- President Trump says ‘the incompetence of China’ has caused ‘mass worldwide killing.’
- US Secretary of State Pompeo has defended Australia. “The Chinese Communist Party chose to threaten Australia with economic retribution for the simple act of asking for an independent inquiry into the origins of the virus. It’s not right. We stand with Australia and the more than 120 nations now who have taken up the American call for an inquiry…’
- Energy Minister Taylor will today release the Technology Investment Road Map, pointing to a larger role for gas, hydrogen and pumped hydro rather than coal. (AFR)
- The Australian says that investment and tax incentives to drive cheaper energy costs are likely to be included in the October Budget.
- A leaked draft report by the manufacturing taskforce advising the NCCC recommends a range of measures to support manufacturing (Guardian):
- create a new Manufacturing Board reporting to the Minister; the creation of Industry Hubs; a national campaign to change the image of manufacturing;
- focus on particular areas: food and agritech; mintech and rare earths; energy and renewables, advanced building materials; healthcare and biotech; space; defence
- a big focus developing gas through the use of subsidies, underwriting, and co-investment.
- Safe Work Australia yesterday eased its guidelines on lifts.
- Changed from a requirement for four square metres per person to a rule which says physically distance ‘as far as you reasonably can.’ (AFR)
- Federal Court case yesterday has found that casual workers are entitled to full time worker entitlements such as annual leave, paid carers leave and paid compassionate leave. (AFR)
- The JobKeeper scheme is being oversubscribed (6.4m people subscribed vs 6m forecast), and may need fine-tuning. (AFR)
- says that one option flagged by experts might be to extend the 30 per cent revenue fall test from one month to three months from July
- Grattan Institute warns of October ‘cliff’ due to the ending of several programmes: JobKeeper ends, double-JobSeeker ends, welfare stimulus payments end, cash flow support for SMEs end, and six month loan deferrals from banks end. (AFR) – good reference for the homelessness inquiry submission http://www.afr.com/news/economy/rework-jobkeeper-or-risk-falling-off-a-cliff-20200520-p54upk?btis
- Many people withdrawing super early have been spending it on online wagering, according to ‘sources familiar with bank transaction data.’ (AFR)
- Andrew Hastie MP (Lib) has called for ’time-limited tax incentives’ to build self-reliance in key medical supplies and other critical goods in order to reduce dependence on China. (Australian)
- The Senate Select Committee into Covid-19 meets today from 10am. Witnesses include Attorney General Department (IR specialists), Fair Work Commission, Fair Work Ombudsman, and Treasury (including the Secretary).
