MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison delayed the opening of parliament for several weeks on Saturday as the new coronavirus continued to spread through the country’s two most populous states.
Morrison asked the Speaker of Parliament to cancel a two-week session that will begin on August 4, out of concern over the COVID-19 pandemic. The request was seen as a formality since the speaker is a member of Morrison’s Liberal Party and the opposition Labor Party accepted the call.
Lawmakers will meet in the next scheduled session on August 24.
“The government cannot ignore the risk to parliamentarians, its staff, parliament staff and the community at large,” Morrison said in a written statement, adding that he acted on the advice of medical authorities.
The state of Victoria reported 217 new infections after a record 428 cases on Friday. Neighboring New South Wales, the most populous state, which has also been struggling to contain a new wave of infections, saw 15 new cases.
Victoria forced nearly five million people into a partial lockdown for six weeks on July 9, as expectations of more severe restrictions on social distancing with the virus continued to spread.
Victoria Prime Minister Daniel Andrews opened up the possibility of new restrictions, urging people not to leave their homes except to work, exercise or make essential purchases.
“The probability of a longer blockade, the probability of even greater restrictions, that really rests with individuals, families and members of the Victorian community who embrace the spirit of the rules and err on the side of caution,” Andrews said in a televised conference. .
Australia Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the government will issue more revenue support to address declining confidence across the country, in addition to existing A $ 70 billion ($ 49 billion) wage subsidies.
“There is a lot of uncertainty in the economic environment, and the Victorian situation is a significant setback,” Frydenberg told The Age newspaper in an interview published on Saturday.
“It is a decline in confidence beyond the Victorian border, and recovery is a game of confidence. Therefore, maintaining the trust of companies and households will be essential. ”
The government is expected to announce details of the support measures on Thursday, before voting on them in parliament.
In March, all parliamentary sessions were canceled until August. But as Australia seemed to be managing to control its outbreak in the following months, a few sessions were held, including a one-day special session to vote on the initial wage subsidy scheme.
Report by Lidia Kelly; Editing by William Mallard
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