For many Australians, young and old, 2020 will be the toughest year of our lives.
Life in Australia is changing and will continue to change.
The tests, hardships and sacrifices that will be placed on all of us, will undoubtedly break our hearts on many occasions in the months ahead. But we must resolve that this coronavirus will not break our Australian spirit.
Our health professionals are at the forefront of this fight. We are doing everything we can to support them.
Australia is a world leader when it comes to testing for coronavirus. So far, over 196,000 tests have been conducted, with around 1.7% of these returning positive.
On a per capita basis, our rate of testing has been nearly five times higher than the United Kingdom and is also significantly higher than the United States and Canada.
Testing and contact tracing are vital tools for managing this virus. Our high rate of testing means people with coronavirus are being identified, isolated and treated early.
Earlier this month, the Government announced a $2.4 billion Coronavirus (COVID-19) National Health Plan.
This is providing unprecedented support across primary care (including telehealth, home delivery of medicines and respiratory clinics), aged care, hospitals, research and the National Medical Stockpile.
This global health pandemic has also become an economic crisis, the likes of which we have not seen since the Great Depression.
We know there is a lot of pain coming but we’re going to cushion the blow as best we can.
This week, the Australian Government’s coronavirus support package passed the Parliament. It includes:
More support for households, including casuals, sole traders, retirees and those on income support.
More assistance for businesses to keep people in a job.
Regulatory protection and financial support for businesses to stay in business.
This is the most significant set of measures to support the Australian economy since wartime. There will be more support to come.
We have closed our borders in the face of this global pandemic to help keep Australians safe.
Since last week, there has been a complete travel ban for non-citizens and non-residents. A ban is also in place on Australians travelling overseas.
This week the National Cabinet also agreed to extensive new restrictions to limit the gathering of people in large numbers.
At all times, decisions of the National Cabinet are informed by the best possible medical advice.
The Government is also being assisted in this crisis by the newly formed National COVID-19 Coordination Commission. This brings together leaders from business and the not-for-profit sector, to help unlock resources, break bottlenecks and solve problems.
There is no quick fix for this crisis. The best medical advice is that Australia will be living with this virus for at least six months. Social distancing measures must be sustainable.
The more Australians work together, the more we share the sacrifice and the burden, the more we do the right thing, the more lives and livelihoods we will save.
When the virus passes, and it will, we will be stronger on the other side.
This will be a test of all Australians.
There are some who believe liberal democracies and free societies cannot cope with these sorts of challenges.
