National cabinet will meet on Friday to consider a three-step plan for the gradual removal of baseline pandemic restrictions to allow the re-opening of a 'safe' Australian economy in July. Some COVID-19 restrictions are expected to be eased after Friday's meeting. "We now need to get one million Australians back to work."
“It is National Cabinet’s aim to have a sustainable COVID-19 safe economy in July 2020,” said a statement from the PM’s Office after Tuesday’s cabinet meeting discussed the relaxation of restrictions. “This will be subject to strong epidemiology results, testing, tracing and local surge health response capacity. National Cabinet noted that some health measures will need to be in place for a considerable period of time including social distancing, strong hygiene and international travel restrictions. Some jurisdictions may choose to maintain interstate travel restrictions.”
Individual states and territories will determine the timeframe for graduating between steps and restrictions to remove.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters he expects some restrictions will be eased on Friday. "We now need to get one million Australians back to work.
“I will seek to have as consistent a national position as possible but ultimately each state and territories are the arbiters of their own position. I would expect that on Friday there will be some restrictions formally eased…our hope that where we get to on Friday can lay out much more of the roadmap for Australians so they can see what is happening for weeks and months ahead.
“We do have to have some aspirations and targets about this, even when you are easing restrictions for some sectors it may take a week or two for those particular sectors that have been closed down to be able to reopen to get staff back, to get their supplies and open the premises and it can take a step up on the way back. What we are talking about is a Covid-19 safe economy and to get to that point as quickly as we can.
“It is not just being able to go back to a workplace that is safe but also about being able to do that confidently…what matters is how you deal with it and how you respond to it, and it is important that businesses, employees and employers have the tools to deal with the Covid-19 environment and ensure they are all working together to support a Covid-19 safe workplace.”
The federal government has rebuilt the Safe Work Australia website into a resource that advises businesses in different industries how to set up their workplaces in a post-coronavirus economy.
