• Omicron wave dents SA business confidence
• Ukrainians flee ‘barbarous’ invasion
• Eased restrictions a Mad March boost for hospitality
• Aggression will cost Russia, says Biden
• Funding boost for the ‘space state’
• Australia hits Russia with immediate sanctions
• AMA sets out election wish list
• Queen again postpones virtual audiences

Omicron wave dents SA business confidence

South Australia’s Omicron wave of COVID-19 cases in December and January hit small businesses and CBD enterprises hardest, BankSA’s latest State Monitor survey has found.

Following the opening of the state’s borders in late November, virus infections surged to more than 5000 a day at one stage but have stabilised between 1000 and 2000 in recent weeks.

The BankSA State Monitor survey found that the initial surge had an impact on both business and consumer sentiment, but confidence remained solid.

“While confidence has dipped, it still remains firmly in positive territory and at a good level, which bodes well for a swift recovery as restrictions continue to subside and activity increases,” the bank’s general manager of business David Firth said.

The survey found the biggest impact from the increase in coronavirus cases was on small businesses as consumers worked from home and chose to stay in more than usual.

The impact was particularly noticeable in Adelaide’s central business district.

“Our research also shows that labour shortages have continued to gain pace as an issue, with a nine per cent increase in employees indicating their industry is experiencing labour shortages in February compared to October last year,” Firth said.

“However, the reasons for labour shortages have shifted since the last survey.

“Employers now cite competition from other industries paying higher wages and offering better working conditions, along with the impact of COVID close contacts, as the main challenges compared to the impact of border closures which dominated in October.”

The survey found the recreational and retail sectors were the least optimistic while transport, finance, manufacturing and construction were the state’s most confident industries.

“It makes sense that businesses remain cautious as we navigate through the Omicron recovery phase, along with the upcoming state and federal elections,” Firth said.

 – Tim Dornan, AAP

Ukrainians flee ‘barbarous’ invasion

Several thousand Ukrainians have crossed into neighbouring countries, mainly Moldova and Romania, as an estimated 100,000 have fled their homes and are uprooted in the country after Russia’s invasion, the UN’s refugee agency says.

Central European countries across the region are bracing for many more refugees, setting up reception points and sending troops towards the borders to provide assistance.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson Shabia Mantoo said the figures were compiled from reports from national authorities and its staff and partner agencies. “It’s a ballpark figure,” she told Reuters.

It comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war in a pre-dawn televised address on Thursday, explosions and gunfire were heard throughout the morning in Kyiv, a city of three million people.

Missiles rained down on Ukrainian targets and authorities reported columns of troops pouring across Ukraine’s borders from Russia and Belarus to the north and east, and landing on the southern coasts from the Black Sea and Azov Sea.

The assault brought a calamitous end to weeks of fruitless diplomatic efforts by Western leaders to avert war.

The countries on the European Union’s eastern flank were all once part of the Moscow-led Warsaw Pact and are now members of NATO.

Among them, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania all share land borders with Ukraine.

Russia has launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine by land, air and sea, the biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War II.

It has fuelled fears of a massive flood of refugees fleeing Ukraine, a nation of 44 million people.

Poland called for the “fiercest possible sanctions” against Russia.

Czech President Milos Zeman, long sympathetic to Moscow, called Putin a “madman” and Prague stopped issuing visas to Russians and ordered the closure of two Russian consulates.

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has also forged good ties with Putin, also condemned Moscow’s actions.

Eased restrictions a Mad March boost for hospitality

Hospitality venues are bracing for their busiest weekend in months following the easing of density restrictions from tomorrow.

While the state’s mask mandates will remain, stand-up drinking will be allowed indoors and dancing permitted at private functions.

The changes came after SA’s COVID-Ready Committee met yesterday. 

Police Commissioner and state coordinator Grant Stevens announced the following rules will come into effect from tomorrow:

• For hospitality venues, standup consumption will be allowed with density requirements eased to one person per two square metres indoors.
• If the venue has indoor seated consumption only, the density requirement will be three people per four square metres. If the venue has a combination of standing and seated consumption, the cap will be one per two square metres.
• Buffets are permitted, with no change to current outdoor hospitality arrangements.
• Private functions will be permitted with a one per two square metre density limit, capped at 150 people – with standup consumption, dancing and singing permitted.
• Residential gatherings remain capped at 50 people.
• Total easing of density limits for outdoor seated venues.

The state’s mask mandates for high-risk venues, indoor public places and on public transport, remain unchanged.

Stevens said the level of hospitalisations, current infection rates and vaccination numbers were factors in a decision to ease restrictions.

The easing comes as South Australia reported another 1735 new COVID-19 infections along with three more deaths yesterday.

However, there was a significant fall in hospitalisations with the virus, down 50.

SA Health said on Thursday that two men in their 80s and another in his 60s were the latest virus-related deaths, taking the toll since the start of the pandemic to 172.

Meanwhile, about 320 teachers and 219 support staff across SA schools are also absent due to COVID-19.

Aggression will cost Russia, says Biden

President Joe Biden unveiled harsh new sanctions against Russia after Moscow launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine, imposing measures to impede Russia’s ability to do business in the world’s major currencies along with sanctions against banks and state-owned enterprises.

“This is a premeditated attack,” Biden told reporters at the White House on Thursday, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected attempts by the West to engage in dialogue and had violated international law.

“Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences.”

Biden said the sanctions were designed to have a long-term impact on Russia and to minimise the impact on the United States and its allies. And he said Washington was prepared to do more.

Biden said the sanctions would limit Russia’s ability to do business in dollars, euros, pounds and yen.

He said NATO would meet on Friday to map out further measures and reiterated that the United States would not engage in war with Russia, but that it would meet its Article 5 commitments to defend NATO partners.

“Putin’s aggression against Ukraine will end up costing Russia dearly,” Biden said.

“Putin will be a pariah on the international stage.”

Funding boost for the ‘space state’

Australian technologies – and a home-grown astronaut – will be launched into space after the federal government announced a multi-million-dollar boost to the industry. 

More than $65 million in funding, to be announced today, will be put towards getting Australian-made technologies into space and making South Australia a leader in outer space exploration. 

The funding will also help the Lot Fourteen-based Australian Space Agency start its mission to get an Australian astronaut back into space. 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the task will need Australian jobs, technologies and businesses to be able to get off the ground. 

“Any astronaut and any spacecraft has a team of thousands behind them, not to mention invaluable technology and research and carefully manufactured parts,” he said. 

The government will co-invest $32 million of the funding to develop up to three new or existing spaceports or launch sites across Australia.

The Australian Space Agency will receive half the funding to procure and provide spaceflights and services for the Australian space sector.

This will help the sector gain a “flight qualification” which has previously been a barrier to getting technology from the laboratory into space.

The government will co-invest the other $32 million into the development of up to three new or existing spaceports or launch sites across Australia.

South Australia Premier Steven Marshall says the investment is a boost for the state’s space sector.

“South Australia is unequivocally the ‘space state’ – we have already created nearly 1600 space jobs in the state and today’s announcement is going to see that number take off,” he said

Australia hits Russia with immediate sanctions

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has lashed Russia as a “thug and a bully” as he announced immediate sanctions over its actions towards Ukraine.

Sanctions and travel bans will target eight members of the Russian Federation’s security council, while existing sanctions imposed due to past Russian aggressions will be expanded. Russian banks have also been targeted.

Morrison said he expected further sanctions to be announced, targeting more individuals.

“There must be consequences for Russia’s actions,” he said on Wednesday.

“Those who perpetrate them, support those who perpetrate them, those who benefit from all of this must be targeted, isolated and there must be consequences for this type of behaviour. That should send a very strong message to any other bullies and thugs out there that this type of behaviour is not acceptable.”

Australia’s announcement it would join the US, Britain and other Western allies in imposing immediate sanctions came  24 hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops into eastern Ukraine in a move he said was aimed at keeping the peace after Moscow recognised the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent.

US President Joe Biden described the action as the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

AMA sets out election wish list

Easing public hospital gridlocks and more investment in rural health services are on the SA branch of the Australian Medical Association’s wish list for next month’s state election.

The demands are on the organisation’s 2022 State Election Priorities list, along with better access to objective health data to inform health-related policies and programs.

Pointing to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public hospitals, state branch president Michelle Atchison said a major investment was needed to improve SA’s ailing health system.

Atchison said it was vital more funding was budgeted to “overhaul the health system” if it was to cope with future demands on services.

“We ask that as the incoming government examines its books, it recognises that a focus on public health is the economically justifiable foundation of a healthy and strong community,’” Atchison said. 

“The health system was in crisis before COVID-19. The pandemic has crushed it – and in the meantime added an enormous burden to health care workers who have continued to give their all, often with insufficient breaks, time off and relief, to protect us all.

“We’re asking South Australian voters to scrutinise what their candidates are recommending to fix the health system. We’re asking every voter to consider where their vote will go, and what that vote could mean for their health and that of their parents and children.”

The AMA’s state branch is also calling on increased funding for services covering women and children, mental health and community-based palliative care. 

Queen again postpones virtual audiences

The Queen has postponed two more virtual audiences in the wake of her COVID-19 diagnosis, Buckingham Palace says.

The 95-year-old, who tested positive for the virus on Sunday, previously cancelled virtual engagements on Tuesday because she was not feeling well enough, but she did have her telephone audience with the Prime Minister on Wednesday.

She was due to hold two virtual audiences on Thursday, but these are no longer taking place.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “The two virtual audiences that had previously been scheduled to take place today will now be rescheduled for a later date.

“Her Majesty is continuing with light duties. No other engagements are scheduled for this week.”

Concerns for the nation’s longest-reigning sovereign have been heightened given her age, increasingly frail appearance of late and recent health scare.

– with AAP and Reuters