RECAP: Victoria extends coronavirus support payment as government announces 'eye-watering' $184.5 billion budget deficit

23 Jul 2020 11:18am

Budget update key points

AAP has filed this handy list of key points:

Deficit of $184.5 billion for 2020/21, the largest since World War II
Deficit of $85.8 billion for 2019/20, reflecting the initial impact of the coronavirus
Government net debt to hit $677.1 billion in 2020/21, or 35.7 per cent of GDP, as a buffer against the coronavirus recession
Jobless rate averaged seven per cent in 2019/20 and is forecast to be 8.75 per cent in 2020/21, as industries such as tourism and hospitality are hit hard
Employment dropped by 4.4 per cent in 2019/20 but is forecast to grow by one per cent in 2020/21, driven by some parts of the country reopening faster than others
Real GDP of -0.25 per cent in 2019/20 and -2.5 per cent in 2020/21
Wages tipped to grow by 1.25 per cent in 2020/21
Inflation to remain subdued around 1.25 per cent in 2020/21

You can read the whole update here, if that’s your thing.

23 Jul 2020 11:15am

Budget deficit expected to grow this financial year to $184.5 billion

Australia's federal budget deficit for 2020/21 is forecast to be $184.5 billion due to a downturn in revenue and the cost of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The country’s net debt will soar to a record $677.1 billion at the end of this financial year, while the average unemployment rate is forecast to be 8.75 per cent in 2020/21.

Josh Frydenberg says the "eye-watering" numbers are bleak, but not unexpected:

These harsh numbers reflect the harsh reality we face.

23 Jul 2020 11:09am

Victoria records 403 new cases of COVID-19 and five deaths

Victoria has recorded 403 new cases of COVID-19 and five new deaths.

Three of the people who died were in aged care.

23 Jul 2020 11:05am

WATCH: Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to give COVID-19 update

The Victorian Premier is also about to step up to give today’s coronavirus update.

23 Jul 2020 10:56am

WATCH: Josh Frydenberg to give economic and fiscal update

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is about to start speaking in Canberra with the federal government's budget update. You can watch a live stream below.

23 Jul 2020 10:38am

Press conference updates

Once again, we have two important press conferences scheduled for the same time.

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews will give their budget and coronavirus updates respectively at 11am AEST.

We'll bring you live streams of both here on the blog. Stay tuned.

23 Jul 2020 10:29am

World wrap: Global coronavirus cases pass 15 million

In other overseas coronavirus news:

Global infections surged past 15 million early this morning, according to Johns Hopkins University figures. The largest outbreaks are in the United States, Brazil, India and Russia. Global infections passed 10 million less than a month ago.
On the topic of Brazil, President Jair Bolsonaro has again tested positive for coronavirus. The far-right leader, who has faced criticism for downplaying the pandemic and flouting social distancing measures, has been in self-isolation since first testing positive for the virus on 7 July.
Indian-administered Kashmir is imposing a strict lockdown until 29 July amid a surge in cases. India has significantly eased a months-long shutdown to revive its shattered economy, but numerous states have reimposed restrictions.
And as AFP reports, the Belgian national security council says the country is experiencing a dangerous surge in cases after relaxing many of its lockdown measures. It is urging social distancing to prevent a "snowball effect before it provokes a new avalanche".

23 Jul 2020 9:51am

Mask mandate in Port Moresby amid surge in cases

In mask news north of Australia, a rise in coronavirus cases in Port Moresby has prompted the Papua New Guinea government to mandate the wearing of face coverings in the city.

It comes amid concerns the country's vulnerable health system won’t be able to handle a large outbreak.

PNG has now recorded 30 cases of COVID-19, with many part of a cluster around the Port Moresby General Hospital.

23 Jul 2020 9:37am

Labor warns government will try to pull a 'swifty' in budget update

Labor's treasury spokesperson Jim Chalmers has also been speaking ahead of today's budget update.

He's called for the government to outline a genuine plan for jobs and not just provide a "grim" economic outlook. He also said he expects them to blame the large anticipated deficit on the coronavirus.

"The government will try and pull a swifty today. They'll try and pretend that all of these hundreds of billions of dollars of debt, are purely a consequence of the COVID-19 crisis. Australians shouldn't be conned today by the marketing spin of the Morison government. What they need to hear is not more spin, not more marketing. They need to hear a comprehensive plan for jobs."

23 Jul 2020 9:37am

Melbourne mask rules, explained

Confused about the new mask rules in Melbourne? The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services has distributed this handy edict. It includes some FAQs, including a list of exempt parties and circumstances in which it is lawful to not be wearing as mask, which are:

Infants and children under the age of 12 years.
A person who is affected by a relevant medical condition - including problems with their breathing, a serious skin condition on the face, a disability or a mental health condition. This also includes persons who are communicating with a person who is hearing impaired, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication.
Persons for whom wearing a face covering would create a risk to that person’s health and safety related to their work, as determined through OH&S guidelines.
Persons whose professions require clear enunciation or visibility of their mouth. This includes teaching or live broadcasting.
Professional sportspeople when training or competing.
When the individual is doing any exercise or physical activity where they are out of breath or puffing; examples include jogging or running but not walking. You must have a face covering on you and wear it when you finish exercising.
When directed by police to remove the face covering to ascertain identity.
The person is travelling in a vehicle by themselves or with other members of their household.
When consuming food, drink, medication or when smoking/vaping.
When asked to remove a face covering to ascertain identity, for example at a bank branch or bottle shop.
When undergoing dental treatment or other medical care to the extent that the procedure requires that no face covering may be worn
During emergencies.

Victoria Police have said they will “exercise discretion” when enforcing the mask rule during its first week.

23 Jul 2020 9:07am

Mathias Cormann: 'thing are hard, things are difficult'

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has been speaking in Canberra ahead of the budget update today.

The government is expected to unveil the biggest deficit since World War II.

Here’s some of what Senator Cormann had to say:

“We are in a challenging position, there's no sugar-coating this. We did what we had to do given the economic fallout of this one-in-100 year pandemic. But we are in a comparatively stronger position than most other countries. Things are hard, things are difficult, but they're not as bad as they could have been. They're not as bad as they are in many other parts of the world.”

23 Jul 2020 9:16am

COVID-19 closes Sydney aged care centre and schools north of Newcastle

Ashfield Baptist Homes, an aged care centre in Sydney's inner west, has closed to visitors after a staff member returned a positive coronavirus test. Tomaree Public School, Tomaree High School and Goodstart childcare at Anna Bay, located north of Newcastle, have also been closed.

Per AAP:

"NSW Health began testing all staff and residents at Ashfield Baptist Homes on Wednesday and the aged care facility is expected to remain closed until 31 July pending test results. The staff member dined at Thai Rock at Wetherill Park on 12 July. The restaurant has been associated with an outbreak of 37 confirmed cases in NSW.

An Ashfield Baptist Homes spokeswoman confirmed the staff member worked three shifts after visiting the restaurant and that families are able to arrange access to their loved ones "on a case by case compassionate basis.

Just north of Newcastle, Tomaree Public School, Tomaree High School and Goodstart childcare centre at Anna Bay will all be closed for contact tracing and deep cleaning, after three new cases in the area were linked to a 60-year-old man with coronavirus.

Authorities say more information and advice will be provided on Thursday morning by Hunter New England Health."

23 Jul 2020 8:44am

Budget update: What we know so far

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is standing up at 11am in Canberra to give an update about what's happening with the budget deficit. It looks bad. We're not expecting anything too detailed today, however, as there's a proper budget update set for 6 October, and the JobKeeper and JobSeeker announcements were brought forward to Tuesday.

Here's more on what's expected today from AAP:

"The update is expected to show Victoria's six-week renewed lockdown to contain the second wave of coronavirus infections will slice $3.3 billion off the national economy.

The government has spent or planned $164 billion of supports, notably the $86 billion JobKeeper wage subsidy and $17 billion JobSeeker supplement.

Company tax is forecast to drop by a seventh, or $25 billion over the two financial years.

Economists are predicting Mr Frydenberg will detail a deficit for 2020/21 of between $230 billion and $240 billion."

23 Jul 2020 8:23am

Why are COVID-19 cases not dropping in Melbourne?

It’s a question many people around Australia are currently asking. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews shed a little light on it yesterday, revealing most people in the state had failed to self-isolate immediately after showing coronavirus symptoms.

But as my colleague Nick Baker found out, experts say there are a few other reasons. You can read about them here.

23 Jul 2020 8:21am

Why some Australians are rebelling against coronavirus face mask advice

As I mentioned Melburinans, or at least those in metropolitan areas and the Mitchell Shire, now must wear masks outside of their homes. They risk a $200 fine for not following the new rule, while people in regional Victoria are also being encouraged to wear masks as a precaution.

Health authorities have been increasingly urging Australians to wear face masks in certain situations, though a small number of people have been rebelling against that advice.

SBS News’ Jarni Blakkarly spoke to a few experts about why some people are hesitant to mask up.

Source: SBS / Rachel Cary, SBS News

23 Jul 2020 8:18am

Good morning!

Welcome back to the SBS News live blog. My name is Evan Young and I’ll be here with all the main coronavirus news today, including the federal government’s budget update and the latest from Victoria, where Melburnians are now required to wear face masks outside of their homes.

If you want to get in contact, you can do so by emailing me at evan.young@sbs.com.au or tweeting at @evanb_y.

And a reminder: for everything else happening in the world, you can follow SBS News on Twitter and Facebook.

RECAP: Victoria extends coronavirus support payment as government announces 'eye-watering' $184.5 billion budget deficit

Follow the latest coronavirus news today via the SBS News live blog.

Budget update key points

Budget deficit expected to grow this financial year to $184.5 billion

Victoria records 403 new cases of COVID-19 and five deaths

WATCH: Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to give COVID-19 update

WATCH: Josh Frydenberg to give economic and fiscal update

Press conference updates

World wrap: Global coronavirus cases pass 15 million

Mask mandate in Port Moresby amid surge in cases

Labor warns government will try to pull a 'swifty' in budget update

Melbourne mask rules, explained

Mathias Cormann: 'thing are hard, things are difficult'

COVID-19 closes Sydney aged care centre and schools north of Newcastle

Budget update: What we know so far

Why are COVID-19 cases not dropping in Melbourne?

Why some Australians are rebelling against coronavirus face mask advice

Good morning!

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RECAP: Victoria extends coronavirus support payment as government announces 'eye-watering' $184.5 billion budget deficit

Follow the latest coronavirus news today via the SBS News live blog.

Budget update key points

Budget deficit expected to grow this financial year to $184.5 billion

Victoria records 403 new cases of COVID-19 and five deaths

WATCH: Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to give COVID-19 update

WATCH: Josh Frydenberg to give economic and fiscal update

Press conference updates

World wrap: Global coronavirus cases pass 15 million

Mask mandate in Port Moresby amid surge in cases

Labor warns government will try to pull a 'swifty' in budget update

Melbourne mask rules, explained

Mathias Cormann: 'thing are hard, things are difficult'

COVID-19 closes Sydney aged care centre and schools north of Newcastle

Budget update: What we know so far

Why are COVID-19 cases not dropping in Melbourne?

Why some Australians are rebelling against coronavirus face mask advice

Good morning!

previous

2of2

next

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