The National Cabinet is to meet again today (24 March) to discuss further measures to manage domestic travel prior to the April school holidays.
At its meeting last Sunday (22 March) the National Cabinet accepted the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee’s (AHPPC) advice that it was safe to keep Australian schools open.
“State Premiers and Chief Ministers agreed that schools will remain open through to the end of the current school terms to support students whose parents choose to send their children to school,” the Prime Minister and Chair of the National Cabinet, Scott Morrison said.
The cabinet accepted that Victoria’s school break would commence a few days ahead of schedule, on 24 March.
Mr Morrison said all State and Territory leaders had committed to re-open schools at the end of the school holidays, subject to the advice of the AHPPC.
“If parents choose to keep their children home from school, parents must be responsible for the conduct of the children and to ensure they adhere to the social distancing arrangements in place,” he said.
“Parents must be aware that while the majority of adults who contract COVID-19 have mild forms of the virus, the elderly or those with co-morbidities can have more significant symptoms.”
Today’s National Cabinet meeting is expected to address arrangements for school holiday travel and the needs of vulnerable communities moving forward.
“Australia may see even more restrictions put on social and business movements,” Mr Morrison said.
“We need all Australians to please look out for each other and to follow the medical advice.”
He said the National Cabinet would meet again to discuss further arrangements for domestic travel prior to the school holidays, arrangements for commercial and residential tenancies, managing critical health and hospital resources and localised graduated responses to the Coronavirus threats.
