Blow the Truth

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has assured growers they can maintain a seasonal workforce while meeting their COVID-19 public health obligations. She said the industry needed clarity about managing an incoming workforce, particularly backpackers, at an important time of year. “Everyone needs fresh fruit and vegetables to stay healthy during this time, and much of Australia’s produce is grown right here,” Ms Palaszczuk said. “To harvest these crops our horticulture industry has an average monthly workforce demand of up to 10,000 skilled and unskilled workers over the next six months, but COVID-19 restrictions must also be followed. “So we have a clear message to agricultural employers and workers about what they need to do, especially if they come from a coronavirus hot spot.” Any seasonal worker coming to Queensland would need a border pass and details of: where they had been for the previous two weeks written confirmation of a job in Queensland and where they planned to reside. If they...

ScoMo COVIDSafe: The New app to slow the spread of coronavirus The Australian Government launches the new voluntary coronavirus app, COVIDSafe. The app is an important public health initiative that will help keep you, your family, and your community safe from further spread of coronavirus through early notification of possible exposure. “Australians are doing an extraordinary job to flatten the curve and contain the spread of the coronavirus, but we cannot be complacent,” said Prime Minister Scott Morrison. “The Chief Medical Officer’s advice is we need the COVIDSafe app as part of the plan to save lives and save livelihoods. The more people who download this important public health app, the safer they and their family will be, the safer their community will be and the sooner we can safely lift restrictions and get back to business and do the things we love.” The health initiative uses technology to automate and improve what state and territory health officials already do manually. CO...

Amendments NSW Planning Policy allow solar systems on homes without council approval Amendments to the State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007 will allow larger-scale solar systems to be installed on homes and commercial buildings without council approval, enable utility providers to construct electricity storage as part of improvement works to transmission and distribution networks, and allow for large-scale battery storage systems to be built in permitted zones across NSW. Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said the change was a further example of the NSW Government’s commitment to provide an affordable, reliable and sustainable energy network, and support the roll-out of cost-effective, low-emission technologies. “Our planning system plays a key role in enabling investment in innovative renewable energy projects right across the state,” Mr Stokes said. “These changes ensure planning requirements are aligned with advances in technology, and enable emergi...

World Health Organisation WHO Hard-fought gains in immunization coverage at risk without critical health services 23 APRIL 2020 | GENEVA – Shutting down immunization services in the COVID-19 pandemic risks triggering a resurgence of diseases that can be prevented with safe and effective vaccines, warns the World Health Organization in the lead-up to World Immunization Week (24-30 April). When immunization services are disrupted, even for brief periods during emergencies, the risk of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks, such as measles and polio, increase. Last year’s deadly measles outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which took more than 6000 lives in a country already facing its largest Ebola outbreak, highlights the importance of maintaining essential health services, such as immunization in times of emergency. Further disease outbreaks will also overwhelm health systems already battling the impacts of COVID-19 “Disease outbreaks must not remain a threat when we have ...

Victoria Government Supporting Victoria’s Muslim Community During Ramadan The Victorian Government is helping Victoria’s Muslim community find new ways to celebrate Ramadan, with many of the traditional services and customs ruled out this year due to coronavirus measures. Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ros Spence today announced that a grassroots video campaign will be developed to share the experience of Ramadan and $25,000 provided to the Bachar Houli Foundation to mentor up to 30 young Muslim Victorians. The Foundation, headed by AFL premiership player Bachar Houli, was launched in 2013 and runs an acclaimed leadership program supporting young Muslims and providing links to traineeships and employment. With Ramadan starting this evening and ending on 23 May, the Government is investing a further $15,000 to help mosques get IT-ready so they can hold digital services and to reach out to their communities during the month-long observance. The Islamic Council of Victoria will also r...

Trump negotiating with the Democrats to get workers and small businesses taken care of THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. I’d like to begin by saying that we’re continuing to negotiate with the Democrats to get our great workers and small businesses all over the country taken care of. I think we — we’re getting close to a deal. It could happen. It could happen. A lot of good work has been going on, and we could have an answer tomorrow. And we’re going to see what — what exactly does take place. Watch on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wSUNJnsq50 We’re also looking at helping our hospitals and our rural hospitals, who have been hurt very badly. The rural hospitals, for a long time, have not been treated properly. We’re looking to help them, and beyond. So we’re looking at hospitals also, as part of the package. And we’ll see how that all comes out. But a lot of good things are happening. Some very good negotiations. I just got off the phone with the Secretary of t...

Vladimir Putin greeted Orthodox Christians and all citizens of Russia celebrating Easter Sunday. With great sincerity, I extend greetings to all Christians on the day of Christ’s Resurrection, the great holiday of Easter. I know that members of all religious denominations and followers of all traditional religions in Russia will join me in these greetings. This year celebrations are being held under mandated restrictions. They are necessary to fight the spread of the coronavirus infection, a disease that is by now known throughout the world. By joining efforts, together we are overcoming challenges as they emerge. And as I have repeatedly said, we have everything we need for this – a healthy and strong economy, scientific capabilities, the necessary material base and highly professional healthcare. We are carefully monitoring the experience of foreign countries and are engaged in active cooperation with our foreign friends and colleagues. We are aware of what is going on and see the ri...

Queensland Government delivers $4 billion support for health, jobs and business Emergency measures to support Queenslanders, the business community and the industries which will deliver the State back to economic prosperity have been passed by Parliament. Deputy Premier and Treasurer Jackie Trad said the Appropriation (COVID-19) Bill 2020 provides additional funding of more than $4 billion over two years to protect Queensland during the coronavirus pandemic. “The COVID-19 crisis is causing unprecedented economic and fiscal challenges all over the world,” Ms Trad said. “It is affecting governments, industry, business, households and individuals. “To protect jobs and safeguard our economy, the Palaszczuk Government has announced a $4 billion economic relief package, the biggest stimulus package assembled by any State or territory. “In addition to this, the Government is providing assistance to support businesses, industry, and the arts sector. “The Government is also delivering housing s...

WHO Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Latest Results Yemen reported its first case of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. • WHO has developed the following definition for reporting COVID deaths: a COVID-19 death is defined for surveillance purposes as a death resulting from a clinically compatible illness in a probable or confirmed COVID-19 case, unless there is a clear alternative cause of death that cannot be related to COVID disease (e.g., trauma). There should be no period of complete recovery between the illness and death. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyV0F9kViRA&t=177s • WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros, in a press conference held yesterday, highlighted the issue of planning the transition out of stay-at-home restrictions: “WHO wants to see restrictions lifted as much as anyone. At the same time, lifting restrictions too quickly could lead to a deadly resurgence.” For more information, please see here. • WHO has updated its Q&A page on COVID-19 to provide information of h...

Senator Larissa Waters (Queensland—Leader of the Australian Greens in the Senate) (8 April 2020) Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Bill 2020, Senator Waters: I rise to speak to the package of coronavirus bills that have come before us today. This is not an easy time for anyone. I'd again like to acknowledge and commend the immense efforts of our nurses, our doctors, our paramedics, our cleaners, our pharmacists, our aged-care workers and our supermarket staff—all of those who are helping us get through this most challenging time. We recognise the immense risk that healthcare workers, in particular, are taking to save others, and we will be pushing to make sure that they've got the personal protective equipment and the ICU beds that they need to tackle this crisis. We'll be proposing changes to allow healthcare workers to access workers compensation if they test positive for coronavirus, without having to prove that they contracted it at work. Our...

We gather again today in unusual circumstances, during extreme times to consider extraordinary responses to the twin crises our nation faces - to our nation’s health and to our economy. What we do today is what Governments have always done in such circumstances, when our nation is under threat that previous generations of Australians have done before us. Today we act to protect our nation’s sovereignty. When Australian lives and livelihoods are threatened, when they are under attack, our nation’s sovereignty is put at risk and we must respond. As a Government, as a Parliament, as a nation, together. Nurses, teachers, drivers - cleaners, doctors, police, and paramedics - factory workers, engineers, bankers - grocers, miners and farmers -  pastors, priests and imams - politicians, union officials, even lawyers - mums, dads, grandparents, kids, families. All of us. Our sovereignty is measured in our capacity and freedom to live our lives as we choose in a free, open and democrati...

Senator Malcolm Roberts (Queensland) (Senate Speech Ministerial Statement 8/4/20): I seek to make a statement in response to the minister's statement. We acknowledge that there is no manual for dealing with this virus and we empathise with the government's challenge. That is, though, all the more reason for the government to openly share data, future projections and information with the people. As pressures mount regarding personal security, as well as emotionally and financially, on people across our nation, any shortage of data is being seen as an absence of trust by the government in the people, and that, in turn, will make it difficult for Australians to trust the government and the parliament. Government honesty and trust in the people will be met with trust from the people. \ At this time, One Nation would also like to thank everyone who is caring for us and keeping us safe, including healthcare workers, police, defence and emergency workers, and everyone serving others, ...

WHO: Good morning, good afternoon and good evening. As Tarik said, we’re delighted to be joined today by Kristalina Georgieva, the Managing-Director of the International Monetary Fund. Welcome, my sister. Kristalina will say more in a few minutes about the economic impact of the pandemic and what the IMF is doing to support countries and the global economy.   More than 1 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 have now been reported to WHO, including more than 50,000 deaths. But we know that this is much more than a health crisis. We are all aware of the profound social and economic consequences of the pandemic. The restrictions many countries have put in place to protect health are taking a heavy toll on the income of individuals and families, and the economies of communities and nations.  We are in a shared struggle to protect both lives and livelihoods. In the short term, countries can ease the burden on their populations through social welfare programs to ensure people ha...