Australia is losing US$2.5 billion every week its virus shutdown continues, according to figures announced Tuesday.
A million workers have also lost their jobs.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the restrictions on movement and gatherings were dealing a heavy blow to the economy.
“For every extra week that the current restrictions remain in place, the Treasury estimates that close to $4 billion will be reduced in economic activity, from a combination of a reduced workforce participation, reduced productivity, and reduced consumption,” he said in a speech in Canberra.
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Frydenberg revelation came …
Imagine finding this Burmese python on your front porch. Australia is famously home to all sorts of exotic animals, including snakes.
Australia and New Zealand have both closed their borders to all visitors except for citizens and permanent residents and their close family members.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison told the press in Canberra on Thursday, adding that the travel ban means the deadline for any non-Australian-citizens or non-residents of Australia entering the country is Friday at 9 pm (1000 GMT).
Morrison said the travel ban was being put in place because about 80 per cent of the cases of coronavirus in Australia have come from either people returning from overseas or their relatives.
“Measures we have put in place have …
Thousands of tourists risked being stranded in Australia’s south east Monday, as a new heatwave left firefighters across the country bracing for another round of potentially catastrophic bushfire.
Hundreds of blazes are burning across Australia, which is experiencing a devastating summer bushfire season fuelled by a prolonged drought and climate change.
More than 30,000 people were told to evacuate Victoria state’s popular East Gippsland region Sunday amid fears soaring temperatures and gusting winds would stoke three large blazes, cutting off the last major road still open.
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Victoria Emergency Management …
New Zealand were facing a massive run chase to save the second Test and the series after they were dismissed for 148 in Melbourne on Saturday, with Australia batting again to rub salt in the wounds and extend their lead.
At the close on day three, the home team were 137 for four, building on their first innings 467 to be 456 runs in front.
First innings century-maker Travis Head was not out 12 and Matthew Wade was on 15, with skipper Tim Paine so far resisting the temptation to declare.
New Zealand began the day already in trouble on …
It was dragging him away.
A 15 foot scrub python has attacked a four-year-old boy in north Queensland.
He said screams of his son alerted him when the snake latched on to his son’s leg.
The brave father has told of the terrifying moment he saved his four-year-old son from a 15ft scrub python by killing it with a sledgehammer.
Mr Thompson saw the snake with its jaws locked around his son as it tried to drag the terrified youngster away.
Recalling the ordeal, he said: ‘Clifford was holding onto the side of the boardwalk and it was pulling him, …
New Zealand squandered the chance to remove star Australian batsman Steve Smith cheaply just before tea on the opening day of the day-night first Test at Optus Stadium in Perth on Thursday.
After Australia won a potentially pivotal toss in scorching heat and elected to bat, the home team was 160 for two at tea after facing some challenging bowling from the disciplined Kiwi attack.
Emerging batsman Marnus Labuschagne was on 68 and Smith was on 31, the pair having added 85 for the third wicket and batted through a second session that was tough going against accurate bowling.…
Toxic haze blanketed Sydney Tuesday triggering a chorus of smoke alarms to ring across the city and forcing school children inside, as “severe” weather conditions fuelled deadly bush blazes along Australia’s east coast.
Fire engines raced office-to-office in the city centre with sirens blaring, as inland bushfires poured smoke laden with toxic particles into commercial buildings.
Emergency services responded to an “unprecedented” 500 automatic call-outs inside a few hours according to New South Wales Fire and Rescue’s Roger Mentha.
A regional fire headquarters miles from the nearest blazes was itself evacuated while throngs of mask-wearing commuters choked their way through
Out of control bushfires forced residents in eastern Australia to flee their homes on Saturday, as other parts of the country braced for a heatwave due next week.
Bushfires are common in the country but scientists say this year’s season has come earlier and with more intensity due to a prolonged drought and climatic conditions fuelled by global warming.
Scorching temperatures have tipped above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) close to where a fire was burning on the outskirts of Brisbane in Queensland state, with residents in three suburbs told to “leave immediately”.
“Conditions are now very dangerous and …
Rugby Australia insisted Thursday it did not back down by settling its feud with Israel Folau over homophobic comments, while all-but ruling out the staunch Christian from playing Super Rugby again.
The two parties avoided a costly court battle by reaching a mediated agreement on Wednesday to end Folau’s lawsuit over his sacking in May for warning “hell awaits” gay people and others he considers sinners.
Under the settlement, both sides apologised for “any hurt or harm” caused, with Folau taking to YouTube to claim he had been “vindicated”.
Financial terms of the deal were confidential, but Rugby Australia …
Spin king Nathan Lyon snared five wickets, including dangerous half-century makers Shan Masood and Asad Shafiq, as Australia wore down a stubborn Pakistan to clinch the second Test and wrap up the series 2-0 Monday.
Pakistan resumed day four of the day-night match on a precarious 39 for three with Masood not out 14 and Shafiq on eight after being bowled out for 302 in their first innings and forced to follow on.
It followed Australia’s mammoth 589 for three declared, built around David Warner’s exceptional 335 not out — the 10th highest Test score of all time.
Needing another …
The Philadelphia 76ers’ Brett Brown was appointed the new coach of Australia’s basketball team Wednesday, replacing Andrej Lemanis as they target a gold medal at next year’s Tokyo Olympics.
The 58-year-old American previously led the Boomers at the 2012 London Olympics and has an intimate knowledge of the Australian game, having coached at the Melbourne Tigers, the North Melbourne Giants and the Sydney Kings.
“When the opportunity to coach the Boomers next summer in Tokyo came up, I was reminded of my deep history with Australia and Australian basketball,” said Brown, who will assume the role after six years in …
