The Cost of Coronavirus | Four Corners

The outbreak of coronavirus in Australia has created a public health emergency like no other. It’s also unleashed a financial wrecking ball right through the Australian economy.
In just a few short weeks an alarming number of Australians found themselves without work. Businesses, even whole industries, have shut down pushing the federal government into uncharted territory.
Featuring candid interviews with those crucial to the decision making and a rare interview with the Governor of the Reserve Bank, Four Corners investigates the political scramble to contain the enormous financial damage caused by COVID-19.
Read more: www.abc.net.au...
_________
Watch more Four Corners investigations here: bit.ly/2JbpMkf
You can also like us on Facebook: / abc4corners
Follow us on Twitter: / 4corners
And sign up to our newsletter: www.abc.net.au....
_____________

[@bigdaveyyboi]

JobKeeper, JobSeeker. All we need now is a JobChaser & JobBeater and we'll have a full Quidditch team

[@elenadrinnan6469]

What about Job-Kicker?

[@praisethelegendarymessiahs2617]

Covid-19 is JobKiller.

[@Dallas-Nyberg]

Finally...a program that tells the whole story of the government's commitments instead of having to watch random news snippets - thank you Four Corners.

[@Lilly-vz2un]

It's a 45 minute ad for the powerful. It's like watching a North Korean military parade

[@Freedomone153]

Chinese government needs to be held accountable. Strip them of their assets in Australia

[@sarcasmo57]

Have to be a little more pragmatic. Just stop buying their shit. This is most important, pick up the product you are about to buy and check where it's made. Support local industry, let Australian companies who have sent manufacturing to China know we aren't happy about it. Change laws to make it harder or much more expensive to sell off all of "our" assets.

[@hijazzains]

a couple of hundredda of aldi bags with $100k...and the australian parliaments will belong to the Communist Party of China

[@sylvievicenza179]

@@sarcasmo57 I live in Italy and love your answer. I have done that for years. No Chinese stuff, has to be made elsewhere or/ and has to be second hand. I look for second hand because years ago stuff was made in our own countries. I prefer to pay a little more for my neighbor to have a job.

[@teza5876]

@@sarcasmo57 apparently Kmart is being overrun with buyers. Force everyone to watch "Letter from Masanjia" and see if they set foot in Kmart ever again.

[@cjmbullion]

@@sarcasmo57 Do you really think this Government is going to stop exporting coal, gas, and iron ore to China? This Liberal Government has sold us out to China. In 2001 our exports to China were 3% of total exports and now it is 40% of total exports. Then gone on to sell anything of value to the Chinese.

[@judymarshall3661]

Funny how the government cabinet, were not wearing masks.

[@bilindalaw-morley161]

@7:23 Thank you, I got my one giggle per day out of the way. How any pollie can use the expression “trickle down” (economics) with a straight face is beyond me. “If we look after the businesses they in turn will look after their workers”....yeah, and I’ve got a bridge in Sydney Harbour you can buy. It’s been proven time and time again that if the government “looks after businesses”, the business owners walk away with the cash, and don’t even say “Thanks for that”

[@williamsutherland9669]

Correction its not the cost of Covid 19, its the cost of extreme measures as a reaction to the mass hysteria inducing media reporting. The original data and modelling was terribly incorrect. Studies from around the world including notably Stanford have since confirmed based on sereology testing, 50 to 80 fold increase in actual case infections as compared with what is reported, thus mortality rate significantly lower and in line with seasonal flu. Its time governments start adjusting measures. Isolate elderly and vulnerable. Those under 60 have statistically insignificant risk (official data) of serious illness or death, equivalent to the probability of dying driving to work. Further there is no empirical evidence that social distancing measures work, in fact a study has shown in areas where it has been implemented infections have risen. People now need to start critically questioning measures inlight of evolving data and research. A number of epidemiologists have indicated that the economic impact if the measures, impacting millions is likely to dwarf covid 19 impact. Remember povery and economic recessions, lead to poor health outcomes, morbility, depression, suicide (there is research on this). Government needs to assess the approach, engage with a broad panel of epidemiologists. Suggested approach; 1. Isolate vulnerable and elderly or implement measures that will minimise exposure. 2. Encourage and continue good hygiene, wear masks where relevant 3. Maintain ban on mass gatherings 4. Remaining population with little to now risk return to work. Open businesses back up Lockdowns are not feasable for longterm nor are they proven to work when the virus has already spread. Finally i understand its difficult for people to adjust their mindset on this, as all they have been hearing doom and gloom, inducing panic and fear. But now is the time for the situation to be reassesed. Dont watch the news its misleading, lacking context, fear mongering and sensationalising for ratings. Research it instead, read from epidemiologists and infectious disease experts. Research studies, journal articles.

[@wolfcastle8409]

William Sutherland, this is about the smartest comment I've read about shortening the lockdown, I'm in the high risk group, but fully agree with your reasoning, well said!

[@Whosetheworst]

Making corporations, especially the miners, and billionaires pay some tax for a change would go a long way to paying off this massive debt. What's Soloman Lew crying for, his worth 1.5 billion dollars, he could pay those 9000 workers out of his small change.

[@kevinhuddleston4219]

Big boys don't pay as big boys are too big and in control to have to pay , its the little man and woman who will pay.

[@BernieCarpenter]

Paying back the debt? Who are we paying back? The government didn't borrow the money, they created it. There isnt anyone to pay back ....

[@notathome13]

Rich people spin up not for profit foundations to skimp on paying tax, company’s tax rules in Australia is deliberately setup favour corporates paying nothing. Short of scrapping tax system and address loop holes nothing will happen, so get use to it.

[@notathome13]

Bernie Carpenter private reserve bank makes money from nothing and then govt pays them.

[@BernieCarpenter]

@@notathome13 "private" reserve bank?

[@sjhansen]

Thank you ABC for this great episode

[@harw_]

No matter what Reddit says I think ALL Australian leaders have done a good job during all this mess.

[@gregcoombs5327]

deluded, F--ed the whole economy for 20 people, you must be wealthy, I'm not, and I don't want to bail out the failing banking system, with mine & my children future taxes!!

[@MrFastFarmer]

@@gregcoombs5327 Actually the economy was F'd before Covid. We will post the biggest loss we've ever had this year and nothing to do with Covid. You will see the virus impact next financial.

[@donnamariewilliams8261]

This virus cuts deep in so many ways! May God bless Australia and the USA!!

[@TimeTraveller010]

Rise up U.S, rise!

[@TheFreezerGeezer]

God's either allowing or making this happen, fachrissake!

[@samvanders1235]

Never voted for Libs but I’m proud of the response from our gov. Polar opposite of US leadership

[@letishanorrisfineart]

Scomo looks like a saint in comparison to Trump, proud to be aussie right now 🤣

[@Albot940]

We're fortunate the Australian states dragged the federal government into actually taking action

[@harw_]

What US leadership? lol

[@eddybulich3309]

Same - never voted for Labor - but proud of our Labor state Premier in WA. He has done a damn fine job in tough circumstances.

[@clevelandwilliams5922]

@@eddybulich3309 2 cases and we shut the economic engine. Great stuff awesome job or was it part of there unison agenda anyway

[@eugenesetiawan1606]

Thank you, for our Australian and New Zealand Leaders from the federal to states for their actions save our lives.

[@markwest2810]

you captivate my feelings perfectly... good luck out there groover :)

[@middleground1858]

Nope, main difference was luck .. ITALY STOPPED ALL flights from China in January!!..Aus NZ WAY behind mid feb.& Italy did more testing ... & better prepared with more ICU bed per capita......... give NZ credit as 1st country to shut its borders & did it with very low numbers (Australia copied in a week late t but with hight numbers).. During such time people get emotional & so it takes a few month for the number & the truth to come out These Govts did NOT save you, but at lest they didn't do a BAD job (the US did a BAD job) though I wish them luck as this is no time for politics... so follow their advice. Stay safe everyone !

[@IanGomes2010]

Eugene, you bet being an Australian we have been so lucky as human life is priceless...

[@IanGomes2010]

Jp111 , we did hear about these death daily, we were simply desensitised because it happened to somebody else, now that this pandemic effected you directly due to the restrictions, we all must now take stocks of our lives of waste, materialism and greed so we can better our future for both our children, and their children as we too one day will become old...

[@wainber1]

Meanwhile, covid is spreading like wildfire to such a degree within the contiguous US that the governors of CT, NY and NJ decided to impose a mandatory quarantine order on domestic travellers seeking entry directly from 1 of over a dozen badly-affected states (Florida, Texas & Arizona, run by pro-Trump Republican governors, among them).

[@BAdventures]

Australia is already in recession, which is 2 quarters of negative growth. Look up The Great Depression, that's what we're heading into. Time to focus on survival mode. Good coverage and documentary.

[@notsuretbh7215]

Sorry I'm two years late to this but mate recessions are normal, boom and bust, usually they're brief unpleasant downturns, the Great depression was a once in a century event based on uncontrolled markets and severe market failures due to lopsided information a similar event happend in 2007/8.

[@stephen_lee10]

No matter the cost, as long as it does not cost me my life.

[@jeanmyers1787]

Worked well in U.K.

[@sarahcesar5813]

6:23...., *shaking hands/touching hands* ... That's how they spread the virus !!! 🙃🙃🙃

[@davidchin35]

I suggest that the producer of this video should have studied the Cambridge report on Covid-19 in Feb 2020; which indicated the Australian strain was type C same as the European strain the strain in China and many parts of asia were type B America had all 3 types A B and C A was parent of B and C . B Cannot give rise to C, vis versa The logical conclusion of this is COVID-19 started from America and Australian strain came from America or Europe He should not be claiming the Australian Covid-19 came from China

[@fuzz7981]

Really shows what a united response looks like. Unfortunately can't say the same for the US. Choose politics, choose suffering. There must be a reckoning for China and the WHO once this crisis has subsided.

[@clevelandwilliams5922]

No no no you got it all wrong they were in it together not because of Bipartisanship were there is unity in diversity. Unity with Diversity they were all in bed together with this because they saw the financial disaster coming forward and they had no option but to destroy the economy and bring rich Chinese and Indians to keep buying property

[@MrAnperm]

@33:44 Morrison said the weaknesses of a wage subsidy scheme like the UK's is that you would have to "build an entirely new payment system". This is not true. You use the existing wage structure: banks > businesses > employees.

[@clevelandwilliams5922]

No he didn’t want to do it because all that was focused on his mind was to deal with Toyota Corona Virus in the cheapest fashion and get the populace to suffer during and post shutdown. But the politicians and those government employees keep there jobs and incomes

[@refugeg271]

Virgin Airlines, what makes them think that when Covit-19 is over anyone will be in a financial position to buy airline ticket at any price.

[@clevelandwilliams5922]

Because they are an insult

[@larrybien7599]

THE COLLAPSE HAPPENED BEFORE THIS FAKE OUT BREAK

[@Roadrunnerz45]

this is brilliant stuff. thank you abc and four corners. and everyone for participating.

[@cutepops888]

Funny how Kmart remains open and lots of customers there shopping for China made crap 🙄🥴

[@naajee90]

O don't blame the government for this, I blame the people for not standing up and follow blindly. Let the virus take it's course and people will be "herd immuned" no different from the flu. The flu stays this dies out. Fear fear fear

[@Ferglehome]

Yes we can and without China

[@judymarshall3661]

So many young people with no hope.

[@Occult_Gibbet]

Yes exactly

[@gregcoombs5327]

Or opportunity, what have they got lo lose, give it a go, what ever that may be

[@levirussell2417]

that is a lot of debt for a broken economy, we should sack these fear driven fools.

[@dossieinvalertsdossie2231]

levi russell many countries are debt ridden. Expect interest rates to be zero for the rest of your life irregardless of how young you may be

[@IanGomes2010]

levi, who will guide the Australian people through this situation mate, we will become lawless, after all most of us are doing the right thing staying home with our children, becoming connected again with them, husbands and wives are rekindling why being a family is important and not simply buying material stuff which is money not well spent..

[@levirussell2417]

​@@IanGomes2010 sack the government, hand all rights to universities until sorted. you cant expect broken to fix broken. universities, we are very lucky to have them. think about what they are. and don't be afraid to let go of your government while "we the people" sort this out.

[@clevelandwilliams5922]

1.) Freeze bill and loan repayments instantly. 2.) pay them directly into there bank accounts $1500 a fortnight to keep basic income going. 3.) All Jobs guaranteed when we reopen. 4.) Everyone isolated in there homes. 5.) Woolworth and Coles and Aldi other Grocers to make food essential packages and are delivered by couriers. They will pay via eftpos or cash 6.) Instant Tested in there home. 7.) Air Force run the Airport and moving cargo and bringing Aussie’s from overseas. 8.) Proper PPE gear used at all times 9.) Build underground vaults for current and future health quarantine. 10.) Isolate people with Toyota Corona 11.) Once we are clean of Toyota Corona reopen Australia but keep airports shut no new people come in. 12.) Reimbursement of all lost stock and lost time of business. 13.) Build more hospitals with ICU and ventilation capacities No we have fluffed around and wasted and still keep people from overseas come into Australia. There only way was Airforce would take all Australians to the Air Base and Isolated there not at the Hilton. No they just focused on how to minimise the costs. All it did was extend lockdowns and the costs The last thing is all Government employees and ministers and members of parliament suffer with everyone no pay until this is fixed.

[@carolscabinas]

20 new cases a day now. Stay strict and get to zero. And airtight the boarder control. Then let's be free. What's the point of easing out if it's not zero it will just keep the fire burning.

[@holly4330]

Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. - Benjamin Franklin

[@thededicatedguild7442]

so the reserve bank of aus (and others) said "didnt apreciate how big it would be" SO they dont understand expontial math - yeh were screwed. Anyone with eyes could see whats coming in january and now the backlash in china - we will be seeing a depresssion - most of the interviewees are still deluded!

[@middleground1858]

be fair to he Reserve Bank, they were the only Bank (with the then Govt) to Stimulate their way out of the GFC....

[@gregcoombs5327]

@@middleground1858 Not only are you completely deluded, the reserve banking system is at the root of all these problems, do some research, they stimulated us straight into this crises

[@pillows666]

The crisis is like "proof reading", it reveals the cracks in the system.

[@peterstaykov9670]

Correct

[@miloszlewandowski7042]

The UK government has done absolutely nothing for the British people. Yes you might disagree and have your own point, but I live here, and have seen and felt the full extent of the situation. The UK government has failed and has really show the world it cannot run a country and is incompetent to run a country. Some people received some help like self employed people, but people like me for example a CCTV operator have received nothing at all... Not a penny of help. All the UK government cares about is the NHS.... NHS this NHS that.... Praising all the nurses for staying late at work and doing not much at all. I'm a CCTV OPERATOR, looking after people safety and monitoring important building and residents to KEEP THEM SAFE...... FROM CRIMINALS...... And my job sector has received no praise at alllll for working very hard to keep the UK safe. The armed forces have received no praise and other very important jobs that keep the UK running have received NO PRAISE. only the NHS. That's not fair, and shows you just how incompetent the UK is. Australia is supposed to be apart of the UK, but I don't think so. I think Australia is so much better, organised and has come up with a scheme to help it's people.... The UK hasn't help anyone. Australia is strong and cares for its citizens and that's Very important to have a happy country. The UK tried to supply people with a nasty and comical food bag, and has failed miserably.... Giving you two potatoes and some beans and couple of slices of bread.... That's ridiculous and very childish for a government to come up with such a useless plan. The UK is broken, run by comedians and careless morons caring only for themselves. The prime minister is an absolute joke, and another joker that promises alot, and delivers nothing. The UK people have received absolutely no stimulus...no money at all, and still getting letters home threatening them to get a TV licence and being forced to get a TV licence, and being forced to pay alot of council tax.....the UK only seems to care about the council's, charging people tax and news companies to spread useless news all-round Britain. The UK government talks alot but does nothing. I'm ashamed to live here, and I'm ashamed to see this government fail us so much. The UK has become an immigrant heaven, and the governments allows it all to happen. There are more mosques than shops, and soon UK will become an immigrant, criminal and terrorist heaven. So many attacks have happened here, and nothing has been done to solve this. Nothing is being done, and the tax is rising. I'm sat at home watching about Australia fantasizing and dreaming of living there instead. The people seem nice and welcoming and the atmosphere and living standards seem much better. Here in the UK is like living in Asia..... And it's dangerous to walk the streets at night. What ever you do, Don't come to the UK. Yes you get free health care,but the quality is very poor and there's more waiting for a doctor than actually helping you. The UK has become a "spot the English man" game. God bless Australia and all its citizens. Shame on the UK for being so childish, corrupt and full of disappointment only focusing on the NHS, making it feel like the NHS is all we need to thrive but that is so so wrong. The NHS is so lazy... Your forced to see what the government wants you to see about the NHS on the news... The BBC making NHS look like it deserves a gold medal. It's all a big image and only what the government wants everyone to see all-around the world. If you read the whole message, I appreciate you and please have an open mind in life. Don't believe the news and believe me, the UK government has done nothing to help me, and millions of people in the UK. No support, no stimulus and all they care about is the NHSSSSSSSS..... SHAME ON YOU UK.

[@michaeldonnelly1657]

How could anyone in their right mind believe anything that anyone from the Australan government says

[@KevL-lz8fr]

Australia is the Best

[@AllIsWellaus]

How exactly. They took far too long to lock down the country.

[@joebloggs5387]

Maria Colls What a shame you weren't our PM, we'd all still be locked down with no end in sight, even though there are no cases and only the critically ill are dying.

[@KimSenior]

You think it's bad in Australia, it's worse here in the UK.

[@jdenino6022]

Kim Senior it's bad in NYC and New Jersey.

[@davidwilkie9551]

The potential for Catastrophe is similar to "market speculation and volatility", the extremes are spreading out and so is the possibility of reasonable protection, if accurate evaluation of circumstances is allowed to distribute. Thank you ABC.

[@shazmosushi]

Easy to bail ourselves when it's our kids and grandkids who will have to pay all this debt back. Australia hasn't even started paying off the debt from the 2008 financial crisis (we were just about to reach surplus for the first time since 2008 when the pandemic hit).

[@pelhamh]

shazmosushi good points you make. Where is the best source of data in relation to figures about how we were tracking in terms of paying off the debt from the GFC?

[@jameshughes8937]

Yeah would love to see that, seeing as the country was in a per capita recession before the pandemic

[@shazmosushi]

​@@pelhamh I find the chart and graphs published by government websites (like the Reserve Bank and Australian Bureau of Statistics) lacking quite a lot. The official numbers from Treasury are shared so widely so any random website has accurate graphs. I generally like the website TradingEconomics (just search keywords like "Australia Government Debt to GDP" and "Australian budget deficit" and remember to set the scale to "Max"). Other than those two keywords, keep an eye on the percentage of the budget that goes towards paying the *interest* on the accumulated debt. So much money that could have went towards infrastructure/education/health if we were able to live within our means as a country.

[@markwest2810]

@@shazmosushi i think a lot of the debt will go to inflation... since it's really % it's very low the impact could be worse... but yea "we" will be paying this in one way or another for a long time

[@eddybulich3309]

What debt - The government needs money - it simply prints more. Don't let the economists tell you any differently. Economics is like magic - smoke, mirrors and diversion. The USA did it for years 24/7 printing dollars. Where was their devaluation, inflation ???? Their currency actually appreciated. So don't fall for it.

[@tonyclack5901]

The problem I and many other people I talk to have, is that we are not being told the truth about the death rate from the virus. Their is no distinction from those who died from the virus and those who died with the virus and those who died of covid like symptoms which includes flu symptoms.

[@tonyclack5901]

@Rick Farrugia Thats a very short sighted view, based on ignorance of economy versus realistic proportionality of outcome. I can explain further if it would be helpfull. Could you explain in detail why you assume i am deluded? I look forwards to hearing from you.

[@thechief9209]

my patience with scomo and frydenberg is similar to their hairstyle ........ receding ,drastically.

[@fabienmerteuil6226]

I suppose the last people on Josh’s mind are casual hospitality workers.. I always imagined that to be the case, but he didn’t know until he saw the Centrelink queues and heard that phone call, talk about “the boy in the bubble” 🤦🏻‍♂️🤣

[@catspaw455]

BOY , O BOY Comparing these Leaders to The one's we have in the USA IS DISGRACFULL 😒😯

[@RhianKristen]

These leaders aren’t that good. Not as bad for sure, but they’ve definitely riven they care more about money than people’s lives.

[@tomholy]

@@matthewcaristo8499 All you need to know is that Barack Obama listened to advisers and science, so yes he would of handled it better because before it hit the USA there were lessons to learn from other countries which sadly, for tens of thousands of USA people who have lost loved ones, were ignored.

[@sheriu7167]

Australia needs to invest in renewable energy and renewable energy tech to come out of this stronger

[@esdubya]

Sorry we can’t afford this now in fact we never could! When fossils fuels are free, oil for instance is -$40 a barrel they’re gonna burn fossil fuels before anything else! The biggest loser from Coronageddon is gonna be nature our planet.😰

[@gregdean2012]

We used to have the cheapest energy costs in the world until all those renewables were forced upon the country .

[@sagarambradkar2938]

Use nuclear energy

[@djames4879]

Invest in renewables😂😂😂

[@IanGomes2010]

Sheri, you’re so right as we have more sun, wind and water around Australia than most counties in the world and yet we still depend on oil and cole...We are still so lucky we have space, lots of water in both Queensland and the Kimberley’s, sun nationally nearly 285 days a year with wind in WA’s south west...

[@Eric-ye5yz]

If big employers like Solomon Leu are so distressed about laying people off, just imagine how much more distressed those laid off are. But the LNP don't think along those lines. To them it is the big end of town, the people that already have more than everyone else, that needs to be looked after. We live in a world of 'fiat money', every time a person takes out a bank loan, that money is created on the spot, it did not exist before. It have been that way for a few decades now.

[@12from121]

We need a Labor government

[@MrWhitmen1981]

12from121 No thanks Rudd got us here.

[@adamsmith4174]

Uninstall wrong

[@Tupunaforever]

Well done Australia,......

[@brendabest9086]

Line ups at foodbanks like the Great Depression??? Yup , amazing how history continues to repeat itself.

[@ashsqx3246]

Economic disaster caused by wrong policy response to corona. Far less would have been spent to focus on protecting the vulnerable rather than destroying the economy. Ban on flights from and via affected countries from January, and mandatory 4 weeks quarantine from that time for ALL travelers to Australia from January itself, and tracing and of ALL those travellers for next two months, would have been a better response.

[@guiguichen630]

I am so proud of Australia...just look at what is happening in the US. What a difference

[@johnkelly7825]

There has been a lot of overreaction from state leaders

[@johnnyoranges]

If anybody is an out-of-work casual worker trying to access Jobkeeper, Jobseeker, or just a job, please comment. The stimulus package is very generous for some, but it's a dog's breakfast for others. And no, I'm not being anti-LNP as I hate Dan Andrews' authoritarian lockdown laws just as much.

[@user-ld7uj9pv8e]

A full appropriate response to bushfire effected communities would have been a economic stimulus with win win impact.

[@ochre138]

Four Corners? This doesn't meet the standard of investigative journalism. Welcome to Ita Buttroses 'blind patriotism' ABC machine.

[@tonyclack5901]

Why is it then, that we ignore the yearly flu epidemic, which incidentally killed 26,000 in 2014-15 in the UK.

[@thededicatedguild7442]

casue that took a year - were only 1 month in for the UK - give it a 2nd 3rd 4th wave and in a year 26k will be tame

[@notathome13]

Rick Farrugia take a look at flu deaths world wide and the figures are surprisingly high, more so in northern hemisphere where the winters are colder.

[@Budzyoner]

Whats money if its printed for debt.. people forget the RBA is not government there just a bank that sells debt/credit. What is money now?

[@Eric-ye5yz]

When people think of Scott Morrison people will think 'too little too late and misdirected' !

[@MrBowmanMakes]

Governments here dawdled and waited far too long for a full lockdown. They had front row seats to the devastation the virus was doing overseas and how quickly it would spike and they sat on their hands for far too long when it was obvious for weeks that countermeasures, social distancing and shutdowns were required. How much better for the economy if they’d acted earlier when they were being told to?

[@bigdaveyyboi]

Must be nice, throwing rocks at the government from the comfort of your lounge. I wonder how you'd fair in similar circumstances.

[@sintawaikato8774]

Thank you , finally insight.

[@manojfernando1028]

should appreciate what our PM does during the pandemic. it is a hard time for everyone

[@PostFormitable]

I think a few of people who've we elected to lead our country.. need a dictionary.. clearly they have demonstrated on many occasions no understanding of what exponential growth functions mean.

[@yktang4088]

Very good government in tackling the pandemic and the economy. Most importantly, the government is mindful of the well-being of its people.

[@fabienmerteuil6226]

These ninnies talk like it’s all behind them..

[@matthewsheeran]

Yep: the problems are still to come: this is merely the entre!

[@CT-vm4gf]

They’re telling the story so far 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@omniversling]

Did they take a pay cut too?

[@brettbrett9973]

Good to see the Media are looking for a story and the Politicians took there time to contribute.

[@Azz156]

looks like to me a puff piece to boost scomos polls after he cocked up the bush fires. NZ Labor did a better job managing this outbreak.

[@stu23565]

@@Azz156 Bollocks

[@НиколаЈовановић-ц1л]

The collapse is inevitable.

[@larrybien7599]

MARCH WAS THE COVER UP MONTH TO ALL

[@peterfoley5870]

Brilliant

[@nulahames8211]

Life's that's the cost life's!!!!!! Get test kits out now for the paramedics at least!!!!!

[@idig4udetecting73]

I cannot believe nearly everyone of them while talking to the interviewer is smirking 🤔people's livelihoods at stake ,buisnesses ,families mental health ,oh that's right thier all still getting full pay & guaranteed thier jobs will remain 😡lift the bs lockdown now

[@kevinhuddleston4219]

I agree these bloke's in these interviews are grinning like the cat's that got the cream. Far out thats a enormous amount of money borrowed and there could be a need to borrow more in the future that's not known yet but likely. And its going be raised by bonds internationally they say, then its possible that China will buy up large then Australia will be milked like a Jersey Cow. Sorry that I feel I have to talk these terrible words , but I am very concerned for what is a truly mighty Nation's future.

[@craigmoy5457]

I am a swinging voter these days, so can see this without the glasses of a political bent (unlike many comments below), I will however make a political comment, the bi-partisan support between liberal and labour and between the states and federal government is a stunning achievement and all should be recognised for it. We can see what it could have looked like when compared to the USA. Even NZ also in for an election this year like USA, has worked in a bi-partisan way, no accident our 2 countries were well managed and will be some of the first to go back to what our new normality will be. The long term "china solution" is a difficult one.

[@clevelandwilliams5922]

Really or they were all in unison with the agenda. Like the current LGA lockdowns are majority in Labor held State seats. But they wouldn’t do the same or even the same sacrifice if it was a safe liberal seat.

[@whtacrk]

All I have to say is people have short memories , going by this rhetoric that China should pay , the USA should be held accountable for H1N1 which killed over 200k+ and infected 200+ countries ( they were also slow on reporting the original out break ) and don't forget the 2008 global crash also caused by the USA which effected the whole world devastating families , large and small businesses also resulting in countless deaths due to hardship , lucky for us in 2008 and 2015 China buying all our materials saved us from a recession :) end of the day life is more valuable than money , one comes and goes but the other once it is gone never returns

[@manjunathgangadharg7392]

It is not only in Australia but all around the world. Entire humanity need to work together to fight against this virus and people who are voluntarily spreading the virus in the name of god.

[@bisib1789]

Where are the original people's of Australia. No body toke about them.

[@mdjackblack]

David Speers ROCKS!!!!

[@gregdean2012]

Now the ABC finally will have an unbiased journalists well done .

[@samuraishonan4706]

The obesity problem will benefit for sure.

[@isaiahcarter6435]

Only $17 billion what is that going to do here in America it’s already over $3-$4 trillion put into the economy.

[@joebloggs5387]

Isaiah Carter the first stage was 17 Billion and then 130 Billion for JobKeeper and another 170 Billion or so by the RBA to keep the currency afloat. That's about 320 Billion just in stimulus.

[@patob7879]

Australia is a beautiful and safe country to be in, but we must allow our free speech.

[@middleground1858]

We do allow free speech.. so what is your point?

[@harw_]

I'll take Scotty and the State leaders over Trump any day lol

[@khmerdetours6123]

Australia has very little to be proud of,letting Aussies die overseas as they where Banned and locked out from there own Country, i lost 2 friends both Australian who needed to get home for medical reasons, one died before leaving the other died in quarantine in Sydney,could not even visit the doctor, never forget ,never forgive

[@mickyt8655]

Well done australian government. They have made the right choices in my eyes. One thing that shits me is dole bludges who have never worked a day in there life now getting doubled payed

[@vladimirseven777]

If that was obvious for Australia in January then why they joined US in blaming WHO that it was not obvious? Despite all data and information USA acted like nothing happening for several months and now they looking for somebody to blame.

[@eddybulich3309]

WHO and CCP right up until end of Feb were saying that it was under control and transmission was not human to human

[@michaelwan6640]

Well said.

[@haruhisuzumiya6650]

It's a apocalypse scale crisis

[@stu23565]

how

[@haruhisuzumiya6650]

@@stu23565 it's creating chaos and for a while we had no toilet paper, when we we calmed down we managed to work in a reduced environment. We are very resourceful when faced in a crisis.

[@amcgeckos]

Well they didn't flatten the curve and here we are 3 months later still in the same boat.

[@Coolsomeone234]

Meanwhile in Perth...

[@jayrobson2810]

About time we get political unity 👍❤️🇦🇺

[@clubberlang589]

Jay Robson to sell out Australia because Toyota Corona was all about a hidden agenda. You want to save 100 lives and destroy 10,00000 of people economically. Loss of jobs and savings and home loans. So we just react and keep reacting instead of a measured and logical approach. To understand that the economy was never compromised during the AIDS Epidemic of 80’s. This went for decades. So the pendulum either goes one extreme or the other extreme. All wages of workers should’ve been subsided 100% bar overtime. Businesses should’ve been compensated lose revenue minus what revenue they were making during the crisis. All banks and landlords had there rents frozen. People that had investment properties would’ve been appreciated. Plus these economic packages should’ve continued until the economy recovered. If your not prepared to put your hands in your pocket Aus Govt. then find a way that deals with the health situation and keeps economic engine running.

[@sarathw5740]

Thank you. I became very emotional. Australia has a great bunch of people. It appears that Australia is winning the battle hope they win the war.

[@nancyhobson9710]

When you take all the deaths into account, it's incalculable

[@gregcoombs5327]

not really its about 80

[@hl6043]

Where is Amazon's episode

[@veritasvincit1332]

Welcome 1984

[@leeholmes9962]

This is one of the worst life's lost in without decoration of war my sorry and condolences to all who lost loved ones and friends to this horrific virus and shame on you fool's who went along with "this is fake the virus ain't real" WHAT FOOL'S YOU ARE AND JUST SHOWS PEOPLE HOW EASY LEAD YOU PEOPLE REALLY ARE

[@larrybien7599]

MONEY IS CREATED OUT OF THIN AIR, CHARGED INTERESTS, UPON YOU AND THE GOVERNMENTS DEBTS, SO IF CREATED OUT OF NOTHING, 0 X 0 = 0 YOUR DEBT FREEE

[@Sonobody123]

Has anyone tried thoughts and prayer yet? I heard it's effective against covid

[@IanGomes2010]

Sonobody, thank you as this is not only wise, we as the human race globally could really do with some divine help as more and more people become less dependent in God’s grace as atonement for ones thoughts and actions is sobering as we are all gifted as God’s within us...

[@tuannguyenable]

The UK PM didn’t wash hands and got the coronavirus

[@quickaccessdeliverynsw5400]

I am glad Liberal government is in with this crisis, I am sure they are dealing with it better than Labour Government, if they were still in, going by Labour's history, this virus is a very tricky situation, I feel Liberal done the right thing ,so far, I would hate to be a Government at the moment, good luck with there approach.

[@francisphillips53]

Billions for banks 🏦.. once again. (No matter how things go for the average person, the banks always get richer.) ALWAYS.

[@bronwynhl]

As much as i dislike the liberal party and the few hiccups theyve had with dealing with this virus ill give credit where credits due, theyve done the right thig and sacrificed the economy for the health of the people.

[@karlstenator]

The way these polies remember how these local Covid-19 events unfolded is a stretch of the imagination. 24:37 - Gladys had me vomiting in my mouth and swallowing it.

[@drtooth7505]

Karlstens Easy to swallow when you’ve been fed rubbish all your life and have never complained 🤮🤮🤮

[@aussieatheist960]

I don't get the "Look at me David, I'm 6'4' 120kg and I cried... " How does your height and weight alter whether you are a human with emotions?

[@clevelandwilliams5922]

His saying it brought him to his knees

[@utareangara5529]

"Technically" not the largest states. the most "populated" states

[@aplacecalltambun]

end the silly stupid lock-down.

[@jessdesilva9678]

I love you abc please reply

[@tihomirvranic8850]

$7 trillion....GDP