Every project needs to be prepared for the Christmas holiday shutdown.

Sites must be secure and ready for any potential weather events during the shutdown period.

All projects need to prepare, plan and coordinate the implementation of Hutchies' shutdown and storm preparation processes prior to the break.

This includes: 

• Ensuring plant, amenities, temporary structures and perimeter fencing is secured with the relevant site contacts for the break displayed on the perimeter fence
• Ensure external areas / works are secure and have controls in place as per erosion sediment control plans
• As a Project Team, ensure there is a communicated plan to attend the project during the break for emergencies
• Checking that open excavations and trenches have been filled or barricaded

All shutdown checklists are to be completed on HammerTech > Inspections: Site Shutdown Storm Preparation Checklist (F-084)

We’re not the only ones who party over the break. Mother Nature is known for getting rowdy over Christmas, dishing out some severe weather and environmental events.

Ranging from high winds, heavy rain, flooding, hail and in some cases cyclones, these have the potential to cause damage to Hutchies' sites, and adjacent properties and assets.

Since the beginning of 2022, our sites have already braved significant wet weather, and the forecast predicts more to come.

To best prepare for these potential weather events and to keep our sites secure, every project needs to fully implement Hutchies' shutdown and storm preparation processes prior to the holiday break.

This includes:

• Ensuring plant, amenities, temporary structures and perimeter fencing is secured with the relevant site contacts for the break displayed on the perimeter fence
• As a Project Team, ensure there is a plan to attend the project during the break for emergencies
• Checking that open excavations and trenches have been filled or barricaded
• Sediment and erosion controls are in place on the boundaries and around any soil stockpiles that could potentially cause impact to the environment
• Consideration of insurance requirements for weather and flood mitigation
  

All shutdown checklists are to be completed on HammerTech > Inspections: Site Shutdown Storm Preparation Checklist (F-084)

Hutchies' Subcontractor HSE Requirements document is a summary of safety expectations for all of Hutchies' projects. 

The Subcontractor HSE Requirements is referenced in all subcontract agreements (Annexure E) and is used in conjunction with local legislated requirements and Hutchies' Safety Management System.

To accurately reflect our current HSE requirements, this document has been updated to include:

• The use of HammerTech on all projects
• Incident notifications and investigations
• Rehabilitation and return to work 
• Plant and equipment maintenance 
• Minimum Licencing Requirements 

Prior to commencing on site all subcontractors shall be provided access to the following WHS documentation via our Subbies Toolbox:

• WHS Management Plan
• Project Risk Assessment
• Site Rules 

Action

HammerTech

The document has been uploaded to all HammerTech welcome emails and will be automatically attached to the welcome email which you need to send to each new Subcontractor as they are onboarded into HammerTech.

Project Teams

1. Add subcontractors to HammerTech in advance of their commencement and then send HammerTech's 'welcome email'
2. Update any team specific process or project specific Subcontractor HSE documentation to reflect this latest content

Future updates of this document will be automatically attached to HammerTech's 'welcome email'

This morning the Queensland Government re-introduced stricter mandatory mask rules for certain public settings.

As of 1am Saturday 18 December, masks are mandatory across Queensland in the following locations:

• In retail settings such as shops, retail centres and supermarkets  
• In taxis and ride shares vehicles
• On public transport 
• When at airports and on planes 
• In hospitals and aged care

From today, pubs, clubs and other public venues are for the vaccinated only. Masks will not be required in these venues but they are strongly recommended when social distancing cannot be maintained.

For clarity, these additional Government requirements do not apply to Hutchies' construction sites or offices.

These changes have been made in light of border openings and increased case numbers expected over the holiday period, so please remain vigilant.

The mask mandate will be revised once Queensland hits 90% double dosed. This will likely be towards the end of January.

Have a safe and happy holidays!

These events, which range from cyclones, rain, hail, flooding, high winds and bushfires have the potential to cause damage to Hutchies' project sites, and adjacent properties and assets.

Since the beginning of Summer 2021 our sites have already braved significant wet weather, and the forecast predicts a lot more to come.

To ensure we're prepared for these weather events and to keep our sites safe and secure, we need to fully implement Hutchies' shutdown and storm preparation processes prior to the holiday break.

This includes checking that the sediment and erosion controls are in place and effective for any projects where we have open ground and soil stockpiles that could potentially cause impact to the environment.

Hutchies' shutdown checklist is on HammerTech > Inspections:
HB-HSEQ-F-084 Site Shutdown Storm Preparation Checklist

New restrictions from 4pm today

Six new cases have been announced in Queensland this morning which has resulted in the Queensland Government re-introducing stricter measures in some local government areas (LGAs) of Queensland. Check your LGA here.

These additional restrictions will be in place from 4pm today, Thursday 30 September for at least two weeks.

Breakdown of new restrictions

• You must carry a mask and wear it everywhere indoors including at work. Masks must also be worn outdoors when you cannot stay 1.5 metres away from others. Further details below.
• Gatherings in homes and public spaces can have a maximum of 30 people.
• Weddings can have up to 100 people. 20 people max can dance.
• Funerals can have up to 100 people.
• Businesses (including places of worship, convention centres, retail, dining, gyms, hairdressers, beauty and personal care services etc) are allowed to operate but with reduced capacity depending on the setting.
• Patrons must be seated in hospitality venues to eat and drink, and dancing is not permitted.
• Stadiums and indoor / outdoor events can have 75% seated and ticketed capacity. Patrons must wear masks at all times, except to eat and drink

Masks remain mandatory in the local government areas (LGAs) of Brisbane, Gold Coast, Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Redlands, Moreton Bay, Scenic Rim, Somerset and Lockyer Valley.

Today the Queensland Government re-introduced stricter mandatory mask rules specifically for the LGAs of Brisbane and Moreton Bay in response to 4 locally acquired cases announced earlier this morning.

Please ensure you follow the Government's new requirements below if you live or work in the Brisbane or Moreton Bay LGA.

If you are unsure which LGA you live or work in, check here.

Outdoors (including on construction sites)

You must wear a face mask when you are unable to stay 1.5 metres from people, including when you are at an outdoor workplace, unless:
you are alone or with the members of your household
you are alone in your car or with the members of your household
you are eating or drinking
you are participating in strenuous exercise
it is unsafe to wear a mask

Indoors (including in Hutchies' Toowong office and on sites)

You must wear a face mask at all times when you are indoors, including workplaces, unless:

• you are alone in an office or meeting room with the door closed
• you are at your residence and there is no one else there except people you live with
• you are eating or drinking
• it is unsafe to wear a mask

For more information, check out the update below

New exposure sites

Please ensure you check the latest exposure sites list regularly as new venues of concern will likely be added as a result of these 4 local cases. 

If you have been to any of the venues of concern at the date and time identified, inform your Team Leader, get tested and follow the direction listed by Queensland Healt

This update is intended to provide a summary of the current impacts of COVID-19 in Australia that are relevant to Hutchies and the wider construction industry. If you have any questions, get in touch with the Coronavirus Team.

In good news, over half of all Australians over the age of 16 are now double vaccinated.

Once states and territories reach 70% and 80% double vaccinated milestones, governments will begin to ease restrictions safely.

South East Queensland

From 4pm today, Friday 27 August, restrictions will ease for 11x local government areas (LGAs) of South East Queensland to join the rest of the state with the exception of mask wearing. 

Eased restrictions for the South East Queensland LGAs and current restrictions for the rest of Queensland include:

• Up to 100 people in your home, including people who live there

• 200 people are allowed weddings and funerals (1 person per 2m2)
• Dancing is allowed
• All indoor settings (including restaurants and bars) can have up to 1 person per 2m2 or 100 per cent capacity if they are ticketed and seated events, including stadiums
• No density restrictions for businesses that operate only outdoors
• Community sport can recommence in full

Some mandatory mask requirements will remain. Read on for more info.

As announced by the NSW Government last week, stay-at-home restrictions for Greater Sydney will remain in place until at least the end of September. Regional NSW's stay-at-home restrictions will remain in place until at least 28 August.

The Central Coast and Shellharbour local government areas (LGAs) were previously covered in the Greater Sydney area but are now identified as Regional NSW and will be subject to the same rules and restrictions as the regional areas

For those living and working in the 12x affected LGAs of concern, some additional rules came into effect as of 12.01am this morning, along with some other restrictions which are detailed further below under the heading 'Affected LGAs of Concern'.

South East Queensland

From 4pm today, Friday 20 August, restrictions will ease in 11x local government areas (LGAs) across Queensland. These eased restrictions will include: 

• up to 30 people in homes and public spaces
• up to 100 attendees at weddings with a maximum of 20 people dancing
• up to 100 attendees at funerals
• community sport, with reduced spectators and in line with density requirements
• 75 per cent ticketed and allocated seating capacity for indoor events (with COVID Safe Checklist) 75 per cent ticketed and allocated seating capacity for stadiums over 20,000 people with COVID Safe Site Specific Plans
• Some mandatory mask requirements will remain. Read down below for more info.

The 11x LGAs include: 

Current Status

Queensland closed its border to all of New South Wales as of 1am, Friday 23 July. A border zone was established to enable movement between the states of Queensland and New South Wales for residents who live near the border.

However, Queensland has responded to NSW's recent state-wide lockdown by further limiting reasons to cross the border.

Please read the below update if you reside or are intending to transit within the border zone.

The NSW Government has announced new requirements for workers and construction sites across Greater Sydney.

Whilst we are still awaiting the official Health Directive, we understand that from 12.01am on Wednesday (11 August), all construction sites will be able to reopen across Greater Sydney albeit with two new requirements as outlined below.

Hutchies' focus is to make this new information available to all workers and subcontractors across NSW immediately. We are developing further detail for site entry requirements which will be issued in coming days. Team Leaders will also work with members of their team who reside in the affected LGAs with regards to coordinating their return to work.

New requirements announced by NSW Government in place from 12.01am Wednesday 11 August

1. Construction sites can operate at a maximum capacity of 50%; and
2. Construction workers from affected areas can return to work but must provide evidence that they have received:
   1. two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, or
   2. one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at least 3 weeks before attending work, or
   3. one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and, if less than 3 weeks since that vaccine was administered, a negative COVID-19 test in the previous 72 hours and this must be repeated for the first 3 weeks following the initial vaccine dose

Maximum construction site capacity

Hutchies' Teams will work with all subcontractors to establish workforce requirements across each trade to ensure optimal productivity across our sites.

Immediate steps people from affected LGAs should take

If you reside in one of the affected suburbs or local government areas (LGAs) listed below, to work on site you must:

• Get a vaccination as soon as possible
• Get a COVID-19 test as soon as possible if you have only had one vaccine and that dose was less than three weeks ago (so you have evidence of a negative test result before sites open on Wednesday) and continue to do so every 72 hours for the first 3 weeks

Naturally Hutchies is committed to complying with all Health Order requirements. Once the Health Order is released we will work with everyone to ensure compliance with these new requirements.

Important Update 

The NSW Government's new requirements for workers and construction sites across Greater Sydney have been confirmed in the latest Health Order published earlier this evening.

The result of the Health Order is that from 12.01am on Wednesday (11 August), all construction sites will be able to reopen across Greater Sydney (including in affected LGAs) provided they comply with the following:

• capacity limit of 50% of the maximum daily workforce, or 1 person per 4 square metres of space at the construction site (whichever is lesser)
• ensuring workers from affected LGAs are complying with the COVID-19 vaccination requirements before they enter site
• the COVID-19 safety plan in place at the site

Maximum daily workforce of a construction site means the maximum number of workers (including supervisors and people in site offices) at the construction site on any day during the project life cycle, derived from the current resourcing plan for the construction site. Each project must have available a resourcing schedule which clearly shows the actual or projected maximum capacity of the project.

Hutchies' Teams will work with all subcontractors to establish workforce requirements across each trade to ensure optimal productivity across our sites.

Queensland Government Direction

Although lockdown has now lifted in South East Queensland, masks remain mandatory. The Queensland Government's official health direction applies to the 11x LGAs of Brisbane, Gold Coast, Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Redlands, Moreton Bay, Scenic Rim, Somerset and Lockyer Valley. Face masks must also be worn in Cairns / Yarrabah which entered a 3 day lockdown yesterday.

The direction is being enforced by Queensland Police who are visiting workplaces to check compliance. The construction industry is at risk of being shut down if mask wearing and other COVIDSafe compliance is not maintained.

Please ensure you follow the Government's requirements if you are in one of the affected LGAs.

Outdoors (including on construction sites)

You must wear a face mask at all times when you are outside your home, including when you are at an outdoor workplace, unless:

• you are alone or with the members of your household
• you are alone in your car or with the members of your household
• you are eating or drinking
• you are participating in strenuous exercise
• it is unsafe to wear a mask

Indoors (including in Hutchies' offices and on sites)

You must wear a face mask at all times when you are indoors, including workplaces, unless:

• you are at your residence and there is no one else there except people you live with
• you are eating or drinking
• you are alone in an office or meeting room with the door closed
• it is unsafe to wear a mask

Review the latest information here, including updated restrictions for South East Queensland.

3 day lockdown announced

This morning the Queensland Government announced a 3 day lockdown for the local government areas (LGAs) of Cairns Regional Council and Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council. 

The lockdown will be in place from 4pm today (Sunday) through to 4pm Wednesday, 11 August. It has been announced following a positive case detected in a Cairns taxi driver who has been infectious in the community for at least 10 days.

If anyone has any symptoms, no matter how mild, get tested on day 1 — this helps prevent further restrictions.

Anyone who has been in these areas since the start of the lockdown must also observe these restrictions wherever they are now.

The construction industry is still considered an essential service. Sites will remain open throughout the lockdown period at this stage. 

Read on for further information.

This morning the Queensland Government announced that the lockdown in the local government areas (LGAs) of South East Queensland (incorporating Brisbane, Gold Coast, Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Redlands, Moreton Bay, Scenic Rim, Somerset and Lockyer Valley) will be extended until 4pm, Sunday 8 August.

The construction industry is still considered an essential service. Sites and offices remain open throughout the lockdown period.

Read on for further information.

The Queensland Government provided the below update this morning. Current restrictions in place for South East Queensland will ease as of 6am, tomorrow (Friday) morning.

However, mask wearing will continue for another 7 days until at least 6am, Friday 30 July.

Queensland also announced that its border is closing to all of New South Wales as of 1am, tomorrow (Friday) morning.

Further details are provided below.

Keeping people safe

We've made some updates to our COVIDSafe Plan to incorporate the latest requirements across Australia.

All of Hutchies' sites and offices must continue to implement the key COVIDSafe measures we've had in place over the last 12 months, in addition to the latest local state / territory requirements listed below.

Some of the critical aspects of our COVIDSafe plan being focsued on include:

• Regular cleaning of all site / office areas and high touch points
• Good hand hygiene
• Maintaining 1.5m distance from others
• Signing in to provide contact details if required for contact tracing

The updates we have incorporated into our latest plan (version 4) includes:

Mandatory Check In & Sign In 

It is a requirement for everyone entering a Hutchies site or office that they sign in using our own process (ie HammerTech or Visitor Register) and if mandatory in your local state, must also check in using the government issued QR code system to assist with contact tracing if required.

Mandatory Masks

Masks are mandated in several areas across Australia presently, including New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and parts of South East Queensland. Hutchies' preference is that everyone in these areas, or if you cannot socially distance, wear a mask at all times, when it is safe to do so. 

This plan must be available on your project and to your clients. You should familiarise yourself with the necessary measures and continue to implement all requirements, including completing our weekly COVIDSafe inspection checklists for sites and offices.

At 4.45 pm today, the Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews announced that the whole of Victoria would be entering into a 5 day hard and fast lockdown in order to prevent and control the spread of the ‘Delta Variant’ of COVID-19 from 11.59pm tonight, 15^th July to Tuesday 20^th  July 11.59pm.

Under these lockdown restrictions that come into force at midnight tonight there will only be five reasons for Victorians to leave home:

1. 1 person per household to complete shopping for essential items within a 5km radius
2. authorised work or permitted education
3. exercise for up to two hours a day with people from your household within a 5km radius
4. caregiving, compassionate and medical reasons
5. To get vaccinated

Circuit Breaker Breakdown

• There are to be no visitors to your home other than an intimate partner.
• Single bubbles will be permitted. If you live alone, you can make a bubble with another person.
• And there’s to be no public gatherings.
• In terms of what remains open, so restaurants, pubs, and cafes can provide takeaway only.
• Essential retail, so supermarkets, food stores, petrol stations, banks, bottle shops and pharmacies, other retail stores can provide click and collect.
• Childcare and kinder’s will be open as per the last circuit-breaker lockdown earlier this year.
• Approved professional sporting events will proceed but proceed without crowds.
• Authorised workers and workplaces – in terms of what will be closed or changed, schools will move to remote learning, except for vulnerable children, and children of authorised workers. Higher education will move to remote learning only.
• Community support and recreation, accommodation, but there will be some exemptions that apply.
• Hotels, clubs, TABs and the casino will be closed, indoor and outdoor entertainment venues, swimming pools, spas, saunas, indoor and outdoor springs, community venues, drive-in cinemas, amusements parks, creative studios, art galleries and museums, tourism, tours, and transport, and auctions can only happen online.
• In terms of our health settings, aged care facilities: no visitors except for limited reasons.
• In our hospitals, visitors only for end of life, to support a partner during birth, or a parent accompanying a child. In terms of ceremonies, funerals: a maximum of 10 people, plus those running the service.
• Weddings cannot proceed unless end-of-life or deportation reasons apply.
• And religious activities will not proceed other than through broadcast with a maximum of five people.

What does this mean for Building and Construction?

The difference with this Circuit Breaker is Construction has been added as an Authorised Provider and Authorised workers. 

All Hutchies’ Sites remain OPEN. NO WORKER PERMITS REQUIRED.

At this point there is no further information on extra measures that are required such as density quotients (however expect that they will increase to 1 person per 4SQM). I will provide you further information as it comes to light.

We have been here before and no doubt we will again, but the thing that goes unspoken about is the stress and the pressure that these lockdowns bring with them to our everyday work life and our home lives. Please remember that you are not alone, you can pick the phone up and call anyone, anywhere at any time. Hutchies also have a confidential EAP service that is available and the details are attached for your information.

I have also attached the Circuit Breaker Table of Restrictions and the Premier Statement.

If you have any questions or if I can be of assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards,

Candece Frazzica-Kara HSE Manager (VIC)
T 03 9282 9554 | F 03 9681 6977 | m 0411 022 839
E Candece.Frazzica-Kara@hutchinsonbuilders.com.au  

This morning the Queensland Government announced a 3 day lockdown for the local government areas (LGAs) of Cairns Regional Council and Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council. 

The lockdown will be in place from 4pm today (Sunday) through to 4pm Wednesday, 11 August. It has been announced following a positive case detected in a Cairns taxi driver who has been infectious in the community for at least 10 days.

If anyone has any symptoms, no matter how mild, get tested on day 1 — this helps prevent further restrictions.

Anyone who has been in these areas since the start of the lockdown must also observe these restrictions wherever they are now. 

The construction industry is still considered an essential service. Sites will remain open throughout the lockdown period at this stage. Read on for further information

Latest COVID-19 case locations in QLD

Please note this is a public announcement – not an announcement from Hutchies.

Updated: 10 June 2021

A new locally acquired case was confirmed on the Sunshine Coast yesterday. The case recently travelled from Victoria via NSW into QLD and has been out in the community while infectious.

Please take the time to review the list below and if you have been at one of the venues at the time identified, inform your Team Leader and make arrangements to follow NSW Government directions immediately. 

Latest COVID-19 case locations in QLD

Please note this is a public announcement – not an announcement from Hutchies.

Updated: 09 June 2021

A new locally acquired case has been confirmed on the Sunshine Coast this afternoon. The case recently travelled from Victoria via NSW into QLD and has been out in the QLD community while infectious since 5 June 2021.

Please take the time to review the list below and if you have been at one of the venues at the time identified, inform your Team Leader and make arrangements to follow the Queensland Government directions immediately.

Check the QLD Government website daily for updated information. 

Latest COVID-19 case locations in VIC

Please note this is a public announcement – not an announcement from Hutchies.

Updated: 25 May 2021

New venues have been added to the below list following the announcement of four new locally acquired cases in Melbourne yesterday.

Please take the time to review the latest location list below and if you have been at one of the venues at the time identified, inform your Team Leader and make arrangements to follow all Government directions.

Check the VIC Government website daily for updated exposure sites. 

Achieving good quality wet areas is critical to any building and continues to be one of our most important areas of focus at Hutchies, and an increased area of focus by regulators as a result of poor industry performance.

In addition to Hutchies' Quality Handbook (Topic 8), Services Alerts, and the Hutch video on waterproofing, this alert provides a quick review of the most important areas of focus. It also includes a link to some step by step guides to wet area design and construction to assist project teams including at every level (including subbies).

Please review and ensure every effort is made in getting these areas right to avoid costly rectifications during the project, for statutory warranty periods and to ensure the highest quality compliant wet areas are constructed.

Latest info & COVID-19 case locations in NSW

Please note this is a public announcement – not an announcement from Hutchies.

After the discovery of a local COVID-19 case in Greater Sydney yesterday, and the partner of that case today, the following measures will be enforceable from 5pm today, May 6 until 12:01am Monday, 10 May for the Greater Sydney region (including Wollongong, Central Coast and Blue Mountains):

> Visitors to households will be limited to 20 guests – including children

> Masks will be compulsory on in all public indoor venues & public transport, including retail, theatres, hospitals, aged care facilities and for front-of-house hospitality staff (except in a hospitality venue when eating or drinking)

> Drinking while standing up at indoor venues will not be allowed

> Singing by audiences at indoor shows or by congregants at indoor places of worship will not be allowed

> Dancing will not be allowed at indoor hospitality venues or nightclubs however, dancing is allowed at weddings with a strong recommendation that no more than 20 people should be on the dancefloor at any one time

> Visitors to aged care facilities will be limited to two people.

Please review the latest contact tracing list below. Get tested immediately and self-isolate for 14 days if you've been to any of these locations.

If you have been to any of these locations during the time and date indicated you should:

1. immediately self-isolate until 14 days after you were last there
2. get tested even if you have no symptoms
3. watch for COVID-19 symptoms and get retested should any symptoms recur
4. even if you get a negative test, you must stay in isolation for 14 days as it can take 14 days before you may show symptoms or test positive.

INCLUDING NEIGHBOURING PROPERTY (BUILDINGS AND INFRASTRUCTURE) & EXISTING STRUCTURES ON SITE (INCLUDING BASEMENTS)

Overview

It is important that all Hutchies’ project teams fully understand what is required for the protection of people, neighbouring property and existing structures whilst working on site. This is part of Hutchies’ legislative and contractual obligations. 

There is good reason for increased regulator and media attention directed at this issue. Without adequate protection in place, damage and incidents can occur with disastrous consequences.

It is critical that a proven construction method is used to prevent collapse and minimise or prevent damage/injury. Effective communication should be established and distributed to all interested parties for the life of the project.

Read the alert for more details. 

Falls and falling objects are hazards which can occur on construction sites. Constant proactive attention is required to manage the risk of these hazards due to the dynamic nature of site.

Site management and all workers have a duty to provide and maintain a safe workplace for all everyone that puts ‘people before program’.

By working together on Hutchies’ sites with good communication and planning, we improve the safety of ourselves and everyone around us. This extends to visitors to site and members of the public who may interact with our projects. 

Actions

All Site Management Teams are to:

> Download and display the Big 10 poster on your site to raise awareness

> Deliver a toolbox talk (download template) at the next prestart to the site teams / workers to communicate the Big 10 as well as the below actions for workers

> Complete a Weekly Inspection – Big 10 in HammerTech every week to monitor and review the effectiveness of implemented control measures and identify areas that require attention or rectification

specifically review the falls and falling object control measures:

• Housekeeping
• Scaffold
• Penetrations 
• Edge protection

> Raise any issues or observations that are identified with the relevant trades to achieve an effective and timely close out

> View the short videos below as a refresher for the required risk controls

All workers should are to:

> Follow Hutchies’ site rules & obtain relevant permits to work 

> Follow approved Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS

> Consider changes to the work environment that may affect approved SWMS as work progresses

> Install required and approved exclusion zones correctly prior to starting work

> Do not enter an exclusion zone unless you have approval from the trade in control of the area

> Do not alter scaffold on site unless you are a licensed scaffolder and have been instructed to by Hutchies

> If required to use height safety equipment, be competent and suitably trained before and use it in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines

Remember, your Hutchies’ site management team is available if you need any help or you see something that is potentially unsafe.

By working together effectively, we can improve the safety for everyone on site and reduce the risk of incidents

A new alert has been published detailing incorrect construction falls and expansion joints in wet areas. Please ensure your review the alert and implement all necessary measures to maintain compliance.

Hutchies has added a new Toolbox tile for the National Dictionary of Building and Plumbing Terms.

This online resource is powered by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) and Standards Australia.

You'll find this new tool on Hutchies' Toolbox home page under 'Information & Resources'.

The New Tile

What it is

The National Dictionary of Building and Plumbing Terms combines terms and definitions from:

• NCC

  The National Construction Code (NCC) 2019 Amendment 1
  © The Commonwealth of Australia and the States and Territories

• Standards

  Australian Standards (AS) referenced in the NCC
  © Standards Australia Limited

• Standards

  Australian / New Zealand Standards (AS/NZS) referenced in the NCC
  © Standards Australia Limited/the Crown in right of New Zealand, administered by the New Zealand Standards Executive

• HB50

  Handbook 50:2004 Glossary of Building Terms (HB50)
  © Property Council of Australia Limited

These sources are not exhaustive in the building and construction industry in Australia.

In all cases, please refer to the original sources of the relevant definitions. The National Dictionary is in no way a substitute for the NCC, AS Standards, AS/NZS Standards or State and Territory legislation.

The definitions for terms in these publications are often different. This website aims to:

• help industry find the right definition
• highlight consistency and conflicts
• provide a general hierarchy of results to assist interpretation

To know more about the NCC please visit Australian Building Codes Board. To know more about the related standards please visit Standards Australia.

Hierarchy of definitions

In general, the following order of precedence applies when viewing terms and definitions:

NCC Standards HB50

However, users should make their own decision as to which term or definition is relevant or applicable to their specific circumstances. This website is for general information only and is not intended to provide or substitute professional advice on the subject matter.

How you can access it

This resource is:

• Free
• Available via your web browser on any device
• Accessible via Hutchies' Toolbox 24x7

Hutchies has created a new national poster demonstrating the benefits of face masks with COVID-19.

Please print this sign at A3, laminate if possible and display across all sites and offices.

La Niña Event Forecast

2020-2021 Summer Strong Potential for Severe Weather Events

11 December 2020

A La Niña event has been officially declared by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) for the Australian summer of 2020-2021.  

La Niña typically brings with it heavy rainfall, intense storms and the possibility of strong wind events such as cyclones. The last time Australia saw a fully-fledged La Niña was from 2010 through 2012.

This alert is issued as a reminder to begin preparations for the likelihood of these severe weather events in the coming months.

Of immediate concern is the weather event forecast from tomorrow, Saturday 12 December through Monday 14 December. Those in Northern NSW, the Gold Coast and SE QLD should be prepared for:

> strong winds of ~75 km/hr

> storms and heavy rain

> seas in excess of 6.0 metres Check the Toolbox Weather page or local BOM warnings in your location for more information.

WHAT IS LA NIÑA?

La Niña is a complex weather pattern that occurs every few years, as a result of variations in ocean temperatures in the equatorial band of the Pacific Ocean. It occurs as strong winds blow warm water at the ocean's surface away from South America, across the Pacific Ocean towards Indonesia.

RESOURCES FOR SITE

The below resources are available to assist in the preparation for and in the aftermath of severe weather events. These are also available on the Doc Library and via HammerTech.

ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, AS/NZS 4801

New Certificates Now Available

10 December 2020

Hutchies has successfully completed the re-certification process for the standards required to operate within the construction industry.

The certificates for Standards ISO 9001 Quality, ISO 14001 Environmental & ISO 45001 Safety are current through to 23 November 2023.

AS/NZS 4801 Safety is being retired from service as of 13 July 2023 so the expiry date reflects its retirement. Upon expiry AS/NZS 4801 will be succeeded by ISO 45001.

Please arrange to remove existing electronic and hard copy certificates from all locations and notice boards at Hutchies’ offices and project sites and replace with current certificates as soon as possible.

The new certificates are available on the Document Library, or click the tiles below:

Changes to Queensland’s Biosecurity Regulation 2016 for fire ants came into effect on Wednesday, 27 May 2020.

These changes provide extra protection to areas that have undergone the National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program's eradication activities, and reduce the chance of the pest spreading by the movement of infested material such as soil, gravel, mulch and hay.

The key changes are:

1.   2 fire ant biosecurity zones instead of 3 (zones include new suburb areas where fire ants have been found previously)

2.   new soil movement guideline clarifies how you can meet your general biosecurity obligation (GBO) when working with soil updated risk mitigation strategies to guide you when working with material that may carry fire ants (may reduce the need to apply for a biosecurity instrument permit).

Soil & Transport in Biosecurity Zones

Soil from fire ant biosecurity zones is considered high risk for the spread of fire ants.

Under the Biosecurity Act 2014 everyone has a general biosecurity obligation (GBO) to take all reasonable steps to ensure they do not spread fire ants.

The Biosecurity Regulation 2016 prescribes procedures that you must follow when moving soil from a fire ant biosecurity zone. There are 2 fire ant biosecurity zones in Queensland. Refer to the fire ant biosecurity zone maps to see the boundaries of these zones or the Queensland Government’s interactive map to check if you're in a fire ant biosecurity zone.

Moving soil

To move soil from either of the fire ant biosecurity zones to a place outside the zones, you must request a biosecurity instrument permit (BIP) online or phone 13 25 23.

Refer to the table below for restrictions on the movement of soil between and outside of the fire ant biosecurity zones.

Managing soil

The Biosecurity Regulation 2016 and the Soil movement guideline outlines how soil should be managed in fire ant biosecurity zones.

If you are moving soil within the fire ant biosecurity zones, you should do 1 or more of the following:

1. treat soil before excavation
2. take soil from depth
3. disturb soil during or after excavation
4. store soil appropriately.

Treating soil before excavation

Business operators should engage a licensed pest manager 2 weeks before the anticipated excavation date to:

1. inspect the area to be excavated. If fire ants are found, report them
2. undertake direct nest injection (DNI) of any fire ant nests
3. treat the site with an appropriate bait in order to prevent fire ants becoming established in the area to be excavated.

At a residential property, you can pre-treat an area that is to be excavated using a household pesticide that is available in a retail store. The products used should be recognised by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) as an appropriate product for treating fire ants.

Use insecticides in accordance with the conditions of the APVMA permit, the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and in conjunction with the product's label. You can search for permits on the APVMA website.

Taking soil from depth

A newly established, or young, fire ant colony is often located in the first metre of soil. You could reduce ant activity and the risk of ant movement to another location by taking the following steps.

1. Remove the top metre of soil.
2. Do the necessary excavation.
3. Replace the original top metre of soil.

Do not mix the top metre of soil with the soil being moved from the site. Keep the top metre on site, or take it to a waste facility within the fire ant biosecurity zones (restrictions apply, see table above).

This method is not recommended for areas where the soil type is soft, loamy or sandy, as fire ant nests can extend further than 1 metre below the surface in areas in these soil types.

Disturbing the soil during or after excavation

Soil that is to be taken off-site should be disturbed before it is moved to another location. Disturbing soil means undertaking 1 or a combination of the following activities:

1. vigorously turning
2. crushing
3. washing
4. screening a soil stockpile.

Storage of soil

If the soil will be stored on the property for more than 24 hours, you should use 1 of the following storage options:

1. off-ground and covered (e.g. in a shed, under a shade cloth or tarpaulin); or
2. on-ground, and covered, on 1 of the following surfaces:
   1. concrete or bitumen (no cracks)
   2. a barrier that cannot be penetrated by fire ants (e.g. 200 micron unperforated plastic sheeting)
   3. compacted ground (other than sand) that has been treated with an appropriate chemical product before storage.

Apply a 30cm-wide strip of insecticide containing 80g/L bifenthrin, around the perimeter of the on-ground storage area. If soil is stored on compacted ground, you should also treat the whole surface area.

Keep the treated area free of material that could form an untreated bridge to the soil.

For an insecticide registered as a horizontal or perimeter barrier for fire ants, refer to Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) permit PER14317 (expires 31 December 2021).

Stockpiles of soil should be disturbed:

1. every 21 days; and
2. 24 hours prior to moving the material to another location

Applying for a permit

You can request a biosecurity instrument permit (BIP) online or by phoning the National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program on 13 25 23.

Each BIP application is assessed on its own merits and can be refused if the movement poses an unacceptable risk of spreading fire ants.

Keeping a record

You should keep a written record of the steps you take to ensure the soil is inspected, stored and moved correctly, including chemical treatments and / or disturbance activities. This may include:

1.   dated, written records of the measures you've taken to reduce risk and the details of where the soil has been taken from or to

2.   photographs, site plans and surveyor's records

3.   receipts and records of treatment applied by a licensed pest manager.

Keep these records for a minimum of 2 years.

Program inspectors, who conduct random compliance checks to ensure businesses and individuals are complying with fire ant movement controls, will request these records.

Penalties for not complying with movement controls apply under the Act and other relevant legislation.

More information

If you need additional support, please contact: 

Tivian Trinh
Phone 0427 246 134
Email tivian.trinh@hutchies.com.au

Victorian Premier Media Announcements

Please note this is a public announcement – not an announcement from Hutchies

The following announcements have just been made:

In metropolitan Melbourne, from 11:59pm on Tuesday October 27:

> Construction industry: 100% workforce capacity. Site visit limit on specialist contractors removed. Other additional obligations remain in place. 

> All retail will reopen. 

> Restaurants, hotels, cafes and bars will reopen as well.

> In indoor venues, there will be a maximum of 20 people, seated, with 10 people per space subject to density requirements (1 per 4m2).

> In outdoor venues, a maximum of 50 people with one person per two square metres.

> Beauty, personal services and tattooing, provided you can wear a mask, will reopen.

> Outdoor community sport for under 18 and outdoor noncontact sport for adults will recommence as well. 

> The four reasons to leave home will be removed.

> The 25 kilometre travel limit remains in place and the regional metropolitan border remains in place.

> Gatherings will no longer be limited to just two households to can be more than two households but the group cannot exceed 10.

> Weddings will increase to a maximum of 10 people. Funerals will increase to a maximum of 20 mourners.

> For religious gatherings, indoor there will be a maximum of 10 people plus a faith leader. Outdoor there will be a maximum of 20 people plus one faith leader.

In metropolitan Melbourne, from 11:59pm on Sunday November 8:

> 25 kilometre travel limit will lift.

> The metropolitan Melbourne regional border will lift.

> Gyms and fitness studios will open, with a maximum of 20 people per space, one person per 8 square metres.

> Restaurants, hotels, cafes and bars will move to an indoor maximum of 40 with 10 people per space, an outdoor maximum of 70 people with one person every 2 square metres.

> Religious gatherings will allow a maximum of 50 people, plus one faith leader, outdoors; indoors will be 20 people maximum plus one faith leader.

> Funerals: 20 mourners indoors; 50 mourners outdoors.

> Indoor community sport, non-contact sport for under-18 and sports capable of 1.5-metre social distancing can operate.

> Indoor pools will open for up to 20 people.

> Accommodation will reopen.

HILTI DGH 130 Multi Speed Concrete Grinder

### To be removed from service until further notice ###

A recent event occurred where the cup stone disc separated from a HITLI DGH 130 during operation. This event is currently under investigation. Picture provided below.

ACTION REQUIRED

This model tool is to be withdrawn from operations and tagged out of service until the investigation establishes the cause of the tool failure which resulted in the cup stone disc becoming dislodged from the tool.

This tool cannot be put into active service until formal notice from Hutchies’ National Health & Safety Manager. 

FOLLOW UP

This out of service advice does not apply to any other HILTI tool or product. 

Formal advice as to further action will be distributed when known.

Please take the time to review the lists below and if you have been at one of the venues at the time identified, inform your Team Leader and make arrangements to be tested and work from home until you receive a negative result.

The following announcements have just been made at a press conference:

Current VIC case data

19,538 confirmed aggregate total cases, 63 new cases overnight

666 deaths so far, increase of 5 since yesterday (2 of these occurred prior to yesterday)

283 in hospital, 19 in ICU, 16 on ventilators

2.9 million+ total tests in Victoria so far, 18,338 tests yesterday

Regional Victoria only has 98 active cases under Stage 3 restrictions

Victoria’s Road to Recovery

Difficult decisions to be made in the job of Premier. It is not a 50/50 choice, the modelling indicates if Victoria opens up too quickly, it will be in and out of lockdown many times before the end of the year. 

We can’t run out of lockdown, we have to take steady and safe steps to find the COVID normal. Make sure in opening up that we can stay open.

There is no choice but to ease out of restrictions safely.

More than 1000 scenarios have been put into a super computer which has been very helpful and is a significant piece of work [modelling document is available below]. 

Health and scientific advice is what is being followed to guide any changes. 

Metro Melbourne Roadmap (all easing of restrictions will be subject to health advice and numbers at each proposed date)

STEP ONE, FROM 11.59PM 13 SEPTEMBER:

The current Stage 4 restrictions will be extended for 2 more weeks.

Curfew will be eased by one hour to 9pm – 5am.

Exercise will be increased to two hours per day.

People who live alone will be able to partner up with someone else and visit each other. The five kilometre rule will not apply, but the curfew will. This will work similar to intimate partner arrangements now.

Playgrounds will reopen.

Public outdoor gatherings of two people will be allowed or a household for up to two hours, and/or for exercise.

STEP TWO, FROM 28 SEPTEMBER:

Average cases from the previous two weeks need to be between 30-50 cases.

Public gatherings will be increased to five people from two households.

Staged returns to school for Prep-Year 2. VCE and VCAL and specialist schools will be open for term four (Some Year 10 and Year 11 & 12)

Childcare will re-open.

Outdoor pools will open.

Outdoor training for two people with a personal trainer will be allowed.

Outdoor religious gatherings of 5 people plus one faith leader will be allowed.

Public gatherings increased to 5 people, from 2 households.

Some industries will reopen (some 101,000 workers will be able to return to work):

[A list was referred to by the Premier – link & publication below]

Construction – but will have some limits still

Warehousing and distribution, postal services

Childcare

Manufacturing

Outside garden maintenance, working alone outside, landscaping etc

STEP THREE, FROM 26 OCTOBER:

If the daily average of cases over the previous 14 days is less than five new daily cases at this time, then the curfew will no longer apply.

There will be changes to restrictions on leaving home reasons or distances travelled.

Public gatherings will increase to 10 people outdoors. 

Five visitors at home in a household bubble (your home and another home). 

More information will be shared on schools for those in Years 3 to 10. 

Retail and hairdressing will reopen.

Hospitality will recommence, predominantly outdoor seated service.

There will be a staged return of outdoor noncontact adult sport

STEP FOUR, FROM 23 NOVEMBER:

Gatherings of 50 people outdoors. 

Up to 20 people at home.

All retail will be open.

Real estate will open with safety measures.

In hospitality, indoor groups with a limit of 20 people with seated service, and a limit of 50 can be served more broadly per venue.

Weddings and funerals will be back to normal.

After that, a return to a COVID Normal will be the priority by Christmas. Most restrictions will drop, phased return for people working from home back to their workplaces.

An example of why it is important to do this in such a controlled, safe manner was given: 1 person in Colac (regional VIC town) infected 24 people in less than a week. It spreads like fire and until it is contained, Victoria can’t fully open.

Modelling shows we can’t open fully now otherwise all that will happen is a third wave with further restrictions. 

[Modelling was shown and talked through by Dr Allen Cheng at this point. Modelling document is available below]

REGIONAL VICTORIA ROADMAP, FROM 11.59PM 13 SEPTEMBER:

Regional Victoria will essentially jump straight to metropolitan Melbourne’s step two.

This will be reassessed after 2 weeks, and then will likely be able to move faster to reopening and be living in relatively normal circumstances compared to Melbourne. 

Geelong corridor is some concern and will be watched closely. If cases jump in Geelong corridor, they will join metropolitan Melbourne in terms of restrictions (rather than all of regional Victoria). 

The following announcements have just been made at a press conference with the Prime Minister and Acting Chief Medical Officer:

Australia can’t be taken for granted, its federation is a happy work in progress with National Cabinet being part of that.

This year with the COVID pandemic and the COVID recession, has been one of the hardest in many generations.

If each National Cabinet state & territory just went their own way at the beginning of the pandemic, Australia would have fallen short in getting on top of the virus.

National Cabinet was set up to find a way to work through issues, challenges & disagreements.

All states and territories now have different priorities based on where they are in the pandemic so 100% consensus is not achievable and should no longer be the aim. Agreement should be the goal but “not everyone has to get on the bus”, but it is important that “anyone not getting on the bus knows it has to leave”.

7 out of 8 states & territories agreed to getting back to a cohesive plan by December (WA was the exception).

Currently fashioning a new plan to determine both health and economic outcomes that will work moving forward, e.g. how testing should work & surveillance testing arrangements (like sewage testing). 

As Australia opens up, it means making sure people can move around. National Cabinet agreed that central to this is the hotspot plan – which is a big part of the overall plan. Hotspots need to be more specifically defined and this is what is now being worked on.

Australia needs to move beyond a situation of hard borders, but instead look to creating a national hotspot definition and use that instead. States & territories will have some bilateral movement and multi-lateral movement plans that will form part of this plan.

VIC-NSW-SA borders – each of these states is keen to get them open to each other as soon as possible. 

TAS wants its border down by December. 

WA has said they won’t join in the journey of plan but will continue to work with the group. However, they have their own priorities and are quite different – there is virtually no large border towns along WA border and WA economy very different to states like SA/TAS.

More sustainable system is required as the world may not have a vaccine for years. No one is asking border closures to come down right now, but all need to be looking ahead to further stages in months and years to come. Need to get to an agreement on this.

Agricultural Code – five out of the eight states are on board. QLD, WA, TAS didn’t join onto this but will continue to listen in on discussions. VIC, SA, NSW will put immediately in place.

NSW has been doing all the heavy lifting on international arrivals with Australians coming home. Trying to now get flights to go into other states as well to spread the load.

Spoke to PM Ardern – Australia will be looking at applying national hotspot approach to NZ as well. NZers will be able to come to Australia at right time. If no COVID in QLD and no COVID in Christchurch, they should be able to come to Sydney, for example. 

Update from BOM – upcoming weather season, emergency processes should be seamless with prospect of bushfires, cyclones and floods – need for quick movement of firefighters and defence personnel across states/borders without imposing quarantine. 

Benchmark report on mental health was received – mental health supports and DV supports are being put in place as best as possible recognising the stresses people are facing right now.

Current case data: ~26,000 cases total in Australia and 737 deaths. This is in comparison to the total cases worldwide which is 26 million. That means Australia has 1 / 1000th of world cases.

Halved the number of cases in VIC in recent times which is great to see.

Less than 100 cases nationally declared today with no cases in 6 states. Particularly – no cases in QLD which is good to see whilst the state remains on high alert. 

~67,000 tests were conducted nationally yesterday.

In a separate news conference, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced he will detail the Victoria Roadmap to Recovery this Sunday including details specific to industry (which we will provide an update of immediately after announcement). 

The Premier stated that the primary objective of the roadmap is to ease out of the current restrictions in a safe and controlled manner, so that case numbers do not immediately jump up again (meaning everything done so far would have been for nothing). 

The Premier reiterated that keeping Coronavirus numbers down is to preserve health care not only for Coronavirus patients but for any and all emergency health care required (heart attacks, motor accidents, strokes etc). 

The Victorian Treasurer also gave details about extensions and relaxation of criteria to rental residents and landlord circumstances in light of the strict lockdown measures. 

Dear All,

Please see attached updated COVID-19 Management Plan and Appendices. You will note that we now have a further 5 documents for reference within this management plan.

These further changes are in line with the Industry Guideline released on Friday 21^st August. A list of the changes are as follows:

• Induction and Acknowledgement Section – You MUST sign into this document on site to acknowledge that you have been inducted, read and understood it.
• The term ‘Casual Contact’ has changed to ‘Contact’. (Appendix 01 – Self Assessment Flow Cart)
• Updated Declaration. (Appendix 03 – Daily Prestart)
• Temperature Testing threshold reduced to 37.5 degrees from 38 degrees. (Appendix 04 - Temperature Screening Procedure)
• Further information on the wearing of masks (Appendix 05 - How to Wear a Face Mask)
• DHHS Risk Assessment ( Appendix 07 – Risk Assessment Part 1 & 2)

I have also attached an Infographic poster ‘ How to put on a mask’ to be displayed on site (for those who have not already).

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions or if I can be of assistance to you.

Candece Frazzica-Kara
HSE Manager (VIC)

Mobile 0411 022 839
Email Candece.Frazzica-Kara@hutchinsonbuilders.com.au 

Metal fire door frames are a tested system so it’s critical each frame is manufactured to meet the requirements of the fire test to remain compliant.

All,

Over the last four days there have been 12 confirmed cases of COVID19 in Queensland which has prompted the Government to reintroduce some restrictions on social gatherings.

The cases have included those linked to the Youth Detention Centre at Wacol where the Rohan Barry Team has an active construction project completely separate from but adjacent to the facility. While none of the Hutchies’ people working on the Wacol project have been identified as a ‘close contact’ the team made the responsible decision to get tested over the weekend and will not be attending site until they receive a negative test result – most of which were returned last night and confirmed as negative for COVID19.

Queensland Health has been completing contact tracing of all of the positive cases and has been releasing details of venues that people who have been diagnosed with COVID19 attended while infectious. I have included the current list below and the link here: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/contact-tracing

There are a couple of people from the Brisbane office who were at one of the venues at the relevant date and time and they made the appropriate and responsible decision to be tested last night. They will be working from home until they receive a negative result.

Please take the time to review the list below and if you have been at one of the venues at the time identified make arrangements to be tested and work from home until you receive a negative result.

These cases in South East Queensland over the last few days have highlighted the need to remain vigilant with all of those social distancing and hygiene practices that will reduce the chance of spreading the virus.

Consistent with this approach and out of an abundance of caution we have made arrangements to further increase the cleaning regime in the Toowong office, which you will notice from today.

Additionally, while this cluster of cases is bought under control, from this morning we are again reducing numbers at the Toowong office and are promoting working from home for those that are practically able to so.

During this critical period, please reinforce social distancing and hygiene measures on all sites and in all offices so we are able to do our part in preventing the spread of the virus and in turn keeping people safe and sites operating.

Thanks,

Ben

Venue Alert Locations

These are also available on our hotspot map below

Update from Queensland's Premier, Deputy Premier & Chief Health Officer

• No new cases in QLD
• 8 active and in hotel quarantine / hospital
• 16 days since known community transmission case in QLD
• No intention of full reopening of borders while there are community transmission cases in NSW and Victoria

Update from Victoria's Premier

• 282 new cases
• 25 deaths
• 657 cases currently in hospital
• 15,728 tests conducted since yesterday’s update

Update from New South Wales' Premier & Chief Health Officer

• 7 new cases (6 locally acquired, 1 in hotel quarantine, 3 local cases are close contacts linked to the Chops Stix restaurant in western Sydney, 2 are close contacts of the Lady of Mercy College cluster – close contacts are being contacted now)
• 10,806 tests conducted yesterday up to 8pm
• Case numbers are declining, but accumulation of cases (clusters) is still spreading it in areas of western Sydney (which is how Victoria’s big outbreaks occurred)
• Gladys apologised for the findings of the Ruby Princess Commission that found deficiencies in the NSW Department of Health in handling the situation
• This morning NSW Health provided new guidelines on school requirements in dealing with COVID-19 (including further restrictions to prevent the spread)
• CHO said some people are thinking their symptoms are influenza and brushing off potential test for COVID, NSW are saying they have very low cases of the flu so if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it is a higher chance that is COVID
• Anyone in the western Sydney areas in particular with potential symptoms must come forward for testing so that community transmission can be managed as quickly as possible
• The latest NSW Venue Alerts have been updated on Hutchies' COVID-19 Hotspot Map below

The New South Wales Government has issued a new list of venues that have had confirmed COVID-19 cases across the state. 

These venues have been added to Hutchies' Hotspot Map below to make it easier to see these locations in proximity to our offices and current projects.

Please follow all directions of authorities if you have been to any of the flagged venues.

The following announcements were made today (in order of appearance) by various governments regarding coronavirus.

Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles and Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young conference

• Case update QLD: 0 New Cases, 11 active cases, 17,000 tests, 5 cases related to the returning women from Melbourne
• Active Cases in AUS: 1 SA, 270 NSW, 7449 VIC (averaging 519 daily)
• QLD Borders shut Saturday 1am 8 / 8 /2020, expecting great delays over the weekend as people rush back
• Border pass exemptions comes in three forms X Pass, F Pass and S Pass which are required to be on the person at all times
• X Pass – People living in the surrounding suburbs of the borders will be allowed to cross freely in a travel bubble. Queenslanders are allowed to still travel within QLD as long as they don’t leave the travel zones in NSW. NSW residents who live in the NSW travel zone will be allowed to travel freely within the designated QLD travel zones but no further.
• F Pass – For freights, trucks and goods to cross the border
• S Pass – Essential workers that meet the criteria to cross the border
• The border pass website will come on this afternoon, however it could be glitchy and slow due to demand on the site. Regardless of this no exemptions will be made on the border without these passes.
• Anyone wishing to return to Queensland after Saturday 1am without a border pass will be required to fly in through Sydney Airport and will be forced into hotel quarantine at their own expense. There are minimal exemptions to this.
• Protests have been planned for the Story Bridge in QLD this Saturday, this is labelled unlawful and immediate Police action will be taken on anyone tempting to protest
• If Queensland maintains no community transmission into the next week more restrictions may be lifted including visiting nursing homes

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews

• 450 new cases 181 passed away (11 extra in the past 24 hours).

• 2,500 unknown transmission, 66 new unknown cases
• Health care workers account for around 1,500 active cases
• Year 12 VIC Students: VCE students will be individually assessed and any adverse impacts from COVID-19 will be reflected in their ATAR ranking. This includes Mental Health, days off, additional responsibility. ATAR will be a fair reflection of their past year.
• A further $28.5 million in funding for mental health and wellbeing support in schools, saying they had seen higher absence rates for vulnerable kids and a sharp increase in mental health reports in government schools. This comes in the form of additional mental support and mental health training for 1500 school staff. Health practitioners will also be rolled out to additional schools and the Navigator program will increase 33% to help support students who have disengaged from school.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison

• Familiarity of Premiers in Nat Cab working together is really helping working relationships and productivity
• The following federal measures have been implemented on the back of the Victoria situation:
  • Pandemic leave disaster payment for Victorians
  • Childcare keeping places arrangement for Victorians
  • Easing restrictions and extending JobKeeper to make sure that Victorians and any other parts of the country doing it tough can access:
    • Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has announced businesses will only need to show that their GST turnover had fallen over one quarter, instead of multiple, to be eligible for the scheme's extension.
    • Workers will also qualify if they were employed on July 1, rather than March 1.
• Very dark times – the governments are working together, very clear and strong plan for the road out. Continue to work together to provide support businesses and jobs. National effort to support Victoria.
• Stress testing national preparedness - in quarantine arrangements and aged care
• Quarantine review being undertaken to track lessons and experience as well as the need to ensure we conduct QA processes in each state. Welcome to hear that people are being treated like hotel guests in hotel quarantine, making the process as positive as possible. Little things make a big difference.
• Ongoing auditing of aged care preparedness around the country, and also helping to stabilise the aged care situation in Victoria
• International travel restrictions on arrivals to stay. This inbound ban will continue for months to come indefinitely.
• Freight protocol is now a Code, as of today and will be enforced around country from today
• 340,000 training places via JobTrainer program will be made available this year
• Vaccine progress – never been a global effort like this, positive signs

• Whoever finds the vaccine needs to share it without restraint, otherwise they’d be looked upon terribly in history. Australia pledges to share vaccine if it develops it, all other countries should too.
• Can’t count on a vaccine, but we need an economic plan in place that accommodates life without a vaccine
• National Preparedness Plan coming in next two weeks – keenness from all Premiers to engage in this plan

Acting Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly

• ACT/TAS have no active COVID-19 cases
• Particularly older people who have higher rates of death
• Younger age groups are the most infected and are spreading the virus
• Very good engagement across the board helping Victoria
• Acute response phase is about preparing for the worst so it can be handled the best
• Vaccine – strong optimism, can’t promise when it will occur. Many in clinical trials at the moment, it needs to be safe and of a high quality
• National stockpiles have been increased including lifesaving medication
• The virus can be a severe long-term illness in some, including young people
• Person in their 30s who died had co-morbidities, but confirms it is not just an old person’s virus
• QR codes are being used in venues. We are in a pandemic so the quicker that people can do contact tracing the better. Put down real addresses/names because that will help you.
• Suppression strategy is working well in other states

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

The Queensland Police Chiefs just made the following announcements regarding the border closure processes (note – still more to come – but a brief overview):

• The existing passes are being expanded to include new passes:
  • F for freight
  • S for specialist (as directed by CHO)
  • X for border communities which will be allocated to those persons who live in declared cross-border communities along the NSW / QLD border
  • G pass remains as “general” and they are expecting this to drop off over time as people get the message they shouldn’t be trying to enter Queensland
• The new passes will not have photos on them as had been reported
• You do need to provide identification however to apply for them
• When the new pass website is ready users will be told what identification is required for these new passes (we will advise when this is available)
• The Queensland Police are still working through the geographical locations on the border and will be “generous enough for genuine cross border travel”
• Returning Queenslanders from a hotspot and not considered travelling for an essential activity will be required to quarantine for 14 days at your own expense in a hotel
• Queenslanders should return asap before 1am Saturday otherwise they will be returning to quarantine requirements

There was also discussion around a protest planned on Saturday for the Story Bridge. Police are saying people should not attend this protest and they will be doing everything possible to stop it from proceeding.

We are expecting some more information later today from the Premier and CMO but if not it will be tomorrow.

Will keep you informed.

Queensland borders will close to New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory from 1am this Saturday, August 8.

All visitors will be denied entry except for rare exemptions and returning Queenslanders will have to pay for 14 days mandatory hotel quarantine.

Queensland’s Chief Health Officer has declared all of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory as hotspots.

Only residents of border communities and essential workers, such as truck drivers, will be able to cross the border.

Exemptions – including for compassionate reasons – will be limited.

Passes for border communities will be for those with proof of address and photo ID.

The border closure will be reviewed at the end of the month.

Annastacia Palaszczuk held a press conference this morning regarding the border re-closure:

• Current situation in NSW, ACT and VIC is of great concern to Queensland
• Queensland Disaster Management Group met extensively yesterday and today to look at tough border measure
• CMO Declaring NSW and ACT a hotspot and borders closing to these locations
• Immediate effect from 1am Saturday
• Right thing to do – tough for Queenslanders – but your health comes first – we also need to protect families and the economy and avoid what’s happening in Victoria
• Very important Queenslanders stay in Queensland – now is not the time to travel to NSW or VIC – not risking QLD’s people and economy
• Victoria not getting better and not waiting for NSW to get worse
• ACT closed because of examples of people from NSW hotspots traveling via ACT to QLD

Deputy Premier’s comments:

• 1 new case today in West Moreton (total active cases – 11)
• Queensland went 63 days without any community transmission
• Only takes 1 case to see a wide spread outbreak
• The current cases are putting pressure on our health system
• 85,000 tests in the last week
• Cannot afford to risk our progress

Currently no detail on the exact details around border communities – actively monitoring the news / QLD official channels of announcements and will let you all know as soon as we know.

The Victorian Premier has just announced at a press conference:

• 725 new cases and 15 more deaths (including the death of someone in their 30s)
• Further permit system for childcare being introduced – many families won’t be allowed to access childcare right now
• Permitted workers – regardless of working from home or at a workplace, will be able to access childcare if there is no other person able to look after the children in the household – this is also applicable to kinder and primary school children who will be able to go to school with this permit.
• This is an additional permit to the permitted worker permit which will be available on the DHHS website soon. This will apply from 11.59pm tonight and there will be no grace period for this change.  
• All non-urgent surgery beyond category 1 or emergency surgery will be put on hold (across Victoria and public/private) to preserve sufficient capacity for future Coronavirus cases
• If you are at your partner’s house, curfew and rules apply to you when you are at their house. So, if you are there after 8pm, you must remain there. If you are there at 4pm, only 1 of you can go to the shops and only within 5km of that residence.
• These rules need to work to drive down case numbers

Note The Permitted Worker Permit can be found below (completed with Hutchies' details). The template is also available on the DHHS website here with other information. We will provide the new Childcare Permit once it is available.

The VIC Premier just announced the following at a press conference:

• 671 new cases and 7 more deaths overnight
• From 6pm tonight, a State of Disaster will apply in VIC, and Stage 4 restrictions will come into place for Melbourne:
  • People will only be able to shop and exercise within a 5km radius from home
  • Only 1 person per household will be able to shop once per day
  • No recreational activities allowed, like golf or tennis
  • 1 hour of exercise only per day, no further than 5km from home
  • No group bigger than 2, regardless of whether in family or home
  • Intimate partner visits allowed outside of 5km
  • A curfew will be in place from 8pm tonight, curfew will run 8pm to 5am every day in metropolitan Melbourne
  • Only reason to be out outside these curfew hours is to get care / give care / go to or from work / be at work
• From midnight this coming Wednesday, the rest of Victoria (all regional areas) will move to Stage 3 restrictions. These will be the same restrictions in place for Melbourne currently, and not the additional Stage 4 restrictions above.
• Tomorrow the VIC Premier will announce more changes regarding industries and workplaces:
  • 3 categories of businesses will apply
  • Category that will remain open – supermarkets, bakeries, butchers, takeway food etc
  • Category that will remain open with restrictions and less output
  • Category that will move to work from home only, or if work from home isn’t possible, will have to shut
• In regard to schools, from midnight this coming Wednesday, flexible and remote learning for all students in all schools across Victoria
• Children will be able to go to school if their parents are ‘defined industry’ workers or vulnerable children
• These measures will last for 6 weeks (from today for the Stage 4 restrictions and from Wed midnight for other restrictions)
• More about fines/enforcements tomorrow

These are the local government areas under stage four restrictions from 6:00pm tonight

The new directions begin at 6:00pm today and continue for six weeks until 11:59pm on Sunday, September 13.

The areas moving to stage four restrictions include 31 metropolitan Melbourne LGAs.

They are:

• Banyule
• Hume
• Moreland
• Bayside
• Kingston
• Mornington
• Peninsula
• Boroondara
• Knox
• Nillumbik
• Brimbank
• Manningham
• Port Phillip
• Cardinia
• Maribyrnong
• Stonnington
• Casey
• Maroondah
• Whitehorse
• Darebin
• Melbourne
• Whittlesea
• Frankston
• Melton
• Wyndham
• Glen Eira
• Monash
• Yarra
• Greater Dandenong
• Moonee Valley
• Yarra Ranges
• Hobsons Bay

The QLD contact tracing list has been updated: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/contact-tracing

If you have been to any of these locations in the date and time periods mentioned, please contact 13 HEALTH.

The venues with * have been contact traced by QLD Health.

## UPDATED ##

This alert supersedes the order that came into effect 22 July 2020.

The Victorian Government has expanded their order for mandatory face coverings / masks across the entire state of.

Everyone over the age of 12 will now be required to wear a face covering when leaving home for one of the four permitted reasons.

This order will be enforced from 11.59pm on Sunday 2 August 2020. People who do not comply will face a $200 fine. 

The Victorian Government has acknowledged that in some circumstances, wearing a mask may be impractical, however everyone is expected to carry a mask or face covering for use whenever practical. More info here.

Cantilever Loading Bays

The PM and Treasurer just spoke to the media regarding upcoming changes to the JobSeeker and JobKeeper Programs:

• Original system was simple and quick, and level of income support was provided to everyone that needed it desperately as quick as possible
• JobKeeper – is being put in place for another 6 months, to March 2021, but reducing in value. $1200 per f/n but with two tier payment system to account for people earning less than the program or part time or casual workers.
• JobSeeker – is being reduced to $250 per f/n with an increase to income free threshold to $300, meaning that people can earn $300 and still get the $250 JobSeeker payment. This will take effect at end of Sept, and run until end of Dec. JobSeeker mutual obligations will start again from 4 Aug.
• Penalties to JobSeeker payments will kick in if jobs aren’t taken when they are offer to people receiving JobSeeker
• More changes to JobSeeker flagged, and possible need to keep support ongoing past December or even announced in Oct Budget
• Plan for people on JobSeeker - get them in a job or train them in a job
• Current JobKeeper and JobSeeker arrangements will run until end of September as proposed
• Coronavirus has hit Australian economy hardest ever in the last 100 years
• 2 million Australians either lost their jobs or had hours reduced. 11.3% effective unemployment rate (lost their job or hours reduced to 0).
• These payments are single largest economic measure ever – helped 960,000 businesses, 3.5 million workers so far. JobKeeper has stabilised losses.
• To retain JobKeeper past September, employers will need to demonstrate reduction of turnover, of 30% or 50% depending on size, and show reduction for each previous quarter
• The JobKeeper wage subsidy will continue until March next year, but payments will fall from $1,500 to $1,200 a fortnight after September. People working fewer than 20 hours a week will receive $750.
  
• The payments will fall again to $1,000 a fortnight, and $650 a fortnight for people working fewer than 20 hours, for the first three months of 2021.
• The JobSeeker coronavirus supplement will continue for another three months but fall from $550 to $250 a fortnight, meaning people on the program will receive $800 a fortnight after September (as opposed to $1,100 at the moment).

The Deputy CMO, Dr Nick Coatsworth, has just announced at a press conference that mask use is advised in the Melbourne and Mitchell local government areas that are currently locked down, when people are in a situation where they cannot maintain a distance of 1.5 metres from other people.  

He said this is only applicable to those areas due to the current community transmission occurring in those areas.

The VIC Premier has just announced that mask use when outside of one’s house will now be mandatory for all people over the age of 12 living in all Melbourne and Mitchell LGAs as of this Wednesday 22 July, at 11.59pm.

Fines of $200 will be given out to people not wearing one outside of their house. However, it was noted that in some circumstances it will be impractical to wear one so “common sense will guide the rules”.

Masks do not have to be hospital grade – any facial covering including scarves will do.

The VIC Premier also noted that 80% of new cases in recent weeks have been due to transmission at workplaces. It is hoped that this new rule of mandatory mask wearing will drive down workplace transmission.

NSW Health has echoed the below sentiment regarding mask use.

That is – for anyone outside of their home and won’t be able to adequately socially distance, it is advised to wear a mask.

At this point in time it is advice only but may change to a direction if community transmission increases.

QLD has put out a new Direction that will take effect as of this Friday (tomorrow) noon, 10 July 2020.

In brief:

• It allows people from other states and territories to enter the state without having to undertake mandatory quarantine, provided they:
  • Have a valid Queensland Border Declaration Pass (must be applied for within 7 days of the travel to QLD), which will include:
    • A declaration that they have not been overseas / a COVID-19 hotspot / had contact with a confirmed case / had symptoms consistent with COVID-19 / been diagnosed with COVID-19
    • Providing personal details including name, date of birth, phone number, address and email address, and where the person intends to stay while in Queensland
  • Provide an undertaking that the person will present for a COVID-19 test if the person develops symptoms consistent with COVID-19 within 14 days of entering Queensland

Regarding any travel from any part of Victoria (or other COVID-19 hotspots as they are identified by the QLD Govt):

• The QLD Govt has hardened their approach with this new border declaration, stating that anyone who has been in a COVID-19 hotspot in the 14 days prior to entering Queensland must not enter Queensland unless they are exempt. Exemptions are specified in the Direction and include QLD residents.
• QLD residents who have been to VIC may enter the state, provided they undertake mandatory quarantine at a quarantine hotel at their own cost
• The new Direction appears to have removed construction from what QLD considers ‘essential activity’, meaning that QLD residents who return to QLD after performing construction-related work in VIC would also have to enter mandatory quarantine.
• This is a significant change to all previous QLD Directions throughout the pandemic in which construction has been considered essential and exempt from mandatory quarantine. I will confirm this once the Border Pass Declaration has been updated with the new particulars as of noon tomorrow.

Queensland Health will declare coronavirus hotspots in several areas of New South Wales, namely Liverpool and Campbelltown, from midday today.

The below strict quarantine rules that QLD has applied to VIC at present will apply to people travelling from these NSW hotspots.

It is expected that QLD will continue to clamp down on any areas like this where community transmission starts to occur.

Just to confirm below, there is now no provision for ‘construction’ or ‘FIFO’ under the exemptions list for people travelling from VIC into QLD. The wording of ‘time critical specialist’ has also been updated which no longer broadly covers people in the construction industry.

People from other states and territories may enter QLD without needing to quarantine now, provided they have a valid border pass and have not been in VIC in the last 14 days (or any of the reasons listed below).

The PM and CMO just spoke to the media following today’s National Cabinet Meeting, followed by the VIC Premier at a separate press conference.

PM

• News from VIC remains very concerning, but key here is all states and territories fully supporting VIC with resourcing
• We all have to be very careful to protect against complacency everywhere in Australia, particularly behind closed doors, not just out in the open
• When at home - still practice social distancing, no hugs and handshakes still
• Social distancing is the norm now, not the exception, will be with us for a very long time – no change until vaccine found
• Social distancing needs to be a habit, and just because everything is ok in other states, doesn’t mean you go back to the way things were before social distancing
• Community has a role to play in terms of social distancing, and particularly the younger population
• QLD border reopened today, except to VIC
• Nat Cab has agreed in a reduction in number of inbound arrivals into Australia, will be cut by just over half across all ports that residents are returning to Australia – will drop to 4000 people per week allowed back in, no one to Victoria at the moment
• Hotel quarantine is going to move towards charging people returning, some states already
• A nationwide review of hotel quarantine is going to be undertaken - working with states and territories, important step to look into how each state is managing this, to have confidence around all arrangements in all states
• PM / Nat Cab endorsed the advice on all Melbourne/Mitchell local government area residents to wear masks when they leave the house when they know they will be potentially entering a situation when 1.5 metre distancing can’t be maintained

CMO

• Very clear that there is community transmission issue in Melbourne
• Confined to Melbourne at the moment, but we are all at risk – modelling shows this
• Physical distancing, cough hygiene, hand hygiene, everyone needs to continue to do these to stop the transmission across Australia
• We’re all in this together

Victoria Premier

• 288 cases recorded overnight (but record amount of daily testing, over 37,000 tests done in one day)
• 2 million reusable masks are being made to distribute to residents, along with 1 million additional disposable masks
• If you are out, and you don’t think you are going to be able to maintain 1.5 metres from others – wear a mask
• Masks can be any face covering including scarfs – no type of mask protects from the virus 100% but are better than nothing when in close distance to others
• Not compulsory but recommended now, and is backed by AHPPC
• Anybody who is sick – only one reason to leave home, to get a test, otherwise stay home
• If behaviour like gathering in numbers at houses continues, Melbourne is going to have to be locked down for longer than 6 weeks
• Stay at home. The four acceptable reasons for leaving home are not an indication to leave, they are only to allow people to leave for reasonable circumstances – don’t go shopping for things you don’t need

The Prime Minister just spoke to the media at a Press Conference, alongside the Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck.

• This is a global pandemic and there are no guarantees in a global pandemic. Dealing with virus is a national coordinated effort, and this time is particularly hard on Melbourne
• Our success depends on the success of each state, and Victoria is getting support it needs from Govt / states
• Aged care – one of the most significant areas of concern. Additional 6100 in-home aged care places have been added, bringing it up to an additional 50,000 and will be tabled further in Budget in Oct.
• Advice regarding travel – if in VIC / NSW, don’t travel around the state, particularly those in border communities
• There will be further phase of financial support after September based on need and will include VIC, but support will continue nationally based on need – it won’t be location based. PM and Treasurer have been preparing next phase with this in mind.
• International arrivals load will be reduced across Australia to reduce burdens on states given VIC. More on this in Nat Cab on Friday.
• All other states in very strong position re handling the virus. Reopening to go ahead as planned.
• Consideration around people paying for quarantine as opposed to state-paid. This is on each state and territory and this would be supported by Commonwealth, people have had a lot of opportunities to return.
• Masks – there is constant medical advice provided, and the Govt will continue to follow the advice.
• PM hopes that the lockdown in Greater Melbourne doesn’t go on for 6 weeks, but he supports Victoria – not his job to second guess Premiers, it’s to support them as PM
• The measures we have taken as a country need to continue no matter what age/job/income you have, it’s about supporting other Australians which we all have a responsibility to do. How we respond is what we have control over, we don’t have control over the virus. We thank Melbournians for their response to this despite how heartbreaking and frustrating it is, especially as things just started reopening.
• National Cabinet will meet again this Friday.

The Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, has just announced a lockdown of all of metropolitan Melbourne as the state recorded its largest daily increase in COVID cases (191) today since the start of the pandemic.

Stay-at-home orders have been reintroduced for 6 weeks, placing Melbourne local government areas and the shire of Mitchell back into Stage 3 restrictions from midnight tomorrow.

Stage 3 restrictions mean only 4 reasons to leave home:

• Shopping for food and supplies
• Care and caregiving
• Exercise
• Study and work – if you can’t do it from home

The Victorian border with New South Wales will be closed from Wednesday following talks between Premiers Daniel Andrews and Gladys Berejiklian and Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

This decision comes as Victoria recorded 127 new coronavirus cases overnight.

The closure will take effect from 11:59pm on Tuesday.

The QLD Premier and Deputy QLD Premier just spoke to the media regarding QLD restrictions & border closures:

• Moving toward some aspects of Stage 3 as of this Friday, 3 July (brought forward by one week)
• Weddings, funerals, gyms and private gatherings will be allowed 100 people
• Ordering at bars, pubs, clubs, cafes etc allowed - no limit on numbers for venues provided they have space for 4m² per person
• Contact sports and spectators, no limits with social distancing if outdoors
• Stadiums – 50% of capacity or 25,000 max, whichever is lower
• 1 person per 2m² for smaller businesses (cap of 50)
• 1 person per 4m² for casinos / concert venues / theatres
• Need to ensure social distancing is maintained everywhere – 1.5m between groups of people
• Borders – QLD is concerned about Victoria, 250 cases in the last 7 days, there is community transmission
• QLD border will remain closed to Victoria with tougher measures in place from this Friday, 3 July
• Anyone travelling from VIC (even Queenslanders) from this Friday, 3 July will have to quarantine on arrival for 2 weeks in a hotel at own expense or be turned back
• QLD is helping VIC get the virus under control but doesn’t want the risk coming here - overall message: Queenslanders do not go to Victoria, Victorians do not come here
• From Friday July 10, people from TAS, WA, SA, NT, ACT, NSW will be able to travel into QLD again
• Everyone travelling to QLD will have to fill in a border declaration and obtain a border pass to ensure they haven’t been in VIC in the past 14 days
• People lying or falsifying info will face significant fines
• If the Chief Health Officer identifies hotspots with community transmission, they will take similar actions towards those states/areas

The VIC Premier has just announced the following:

• Lockdowns back in place for 10 postcodes as of Wednesday 11.59pm – 3012, 3021, 3032, 3038, 3042, 3046, 3047, 3055, 3060, 3064 – for 4 weeks
• People in those postcodes will only have four reasons to leave their homes: for work or school, for care or caregiving, for daily exercise, or to get food and other essentials
• People outside these postcodes should not enter them unless it is work and only work that needs to be done in person
• Door-to-door testing will continue throughout suburbs
• Police will be actively enforcing lockdown in these suburbs in boozebus style set ups and randomly/frequently asking people who are out what they are doing
• People not following orders will be fined on the spot
• Businesses and people will be supported by the government in these postcodes
• VIC Premier has asked to divert all international flights away from Melbourne for 2 weeks, for the purpose of not having any more people entering hotel quarantine in Victoria for the next 2 weeks
• The outbreak is predominantly linked to staff in hotel quarantine breaching well-known and well-understood infection control protocols. A judicial inquiry will take place to investigate
• This needs to be done to ensure other areas do not have to be locked down (eg. Melbourne CBD)

Full list of suburbs:

• Postcode 3012: Brooklyn, Kingville, Maidstone, Tottenham, West Footscray.
• Postcode 3021: Alban Vale, Kealba, Kings Park, St Albans.
• Postcode 3032: Ascot Vale, High Point City, Maribyrnong, Travancore.
• Postcode 3038: Keilor Downs, Keilor Lodge, Taylors Lakes, Watergardens.
• Postcode 3042: Airport West, Keilor Park, Niddrie.
• Postcode 3046: Glenroy, Hadfield, Oak Park.
• Postcode 3047: Broadmeadows, Dallas, Jacana.
• Postcode 3055: Brunswick South, Brunswick West, Moonee Vale, Moreland West.
• Postcode 3060: Fawkner.
• Postcode 3064: Craigieburn, Donnybrook, Mickleham, Roxburgh Park and Kalkallo.

The Border Restrictions Direction No. 5 (effective 01 May 2020) remains in place as is for QLD.

Currently, under this Direction, QLD residents flying to VIC for work and then returning to QLD are exempt from border restrictions and forced quarantine.

However, the QLD Government may update this and provide a new Direction in the coming days, to reflect the QLD-VIC border closure. This could change the exemption rules but there is no further information available at this time.

QLD has put out a new Direction that will take effect as of this Friday (tomorrow) noon, 10 July 2020.

In brief:

• It allows people from other states and territories to enter the state without having to undertake mandatory quarantine, provided they:
  • Have a valid Queensland Border Declaration Pass (must be applied for within 7 days of the travel to QLD), which will include:
    • A declaration that they have not been overseas / a COVID-19 hotspot / had contact with a confirmed case / had symptoms consistent with COVID-19 / been diagnosed with COVID-19
    • Providing personal details including name, date of birth, phone number, address and email address, and where the person intends to stay while in Queensland
  • Provide an undertaking that the person will present for a COVID-19 test if the person develops symptoms consistent with COVID-19 within 14 days of entering Queensland

Regarding any travel from any part of Victoria (or other COVID-19 hotspots as they are identified by the QLD Govt):

• The QLD Govt has hardened their approach with this new border declaration, stating that anyone who has been in a COVID-19 hotspot in the 14 days prior to entering Queensland must not enter Queensland unless they are exempt. Exemptions are specified in the Direction and include QLD residents.
• QLD residents who have been to VIC may enter the state, provided they undertake mandatory quarantine at a quarantine hotel at their own cost
• The new Direction appears to have removed construction from what QLD considers ‘essential activity’, meaning that QLD residents who return to QLD after performing construction-related work in VIC would also have to enter mandatory quarantine.
• This is a significant change to all previous QLD Directions throughout the pandemic in which construction has been considered essential and exempt from mandatory quarantine. I will confirm this once the Border Pass Declaration has been updated with the new particulars as of noon tomorrow.

Just to confirm below, there is now no provision for ‘construction’ or ‘FIFO’ under the exemptions list for people travelling from VIC into QLD. The wording of ‘time critical specialist’ has also been updated which no longer broadly covers people in the construction industry.

People from other states and territories may enter QLD without needing to quarantine now, provided they have a valid border pass and have not been in VIC in the last 14 days (or any of the reasons listed below).

The Prime Minister just spoke to the media following today’s National Cabinet Meeting:

• Nat Cab met again today after a fortnight.
• 1 million cases a week around the world.
• Australia remains on track with flat curve despite localised outbreaks in Victoria. Nat Cab staying firm on the 3 Step Plan.
• Outbreaks will happen, and Victoria is a reminder of that - what matters is the response. Australian public should be reassured by such a strong response which is brought to the homes of the affected areas.
• Smaller venues which are under 100m2 are now able to have 1 person per 2m2. Previously it was 4m2.
• A roadmap is being developed for the entertainment industry to allow for better planning – 3, 6,9 and 12 month intervals.
• A public health workforce resource is being organised to move around the country as outbreaks occur to help with testing and tracing.
• 14 day quarantine will stay at 14 days.
• PM and Treasurer meeting with CEOs of all major banks to discuss broadly where everything is at, including talking about loan deferrals and approvals for HomeBuilder
• Cybersecurity also a main agenda right now
• Today is CMO’s last day as CMO, will move into Secretary of Department of Health role. Deputy is taking over.

CMO

• Virus accelerating around the world, fortunate being an island but we will remain at risk from virus via people returning home from overseas
• Hotel quarantine is not going to be perfect and can’t be absolutely sure every case is detected
• What is happening in Victoria is exactly what was modelled and planned for and it is being handled by the public health response – go to area, test, isolate and quarantine
• Likelihood of outbreaks remains high, and we will likely see this in other parts of the country too
• Testing of those in hotel quarantine will take place during quarantine and before they leave quarantine. It is a burden but it is helping keep it contained / Australians from risk.
• Collective achievement by group, great result for Australia, everyone has worked very well together with best experts and govt has taken advice which has made our response successful

Responses to questions from media

• Panic buying is not necessary, outbreaks will happen and it does not mean there is a problem, Australians should have confidence in the public health response
• All states to reopen in July (except WA). Possibility of states being opened fully but quarantining people from hotspots which PM is in full support of. PM said this was a much better, tailored way of handling the situation than broad state border closures.
• Music events are being brought considered in stadiums so social distancing can be observed but music festivals are likely to remain off the cards for a little while longer.
• Unlikely for international travel return for some time – could be late next year, but it is very uncertain as to when so no point speculating.

In advance of the complete systems review and reaccreditation process commencing mid-October 2020, the Quality Management System Manual (QMSM) has been substantially revised to better reflect current company procedures.

This revision incorporates widespread amendments to content, but generally retains the previous structure. A complete list of changes has not been produced for this reason. 

QLD has updated its roadmap out of COVID with a considerable amount of changes as of 12 noon today. No news on QLD state borders opening yet though. All other states are following a similar path with many restrictions being eased as of today (if not already). More info per each state.

Installed sarking which is exposed for too long has the potential to succumb to damage from the elements and could void the product warranty.

Exposure to UV and/or wind / storm events can damage sarking, dependent on geographical site location and the location it is installed on the structure.

The vast majority of sarking products Hutchies use have no UV resistance. This is due to UV resistance not being a specified requirement of sarking as its intended use is to be covered in a façade / wall system.

The following points should be understood and adhered to by all project teams.

Scott Morrison has just spoken at National Press Club and announced the following (in particular around skills / training and industrial relations):

• Treasury forecasting 850,000 jobs restored once 3 step plan completed by states / territories
• Budget later this year is part of the “reset” for the economy and it will be one of the most challenging ones seen
• Consumer confidence climbed back to 80% in past 8 weeks since the dramatic fall
• Introducing ‘JobMaker’ plan to restore jobs – based on liberal principles
• Guided by principles to secure Australia’s future and put people first in our economy

Main areas of ‘JobMaker’:

• We will remain an outward looking, open and sovereign trading economy
  • We will be part of global supply chains that deliver prosperity for jobs, income and business building
  • We will ensure out industries are highly competitive, resilient and able to succeed in a global market
  • Caring for country
• Responsible management and stewardship to sustainably manage inheritance for future generations (not borrow from the future)
• Governments must live within their means so debt isn’t piled on future generations
• Must leverage and build on our skills – modern competitive advanced manufacturing / agriculture / financial / research / technology sectors
• Opportunity in Australia for those who have a go to get a go
• Doing “what makes the boat go faster” – skilled labour

PM’s focus today on skills and industrial relations:

• Complexity of a vocational training system that is clunky and unresponsive to skills demand
  • Lack of clear information on what the skills needs are now and into the future
  • Funding system with inconsistencies and little accountability on results
  • 1400 qualifications / 17,000 units of competencies and wide range of student fees / subsidies across the country
  • The Gov’t has embarked on a range of skills organisation pilots designed for industry to take responsibility for (3 trials so far for human services, digital technology and mining)
  • National Skills Commission has been established – will provide real time data, trends, reporting, analysis and helping students with their career and training via National Careers Institute (based on skills gaps in industries etc)
  • Current funding from the Commonwealth flawed ($1.5 billion untied) on existing programs with no end date, no requirements etc
  • Simplifying system, achieving greater consistency, increasing funding and transparency and performance monitoring, better coordination of loans, subsidies and funding – must go where it needs to go – national pricing and activity based funding models (as used by the National Hospitals System)
• Genuinely heartened of constructive approach from employers, employees, unions and ACTU to find practical solutions to keep Australians in jobs
  • Current system is not fit for purpose – scale of jobs challenge we face
  • IR system settled in to complacency – unions seeking …
  • System lost sight of its purpose – need to get it right so businesses can succeed
  • System retreated to tribalism, conflict and ideology posturing
  • Must change or more Australians will lose their jobs – or kept out of jobs
• This process is expected to run through to September – make use of time we have and get through it quickly
• Participation of the groups is being invited without prejudice for good honest cooperation
• Explore and hopefully find a pathway to sensible reform – one goal – make jobs and maximise genuine opportunity and cooperation that is vital to create jobs and return to economic prosperity

The Prime Minister just spoke to the media following today’s National Cabinet Meeting:

• Every job matters no matter what you do – every job is essential
• We’ve been fighting the virus and we’re winning
• The Gov’t has put place and delivering the economic lifeline to get us through this and buy time
• Thirdly, particularly today, moving ahead with reopening our economy with a clear plan, a clear framework
• The next step beyond this is the plan to grow momentum to get the economy back up and running with confidence and plan for growth in the years ahead
• Today National Cabinet agreed to a 3 step plan to be adopted as part of a national framework to achieve a COVID safe economy and society
• Plan to move through all of these steps in July
• We must walk before we run
• We need be careful to preserve our gains
• There will be risks, more cases and setbacks – not everything will go to plan
• There will be inconsistencies – states / territories must move at their own pace and will cut and paste out of this plan to suit their circumstances
• No one is perfect – everyone is doing their best and we cannot expect otherwise
• We cannot allow our fear of going backwards stop us going forward
• plan will get us back where we need to be as quickly as we can
• Treasury is forecasting 850,000 jobs will be restored in months ahead
• The Roadmap to a COVIDSafe Australia:

1. Step 1
   1. greater connections with friends and family
   2. gatherings of 10 people in businesses and public places
   3. 5 people at home
   4. working from home if it works for you and your employer
   5. kids back at schools
   6. local playgrounds and outdoor boot camps (with social distancing and in max group of 10)
   7. retail and small cafes / restaurants reopening (with social distancing)
   8. interstate recreational travel
   9. 30 people allowed at outdoor funerals
   10. 10 people at weddings
2. Step 2
   1. Gatherings of up to 20 people
   2. Reopening of cinemas, galleries, more retail, organised community support, beauty parlours
   3. Subject to change as things evolve from Step 1 / expert medical advice
3. Step 3
   1. gatherings of up to 100 people
   2. clearer after first 2 steps
   3. more work to do on this step after 1 and 2 better known
   4. hoping most workers will be back in the workplace
   5. interstate travel likely to resume
   6. pubs clubs and possible gaming venues will reopen

• National Cabinet has agreed that in July we would have moved through these 3 steps across the country
• Reinforced that this plan is completely up to states / territories to implement on their own timetable and they are responsible for communicating it to their local people
• The other 3 criteria to enable the early announcement of easing of restrictions remain the same:

1. Further medical evidence that the plan would not produce undue risk
2. Tracing capability
3. Ability to control any outbreaks

• Downloading CODVIDSafe app is the most important tool moving forward for people as they start coming into more contact with others from the easing of restrictions (total downloads now at 5.3 million users)
• For industry and businesses – its all about getting COVIDSafe plans in place for your workplaces and your premises, Safe Work Australia doing excellent work in this area
• National Cabinet will be reviewing progress of the 3 Step Plan every 3 weeks and implement changes as needed

The CMO’s comments:

• Updated slideshow shown demonstrating Australia’s flattening of the curve – a small increase in last few days, related to clusters at Meat Works in VIC and Newmarch House aged care in NSW
• Very low case numbers despite these two clusters
• Still need to be cautious and wary on our next steps
• Good news on testing – 730,000 tests to far, just shy of 6900 cumulative cases at the moment, 6 of our 8 states have had several days of no new cases
• Slide shown with a chart of various measures introduced vs the case numbers to show the impact
• Roadmap to COVIDSafe Australia Step 1 – Cautious, gentle, not doing too much at once – we are in unchartered territories – not many countries like Australia in the position to start relaxing measures with such low case numbers – we don’t want to lose control – need to make sure cases are managed – everyone must keep practicing social distancing, hygiene, staying home when unwell no matter how mild your cough or sore throat is and every single person with potential symptoms is to have a COVID test
• Roadmap to COVIDSafe Australia Step 2 – looking at larger gatherings, may be bigger in some states with good COVIDSafe plans, gyms, indoor fitness, cinemas, beauty therapy etc – still a bit of work to be done
• Roadmap to COVIDSafe Australia Step 3 – much more relaxed, still lots of work to be done – we have more certainty on step 1, but each state / territory will define and how they implement that – hoping for more travel around the country
• The Gov’t asking the community to keep those personal responsibilities up – distancing and good health – every Australian must do these things
• If we do the right thing, we can get through the next few months to gradually get us into a COVIDSafe Australia

Answers to media questions:

• There will be outbreaks moving forward – but we must keep going ahead – that’s why we need to have the plans in place (testing, tracing and controlling) and to ensure Australian’s are doing the right thing (COVIDSafe app, social distancing, hygiene, workplaces with plans)
• Border restrictions – interstate travel – they are not part of the national baseline – decisions of States / Territories – each will decide when it is prudent to
• International travel – intl students – there is a possibility in step 3 to look at how students can come back into Australia under strict conditions (still to be worked through, but open to anything to help the economy back and firing again)
• The Gov’t is acting on bringing projects plans forward to help the economy – they wanted to get through the issues around reopening the economy and now there is a clear plan in place for businesses to prepare – it is now important for states / territories to communicate and implement local plans build confidence
• Moving forward there is likely going to be a permanent change in the cavalier attitude going of work with a cold or flu – probably two permanent changes – 1) regular good quality hand hygiene and 2) staying at home if you’re unwell mentality – it will help keep others protected

The PM just addressed the media:

• Joined by IR Minister, Christian Porter & Chair of the COVID19 Commission, Nev Power
• No matters to report from a health point of view today. That will come on Friday at next Nat Cab meeting. CMO will hold normal press briefing though (not sure if this meant today)
• Today’s focus if briefing – getting Australia back to work.
• Hundreds of thousands of Australians have been protected in terms of health and lives have been saved.
• Decisions made that have managed to curb the health and economic impacts – costs would be greater if they weren’t made, but still these decisions have come at a cost
• To get Australians back to work, their workplaces have to be COVID safe, National Cab is working on what a COVID safe economy will look like.
• More than 1 million JobSeeker applications processed, 5 million on JobKeeper, 1 million accessing super, 384,000 businesses receiving $1B cash flow assistance
• [ScoMo then showed slides regarding impacts on economy (jobs/activity) – will circulate when available online]
• Economic activity and job availability falls in all states (particularly VIC/NSW/QLD)
• Not seeking to delay getting economy back on track but must be taken carefully, with COVID safe workplaces.
• Numbers/outbreaks will occur when restrictions are eased.
• Businesses, employers and employees need the tools to operate a COVID safe workplace.
• Downloads of COVID app – 5 million today, 16 million targeted, Govt is about 1/3 of the way there.
• App’s job is to keep people safe. If you come into contact with someone, you will be able to be contacted and you can make decisions around this. First job of the app is to keep ‘YOU’ safe – best reason to download. Reiterated people needing to keep downloading.
• Restrictions costing $4B a week.

Christian Porter

• Health and safety strict legal requirements, all employers have to comply to manage risks, and will need to do so with COVID
• Monitoring and enforcement occurs in each state/territory
• Nat Cab has adopted safe workplace principles – consistency in approach across Australia
• COVID Safe App – very important to get back to normal
• COVID19 Planning Toolkit – being worked on
• SafeWork Australia COVID19 website - 1 million visits, a lot higher than normal hits to SafeWork website
• SafeWork website will provide consistent detailed granular level information as a head start to every business in Australia, so as to the best way to cope with the new COVID safe environment
• It will describe what measures will mean for a particular jurisdiction, type of business – how you will engage social distancing/hygiene/cleaning/PPE – how this will apply to different types of business
• It will help to safely reanimate businesses

Nev Power

• Working with everyone across industries, working with businesses to help with issues, on how to operate and how to get businesses ready
• 4 key issues
  • Reconfiguring and restructuring work sites, business by business
  • How to respond if there is an incident
  • How do we return that workplace to a safe place to work
  • Communication process, ensuring everyone knows what to do
• With SafeWork, we will have a complete COVID19 toolkit available.
• Some businesses already operating in reconfigured workplace, some not yet there, some need help.
• Want to get people back at work, but while keeping work safe.
• Configure workplace to introduce social distancing / hygiene measures as a higher level of activity is introduced and as the economy gets back on track again.
• We don’t want to introduce restrictions again, we want to be able to deal with outbreaks as they occur instead.
• Looking forward to a more relaxed restriction world but we still need to do the right thing.

Q&A

• ScoMo wants students back to school and is based on health advice as it consistently has been.
• Friday will be a roadmap session which shows Australia the path back to normality.
• PM Ardern joined today, first time NZ PM has joined for a very long time. PM invited her. They discussed a safe travel zone but still some time away – but wanted to flag so it can be done in future.
• ScoMo doesn’t want open/shut, open/shut of businesses.

The PM just addressed the media:

• There is more than one curve Australia needs to flatten – they don’t want Australia kept “under the doona” in economic terms
• Australia has 1,000 active cases around the country today
• Treasury is estimating unemployment rate to rise to 10% - its important that Australians can take confidence that there has been a clear plan to get those supports in place early to ensure that Australia can be cushioned from an even more significant blow that has occurred in many other parts of the world, not just on the health front, but on the economic front as well
• 1.5 million people have applied for JobSeeker payments with Centrelink
• 650,000 businesses have applied for JobKeeper with ATO
• 150,000 applications for early access to super totalling $7.9 billion
• Net overseas migration expected to fall by a third this year
• National Cabinet today considered from the expert medical panel advice to bring forward the decision making around easing restrictions to next Friday’s National Cabinet Meeting (with 2 extra meetings between now and then to work through requirements) – there are 15 conditions of precedent required to be satisfied to start easing them, 11 items have already been met, 1 remaining condition in particular that needs to be satisfied – Australians need to download the COVIDSafe app to help (currently 3.5 million downloaded, but need millions more – its like not putting on sunscreen to not go out into the blazing sun – coronavirus is still out there, numbers might be low, if Australians are allowed back out to a more open economy / environment without the COVIDSafe app, we need that tool to open up the economy)
• If you know someone who hasn’t downloaded the app, encourage them to do so, it will help National Cabinet make decisions around easing restrictions
• When the move is made to start reducing restrictions, National Cabinet is adamant to keep moving forward – they don’t want start / stop / reverse to happen (because the virus potentially gets another run – it is important that all required protections are in place to prevent this from happening)
• Other National Cabinet decisions and issues discussed today:
  • The new National Mental Health Plan coming together and hopefully reviewed next Friday
  • National Principles for sport and recreation agreed, it will be released today
  • Also adopted the Aged Care Code – strongly welcomed by the National Cabinet – the Commonwealth will also provide a one off $205M payment to facilities over the country to support them and costs they are incurring as a result of COVID (now totalling $850M put into aged care during COVID)

The Chief Medical Officer’s comments:

• Total of 6,675 cumulative cases so far in Australia
• Less than 20 new cases on average per day in Australia
• 93 deaths so far
• Extensive testing – 570,000 so far
• The medical panel has presented the Pandemic Health Intelligence Plan to National Cabinet (which contains a table of conditions precedent) – some areas of criteria that has / still needs to be satisfied is:
  • Surveillance – have a plan, sufficient mechanisms (tracking and identification of outbreaks)
  • Community adherence to public health measures (people are doing what they have said, reducing their mobility and interactions as required)
  • Modelling – prerequisite and important – regularly changing
  • Testing capacity – expansion of testing is important and we have a framework for testing
  • Public health workforce has to be mature and large enough to meet any response (all States / Territories have done well to respond to the situation so much so that they’ve now been able to stand down some expanded workforce for if / when they are needed)
  • Contact tracing capacity had to be really good and is proving to be working with the new methodology – but the COVIDSafe app uptake must continue (it needs to be higher to satisfy the final piece in the jigsaw puzzle)
  • Good health workforce training to prepare the health system and they’re confident this has been done
• New presentation of data and plans shown (will circulate when released)
• Pretty convincedly the curve has been flattened
• Australia is doing better with new case numbers than predicted by the forecast model
• Effective reproduction rate number is now only really visible in NSW and TAS – falling just below 1 (all other states and territories are so small, the modellers cannot use the data realistically to produce a forecast)
• New measure for adherence to social distancing measures based on data from Apple and Google using maps / transit info (dramatically dropped – showing good compliance of people following rules)
• The panel has now introduced the ‘Pandemic Health Intelligence Plan’ to analyse each case (instead of trying to work with the effective reproduction rate which is now too small to use) – thanks to the significant reduction in cases – this new plan now enables each cluster to get a detailed epidemiology assessment on what is happening more closely to see what we need to do control
• Done a lot of work on the testing strategy – they need to test more people to stay on top of the small outbreaks – cannot afford to have an outbreak that takes off and creates a second wave after restrictions potentially eased
• Most important thing in testing is anyone who has any respiratory symptoms, runny nose, sore throat, cough cold etc – get tested – it’s easy – can be done by GP etc – don’t go to work and don’t go near vulnerable people
• Any contact with someone with COVID is now going to be tested and chased down to ensure no potential community transmission
• Active surveillance – which was the testing of asymptomatic people in the community – given the current, very low positivity in testing, AHPPC doesn’t this this is effective
• Instead, they are going to introduce “cohort tests” to sample smaller areas of the community to ensure there isn’t asymptomatic transmission (ie testing elective surgery patients etc to ensure no people going into hospitals etc spread it, aged care workers to reassure everyone they aren’t carrying the virus, healthcare workers, teachers if it gives them reassurance etc)
• Still confident most transmission of the virus is from people with symptoms, so it is imperative anyone with symptoms gets tested
• Download the app and stick to what the health authorities and government are asking everyone to do

Further PM comments during questions:

• The Gov’t is not canvassing any particular easing of areas yet – National Cabinet will review all restrictions to ensure health mitigations are in place if reopened and economic opportunities that extent to particular activities – that’s the basis on which the assessment will be made
• Regardless of the potential easing of restrictions, several other measures will remain for longer – there will continue to be limits on gatherings, social distancing must still be practiced (this is a long-term adjustment everyone has to make) and good hand hygiene will remain something everyone will do for the rest of their lives after this crisis
• The government knows we need growth related policies to stimulate the economy and boost confidence for businesses and individuals
• The Gov’t isn’t considering new restrictions – its about getting more people using the COVIDSafe app so there is confidence to relieve existing restrictions

The PM just made the following statements:

• National Cabinet today was able to note good progress that has been made on those core requirements that are in place to enable our road back – to help us be in a confident position to ease restrictions
• On the wearing of masks – the medical expert panel advice says it is not recommended they are worn and important to note that wearing masks doesn’t protect you from infection, but if you have symptoms, it is a good measure to protect others
• On schools – medical advice confirmation that 4sqm rule and 1.5m distancing between students during classroom activities is not appropriate and not required
• It is agreed to develop National Principles for sport and recreation for consistency in next phase:
  • Elite and professional level (major sporting codes, Olympics etc)
  • Community competitive level
  • Individual passive level (hiking, surfing etc)
• National Cabinet also agreed on new COVID-19 Safe Workplace Principles which will be released shortly – this will:
  • Ensure Australians can go back to work
  • Make families feel safe going back to work
  • Provide helpful tools / procedures and advice to stay at work

·                 Aged care – there is a meeting this evening that CMO and Minister for Aged Care will participate – the Federal Gov’t is flagging that should they not see an improvement in this area under the voluntary arrangements in place the Cth would require aged care facilities to apply exemption from the Fed Gov’t if they don’t want to follow the guidance from health authorities (ie to stop isolating elderly people – this is being put back on the industry to make the right decisions before intervention)

·                 Casting modelling that CMO is going to present – some notes:

o        We have moved through many phases of the virus:

1.               “Export phase” – when the virus first exported and transmitted to other countries – Aus implemented fast response to protect people

2.               “Repatriation phase” – bringing people home which brought the virus into Australia

3.               Currently in the “Community phase” – virus now moves within our own community – requiring different tools building on what is already in place (tracing, rapid response etc)

·                 Working towards decisions over the next few weeks under guidance from medical experts and using data to provide guidance on the measures required – States / Territories will continue to make their own changes also

·                 National Cabinet is meeting again next Friday

CMO’s comments:

·        As at today – total of 6,673 cases – 78 lives lost

·        Number of people in intensive care units – 43 at the moment, 29 on ventilators – progressively have fallen

·        5,000 cases have recovered

·        Big risk is new clusters appearing (Victoria reported one this morning)

·        Presented advanced versions of Pandemic Intelligence and Surveillance Plan – to test extensively and detect nay clusters that may appear in coming weeks

·        Every state / territory has broaden testing criteria from today so anyone with symptoms can get tested – this will significantly expand population of testing and broad reach of passive surveillance (also looking at active surveillance of people to proactively identify potential clusters)

·        Nation Cab want to be absolutely confident that we are in a good position before easing any restrictions

·        Reinforced masks are not recommended – generally not good quality – provides false sense of security

·        [Modelling presented] – will provide this when released – as at 6am this morning only 13 cases reported in 24 hours

·        Effective reproduction has dropped significantly based on last week’s data methodology (mostly just below 1 in all States / Territories)

·        Forecasted case numbers are at the lower end of what was originally predicted (based on data we have – new science, not reliable, but still advancing)

The PM has just made the following comments:

• 5,000 additional staff have been added to Services Australia with another 3,000 redeployed within Services Australia and public sector to assist the effort
• So far 587,686 JobSeeker and related applications have been processed
• Treasurer has been meeting regularly with the banks – they understand there are frustrations with accessing bridging finance from banks etc and the Gov’t is working through it with them to ensure availability
• Business feedback to the Gov’t is important to keep banks on the mark
• The Gov’t is looking at the recovery phase with fresh eyes with any previously proposed reforms over the last decade to see how they can help:
  • Important reform documents being reviewed (ie from Productivity Commission, the Shifting the Dial Report etc)
  • Looking at all important policy options to have an effective and sustainable impact on the recovery
  • Engaging with the many partners (National Cabinet, ACTU, all good relationships forged and continuing to do this)
  • Not a matter of dusting off old reports and putting them in place, looking at them for today to see how they can best help Australians get back on their feet

The Treasurer’s comments:

• Firmly in the implementation phase following parliament’s sign off of new reforms and support packages
• ATO has approved 456,000 applications totalling $3.8 billion for early access to superannuation (avg. withdrawal is around $8,000)
• ATO has also paid out $3 billion to 177,000 businesses employing 2.1 million Australians as part of the cash flow boost measure (min $20K and up to $100K)
• ATO has brought in extra resources to process extra claims demand ahead of the original start date (28 April)
• $750 cash payment has gone to 6.8 million people totalling $5.1 billion
• 900,000 businesses have registered interest for JobKeeper payments (275,000 have already filled in the application in 2 days)
• Very conscious of the important role banks are playing in bridging payments to help them pay staff – today there was a telephone hookup with 4 bank CEOs and Tax Commissioner to emphasise the need for banks to provide support and have agreed to establish a dedicated hotline for customers to call to receive bridging finance ahead of money from JobKeeper available – they have also agreed to expedite all those applications to the front of the queue for processing

Relevant questions from the media:

• Construction companies are laying people off in certain areas of their businesses / groups and aren’t eligible for JobKeeper
  • o        The Gov’t acknowledges issues where some projects might be finishing in areas of group businesses, if this is the case businesses should speak to the ATO to see what can be done
  • o        Current Fed, State / Territory gov’t construction jobs are being maintained and still underway
  • o        Looking to put the pedal down to keep gov’t funded construction work coming out

The Prime Minister just held a media conference:

• Two thirds of the cases in Australia have now recovered (less than 2,500 active cases right now)
• Need to maintain efforts and not become complacent to ensure we don’t end up with an increase like other countries (ie Singapore)
• View of National Cabinet today is to stick to our plan – its working, its saving lives and livelihoods and we need to maintain it across the country
• Baseline restrictions remain in place – but in terms of easing restrictions – it was made clear last week what the markers are:
  • There needs to be an effective rate of transmission consistently less than 1
  • Putting in place the testing and tracing and response capabilities that are necessary for us to stay on top of any outbreak or any risks that could emerge
  • Some states / territories may ease their own restrictions at their own discretion depending on suppression / no new cases
• Elective surgery restrictions will be lifted after Anzac Day – gradual restart of services
  • All Category 2 procedures or equivalent procedures in the private sector
  • Selected Category 3 procedures (IVF, screening programs, post cancer reconstructions, some basic dental procedures, all procedures for children under 18, all joint replacements (knees, hips and shoulders), all cataract and eye procedures, endoscopy and colonoscopy)
  • A review ill happen 11 May 2020 to determine if all surgeries and procedures can then recommence more broadly
• Estimate that this will reactivate around 25% of activity in elective surgery in public and private hospitals
• Priority will be given on the basis of clinical determinations by the relevant health professionals for both public and private systems
• On aged care – after reviewing recent events in facilities – the Gov’t is very concerned about restrictions over and above what was recommended – resulting in isolation for elderly people – National Cabinet agreed that a strong reminder that residents are still able to have maximum of 2 visitors per day (close residents and support people in the resident’s room), sit in common areas and not be confined to their rooms
• Further restrictions in aged care facilities could apply when there is an outbreak in the facility or the area where the facilities are located
• Vulnerable and elderly people in the community also should not be isolated at home and it is acceptable for people to visit them in a safe and controlled manner to provide care and assistance
• On schools – National Cabinet reinforced that there is no requirement from the expert medical panel for 4 sqm rule in classrooms – smaller class sizes is the recommendation, and this is practically assessed at an individual school level
• Briefed National Cabinet today on the new tracking app that is under development and it has received in principle support but still requires a bit more work – it:
  • Protects Australians in their own health
  • Helps other Australians to keep them safe
  • Ensures we can get back to a more normal setting where more uptake on the app is undertaken
• 517,000 JobSeeker claims have been processed (normally this is the number of claims in a year processed in 6 weeks)

The Health Minister also made some comments:

• Australia has recorded less than 1% growth in new cases for 9 days straight
• We’ve achieved our national goal of 7,500 ventilators with new ones arriving this week
• 60 million masks have arrived in Australia with 22 million already distributed and another 11 million over the coming week
• We’ve already secured another 100 million masks over the next 6 weeks

Scott Morrison just made the following announcements following a National Cabinet Meeting this afternoon. Summarised key points only and will send new modelling once it has been released.

• Australia has made some real progress with data reflecting the progress but many difficult considerations and lots of issues to consider on ground. Attention now turning to the road out and recovery on the other side, which will be a different world on the other side
• Economic measures on other side to be pro-growth, to get jobs back. Businesses are at front and centre of our economy so revitalization of economy with policies that encourage growth and investment.
• Health and economic responses have to both be considered and understood together. Australia’s fiscal response is one of the best in the world.
• Today’s unemployment rate showed only a modest change, but data from before Coronavirus restrictions came in. Figure is welcome but it is the best figure we’ll see for some time. RBA / IMF reporting have similar views re unemployment rates going forward.
• Australians to prepare ourselves for sobering news about the economy in the months to come
• In regards to health, Australia remains in the suppression phase. We are not in an eradication (NZ) or herd immunity (Sweden) phase.
• Our approach shows we are doing very well, in comparison to other locations
• Road out will mean meeting important benchmarks, that will inform the National Cabinet and decisions about easing restrictions. 3 things to get in place:

1. More extensive surveillance testing regime, broader testing. Aus has one of the most extensive regimes but we need to do better so we can move to a less restricted world
2. Tracking using technology as soon as we possibly can (privacy issue needs to be worked on before a new app can be launched – but PM stresses people should sign up to help)
3. Local response capability to contain any future outbreaks as they happen, every state needs the ability to move very fast to lock down an area very quickly

• Baseline restrictions to remain until those 3 goals achieved, which will be reviewed over the next 4 weeks with no plans to change anything over next 4 weeks
• Elective surgery – to be discussed next Tuesday
• 6 months direction that was talked about originally is to end of September, which was to buy time with economic packages
• Restrictions in some form will continue after this 6 months but depends on health/economic advice as time goes on
• Schools are a state and territory issue, they are run by state govts, they set the rules, but with 7 principles to guide them (will be released today)
• Teachers are more at risk in the staff room than in the class room and proper arrangements should be in place to protect them, but same rules don’t apply to students because they don’t have same level of risk (virus behaves very differently with children)
• Trial week of parliament of May – normal business of parliament, and hopefully return to regular basis but need to see how it works with new arrangements and logistical challenges like less flights and border closures.
• Australia is well ahead of where it thought it would be. The more we do the right thing now, the easier it will be for everyone in the long term. Patience can’t wear thin - look to experience overseas, if we ease off too quickly, both health and economic consequences will be a lot worse.
• CMO Brendan Murphy summarised latest data with modelling on screen (which will be sent when released)
• Numbers are looking very encouraging, less than 50 people over the last few days. Most cases are from people returning from overseas, very little community transmission
• Unless we are prepared to detect outbreaks early, and get on top of them quickly we could end up in the same situations as other developed countries are in currently, struggling with outbreaks
• Importantly, we are detecting about 92% of all symptomatic cases across Australia – we are ranked the highest of this rate in a huge list of countries
• All states’ surveillance and detection highly effective, epidemic is reducing across all states
• Response is good but has to get stronger to relax distancing

Questions from media had some additional points from PM:

• Virgin bailout – govt appreciates the value of two viable airlines, but any response will be on a sector-wide basis, not specific to Virgin
• Construction sector, particularly infrastructure likes roads – PM wants this stimulated as construction can still go on now whilst in a COVID economy

As you are likely aware there has been some recent significant changes to QLD border restrictions.

Below is intended as a general update. Please forward to anyone who needs this information and contact me if you have any questions.

General information

• A QLD resident is a person who ordinally resides in QLD (as evidenced by a drivers’ licence or other ID)
• All QLD residents moving between QLD and other states require a border pass on re-entry to QLD: https://www.qld.gov.au/border-pass

• This applies to people both flying in and driving in, as well as border community residents
• As QLD Government defines construction work as essential, QLD residents undertaking construction work are allowed to travel interstate (including hotspots) and will not have to self-isolate on re-entry to QLD. More info on this below.
• Virgin Australia has grounded all domestic flights (except one SYD-MEL route). If you had flights booked with Virgin, CTM will be in touch to discuss options
• The attached documents have been updated and supersede all other versions
• You should avoid travel if possible. If you cannot avoid travelling, please read on and prepare yourself for working from home in QLD on re-entry (as a precaution only)

QLD residents leaving QLD for construction work purposes

• Construction work in NSW/VIC
  • These states’ borders are open.
  • You may still be asked what you are doing in the state on arrival into the airport / if pulled up by Police so it’s important to be carrying a letter (template attached) as evidence.
• Construction work in NT/TAS/ACT/WA
  • These states/territories’ borders are restricted.
  • Construction workers should be able to enter without being asked to self-isolate, but each state has different requirements for providing evidence of this.
  • Please contact me to discuss your options further.

QLD residents returning to QLD after being in another state for construction work purposes

• QLD residents who have been in another state for construction work purposes should not have to self-isolate for 14 days on entry back into QLD, as construction is defined by QLD as essential work.
• On re-entry, you must be carrying a:
  • QLD Border Pass (filled out shortly before re-entry so the information provided is accurate)
• It is important that you are also carrying the attached with you on re-entry to QLD (either flying/driving in):
  • Hutchinson Builders’ letter (filled out with relevant information about your travels)
  • Hutchinson Builders’ Health Plan (filled out with relevant details. Note: only fill in the grey highlighted fields. If you need any amendments made to this plan based on another state or territory’s requirements, please contact me first)
  • Hutchinson Builders’ COVID-19 Plan (latest version available on Toolbox here)
• The above extra documentation (besides the Border Pass) is precautionary and to be carried in case QLD Police request it on your re-entry.
• The purpose of doing this is to avoid being forced to self-isolate for 14 days as you were in another state carrying out essential construction work.
• If you develop symptoms, do not come to work and immediately seek medical assessment.

QLD residents flying within QLD for construction work purposes

• As you are not travelling to another state, the above should not apply
• However, as a precaution, you should be carrying the above documents (Letter, Health Plan and HB COVID-19 Plan) as evidence in case you are pulled up by QLD Police

Advice regarding Queensland Government declared hotspots

• The QLD Government has now published a list of areas it considers ‘COVID-19 hotspots’ here: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/hotspots-covid-19
• However, as QLD Government defines construction work as essential, QLD residents undertaking construction work are allowed to travel to hotspots and will not have to self-isolate on re-entry (as per above)
• This is not recommended. If travel to hotspots cannot be avoided, you should prepare yourself for having to work from home on return to QLD. For example, this could mean ensuring you have a computer set up at home that is connected to Hutchies’ network before you leave QLD. This is purely a precaution in case you develop symptoms or something changes whilst you are interstate and you are then required to self-isolate.

Please contact Tabi Ward if you have any questions.

All,

The current measures put in place by the Federal and State Governments to control the spread of coronavirus DO NOT include shutting down construction sites.

Therefore ALL Hutchies projects are open for business.

In order to keep construction sites open, it is essential that we continue to implement all of the necessary social distancing and hygiene measures across our sites and offices and we will provide further updates as things evolve.

Also, please ensure all of the subcontractors on your sites are aware of the social distancing and hygiene measures we have implemented and that our projects are working.

Ben Young
Workplace Relations Director
Hutchies

Scott Morrison just made the following announcements following a National Cabinet Meeting this morning:

• Less than 10% of COVID-19 cases in Australia are through community transmission at this point – avoiding many tens of thousands of cases that could have occurred by this point
• This Easter long weekend – everyone must stay at home. If they don’t, it will undo all the things that have been successful so far.
• Australia’s modelling by the Doherty Institute will be released today – its theoretical – its not based on Australian case data or measures and does not predict what will happen in Australia – its based on international data – it proves up the theory of flattening the curve through the measures Australia has in place – further modelling will be undertaken to incorporate Australian cases and responses
• Mandatory Commercial Tenancy Code will be legislated and regulated by each State and Territory and will apply to tenancies where the tenant or landlord are eligible for JobKeeper and have a turnover of $50 million or less
• It is based on good faith leasing principles – landlords must not terminate the lease or drawer on the tenant’s security and likewise tenants must honour the lease
• Landlords will be required to reduce the rent to take into account the reduction of business through a combination of waivers of rent and deferrals of rent – waivers must account of 50% at least of the losses
• Deferrals must be covered by the lease term (spreading out the costs over the period) or extension to the lease if it expires in under 6 months to spread the costs out
• The Leasing Code will be underpinned by a binding mediation process by States / Territories

Professor Murphy presented the modelling and how influential it is to help Australia with measures and tools to remain on the front food with COVID. This reports will be available later today – I will circulate once released.

PM showed the Safe Work Australia process for instructions of dealing with a COVID-19 case.

The Prime Minister just addressed the media following a National Cabinet Meeting:

• New phase for the National Cabinet Meetings now – having established the many baseline supports and measures in place already
• Now it’s about reviewing data and measures on a regular basis to adjust as necessary
• If the virus was still growing at the rate it was 10 days ago Australia would have 10,000 cases today based on modelling (we have just over 5,000) – new cases are down to 5% a day at the moment
• We must continue to do keep the pressure on and abide by all measures to stop the spread
• We are now at the suppression phase and need to put the pressure down on the virus with the controls ready for the recovery phase
• Some modelling work is underway to look at scenarios of how the virus will pace under current measures and data
• At the current rate doing what we’re doing and with upgrades to ICU capacity and ventilators, the trajectory is promising and encouraging (but there are no guarantees)
• Agreed today by National Cabinet:
  • Launch of a new daily national dashboard of key statistics with simple summary of the Chief Medical Officer in the afternoon (on health.gov.au)
  • Places of worship will now be considered ‘workplaces’ for Easter and religious services (to enable streaming to the public) – Churches / places or worship are not open to the public, but this will enable priests etc to conduct streaming events
  • Holiday working visa holders in Australia must self-isolate for 14 days prior to any movements within Australia out to a work placement (ie fruit picking
  • Commercial leases – very close to finalising an approach
  • Industry code for commercial and retail tenancies has been developed with industry stakeholders and will be released in the next few days
  • Each industry is to complete their own code and the code would be made mandatory for tenancies of turnover of less than $50M and participant of JobKeeper program (30% loss of revenue) will be covered under the Code (Landlord and Tenant will be supported) – both parties must negotiate in good faith, there is a proportionality principle is simply – the turnover decrease of the tenant must be reflected into the rental waiver of the landlord – Gov’t does not wish to be prescriptive about this – but landlords and tenants need to work through it together – banks need to come to the party but the Gov’t recognises they are not parties to this landlord + tenant agreement – both tenants and landlords will be protected under the terms

The Prime Minister just made the following announcements:

• The measures Australians are adapting to in our daily lives will be in place for at least the next six months – we need to be prepared for that
• The rate of growth has fallen on a daily basis to single digit numbers – but it’s not enough – community transmission is being monitored closely
• Childcare and early childcare education is critical – particularly for those Australians who rely on it so they can go to work every day – if you have a job in this economy, then that is an essential job – its important that parents have access to childcare for the many months ahead and the government wants to see centres remain open
• The Australian Government is making child care support free for people who need it as of Sunday night (April 6) under a new system which will provide this relief
• They will pay 50% of the sector’s fee revenue up to the existing hourly rate cap based on a point in time before parents started withdrawing their children
• JobKeeper wage subsidy will be synchronised to support the childcare sector’s wages to reduce costs, keep people employed and centres open
• Schools will be the same to keep Australia running
• While we have to be isolated, we can remain connected and Australians are finding innovative ways to do this

Industrial Relations update from the Attorney-General for Australia:

• Series of reforms to Modern Awards and IR System undertaken in the past few weeks
• It has been done quiet and cooperative
• 10s of thousands of jobs saved from these changes
• Change the equivalent of 30 years
• Temporary reform to last the length of the pandemic
• 121 Modern Awards – very significant changes
• Restaurants, hospitality and Clerks are most significant awards affected
• Key changes:
  • Individual worker performing 1 type of duty in 1 classification
  • Can now be reallocated to another classification under the Award
  • Allowed for working from home abilities (this was previously unlawful under the Award)
  • Allowed for taking longer durations of annual leave at half the pay
  • The idea is to introduce more flexibility to help secure jobs and prevent the failure of businesses
• Next steps to be undertaken:
• 103 Modern Awards will be changed to allow for:
  • Two weeks of Unpaid Pandemic Leave
  • Allowing for the taking of double the length of leave at half the pay
• These changes are critical to protecting the supply and logistics chain workers in Australia

The VIC Premier released this statement earlier today. It is in line with what the National Cabinet announced last night.: https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/statement-from-the-premier-35/

Key messages:

• National Cabinet has agreed to significant new restrictions on public gatherings and will also enforce that where people can stay at home, they must stay at home.
• My message to every Victorian is that there are only four reasons to leave your home: food and supplies, medical care, exercise, and work or education.
• That’s why we are also restricting gatherings to no more than two people except for members of your immediate household and for work or education.
• If people breach these directions, they face on-the-spot fines of $1,652 for individuals and $9,913 for businesses. Larger fines can also be issued through the courts.

The Prime Minister just made the following announcements:

• The Australian Government is delivering a plan to provide Australians with an economic lifeline for the many months ahead
• They are trying to protect and preserve the economy
• Many countries in the months ahead and perhaps beyond that may see their economies collapse or hollow out
• In the very worst situations some countries may fall into chaos
• This will not be Australia
• It will be dealt with using very Australian solutions
• Using Australian systems to address these situations
• Keeping Australians in jobs and businesses in jobs
• Cushioning the blow for those who will be significantly impacts
• The latest package will come at a cost of $130 billion over the next six months is in addition to the $70 billion of support already announced by the Australian Government (plus $15 billion of support by the States and Territories)
• Support the jobs and livelihoods of more than 6 million Australians estimated to need the life line
• The Federal Government is today introducing $1,500 JobKeeper fortnightly payment to keep Australians in their jobs
• The Government will pay employers who will pay their employees and to make sure they do using the Single Touch Payroll system
• To keep them in the businesses that employ them and bounce back on the other side
• Want to keep the engine of our economy running through this crisis
• Businesses large and small across the entire economy will share this with the welfare system to provide this income support
• Sees every Australian worker the same way no matter what you earn
• Extending arrangements for JobSeeker to those who are receiving payments / seeking to receive where they have a partner pay income test will be changed to annual income of $79,620 per annum to broader access to the payment (previously it was $48,000)

The Treasurer announced:

• The Government is working closely with banks, utility and insurance companies to help customers get to the other side
• Focused on keeping Australians in jobs and businesses in business
• The JobKeeper payment is $1,500 flat payment per fortnight (about 70% of the median wage) and applies to everyone full-time and part-time, sole traders (casuals who have been with their employe for more than 12 months)
• Employers and sole traders can apply to the ATO from today and back dated to 30 March 2020
• If someone has been stood down since 1 March 2020, they are still eligible
• Support applies to businesses with a fall in revenue of 30% (I missed the revenue for this category, but will update once I know)
• and to businesses with a turnover of more than $1 billion with a revenue fall of 50%
• There is no superannuation guarantee on the payment
• Employers can top up the payment if an employee is paid more than $1,500 per fortnight

The Prime Minister just made the following announcements following today’s National Cabinet Meeting:

• 2020 will be a tough year – this week has shown this
• 100s of thousands of people have lost their jobs this week
• Thousands of businesses have closed
• 16 people have lost their lives to COVID-19
• Rate of increase has been falling as reported this morning, but we must continue to do things we have committed to do
• Working through the night again to bring together the next tranche of support measures to help keep people in jobs
• As announced this morning another $1 billion for services in the health sector to boost telehealth, crisis services etc
• 1,600 people went into quarantine today (particularly in NSW) under the new arrangements of isolation in hotels
• New technology to help communicate the messages – WhatsApp message service (291,000 people have already connected to it), new Coronavirus App for iOS and Google (482,000 downloads today) – every Australian should download this app to keep informed
• Coronavirus App has a new ‘registration’ feature if you have support for access to essentials etc (ie for older people staying home)
• Tonight the National Cabinet met to specifically discuss public gatherings – currently restricted to 10 persons except for members of your households, employment and education – working from home where possible and following social distancing – 10 person limit now enforceable in most States and Territories – the new advice is restricted to 2 people anywhere other than inside your household – up to States and Territories if it is enforceable
• Outside play grounds and skateparks will be closed from tomorrow
• Bootcamps will be limited to 2 people
• Individuals – strong advice that is being endorsed following health advice – essential to reinforce – everyone must stay at home:
  • Shopping for things you actually need (food and other essential supplies – infrequently as possible) – jigsaw puzzle example considered essential
  • Medical care or compassionate needs
  • Exercise in compliance with the 2 person rule
  • Work and education if you cannot work or learn remotely
• Strong advice for people aged 70+ should stay at home and self-isolate for their own protection for the maximum time possible to limit interactions (can still go outside with a support person for fresh air etc but limit contact with others as much as possible) – utilise the available home based services and delivery options for groceries etc (you can access via new Coronavirus App) – this is not a strict rule, it’s a recommendation for their own protection
• The same advice applies for people with a chronic illness, people aged over 60 and Indigenous people over 50 should stay home with minimal interactions with others
• Commercial and residential tenancies:
  • The States and Territories will have a Moratorium to prevent evictions of persons as a result of financial stress if they unable to make their commitments for the next 6 months
  • More work to be done here and will come in days
  • Message to commercial tenants and landlords – you need to talk to each other and work this out – look at the businesses that have closed or had significant reduction – they need to sit down and come up with arrangements to come out the other side with a tenant at the end and a business that can employ
  • Banks need to help everyone achieve this outcome too
  • The Aus Gov will work on measures to encourage everyone to do this
  • If you don’t cooperate, the support you might expect to receive, you will not receive – this is part of the hibernation approach – bespoke to circumstances – sit down and work it out fairly
  • The goal is a landlord has a tenant to continue into the future – who are businesses that aren’t drowning in debt from unpaid rent – and banks that keep and help their customers
• Businesses congratulated for innovation – rethink business models to survive – everyone should be adapting to unusual circumstances that will run for at least 6 months (examples of restaurants changing to delivery only etc used as examples of change adoption)
• More to say on commercial tenancies in the days ahead – the States and Territories have been working hard on this – they will be engaging with businesses, landlords and banks to get the provisions in place – but everyone should sit down tomorrow and start working through it – everyone needs to carry a bit – including the Government
• Further closure of businesses may come if social distancing not possible or not complied with

Chief Medical Officer brief:

• 3,929 cases at the moment (460 new ones)
• Evidence that public health measures and social distancing having a good effect
• One of the lowest positive test rates in the world even though we have one of the higher testing rates
• Reasonably confident that most significant cases are being detected
• Slow down in cases, but we must slow it down further
• Biggest worry at the moment is community transmission (spread without a known source)
• The measures in place will have enough effect to bring the curve right down
• We all have to change the way we interact with each other – stay home unless you absolutely must go out for an essential requirement
• Vast majority of Australians complying – some silly behaviour of non-compliance, everyone must do the right thing for these measures to work (90% minimum required)
• Hopefully the early signs of flattening will help continue to see a reduction in cases

The Prime Minister just made the following announcements post National Cabinet Meeting this morning:

• Over the course of the past week 2/3 of decrease of movement across Australia … 80% over last week alone – significant change on the way people are taking this message and supporting each other
• Thank you from the Commonwealth, States and Territories, Australia – keep doing it – you’re saving lives and you’re saving livelihoods – this has been a significant shift
• Need to keep seeing it taking place - let’s keep doing it Australia
• Washing hands, staying 1.5m away, only going out when you absolutely have to and just doing simple things like not going to the pub etc
• Even though we have to be isolated no Australian has to go through this alone
• Australia has the highest testing rates in the world today
• Efforts at commonwealth and state levels are all making a difference
• It is a vital time and we are all getting on top of it and we need to keep on top of it
• This weekend the challenge will be there but keep doing the right thing to save lives and livelihoods
• Business are being agile and adapting even under significant change and distress
• Others it has been devastating which is being seen as people try and access our safety nets
• We’re in 2 fights – battling it on two fronts – both important – all the measures implemented and the economic crisis caused as a result
• Both will take lives and livelihoods
• Commonwealth, States and Territories will all be doing more to provide whatever assistance they can
• No decision on the health front is being taken lightly
• Every day someone is in a job for just another day is worth fighting for
• Keeping things running everyday matters – it matters for the jobs, businesses, their families hence it matters to the PM, Prems & CM
• The Govt will not take them for convenience … every decision has very real deep personal impacts it can place on them at the most difficult of times
• Further actions – targeted against our greatest area of concern:
  • Enables us to deal with the increasing pressure of Australians coming home
  • We can now focus on that because of the work Australians have done over the past week on behaviours
  • 2/3 of new cases are still Australians who have returned home – very different to the rest of the world
  • As time has gone on – the risk of those returning from other parts is increasing because other countries have the virus too
  • Strengthening the enforcement of self-isolation for people returning – Isolation Declaration Card has been used so far – this is now enforceable by law at a State and Territory level now with strong penalties for non-compliance
  • In addition to the arrival declaration card – as of midnight tomorrow (11.59PM Saturday) all States & Territories will be quarantining all arrivals in hotels and other accom for 2 weeks in mandatory isolation before they can return home (if home is SA, Perth, Sydney etc and they arrive in Melbourne – Melbourne is where they will do their quarantine)
  • Each State will be doing the heavy lifting themselves to enforce this measure in a reciprocal arrangement with each other and the Cth
  • Cth will be supporting them with Defence personnel to assist in compliance with the arrangements – they are not authorised as enforcement agents – only there to support the local authorities
  • Cth will be supporting with enforcing the existing isolation arrangements – ADF will support with compliance checks of residences etc
• Economy – Dr Kennedy briefing of the impacts to States & Territories – PM + Treasurer will announce more in coming days
• Third tranche coming with additional support for Australians over difficult months ahead
• They are trying to maintain as much as possible for the economy
• Part of the plan will be to seek to ‘hibernate’ Australian businesses – innovative approach – more to say about this soon
• Businesses who will have to close their doors and keep them closed either because of necessity of the measures or lack of business
• They want these businesses to start again
• Don’t want next 6 months to be saddled by debt, rental payments or other liabilities so they can’t start again on the other side
• Employees come back, opportunities come back, the economy comes back
• Support by States & Territories of managing complex commercial and residential tenancies
• We have to stick together and support each other – day by day it is becoming a tougher job – but the Gov’t is encouraged by the
• Next few weeks particularly vital in the battle
• Still seeing a lot of returning Australians still developing into cases
• AHPPC recommended single most – stop any capacity for any return traveller who may develop the virus because of other country’s very large outbreaks
• Third Tranche (from a question ‘Who will lose out to these new measures?) Answer - Landlords will suffer, banks will wear some of it, Councils will contribute, States will contribute – more in coming days

SA and QLD have announced in both states:

• Schools will be ‘pupil free next week’ for those who want to keep their kids home
• Schools will remain open for anyone who wants kids to stay at school
• SA will be moving to online learning in Term 2 (not clear if they are opening schools back up in Term 2 or it will be remote)
• Children who are kept home at to stay at home – they should not be out and about in shopping centres

The Prime Minister just made the following announcements after tonight’s national cabinet meeting:

• States and Territories are keen to be as consistent as possible and will be trying to be uniform in their approach nationally to avoid confusion
• From midnight tomorrow night these activities will no longer stay open / take place (these are in addition to the activities announced on Sunday) – all retail premises must display how many people can be insider under 4sqm rule:
  • Food courts (takeaway only)
  • Auction houses, open house inspections
  • Outdoor and indoor markets (unless considered an essential food supply – states / territories will define shortly)
  • Large gatherings brought together for particular organised events – states / territories again will specify local effects
  • Personal services (beauty, therapy, waxing, tanning, nail salons, tattoo parlours) - excl physio and allied health, hair dressers and barbers with strict social distancing measures)
  • Amusement parks and arcades
  • Play centres indoor and outdoor
  • Community and recreation centres, yoga, health centres
  • Bootcamps and personal training limited to maximum 10 people with strict social distancing
  • Social based sporting activities (large groups ie team sports)
  • Swimming pools
  • Galleries, museums, libraries, historic centres
  • Community facilities, clubs etc
  • Places of worship now extends to weddings (no more than 5 people) and funerals (no more than 10 people)
• Further rules we must follow as part of social distancing measures (states and territories will police):
  • Stay at home unless it’s absolutely necessary to go out
  • Going out for the basics and exercise in a small group in your house is ok
  • Providing care or support for others is ok
  • Going to work is ok – where you cannot work from home (strongly encouraged to do this though)
  • Visits of others to our houses should be kept to a minimum and with a very small number of guests (use common sense)
  • No more family gatherings or house parties
  • Do not go outdoors and gather in groups
• School advice has not changed – it is still safe to send kids to school
• Will meet with relevant teacher bodies tomorrow to work through issues
• Schools will open after the term break
• All jobs are essential – hence schools must stay open for kids to go to school to help job stability for parents
• Ban on international travel (previously was a ‘Do Not Travel’) – comes into effect
• New penalties for profiteering of large quantities of things being sold / taken overseas
• Next National Cabinet Meeting tomorrow night to discuss other measures (including leases). Will provide another update then.

The Prime Minister and Treasurer just announced there will be a travel ban to Australia introduced from 9pm tomorrow night for non-residents and non-citizens

Tasmania to enforce 'toughest border measures in the country' amid coronavirus pandemic

From midnight on Friday, all "non-essential" travellers into the state will have to go into 14 days' quarantine, he said. Mr Gutwein said "essential" travellers included people required to keep the state's health system and trade operational. All others, including returning Tasmanians, will be required to go into quarantine.

All,

Please refer to the attached important information below about coronavirus and resources we have made available on Hutchies’ Toolbox for immediate use across all offices and sites.

Ensure you read and print the attached poster for display around Hutchies’ offices and job sites as soon as possible.

Thanks

Greg Quinn
Managing Director
Hutchies

Our new Toolbox for Subcontractors and Suppliers has been developed to allow Hutchies to share the important information that matters when working on one of our projects.

What the new Toolbox offers

• Key info about Hutchies, our offices, future workbook and opportunities, inductions and training all in one place
• Helpful guides and resources like our industry-leading Quality Handbook, important notices and changes, activities and alerts
• Specific key details related to our new contracts (Subbies & Suppliers Requirements)
• A new channel to contact us and provide feedback to help us continually build this platform into something you get real value from
• Tailored content based on the region you work with Hutchies on (you can select a local Hutchies town or city from the dropdown next to the time and date on the Toolbox home page)
• 'The Feed' to help you stay in the loop of whats happening around Hutchies

Save the new link / bookmark it 

subbies.hutchies.com.au

More information

We have a simple Toolbox Guide available to help explain this new platform

We need your feedback

The Toolbox will continue to evolve from your feedback and opportunities to improve content, additional resources and ways to hear from Hutchies.

If you have any feedback or questions about the Toolbox, please get in touch with us.

Alert 64 / Unsecured Infill Packers at Loading Bays

Hutchinson Builders recently experienced a dangerous event that involved the uncontrolled release of a 1200mm x 1800mm x 16mm sheet of ply that had been used as an infill packer in front of a Preston loading bay.

The sheet of ply was shunted out past the external edge of the concrete slab by the action of the loading bay being shifted to the extended position thus causing the ply to become a falling object. There were no injuries incurred in this event.

Background

At times there is height differential between the surface of the concrete slab and the deck of the Preston loading bay. This height difference can cause an issue in controlling the passage of loads being transported to and from the loading bay.

The installation of packing sheets in either temporary or permanent situations is occasionally applied as a local solution. Packing sheets that are not mechanically secured to the concrete substrate can present as a falling object hazard.

Desired Outcome / Solution

In order to eliminate the potential for falling object hazards of this nature it has been determined that any ply, checker plate or other material that is utilised as an infill packer in front of a Preston loading bay is to be:

• mechanically fixed to the floor slab
• inspected at intervals to ensure that the integrity of the mechanical fixings are maintained.

Daylight Saving Time begins at 2am on the first Sunday in October, when clocks are put forward one hour. It ends at 2am (which is 3am Daylight Saving Time) on the first Sunday in April, when clocks are put back one hour. Daylight saving is not observed in Queensland, the Northern Territory or Western Australia. Please remember this time change when arranging travel etc.

Understanding the Changes to Concrete & Earthquake Codes

An ADG guide has been produced to help everyone understand the changes to Concrete and Earthquake Codes which is now available below.

These changes affect all buildings in all areas. This may affect the costing of jobs due to the required changes.

Does this apply to me / my project?

YES, it applies to all projects nationally where the project is approved on NCC2019. This means any project with a building approval issued after 1 May 2019.

All current projects based on NCC2016 or earlier remain on the existing AS1170.

Please ensure all products/systems comply with this, including imported products and systems such as curtain walls.

Downloads

Click the below to download the ADG guide that explains the changes in detail. QMBA and QBCC provide additional information on their websites below.

Temporary Fire Services including hydrants, fire hose reels and extinguishers are a requirement of the National Construction Code. They provide protection against the potential risk of fire on a building site during construction. Refer clause E1.9 below for specific details.

On building sites, there is risk of fire from construction activities, materials and fuel.

This may pose a significant risk not only to people and the project but also to neighbouring properties.

It’s important to remember that a building site does not have the permanent fire protection systems that protect people and property when the building is complete.

A summary of the requirements can be found here.

What do I need to do from here?

As always, careful planning of the works is necessary. Ensure that this requirement is managed through design.

Then, during construction, implement the requirement in a timely manner to ensure a compliant fire protection system is in place as soon as possible, and before the limits are reached during construction.

All projects need to have a programme that considers the activities and timing required to ensure compliance. Please ensure lead time works including boundary connections, procurement etc are included and a milestone linked to the E1.9 criteria are included.

Keep in mind boundary connections are usually a long process and may impact on permanent water sources for example, so temporary services may be necessary as an interim, where approved by the relevant authorities/designers.

Ensure consideration is given to any water tanks and fire pumps that are required to maintain the fire services protection at all times.

Please ensure safety audits include for regular checking for compliance of these requirements.

If there are any issues with achieving strict compliance, consult the Building Certifier/Building Surveyor/PCA, and any relevant Regulators and Fire Brigades to ensure the works don’t progress without suitable fire protection.