As so often with Morrison, there is no overall strategy – simply a series of reactive measures which, he hopes, will do the job unless a next one is needed. and then another one, and another one …
Scott Morrison insists that his message is clear – the government is fully on top of the coronavirus crisis, there is no reason for doubt or uncertainty.
Well, up to a point, prime minister. Viewed individually, ScoMo’s present barrage of edicts are indeed firm and unequivocal. If they are taken at face value, there is no room for confusion.
But the problem is that, taken together, they are not only confusing but often self-contradictory. As so often with Morrison, there is no overall strategy – simply a series of reactive measures which, he hopes, will do the job unless a next one is needed. and then another one, and another one …
The basic dilemma that has still not been resolved is whether we are to treat this as a disaster on a truly monumental scale, a crisis like the great pandemics of the past, rivaling world wars and the Great Depression in their long term destruction; or a temporary set back – a severe one, no doubt, but an aberration that can be managed with a shit load of taxpayer money a dash of discipline and patriotism until we bounce back and a resiient Australia resumes its triumphal progress under the steady and stable hands of the coalition.
In the first scenario, we have closed our borders, the Reserve Bank has taken unprecedented steps to save the remnants of a devastated economy and a quasi state of emergency is in place – there is even talk of the free-enterprise government considering nationalising sections of industry and rationing essential goods
But on the other side, gatherings have been limited but not shut down, schools, universities and even casinos remain open for business, and although I have been condemned to home isolation, I am able — indeed encouraged – to watch TV sport in which groups of athletes indulge in as much close personal contact as possible.
And there is confusion at all levels. In spite of Morrison’s worthy initiative in bringing the state and territory leaders into a national cabinet, he has mean-mindedly excluded the federal opposition .. Anthony Albanese has pointedly not been offered a guernsey. Although the idea is apparently to coordinate a nationwide approach Tasmania has effectively seceded from the mainland. Mixed messages galore.
And there is little point in telling everyone else to shut up and do what we are told, when those telling us admit that things are changing too fast for even them to catch up. The chief Medical Officer, Brendan Murphy, said last week that the schools would, must, stay open – for now, but if circumstances changed, so would the policy.
Fair enough, but hardly reassuring to those who are already conflicted about what to do with their children. The Catholics are in open warfare, and some others in the private sector are voting with their feet. The arguments are complex and there is sense on both sides.
Morrison is adhering to the official, current, advice – he says he is happy to send his own children to school and for what it’s worth I feel the same about my grandchildren. But I do not regard Morrison’s – or my own – preference as making the position, or the message, unequivocally clear.
It would be nice to think that the resumption of parliament will sort it all out. Perhaps such wishful thinking is about all we have left.
Republished with – I devoutly hope – the kind permission of John Menadue
THE PUB 
Dear Moderators
There is no link on previous thread
F.M –
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/23/the-country-is-being-run-by-a-marketing-manager-who-cant-get-the-message-out-dont-go-out
My sincere apologies, CKW.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
One-third of people in the latest Guardian Essential survey believe there has been an overreaction to the threat of the coronavirus, and only 35% of the sample trust the media to give them honest and reliable information about the pandemic. These are the “quiet Australians” I presume.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/mar/24/guardian-essential-poll-one-third-say-there-has-been-an-overreaction-to-coronavirus
Peter Hartcher describes Australia as the Commonwealth of confusion.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/greetings-from-australia-the-commonwealth-of-confusion-20200323-p54cxj.html
The Canberra Times editorial says that the national cabinet has failed to deliver unity through the pandemic.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6692878/give-us-a-government-of-national-unity/?cs=14258
Paul Bongiorno describes Morrison as a “besieged PM caught in the coronavirus swamp, up to his neck in alligators”.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2020/03/23/coronavirus-scott-morrison-paul-bongiorno/
Trump, unquestionably, is an idiot. A dangerous one.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/donald-trump-grows-frustrated-with-cost-of-coronavirus-crackdown-20200324-p54d7i.html
And the progress of the massive coronavirus stimulus bill was blocked by Senate Democrats late on Sunday night, local time, as partisan disputes raged over the legislation that’s aimed at arresting the economy’s precipitous decline. The stoush is over what the Democrats say is the big bias in favour of business.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/senate-falls-far-short-of-votes-needed-to-advance-coronavirus-bill-20200323-p54d35.html
It is much-derided big businesses that will do the heavy lifting of keeping Australia moving — and help bring it to the other side says the AFR editorial.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/big-business-helps-maintain-the-nation-s-fabric-20200323-p54cuj
As the country runs short of critical medicines and life-saving protective gear, Michael West reports on those profiting from the tragedy.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/doctors-and-nurses-exposed-medicines-run-short-while-profiteers-run-rampant/
Our politicians scramble for hope as Australia, one of the most gregarious nations on earth, folds in on itself writes Katharine Murphy.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/mar/23/politicians-scramble-for-hope-as-australia-folds-in-on-itself
Behind the facade of high-level consultations among state and federal leaders, there are growing disagreements on everything from schools to travel bans. No wonder the public is confused writes Jennifer Hewett.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/national-cabinet-shows-multiple-failings-at-all-levels-20200323-p54d1a
Michelle Grattan believes that a contest of credible views should be seen as useful in a national crisis.
https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-a-contest-of-credible-views-should-be-seen-as-useful-in-a-national-crisis-134419
Berejiklian’s decision to keep children at home while schools remain open has created confusion and anxiety among parents craving certainty.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/mixed-messages-on-schools-not-an-open-and-shut-case-20200323-p54cvy.html
At the risk of infuriating every aged person in Australia, asking them to self-isolate at home for a few months could go a long way to reducing the strain on hospitals urges economist David Bassanese.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/how-can-we-flatten-the-curve-without-flattening-the-economy-20200323-p54d31
Dana McCauley reports that doctors are arguing hospitals are putting lives at risk by continuing with “non-essential” operations while stocks of protective masks run low.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/it-s-pure-greed-call-for-elective-surgery-to-be-shut-down-as-masks-run-low-20200323-p54d3h.html
Anatomy of a coronavirus disaster: how 2,700 people were let off the Ruby Princess cruise ship by mistake.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/24/anatomy-of-a-coronavirus-disaster-how-2700-people-were-let-off-the-ruby-princess-cruise-ship-by-mistake
As the country moves into lockdown mode in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are increasingly faced with serious ethical questions about what ordinary people should be obliged to do for others writes ethicist Professor Hugh Breakey.
https://theconversation.com/acting-selfishly-has-consequences-right-now-why-ethical-decision-making-is-imperative-in-the-coronavirus-crisis-134350
Sam Maiden reports that teachers are threatening to walk off the job in New South Wales and Queensland unless greater protections are put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2020/03/23/coronavirus-teachers-federation-strike-threat/
Stepping up to the plate is going to cost banks’ balance sheets, revenues and profits writes Elizabeth Knight.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/banks-are-bleeding-as-they-take-a-bullet-for-the-economy-20200323-p54d2o.html
Australia’s COVID-19 testing regime is among the world’s best, health experts have said, despite test kits for the coronavirus running low.\ reports Isabelle Lane.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/life/science/2020/03/24/coronavirus-test-kits-australia/
Some countries are better equipped than others to handle a pandemic. Alan Austin assesses readiness in Australia and the USA for the coming storm.
https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/pandemic-hospital-beds-who-is-prepared,13718
When it comes to unemployment in Australia, definitions have been broken writes Greg Jericho.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2020/mar/24/when-it-comes-to-unemployment-in-australia-definitions-have-been-broken
AFL players have offered to take a 50 per cent pay cut until football resumes, and are struggling to come to terms with life without football.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl/pay-cuts-and-dumbbells-in-the-boot-players-adjust-to-no-footy-20200323-p54d5a.html
Josh Taylor explains how the government services minister, Stuart Robert, has had to walk back a claim that the MyGov website suffered a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack yesterday just as people were logging on to register for welfare services.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/mar/23/incompetence-attack-mygov-website-did-not-crash-because-of-ddos-cyber-assault-as-stuart-robert-claimed
Why housing evictions must be suspended to defend us against coronavirus.
https://theconversation.com/why-housing-evictions-must-be-suspended-to-defend-us-against-coronavirus-134148
With the economy coming to a stall, the Federal Government should remap Australia’s energy landscape, writes Tim Buckley.
https://independentaustralia.net/environment/environment-display/investing-in-a-more-sustainable-energy-future,13720
New Zealand is moving to a near-complete societal lockdown within 48 hours as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern aims to seize on a “window of opportunity” to contain COVID-19. Military personnel will join with police in enforcing nationwide self-isolation under the unprecedented restrictions.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/oceania/we-have-102-cases-so-did-italy-once-nz-enters-coronavirus-lockdown-20200323-p54d07.html
Coronavirus cases surge in Italy, Iran, US while Pope calls for prayer. That will be a great help!
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/coronavirus-cases-surge-in-italy-iran-us-while-pope-calls-for-prayer-20200323-p54ctq.html
Adam Triggs writes that a wave of financial crises is looming and it’s clear what needs to be done.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6691937/a-wave-of-financial-crises-is-looming-its-clear-what-needs-to-be-done/?cs=17318
We can’t let the coronavirus lead to a 9/11-style erosion of civil liberties writes Samuel Miller McDonald.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/23/coronavirus-civil-liberties-authoritarian-measures
More than 2 million Australians could be without a job as companies sack workers due to restrictions to stop infection.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/worst-since-1932-two-million-aussies-face-unemployment-queue-20200323-p54d14.html
Rachel Siewert writes that the government should suspend mutual obligations for JobSeeker payment.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6691966/government-should-suspend-mutual-obligations-for-jobseeker-payment/?cs=14329
Private schools are expected to get a $3.4 billion boost over the next decade under measures passed by federal parliament. Why now?
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6692199/private-schools-to-get-34b-cash-bonanza/?cs=14350
Regional media owners are asking the Morrison government to release funds from the small and regional publishers innovation package as they scramble to adapt to market conditions caused by COVID-19.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/regional-publishers-urge-government-to-release-40m-in-funds-20200323-p54czl.html
Infections have soared across New York state, which now accounts for roughly 5 per cent of the world’s confirmed cases.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/new-york-in-lockdown-as-city-becomes-next-major-epicentre-20200323-p54d4b.html
Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters tell us that the AFP has interviewed former SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith over allegations he kicked an Afghan prisoner off a cliff in a serious development in the long-running saga involving Australia’s most decorated Afghan veteran.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/war-hero-ben-roberts-smith-interviewed-by-police-over-alleged-killing-20200323-p54cze.html
And for nomination for “Arseholes of the Week” we have this charming couple.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/sydney-couple-plead-guilty-to-1-5m-ndis-fraud-that-funded-lavish-lifestyle-20200323-p54cy0.html
And this mongrel!
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/father-who-used-daughter-as-sexual-plaything-gets-16-years-jail-20200319-p54bq3.html
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
David Pope
Dionne Gain
Andrew Dyson
John Shakespeare
Peter Broelman
Johannes Leak
https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/4b5f017fa602ac69ec441988e32ed928?width=1024
From the US
Did the 7AM thing at Woolies today
Toilet paper: none
Pasta: none
Rice: minuscule
Anti-bacterial stuff: none
Fruit: fine
Vegies: fine
Meat: just OK
Canned vegies: just OK
Eggs: I think I saw 10 cartons
Why would asking over-60s to self-isolate for a few months be “infuriating every aged person in Australia”?
More ageism – sigh.
Why single out over-60s? Won’t self-isolation be just as infuriating, annoying, difficult, whatever, for younger people? I get the point David Bassanese is trying to make, but he could have chosen better wording.
Even more infuriating for young ones and children.
Luckily we don’t do a lot of socialising, so it doesn’t feel much different for us. But we will miss going to the local footy instead this winter we can look forward to not leaving the nice warm fire in the middle of winter. I feel more sorry for the teenagers that won’t be able to mingle with their mates to keep them occupied. I worry for some that might just get into very bad mischief.
2gravel –
Same for me. I don’t go out much, I prefer being at home. Self-isolating would just mean getting the groceries etc delivered and not seeing my friends. I’d cope well because I am almost self-isolating now.
Thanks to Truffles and Tones this is something we won’t get to hear from NBN. Should be “fun” when the lock down tightens up .
——————————————
And Chorus says fixed-line broadband had no problems – and despite escalating use, it still has a lot of headroom thanks to upgrades over the past decade associated with the public-private Ultrafast Broadband (UFB) rollout and other projects.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=12319234
A lament from Robert Fisk. Pity it is paywalled but the gist resonates.
.
Will this nonsense language dull our reality or will we be bored to death before the virus reaches us?
The outbreak of coronavirus has led to loaded phrases, a rash of cliches and weary metaphors. This contamination of our speech is isolating meaning, destroying semantics and, worse still, trivialising the crisis, says Robert Fisk
…….Few of us now question the loaded phrases, the old cliches put to new use, the tired metaphors and the weary references to war and frontlines – even, inevitably I suppose, to the Second World War.
https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium/long-reads/coronavirus-language-cummings-herd-immunity-a9417551.html
Hello all, I am back from the Great Ocean Walk. There are no backpackers to bring in the potato harvest. Perhaps laid off cleaners could be redeployed to fumigating every public transport carriage, bus, ferry daily
PatriciaWA – sorry to hear about the loss of your dog
Why would people have confidence in the Morrison government when he has proved to be mean and tricky at every turn
1. his kids not at school for last 3 weeks, I understand one daughter has asthma
2. bushfire payments not made
3. drought payments not distributed
4. people retrenched now will not get Newstart/Job Seeker until 27 April
5. still insisting on Mutual Obligation activities
I hadn’t realised that with libraries closing that many people can’t use MyGov
Although Dr Norman Swan says everyone should be on My Health record I opted out because the government was selling the health data
oh I forgot the confusion about the two-tier Job Seeker payment and does the higher payment cut out after 6 months
The walk guides were laid off as the walk completed. we gave them large tips so they had petrol money to get home
I have changed my shopping patterns to shop like a Russian, out daily looking for things, ready to buy if they are available. My closest supermarket is stocked around 11am on Fridays and Tuesdays so its worth queuing at Aldi which is restocked daily
Can someone, somewhere out there in the blogosphere explain to me.
I don’t know how many people realise this, but we have pretty much had a coup.
Parliament won’t sit again until at least August, possibly October. (Maybe never, if the CrimeMinister gets his wish to be Supreme Dictator.)
It is a big worry to know our parliament will not sit for months. If there is any emergency needing urgent legislation then what happens? Parliament could sit by video link, should be doing that, but our troglodyte government can’t manage that.
Yesterday an omnibus bill was passed – it did not just contain the stimulus packages. It also contained the delay of all committee reports and the delay of all programs up for review until October/December.
That includes a review of the cashless debit card, so for anyone hoping they might soon see the death of this card – well, tough. It also means all those currently registering for Centrelink payments in CDC trial areas will be put onto the card because trigger payments have not been changed.
From yesterday –
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SN7Resources/permalink/2811696659076797/
Ministers now have new powers. For example Anne Ruston, one of the most braindead in a ministry of incredibly stupid people, now has the power to change stimulus packages. As she knows bugger all about what the packages contain as it is I can’t see this ending well. Yesterday she was using weasel words to tell new Centrelink clients they would be paid from the day they registered. True, but what she wasn’t saying was they will have to wait weeks for their first payment. I hope the lady in tears outside a closed Sydney Centrelink office yesterday with only $10 in her wallet has family or good friends who can support her until she gets her payment.
Here’s Ms Ruston today –
Just ring Centelink, she says. Doesn’t she know it’s impossible to get through?
And for those already on Jobseeker payments who have to register fortnightly … how are we to contact MyGov when it is already overloaded? Will our payments be automatically paid because of this kerfuffle?
They should waive all obligations.
The government did suspend mutual obligations for single parents on the awful ParentsNext scheme, but not for JobSeeker.
It will be good to see all those now suspended/out of work ParentsNext caseworkers lining up outside Centrelink offices. That’s a whole tanker-load of karma.
Katharine is so over it
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/24/stuart-roberts-incompetence-on-mygov-should-accelerate-his-own-social-isolation
It is not open for comment 😀
Seth Meyers –
I’ve been trying all day to get on the mygov site to lodge an invoice……………no go……..
I think there are hard days in front of us. I went to IGA , just the local shop. I had my scarf, used distancing. At the teller, I put my scarf over my mouth. There weren’t 2 metres between a client and myself. I think I offended her. Alternatively, she could have thought I was infected…
I’ve had it with stupid, selfish old people who have returned from overseas with COVID-19, have travelled home from Sydney scattering germs on the way, infected who knows how many others and finally twigged they have the disease when it was too late.
Over the last few days the local count of infected persons has gone from one to nine. All of them – except the schoolgirl who was the first local case – are over 50 and recently have returned from overseas. You have to wonder if any of them were on the Ruby Princess or other plague ships.
Why were these people not forced into quarantine in Sydney or wherever they landed, instead of being allowed to travel up the coast?
The government tells us there are still a few thousand Australians on their way home from overseas. Will they be allowed to wander in untested and unchecked too or will they be taken from their ships and aircraft straight into quarantine? I very much suspect it will be Option 1.
We need to do better, much better if the government is serious about containing contagion and lowering that curve.
My son travelled Bali to Perth recently and now is in 14 day isolation. Why the hell was the plague ship passengers allowed to run around where ever they wanted?
Pompous git
Excellent idea, Kevin.
School of the Air. Anyone?
One for Puffy
Vunderbarr!
When an actress looked like a woman instead of a starving chopstick.
From my email
Tony Burke #5and5
Sorry, it is a long post, but I am sure Tony would be happy for us to read his report. I notice how the government is trying to do the least at the latest and only Labor is standing up for students, Now they need to put pressure on for Disability Pensioners. It is not their fault they are not able to be in the workforce, as for looking for work or working,
Thanks, Puffy, much appreciated.
The gov’t should give the Virus Payment to every pensioner. That way it is more likely to be spent, sent into the economy. Especially with gambling venues closed, other ways of spending money like obt nline shopping will boost the economy, or allow people to pay down debt so they are able to spend when the time comes.
I visited my local supermarket as it was unloading a delivery. A shelf stacker indicated that the delivery of mince was paltry, perhaps demand has outrun supply
I think it’s time for rationing
Billie,
I’m shopping at my local butchers (Kew East and Hawthorn). Apart from a huge run on my Hawthorn butcher last week, I’ve been able to get everything I’ve needed without a problem.
I could count the number of times I’ve purchased meat from Colesworth in the past 2 decades on one finger.
We always have great in the freezer.If ever chicken pieces of any kind are on special my son and I get about 10 kilos, and the IGA staff are happy to them in 1kgish bags for us bless their cotton socks, and in the freezer they go. We buy mostly for our dogs but this is from the meat section of the supermaket. Also any meat on special is bought and frozen.
My fridge was turned off for 24 hours when it was moved and failed to be plugged in again. The meat was refrozen and for the next months : whole frozen Duck, chicken, joint of beef chicken tenderloin, whole chicken, lamb roast, sirloin steak, sausages, lamb chops, chicken snitzchel hamburgers.
My whole meat store, the lucky little bastards.
I mean I cooked it for my dogs. removed bones and feed them meals fit for Royal Corgies.
The Drum rabbitting on about whether kids should complete Year 12 this year
My take
cancel all year 12 exams
cancel all university classes and refund HECS fees
ie 2020 is a dead year for this age cohort
Twitter
There was a whole cohort who didn’t survive WW1.
My school in it’s 1896 charter stated as an aim “provision of officers for defense of Empire” . So cadets was a big part of school life. It also meant in the memorial chapel built after WWI the bronze plaque was chocka with names. Virtually all who graduated in 1914 and 1915 and most of 1916 were killed. Young kids straight from school to the cemetery. Because of their cadet training it was hey ho junior officers in no time and they at various points had life expectancy at the front of days and weeks.. What a pointless waste.
Kaffee
My Mum’s great great uncle lasted 5 months at the Front. He was just a colonial private. His name is on one of the battlefield memorials in France. It seems his body was not found.
He was 23 years old.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/mar/24/coronavirus-australia-national-cabinet-to-consider-lockdowns-of-covid-19-hotspots-live-updates#comments
I think two is about the right number.
I think that announcement was meant for the Mormon community.
That muppet Muirphy seems to think everyone lives next door to a city airport, or a cruise terminal.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/mar/24/coronavirus-australia-national-cabinet-to-consider-lockdowns-of-covid-19-hotspots-live-updates
As I keep saying (and as he has not yet realised) people do go home when they arrive at airports and get off ships but that home may be in a regional town or even interstate. How have they been getting home? By taking a flight, or a train, or having a friend or family pick them up and take them home with stops along the way for meals. Plenty of chances to pass on the virus there.
This is why country towns (like mine) are seeing increasing numbers of infections, with many more already incubating – they re from travellers returning home from their overseas jaunts and passing on their germs before they are diagnosed and decide to isolate themselves.
We need places to quarantine travellers close to points of arrival. Travellers should be taken there in special buses with drivers and crew in hazmat gear. No going into the terminal, just straight onto the buses and off to quarantine, then staying there for the full fourteen days before they are allowed to go anywhere.
Murphy admits the increasing number of infections is due mostly to returning travellers but he doesn’t realise what he and the government have to do to reduce that rate.
It’s no good pleading with returning travellers who are self-isolating to stop going to the chemist or whatever. Humans are incredibly stupid, they are going to say “but I’m just going to the chemist to get some painkillers” and wander off, infecting who knows how many while they are out. Forced isolation in designated quarantine places is the only answer.
Eh bien, Brendan is definitely NOT an immunologist …
(not to mention his other defects, in particular, being well past his use-by date …….)
Yikes!
Oh good, Brendan! That makes me feel so much more comfortable and – y’know – SAFER!
I would say dying of the plague pretty much destroys life as we know it.
Kevin Rudd has some thoughts on how his using the ABC for education might work.
Somewhere in this thread Therese Rein laments the state of the NBN, which would have been ideal for one to one coaching if Abbott and Turnbull had not killed it.
Watch NZ officials with their daily pressers. Much more soothing listening to people speaking “human” rather than polliespeak here.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12319477
Or some jacinda. Keeps me relaxed 🙂
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/video.cfm?c_id=1&gal_cid=1&gallery_id=218343
kk
I agree, been watching her press conf too.
You’ll like this article…
“Jacinda Ardern is once again showing the world what leadership looks like in a crisis”
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/jacinda-ardern-is-once-again-showing-the-world-what-leadership-looks-like-in-a-crisis/ar-BB11Au0K
Just watching ABC, with Annbelle Crabb going back to her childhood home. I did not know she was South Australian, living out past Two Wells. It is a quite a nice home, on a farm. They also went to her old school, and went into the nice school hall, airconditioned, that was not there when she was a student. (Two Wells is a rural town on the Adelaide Plains, very hot and dry in Summer. Crop country.)
Just for interest, I did a bit of digging and found this in a report.
It is a beautiful space. Both projects were financed by ALP governments.
Click to access TWPS%20Context%20Statement%202019.pdf
They are running out of potting mix, as people buy it to put in gardens for food. I suspect there are going to be a lot of shrivelled plants in the next six months.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers. The Dow Jones is up 11.4% on its close.
Rob Harris writes that one in ten Australians say they have lost their job in the past week, new research has found, while nearly one in four have had their incomes cut as the real-world impacts of the global coronavirus outbreak hit households across the country.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/rising-recession-anxiety-as-more-australian-households-suffer-impacts-of-virus-20200324-p54dfv.html
According to The Australian Gladys Berejiklian told a confidential party room meeting on Tuesday that Australian Border Force officials were responsible for a catastrophic decision to release 2700 cruise ship passengers into the community, and that the agency should wear the blame for the risk of contagion unfolding in various states.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/coronavirus-border-force-blamed-for-ruby-princess-cruise-ship-disaster/news-story/410e62145badb95404b2ba5fe0ee9bfc
Questions must be asked as to how the Ruby Princess was allowed to enter the country, writes Abul Rizvi.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/the-ruby-princess-how-could-this-have-happened,13722
The SMH editorial says the government must flood the media with its coronavirus message. It calls for a “Grim Reaper” effort.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/government-must-flood-the-media-with-its-coronavirus-message-20200324-p54dh4.html
Meanwhile up to 1.6 million temporary workers are facing being trapped with no job or welfare.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/up-to-1-6-million-temporary-workers-face-being-trapped-with-no-job-or-welfare-20200324-p54ddn.html
Lucy Cormack tells us that ventilators used in veterinary clinics for cats and dogs are being urgently sought for use in human hospitals to assist with the rising number of critical coronavirus patients.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/veterinary-equipment-offered-to-save-human-lives-amid-virus-outbreak-20200323-p54cvk.html
Australia is building towards about 10,000 ventilators for intensive care in the coronavirus crisis, a significant boost on the standing capacity in intensive care units around the country of about 2300.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6695287/authorities-working-to-double-nations-ventilator-numbers/?cs=14225
Public health expert Professor Gerard Fitzgerald explains what steps hospitals can take if coronavirus leads to a shortage of beds.
https://theconversation.com/what-steps-hospitals-can-take-if-coronavirus-leads-to-a-shortage-of-beds-134385
The core calculation is that the community is better off with mass job losses than seeing the hospital system in intolerable crisis. Put brutally, the calculation is that people are better off unemployed than sick or dead writes Paul Kelly.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/coronavirus-how-much-of-our-village-do-we-burn-to-contain-this/news-story/385331ede29f2251fcf1a52612fdb54d
Dennis Shanahan says that sidelining parliament is not healthy for democracies.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/coronavirus-sidelining-parliament-is-not-healthy-for-democracies/news-story/e5122ecff091a714aa54b1a64fdce386
A virtual Australian parliament is possible – and may be needed – during the coronavirus pandemic says Professor of Constitutional Law Anne Twomey.
https://theconversation.com/a-virtual-australian-parliament-is-possible-and-may-be-needed-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic-134540
All Australians will have access to telehealth consultations with GPs, specialists, and mental health practitioners from next week, the government has said.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/life/tech/2020/03/24/coronavirus-telehealth-medicare-australia/
Michael Pascoe tells us why the government must immediately give everyone $1000 and use the ATO to do it.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/finance-news/2020/03/24/coronavirus-1000-cash-pascoe/
We need to look to the radical action taken by China and South Korea to halt the exponential rise in COVID-19 cases, or we’re headed for a long crisis says cardiologist Pankaj Jain.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/don-t-flatten-the-curve-bend-it-the-fatal-flaw-in-our-covid-19-strategy-20200324-p54d8f.html
Thousands of doctors have made a desperate plea for a nationwide lockdown, warning there could be an alarming escalation in COVID-19 cases and preventable deaths without drastic and immediate action.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/thousands-of-doctors-sign-petition-calling-for-national-lockdown-now-20200324-p54dgy.html
Australia’s food supply relies on migrant workers who are facing coronavirus limbo.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2020/mar/24/australias-food-supply-relies-on-migrant-workers-who-are-facing-coronavirus-limbo
The only hope for limiting the duration and intensity of inevitable economic disaster is stopping all unnecessary activity sooner rather than later writes an angry Jennifer Hewett.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/millions-count-the-cost-of-delayed-action-20200324-p54dfg
Matt Wade explores the potential for the coming recession to further divide cities and regions.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/we-ll-all-have-a-recession-but-your-postcode-will-make-a-big-difference-20200324-p54dgm.html
Matthew Knott updates us about Professor Trump’s latest idiotic pronouncements.
https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/trump-wants-us-economy-to-re-open-by-easter-as-coronavirus-cases-grow-20200325-p54dkj.html
Trump is a dead set dangerous fool!
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/coronavirus-donald-trump-puts-social-distancing-on-trial/news-story/ec7b5f3b80194787a095f9ef52aaf16a
To watch Trump is to witness the awesome and terrifying power of the American president over life and death – a burden he is unqualified to bear writes David Smith.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/24/trumps-push-to-shorten-the-coronavirus-shutdown-proves-the-captain-is-flying-blind
Police chiefs in the UK have warned the coronavirus pandemic could “bring out the worst in humanity” after a spate of opportunistic crimes hindered efforts to control the crisis. Just imagine what lies ahead for the US!
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/mar/24/uk-police-chiefs-coronavirus-could-bring-out-worst-in-humanity
The federal government must use “overwhelming force” to stop a virus-induced recession from snowballing into a prolonged depression, economists have said.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/finance-news/2020/03/24/coronavirus-unemployment-spending/
Jonathan Watts says that the coronavirus pandemic has brought urgency to the defining political question of our age: how to distribute risk. As with the climate crisis, neoliberal capitalism is proving particularly ill-suited to this.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/24/covid-19-climate-crisis-governments-coronavirus
The last global crisis didn’t change the world. But this one could writes sociologist and political economist William Davies.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/24/coronavirus-crisis-change-world-financial-global-capitalism
Stephen Bartholomeusz says that not even during the series of unconventional actions it took during the global financial crisis did the Fed do what it now plans: essentially becoming the lender of last resort for the entire US economy.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/the-world-s-most-powerful-central-bank-s-whatever-it-takes-moment-20200324-p54dbf.html
Rod Sims is racing to give competitors approval to work together in the pandemic emergency, but some want him to go even further in relaxing anti-cartel laws.
https://www.afr.com/chanticleer/inside-the-accc-s-crisis-response-20200324-p54df3
We face a pandemic of mental health disorders. Those who do it hardest need our support points out Paul Daley
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/25/we-face-a-pandemic-of-mental-health-disorders-those-who-do-it-hardest-need-our-support
The COVID-19 pandemic has become a political crisis for Scott Morrison. He will survive for now, but as Martin Hirst explains, he will likely become a victim of the coronavirus soon enough.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/the-politics-of-a-pandemic-when-scott-morrison-lost-the-plot,13721
‘There is no money coming in’: Why the players’ sacrifice is not enough, writes Michael Gleeson as he looks at the trouble the AFL is in.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl/a-time-for-football-when-no-offer-is-good-enough-20200324-p54dio.html
And Chris Barrett writes that surging broadcast rights deals have made sports like the NRL billion-dollar businesses but the coronavirus pandemic has left their business models compromised.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/the-whole-system-is-under-threat-sports-left-exposed-as-music-stops-20200324-p54dbw.html
The AFR tells us that makers of surgical protection wear, hospital disinfectants and hand sanitisers are dramatically scaling up production with the aid of the military to meet the urgent demand from government and health authorities as the number of coronavirus cases in Australia passes 2000.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/army-deployed-as-manufacturers-ramp-up-production-20200324-p54daw
American corporatism on display: The COVID-19 response.
https://theaimn.com/american-corporatism-on-display-the-covid-19-response/
Stuart Robert’s incompetence on MyGov should accelerate his own social isolation says Katharine Murphy.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/24/stuart-roberts-incompetence-on-mygov-should-accelerate-his-own-social-isolation
There’s a load of fake news about coronavirus, much of it spread with good intentions. We need Facebook and other platforms to answer to regulators says Chris Cooper.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/pull-the-other-one-drinking-hot-water-and-other-dangerous-myths-about-the-virus-20200324-p54dbj.html
Distrusting the information we receive, too many of us are carrying on business as usual says Peter Lewis.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2020/mar/24/distrusting-the-information-we-receive-too-many-of-us-are-carrying-on-business-as-usual
Just to divert from the pandemic Christopher Knaus reveals that the former resources minister Matt Canavan billed taxpayers for a $5,390 charter flight to travel 150km to attend the opening of a coalmine, where he gave a speech attacking “self-indulgent” environmental activists.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/mar/25/matt-canavan-billed-taxpayers-5390-for-charter-flight-to-attend-coalmine-opening
According to Dana McCauley intensive care units need 10,000 more nurses to prepare for COVID-19.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/intensive-care-units-need-10-000-more-nurses-to-prepare-for-covid-19-20200324-p54dgj.html
The federal government has rushed through an emergency regulation banning dentists from prescribing an arthritis drug being touted as a potential COVID-19 treatment, after reports some were prescribing it in bulk to themselves and their families. They must have been listening to Professor Trump!
https://www.smh.com.au/national/dentists-banned-from-prescribing-potential-covid-19-drug-to-self-family-20200324-p54db2.html
Westpac predicts the unemployment rate will jump to 11.1 per cent over the next three months, pushing up to 814,000 people onto the jobless queue. Shane Wright also tells us that it will push the deficit up to $160 billion.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/economy-facing-record-contraction-budget-heading-for-160b-deficit-westpac-20200324-p54de7.html
One in five road fatalities are now drug related, with the amount of ice, dope and ecstasy found in drivers and motorcycle riders increasing.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/on-ice-or-doped-out-drug-driving-deaths-rise-across-australia-20200321-p54cgy.html
Australia must demonstrate its commitment to human rights in the Philippines, where the Duterte Government is targeting union organisers, writes Timothy Ginty.
https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/australia-urged-to-call-out-human-rights-horror-in-the-philippines,13697
Cartoon Corner
Alan Moir
David Rowe
John Shakespeare
Andrew Dyson
Simon Letch
Dionne Gain
Fiona Katauskas
Johannes Leak
https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/cf5b96f1d32f711e0da52ca4b26d7481?width=1024
From the US
BK thanks for your daily round up
Went on a fruitless tissue – hand sanitiser hunt through Coles Worth. Had to push past the homeless, so I bought a young man a banana to tide him through to 8am when he can get in & gave him some money. When we get locked down, we won’t need hand sanitiser because we can wash our hands regularly Woollies used to have free fruit for little kids, perhaps they should distribute fruit to the homeless when they open Local council washed down chairs, well through sudsy water over the seating. Our brand new square is going to be a disease vector
The queue for Centrelink was 600 m long and had sprawled onto the road before 8am
Saw a clip on the news of queues for Centrelink. Was amazed to see how long they were. The last time I saw queues like that due to economic conditions was back when the @$@#$X$@ Rodent was treasurer. To this day I remember the tv footage showing a queue that went around the block as people lined up to apply for check out positions at a new supermarket. It really brought home how dire the “Howard” recession of 82-83 was.
For me and for anyone who has been on social security and has regularly faced the nasty comments from Australians lucky enough to have work there’s a lot of schadenfreude in seeing these Centrelink queues.
People who once accused single mums of being bludgers having babies for government money and who glared at or made vile remarks to any mother asking for her pensioner discount are now lining up for a handout.
People who accused anyone on the dole of being a deadbeat beachbum are now queuing for money to buy food.
Australians who whinged about those on social security getting too much money are now whinging because their own social security payments won’t be enough for them to maintain their standard of living..
Best of all is knowing those living in CDC trial areas will be put onto that card. Let’s see how much they enjoy being referred to as druggies and alcos. It’s weirdly satisfying to know a lot of those who referred to “the druggies card” will now be on it themselves.
Maybe this will be a wake up call for the many Australians who have always despised anyone who needed help from Centrelink. Maybe (although I think it’s highly unlikely) Australia will come out of this crisis a kinder, more caring, more charitable nation.
where are the CDC sites?
Kununara
Ceduna
NT
Hinkler would be the only white area
does Hinkler usually have a strong tourist economy
Hinkler has Bundaberg and Hervey Bay, so yes, strong tourism areas. In WA the Kimberley and goldfields are part of the trial with a lot of problems around Kalgoorlie.
Whether or not it’s a “white area” doesn’t matter, white people in all trial areas are still put onto the card if they have a trigger payment.
Trigger payments – updated on 20 March this year.
https://guides.dss.gov.au/guide-social-security-law/8/7/2/30
Best advice for anyone put onto this card – apply immediately to be taken off it. And don’t hold your breath waiting.
A comment by Pinkie under the article says
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/24/coronavirus-crisis-change-world-financial-global-capitalism#comment-139176234
BK
Which is exackery why there is some method in Trump’s madness in seeming so super optimistic. The US would be like that but on steroids and on crack cocaine and armed.
Best keep them thinking “Happy Days Are Here Again” any minute now for as long as possible.
We got a phone call from the medical clinic yesterday afternoon, asking if Razz would be okay with having a teleconference with the doctor for her appointment on Monday. We couldn’t say yes quick enough. I was going to ring them on Friday to see what could be arranged but so pleased I don’t have to tie up their lines now.
The next venture is to ring the chemist to see if my medications can be put on Razz’s account and have all our medications delivered.
Heard Grunt on abc/rn. FKelly was getting cranky with him and he got really uppity with her. For the first time I was on her side.
The definition of essential services ain’t what it used to be 😆
————————————————————————————————————————-
The mayor of Denver has been forced to re-open marijuana and liquor shops only hours after announcing their closure as part of a citywide lockdown to slow the spread of coronavirus.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/coronavirus-denver-mayor-us-stockpiling-alcohol-stores-lockdown-a9422991.html
With regard to the ‘plague ships” and the responsibility for the debacle. I still reckon ultimately it is the Reichspud’s responsibility. They were all over it when it came to people returning from China so why not the plague ships ? They are certainly involved with the ship currently over in WA waters .
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————
2 February 2020
Joint press conference with CMO and Border Force about novel coronavirus
Press conference at Parliament House with Professor Brendan Murphy, Chief Medical Officer and Commissioner Mike Outram, Border Force.
Commissioner Mike Outram, Border Force.
MIKE OUTRAM:
Thank you Minister, and good morning. As you’re all aware yesterday afternoon the Prime Minister made an announcement including that all travellers arriving from any part of mainland China, regardless of nationality, will be subject to enhanced border control measures to ensure the health, and safety, and wellbeing of our community of course.
https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp/media/joint-press-conference-with-cmo-and-border-force-about-novel-coronavirus
They are all buck passing now. Gladys says it Dutton’s fault, the CrimeMinister says it’s NSW Health’s fault.
No-one wants to admit they stuffed up.
People returning from China came by air – airports are a commonwealth responsibility.
Shipping is initially a state concern, it’s the states and the NT that control their ports. You might have seen Mark McGowan trying to stop a cruise ship with infected passengers on board docking in Fremantle.
https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/west-australia-government-resisting-cruise-ship-with-hundreds-of-unwell-passengers-from-docking-at-fremantle–c-758293
But he is talking to the feds, especially Dutton, about what can be done – the ship has to refuel somewhere.
It’s criminal that the NSW health minister wasn’t paying attention to his work the day he allowed the Ruby Princess to unload all its passengers. And it’s scandalous that no level of government wants to take responsibility.
Getting serious over the Tasman. You can hear Molan and Adolph Kipfler salivating over such a prospect for Australia.
…………………………………………………………………………………..
“A state of emergency has been declared in New Zealand”\
This afternoon a state of emergency was declared, handing emergency powers to authorities.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12319699
This article concentrates on the lack of labour for the harvest.
Yesterday I read that grain growers can’t borrow to sow their crops because they are mortgaged to the hilt because of 4 bad years in a row. They were crying out for government assistance
So I am not convinced Australia can feed itself.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2020/mar/24/australias-food-supply-relies-on-migrant-workers-who-are-facing-coronavirus-limbo
billie11
At work we are heavily involved with products the broad acre farmers need for their crops. Plastic container suppliers may not be able to supply us with any/enough containers. A simple thing like that could mean even if they tried for a crop the farmers would be in for a pretty dire crop. I’m sure other businesses doing the sort of stuff we do are having the same problem. There is a very limited numbers of places that make the bottles.Stock on food just in case !
my twitter feed are not impressed with the lack of medical or scientific people