Scott Morrison Backs Down Over WA Border

Scott Morrison COVID-19 Update
Update from PM Scott Morrison after today's National Cabinet meeting.

Scott Morrison Backs Down Over WA Border

Update from PM Scott Morrison after today's National Cabinet meeting.
Scott Morrison COVID-19 Update
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The Prime Minister says he has not asked the McGowan Government to change its border arrangements.

After months of saying there is no “medical evidence” for domestic border closures and urging they be opened, Scott Morrison today said he had not requested any change to WA’s border measures.

“I want to make it clear that I have not asked the Western Australian government to change any aspects of their borders,” he said.

“I wish them well with the rather unhelpful proceedings against them in the courts and, as you know, I have made it public my view that those meetings shouldn’t continue.”

States asked to double public spend

While leaving it to the States to make decisions over their borders, Mr Morrison unveiled a new bar for their fiscal spend over the next two years.

He said the Reserve Bank of Australia Governor had asked States to lift their investment in infrastructure projects in particular to the tune of 2 percent of GDP or $40 billion.

“Now, right now, currently, all of the announced measures of the States and Territories are currently sitting in the vicinity of just shy of $48 billion,” he said.

“So the (RBA) governor is saying there needs to be an additional $40 billion on top of that by the States.”

Flight caps won’t be lifting

Despite more than 18,000 Australians overseas expressing interest to return home, Mr Morrison said the international flight caps enforced in June would not be changed.

“I am not lifting caps currently,” he said.

 “4,000 Australians are returning every single week, and we have tens of thousands of people who have been going through quarantine. It is our view that right now it is not the wise decision to lift those caps.”

He said the Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers had been tasked with bringing forwards measures “to better support those overseas”.

“We will be doing more to help them in those circumstances,” he said.

 Mr Morrison said once the outbreaks in NSW and Victoria were under control, he hoped “further room” could be made for extra passengers.

WA is currently taking the second-most international passengers of any State, accepting 525 every week.

Sydney is taking the most passengers, with 350 people flying in every day. 

Watch: Prime Minister Scott Morrison is addressing the media following the National Cabinet meeting today.

#LIVE: PM Scott Morrison after National Cabinet meeting

#LIVE: Prime Minister Scott Morrison is addressing the media following the National Cabinet meeting today.MORE: https://ab.co/3j1ugrm

Posted by ABC Perth on Thursday, 20 August 2020

Feature image: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

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