Finch, Warner question Australia govt's moves to combat COVID-19 pandemic

Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced that the country will impose 14-day self-isolation on all international passenger arrivals from March 15.

Australian cricketers Aaron Finch and David Warner have questioned the government's new policy to tackle the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced that the country will impose a 14-day self isolation on all international passenger arrivals from midnight Sunday (March 15) to try and contain the spread of coronavirus, which has so far claimed more than 6,000 lives across the world.

In response to Morrison's announcement, a journalist tweeted: "Genuine question -- how does the government know if new arrivals are actually self-isolating?"

Finch re-tweeted the comment and said: "Have been wondering the same thing!!"

In response to Finch's remarks, Warner added: "Or, what about the uber/taxi/bus/train they catch from the airport to their place."

The rapid spread of the disease has led to the sporting calendar around the world come to a virtual standstill. Australia's ODI series against New Zealand was called off, as was India's ODI series against South Africa. Both series were to be held in empty stadia before being called off altogether.

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England also postponed their two-match Test series in Sri Lanka while the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which was due to start on March 29, has also been suspended till April 15.

After that, Cricket Australia also called off final round of domestic first class tournaments, including the Sheffield Shield.

Bushfire anger burns down Australian PM Scott Morrison's approval ratings

The Newspoll survey showed 59 percent of Australian voters are dissatisfied with the conservative leader's performance overall, and only 37 percent were satisfied.

International News : Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison's approval ratings have nosedived as he faces widespread anger over his handling of the deadly bushfire crisis, according to a poll released Monday.

The Newspoll survey showed 59 percent of Australian voters are dissatisfied with the conservative leader's performance overall, and only 37 percent were satisfied, an abrupt reversal since his shock election win last May.

Morrison has been criticised heavily for his response to the months-long crisis -- which included going on holiday to Hawaii, making a series of gaffes and misleading statements about his government's actions, and forcing angry victims to shake his hand.

"The damage on Morrison's personal ratings amounts to an eight-point drop on approval to 37 percent and an eleven point rise on disapproval to 59 percent," wrote poll commentator William Bowe.

Morrison began the crisis insisting local authorities had enough resources to handle the fires and exhausted volunteers firefighters "want to be there".

He also repeatedly stated that Australia was doing more than enough to meet its emission reduction targets, prompting a series of large-scale street protests.

Seeing a backlash, Morrison has since deployed the military, launched the largest peacetime call up of reserves, pledged billions of dollars in aid, increased payments to firefighters, and suggested more work may need to be done on emissions.

The fires have killed at least 27 people, burned an area the size of South Korea, and shrouded Sydney in toxic smoke for weeks on end.

Morrison on Sunday acknowledged a groundswell of anger about the climate-fuelled fires.

The prime minister -- a staunch supporter of fossil fuel industries -- said emissions targets would "evolve" but ruled out curbing Australia's vast exports of coal.

"In the years ahead, we are going to continue to evolve our policy in this area to reduce emissions even further and we are going to do it without a carbon tax, without putting up electricity prices and without shutting down traditional industries," he told public broadcaster ABC.