What next, JobHaver?

IT'S TRAINING JOBS, HALLELUJAH?

Really running with the naming theme, the Morrison government will today unveil its latest skills investment program, “JobTrainer”, which the ABC reports is aimed at overhauling the state-federal training sector and creating around 340,000 free or low cost training places in high demand areas such as healthcare, manufacturing and trade.

The billion dollar scheme reportedly received support at last week’s national cabinet meeting and would be partly funded by states that sign up. Ahead of likely-depressing new labour force data dropping today, the government will also pledge an extra $1.5 billion for its apprenticeship wage subsidy scheme.

Elsewhere, The Age reports that Labor leader Anthony Albanese will call for a slow “taper” in JobKeeper payments, and oppose a sudden halt, ahead of looming parliamentary talks and a revamp of the scheme.

RECESSION WATCH: In another brutal night in jobs news, the University of NSW will slash almost 500 positions while the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will get rid of 60 through “natural attrition”. Across the pond, The Guardian will cut up to 180 staff, including 70 coming from editorial, while the BBC will slash 70.

TESTING OUR PATIENTS

According to The Australian ($), Victorian health authorities went against their own COVID-19 rules in advising McDonald’s that 26 close contacts of a confirme­d COVID-19 case at their Mill Park, Melbourne franchise should only self-isolate, not be tested, after the outlet was shut on June 25.

In other COVID-19 updates this morning:

PS: Because no, Australia simply will not get a break, The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the NSW Rural Fire Service has warned the bushfire royal commission that the upcoming season could be severely undermined by COVID-19, with hundreds of volunteers at increased risk through high-density working conditions, lack of access to soap and sanitisers, and the transient workforce.

HUAWEI OUT

Finally, days after successfully pressuring the UK government to ditch the Chinese telecommunications giant, Huawei, the Trump administration has restricted some of the company’s employees from entering the US.

According to The Age, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has accused employees of facilitating human rights violations by providing “material support” to the Chinese government, with Pompeo citing the detention of more than one million Uyghurs in Xinjiang.

JUST WHERE IS OUR STUFF COMING FROM? In a not at all surprising result given our political and international rhetoric, The Guardian reports that a new survey by the University of Sydney’s United States Studies Centre found most Australians mistakenly think China is our largest source of foreign investment. Just one in six correctly nominate the US.