VIRUS DISEASES

Boosted funding for at-risk industries

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Original article by Geoff Chambers, Simon Benson, Richard Ferguson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 17-Mar-20

Legislating the federal government’s $17.6bn economic stimulus package will be a priority when parliament resumes on 23 March. The government will pursue additional stimulus measures that will target industries that will be hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic; the Budget in May is also tipped to include more government support for businesses. Meanwhile, the national cabinet will consider restrictions on gatherings in enclosed spaces such as cinemas and restaurants. The existing ban on gatherings of more than 500 people has resulted in the cancellation of many cultural and sports events.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Bosses call for wages freeze, or jobs will go

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 5 : 16-Mar-20

Master Grocers Australia has urged the Fair Work Commission to freeze award pay rates in the retail sector for 12 months in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The MGA warns in its submission to the FWC’s annual review of the minimum wage that the impact of the coronavirus is likely to be felt for at least a year, so it is not an appropriate time to be increasing award wages. The MGA also contends that a small increase in the minimum wage may be justified, but not the three per cent rise in 2019. Most workers employed by MGA members are paid minimum award rates.

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AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, MASTER GROCERS’ AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Sports TV rights deals in turmoil

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Original article by Leo Shanahan
The Australian – Page: 23 : 16-Mar-20

The growing list of sports events that have been cancelled or suspended due to the coronavirus has implications for broadcasting rights holders. Seven West Media faces the loss of about $90m in revenue if the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games are cancelled; however, it is believed that the debt-laden official broadcaster would save about $150m if this occurs, including the return of about $100m that the International Olympic Committee has already received. Broadcasters are not expected to seek refunds from sports bodies if seasons such as the AFL and NRL are suspended rather than cancelled.

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SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, SUPER RUGBY, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Coronavirus: Most people will catch it from those who seem perfectly healthy

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Original article by John Elder
The New Daily – Page: Online : 16-Mar-20

The World Health Organization has advised that people should keep at least a metre away from someone who is showing symptoms of the coronavirus. However, analysis suggests that the majority of people will contract the respiratory illness from somebody who is not showing any symptoms and is not aware that they have the virus. The fact that anybody you come into contact with could be infected underlines the importance of measures such as social distancing.

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WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

PM urges G20 to call crisis meeting

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 16-Mar-20

India and Australia are among the countries calling for an urgent meeting of the Group of 20 nations to better co-ordinate the world’s response to the coronavirus. The next G20 leaders’ summit is not due to be held until November. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says that as well as needing to hold a meeting of G20 leaders soon, there needs to be another meeting of the G20 finance ministers given the subsequent economic deterioration since the last one was held less than a month ago. He said any meeting would need to be held by videoconference, given the current travel bans.

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GROUP OF TWENTY (G-20), AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Virus puts nation on war footing

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Original article by Geoff Chambers, Simon Benson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 16-Mar-20

The global death toll from the coronavirus has risen to 6,492. More than 168,000 people worldwide have been diagnosed with the respiratory illness, including 300 in Australia, while the nation has recorded its fifth death from the pandemic. The federal government has announced that all people arriving in Australia from overseas will be required to self-isolate for 14 days; those who fail to do so can be jailed for up to 12 months and fined up to $50,000. International cruise ships will also be banned from Australian ports for at least 30 days, while a ban on non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people takes effect on 16 March.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Isolate rule to kill airlines: Flight Centre

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Original article by Simon Evans
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 16-Mar-20

Flight Centre CEO Graham Turner does not expect that self-quarantining people who arrive in Australia will be effective in stopping the coronavirus from spreading, while he warns that it will have a major impact on airlines and the domestic economy. Meanwhile, Qantas and Jetstar will offer travel credit vouchers to customers who want to cancel domestic and international flights that have been booked up to the end of May. Virgin Australia has advised that it is still considering its response to the new travel restrictions.

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FLIGHT CENTRE TRAVEL GROUP LIMITED – ASX FLT, QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN, JETSTAR AIRLINES PTY LTD, VIRGIN AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX VAH

Grand prix rocked by pit lane virus fear

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Original article by John Stensholt, Damon Johnston, Stephen Lunn
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 12-Mar-20

The Australian Formula One Grand Prix is still expected to go ahead on 15 March, but fans could be locked out if three members of the Haas and McLaren teams test positive for the coronavirus. They have been placed in isolation pending the outcome of the tests. All three recently arrived in Australia, and spectators will be forced to watch the race on TV if they test positive and are deemed to have caught the virus in Australia. The opening race of the F1 season at Albert Park had been expected to attract more than 300,000 fans over four days.

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AUSTRALIAN FORMULA ONE GRAND PRIX

Telstra offers affected staff 14 days’ leave pay

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 4 : 12-Mar-20

The ACTU has urged the federal government to underwrite two weeks’ paid leave for all permanent, casual and contract workers who are directly affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The proposal has been rejected by employers’ group and Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter. Meanwhile, Telstra has advised that all employees whose jobs mean they cannot work from home – such as technicians and store staff – will receive 14 days of paid leave if they are forced to self-isolate or must care for children due to the closure of schools or child-care centres. Less than 10 per cent of Telstra staff cannot work from home.

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ACTU, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, SKILLS, SMALL AND FAMILY BUSINESS, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS

Health minister says Australia cannot predict how many will die from coronavirus

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Original article by Melissa Davey
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 12-Mar-20

The global death toll from the coronavirus has risen to 4,607; more than 125,000 people worldwide have been diagnosed with the respiratory illness, including 129 in Australia. Meanwhile, Health Minister Greg Hunt stresses that it is too soon to predict the mortality rate in Australia or the number of people who will become infected. Some projections have suggested that up to 400,000 Australians could die, but virology experts argue that there is still not enough data for accurate modelling of the virus’s likely impact.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH