FEDERAL FUNDING

Both The Age and The Australian ($) report the federal cabinet has approved a $2.4 billion medical package to tackle coronavirus, to include funds for over 100 pop-up fever clinics across the country and e-health services to help people with symptoms.

It follows a $30 million advertising pledge to battle misinformation, the ABC reports.

FUN FACT: In separate, less welcome, research news, a UNSW lab overseen by one of Australia’s top cancer researchers has run out of federal funds, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

VIRUS WATCH

For our now regular overnight coronavirus coverage, let’s take a look at how the states are doing.

• Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has signalled potential “extreme measures” for a future pandemic phase of the outbreak, including school shutdowns, event cancellations, and entire sectors working from home (ABC).
• Perth has opened its first dedicated clinic (WAtoday).
• South Australia has launched the country’s first drive-thru testing clinic (ABC) — although South Korea beat it to that global title by at least a week (CNN).
• Tasmanians are complaining of being knocked back for testing, even if they show symptoms (The Mercury $), just a day after Premier Peter Gutwein publicly considered fines for “isolation scofflaws” (The Mercury $).
• A Sydney doctor is calling for quarantines across NSW’s major population centres, as the state records another 14 cases (ABC).
• Business NSW has circulated legal advice to members stating they don't have to provide paid leave to permanent workers forced into isolation over virus concerns who have not yet been diagnosed (The Australian $).

ON THE INTERNATIONAL FRONT

• Italy has begun rolling out country-wide quarantine measures (The Guardian).
• Wall Street has seen stocks surge after recording its worst day since the 2008 GFC (Sydney Morning Herald).
• A US biotech firm has ramped up production of a drug experts hope could be a therapeutic treatment for coronavirus (The Guardian).
• Finally, because Australian shoppers are not alone in their fear and miscommunication, France has had to tell its citizens that cocaine does not protect against the virus (Evening Standard).

PELL'S HIGH COURT APPEAL

Ahead of George Pell‘s two-day appeal at the High Court today, The Australian ($) reports several people have made inquiries with abuse lawyers about potential future action against the cardinal, including potential civil action over criminal charges that never went to trial.

According to The Age‘s appeal explainer, Pell’s lawyers will drill down on whether the jury that found him guilty could, on the evidence presented to them, fully explain the “six missing minutes”.

PLAY-BY-PLAY

Legal experts have told the Senate inquiry into the sports rorts that Bridget McKenzie could be personally liable over the scandal, The Guardian reports.

FUN FACT: Because the sport rort updates just do not stop coming, the paper also reported six grants worth $260,000 were approved for the marginal seat of Longman just ahead of the 2019 election.