Federal parliament sitting canned as Victoria and NSW battle coronavirus outbreaks

The next Federal parliament sitting has been cancelled because of the growing coronavirus case numbers in Victoria and NSW.

The next sitting fortnight of federal parliament has been cancelled, due to concerns of the growing coronavirus situation in Victoria and New South Wales.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed the August 4 sitting would not go ahead following advice from the acting Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Professor Paul Kelly.

“He advises that, despite proposed mitigation measures, the risks posed by a parliamentary sitting are significantly higher and unlikely to be resolved in the next month,” Mr Morrison said.

Professor Paul Kelly has advised Federal Parliament not go ahead on August 4. Martin Ollman/ NCA NewsWire

The acting CMO’s advice was: ‘The entry of a high-risk group of individuals could jeopardise the health situation in the ACT and place residents at unnecessary risk of infection. In addition, the health risk to Members and Senators and their staff from other jurisdictions is a material concern.

“It is my medical advice that, despite proposed mitigation measures, these risks would be significantly higher in the context of a parliamentary sitting period due to the number of persons travelling from Victoria and the inevitable mixing with ACT residents, Members, Senators, staff and visitors within Parliament House.”

Mr Morrison said the Government could not ignore the risk to parliamentarians, their staff, the staff within the parliament, and the broader community of the ACT.

“It is not feasible nor desirable to hold a sitting of parliament that would exclude parliamentarians from a single state,” he said.

“ Our Commonwealth parliament should have representatives from all members of our federation and it is the duty of Parliamentarians to attend parliament, if it is scheduled.”

Parliament will next meet on August 24.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese says the Government needs to sit during the COVID-19 crisis. Damian Shaw/ NCA NewsWire

But Opposition leader Anthony Albanese slammed the move, saying it was instead “critical” for the Government to sit amid the growing international health crisis.

“We expect to be consulted much further in advance,” he said.

“Three million people are uncertain about their jobs going past September, small businesses are uncertain as to what support they will receive.

“Parliaments are sitting throughout the world during this difficult time.”

Mr Albanese proposed a reduced number of people inside Parliament instead.