What happened today, Thursday 24 June 2021
That’s where we will wrap up the blog for this evening.
Here’s what happened today:
- New South Wales has recorded another 11 locally acquired cases of Covid-19, as the premier, Gladys Berejiklian, warned this is the “scariest period” the state has faced during the pandemic. However, NSW will not introduce a lockdown, as health authorities remain confident in contact tracers’ abilities and the number of cases who have been isolating prior to their diagnosis.
- Meanwhile, new exposure sites have been added across Sydney, including a wide-ranging warning for anyone who visited NSW Parliament House on Tuesday when the state budget was handed down. The warnings followed news the agriculture minister, Adam Marshall, had tested positive to Covid, which sent several other politicians into isolation.
- Victoria also recorded two locally acquired cases – a man in his 60s who travelled from Sydney to Melbourne, and his co-worker, prompting the Victorian government to bar arrivals from all of greater Sydney and Wollongong.
- Beijing has launched a formal challenge against Australian tariffs on several Chinese products in the latest escalation of the dispute between the two countries. The Chinese commerce ministry announced late on Thursday that it would use WTO procedures to challenge Australia’s measures targeting railway wheels, wind towers and stainless steel sink products from China. Australia’s trade minister, Dan Tehan, has vowed to “vigorously defend” the measures.
- An SAS soldier witnessed Ben Roberts-Smith machine-gun an unarmed prisoner with a prosthetic leg to death in Afghanistan, in direct contradiction of the Victoria Cross recipient’s evidence, a court has been told.
- The retired Sydney nanny Adriana Rivas has lost her appeal against extradition to Chile to face charges of aggravated kidnapping allegedly committed during the reign of military dictator Augusto Pinochet.
Updated
New Covid case in Melbourne
A second person in Melbourne has tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday, after a co-worker at a dry cleaners who worked with the man who returned from Sydney also tested positive.
The Sandringham Dry Cleaners was named an exposure site on Thursday, after the Oakleigh man in his 60s who returned to Sydney on Sunday tested positive for Covid-19.
The Victorian health department has said the co-worker tested positive after being identified as a close contact, and will be reported in Friday’s numbers.
The family of the second man are isolating and being tested.
Health officials are examining QR code data for the business to determine other close contacts, and working to determine the risk for people who live in the same apartment block as the first man.
Updated
The trade minister, Dan Tehan, attempted to strike a conciliatory note in his press conference, saying Australian officials were ready to enter into discussions with their Chinese counterparts about the tariff dispute – but he hoped China would agree to discussions at the ministerial level, too.
China has blocked ministerial-level talks for at least the past year, amid a souring of the relationship over a range of issues including Australia’s early public calls for a Covid-19 inquiry and its criticism of China over its actions in Hong Kong and Xinjiang.
“What we want to do is see very constructive engagement with China ... We want to sit down and work through these disputes. We continue to do that at the official level and we would be most happy to do it at the ministerial level.”
The Chinese government’s decision to take action through the World Trade Organization follows Australia’s own twin challenges against Beijing’s imposition of tariffs on Australian barley and wine.
Tehan refused to rule out the possibility of Australia making other WTO referrals over other affected Australian export sectors - but said such options would only be considered “where we think that we had a strong legal case and where we think serious injury or damage has been done to industry here”.
He noted WTO cases could take anywhere between two to four years to be resolved.
Earlier today, China’s state-run Global Times newspaper has reported that the Chinese ministry of commerce said “China opposes the abuse of measures and safeguards the legitimate rights & interests of Chinese companies. We hope Australia will take concrete measures to bring relevant trade back on a normal track”.
Comment has been sought from the Chinese embassy in Canberra.
Updated
There is reportedly a new case of Covid-19 in Melbourne.
Channel 9 News is reporting another case linked to a dry cleaners in Sandringham, the boss of a Covid-positive man who flew to Melbourne from Sydney.
#BREAKNG: 9News can confirm a second infection at a #Sandringham dry cleaners with 100 customers now at risk. @MimiRoseBecker #9News pic.twitter.com/dXiNyhWZYb
— 9News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) June 24, 2021
We’re chasing up more information on this case now.
They’ve been used to pressure the government for noble causes, such as setting up royal commissions into disability and banking, but also provided the forum for some of the Senate’s most unedifying debates on whether “all lives matter” and the rights of trans people.
Now formal motions have gone the way of the dodo, with the Coalition and Labor combining to kill off this fixture of the Senate timetable.
The government gave the crossbench notice of the plan yesterday. They thought they’d won a reprieve until August, but on Thursday evening the Senate voted 40 to 11 to end formal motions, which will now be replaced by two minute statements by senators.
There are some exceptions. Motions relating to Senate business, such as to consider legislation, the conduct of committees, and orders for production of documents will still be allowed. But no more motions on matters of principle, just to force a vote on a contentious issue will be allowed.
Government leader in the Senate, Simon Birmingham, said motions had become “dysfunctional and disorderly”. Birmingham said:
We’ve seen motions for the purposes of race-baiting, motions engaging in the most sensitive of conscience vote issues, on foreign policy matters. Complex issues that can’t be simplified into a few sentences.”
Expecting senators to express a view on sensitive and complex matters “without explanation or consideration is the antithesis of what a parliamentary chamber should be like”, he said.
The minor parties were not happy. Malcolm Roberts objected on behalf of One Nation.
Greens senator, Rachel Siewert, said the majors had ganged up to silence the crossbench in an act of “bastardry”. She pointed to successful motions on the banking and disability royal commissions and petrol sniffing as examples of their success.
Independent senator, Jacqui Lambie, said replacing motions with two minute speeches won’t result in any greater complexity either.
She conceded that the major parties were correct - “when we put motions up we want to see what side you’re going on” - but this was an important democratic function.
Lambie said that senators represent their constituents and “limiting my right is limiting their rights to be heard in here”.
She said:
I may as well walk in here with gaffa tape on my mouth. This is so unfair - punishing us for something we did not do.”
Trade minister Dan Tehan has vowed to “vigorously defend” trade measures that China will take Australia to the World Trade Organization over.
Tehan noted some of the measures for the products, which include duties on wind towers, stainless steel sinks and railway wheels, have been in place since as early as 2014.
Asked if he believed China’s announcement was a tit-for-tat reaction to Australia’s taking China to the WTO over barley and wine tariffs, Tehan said “ultimately you would have to ask the Chinese government”.
Tehan also said he is “not ruling out” taking China to the WTO over other Australian export sectors it has targeted, but that “obviously it would depend on the legal case and on the extent of the injury that occurs”.
Tehan said:
The first we heard of this was today.
Obviously China has the right to take this action, but we will vigorously defend the duties that we have put in place. What we would like to be able to do is not only be able to sit down at the official level and resolve these disputes, but also at the ministerial level. But that is not an avenue which is available to us at this time.
Well, two of the measures which were put in place were put in place in 2014 and 2015, with regards to wind towers and stainless steel sinks. The other measure was put in place in 2019, and that was the railway wheels. So why they have taken this action now is a question you would have to ask China.
Obviously in the short term it doesn’t mean anything, because we will robustly defend the measures that we have put in place. It would only ultimately lead to changes needing to be made depending on the outcome of the case. As I have said, we will robustly defend this case.”
Updated
China takes Australia to the World Trade Organization
Dan Tehan is going to speak at 5.45pm “on China’s decision to take Australia to the World Trade Organisation”.
Chinese commerce ministry says China taking action against Australia at the WTO. It objects to Australia's anti-dumping/countervailing measures against imports of railway wheels, wind towers, stainless steel sink products from China, per rough translation https://t.co/7FfCFV3vuP
— Daniel Hurst (@danielhurstbne) June 24, 2021
I have found the announcement on the Chinese commerce ministry’s website. According to a rough translation, it says:
“China sues Australia for anti-dumping and countervailing measures in the WTO: On June 24, China filed a lawsuit against Australia’s anti-dumping and countervailing measures against imports of railway wheels, wind towers, and stainless steel sink products from China under the WTO dispute settlement mechanism.”
The Chinese state-run Global Times newspaper is also reporting that China’s ministry of commerce has said the country will take railway wheel hub, wind tower, stainless steel cistern disputes with Australia to WTO.
China will take railway wheel hub, wind tower, stainless steel cistern disputes with Australia to WTO, said Ministry of Commerce pic.twitter.com/5wiRYXNBTU
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) June 24, 2021
We’ll bring you more shortly.
Updated
NSW Parliament exposure site
NSW Health has just released an updated list of exposure sites in relation to Sydney’s Covid-19 cluster, including several warning for anyone who visited New South Wales Parliament on Tuesday.
Anyone who attended the Stranger’s Dining Room at NSW Parliament House on Tuesday 22 June between 6PM-9PM must immediately get tested and self-isolate until they receive further information from NSW Health.
More broadly, anyone who visited any part of NSW Parliament at any time on Tuesday 22 June should monitor for symptoms and if they appear, get tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received.
Crucially, the exposure warnings are all for Tuesday, the day the NSW government handed down the state budget. The warnings follow several members of the NSW parliament entering self isolation following Adam Marshall, the state minister for agriculture, contracting Covid-19.
This has just been issued by NSW Parliament to all MPs regarding Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall. Tells them to test and self-isolate and wait for further advice.
— Yoni Bashan (@yoni_bashan) June 24, 2021
“Contact would include being in a room with the Member, passing the member in a corridor.” pic.twitter.com/LjkZq7SIMw
Elsewhere, anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed is a close contact and must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result.
- Frankie’s Beans shop in Darlinghurst, on Monday 21 June between 10AM-11AM and 1PM-2PM.
- Vinfafe Cafe in Darlinghurst, on Tuesday 22 June between 3:05PM-3:45PM.
There is also a new exposure site for casual contacts. Anyone who attended the following venue must immediately get tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received.
- TerryWhite Chemmart at the Rouse Hill Town Centre, on Monday 21 June between 11:05AM-11:15AM.
Updated
The new standard fee for an application for Australian citizenship (general eligibility) will be $490 from 1 July. That’s up from $285 (based on comparing it with an equivalent category in an information sheet published in 2019).
The new standard fee for Australian citizenship by conferral (other situations) will be $300, up from $180.
Updated
Thanks Amy for steering us through a bumper news day.
You have Elias Visontay with you now, bringing you updates for the rest of the day.
Updated
If you’re wondering what the new fees are for the citizenship application, you can find the updated list here.
We are just looking up the old fees to work out how much those costs have increased by.
Updated
The wonderful Elias Visontay will take you through the rest of the evening, so I can go burn my laptop, which is the only acceptable way of handling this week (and apparently it is just the done thing).
Today was the last sitting ahead of a one month break for the winter holidays, so there won’t be any Politics Live for a while. But the Guardian’s news blog, Australia Live, will be with you as normal from tomorrow, which will be less politics, but just as interesting. Probably more so. Definitely less stabby-stabby.
Thank you to Mike Bowers for all that he does – we could not do this without him. It also couldn’t happen without Katharine Murphy, Sarah Martin, Paul Karp and Daniel Hurst who listen to my screams and then go find out what is actually going on. And then there is a huge list of people who make sure it not only makes sense, but that we are all legally protected (very important in this climate, although I know it can be frustrating) as well as the Guardian reporters who keep us informed of all things outside of Canberra.
It’s a huge team effort of which I am just a tiny part.
But the biggest thank you is reserved to every single one of you who read along with us – your comments, your messages and your input is invaluable and to all those who take the time to share it with us, or send it to me directly, thank you. It’s just as important as what ends up in these boxes and we couldn’t do it without you.
To everyone in Sydney, I know this is a very worrying situation and it’s exhausting having to cancel not only plans, but well deserved breaks, while living under the cloud of uncertainty. I am keeping it all crossed that this reaches a point where you can all breathe a sigh of relief, very soon. To anyone isolating, our thoughts are especially with you. What you’re doing is not easy, and we all appreciate it. Sending all the good health vibes to those who are unwell, or have been diagnosed with Covid. I’ve had friends go through it and I’m thinking of you all.
If you need to reach me while I’m off the blog for the next month or so, you can find me here or here. I’ll be back on political news in the meantime, so none of us are going far. And when we next hold Politics Live, it will hopefully be warmer. And brighter. And I think given the darkness of the last month, that is something we could all look forward to.
Please – take care of you. Ax
Updated
Trent Zimmerman finished his panel segment with Patricia Karvela’s Afternoon Briefing on ABC by saying “Free Britney”.
Apparently he was to get brownie points with his partner if he brought it up.
Since he raised it, yes, Free Britney.
Oh great – if you do manage to become a citizen of this country (and don’t we make you jump through some hoops to get there) you’ll now have to pay more for the honour. (How much – they won’t say. So it can’t be good)
From Alex Hawke’s office:
From 1 July 2021, the Department of Home Affairs will update citizenship application fees to more accurately reflect the cost of delivering the citizenship program.
This is the first change to citizenship application fees since 2016 and has been determined by citizenship application processes and costs. The new fees are commensurate with the comprehensive approach to end-to-end processing of citizenship applications and reflect inflation costs, staffing costs and the increased complexity of applications, which take longer to process. Based on existing fees, the Government is only recovering approximately 50 per cent of the costs of processing citizenship applications.
The cost of citizenship applications remains comparable with other countries. From 1 July 2021, the cost of citizenship by conferral will still be lower than in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.
Updated
From Mike Bowers to you:
There was a lot going on, apparently.
Not so long ago, this photo would have made absolutely no sense.
And then he was confirmed as the latest member of the Morrison government status of women taskforce.
Updated
Does not being number one on the Tasmanian Senate ticket free him up to say these things?
Eric Abetz:
Since Malcolm Turnbull dumped me from the frontbench, I have had that liberty. I was on the frontbench for 17 years, but when Malcolm Turnbull was prime minister, he and his foreign minister, Julie Bishop, sought to promote an extradition treaty with China, I was the only one in the party room to stand up and say how on earth could you equate our democracy with their dictatorship?
How can you equate our sophisticated rule of law with their corrupt legal system? So I have been consistent on this for a long time, and I continue to be so, because I am concerned for the human rights of ... Christians to the Uyghurs to Falun Gong practitioners, and the list goes on. But I think we need to make a stand, I think we are, and the rest of the world is coming aboard with that as well.
Just some context – it was the Abbott government that signed the free trade agreement with China (Abetz was in cabinet then) and Turnbull was accused of going too far in angering China by first banning Huawei from the NBN and then introducing the foreign interference laws.
Updated
Liberal senator compares Chinese government to Nazi Germany
The Liberal senator Eric Abetz has set up a Change.org petition asking for Australia to boycott the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games. He tells Patricia Karvelas he sees comparisons between China’s regime and Nazi Germany:
Q: Do you stand by your comparison between China hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics and Nazi Germany hosting the 1936 Games?
Abetz:
The comparisons are spookily there. Can I just remind you of the history, a dictator, people in concentration camps, and all of the atrocities that occurred, similarly to what is happening in China today. I do [think it is] a brutal dictatorship.
He is pressed on that and says:
One million people in concentration camps as we speak. Slave labour, forced organ harvesting ... The comparisons unfortunately are there.
But he doesn’t think trade should stop. Even though he thinks the Chinese regime has comparisons to Nazi Germany:
The trade between countries has gone on, will continue to go on, and if we can get reform within this regime and within this country, that is what I am seeking to pursue, but I think that a boycott of the Olympics would be a very good start in relation to achieving such a result.
Updated
The NSW agriculture minister, Adam Marshall, spoke to the ABC about his positive Covid diagnosis and was asked how he was feeling:
Not too bad given the circumstances. Physically I am fine. I do not have any symptoms at this stage at all and hope that remains the case. I’m more concerned about the implications this will have for all of my parliamentary colleagues and for everyone at parliament.
It is a very concerning time and I think just highlights again everything that has been said about this new Delta variant is true. It is incredibly infectious and can be passed very easily. The place where I caught it was a place where I had no physical contact with anyone at any time, and yet I am now positive for Covid-19.
I think it is a timely reminder and a lesson to us all that we cannot be careful enough at the moment.
Updated
It has been A day, which means I haven’t been as across Australian Bureau of Statistics updates as normal.
Today’s is on business conditions and sentiments for June (think of it as business feels). It’s the final one in this series.
The ABS reports:
- In June, 27% of businesses reported having difficulty finding suitable staff to fill jobs.
- Almost one in five (19%) businesses did not have enough staff based on current operations.
- Nearly a quarter (23%) of businesses expect to increase staff numbers over the next three months.
Let’s have a look at the breakdown of reasons for not being able to find enough staff:
Factors influencing businesses with staff shortages
The 19% of businesses that had an insufficient number of employees reported on factors that were influencing the number of staff they had. The most common factors reported by these businesses were:
- inability to find suitable staff (57%);
- affordability of additional staff (48%);
- uncertainty due to Covid-19 (42%);
- availability of existing employees to work (34%);
- domestic border closures (19%);
- difficulty retaining staff (19%); and
- international border closures (18%).
That included more than a third of businesses in the food and accommodation services industry.
As a friend of the blog who knows about these things points out, usually those industries make up for those lost staff by increasing the hours of remaining staff to cover the shifts (which is what happened in my 10 years or so working in hospitality).
The reason for the staff exodus has been covered – the loss of international students and workers has hit casual work industries particularly hard, and the slightly tighter labour market means the people who are left are looking for, or have taken, jobs elsewhere (usually with more security), which would explain another stat in that report – almost 75% of businesses are reporting receiving no applicants for their job ads.
Yet another reason Australia needs its international border opened.
Updated
Bravus (previously Adani) released a statement saying they struck coal at the Carmichael coalmine.
One of the dixers in that question time was with Keith Pitt celebrating that a company that has spent money on a coalmine because of the money it would make digging up coal, because it’s a coalmine, has now found coal at the coalmine.
Given how many dixers are usually ‘government does job’ it’s nice to have ‘coal company does job’ as a little treat.
Updated
Question time ends
The last question time before the winter break ends.
That....was a lot.
Updated
If you ever wanted to see what someone looked like pretending to be jovial as they are dying inside, just watch Keith Pitt’s question time performance when he is asked a question on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan that the Nationals – his party – have tried to blow up.
Terri Butler:
When did the minister first become aware of the National party’s plot to shred the Murray Darling Basin plan?
Pitt:
Can I thank the shadow minister for her question. The National party has always been aware of what is going on when it comes to water. Always.
They were sent up for their original constituents, and that is no surprise.
So Mr Speaker, we continued to deliver when it comes to the Murray Darling Basin plan – 2029 megalitres of bridging water, a phenomenal result. $270m in the Murray Darling community investment package ... We have been absolutely committed to ruling out further buybacks so there will be no further buybacks while this government is in place, because it is the right thing to do.
We are striking the right balance between irrigators, communities, business and the environment and we will continue to do that.
Except not all his party agrees.
Updated
Barnaby Joyce will join the new cabinet taskforce on women’s security and economic security, the government has confirmed.
Labor senator Jenny McAllister noted in Senate question time that the former deputy prime minister, Michael McCormack, was a member of the cabinet taskforce overseeing the status of women, and tasked with the government’s responses to the Foster and Jenkins reviews. McAllister asked whether Joyce would replace McCormack on that group.
The government’s Senate leader and finance minister, Simon Birmingham, replied:
“Yes.”
McAllister, in a follow-up question, said the former deputy prime minister was also deputy chair of the governance committee of cabinet, responsible for ministerial standards and conducts of member of executive.
“Will newly appointed deputy prime minister Joyce, the only member of parliament who had his own clause in the ministerial standards, replace Mr McCormack?”
(That appears to be a reference to the move by Malcolm Turnbull to ban ministers having relationships with staffers in their own offices.)
Birmingham said he had not seen updates to all of the cabinet committee arrangements, but said they would be published in the ordinary way.
McAllister then pointed to Nationals MP Michelle Landry’s pre-spill comments about some women being unhappy if Joyce returned to the leadership.
McAllister asked: If Joyce doesn’t even have the confidence of his own colleagues, how can he have seat at cabinet taskforce on status of women?
Birmingham said the the cabinet taskforce on women’s safety and economic security brings together women who are cabinet ministers, together with the prime minister, deputy prime minister, treasurer and finance minister.
He said members of the leadership group were on the taskforce “to ensure that it informs decisions right across government”.
Updated
Darren Chester is almost in tears as he gives an answer to a dixer on veteran’s mental health.
Chester is likely moving back to the backbench. Veterans’ advocates have asked for him to remain, for consistency, but given his personal history with Barnaby Joyce that is unlikely to happen.
Updated
Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison:
“This week, members of the government in both the Senate and the house moved amendments to a bill which directly contradicts a decision of cabinet under the Murray-Darling Basin plan.
“Is the only way to ensure implementation of the plan for the prime minister to take the water portfolio away from the National party and will he do so when he reshuffles his frontbench?
Scott Morrison:
I did not agree with the leader of opposition’s characterisation of that issue.
I’m still shocked by the news that Barnaby Joyce will be on the Morrison government’s taskforce for the status of women. But it has to be said that just disagreeing with the characterisation of the issue doesn’t mean it’s not actually true.
I mean, I disagreed with the characterisation that I was a distraction to others and easily distracted, while at school. But it was true. I disagreed with the characterisation of my parents of my sneaking out at night, but it was still true.
Updated
Over in the Senate chamber, the Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has asked South Australian Liberal minister Simon Birmingham about the talking points distributed in the House of Representatives by the Nationals.
My colleague Lisa Cox mentioned this in the blog earlier today. The document includes the points: “The science no longer supports SA (South Australia) needing fresh water” and “Rising sea levels will mean the SA Lower Lakes system will not need environmental water”.
Hanson-Young said the talking points were distributed “by the party responsible for the government’s water policy”.
“Does the minister believe that science no longer requires fresh water for South Australia?”
Birmingham started with a broad response: “I’ve not seen the talking points … but very clearly fresh water is important to the survival of all civilisations, to state the obvious, and indeed fresh water flows are important for health and sustainability of river systems.”
Birmingham said the Murray-Darling Basin plan was introduced to put in place sustainable diversion limits.
Hanson-Young, in a follow-up question, said the Nationals’ approach was “so wacky, dangerous, anti-science”. In light of that, she asked, how could the prime minister allow the National national party to remain in charge of the government’s water policy.
Birmingham:
It’s the policy that matters and the policy of the government is clear in terms of its continued support of the Murray-Darling Basin plan.”
Birmingham said it would be wrong to interpret the settlement of the basin plan by the then minister Tony Burke in a binary manner. Birmingham said water recovery was to be undertaken in way that was mindful of social and economic impacts. “They remain important points” to ensure the plan implemented in way respectful of communities, Birmingham said.
Hanson-Young then told the Senate: “When will the prime minister stop negotiating with these water terrorists?”
Birmingham said he rejected the premise of the question. He said the advocacy of senators and members of parliament for their communities should be respected.
Updated
Catherine King to Barnaby Joyce:
“My question is to the deputy prime minister. I refer to his previous answers about his capacity to work with women in regional Australia ... Can you confirm you are replacing your predecessor on the cabinet task force for the status of women and why do so many women in regional Australia who know him say he is not (suited to) the job?”
Joyce:
I thank the honourable member for her question. I do not agree with the assertions. Every person tries to be a better person and I am no different.
Updated
Barnaby Joyce is asked why he won’t support regional quarantine facilities and launches into a list of all the regional places without Covid (which is actually most of Australia at the moment) and the history of regional Australia being mostly Covid free (which was because of state restrictions which many in the government argued against because of tourism impacts).
But he doesn’t actually answer the question. It’s just a list of regional towns. You might as well play ‘I’ve been everywhere, man’ and do the same thing.
Updated
Barnaby Joyce added to government's women's taskforce
I am not making this up.
Barnaby Joyce will serve on the Morrison government’s status of women taskforce.
Barnaby. Joyce.
BREAKING: @birmo confirms in response to @jennymcallister in Senate #QT -@Barnaby_Joyce will replace @M_McCormackMP on the Cabinet Taskforce on the Status of Women
— Kristina Keneally (@KKeneally) June 24, 2021
Yes, you read that correctly
Barnaby Joyce will be on the Morrison Govt’s Status of Women Taskforce
Seriously
Updated
Liberal MP Angus Taylor links Labor and the Greens to the death of the Arena funding changes (he had wanted to change the instrument to allow the renewable energy fund to be able to finance fossil fuel projects like gas) but fails to mention it was One Nation which actually tanked it, by (deliberately) not turning up to the votes.
Updated
Katie Allen somehow manages to call the Great Barrier Reef the ‘best managed reef in the world’ with a straight face and then Sussan Ley manages to say things like ‘Team Australia’ and ‘we’re doing everything we can and we’re going over and above and doing a great job with the reef’ with a straight face, so not all parts of the arts industries are suffering.
Updated
That was as close as you can get to ‘questioning the Covid response is now questioning the defence force’ without actually saying the words, and this is why this whole thing is now ridiculous.
The defence force may have been called in for logistics reasons, but they are still just communicating the messages from the government. They are not in charge of the vaccine roll out, or the information which goes out. They are a cog in the system, but the responsibility and the direction comes from the government.
So responding to criticism of that message with bUt iT CaME fRoM thE DeFenCE foRce is ridiculous.
Updated
Scott Morrison then moves on to ‘tone’, which is something I am constantly accused of having and never fails to make me laugh.
Anthony Albanese:
“Yesterday the government tabled a new vaccine rollout document that does not include a single target and instead refers to horizons. The government has not met a single one of its vaccine targets and the rollout is months behind. Is that why the government has now given up on vaccine targets and is talking about horizons? Does the prime minister accept that the horizon is something that you never reach?”
Not-angry-just-disappointed-but-also-angry Morrison:
Mr Speaker, the rollout of the vaccination program is a very serious undertaking and Lieutenant General Frewen is leading that undertaking, and the mocking tone used by the leader of the opposition does him no credit, Mr Speaker, and portrays that all of this is just a political game to him.
A political game. He comes here, seeking to score points on issues of great seriousness for the Australian people, Mr Speaker.
...The Australian people would have been able to see very clearly the tone adopted by the leader of the opposition when he presented that question. It was there for all to see.
So Operation Covid Shield, which has been led by Lieutenant General Frewen, someone of great character and ability that we have put in charge of this task, Mr Speaker. To set out what the goals are, indeed, as well as the release of doses of the vaccine over the course of the three periods that take us between now and the end of year ... To inform the activities of the states as well as to inform the partners in the vaccination program, in particular our general practitioners.
So as we continue to build up the number of general practitioners that are involved. They need that understanding of what the flow of vaccine is going to be, based on the supply that we understand to be the case, based on our contract arrangements and the information we’re getting from our suppliers.
So, Mr Speaker, he may wish to mock the language that has been used by Lieutenant General Frewen, but Lieutenant General Frewen is a person of great standing and...
Tony Burke:
On a point of order. I appreciate the prime minister can lose his temper even behind the screen, but this is ridiculous. Just absurd.
Peter Dutton:
Mr Speaker, what is the point of order other than to come up here and make a statement, a political statement, to back up the...
Tony Smith tells everyone to stop being childish. Basically.
Morrison finishes with:
So the horizon projections that the leader of the opposition mockingly referred to, Mr Speaker, were actually put together by Lieutenant General Frewen in command of ... Operation Covid Shield, Mr Speaker, those horizon projections were laid out to the National Cabinet earlier this week on Monday when I convene that meeting.
I can assure Australians and those in the chamber that when Lieutenant General Frewen was outlining those horizon projections,Mr Speaker, it was not met with the mocking tone that we just heard from the leader of the opposition. So I would invite the leader of the opposition to support the operation being led by Lieutenant General Frewen and try to refrain from his usually snarky responses.
Updated
Josh Frydenberg shouted some things.
Updated
Independant MP Zali Steggall to Scott Morrison:
“The advice I have received that the most effective way to stop spread of the virus is to first vaccinate the most vulnerable, and second, the most active spreaders, being the 20-39 year olds in our community. Yet this age group does not even have access to the vaccine in New South Wales. Can you confirm that New South Wales has sufficient Pfizer capacity to immediately vaccinate this cohort?”
Morrison says a lot of things which don’t really answer the question (there is more, but this is the gist).
The assertion made by the member regarding the cohort she’s referred to as being a priority vaccination cohort is not the advice of the advisory panel led by Professor Murphy. It’s not the advice of the chief medical officer. The priority cohort groups of people were set out in the national vaccination strategy which went through national cabinet, went through our own cabinet, Mr Speaker, last year. And those priorities were set by the medical professionals advising the commonwealth, but not just those medical advisors, Mr Speaker, but also the chief health officers of all the states and territories.
And so we have been following this medical advice and that is what has driven that strategy, Mr Speaker, and so it is today that the more vulnerable populations, those in residential aged care, 100% of residential aged care facilities, Mr Speaker, have had that first dose offered and 99% have had the second dose offered and that will soon be completed with both doses. The population aged over 70 also then, the most vulnerable population, has a vaccination of more than two-thirds.
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Scott Morrison is taking a very ‘holier than thou’ approach to question time today.
He seems quite cranky. Can’t imagine why. It couldn’t be because the Nationals changed leader while he is locked up in the Lodge and have then spent the past couple of days trying to blow up government policy, while he has no way of controlling anything, and then openly warring with the Liberals in the parliament, at the same time as the states are pointing to their frustrations with the vaccine supplies, as NSW faces a very serious outbreak, with not enough people vaccinated, could it?
Anyways, he is very cranky and is very ‘I am not angry, I am just disappointed, and also I am angry’ as he answers these questions.
Could I suggest mediation?
Updated
Barnaby Joyce finally acknowledges himself as the elephant in the room and says he has taken advice and is not considered a close contact, so can sit in the parliament.
Updated
Mark Butler to Scott Morrison:
“The arrival of international aircrews into Australia and quarantine are clearly the Commonwealth’s responsibility. The Prime Minister ignored Jane Halton’s warnings both on national quarantine and on transport arrangements for international aircrew. Why won’t the Prime Minister take responsibility for his failures? Or is this yet another case of it all being someone else’s fault?”
Morrison:
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I just simply reject the assertions that are just put out there by the member who has put this question, Mr Speaker.
As Australians understand and the states and territories understand, the vaccination of those who are involved in the quarantine process which was put in place by a decision of National Cabinet in March of last year, Mr Speaker, is administered by those states and territories.
Now, Mr Speaker, the Labor party can seek to point-score all they like, but what Australians know is there is not one, to the best of my knowledge, not one person right now who is in an ICU in an Australian hospital as a result of falling victim to Covid.
What I also know, Mr Speaker, is you look around the world, that is not the case. If you look in the United Kingdom and the most recent information, I have, Mr Speaker, is over 16,000 new cases in one day, some 250 almost people are in hospital, and there are almost 20 deaths.
That’s just in one day, Mr Speaker. And for the Labor party to come in here into this chamber, day after day, and talk down the achievements of the Australian people and how Australia has been able to come through this pandemic to this point in such a situation where Australians are not falling victim fatally to this Covid virus, where almost a million jobs having come back into the economy, Mr Speaker, after the pandemic hit, and so we have more people in work today than there were before the pandemic started.
Mr Speaker, this is a great achievement of the Australian people and all we get from the Labor party...
(Tony Burke has a point of order on relevance)
...I’ll conclude on this note: The point of order just taken by the manager of opposition business really exposes the Labor party. The fact that Australian lives aren’t being lost and Australians are in jobs is exactly relevant, Mr Speaker. That’s what Australians are interested in. If the Labor party don’t think that’s relevant in managing the pandemic, then they betray their snarling negativity that they parade in parliament each and everyday.
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The rest of that dixer is about how regional Australians were protected from Covid. Which happened because lockdowns stopped people from urban centres travelling to the regions. Which the government criticised, because it was killing regional tourism.
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Barnaby Joyce (who still hasn’t explained if he has been cleared by the health advice, but one would hope he has) takes a dixer from George Christensen, who is retiring at the next election, and starts it off with:
We want to make sure, I’m doing everything I can to make sure the member for Dawson remains, is the member of Dawson, after the next election because of the advocacy that he has – that he has done.
Updated
Scott Morrison’s dixer is on what the government has done – there needs to be a reminder, because I’m not sure anyone has paid any attention to what is a pretty bare legislative cabinet.
Then to Mark Butler:
“A driver of international aircrew who was reportedly unvaccinated and unmasked is at the centre of the New South Wales outbreak. The government’s hand-picked advisor Jane Halton says she warned the government last year that transport arrangements were, quote, ‘A potential hole and had to be a higher priority.’ Why did the prime minister ignore that advice and does he now take any responsibility for the Sydney outbreak?”
Morrison then accuses Labor of making NSW’s situation worse (he has obviously forgotten when Josh Frydenberg all but blamed the Victorian government for suicides).
Morrison:
Well, Mr Speaker, as the member would be well aware, the vaccination of those workers in quarantine is the responsibility of state governments.
And what we’re seeing from the opposition, Mr Speaker, is a deliberate attempt to try to politicise this terrible outbreak in Sydney.
As a Sydneysider, Mr Speaker, I’m not going to let the Labor Party add to the hardship faced by Sydneysiders by seeking to politicise what they’re having to go through now.
The responsibilities that are held at a Commonwealth level and a state level, Mr Speaker, and as the Premier has said this morning in New South Wales, investigation into that transport worker who should have been vaccinated, the doses were available, Mr Speaker, and on this case that worker was not vaccinated and the New South Wales Premier has made it very clear that they’re investigating into how that occurred.
So, Mr Speaker, I would encourage the opposition rather than to seek political points-scoring in the middle of a pandemic to grow up, Mr Speaker, and focus on supporting the government as we seek to take Australia through this pandemic. Australians do not need the bickering from the opposition, Mr Speaker. They need a constructive opposition which will support the government as we continue to lead Australia through this crisis.
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Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison:
“The New South Wales Covid outbreak has grown to nearly 40 cases. There is community transmission of highly infectious Covid variants in three states. The New South Wales premier says until the vast majority of our population is vaccinated, these threats will be real and ongoing. When will the prime minister do his two jobs – fix his bungled vaccine rollout and establish a safe national quarantine system?”
Morrison:
Thank you, Mr Speaker. The situation in New South Wales is, of course, concerning. I have been in touch again with the New South Wales premier today and I commend the New South Wales premier and the New South Wales government on the steps they are taking to address the community outbreak that has occurred there, which is still not at levels like we see overseas, but a very attentive government with the best contact-tracing system I would say, Mr Speaker, of any jurisdiction, certainly in Australia. And I’d go further beyond that to anywhere in the world, Mr Speaker. So I have great confidence in the New South Wales health officials to do the job that is needed now as they have moved very quickly, not just on the testing that has been undertaken, but also the tracing down of those contacts within those 24-hour periods which are so vital to contain these outbreaks. Now, Mr Speaker, the Covid pandemic has not gone anywhere...
It continues – but it is nothing you haven’t heard before (Australia could have had 30,000 deaths if it wasn’t for us etc, etc, etc).
Updated
Scott Morrison sounds like he is coming to you from a plane which has the window’s down.
The Nationals seem to have included a set of speaking notes with the proposed amendments to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan that were circulated in the house.
Under a section headed “Problems” there are several points including one that says “The science no longer supports SA (South Australia) needing fresh water”.
The next point says “Rising sea levels will mean the SA Lower Lakes system will not need environmental water”.
Damian Drum’s office has confirmed the document was circulated. It’s unclear what use these points were intended for but we have asked.
The Nationals sent out talking points with the amendments they wanted to the Murray-Darling basin plan (which their coalition partners, the Liberals slapped down) including the line ‘the science no longer supports South Australia needing fresh water’
— Amy Remeikis (@AmyRemeikis) June 24, 2021
Has someone let SA know? pic.twitter.com/gsxu9IK1F6
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Barnaby Joyce is back in the House and back in the prime minister’s chair.
No one says anything.
This whole thing is a mess.
Labor’s South Australian team, led by Penny Wong, have accused the Nationals of attempting to “blow up” the Murray Darling Basin Plan called on Scott Morrison to strip the Nationals of the water portfolio.
Shadow environment minister, Terri Butler, said the scenes in the House were “chaotic” and show the government is “at sea”. “If they can’t govern themselves, they can’t govern the nation,” Butler said of the Coalition split.
Butler noted how odd it was that Damian Drum, whose job it is to “ensure the Nationals vote with the government” was instead leading the charge to amend a government bill. But the Nationals were all complicit, she said.
Updated
Now Labor wants any one else who was at the event to self identify.
Sarah Martin has been following this today – there was as Nationals meeting on the weekend which is now in question, given the NSW situation, so Tony Burke wants to know if there is anyone else who was there.
Peter Dutton says to his knowledge it was just Joyce.
So question time continues without Joyce. Scott Morrison is still on a screen.
Question time begins
Peter Dutton confirms a Sarah Martin tip – Barnaby Joyce might be a close contact of a potential Covid case and is seeking health advice.
Updated
Here is how Mike Bowers saw that Liberal-Nationals Murray-Darling Basin amendments mess go down in the House a little bit before all of that.
Here is Barnaby Joyce convincing Damian Drum not to support Labor’s motion to try and allow Drum’s amendments to be debated.
Drum ended up shutting himself down, after arguing against the Liberals attempts to shut down the debate. (They’re all on the same side, which is why it was a total mess).
Here’s Liberal MP Peter Dutton (who led the charge to shut down the Nationals amendments on the government’s Murray-Darling basin plan) with Nationals MP and water minister Keith Pitt (who is fighting a challenge from Bridget McKenzie for his water portfolio) trying to work out what the hell is going on. (Pitt couldn’t support the Nationals amendments without quitting cabinet.)
Meanwhile, McKenzie was in the public gallery vocally cheering Drum on. (senators aren’t allowed on the floor of the house without special permission)
Here’s Labor leader Anthony Albanese arguing that Damian Drum has a right to have his amendments debated (even though Labor would be voting against them)
And here’s Damian Drum gagging himself, or effectively saying he no longer wants to be heard, by refusing to support Labor’s motion to allow him to debate the amendments he tried to introduce but the Liberals shut down (which he argued against)
And here’s the Nationals former leader (as of Monday) and his supporters just watching it all play out
Updated
That has been quite the news bomb today, so I don’t blame you if you’re still trying to catch up.
Question time will be in just under 30 minutes, which provides the perfect opportunity to turn your brain off.
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Victoria turning away people from Sydney hotspots
Victoria is also turning away people from Sydney hotspots (six people have been turned back).
Martin Foley:
All of greater Sydney and now plus Wollongong will be classified as a red zone.
This does not include Sydney airport for passengers in transit, but if you are in transit you must stay at the airport. I need to be clear, this is a rapidly developing situation in New South Wales.
We are acting quickly to make sure the that Victoria stays secure and safe to the threat posed by this Delta variant of the virus.
There is an increase Victoria Police presence already in place along our border with New South Wales.
Mobile vehicle patrols using car registration details, scanning vehicles who may have travelled to New South Wales, including those who may have been in the red zone.
The border bubble for regional communities continues in place. I have to stress this is not the time for selfish behaviour. Anyone who puts the health and safety of the Victorian community at risk will be held to account by our authorities and that includes substantial fines.
The travel advice is really clear. Do not fly into a red zone if you are from Victoria, and if you are not Victorian and you have been in a red zone that is come into effect, you cannot get a red zone permit to enter Victoria.
If you try to enter Victoria through the airport you can be defined and you will be sent back.
You may indeed have to stay in hotel quarantine if there is no return flight for you at that time.
If you are a Victorian exercising your right to return, and you have been in a red zone that has come into effect, you can get a red zone permits to re-enter Victoria, but you have to be tested and you have to quarantine for 14 days.
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Victoria press conference
The Victorian health minister, Martin Foley, says a Victorian man tested positive for Covid after returning from Sydney:
The interview with the public health team is under way, but here is what we have learned to date. He attended his daughter’s house in a green zone in Sydney at an event on Saturday night. He came back to Melbourne on Sunday evening on a flight.
On Tuesday at about 10pm, he began showing symptoms and was tested on Wednesday. The department was notified this morning of the positive result.
He is currently feeling unwell and is being supported by the public health team. The public health team has acted quickly on finding out this information, we have already established his primary close contacts and they are all undergoing testing. We are gathering information and we are getting on top of this as quickly as we can and we will of course provide further updates as they come to hand.
We will be receiving genomic testing of course, but given the patterns of the Delta variant’s concern spreading around Sydney, we are taking the conservative approach and working on the basis that it is the Delta variant.
Updated
Summary of NSW press conference
Ok, we already knew the numbers so what we learned there was:
Gladys Berejiklian is considered a casual contact and will monitor for symptoms. She has been tested and returned a negative result.
Rapid testing is being used on NSW parliament MPs to ensure the budget vote can go ahead.
Berejiklian is not ordering any further restrictions, but says this outbreak is the “scariest period” NSW has been through.
Police will be stepping up compliance checks – including on movement, given that those in hotspots have a stay in place order (they can move around the hotspots but can’t leave metropolitan Sydney).
Contact tracers are on top of the outbreak.
Three cases remain unlinked.
Updated
Three cases without a clear link: Chant
What about the unlinked cases?
Dr Kerry Chant:
The two, three cases where we haven’t got a clear link, it is the 9-year-old that hasn’t got a clear link, the hairdresser from Double Bay, we haven’t got a clear source there.
And there is a person in a health facility ... we can’t find the exact crossover so there are three cases where we haven’t established the exact mechanism of transmission.
The staff are working on that and will update the community. But (there has been) widespread testing around the 9-year-old child ... and has not identified any contact directly of teachers or family members or students at this stage but testing is continuing.
Updated
There were some people at the party which has been identified as one of the super spreader events who were vaccinated (they were health and aged care workers – and so far have not tested positive) and Dr Kerry Chant says:
Vaccines are effective in preventing serious disease and we know they also have a transmission impact.
We know the Delta strain, although the vaccines have slightly lower performance than against other strains, and that is something we have to be cognisant of. The key message is, yes, vaccination is fantastic.
We need to do it. It protects us against severe disease and hospitalisation and it also has a transmission reduction. But we will still need to have those other measures so the last thing we want is for people who are vaccinated to think they don’t have to quarantine if they are close contacts. But they don’t have to wear masks.
They are still at risk. Only those multiple layers of controls if we are to keep us safe in future incursions.
Updated
You have to wonder what would happen if it were the Victorian government who admitted to that...
Why were vaccines and masks not in the public health act that covered the driver who was transporting flight crews to the airport? (He was the first confirmed contact of this outbreak).
Gladys Berejiklian:
Clearly, every person involved in the system is well aware, in fact, through all fact sheets and information. We are getting to the bottom of that, waiting for police to conduct all their investigations and if we need to do more, we will. But let me make it clear, it is in black and white what people’s responsibilities and obligations are.
... It doesn’t matter where it is written. Of course, health orders ... but all of us know our obligations and in a pandemic, complacency has no place. Has no place.
It is so important to make sure that everybody undertakes their responsibilities at every stage and that is why I am appealing to every single citizen ... All of us must conform to the health advice to the letter of the law and must continue to watch the health advice in case that advice changes.
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What contact has Gladys Berejilian had with agricultural minister Adam Marshall (who has tested positive)?
Berejilian:
Zero. He has been interviewed and he had zero contact with me and others. I was interviewed and had zero contact. I was there for a short time, addressed the crowd and it didn’t have contact with him whatsoever.
As with all casual contacts, and I’m in the category of thousands of people, as with all casual contacts. It is up to health to reassess that if they get a case.
But what I’ve done this morning is follow the health advice to the letter, in fact, overboard, getting myself tested, stayed in isolation until about the result and have been cleared as a casual contact as thousands of people have following the health advice at every stage.
Health is at liberty at any stage to change advice. If they do, I am subject to it just like anybody else. But I make it clear that a number of people are in my situation and will be in coming days and that is why it is important to continue following the health advice.
Updated
NSW Health is using the rapid testing technology with the MPs, to get all the results back as soon as possible.
The NSW government is trying to pass its budget (one of the most crucial pieces of legislation, because it is what keeps the money ticking over).
Updated
Why is the premier a casual contact, and others are close contacts, given all MPs were in the same room? What’s the difference?
Dr Kerry Chant:
Some of the elements are the duration, whether you actually had any contact with the case ... If you are going into a small room and the case was there, clearly airborne transmission comes into play.
If you have a duration of contact, the nature of the contact, and any other details – so we have interviewed the gentleman, we corroborate that with CCTV footage, with other people that were present at the event, and we interviewed each of the cases to confirm that, so we will work through that case assessment.
It will take a while, so at the moment, we have advised I think the public health team of anyone that was eating at that function ... And the individual themselves indicated that they did move around the seated guests because it was an event, a meet and greet sort of event, and they were moving (around) that individual, who was infectious. They were moving around deliberately engaging people in conversation as part of that nature of the event, whereas some of the other people who were involved in that event have different roles, and some did have no physical contact or proximity contact to that individual.
Updated
Essentially, what Kerry Chant is saying about short lockdowns, is they are only done when your contact tracing is backed up, or a little overwhelmed.
She says that is not the case in NSW so there is no need to keep everyone in place, because there is nothing to catch up on.
There are some missing links in the transmission of this outbreak, but not enough to warrant a lockdown.
Why are some people a ‘casual’ contact and others are a ‘close’ contact when they may have been in the same place? (like the parliament chamber, for instance).
Dr Kerry Chant:
I think we need to understand the way transmission occurs ... I’m not saying that someone down the far end of the hall gives it to a person, what I’m saying is a person walks along, they might be someone that comes into contact inadvertently when you cross over, you know yourself when you are crossing over to get onto escalators, you are facing the individual, not necessarily social distancing at all times, when you are navigating your way through racks of clothes, sometimes you inadvertently come into contact.
That is the sort of contact I am talking about, that proximity. In circumstances where we have CCTV footage, where we can actually see the distance people are away from each other, we look at that.
We also interviewed both the case and the other person, the positive case, and can I thank the individual for agreeing, giving us quite comprehensive questioning, undergoing it in the early hours of the morning. It allows us to really understand the movements.
... I can absolutely guarantee that public health officials have spoken to everyone. We are now working to the complexity of Parliament House. What our focus has been this morning is making sure that some critical functions can continue, and we have been testing using rapid testing technology to allow both the lower house and the upper house to pass the budget, and we have been progressively working through who this gentleman came into contact with.
Updated
Would a three day lockdown address this situation?
The NSW chief health officer, Dr Kerry Chant, says:
Three days is not long enough (when you have spread transmission) and if you have a look at the reasons for the three days ... you have a sudden surge of cases and you want everybody to stay in the same place, and that allows you to get any backlog of any contact tracing.
It’s a really important element and we may well be in that situation, I am not dismissing any situation, but that is the purpose of that strategy, to get it to a pause. We are not in that situation where we are not getting to people in terms of the contact tracing.
... We know that because we have some unlinked cases, there must be some missing links there. Because of that, we do not know the size of the chains that those missing links have established, and therefore, that is the reason for the concern. As well as the fact that we have seen transmission in settings, and I will not overplay this, but in settings, transmissions occur more frequently than we saw before.
As I’ve indicated, we have seen very minimal transmission episodes in cases but this has been more frequent, to see those transmissions occurring in retail settings, which is probably, we have seen it to a minor degree, but not the extent that we have seen with this strain, and that requires more contact tracing.
It means that rather than saying who was in this particular shop, it’s who you passed by in the corridors, getting to that shop or the elevators, and that’s why we have taken that very global definition of anyone who has been in that Bondi Junction Westfield for the quite substantial period of time to cover that.
Updated
It is a bit of a half-strength lockdown in that people in the hotspots can not leave the hotspots area (although there is freedom of movement and no closures of businesses).
But what Gladys Berejiklian is saying here, is that if people don’t follow the rules that have been laid down so far, there is potential for a hard lockdown.
Updated
Why are frontline workers still not vaccinated?
Gladys Berejiklian:
Obviously we will have more to say about that once police have completed their investigations, but let me make it very clear.
Everybody in NSW who works in our systems know their obligations, and we certainly look forward to providing certainty around what occurred in this situation, I am as upset and frustrated as anybody, we all worked so hard and it is really disappointing when things don’t go the way they should.
I live and breathe it every day and I feel it intensely everyday.
We also rely on tens of thousands of outstanding people every day to do jobs that we would not do, to be in contact with people with the virus, so I want to continue to thank, from the bottom of my heart, all those people who put themselves on the line every day, but I also want to say to those people in and around the system who think complacency is OK, it’s not OK.
We know it and we feel it and we will get to the bottom of it ... I do note that everybody is well aware of their responsibilities but when police finished their inquiries which are broader than just applying the health orders, broader than just applying what has been spoken about, we will certainly do that.
Our focus today though has to be ... on making sure anybody with the mildest of symptoms goes and gets tested, anyone deemed a close contact does not leave their home for 14 days – 14 days.
If you are a close contact you cannot leave your home, and to keep monitoring the health advice. The health advice is updated on a daily basis.
Venues, their status may change, people’s status may change. Everybody has to be vigilant, and this is probably, if not the most, certainly one of the most concerning times I have experienced during the pandemic because we’re dealing with a virus that’s extremely contagious. And we are also dealing with a situation where many people may be forced into isolation in the days ahead and where many people will be asked to follow the health advice in a more vigilant way that they have ever been asked during the course of the pandemic.
Updated
Deputy commissioner Gary Worboys:
I’m sure people would also like to understand where police are up to with the investigation into the transport driver. That investigation continues, as we think more about the offences that may have been committed. It’s not just about a breach of that transport order ... not just the driver but the organisation that employs the driver. It’s not as simple as issuing a ticket to this gentleman, thinking that the whole system is repaired or one person is responsible for where we are at today.
Police will continue that investigation. We seek any input that people have in relation to it, and I hope by early next week we may have some result out of that.
But what is important as well is that people need to understand that this operation so far, there have been over 360,000 police shifts, over 300,000 security shifts, almost 100,000 ADF shifts, and you put into that cooks, cleaners, the effort that health have put in over 192,000 people have completed quarantine, is an extremely complex operation that every single moment, every single time we get the opportunity to improve it we will.
There is some confusion over whether the driver was actually required to have been vaccinated or wear a mask (hence those ‘it’s complicated’ comments).
Updated
NSW police to step up compliance checks
The NSW deputy police commissioner, Gary Worboys, says 150 caution notices have already been given to people on public transport for not wearing masks.
Police will also be enforcing the ‘stay in place’ order (which is not a lockdown, but is basically a ‘ring of steel’ stopping people in hotspots from being able to leave Sydney).
Worboys:
We are moving much further into a compliance and enforcement regime around the order rather than a simple education response.
There are clearly people now who want to be mischievous or simply want to go beyond the order.
Those people will be spoken to by police and will be issued with a penalty notice rather than given the option of a caution.
As we move into the school holidays, if people choose to go outside the order and drive to a location, whether that is down the snow or up the coast, down the south coast, out west, traffic and highway patrol are well aware of the order and what it says to people and what it commands them to do, and police will be out there enforcing that part of the activity as well as being on our public transport system, and in and around cafes, pubs, clubs, making sure people comply and what is a very fractious time in terms of the pandemic in this particular cluster.
Updated
Looks like compliance measures will be increased (which means more Covid cops).
Gladys Berejiklian:
We don’t like to be heavy-handed but when there is an outbreak during a pandemic we need to make sure everybody is doing the right thing. Wether you are a business, an individual, or a workplace, we do need everybody to comply and adhere to the rules as strictly as possible.
We need to make sure that is the case. I asked everybody to follow the advice.
Health are conducting many, many interviews, so please wait until you get the all clear. Please wait until you get health advice. No matter your circumstances, no matter your situation, follow the Health advice. If you need to get tested and isolate, do so.
Make sure you follow that health advice. We also ask for a degree of patience because as you know, our contact traces are outstanding but in order to make sure that they give the best advice at the best time, they need to go through that process.
I ask everybody to exercise patience and caution and continue to monitor the health advice.
Updated
No further restrictions for NSW
There is no change to the restrictions so far – so no lockdown.
But Gladys Berejiklian says that everyone has to stick to the rules which have been laid down:
I do want to stress that my level of concern is medium to high across New South Wales but at the same time, a couple of things that we are pleased about is that all the new cases bar one are linked and that one is under investigation. We do expect more cases in the coming days but we also please expect everybody to do the right thing.
Please know that wearing a mask does not mean you are protected from the virus.
We have always said that mask wearing is the fourth line of defence. You need to socially distance, you need to hand sanitise, you need to make sure that every time you go out of your home and you are thinking about your movements, that you are Covid safe and of course now, we have increased mask wearing in certain situations which is extremely important.
Updated
'This is the scariest period NSW is going through': NSW premier
The NSW premier, Gladys Berejiklian, begins the press conference. This one is being held outside, given the concerns of spread within the parliament.
Berejiklian says she was interviewed by NSW Health and has been deemed that she is a “casual contact”. She says she was tested for Covid this morning and tested negative.
Berejiklian:
Can I say, notwithstanding those circumstances, that since the pandemic has started, this is perhaps the scariest period that New South Wales is going through, and Dr Chant and I hour of equal view on that. It is a very contagious variant but at the same time we are at this stage comfortable that the settings that are in place are the appropriate settings, but that is so long as everybody does the right thing. Please be extra cautious.
Updated
Tony Burke is now seeking leave to withdraw the motion, as he says if Damian Drum won’t support it, then it’s like Burke himself moving “that I no longer be heard”.
Peter Dutton grants permission for the motion to be withdrawn.
So basically, the Nationals went to war with the Liberals, were shut down, and then shut down themselves from being able to state their own case.
Despite Labor trying to help the Nationals to get a vote on their amendments, Damian Drum has decided they don’t want the help.
Drum:
By agreeing to a dissension motion that is going to allow us a political debate that has nothing to do with the amendments. I know deep in my heart that the four amendments go to core ... of what Labor disagree with.
I am not going to be party to this grandstanding from the Labor Party to produce dissension with the Liberal Party.”
Anthony Albanese says: “So be it.”
It’s correct that Labor won’t support the amendments, because “we don’t support undermining the Murray Darling Basin Plan”.
Updated
New Zealand officials have announced no new cases of Covid-19 in the community, following a flurry of testing in the region after an infected Australian tourist visited busy sites around the city.
More than 2000 tests were performed in Wellington yesterday. On Wednesday morning officials announced that a man from Australia, who subsequently tested positive for Covid-19, had visited more than a dozen inner-city locations including a museum, art gallery, and several popular eateries on a weekend trip to the city.
Officials announced today that the partner of the man, who travelled with him from Sydney, has tested negative and has no symptoms.
Four close contacts of the man have also tested negative. Wastewater testing from Monday also tested negative.
Covid infections can take several days to show up on tests, so positive tests are still very much possible, but the announcements will buoy hopes that the man, who had received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, may have been less infectious than an unvaccinated person.
Wellington is operating at a level 2 alert level until Sunday, which means gatherings are limited to under 100 people, some restrictions apply to businesses, and masks and social distancing are advised in indoor public locations.
Updated
Now Damian Drum is standing against Labor’s attempts to change the Speaker’s ruling.
So the Nationals tried to move an amendment to a government bill.
The Liberals killed it. Labor argued against the Liberals attempts to kill it.
The Speaker ruled it out of order, but told the House it could vote to dissent from his ruling.
Labor moved to dissent his ruling, in support of the Nationals right to move the amendments.
Now the Nationals are standing against the Labor party’s attempt to do that.
Just a very normal parliament.
Updated
Labor has been supporting the Nationals’ bid for a vote on amendments, despite Peter Dutton attempting to shut them down under standing order 160 (basically, that they have nothing to do with the Senate amendment that did get through).
The speaker, Tony Smith, said he did not agree with Labor’s general point that just because leave had been granted to move amendments that he as speaker has to allow a vote.
Barnaby Joyce interjected, prompting a warning from Smith that “you risk not being here if there is a vote”.
Smith:
I am ruling that these amendments breach standing order 160. But I am going to say to the House, that that is a ruling – the House can seek to make a different ruling. The House can move dissent in my ruling.
Smith said this was not an issue of no confidence in him, and there are plenty of precedents for it. Tony Burke moved to dissent from the speaker’s ruling.
Updated
Tony Smith rules the amendments out of order, but says the House can move dissent on his ruling, which means the House can disagree with the ruling, without seeing it as a reflection of confidence in the Speaker.
So basially, Smith is saying, the practice says these amendments breach the standing orders, but if you disagree, you can move a motion for dissent on his ruling, without questioning his authority.
Tony Burke is moving to dissent his ruling.
Tony Smith is losing patience with Barnaby Joyce who keeps heckling, and warns him he could be booted out.
Anthony Albanese says he is very interested in the outcome of the vote. Because he loves democracy. He doesn’t want to see the circumventing of a democratic vote of a MP.
That’s the very Pollyanna version of WE WANT TO SEE THE GOVERNMENT FIGHT ITSELF.
Updated
Mike Bowers went to see what Bridget McKenzie was doing in the public gallery as this chaos plays out in the House.
He said she was so excited by Damian Drum’s arguments she was yelling “that’s right” and “yes” as he made his points.
McKenzie led the failed amendments in the Senate.
Anthony Albanese is now involved.
He is also supporting Damian Drum’s right to move the motion for the amendments – because he wants the vote.
Albanese is pointing out that 150 MPs had the opportunity to say no to the motion to move the amendments and no one did, so Albanese is saying that the House should be allowed to proceed.
Updated
Damian Drum is arguing against Peter Dutton’s point of order.
Dutton repeats that they are still out of order and not relevant.
Again – both of these MPs are from the same side of the House.
Dutton, a Liberal, is shutting down (and slapping down) amendments from Drum, a Nationals MP.
Tony Burke is now involved. He seems to want the vote (of course Labor would – Labor wants to see the division come to pass, to show the divide between the government).
That is what Dutton is trying to stop – he doesn’t want the optics of the divide.
Updated
I think Peter Dutton just moved that Damian Drum’s amendments are out of order.
So that is the leader of government business in the House trying to shut down a member of his own government, who is also the Nationals’ whip in the House (the person who makes sure everyone is on the same page about where and when they have to vote).
Updated
We can’t bring you a photo of it, because we’re not allowed, but Mike Bowers reports that Bridget McKenzie is in one of the House public galleries watching the chaos.
Barnaby Joyce is now in very deep conversation with Keith Pitt at the ministerial table.
Neither of them can support the Nationals amendments (if they come to a vote) without quitting the cabinet.
Just a totally normal day in a very normal parliament
The Morrison government is falling apart on the floor of the House of Representatives.
— Andrew Giles MP (@andrewjgiles) June 24, 2021
The Nationals whip is moving amendments against his own government on the Basin Plan.
Barnaby Joyce has always been a wrecker, but he’s pulling apart this tired government in record time.
Rogue Nationals are continuing their siege on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan – which is government policy and passed through cabinet, so would mean if any Nationals MPs in the House supported them, they would be breaking cabinet solidarity and would have to quit the cabinet.
Damian Drum has flagged he will move the amendments the Victorian Nationals senators wanted (and were isolated on and lost) in the Senate in the House.
Barnaby Joyce is in the chamber apparently trying to negotiate with him.
The Liberals came out pretty strongly last night to bring it down and remind the Nationals of Coalition policy, but it seems like the message hasn’t filtered through.
But hey – all is fine in the Coalition. Barnaby coming back has caused no waves, and everything is completely normal.
Updated
The environment minister Sussan Ley has held a press conference to pressure Labor over its opposition to changes over the EPBC Act.
“This legislation is good for the economy, it’s good for the environment and it’s particularly good for jobs in Western Australia,” Ley said, pointing to support from WA premier Mark McGowan.
“Anthony Albanese cannot say one thing in this parliament, and another when he gets to WA.
“Federal Labor is not on board with WA and with the jobs agenda.”
Lisa Cox has previously reported on the correspondence between the federal government and the WA government about transferring environmental powers to the states.
Despite independent senator Jacqui Lambie saying the legislation was “dead in the water”, Ley said she was continuing to consult with the crossbench, despite the government pushing back against demands for strengthened environmental standards.
“We’re talking very constructively with the crossbench,” Ley said.
“Yes, there may be concerns, and we’re working through those, but instinctively I know that they understand the importance of this legislation for the economy and for jobs.”
Ley was also asked about a push by the Nationals to amend legislation for the Murray Darling Basin Act, saying rural and regional areas wanted to see the basin plan delivered.
“I’m unsurprised that the move in the Senate, effectively did not succeed because government members from the Coalition understand the importance of working cooperatively and cohesively on the Murray Darling Basin Plan,” Ley said.
“And while it’s not perfect, and no one knows that better than me, what I do know is that when it’s suggested in rural and regional Australia in the basin that we don’t proceed with the plan that’s not what people want.
“People want to see the plan. They want us to continue working for them. They want us to continue cooperating. This is a plan that affects people from Toowoomba, to the lower lakes to the southern Murray Darling Basin in my part of the world.
“So no, it’s not easy to get it right, but the path we’re on is the correct one.”
Ley was also asked about a Unesco ruling to list the Great Barrier Reef as in danger, and a letter from 12 countries questioning the potential of Chinese influence on the decision.
A senior Unesco official has rejected the Australian government’s claims it bowed to political pressure when deciding to recommend the Great Barrier Reef as endangered.
But Ley said the letter showed other countries shared the government’s concerns about the process.
“That’s exactly the same concern that Australia has expressed in terms of the unreasonable distorted processes that led to a recommendation for an endangered listing.
“So I hope that within the construct of the world heritage committee that Australia has always worked constructively within, and we want to continue that, that these processes may be reexamined and some reconsideration made of what was an extraordinary draft decision.”
She said the government wanted to find a way “correct” the decision.
Updated
Never fear – Michael McCormack may no longer have the leadership, but there are still plenty of Nationals still obsessed with coffee.
Plus deliberate use of “checkout chick”. Nice.
Nationals Senator Matt Canavan ramps up attack on net zero: "If all we are talking about through net zero is giving a cheque to farmers - what happens to the checkout chick down at the shop? What happens to the barista making the coffees?"
— Trudy McIntosh (@TrudyMcIntosh) June 24, 2021
Updated
The federal parliament Department of Parliamentary Services has issued new advice for those working in the building (based on ACT health advice).
From 4pm Wednesday 23 June, the ACT government has introduced “stay-at-home” requirements for anyone entering the ACT from the following local government areas of greater Sydney:
- City of Sydney
- Waverley
- Randwick
- Canada Bay
- Inner West
- Bayside
- Woollahra
In addition, anyone who is travelling to the ACT who has been in the greater Sydney, Central Coast, Nepean Blue Mountains, Wollongong or Shellharbour regions of NSW in the past 14 days will need to complete an online declaration form on the Covid-19 website.
At this time, these requirements will remain in place until 11.59pm Wednesday 30 June.
The situation may change quickly, so please stay informed by checking the ACT Health website before you travel.
If you must travel for essential reasons, you need to abide by all NSW and ACT public health directions.
If you are an ACT resident returning from one of the affected areas, you need to ensure you follow ACT Health advice:
- complete a declaration form within 24 hours from the commencement of the Areas of Concern notice
- immediately quarantine for 14 days since you were last at the exposure location
- get tested for COVID-19, regardless of whether you have any symptoms or not.
Non-ACT residents who are in affected areas will not be able to enter the ACT without an approved exemption. Exemptions will only be granted for extraordinary circumstances. If an exemption is approved, you will need to follow stay-at-home orders.
If you are affected by the travel restrictions, you also need to follow your organisation’s notification processes.
Updated
What we know so far about NSW's situation
We will find out more in just over an hour, but so far we know:
- NSW has recorded 11 new cases of Covid (of the 18 in today’s numbers, 13 were reported yesterday, while another six came in after 8pm).
- All but two of the cases have been in isolation, as close contacts of known cases.
- Urgent investigations are under way for the source of those two cases. One is a hairdresser at Crown Hair in Kings Cross on Tuesday 22 June from 9am to 5pm (test and isolate if you were there).
- NSW DPS has told all MPs and staff who were in the NSW parliament on Tuesday and Wednesday to test and isolate until further advised
- The agricultural minister Adam Marshall has been diagnosed with Covid.
- Three other National MPs who were at a pizza restaurant with him on Monday night have been isolating since being advised of being a close contact of a now confirmed case
- Health minister Brad Hazzard is in isolation as a close contact of a potential positive case.
Updated
Gladys Berejiklian will be holding her press conference at 12.30pm.
Thanks so much to the amazing team from @NSWHealth working around the clock to keep us safe. I’ve had my test, I’m waiting and hoping for the best. Isolating at home and grateful for the messages of support. Let’s all look out for each-other. pic.twitter.com/Ip9WXmEHTS
— Matt Kean MP (@Matt_KeanMP) June 24, 2021
Updated
This really shouldn’t come as a surprise – in fact, the only surprising thing is that it took to this point of the morning.
🚨 BREAKING: The NSW Department of Parliamentary Services has told ALL MPs and staff who were at Parliament House on Tuesday or Wednesday to isolate either in the building or at home until further advised.
— Laura Jayes (@ljayes) June 24, 2021
Updated
NSW Health’s official statement contains a breakdown of the new cases:
Of the 18 locally acquired cases notified to 8pm last night, 13 cases were already announced yesterday:
- 8 of these cases are linked to a birthday party in West Hoxton, attended by a previously reported case linked to the Bondi cluster. About 30 people attended this party and they have all been tested and are in isolation.
- A woman in her 20s from Wollongong who is a close contact of a previously reported case linked to the Bondi cluster.
- A hairdresser from Western Sydney who worked in Double Bay. He is not linked to a known case or cluster. Urgent investigations are underway.
- A woman in her 20s from Sydney’s eastern suburbs who is a close contact of a previously reported case.
- A man in his 70s from Sydney’s eastern suburbs who is linked to the Bondi cluster.
- A man in his 50s from Sydney’s eastern suburbs who is linked to the Bondi cluster.
Five further locally acquired cases were notified to 8pm last night:
- Two women and a man from Sydney’s south west who are linked to the birthday party, attended by previously reported cases linked to the Bondi cluster.
- A teenager from Sydney’s eastern suburbs who is linked to the Bondi cluster.
- A woman in her 20s from Sydney’s eastern suburbs who is a close contact of a previously reported case.
Six locally acquired cases were notified overnight. These cases will be included in tomorrow’s numbers:
- A man in his 30s who attended the Christo’s Pizzeria in Paddington at the same time as a previously reported case linked to the Bondi cluster.
- Three women who are close contacts of a previously reported case who works as a hairdresser at a Double Bay hair salon. All have been in isolation while infectious.
- A man in his 40s who is linked to the West Hoxton birthday party, attended by previously reported cases linked to the Bondi cluster. A total of 11 people who attended the party have now tested positive for Covid-19.
- A man in his 40s. He is not yet linked to a known case or cluster. Urgent investigations are under way.
Updated
NSW Health is also doing prerecorded videos of its case numbers.
It is what it is in their tweets – but it might be an easier way for some people to take in the information.
WATCH: Dr Natalie Klees provides a #COVID19 update for Thursday 24 June 2021: https://t.co/MAjhuDYSyW
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 24, 2021
Updated
The good news is that NSW Health says today’s cases were already in isolation.
Which is the news you want.
All have been in isolation while infectious.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 24, 2021
- A man in his 40s who is linked to the West Hoxton birthday party, attended by previously reported cases linked to the Bondi cluster. A total of 11 people who attended the party have now tested positive for COVID-19.
Anyone who attended Crown Hair in Kings Cross on Tuesday 22 June from 9am to 5pm is a close contact and must immediately call NSW Health on 1800 943 553, get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 24, 2021
The Bondi cluster is at 36 now.
It’s the missing link cases which has authorities worried.
Updated
NSW records another 11 Covid cases as cluster grows
The way NSW Health is giving out these numbers is very confusing. Today’s numbers are officially at 18 – but we knew about 13 of them.
So that is five we didn’t know about, and there is another six cases which came in after 8pm – those numbers will be in tomorrow’s official figures.
But that is 11 new cases we didn’t know about. That brings the cluster to over 40.
NSW recorded 18 locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, 13 of which were already announced yesterday morning.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 24, 2021
NSW Health has also been notified of six new locally acquired cases overnight. These cases will be included in tomorrow's numbers. pic.twitter.com/D7SVhhSF6z
Updated
Coalition under growing pressure to expand Myanmar sanctions
The Morrison government faces increased pressure from within its own ranks to expand sanctions against Myanmar’s military leaders and to offer permanent residency to civilians who wish to remain in Australia.
Myanmar security forces have killed hundreds of civilians in the wake of the 1 February coup but the Australian government has held off ratcheting up sanctions against the top generals, arguing the junta is largely resistant to international pressure.
Liberal, Nationals, Labor and Greens parliamentarians have challenged that position in a new report published today.
The consensus report – tabled by Liberal MP Dave Sharma – says the government should further consider imposing targeted sanctions on senior figures in the military and military-linked entities “who have played a role in the overthrow of democracy and subsequent violent repression of protests”.
This should include entities such as the Myanmar Economic Corporation and Myanma Economic Holdings Public Company Limited, according to a subcommittee of parliament’s joint standing committee on foreign affairs, defence and trade.
We’ll have more on this story a little later today.
Updated
Mike Bowers was there for the opening of the last sitting of parliament before the winter break.
Joel Fitzgibbon is being very helpful, as usual.
Just three dudes, chilling in the chamber
So many lols
The lols just don’t stop
Wait – no. They stopped
Updated
Yesterday, Gladys Berejiklian said she was not ruling out a lockdown to get on top of the NSW outbreak.
This morning, Berejiklian has told the NSW parliament that she will take the necessary steps if the health advice says further action is needed.
“I really want the public to be prepared and to know that this is an evolving situation,” she said.
Berejiklian is in the NSW parliament question time – it’s a fairly empty chamber today, with all but 16 MPs having been ordered to stay off site.
Updated
Friendlyjordies producer Kristo Langker pleads not guilty to stalking
The Friendlyjordies producer Kristo Langker has pleaded not guilty to stalking and intimidating charges following his arrest over two encounters with NSW deputy premier John Barilaro.
Langker made his first appearance at Newtown local court on Thursday following his arrest earlier this month. His lawyer, Emmanuel Kerkyasharian, told the court the 21-year-old would enter not guilty pleas to both charges.
Thursday’s hearing was mostly procedural: Kerkyasharian told the court he would be seeking a jury trial for Langker’s case “should it progress that far”, and flagged that he would seek changes to bail conditions currently preventing him from walking past Parliament House because he studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
The police prosecutor handling Langker’s case also flagged they would seek an undertaking that information in the police brief not be uploaded to YouTube. Those matter will be dealt with at a hearing next week.
Detectives from NSW police’s fixated persons unit arrested Langker at his family home in Dulwich Hill on 4 June and charged him with two offences of “stalk or intimidate intending to cause fear of physical or mental harm”, acting on a complaint from Barilaro.
The fixated persons unit was established to tackle lone actor extremists three years after the Lindt cafe siege. Outside court on Thursday, Langker’s solicitor, Mark Davis, called the arrest “outrageous”.
“It was outrageous that he was even arrested under these circumstances, they could well have dealt with this as they deal with every other citizen, with an AVO warning or ask him to him to the police station,” he said.
“To invade him, to throw him on the floor, to put him in handcuffs, and then to barge into his house, his mother his traumatised … as is his girlfriend and may I say and his poor dog. Anything can go wrong when you send in what is effectively a counter-terrorism unit to execute a very minor charge things can go seriously wrong.”
The case will appear at the Downing centre local court next Wednesday.
Updated
Gladys Berejiklian to give NSW Covid update at 12.30pm
We’ll hear from Gladys Berejiklian at 12.30pm today.
That’s later than usual – Berejiklian usually holds her press conferences around 11am.
But there seems to be a bit more information to collate today – the NSW parliament is down to just 16 MPs, after the agricultural minister tested positive and the health minister was placed in isolation as a close contact of a potential case.
Three other Nationals MPs are also in isolation.
All staff have been told to stay away from the building today.
Updated
If you haven’t seen it, this is one of the best vaccine explainers I have seen (and yes, I know it is not exactly how the vaccine works, but just let us have this one, OK?)
5) I love this vaccine explainer cartoon most of all!! pic.twitter.com/9ocGtsh8QT
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) June 23, 2021
Updated
Deputy Nationals leader David Littleproud has publicly confirmed for the first time that he would have run for leader had Michael McCormack not done so after losing a spill motion in the party room.
Despite losing the spill motion – the first vote of MPs that paves the way for a leadership contest – McCormack still nominated for the leadership position against Barnaby Joyce.
Had McCormack stood aside at this point, the contest would have been between Littleproud and Joyce.
As I said before I went in there, that if Michael McCormack wasn’t standing, then I would stand,” Littleproud told Canberra radio 2CC this morning.”
Michael lost the spill. I probably at that point, had every right to put my hand up. But when Michael stood up, I felt that I had made that commitment, and I could not stand knowingly against Michael McCormack after I made that public statement, and because I’d made it to Michael as well.
So in that respect, had Michael not stood up to contest the leadership after losing the spill, I would have stood up, but that didn’t happen.”
It’s unclear why McCormack chose to stand after losing the spill. Either he thought he could win (potentially by winning some votes in the spill ballot that might have been for Littleproud) or whether he was just standing by his declaration that colleagues would need to blast him out.
Updated
High court rejects Bob Brown Foundation request to appeal against legality of native forest logging in Tasmania
The high court has rejected a Bob Brown Foundation request to appeal against a judgment that found native forest logging in Tasmania was legal.
It brings an end to what the environment group had called “the great forest case”. The foundation had argued in the federal court that an effective exemption from conservation laws granted to logging meant a regional forestry agreement between the federal and Tasmanian governments was not legally valid.
Lawyers for the foundation had claimed the agreement lacked an enforceable requirement that the state must protect threatened species, particularly the critically endangered swift parrot.
The full federal court disagreed, finding the federal-state forestry agreement was legally binding. The Morrison government described it as a “win for Australia’s forestry industry”.
In a statement, Bob Brown said the high court rejection would “send shockwaves through the majority of Australians who want our forests saved”.
He said the decision upheld a “bizarre state of affairs” where commonwealth responsibility for protection of endangered species and their habitats under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation [EPBC] Act was “deferred to state agencies devoted to destroying them”.
A review of the EPBC Act by the former competition watchdog chief, Graeme Samuels, last year called on the Morrison government to abolish forestry’s exemption from the laws.
Updated
Queensland press conference summary
- Queensland’s restrictions came into place at 1am – if you are from one of the seven LGA’s in Sydney which have been identified as a hotspot, you cannot enter Queensland, unless you go into hotel quarantine.
- Queensland residents can return but must isolate at home for 14 days.
- Twenty people have been turned back from the first flight from Sydney this morning – from 120 passengers.
- Three locally acquired cases have been diagnosed, but all had been in isolation.
- One of those people is in hospital as a precaution
- All Queenslanders are advised not to travel to NSW unless it is urgent, given worries of the outbreak spreading
Updated
Dr Jeannette Young says she is also very worried about this strain of covid:
I’m as concerned, much like Minister Hazzard, as I’ve ever been. But I’m also confident that we have got really good systems in place.
I’m so grateful, glad, that this variant wasn’t the first variant we had to deal with.
So we’ve had 18 months of experience in dealing with this and our community, although I’m sure that they’re extraordinarily tired of this – I mean, it’s been going on for so long, our community across Queensland knows exactly what to do.
Just to have gone out and messaged – please, people come forward and get tested and to see those numbers skyrocket is fantastic.
So I’m very confident that we know what to do. I’m very confident that our community knows what to do. We’ll have to draw on all of that strength and resilience going forward.
Updated
Dr Jeannette Young has never been overly political, so this is as critical as she gets of another government:
So, we’re doing a great job there given the amount of vaccine that we’re able to get from the commonwealth and we’re using all of that vaccine.
It is very, very important – more important than ever, that people who can, who are in the target groups at this stage, come forward and get vaccinated. I need all of those 1A and 1B people to be vaccinated. They are absolutely critical and then we need older people, because they are at most risk if they get infected. So at the moment, if you are 40 plus, you can get vaccinated. But I really stress – it’s that 60 plus group that is very important to get vaccinated.
Updated
Queensland warns residents against NSW travel
There is no official ban, but the Queensland chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young is warning all Queensland residents against all non-emergency travel to NSW:
Dr Young
This could rapidly escalate. New South Wales has a very, very good sewerage detection program in place and I get that data every single morning, so I can report this morning that there have been no detections in the sewerage outside of metropolitan, greater metropolitan Sydney. None in regional areas, so that is really good, particularly that northern area. But that could change.
So I strongly recommend that anyone in Queensland – unless you have an urgent, unavoidable reason – this is not the time to go down into New South Wales. You could end up exposing yourself and putting yourself at risk. Particularly given where we are with our vaccine rollout.
Updated
Yesterday Greens senator Larissa Waters warned that the government planned to seek Labor support to “gang up to permanently remove the rights of senators to move and get a vote on motions”.
In a statement, Waters said:
The government’s Labor-backed proposal will replace motions, which require a vote, with two-minute statements. The problem is, voting is where the accountability is! Big parties want to weasel out of telling the public what their position is on issues that might be politically inconvenient – but people deserve to know.”
We checked in today – and the proposed change to the standing orders has not materialised in time to be considered by the Senate.
It seems the logistics of replacing motions with statements haven’t been settled yet, and the Nationals revolt on water yesterday took up too much bandwidth.
Waters told Guardian Australia this is a “reprieve” but the proposal is likely to return when parliament comes back from the winter break in August.
Updated
Queensland records three new local Covid cases
All have been in isolation though, as close contacts of confirmed cases.
Deputy premier Steven Miles says that is thanks to the work of contact tracers.
He moves on to the Sydney cluster (at least 20 Sydney travellers have been turned back after arriving past 1am when the border closure came in).
Miles:
We also remain very concerned about the emergent situation in Sydney, the Delta variant outbreak in Sydney. What we’ve seen with some of the cases there is that it is highly, highly infectious. Fleeting contacts of 5-10 seconds can result in infection.
It means that you only have to be in the same breathing space as someone with this variant to risk contracting it. I noted that the NSW health minister Brad Hazzard, somebody that I worked with very closely, said he was as concerned now as he has been at any point during this pandemic.
And that means that we are concerned, we are monitoring it very, very closely. It’s important that anyone who is sick gets tested, but in particular, anyone who has been in Sydney.
This outbreak really could test all of our systems, everything that we have developed over this pandemic. And so, it’s incredibly important that we get this right.
Updated
This is not at all surprising
The Melb - Syd Virgin flight this morning is almost empty 😷@AmyRemeikis pic.twitter.com/spl8ZEILPV
— Brigid Delaney (@BrigidWD) June 23, 2021
Scott Morrison made his views clear on the draft Unesco decision to declare the Great Barrier Reef as “in danger” on Brisbane radio 4BC this morning:
Well, the Unesco process has been appalling and we’ve been busy talking to our friends. And the list of countries is quite extraordinary. Indonesia, Canada, the UK, France, Thailand, Hungary, Poland, Bangladesh, Philippines, Turkey, Spain. Joining us in highlighting that this process, you know, is not on.
And then there’s a proper way to do these things.
We invest together with the Queensland government, some $3bn on reef science. It’s one of the best managed reefs in the world, and sure, it’s got challenges like sensitive environments all around the world does. But Australia does it better than anywhere else.
And so we’ll be making that case. And we really do think that this process has been absolutely appalling, quite different to when this issue was dealt with by Unesco early on in our government back in 2014, I think it was, Greg Hunt was the environment minister and we worked through that process and got the right outcome.
Updated
Victoria records one new local Covid case
The person newly diagnosed with Covid was a close contact of a previously confirmed case and has been in isolation.
Reported yesterday: 1 new local case and 3 new case acquired overseas (currently in HQ).
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) June 23, 2021
- 17,803 vaccine doses were administered
- 22,812 test results were received
More later: https://t.co/2vKbgKZgn3 #COVID19Vic #COVID19VicData [1/2] pic.twitter.com/d1t6LE4ORw
Updated
Accused Pinochet kidnapper Adriana Rivas loses appeal against extradition to Chile
Dipping out of politics and Covid for a moment:
One-time Bondi nanny Adriana Rivas has lost her appeal against extradition to Chile, and faces being removed to her country of birth where she faces charges of kidnapping and torture allegedly committed during the reign of military dictator Augusto Pinochet more than 40 years ago.
Rivas is wanted on seven counts of aggravated kidnapping relating to the disappearance, and presumed murder, of seven members of Chile’s communist party in 1976.
Rivas is alleged to have been a member of the shadowy Lautaro Brigade, and involved in the torture and disappearance of political opponents of the Pinochet dictatorship.
In the federal court on Thursday morning, justice Wendy Abraham ordered that her appeal against extradition be dismissed and the extradition order stand.
Rivas does have appeals, to the full bench of the federal court, and to the high court, available to her.
Rivas has been living in Australia since 1978, and had been living in Bondi, working as a nanny and a cleaner before she was arrested. She had previously been arrested in Chile, but escaped and fled back to Australia.
In Chile, after more than 40 years, families are still searching for answers:
Updated
The ACCC has released its latest report into electricity prices – it has found that prices went up in 2020, but should fall.
Renewables in the grid are making the cost of wholesale electricity cheaper, and electricity companies are legally required to pass those savings on.
As Rod Sims says:
Covid-19 had a major effect on electricity use last year. Many households that were already experiencing financial difficulty had higher electricity bills to pay, and although lower bills for small businesses would normally be something to celebrate, it wasn’t a welcome outcome in the context of a pandemic recession,” he said.
... We expect 2021 to be a better year for households and small businesses as large reductions in the wholesale cost of electricity continue to flow through to people’s bills.
Updated
Alan Tudge is the latest MP to gag debate on whether or not Andrew Laming should be removed from his committee position.
Tudge of course, is a great defender of freedom of speech, having most recently become exercised over a UK college removing a portrait of the Queen from a student lounge.
Victoria is a little late with their Covid numbers this morning but we will bring you those as soon as we can.
Updated
The problem with that is – one dose of the vaccine is not enough. We know that. And we also know that if you don’t get your second dose when you’re supposed to, your protection levels fall even further.
Secondly, the government is pointing to the UK’s success with AstraZeneca as a way of keeping public confidence in the vaccine up (which is right and proper), but you don’t get it both ways. Having the government then point to the UK case numbers is counter productive.
You can get the virus with the vaccine, just as you can still get the flu if you have had the flu vaccine (or any illness). The point is that you hopefully won’t get it as badly and won’t pass it on to as many people. But they have to be used properly – in this case, it is two doses to be “vaccinated” (with the possibility we will need a booster down the track).
Updated
Scott Morrison is really, really hanging on to the “first dose” numbers when defending Australia’s vaccine rollout.
This was part of his exchange with a host on the Seven Network this morning:
Q: So, isn’t it 3% who have been fully vaccinated in Australia, though?
Morrison: The reason I’d caution you in using that number is that it suggests if you’ve had your first dose, that you have no protection, and that’s simply not true. And it would be wrong for people to think that the first dose doesn’t provide you protection, because the scientific evidence shows it clearly does.
Q: OK, so if we go with that, we’ve had 6 million Australians who have had some form of vaccination.
Morrison: 7 million.
Q: OK, 7 million.
Morrison: We’re getting to 7 million, pretty close.
Q: OK, so that’s great. They’ve got some form of protection. America have got, what, 140 million, they are opening up, they’re in nightclubs, we got the Foo Fighters performing in New York City. We have got states around Australia closing their borders and holidays ruined, and hundreds of millions of dollars of businesses in disarray today. What are we doing wrong, prime minister?
Morrison: I’d offer you this comparison. In the UK today, we have got people dying every single day. In the UK, 12,000 cases a day, we had 27 deaths yesterday. They have a vaccination rate of 81% on their first dose. Now, Australia has got not one person in ICU today because of Covid. If we’d had the same fatality rate of other countries around the world similar to ours more than 30,000 additional Australians would have died. Our economy is bigger today than it was before the pandemic hit, and we’ve got more people in work today before the pandemic hit. Now, that compares favourably to any other country around the world today. I’ve just got back from the G7, and the world is amazed at how Australia has been able to both keep, save lives and save livelihoods. In the United States and in the UK, it has been an absolute fatal calamity. That has not occurred in Australia. Yes, will get outbreaks from time to time Nat, and we will deal with those outbreaks, but it would be a mistake to think that if you get high rates of vaccination that you won’t get cases. The UK is proving the exact opposite of that.
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New locations have been added to the NSW Health Covid exposure sites list.
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Queensland will report at least one new diagnosis of Covid, after a 62-year-old who was in isolation as part of the Portuguese restaurant cluster tested positive.
They are in hospital as a precaution.
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This looks like it is going to be a rapidly moving situation:
There’s no information being conveyed to any MP. He was also in the budget speech - there was a full contingent in the house on Tuesday. One would think the advice should be to every MP ‘get tested’ and isolate.
— Jodi McKay (@JodiMcKayMP) June 23, 2021
Thinking of Adam - he’s a good bloke. https://t.co/ktQ7FWvDdv
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Adam Marshall has released a statement about his positive Covid diagnosis:
This morning just after 8am I was formally advised by NSW Health that I had returned a positive test for Covid-19.
I have been in isolation in Sydney since late Tuesday night, when I received a text message from NSW Health advising of my attendance at a close contact venue on Monday evening, and the need to present for testing.
To everyone who has contacted me this morning, thank you for your thoughts and well wishes – I’m doing fine and will continue to strictly follow the advice of health authorities.
To our wonderful NSW Health staff, who continue to do an amazing job in these challenging times, thank you for your support and efforts keeping all of us safe and well.
Take care everyone.
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This all seems very, very messy:
One of the MPs allowed in Parliament @Matt_KeanMP sits next to Adam Marshall in Parliament. Surely a close contact?? I’m confused. https://t.co/fFHxJqzxfZ
— Alex Hart (@alexhart7) June 23, 2021
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NSW agriculture minister Adam Marshall tests positive to Covid
NSW agriculture minister Adam Marshall confirmed to 2GB’s Ben Fordham this morning that he has tested positive to Covid-19. In a statement read on air by Fordham, Marshall said:
I just received a call then from NSW Health formally advising me [I had tested positive for Covid]. Asymptomatic but positive. No doubt from the the pizza joint I went to on Monday evening. I’ve been in full iso since Tuesday night when I got the text to get tested.
Fordham said Marshall was one of four MPs who had dined at Christo’s Pizza in Paddington on Monday. Tuesday was a busy day in the NSW parliament with the state budget handed down. There were also party-room meetings.
Health minister Brad Hazzard, who is in self-isolation, told 2GB he was not certain whether he’d been advised to do so because he was a close contact of Marshall’s.
Guardian Australia has contacted Marshall’s office for comment.
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Is this even a quorum?
BREAKING Only 16 MPs allowed in NSW Parliament today. The rest told not to come for any reason. #nswpol
— Alex Hart (@alexhart7) June 23, 2021
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Seems like there was an exclusion to the Morrison media flurry this morning (he was also on Brisbane radio 4BC):
So, the PM is doing the ‘media rounds’ this morning, popping up on Sunrise and Today. He decided against accepting our invitation to beam into @BreakfastNews from The Lodge during his quarantine (the bid made with the PMO just this week).We’ll keep asking on your behalf. #auspol pic.twitter.com/u4FdmhlWXx
— Michael Rowland (@mjrowland68) June 23, 2021
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Here was Scott Morrison on how NSW was handling the outbreak:
The premier and I spoke at some length yesterday and I have been keeping in contact over the course of this last week with the situation in NSW.
I think the approach that she is taking the right one. There are sensible pre- restrictions that are being put in place and they are affecting people right across Sydney.
My family is back in Sydney. I was talking to Jen and the girls last night and they will be doing what everybody else in Sydney is doing.
But everybody knows to get out of this current situation we have to follow those rules and I have no doubt that the NSW government will ease those restrictions the second they can.
That has always been their disposition and I think that encourages people, particularly in NSW, knowing that as soon as those restrictions are not necessary they will be lifted because that is what Gladys Berejiklian and her government have always sought to do during the course of this pandemic.
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Adam Marshall was one of the four Nationals MPs placed into isolation after dining at a pizza restaurant a person with Covid (at the time unknowingly) dined at.
The Delta variant is more contagious than what we are used to dealing with, as Victoria pointed out.
Confirmed Adam Marshall is positive but asymptomatic, tells @BenFordham that “no doubt” it was from Christos pizza place #nswpol
— Alex Hart (@alexhart7) June 23, 2021
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Quite serious:
#BREAKING | @BenFordham reveals NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall has tested positive to Covid-19.
— Ben Fordham Live (@BenFordhamLive) June 23, 2021
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Things are getting serious in the NSW parliament:
Chris Minns budget reply speech cancelled today in NSW parliament. #nswpol
— Alex Hart (@alexhart7) June 23, 2021
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Scott Morrison has also been doing the media interview rounds from his quarantine in the Lodge.
He described Barnaby Joyce as a “wind in the sails” on the Nine Network (which I guess is correct, in that wind can often blow things off course).
Other than that, he defended the vaccine rollout (again) and spoke about how he was comfortable with how NSW was handling the outbreak.
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Brad Hazzard also warned there will be more cases reported in NSW today. Sixteen new cases were reported yesterday (although 13 of those cases will be in today’s “official” numbers):
Uh, look, I’m not going to specify the numbers at this point. That’s something we do at 11.00 this morning, although I may not be doing it. We’ll see how we go this morning.
But the issue is, for all of us, that we must follow these new orders that have been made. And I just stress to people that it does include limiting guests to our homes – no more than five guests.
Obviously, masks are compulsory at all indoor, non-residential settings. So, you don’t have to wear a mask in your own home.
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Brad Hazzard was scheduled to do a range of media interviews this morning but the NSW health minister had to switch and complete them on the phone after receiving a text message that he was a close contact of a possible Covid case.
His on-camera interview with ABC News Breakfast was one of those moved to the phone:
It emphasises how dangerous this Delta virus is. I received – during the night, I was due to do a range of TV interviews this morning, you included – and I was advised when I woke up at about 5.30, there was a text message that had come in sometime during the night – to be honest, I haven’t worked that out yet – telling me that a case had been detected as a likely positive, and that I was a possible close contact. That’s still being worked through.
And Health asked me to obviously be cautious until Health were able to give me further advice. So, yeah, I think it’s a message to everybody.
If the New South Wales health minister can get a text message during the night and wakes up to that, then obviously we all have a serious issue at the moment with this Delta virus.
And so I’m unable to – and I apologise to you and to your viewers – that I just couldn’t do it at this stage. But, look, I’m available to talk and not suffering any symptoms.
So, I just want to stress that it was to do with my workplace, obviously, New South Wales parliament.
And the location and details will be no doubt worked on by New South Wales Health this morning. But I’m quite confident that the majority of people in the New South Wales parliament will be either no contact or casual contacts, so that won’t be a major issue.
But certainly from my point of view, I was identified as a possible close contact, and I believe that was after an interview that occurred with a person who may be positive, and they’re just working through those issues.
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Child care bill headed for House
Good morning everyone. A quick childcare update.
Today the government is scheduled to introduce the childcare package that triggered a boilover in this week’s party room meeting, as Labor moves to flesh out its policy commitments for the sector. In case you missed the childcare boilover, have a read of this story from Sarah Martin and Paul Karp that sets it all out. The short version is a fierce debate erupted in the Coalition party room this week about childcare subsidies – with one MP suggesting working women were “outsourcing parenting”. Some MPs have telegraphed they won’t support the package unless there is also support for parents looking after their children at home.
So that’s the government. The Labor leader Anthony Albanese, meanwhile, will use a speech on Thursday to add some new details to the opposition’s childcare policy. Albanese will say if Labor wins the next election, large childcare providers and landlords owning more than 10 child care centres will be required to publicly report their child care revenue and profit results to a government website. If Labor wins, it would create a requirement that every childcare subsidy approved provider would have to publicly report real-time fee data, quality ratings and average year on year fee increases to assist parental choice. Labor says not-for-profit childcare providers are already required to report to the National Charities Commission, but the large for-profit providers – particularly those owned by private equity – do not face the same levels of accountability.
Good morning
Welcome to the last sitting day before the winter break.
It’s cold and raining and miserable in Canberra, if that helps set the mood for you. Scott Morrison is still in quarantine in the Lodge, Barnaby Joyce will be in his chair for QT and the Liberals and Nationals had a public spat over the Murray-Darling basin plan in the Senate last night, so it’s good times all round.
But all eyes are on Sydney where a Covid outbreak of the Delta variant has authorities worried. NSW health minister Brad Hazzard is in self-isolation after being informed he is a close contact of a possible confirmed case. Jodi McKay has tweeted that NSW parliament has been delayed until 10.30 and staff are being told to stay home. The contact works in the parliament so it’s possible more MPs will be placed into isolation. Four NSW Nationals MPs were required to isolate yesterday after being told they were close contacts of a possible case who attended the same pizza restaurant they did.
Parli start now delayed until 10.30am and staff told not to attend. I would presume there’s more to come.
— Jodi McKay (@JodiMcKayMP) June 23, 2021
Hazzard has said Sydney isn’t going into lockdown, but there is, at the moment, a very big “yet” there. The next day or so will be critical. Numbers aren’t out of control but the cluster has reached 30 very quickly, which is why authorities are worried.
Yesterday Hazzard said he was more worried than he has been at any other time since January 2020, if that gives you an indication. Gladys Berejiklian has not ruled out a lockdown and the commonwealth declared much of Sydney a hotspot under the national definition.
We’ll bring you all of that, and everything else, as the day unfolds.
You have Mike Bowers and Amy Remeikis on the blog, with Katharine Murphy, Sarah Martin, Daniel Hurst and Paul Karp in Canberra.
It’s going to be a pretty big day, so stick with us (and grab all of the coffee). We’re going to need it.
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