12 — Cruise control

Private schools and hospitals are getting massive bailouts and there's day-long lines at Centerlink. We talk coronavirus shutdowns, the government's confusing messaging and why cruise ships are spreading the plague.

News

• Australia is still on fire.
• The federal government has given private schools a huge $3.4 billion handout — this funds scholarships for poor students but basically as a huge handout for private schools.
• Australia’s private hospitals are threatening to close - after being given notice that elective surgeries must be reallocated to provide more capacity for coronavirus.
• Queensland is building a massive new windfarm, bigger than the current three largest wind farms in Australia combined, and creating 400 new jobs.

It’s the economy, stupid

• Scott Morrison’s late-night press-conferences have been confusing, especially since he refuses to give a straight answer on anything.
• Despite receiving massive government bailouts, businesses are standing down thousands of workers. @rosieanice has been maintaining an excellent list on twitter.
• The government’s refusal to close businesses are putting both workers and businesses in danger. Hairdressers have called for the government to mandate a shut down, so they have clarity on where their business stands.
• Almost 150,000 Australians tried to apply for unemployment benefits in a single day.
• Stewart Robert, the government minister responsible, claimed the MyGov website crashed because it was attacked by hackers (it was not).
• Centerlink has admitted they will be on the hook for more that $550 million in refunds after the robodebt debacle.
• The government has suspended punitive “mutual obligations”, so job seekers don’t need to attend job. However they are due to return in a month, and this was not communicated to unemployed people.

Plague ships

• As of recording, 293 people from the Ruby Princess cruise ship have come down with COVID-19.
• Cruise ships were banned from docking in Australia, but the Ruby Princess was given a special exemption.
• Former Immigration department media chief Sandi Logan, claims that favours for friends were the cause of this disastrous decision.
• Border Force and NSW Health have been throwing blame back and forth over who is to blame. The truth is: It’s both of them.

Actions

• Shout out to 80 Coles workers went on strike for safer conditions
• Shout out to the Australian Unemployed Workers Union, who have been doing incredible work pushing for protections for unemployed people. If you can, donate or join.
• Delete the Twitter app, but follow us!
• The 7AM Podcast has had a great series of episodes on the coronavirus over the last week.
• Check out Nina Oyama’s instagram. It’s funny and informative!

Demand action on rent

• Contact your federal and state representatives and demand action to freeze rent and mortgage payments. Our email template as a good place to start.