Good evening, here are the latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic in Australia. This is Josh Taylor and it is Tuesday 19 May.
Australian death toll rises to 100
A 93-year-old woman at Newmarch House who had been diagnosed with Covid-19 died, taking Australia’s Covid-19 death toll to 100.
She is the 19th resident of the Sydney aged care home to die after testing positive for coronavirus.
Qantas prepares return to domestic travel
Qantas is preparing to return to domestic flights from 12 June, with more safety measures put in place, including contactless check-in, hand sanitiser at departure gates, and masks provided on board.
The decision around maintaining flight capacity has been met with criticism from infectious disease experts.
China puts tariffs on Australian barley
China has put punitive tariffs of more than 80% on barley imports from Australia as more than 110 countries backed a push for an international coronavirus inquiry.
The agriculture minister, David Littleproud, claimed vindication for the support for the inquiry.
“Since 1980, two pandemics have been linked to wildlife wet markets and a further two linked to unsustainable wildlife practices – this is acknowledgment we need to work globally to protect us from these risks.
“We have long known about the risks associated with wildlife wet markets and the potential for pandemics they pose but they also are a risk to agriculture and food security.”
The Chinese embassy in Canberra said Australia claiming vindication for the motion China ultimately supported was a “joke”.
Victoria rakes in over $8m in fines
More than 5,600 fines related to breaches of public health orders have been issued in Victoria, adding up to over $8m. That came in response to close to 70,000 calls to the police assistance line related to alleged breaches.
Victoria police have committed to publishing more information on the fines, including the local government area where the fine was issued. The justice department was unaware of whether any fines had been challenged in court.
Union demands protection for public transport workers
The union representing bus workers in Sydney has said it cannot rule out strike action if the increase in passenger numbers due to the easing of Covid-19 restrictions threatens drivers’ safety.
Free childcare days are numbered
The education minister, Dan Tehan, has indicated that the childcare subsidy will not be around much longer.
He claimed the policy a success because 99% of centres are still operating and said the government is consulting the sector “to make sure any changes will see the sector continue to thrive”.
Tehan said “no decision” had been taken on ending free childcare but “if demand continues to increase at the levels we’re seeing it, we have to understand that this system was put in place to deal with falling demand”.
“It’s done its job … Now we’ve got to help the sector dealing with increasing demand and, as we know, the old system was working effectively.”
The government is also refusing to release a full report on the operation of the childcare subsidy scheme claiming the document is cabinet in confidence.
Ros Baxter, the deputy secretary of early childhood and child care at the education department, says the program is on track to cost the $1.6bn estimated for the 12 weeks from 6 April to 28 June.
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