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Prime Minister Scott Morrison has declared Australia must now work to flatten the curve of rising unemployment, pushing the need for workplaces and the broader economy to become "COVID-safe" so they can re-open.
Key points:
- National Cabinet has agreed to a set of COVID-19 work safety principles
- Mr Morrison says each week of restrictions is costing the economy $4 billion
- Safe Work Australia's website has been overhauled with information about COVID-19 safety
Putting the Government's focus on the millions of workers affected by the pandemic, including up to 1 million that have lost their jobs entirely, Mr Morrison said the need to get people back into work was weighing on National Cabinet as it met today.
Mr Morrison said more than 5 million Australians were on the JobKeeper payment, with a further 1 million out of work and on the JobSeeker payment.
More than 1 million people in financial need had also raided their retirement savings early, Mr Morrison said.
The meeting came after the Federal Government released figures suggesting every week the current coronavirus restrictions remained in place cost the economy $4 billion.
Mr Morrison said National Cabinet considered the figures today and was committing to develop a "COVID-safe" economy.
"That is the curve we need to address."
National Cabinet today examined data that showed the food service and accommodation industries were some of the hardest hit by restrictions.
Up to 1 million jobs lost
Mr Morrison's focus on jobs came after an analysis of payroll data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, which suggested close to 1 million people had lost their jobs since COVID-19 restrictions came into force.
That amounted to a 7.5 per cent dip in the number of jobs in Australia between March 14 and April 18.
As part of the push, Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter said the Safe Work Australia website had been overhauled to offer profession-specific advice on safety relating to coronavirus.
Mr Porter said National Cabinet had also agreed to a set of safety principles for workplaces.
Mr Morrison said the cost was putting significant pressure on federal and state governments to ease restrictions with the goal of reviving the economy.
Businessman Nev Power, who was appointed to lead a commission coordinating the Government's COVID-19 response, said businesses would need to be flexible in order to adapt to changes.
"Continue to work with your employees to find ways of configuring your business so you are able to introduce the restrictions on social distancing and hygiene into your normal business activities," he said.
"Have plans in place and be ready, as the restrictions change, that you can continue to do that as more customers are coming into your business."
National Cabinet will consider how restrictions may be lifted in its next meeting on Friday.
