Coronavirus: Start planning now for next parliament sitting, says Anthony Albanese

Anthony Albanese has denied he is sending mixed messages on the return to parliament after backflipping on his initial support of the government’s decision to suspend­ sittings.

Anthony Albanese in Sydney on Monday. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Anthony Albanese has denied he is sending mixed messages on the return to parliament after backflipping on his initial support of the government’s decision to suspend­ sittings.

The Opposition Leader arrived in Canberra on Tuesday declaring­ parliament should be sitting this week. “Australians are doing essential work during the pandemic — so should their elect­ed representatives,” Mr Alban­ese said on social media.

When Scott Morrison first cancelled the parliamentary fortnight, Mr Albanese said he supported­ the move based on the advice of health officials.

“That decision by the Prime Minister is one that we accept … we have received a copy of the advic­e from the Chief Medical Officer,” Mr Albanese said last month. “Labor has always said that we need to follow the advice by the health experts.”

When asked if he believed the health advice was now wrong, Mr Albanese said “no”. He said he was giving the government ample time to ensure it prepared to hold sittings on the next scheduled sitting­ week, from August 24.

“The advice was given on that time. We had no alternative but to accept it. We do not want this to be an ongoing issue,” Mr Alban­ese said.

“What we’re saying is, well in advance of August 24, put in place the mechanisms. The reason why two weeks was critical was because­, if the advice, for example, was that people needed to self-isolate for two weeks, then it is now well in advance of two weeks so that people can make arrangements at a reasonable time.

“But the way that the date that it was called off, just two weeks beforehand, meant that with that Chief Medical Officer’s advice, there was little alternative but to accept the decision that had been made.”

Working groups were in talks on Tuesday on how parliament could convene later this month.