National cabinet statement June 27, 2020 (See Translation in Arabic section) Canberra- M E Times Int'l: The National Cabinet met today to further discuss Australia’s current COVID-19 response, easing restrictions in the coming months, helping Australians prepare to go back to work in a COVID-safe environment and getting the economy moving again. The Chief Medical Officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, provided an update on the measures underway, the latest data and medical advice in relation to COVID-19. Treasury Secretary, Dr Stephen Kennedy, provided an update on the labour market and current economic conditions. There have been over 7,500 confirmed cases in Australia and sadly 104 people have died. There are now around 500 active cases in Australia, and over the past week, daily infection rates have remained low. Testing remains high, with more than 2.2 million tests undertaken in Australia. 
Virus cases expected as Australians return
Adelaide: More cases of coronavirus are expected with hundreds of Australians set to return from overseas in coming days to begin mandatory quarantine. About 300 people are due to arrive in Adelaide at the weekend from Mumbai, while hundreds are expected to follow from South America, Indonesia and India. In line with new rules, people in hotel quarantine will be tested for coronavirus at the start and end of their 14-day isolation. South Australian Health Minister Stephen Wade is preparing for about five to 10 per cent of returnees to have the virus, as was the case when people arrived from Indonesia in other states. Despite an outbreak of coronavirus cases in Melbourne, restrictions are being eased across Australia. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the spike in cases is being managed appropriately, and he believes it's reasonable for states to bar residents from hot spots. "We remain on track, the curve remains flat," he told reporters in Canberra. 
Speaking English is a ‘necessity to participate’ in Australia: Latham Sydney: The Victorian government has partly blamed the recent spike of COVID-19 cases on the inability of some communities to interpret the health messages which is a “betrayal of the original ideas of multiculturalism” Mark Latham says. Mr Latham said when former Prime Ministers Whitlam and Fraser spoke of multiculturalism in the 1970s it was based around diversity, but diversity with “active citizenship and participation”. “The migrants and new arrivals here were to speak English,” Mr Latham told Andrew Bolt. “That was participation in society, a better chance to get a job, talk to your neighbor, talk to other ethnic groups, longer standing Australition groups”. Mr Latham said the insistence on participation and speaking the English language built trust and commonality, but the country has “lost sight of that”. “Government’s haven’t put much of a premium on speaking English”. “We’ve got to go back to the original ideals of multiculturalism that speaking English is good, speaking English is a necessity to participate”. 
'There are no cuts to ABC': Scott Morrison Canberra: Prime Minister Scott Morrison has argued there have been no cuts to the ABC's funding after the national broadcaster announced 250 job losses. The ABC unveiled the cuts on Wednesday, with the 7.45am radio news bulletin to be scrapped as up to 70 news division jobs disappear. Mr Morrison said the ABC's overall funding was increasing each year. "There are no cuts," he told reporters in Sydney on Thursday. ABC managing director David Anderson said on Wednesday that operational funding would be more than 10 per cent lower in 2021/22 than it was in 2013. 
WHO 'needs $US31.3bn' to fight COVID-19 A World Health Organisation-led coalition fighting the COVID-19 pandemic is asking government and private sector donors to help raise $US31.3 billion ($A45.7 billion) in the next 12 months to develop and deliver tests, treatments and vaccines for the disease. Renewing its call on Friday for global collaboration against the pandemic, it said $US3.4 billion had been contributed for the coalition to date, leaving a funding gap of $US27.9 billion. Of that, $US13.7 billion was "urgently needed".- Reuters 
Foreign funding a real threat to Australian democracy Canberra: Large philanthropic funds from the United States are sent to Australia to help left-wing activists take over local politics, according to Nationals Senator Matt Canavan. Mr Canavan said individuals funded by foreign environmental organisations who then stand for local government positions, are like kiwi fruit. "They are nice and fuzzy on the outside and then after they get elected you cut them open and find they are, surprise surprise, radical green”. Left-wing groups focus on local government in order to get a “bigger bang for their buck," he told Paul Murray. 
NSW Labor congratulates Women’s World Cup bid winners Sydney: NSW Labor has congratulated Football Federation Australia and New Zealand Football on securing the hosting rights for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. After gaining the highest score in the Bid Evaluation Report, the joint Australia/New Zealand bid was awarded the hosting rights overnight after a vote by the FIFA Council. NSW Labor Leader Jodi McKay said it’s an outstanding outcome for women’s sport in Australia. “Congratulations to the FFA and New Zealand Football on winning the hosting rights for the FIFA 2023 Women’s World Cup,” Ms McKay said. 
“The Women’s World Cup is one of the biggest women’s sporting events in the world and will be a fantastic for NSW and Australia: Ms McKay said. NSW Shadow Minister for Sport Lynda Voltz praised Football Federation Australia for their ongoing commitment to women’s sport. “The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is a culmination of the investment and dedication Football Federation Australia has put into women’s football,” Ms Voltz said. 
Hillary Clinton is ‘plotting a comeback’ to usurp ‘senile Joe Biden’ Former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is plotting to make a comeback because presumptive nominee Joe Biden is “seriously senile,” according to Sky News contributor John Ruddick. “With senility, unlike a lot of other afflictions, you only get worse, you don’t get better,” Mr Ruddick told Chris Smith. Joe Biden is the presumptive Democratic nominee for President, however he needs to be ratified by Democratic delegates at the national convention in August in order to officially become the nominee. Mr Ruddick said given Mr Biden’s alleged health issues, Ms Clinton’s camp would be plotting to swoop in and take over the nomination. “I believe Hillary Clinton is plotting to make a comeback because Joe Biden is seriously senile.” 
Earlier coronavirus second wave feared in Europe after mass protests Europe could face a surge of COVID-19 infections in the coming weeks caused by mass protests in the continent over the last days, politicians, European Union officials and experts said on Thursday. Tens of thousands of protesters have crowded together in Europe's big cities in recent days to demonstrate against racism after the killing in the United States of George Floyd while in police custody. "If you advise everybody to keep one and half meter from each other, and everybody just stands next to each other, holding each other, then I don't have a good feeling about that," Jozef Kesecioglu, who chairs the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, told a conference. Asked whether there could be a surge of infections in the coming two weeks, he said: "Yes, but hopefully I'm wrong." |
