I suppose now we have really good 5g internet the government could buy back all the productive land from dodgy foreign companies and distribute in 100 acre parcels to families that have been affected by the virus

Hey. Berating is what the Left does; they have nothing to offer society, and if they didn't constantly knock the doers, they would not have a presence at all; they wouldn't be noticed. Anybody heard of Richard Dennis, with his 'bigger public service's? Well, he is one of the cogs in the lefty Australia Institute. Hardly the sort you would listen to in a crisis. He's inspired by China!

I'm not sure that I would agree that Morrison has been "astute". Some of the handouts he is offering, e.g to tin pot 'businesses' that were on their last legs long before the China virus crisis, and totally ridiculous handouts to pensioners; bit it's a damn good thing that Albanese is not in charge at this time. Morrison at least has the air of being in charge

It's time the Govt beefed up funding to research outfits to genetically modify COVID-19 to only get hold of Leftists ! What a wonderful World it could be !

What Morrison must do, apart from slinging money around, is to start looking at China differently, and start withdrawing from the totalitarian, Communist threat to us that it is.

WITHOUT CONSUMERS AND THEIR DISCRETIONARY SPEND, ALL PRODUCTION OUTCOMES, IMPROVED, BOOSTED OR OTHERWISE IS A MONUMENTAL WASTE OF INCREASINGLY SCARCE RESOURCES!

MOREOVER, IT'S NOT A THEM OR US SCENARIO! JUST WE/ALL OF US! GET REAL, GENIUS!
Alan B.

If we had charted our own course and improved the manufacturing sector instead of literally dismantling it before our very eyes, via absurdly asinine public policy, our economy would be in vastly better shape now today.

Most of the service industries, ours, are in virtual lockdown.

The only thing we seem to be having more of is a PM in damage control mode, droning on and on about what a decent fair dinkum Aussie he is! As he spends our money! And replaces the top rating shows as he drones on and on and on and on! So, depressing! I like many others only have the tele!

And it would seem in campaign mode as he seeks to save jobs, his and that of his political cronies?

Sorry, but if the cap fits?

A manufacturing economy that took on the industrial giants instead of kowtowing to them, would by now be hugely automated and powered by cheaper than coal, nuclear energy! And as a far more self-reliant economy and where we need to head now, ASAP. we could've closed our border, tighter than a fish's (waterproof) R sole, when it mattered!

But needed to keep them open for far too long given our absurd reliance on foreign students and tourism.

We should have been making ventilators here as well as the face masks and ramping up the production of poo paper. Perhaps when this is behind us, we can have a poo paper lead recovery?

Just requires us all to strive and strain, (oh the pain, the pain, the piles, that's so hard) to do our bit for the economy, he said, tongue in cheek and flushing. No, not that cheek you cheeky fellow.

I know, my humour is shite house.

Sorry, it wasn't meant as a personal remark or to cast aspersions on the portly.
Alan B.

Alan, who knows what is going to happen after the disaster.

I hope the almost mad reliance on China diminishes. This may mean that more products are made here.

Tbbn , gald to see your off your anti Essery' rant. You are spot on re 'Chai-na'. They must pay for this and I reckon Trump and Bojo ( with support from Scomo) might be their unholy trinity.

Whatever happens, even the labour party has to commend Scomo/Freedenberg duo act today.

This is a big package much needed. I have run my Small business for 17 years now. Tough work. This Covid-19 has killer potential and PM Scomo has given the nation a life support defribulator shock.

The alternative ABC government and Dr Stormin Norman Swan brigade will of course claim its their Tranche part 3. Kolher their would be treasury will claim that all Scomo/Frydenberg is don e is follow his 200bn idea/demand!. Hindsight Charlies to the bitter end!

Dear Alison Jane,

I've dropped at least 25% over the last month but think the real pain is coming. Some of my clients are doing fine, a couple excelling, but the bulk are really struggling.

I am actually going to give Scomo and Josh a bit of credit for yesterday and today. I really think they have lifted over the last couple of days and it has given me a little more confidence in them. That confidence needed some boosting after some serious missteps but they seem to be willing to park their ideologies and be looking for real solutions, some of which they had earlier ruled out.

My disappointment in them thus far is being assuaged and I hope they stay adaptive and prepared to put humans first. I can only wish them all the best.

Jared Diamond in his book Collapse called the Chinese an invasive species and I think the Wuhan virus pandemic is proving him to be correct.

What will people's attitude be towards the Chinese who are seen as responsible for the death and destruction wrought by the Wuhan virus?

Surely, a liberal democracy thrives on dissent?

There has been nothing liberal or democratic in the CofA's 'sports rorts' style response to the covid-19 pandemic.

Communication has been guarded, partisan and political. Transparency and trust have been trashed. There is nothing 'liberal' about that.

Parliaments have been shut down and Scott the Dictator and Glad the Impaler have the troops and armed police out enforcing their 'NewSpeak' dictate. Even the Judges are crying foul. A total failure of honesty. There is nothing democratic about that.

Over the past 7 years the Abbot, Turnbull and Morrison (ATM) government has slashed our nation's governance, public health, social security, strategic research, arts and science and manufacturing capacity, in the interest of the wealth of their big business mates.

Their muddled response to covid-19 could not have been later, less compassionate nor less efficient. We have seen:
- Long delays in enforcing the travel bans and quarantine procedures. A total failure of Border Protection.
- Long delays in expanding public health infrastructure and management capacity, necessitating business lock-downs and home detention to buy time to react. A total failure of Public Service.
- Long delays in sharing strategic and operational planning and data, leaving the community in the dark while shielding their incompetence from public view. Perhaps their votes will be glad of that.

Covid-19 is not an indigenous disease. It travelled here on hundreds of leaky aircraft and cruise ships and soon landed home in Toorak and Mosman. This massive economic and health disaster could and should have been avoided by a competent Commonwealth of Australia. Why was the infection not isolated and contained early by a competent Australian Customs Service? Oh yes, we no longer have one.

The ATM's $300 billion legislated tax cut is looking very shaky now. Even the self-funded retirees who were conned into voting for them will be upset at a 50% drop in their share value. I doubt there are enough PAYE taxpayers left to pay for this government's blunders. They will have to find the money elsewhere.

Dissent? You bet, mate. Bring it on!

'Over the past 7 years the Abbot, Turnbull and Morrison (ATM) government has slashed our nation's governance, public health, social security, strategic research, arts and science and manufacturing capacity, in the interest of the wealth of their big business mates. '

we wish GDU. What world do you live in?

SteeleRedux… as Ali-G would say...RESPECT! While we disagree on climate change, I think its good we can concur that Scomo et his core team are doing the best they can, and we should all be thankful its not the elite Emperor Mal and Queen Lucy in charge.

Going to be a long six months for us all, and my clients and I are given the nature of our industry no in limbo. Been 37 years since I signed up foe 2 weeks dole to cover gap between summer job and Final year at uni...For many that is the reality, even highly qualified professionals.. Scomo et al package provide more than money.. it provides an inkling of self-respect to ALL.

Could this be a Xmas day WW1 no-man's-land 'temporary cessation of fire moment'.....Naaaah, sure it will soon start up as an them and us re CC.. HOWEVER, would be nice to drop the personal insults...just a suggestion to ALL?