O75 Public Administration

Virus can live for 28 days

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Original article by Miles Kemp
Herald Sun – Page: 10 : 12-Oct-20

Research by the CSIRO has found that the COVID-19 virus can survive at room temperature on smooth, non-porous surfaces for at least 28 days. This includes polymer banknotes and the glass screens of mobile telephones. Previous research had suggested that the virus could survive on most surfaces for 3-7 days, and for up to 14 days at most. The CSIRO’s deputy director Debbie Eagles says the coronavirus can survive for up to 10 days longer than the flu virus, which underlines the need for good hygiene practices.

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CSIRO

Cash to go: the tax cuts start to flow

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Original article by Greg Brown
The Weekend Australian – Page: 1 & 7 : 10-Oct-20

The omnibus bill containing the federal Budget’s key tax measures was passed by both houses of Parliament on 9 October. The stage-two income tax cuts are expected to begin flowing through to workers’ take-home pay in November, after the Australian Taxation Office adjusts its withholding tax schedules. The omnibus bill also provides tax relief for corporate Australia, including a business investment allowance, a loss carry-back scheme and changes to the fringe benefits tax regime that will benefit small businesses.

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AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE

Mini-steps to Melbourne reopening

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Original article by Alex White, Sharon McGowan
Herald Sun – Page: 9 : 12-Oct-20

Victoria recorded 12 new coronavirus cases on 11 October, following 14 on the previous day; the state’s death toll from COVID-19 has risen by one to 810. Victoria’s 14-day average of new cases is now 9.6, and Premier Daniel Andrews has conceded that the target number for stage-four lockdown restrictions to be eased on 19 October is unlikely to be met. However, he has signalled that there will be "significant changes" to the restrictions, which could include allowing larger groups of people to gather outdoors. Restrictions on regional businesses are also likely to be relaxed. Meanwhile, the government has extended Victoria’s ‘State of Emergency’ and ‘State of Disaster’ declarations for another four weeks.

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VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

Andrews and staffers to hand over phone and text records

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Original article by Ewin Hannan, Tessa Akerman
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 12-Oct-20

The board of inquiry into Victoria’s botched hotel quarantine program has requested access to the telephone records of Premier Daniel Andrews and his senior staff. This includes Chris Eccles, the head of Department of Premier & Cabinet. Andrews has indicated that his government will provide full access to this data, including text messages and all messages that were posted on encrypted apps in relation to the quarantine program. The inquiry is still trying to determine who was responsible for the decision to use private security guards.

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VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

Upgraded NBN a more attractive takeover target

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Original article by Sally Patten
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 2 : 28-Sep-20

Telstra chairman John Mullen has welcomed the federal government’s decision to upgrade the national broadband network by rolling out fibre-to-the-premises to more households and businesses. He says the NBN will be easier to maintain than the current hybrid system, which includes fibre-to-the-node and the existing copper network. Amid speculation that the NBN will eventually be sold, Mullen says the upgraded network will be more attractive to potential investors, including Telstra’s own infrastructure division. However, InfraCo would need to be demerged in order to buy the NBN.

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TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS,INFRACO,NBN CO LIMITED

Deficit high but less than predicted

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Original article by Adam Creighton,Geoff Chambers
The Australian – Page: 4 : 28-Sep-20

Deloitte Access Economics expects the federal government to announce a 2020-21 Budget deficit of $198.5bn on 6 October. This is just $14bn higher than the government had forecast in June. Chris Richardson of Deloitte says personal and corporate income tax receipts will exceed the government’s low expectations, while commodity prices have been more resilient than anticipated. He notes that the iron ore price in particular is still well above the Treasury’s projections. However, Deloitte expects federal debt to be about $401bn higher than the government’s pre-pandemic forecasts in 2023.

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DELOITTE ACCESS ECONOMICS PTY LTD,AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Bringing forward tax cuts in federal budget fair, but not very effective: Deloitte

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Original article by Killian Plastow
The New Daily – Page: Online : 28-Sep-20

The federal government has flagged bringing forward tax cuts planned for 2024-25 when it hands down the budget on 6 October. There have been claims that doing so would increase inequality in Australia, but Chris Richardson from Deloitte Access Economics contends that the tax cuts are "fair". However, he suggests that while the tax cuts will help to stimulate the economy, other measures such as spending on infrastructure or social housing could be more effective, as the cuts will generally benefit high-income earners who are more likely to save the extra money than spend it.

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DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU LIMITED

A-G slams wharfies holding state to ransom

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Original article by Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 3 : 28-Sep-20

The federal government may intervene to end an industrial dispute at the Port Botany terminal of stevedoring firm Patrick. Attorney-General Christian Porter has indicated that he would be open to supporting Patrick if it applies to the Fair Work Commission to halt the Maritime Union of Australia’s industrial action. The MUA’s national secretary Paddy Crumlin says it is negotiating with stevedoring companies in good faith. He rejects suggestions that the legal industrial action has caused the massive delays at Port Botany that have been alleged by Patrick.

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PATRICK CORPORATION LIMITED,MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA,AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION,AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT

Victoria must wait for freedom

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Original article by Rebecca Urban,Remy Varga
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 28-Sep-20

Premier Daniel Andrews says further easing of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in Victoria will depend solely on case numbers rather than the timetable outlined in his government’s ‘roadmap’. Andrews announced a number of changes to lockdown rules on 27 September, including the abolition of Melbourne’s controversial nightly curfew. In addition, the next date for easing of restrictions has been brought forward by one week, to 19 October, while Andrews has again urged the need to "stay the course" in coming weeks. Victoria reported 16 new coronavirus cases on 27 September, following 12 on 26 September and 14 on the previous day. There are currently 399 active cases across Victoria, and the state’s COVID-19 death toll has risen to 784.

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VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

Labor MPs disgusted by treatment of Mikakos

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Original article by Alex White,Kieran Rooney,Sharon McGowan
Herald Sun – Page: 10 : 28-Sep-20

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has been criticised by some members of his own government over his treatment of former health minister Jenny Mikakos. One state Labor MP has described Daniels as a "tyrant" and a "dictator", after Mikakos resigned from both the health portfolio and parliament on 26 September. Mikakos said she cannot continue to serve in Andrews’ cabinet following his comments to the inquiry into the state’s hotel quarantine program. Amongst other things, Andrews said Mikakos was ‘accountable’ for the botched program. Martin Foley will take over the health portfolio.

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VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET,VICTORIA. DEPT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY