VIRUS DISEASES

World Health Assembly agrees to independent inquiry and global strategy to fight COVID-19

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Original article by
The New Daily – Page: Online : 20-May-20

The World Health Assembly has formally adopted a resolution calling for an impartial and independent review into the global response to the coronavirus pandemic. There was unanimous support among the World Health Organization’s member nations for the push to hold an inquiry, which had been led by Australia and the European Union. Health Minister Greg Hunt and Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne have welcomed the passing of the resolution.

CORPORATES
WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE

Xi backs down on virus inquiry, pledges $3bn to recovery

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Original article by Will Glasgow, Simon Benson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 19-May-20

Chinese President Xi Jinping has agreed to support an independent inquiry into the origin of the coronavirus after it is brought under control. China was under growing pressure to back an inquiry after some 121 of the World Health Organization’s 194 member countries agreed to back a resolution calling for such an inquiry. Xi has also indicated that China will provide $US2bn ($3.1bn) to help with the global response to the pandemic and said that China will ensure that any vaccine it develops is made available globally.

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WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

World coalition backs Australia

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Original article by Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 18-May-20

The UK, New Zealand and Japan are among 62 nations that have agreed to support a motion calling for an independent inquiry into the origin of the coronavirus when the World Health Assembly meets on 18 May. Australia has led the push for an inquiry into the pandemic, and Foreign Minister Marise Payne stresses that international collaboration is needed so the world can prevent or respond to future pandemics. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has indicated that the US may be prepared to restore its funding for the World Health Organization, although only the same amount of money that China contributes.

CORPORATES
WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Rio boss warns of volatility, nationalism

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Original article by Nick Evans
The Australian – Page: 13 & 16 : 14-May-20

Rio Tinto CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques has warned that global commodity markets will continue to experience volatility in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, while global GDP growth will be hit. Jacques says is too soon to know whether there will be a V-shaped economic recovery. He also says the movement of people and goods will be restricted in the wake of the pandemic, while there could be a fundamental shift in global wealth distribution. Jacques noted that Rio Tinto’s mining operations will be affected by an increase in geopolitical tensions in the post-pandemic environment.

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RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO

Australia used as example to warn world

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Original article by Adam Creighton
The Australian – Page: 5 : 14-May-20

The motives for China’s decision to suspend beef imports from Australia continue to attract scrutiny. Richard McGregor of the Lowy Institute says China is sending a message to countries that cross it politically. There have been suggestions that the ban is in retaliation to Australia’s push for an independent inquiry into the origins of COVID-19. Stephen Kirchner of the US Studies Centre believes that the threat of punitive tariffs on Australian barley is in response to the anti-dumping duties being imposed on Chinese steel, rather than the proposed coronavirus inquiry.

CORPORATES
LOWY INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL POLICY, UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES. UNITED STATES STUDIES CENTRE

V-shaped recovery unlikely: BHP

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Original article by Nick Evans
The Australian – Page: 13 : 13-May-20

BHP CEO Mike Henry expects global demand for copper and steel to fall sharply in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, while he warns that demand for oil may not return to pre-virus levels for at least 18 months. Henry has told a Bank of America conference that a V-shaped economic recovery is now unlikely, except in China, and he has signalled that BHP will further reduce exploration capital expenditure when its 2019-20 full-year results are released.

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BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP

Price collapse burying 31pc of coal mines

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 14 & 16 : 11-May-20

The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in a sharp fall in demand from major thermal coal buyers such as Japan and India. This has in turn seen the price of top quality coal from New South Wales and Queensland falling by 27 per cent and 30 per cent respectively. Rory Simington of Wood Mackenzie estimates that about 31 per cent of Australia’s thermal coal exports are unprofitable at current prices. He adds that a significant proportion of Australia’s coal output is sold via long-term contracts. However, the recent price falls will eventually flow through to future contracts.

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WOOD MACKENZIE

BHP to trial own contact tracing app on sites

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Original article by Nick Evans
The Australian – Page: 16 : 8-May-20

BHP will shortly commence field trials of a coronavirus contact-tracing app that has been developed in-house. BHP will initially trial the app at its mines in Chile, although the app may be rolled out across its global operations. BHP has stressed that employees and contractors can choose not to use the app, and it says data gathered by the app will only be accessed by the company’s health and safety officers. BHP is also encouraging its Australian employees to download the federal government’s COVIDSafe app.

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BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP

Back to school, except Victoria and Tasmania

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Original article by Robert Bolton
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 5-May-20

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced students will start returning to school on 11 May, with all years to be back by 25 May. The New South Wales government is adopting a staggered return of its students, with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian hoping this will mean that most students will be back at school by the end of May. This leaves Tasmania and Victoria as the only states resisting federal government advice to return to face-to-face teaching, although Independent Schools of Victoria CEO Michelle Green notes Victoria’s chief health officer will review his current advice on May 11.

CORPORATES
QUEENSLAND. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS VICTORIA INCORPORATED

Class action threat against travel providers over coronavirus vouchers

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Original article by Alison Xiao
abc.net au – Page: Online : 5-May-20

Slater & Gordon has announced plans for a class action against travel providers over the treatment of customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Andrew Paull from Slater & Gordon claims travel providers have pressured customers into accepting limited travel vouchers as a result of cancellations caused by the pandemic, when in fact customers were entitled for a full cash refund. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission has received over 6,000 complaints from customers of travel companies regarding cancellation fees and refund policies.

CORPORATES
SLATER AND GORDON LIMITED – ASX SGH, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, FLIGHT CENTRE TRAVEL GROUP LIMITED – ASX FLT