Australia PM says reopenings of internal borders will support jobs

[webfact]

Australia PM says reopenings of internal borders will support jobs

 

FILE PHOTO: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks during a joint press conference held with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at Admiralty House in Sydney, Australia, February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott/File Photo

 

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday said the reopening of state borders will support jobs growth despite a fresh outbreak of the coronavirus in the country's second most populated state.

 

South Australia and Tasmania states have in recent days confirmed their borders will reopen in late July. Queensland state expected to announce similar later on Monday.

 

"There's no reason [why] we can't go ahead with these openings," Morrison told 2GB radio. "They should go ahead – it's costing jobs in those states."

 

Australia has been relatively successful in containing the spread of the novel coronavirus with total cases of around 7,700, including 104 deaths.

 

However, a recent spike in infections in Victoria state has threatened plans to remove the bulk of the country's social distancing restrictions by the end of July. Victoria's borders, shared with New South Wales and South Australia states, are open, stoking fears the infection could spread during upcoming winter school holidays.

 

Morrison also pledged more economic stimulus as Australia slides into its first recession in 30 years and the unemployment rate has hit a 19-year high of 7.1%.

 

However, he ruled out a blanket extension of a A$60 billion (33.36 billion pounds) wage subsidy scheme beyond its scheduled end in September, hinting instead it would be replaced by targeted fiscal support.

 

"It can't be sustained forever," Morrison said, adding that another phase of stimulus at the end of September would be targeted "to the people who need it most."

 

The Grattan Institute, a well-regarded independent think tank, said in a report published on Monday the government needs to inject up to A$90 billion more in stimulus programs, including extending its wage subsidy program.

 

That stimulus was needed before the annual budget in October to bring the unemployment rate down to about 5% by the middle of 2022, the report said.

 

(Reporting by Renju Jose and Colin Packham; editing by Jane Wardell)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-06-29

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[DoctorG]

I doubt Queensland will open its borders this week. With the surge in Victoria it has been announced that sporting teams that have travelled to Melbourne will be required to do the quarantine thing upon entering Qld.

[car720]

I hope God's country keeps her borders closed forever.  If she ever becomes another country I will be the first in line for a new passport.

[GreasyFingers]

34 minutes ago, car720 said:

I hope God's country keeps her borders closed forever.  If she ever becomes another country I will be the first in line for a new passport.

Aren't you worried by all of the mexican retiries that would be eligible as well.

[car720]

13 hours ago, GreasyFingers said:

Aren't you worried by all of the mexican retiries that would be eligible as well.

Nah!!

They all live on the Sunshine Coast.  Everything south of Gympie will be a part of NSW. 

[4MyEgo]

On 6/29/2020 at 10:49 AM, webfact said:

"They should go ahead – it's costing jobs in those states."

I wonder how the world survived before Covid-19.

 

Let it take its course, we know it's out there, people die everyday, eventually after those that have died, possibly including oneself, things will eventually get back to normal, I mean, people die every day from road accidents, accidental deaths, cancer, heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, etc etc etc, but economies aren't shut down, ok, those diseases don't spread, as quick as viruses do, but they are destructive in themselves, i.e. if you are unfortunate to get diagnosed with one of the above, but life goes on, what about wars, past and present ?

 

It is up to everyone to take as much preventative care to themselves and their fellow man to avoid getting or giving it, and if one gets it, well that's the luck of the draw, life has to go on, shutting down economies is killing people in a number of other ways and getting things back to how they were to live a normal life with a job is going to get much harder because taxes of all types will have to be increased so that the money spent in stimuluses to keep people going has to be paid back.

 

I believe the lockdowns have gone on for too long, and created enough damage, time to bit the bullet, well that's my take on it anyway, whatever will be, will be.

Edited June 30, 2020 by 4MyEgo

[samran]

2 hours ago, car720 said:

Nah!!

They all live on the Sunshine Coast.  Everything south of Gympie will be a part of NSW. 

I’m all for the barrassi line. 

[car720]

19 hours ago, samran said:

I’m all for the barrassi line. 

Too many gladiators.  Gentlemen play golf.

[samran]

17 hours ago, car720 said:

Too many gladiators.  Gentlemen play golf.

We can give you the Melbourne sandbelt as autonomous self governing territories.

[Meat Pie 47]

17 hours ago, car720 said:

Too many gladiators.  Gentlemen play golf.

So you class Trump as a gentleman?

[car720]

7 hours ago, Meat Pie 47 said:

So you class Trump as a gentleman?

Please don't use the words 'class' and 'Trump' in the same sentence.