this anxious time. Today’s announcement gives them neither."

21 Jul 2020 1:54pm

Labor’s early reaction to the JobKeeper and JobSeeker announcements

The federal opposition has welcomed the extensions, but treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers says the JobSeeker rate should be higher.

"We think the government missed an opportunity today to give millions of Australians some clarity about what the future of the JobSeeker payment looks like … They have kicked the can down the road and people deserve more than that. They deserve more certainty than that and they deserve more than $40 a day."

He says he is looking to the government’s larger economic update, scheduled for Thursday, for more clarity about the state of the economy.

"We need to see four years of forecasts, and we need to see a plan for jobs in the recovery. We need to know from the government what their expectations are for how bad this recession will get, how much debt will be piled up to add to the record debt which was already there before the crisis, and how high unemployment will be for how long."

21 Jul 2020 1:18pm

Coronavirus numbers around the states

As we mentioned earlier before the flurry of media conferences, NSW has reported 13 new COVID-19 cases today.

Two are linked to the Crossroads Hotel cluster in Casula, which is now at 50. Ten are linked to Wetherill Park's Thai Rock restaurant cluster, now at 26, and the other case was in hotel quarantine.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian is holding off on enforcing mask use in public but urged people to wear masks where social distancing is impossible.

Meanwhile, Western Australia and the ACT have both reported no new cases today.

Queensland, which also reported no new cases today, is considering blacklisting more areas in NSW as the latter state tries to control a number of outbreaks. Queensland has declared the whole state of Victoria a hotspot, as well as the Liverpool and Campbelltown areas in Sydney near the Crossroads Hotel cluster.

Here's what Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said earlier today about the possible blacklisting of more areas:

"I had a preliminary discussion yesterday with the deputy premier and also the chief health officer. We're going to look at what happens in NSW today, but we are considering adding further hotspots at this stage."

21 Jul 2020 12:52pm

More on Victoria's coronavirus update

Taking you back to Victoria, where there has been three new coronavirus deaths and 374 new cases. You can read more about today’s update here.

There are now 3,078 active COVID-19 cases in the state and 174 people in hospital, 36 of whom are receiving intensive care. The number of deaths recorded in the state is now 42. The national toll is 126.

21 Jul 2020 12:33pm

'People are dying in Victoria'

Scott Morrison got a bit riled up earlier when asked if a version of JobKeeper could be in place until the next election.

“Andrew, politics is nowhere near my mind. I mean, I don’t think Australia could care less when the next election was and frankly right now it’s got nothing factoring into my thinking - not at all. I know it may totally fascinate people who stand in this courtyard, at least some of them, but it is just not a factor. I mean we have got an outbreak in Victoria and people are dying and you’re asking me questions about when the next election is. I think we need to focus on what the real issues are here and it’s not when the next election is.”

It's unclear who the Andrew in question was, but it does not appear to have been the ABC’s Andrew Probyn of previous press conference, and later TikTok, fame.

21 Jul 2020 12:18pm

JobKeeper review shows scheme was 'well-targeted' and 'effective'

On the review by Treasury into JobKeeper, Scott Morrison says it found:

JobKeeper met its primary objectives to save jobs and businesses and keep employers and employees connected
44 per cent of businesses on JobKeeper said the scheme influenced their decision to keep staff
Females made up 47.1 per cent of the recipients under JobKeeper compared to 44.9 per cent of the private sector workforce

He says:

"The review has found that [JobKeeper] has been well-targeted, it has been effective in stemming the loss of business closures and job losses, that it has saved businesses and it has saved livelihoods."

Josh Frydenberg says the extensions announced today should come as "a great relief to the Australian people".

21 Jul 2020 12:14pm

Why are the JobKeeper and JobSeeker timeframes different?

There’s been a bit of confusion as to why the JobSeeker extension is until December but the JobKeeper one goes until March. Scott Morrison says:

“There is a difference between JobKeeper and JobSeeker. JobKeeper requires that six-month period for employers to be able to plan. For those who are on JobSeeker, their plan is there and that is for us to assist them where possible to get them back into employment

For those who aren't in a job [our plan] is to help them get into a job or train them for a job. Our plan for those who are on JobKeeper in a business that is still eligible for that, is to maintain that support."

On JobKeeper, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says the cost of extending the scheme at the new reduced rate until March would be $16 billion. The extension brings the total cost of the program to $86 billion.

21 Jul 2020 11:46am

JobSeeker changes

Here are the changes for JobSeeker after 28 September:

The coronavirus supplement, currently $550, will be reduced to $250 until the end of the year

That means the maximum rate someone can receive will be about $800

The income threshold will be increased to $300, also until the end of the year
Mutual obligation will also restart on 4 August and people will need to undertake four job searches a month

Scott Morrison says the government will “make further decisions about JobSeeker closer to the end of the year or potentially even in the budget”. That budget is due to be delivered in October.

“It is our intention that we would expect that there would be likely a need to continue those supplements post-December. But there is a difference between JobKeeper and JobSeeker. JobKeeper requires that 6-month period for employers to be able to plan. For those who are on JobSeeker, their plan is there and that is for us to assist them where possible to get them back into employment.”

21 Jul 2020 11:37am

JobKeeper reduced to $1,200 a fortnight for full-time workers, $750 for those working less than 20 hours

Now to Canberra, where the federal government has confirmed what’s happening with its coronavirus support measures, including JobSeeker and JobKeeper. After 28 September, JobKeeker will be reduced to:

$1,200 per fortnight for full-time workers and $750 for those working less than 20 hours a week
Those figures will come down again for the March quarter to $1,000 for full-timers and $650 for those working under 20 hours a week

Scott Morrison says:

"JobKeeper is doing its job and will continue to do its job through the decisions we’re announcing today. Already just over $30 billion has been provided in support through the jobkeeper program to almost a million businesses, 960,000 thereabouts, supporting some 3.5 million employees."

21 Jul 2020 11:15am

374 new coronavirus cases and three deaths in Victoria

Victoria has recorded 374 new coronavirus cases and three deaths.

Of the new cases, 62 are connected to known outbreaks and 312 are under investigation.

The deaths included a woman in her 100s, a woman in her 90s and a woman in her 80s.

There are 174 people in Victorian hospitals, 36 of whom are in intensive care.

21 Jul 2020 11:08am

NSW records 13 new coronavirus cases

There has been 13 new cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. The state reported 20 new cases yesterday.

We'll bring you more on this soon.

21 Jul 2020 10:59am

Watch: Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg to announce details of welfare extensions

We're expecting the prime minister and treasurer to unveil the details of the government's overhaul of JobKeeper and JobSeeker any minute.

RECAP: Scott Morrison announces reduced JobKeeper, JobSeeker rates as Victoria records 374 new cases

The federal government detailed its revised JobKeeper and JobSeeker schemes, while Victoria recorded another 374 coronavirus cases.

Thanks for reading and goodbye!

AHPPC 'fully supports' mask-wearing in Melbourne

Authorities remain 'deeply concerned' about number of new cases

Meanwhile, in Melbourne ...

Tassie steps up hotel testing efforts

Rush on masks keeping Melbourne migrant and refugee women in jobs

Tracing the last six months of COVID-19 via voice memo

More mutual obligation details

More reaction to welfare extensions, from 'thrilled' to 'out of touch'

Labor’s early reaction to the JobKeeper and JobSeeker announcements

Coronavirus numbers around the states

More on Victoria's coronavirus update

'People are dying in Victoria'

JobKeeper review shows scheme was 'well-targeted' and 'effective'

Why are the JobKeeper and JobSeeker timeframes different?

JobSeeker changes

JobKeeper reduced to $1,200 a fortnight for full-time workers, $750 for those working less than 20 hours

374 new coronavirus cases and three deaths in Victoria

NSW records 13 new coronavirus cases

Watch: Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg to announce details of welfare extensions

previous

1of2

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RECAP: Scott Morrison announces reduced JobKeeper, JobSeeker rates as Victoria records 374 new cases

The federal government detailed its revised JobKeeper and JobSeeker schemes, while Victoria recorded another 374 coronavirus cases.

Thanks for reading and goodbye!

AHPPC 'fully supports' mask-wearing in Melbourne

Authorities remain 'deeply concerned' about number of new cases

Meanwhile, in Melbourne ...

Tassie steps up hotel testing efforts

Rush on masks keeping Melbourne migrant and refugee women in jobs

Tracing the last six months of COVID-19 via voice memo

More mutual obligation details

More reaction to welfare extensions, from 'thrilled' to 'out of touch'

Labor’s early reaction to the JobKeeper and JobSeeker announcements

Coronavirus numbers around the states

More on Victoria's coronavirus update

'People are dying in Victoria'

JobKeeper review shows scheme was 'well-targeted' and 'effective'

Why are the JobKeeper and JobSeeker timeframes different?

JobSeeker changes

JobKeeper reduced to $1,200 a fortnight for full-time workers, $750 for those working less than 20 hours

374 new coronavirus cases and three deaths in Victoria

NSW records 13 new coronavirus cases

Watch: Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg to announce details of welfare extensions

previous

1of2

next

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