- PM has hook-up with G20 leaders today, wants to stress keeping supply chains open
- National Cabinet last night:
- agreed on an expansion of testing for frontline staff (to all healthcare workers)
- agreed to freeing up hospital beds by cancelling all elective surgery.
- next National Cabinet on Friday
- State governments are starting to act more individually (Vic govt flagging Stage Three restrictions, and NSW and ACT pressing in this direction)
- Rent issue growing
- Report that states planning to block landlords evicting tenants
- Vic Premier said rent issue ‘hardship-based’ support would be announced by PM today
- Federal Labor becoming more openly critical
- urging more stringent shutdown
- said there is a strong argument for closing schools
- urged fast-tracked third stimulus
- rejected premise of ‘balancing’ economy and health
- supportive of wage subsidies a la UK approach ‘so that employers have incentive to retain workers)
- urged government to make safety net ‘wider, stronger, and more substantial’
- continuing criticism of allowing early access of super for hardship
- Increasing pressure for Govt to look at UK (and others) wage subsidies Australian Retailers Association and COSBOA (and Unions)
- Speculation energy industry will stop power disconnections, waive late fees, for Covid-19 impacted people (to be announced today
- AMA pressing for school closures, and teachers unions also pressing strongly (influencing ALP)
- Barnaby Joyce urges action against profiteering by credit card providers and payday lenders
- WA introduced liquor rationing – one carton of beer per day
