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Victorian Treasurer doubles-down on federal row over worker support
By David Estcourt
Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas has refused to back down from a growing row with the federal government over worker support during Victoria’s lockdown, arguing Canberra supported the shutdown and the recent outbreak came from another state.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison rebuffed pleas from the state government on Sunday, saying Canberra would not be extending additional income support to Victorians – as was the case with Western Australia and Queensland during their lockdowns earlier in the year.
But Mr Pallas claims Victoria is in a unique situation and therefore the Commonwealth should be extending payments to people out of work due to the seven-day lockdown.
“I think the first point to make is Victorians didn’t deserve this,” Mr Pallas told radio station 3AW.
“They received this out of a breach of quarantine protocol in South Australia. [The federal government] could very quickly provide relief. The fact that they’re not doing that really does worry me because you’ll recall, the Prime Minister did in fact say that it was an appropriate course of action that we locked down.”
More than 270 Victorian exposure sites
By David Estcourt and Broede Carmody
The Victorian health department’s list of exposure sites has swelled to more than 270 locations with bus lines, display homes and shops at Chadstone among the dozens added over the weekend.
There are dozens of new exposure sites in the suburb at the heart of the Greater Melbourne outbreak, Epping, and, worryingly, aged care facility Arcare Maidstone was added and is now in lockdown.
Additional outlets at Melbourne’s Chadstone shopping centre have been listed as exposure sites. Credit:Joe Armao
A pub in the beachside suburb of Brighton, and a cafe in nearby Elwood, were also named as exposure sites. Clothing outlet Zimmermann and Breadtop at Chadstone shopping centre were also added to the list of possible areas of concern.
In total, authorities added almost 100 new venues and times to their list of exposure sites on Sunday. Five new cases were detected in the community, with the total number of cases in the Greater Melbourne cluster now numbering in the dozens.
We’ll bring you this morning’s case numbers as soon as they land.
‘Almost childish’: Restaurant owner slams state and federal funding feud
By Broede Carmody
Another major thread with Victoria’s lockdown this morning is the stoush between the state and federal governments over the question of financial support.
The Morrison government has rebuffed a plea from Victoria to help provide financial assistance for workers and small businesses affected by the state’s seven-day lockdown. Victorian Acting Premier James Merlino has described the knockback as “disgraceful”. The feds, meanwhile, have called on Victoria to take full responsibility.
Victoria’s Acting Premier James Merlino. Credit:Paul Jeffers
Chris Lucas, the chief executive behind well-known restaurants such as Chin Chin, was scathing of the Victorian government this morning.
“We’re now facing our fourth lockdown and it’s very, very devastating,” he told the Today show. “The mental harm and the economic consequences to this state are enormous.
“In fact, we’ve got to ask ourselves: why is this happening again and again? Why is it that the state government constantly reaches out for the lockdown mechanism when states like NSW are able to quarantine properly, are able to cordon off small suburbs or areas of the city?”
Mr Lucas urged the state government not to attack its federal counterpart and instead focus on “the real issues”.
“Their behaviour yesterday, it’s almost childish,” he said. “This government seems to be addicted to deflecting the blame.”
Victorian Treasury costings forecast a seven-day lockdown will cost businesses $700 million. Some business estimates put that cost at $1 billion.
New strategy to motivate younger people to get the jab
By Rachel Clun and Lucy Carroll
A major advertising campaign by ad agency BMF will be launched in July to encourage under 40s to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
The campaign, which is yet to be finalised, will run across social media as well as traditional media and shopping malls, and include celebrities, jokes and songs to emotionally entice younger Australians to get a jab.
Australia’s fact-based COVID vaccination ad has faced criticism.Credit:YouTube
The government’s current COVID-19 vaccination campaign, launched six months ago, has come under fire for being boring, unemotional and unconvincing.
Read the exclusive story here.
Tennis star Naomi Osaka told to meet her media obligations or face consequences
By Broede Carmody
In overseas news, tennis star Naomi Osaka could be thrown out of the French Open.
That’s if she continues to not show up to post-match press conferences. The Japanese player was slapped with a $15,000 fine following her victory over first round win against Romania’s Patricia Tig.
Naomi Osaka returns the ball to Patricia Maria Tig during their first round clash.Credit:AP
Australia’s Ashleigh Barty, who is also competing in the French Open, has reminded Osaka that “pressers are a part of the job”.
This morning’s headlines at a glance
By Broede Carmody
Good morning and thanks for reading our live coverage. It’s Monday, May 31. I’m Broede Carmody.
It’s set to be a busy day, with Melburnians waking up to their fourth day of a seven day lockdown. Here’s what you need to know:
- Victoria’s contact tracers are scrambling to identify the source of a ‘mystery’ case in a Melbourne aged care facility. Residents who previously turned down a vaccine will be encouraged to accept a dose of Pfizer today after a staff member, who had been given her first vaccine shot, tested positive to COVID-19. Victorian COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar says the positive case is of “extreme concern” because it is not yet known how the staff member caught the virus.
- In NSW, former Labor leader Michael Daley has confirmed he’s once again throwing his hat in the ring for the role of opposition leader. It comes after Jodi McKay’s resignation. Her former transport spokesman Chris Minns is expected to put up his hand, which could lead to a divisive ballot.
- In federal politics, Prime Minister Scott Morrison will hold talks with his New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Ardern in Queenstown in just a couple of hours. Relations with China are set to dominate the talks.
- And 20 people have been hospitalised in Tasmania after a gas leak at a salmon processing facility. Authorities continue to investigate the cause, but the Tasmania Fire Service says carbon monoxide from forklifts is most likely to blame.
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2021-05-30 21:27:20Z
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