Federal Parliament remains on track to resume next Monday despite the daughter of a Canberra-based senior federal politician testing positive for the Delta strain of COVID-19.
The diagnosis of the 14-year-old daughter of Labor's finance spokeswoman and former ACT chief minister Katy Gallagher has led to an outpouring of sympathy and support, but has also prompted renewed concern about the safety of Parliament House.
Senator Gallagher was last in the building on Thursday, August 12. She has tested negative for the virus, is fully vaccinated and is in home isolation with her family.
The Canberra Times understands discussions are continuing about the operations of Federal Parliament. The next parliamentary sitting fortnight falls within the two-week extension of the ACT lockdown.
While not sitting this week, and being closed to the public as part of a building lockdown, the people's house is operating with significantly reduced staffing levels as an essential workplace.
This morning we were advised that my gorgeous daughter Evie has tested positive for COVID-19. One of Canberra’s 17 positive cases today.
— Katy Gallagher (@SenKatyG) August 17, 2021
My full statement is available on this link or on my Facebook page. https://t.co/uIbJlwmZIopic.twitter.com/2iFyecwgce
Out of concern that a sitting period could turn into a COVID-19 superspreader event, the measures imposed on the building pre-date the ACT lockdown and have been more strict than required under ACT guidelines.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr wants Federal Parliament postponed, but prior to Senator Gallagher's news, Prime Minister Scott Morrison stated there was no move in the works to do that.
"No decision has been taken, other than that Parliament would normally proceed next Monday," he said on Tuesday.
"We continue to work through those issues with the Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Health Officer here."
But Mr Barr said now is "not the time" for Parliament to sit. He has spoken to Mr Morrison and Labor leader Anthony Albanese about his concerns.
"They need to consider the urgency of a federal parliamentary sitting and whether it is required," he said.
"My preference would be that they don't, unless they absolutely had to. And if they did, it would need to be very minimal sitting and absolutely Covid-safe.
"But my starting point would be now is probably not the time for the Federal Parliament to return."
Parliament sat for a fortnight at the beginning of this month, with many MPs attending remotely via video link.
The Prime Minister has confirmed there are enough parliamentarians remaining in Canberra this week to form a quorum and allow Parliament to legally return when required, despite the lockdown requirements around the nation.
