Here’s what you need to know from the press conference:
Low infection rate doesn’t mean success
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said while low numbers of new coronavirus cases is “welcome”, it doesn’t mark a success against the pandemic.
“We have had great success in flattening our curve, that is obvious,” he said.
“But having a low number of cases but having Australians out of work, having a low number of cases and children not receiving in classroom education, having a low number of cases and Australians not able to be going about their as normal lives as possible, that is not what success looks like.”
Almost 3 million Australians have downloaded the COVIDSafe app
Around 2.8 million Australians have downloaded the government’s coronavirus tracing app, COVIDSafe.
Morrison encouraged millions more to download the app, saying it is the “ticket” to relaxing social distancing measures put in place to curb the spread of the virus.
“If you have downloaded the app, thank you very much,” he said.
“Convince two or three more people that haven’t downloaded the app to do the same thing.”
Beyond Blue reports 40 per cent increase in use
Mental health hotline Beyond Blue has seen a 40 per cent increase in use as Australians deal with the challenges associated with the way our lifestyles have changed due to the pandemic.
Christine Morgan, National Suicide Prevention Adviser to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, said they have noted a feeling that many Australians feel unsafe.
“What we are seeing with respect to those calls is an increase in the distress levels and an increase in the anxiety levels and in the complexity of what people are feeling,” Morgan said.
No international travel or sporting events in the near future
Morrison said it’s unlikely that international travel or crowds at sporting games will be allowed “anytime soon”.
He said “the risks were obvious” and the only exception to the rule may be a deal with New Zealand that the government is working on.
“I look forward to the time where they can see, whether it is the AFL, the netball, the NRL, or whatever code they support, and being able to watch that again,” Morrison said.
“But I can’t see them going along to a game for a while, those larger mass gatherings.”
No beef between federal and state governments
Morrison again made a point of saying there is no beef between him and state and territory leaders who may have a different view on coronavirus restrictions.
In this case, it was in relation to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.
“We are working together,” Morrison said.
“That doesn’t mean we don’t from time to time have a different view about particular issues.
“It would be extraordinary if we didn’t.
“But the fact is, when we do work through these issues, we do it in a very cooperative and respectful way.
“And that is very much the relationship I have not only with Dan, but with all the premiers and chief ministers, as we work through these issues.”
Morrison said all the leaders are “swapping notes” and will continue to do so until the health crisis is over.