6 August 2020 / COVID-19

Prime Minister, VIC Premier & NSW Announcements

Prime Minister & Minister for Home Affairs

The following announcements have just been made:

  • Mental health of Victorians is an great area of concern, additional mental health support is being provided
  • Another $5M to Headspace, $2M to Kids Helpline, $2.5M to Lifeline, $2.5M to Beyond Blue – these boosts to funding will add resources, deliver training and more availability
  • Additional Medicare subsidised mental health sessions will be available via GPs for people across Victoria
  • GPs and other mental health practitioners are available to Victorians via Telehealth
  • Resources available immediately include Beyond Blue, Head to Health, Headspace, Black Dog Institute and Suicide Call Back Service
  • Important to have difficult conversations openly about mental health during the pandemic
  • Additional restrictions in Victoria in August and September is estimated to reduce the size of GDP in the September quarter by between $7 billion and $9 billion
  • National unemployment rate is now expected to peak closer to 10 per cent, with effective unemployment rate expected to be in high 13 per cent range.
  • Announcing today a new Cybersecurity Strategy to keep the people, government and businesses of Australia safe
  • $1.67bn strategy over next decade primarily targets the dark web, paedophiles and terrorists and includes another 100 more cyber detectives
  • $2M has been provided to Lebanon by way of initial support for the terrible accident that occurred yesterday

Victorian Premier

The following announcements have just been made:

  • 471 new cases, 8 more deaths since last update
  • It’s an imperfect process closing/restricting businesses because it’s never been done before, and changes may need to be made based on further discussions with industries/businesses
  • Primary aim is to drive down movement across Victorian communities
  • Regarding the second category of businesses/industries which are required to reduce workforce, further documentation coming in the next few hours [we will provide when available]
  • The restrictions for the construction industry – the settings already outlined will be delivered:
    • Large govt jobs – down to 50% already but will be further reduced down to 25% if possible
    • Projects above 3 storeys (private sector jobs) – down to 25% staff on site
    • Domestic building – as arranged, no more than 5 staff on site, limited movement is allowed to other sites but permitted in some cases
    • Building supervisors are allowed to move between sites too
    • Strict COVIDSafe plans in place for the industry
    • Only 25% of workforce on site allowed, not 25% per shift. There cannot be 25% per shift because that does not reduce the aggregate daily movement and pushes it to 50% or even 100% if delivered in shifts.
  • These restrictions have to be made to limit movement
  • These specific plans are about striking a balance between reducing movement and cases, but not compromising stock being on shelves
  • You may not be able to get exactly what you want, but you will still be able to get what you need. No need to buy bulk qtys of anything
  • Further mental health supports will be announced in coming days

New South Wales 

NSW residents returning from Victoria must go into mandatory hotel quarantine for 14 days at their own expense from 12.01am Friday, 6 August

Subscribe to Hutchies' updates