PoliticsNow: First virus case contracted within Australia
The sister of a man recently returned from Iran and a health worker have been confirmed as the first cases of person-to-person coronavirus in Australia.
- First patient-to-patient virus case
- Returning workers told to stay home
- ‘Add Italy, S Korea to travel warnings’
- Labor blasts bushfire support
- Dutton has no regrets over deportations
- No Clover Moore interview over Angus Taylor saga
Hello and welcome to PoliticsNow, The Australian’s live blog on the happenings at Parliament House in Canberra. Coronavirus continues to dominate political attention, as Australia grapples with the fallout from its first death from the disease, the government is telling health and aged-care workers returning to Australia after visiting South Korea to stay away from work for 14 days.
TOP STORY: Doctor the first patient-to-patient virus case in Australia
8.19pm: Two virus cases had ‘high likelihood of transmission in NSW’
The sister of a man recently returned from Iran and a health worker have been confirmed as the first cases of person-to-person coronavirus in Australia.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard on Monday afternoon said three new cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed in NSW taking the state’s total to nine.
Two of the new cases had a “high likelihood of transmission in NSW”, the health minister told reporters.
One of the cases was the 41-year-old sister of a man who had returned from Iran with the disease, while the second locally-acquired case was a 53-year-old male health worker who hadn’t travelled for many months.
The other new case is a 31-year-old man who flew into Sydney on Saturday from Iran and developed symptoms 24 hours later.
Mr Hazzard said it was “particularly concerning” that the health worker - thought to be a doctor - hadn’t travelled for at least three months. “He’s been working in a clinical situation so there is a lot of work to be done ... to determine what contacts he may have had (and) how did he actually get the transmission,” the minister said.
Chief health officer Kerry Chant says it’s not known if the healthcare worker acquired the infection at work or while in the community.
“Our key focus at the moment is to contact staff or patients that may have been close contacts of this gentleman,” Dr Chant said, adding he was in a stable condition in intensive care.
The chief health officer said the patients likely included people aged over 65. Dr Chant said the fact the healthcare worker was ill raised the question: “Was there a case that was missed?” “But even if occasional cases are missed, if people practice good hygiene, do common sense things, then their likelihood of onwards transmitting it - even if they are unaware they had it - is much reduced.” Mr Hazzard stressed people should always wash their hands after being in a public space and certainly before touching their faces.
The minister also urged people not to shake hands to reduce the risk of transmission.
“It’s time that Aussies actually gave each other a pat on the back for the time being - no hand-shaking,” he said.
“It’s very automatic but don’t do it.” The state government earlier on Monday warned of a likely convergence of a COVID-19 pandemic with winter flu as they announced a lowering of the age at which pharmacists could administer flu jabs to 10.
“While the flu vaccine won’t combat COVID-19, it will help reduce the severity and spread of flu, which can lower a person’s immunity and make them susceptible to other illnesses,” Mr Hazzard said.
The NSW education department has announced that in the current “COVID-19 environment” all overseas excursions in term one are on hold “until further notice”.
“Schools have been asked, if possible, to reschedule planned overseas travel until later in the year,” the department said.
AAP
Ben Packham 8.01pm: 100 people exempted from travel ban
The federal government has approved the entry to Australia of 100 people who were in China after the coronavirus travel ban who are not Australian citizens or residents.
Australian Border Force commissioner Michael Outram told Senate estimates on Monday night that he had made exceptions to the ban in relation to 28 individual or family visa applications.
“I am exercising discretion in relation to a small number of cases where there is a compelling or compassionate grounds,” Mr Outram said.
He said none had arrived directly from China, and none had been in the coronavirus epicentre of Hubei province.
One of those granted entry was Xing Lan Ren, who asked to be allowed to come to Australia to see her brain dead son who was on life support after a car crash.
“In terms of business people, I am receiving applications with information from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade that make out the case for a small number of people where there is a compelling case for them to return to Australia in certain circumstances,” Mr Outram said.
“I require the territory or state health body to notify me they are satisfied with the arrangements for self-quarantine.”
He said one of the preconditions of approval was being able to self-quarantine in a residence, rather than a hotel.
Richard Ferguson 7.19pm: $2bn bushfire fund ‘doesn't exist’: Labor
Only five farmers and small businesses have so far received emergency bushfire loans from the federal government, as Labor accused Scott Morrison’s $2bn recovery fund of not existing.
The loans of up to $500,000 were a key plank of the Prime Minister’s bushfire recovery, but so far only $400,000 has been given out to primary producers and businesses affected by the summer bushfires.
The revelations at a senate estimates hearing came as Labor and Coalition senators came to blows over the official status of the $2bn Bushfire Recovery Fund, which civil servants called “notional”.
5.15pm: Doctor the first patient-to-patient virus case in Australia
NSW health authorities have confirmed the first cases of person-to-person coronavirus within Australia.
The infected person is a doctor who caught the virus while treating patients, according to reports.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said three new cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed in NSW, taking the state’s total to nine.
Two of the new cases had a “high likelihood of transmission in NSW”, the health minister told reporters.
One of the cases was the sister of a man who had returned from Iran with the disease, while the second locally-acquired case was a 53-year-old male doctor who hadn’t travelled for many months.
With AAP
4.35pm: First confirmed virus case contracted within Australia
Australia has confirmed its first human-to-human transmission of coronavirus inside Australia, meaning the person contracted it without travelling abroad.
The infected person is a medical worker at a hospital in Sydney’s western suburbs who caught the virus while treating patients.
The NSW chief health officer will hold a press conference shortly.
NSW currently has six confirmed cases of coronavirus and as of Monday was testing 80 people for the virus, down from 300 on Sunday. Two cases are currently active while the other four people have recovered and are out of hospital.
Earlier on Monday, Mr Hazzard said the two active cases — a 40-year-old man and 50-year-old woman — had recently returned from Iran and the government was in the process of locating people who had been in close contact with the pair.
“The first gentleman, the 40-year-old, we have two of his close contacts that are in quarantine and another six that are actually in isolation,” Mr Hazzard said.
“The 50-year-old lady came on a Qatar air flight on the February 23 that arrived at 6.50pm at Sydney Airport.”
“It was flight QR908 and we are currently making investigations as to precisely the location she was occupying in the plane, and we are also looking at trying to ensure that we reach out through the border force details we can access to contact the people who were sitting in her immediate vicinity.
“My message as health minister is that anybody on that flight … should be very aware that there was somebody on their flight that had coronavirus.”
Dr Chant said the department of health would reach out to passengers who sat near the 50-year-old-woman on the flight and advise them to self-isolate and visit a doctor.
#BREAKING: The first human-to-human transmission of #coronavirus has been CONFIRMED inside Australia. #9News pic.twitter.com/1mvHg3teCN
— Nine News Australia (@9NewsAUS) March 2, 2020
4.30pm: Virus powers: Aussies detainable under biosecurity laws
Australians who test positive for coronavirus could be legally detained and questioned over their travel and contact history under biosecurity laws, AAP reports.
Attorney-General Christian Porter told parliament on Monday the laws — which were effective from the official “listing” of the coronavirus on January 21 — could also bar people or large groups going to shopping centres, schools or their workplaces.
“These are challenging times going forward and these will be some of the first times these important powers may be used,” Mr Porter said.
Mr Porter alerted Australians the government may be forced to use the laws under the Biosecurity Act in the months ahead.
Authorities would also be able to restrict people with coronavirus to remain in a certain place or undergo quarantine.
It would also allow the government to declare a “human health response zone”, such as that activated for the Diamond Princess cruise ship. Unauthorised people would be banned from leaving or entering these zones for up to three months, with the zone applying to “the whole or a part of a specified building”, according to the laws.
Australia has had 30 confirmed cases of coronavirus, with one elderly Perth man on Sunday being the first person in Australia to die of the virus. James Kwan, 78, died in a Perth hospital after recently returning from quarantine on the Diamond Princess.
4pm: New SA laws to tackle coronavirus
People at risk of spreading coronavirus could be arrested and detained by police under new laws to be introduced in South Australia.
The amendments come as governments across the world grapple to contain the spread of the virus, with three cases confirmed in the state. Premier Steven Marshall said the change, to be introduced to parliament this week, will give health authorities the powers they need to protect South Australians, AAP reports.
Under the changes, patients can be ordered to remain at a hospital or quarantine facility or require that they undergo testing or counselling. Health Minister Stephen Wade said the health system was prepared for any scenario, but authorities must plan for the worst.
“Key to being prepared is to ensure that our public health experts have the tools they need to be nimble and proactive in controlling any possible outbreak scenario,” he said.
“The limited amendments … will provide greater capacity to rapidly respond and contain public health risks.” Earlier, Australia’s chief medical officer said Australia could no longer keep coronavirus cases out of the country.
Professor Brendan Murphy made the comment while explaining why Australia had banned arrivals from virus-hit Iran, but not two other major hotspots, Italy and South Korea.
Matthew Denholm 3.45pm: Tasmania confirms first coronavirus case
Tasmania has recorded its first confirmed case of coronavirus; a man who arrived from Iran on Saturday.
The state government said the 40-year-old man would be treated at the Launceston General Hospital and there was no public health emergency.
He had travelled from Iran via Malaysia and Melbourne and was moderately unwell.
Elias Visontay 3.10pm: The economy before coronavirus
Labor MP Madeleine King asks Josh Frydenberg about wage growth, investment and employment.
“Can he (Mr Frydenberg) confirm that since he became Treasurer economic growth has
almost halved, wages growth has stalled further, business investment and productivity have declined, underemployment has increased and household debt and net debt have reached record highs and all this happened before the bushfires and coronavirus.” Ms King asks.
The Treasurer responds: “I can confirm that as of January this year the Australian economy is going to grow according to the IMF faster that continue United States, Japan, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany.”
“I can confirm that under this government the minimum wage has gone up every year. The real minimum wage has gone up every year whereas under those opposite it did not.
“I can confirm that for the first time in 11 years under this government the budget is back in balance.”
Question Time ends
Elias Visontay 3.05pm: Treasurer quizzed on construction figures
Labor MP Clare O’Neil asks Josh Frydenberg if he can confirm that in the December quarter construction work fell by 3 per cent and capital expenditure fell by 2.8 per cent.
“Can he also confirm that this was before the outbreak of coronavirus?” Ms O’Neil asks.
The Treasurer responds with economic figures about public sector construction work.
“I am very pleased to confirm to the House that in the December quarter construction by the public sector was up 0.7 per cent,” Mr Frydenberg says.
“This is the benefit of our $100 billion 10-year infrastructure pipeline.”
Elias Visontay 2.45pm: What’s triggering rate cuts?
Opposition treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers asks Josh Frydenberg about what is causing current economic performance and triggering rates cuts.
“Why does the Treasurer pretend that weakness in the economy is entirely due to the bushfires and coronavirus when last year the Reserve Bank had already cut interest rates three times to well below GFC levels?” Mr Chalmers asks.
The Treasurer responds: “The facts are these. In December of last year, unemployment fell to 5.1 per cent. The facts are these. That in December last year retail trade volumes had the biggest jump in two years, and the facts are these. That in the September quarter household disposable income had its biggest jump on the back of our tax cuts in more than a decade.
“Only the Coalition can be trusted to create more jobs and to lower taxes.”
Elias Visontay 2.52pm: State of the surplus
Anthony Albanese asks Scott Morrison about the projected budget surplus.
“Does the Prime Minister stand by his 2019 statement that he, and I quote, ‘Brought the budget back to surplus next year’,” the Opposition Leader asks.
The Prime Minister responds: “For the past six years our government has been dealing with the financial wreckage that was left to us by the Labor Party.”
“The surpluses that we forecast at the last budget, were based on the outlook that was a very credible and a very sensible outlook at that time.”
“The challenges we now face that have emerged in literally just the last few weeks, will definitely have a significant impact and they are being evaluated by Treasury as we move towards the next budget.”
Elias Visontay 2.45pm: Sports rorts is back
Labor MP Joanne Ryan asks Scott Morrison about the Gaetjens report into the sports rorts saga.
“Today the Prime Minister’s own department told the Senate that Mr Gaetjens wasn’t aware of the 136 emails and 28 colour-coded spreadsheets that passed between his office and the office of senator Bridget McKenzie and further didn’t interview anyone in the Prime Minister’s office. Isn’t his defence of the corrupt sports rorts scheme based on an ill informed sham report by his former Chief of Staff?”
The Prime Minister responds with one word: “No.”
Elias Visontay 2.42pm: Treasury silent on Alinta
Opposition treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers again asks about Alinta Energy, this time asking Josh Frydenberg why he’s not protecting the privacy of over 1 million Australians.
The Treasurer again refers to a Treasury statement that it’s not appropriate to comment further, and then says.
“Those opposite will know that the head of the Foreign Investment Review Board is David Irvine, the former head of ASIO, former Ambassador to China and a distinguished Australian and public servant. Australians trust him to get these measures right,” Mr Frydenberg says.
Elias Visontay 2.40pm: Frydenberg on Alinta privacy breach
Opposition treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers asks Scott Morrison about a decision he made as Treasurer approving a foreign takeover of Alinta Energy.
The question comes after reports the personal information of Alinta Energy’s 1.1 million customers could be in jeopardy due to a possible breach of Australian privacy laws, with Labor critical of Mr Morrison’s role in approving the takeover of the group by Hong Kong-based conglomerate Chow Tai Fook.
“When did the Prime Minister first become aware the foreign investment conditions he imposed on Alinta Energy as Treasurer which were meant to protect the privacy of over 1 million Australians were not being enforced?” Mr Chalmers asks.
Josh Frydenberg answers instead, saying it is not practice for Treasurers to comment on specific foreign investment matters.
“In relation to the specific issue and the specific matter that was raised by the member opposite, this is what the Treasury statement said: ‘It is not the practice of Treasurer to comment on matters which may involve a foreign investor applicant or compliance matters. This is due to protected information, privacy provisions contained in the foreign acquisition and takeovers act and which recognise that information provided to Treasury can be commercially sensitive.’ I think that makes it very clear,” Mr Frydenberg says.
Elias Visontay 2.30pm: Bushfire grants delays
Labor MP Mike Kelly asks Scott Morrison about grants to bushfire affected businesses.
Mr Kelly, whose seat of Eden Monaro in NSW was ravaged by bushfires, quotes the president of the Merimbula Chamber of Commerce in his local area who has said ‘When it comes to government assistance, it’s a big fat zero with 100 per cent of respondents (to a survey to its members) saying they have received no government assistance at all’.
“Why have you left them behind?” he asks.
The Prime Minister responds “in New South Wales there have been 674 applications, 111 have been approved totalling some $1.9 million. There are 491 still being processed by the New South Wales government.” Minister for Emergency Management David Littleproud also answers, saying the issues are related to the fact the government contributes funds but the roll out of the grants and loans are done by the state governments.
Elias Visontay 2.20pm: PM quizzed on bushfire relief
Labor MP Susan Templeman asks Scott Morrison about small business grants and loans as part of the bushfire relief response.
“Why has the Prime Minister broken his promise of immediate support for bushfire-affected communities given that fewer than 20 per cent of applications for small business grants and fewer than 5 per cent of applications for small business loans have been approved?”
The Prime Minister responds “I am also concerned about the progress of the small business grants and some just over three weeks ago I invited the leader of the opposition to submit any proposals that he had to see to how he thought that system should be changed.”
“I would welcome any proposals,” Mr Morrison says.
Ms Templeman’s question comes after Anthony Albanese called on the government on Monday to introduce a wage assistance program for bushfire affected businesses, arguing employees who lose their jobs when the small businesses they work at go under will ultimately end up on welfare.
Elias Visontay 2.10pm: ‘What matters is who attends’
Anthony Albanese again asks Scott Morrison about the Cabinet Office Policy Committee, asking him to confirm that he is the only permanent member.
The Prime Minister responds “what matters is who attends those meetings”.
“These cabinet office policy committees have been crucial mechanisms used for the government to come together, to pull together the experience and the leanings and the wisdom of those who sit on the government benches to focus on the issues that are most important to the Australian people.”
Elias Visontay 2.05pm: Is this a one-man committee?
Anthony Albanese begins question time by asking Scott Morrison about the Cabinet Office Policy Committee.
“Today the minister representing the Prime Minister told the Senate that the cabinet office policy committee is made up of just one permanent member, the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister advise in relation to this one-man cabinet committee, do the committee’s discussions take long? Is there a lot of disagreement in this committee and are the meeting of this committee held in the Prime Minister’s head? Isn’t this just an abuse of the cabinet designed to hide government documents?” the Opposition Leader asks.
The Prime Minister responds: “I can confirm that the government’s committee of cabinet regularly has attending its meetings myself, the Attorney-General, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Treasurer.”
Elias Visontay 1.30pm: Coronavirus: Returning Aussie workers told to stay home
The government is telling health and aged-care workers returning to Australia after visiting South Korea to stay away from work for 14 days, as the government grapples with the first death from the coronavirus in Australia.
However Health Minister Greg Hunt confirmed on Monday the government would not be heeding to pressure from a leading virologist and the medical community to expand the travel ban already in place for China and Iran, to cover all of Italy and South Korea.
Monday’s announcement comes after Australia’s travel warning to citizens for Italy was upgraded overnight, bringing the advisory to exercise a high degree of caution throughout the entire country, and to reconsider the need to travel to 10 small towns in Lombardy and one in Veneto in the north of the county
Mr Hunt confirmed there were the number of cases worldwide was no above 88,000, but noted in parts of the world where diagnosing and reporting processes lagged behind, the actual number of cases could be significantly higher.
There are now 67 countries which have reported cases of coronavirus, with 29 in Australia, 15 of which initially came from China.
A further 10 cases came from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, with the one reported Australian death of James Kwan also coming from the ship.
There are also four further cases from Iran — one in Queensland, two from NSW and one in Victoria.
Despite not expanding the travel ban, Mr Hunt said travellers returning from South Korea and Japan still posed a concern for the government.
“Our commitment is that we will continue to implement the measures which the medical advisers recommend,” Mr Hunt said.
Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy warned that travel bans alone could no longer stop the spread of the virus from a particular country.
“Travel bans are, at this stage, when we have an outbreak in many countries, a way of delaying the burden of new cases coming in. It’s no longer possible to absolutely prevent new cases coming in given the increasing changes in epidemiology around the country,” Professor Murphy said.
He said while the ban was appropriate for Iran, the benefit of a ban for Italy or South Korea wasn’t justified because outbreaks of the virus were localised in specific regions or towns in the countries.
“In the case of Iran there’s such a high risk that a travel ban is worth doing because it will slow down the number of cases. You cannot stop Australian citizens coming back, some of the cases that came back from Iran with the disease are Australian citizens. It’s a way of slowing things down.”
Greg Brown 1.25pm Wong, Cormann clash on sports rorts.
Penny Wong has accused former sports minister Bridget McKenzie of backdating a document approving sports grants funding and labelled the Morrison government “corrupt” for its handling of the $100 million scheme.
The opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman took aim at the handling of the sports grants scheme in a fiery Senate Estimates session on Monday morning with officials from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, with Mathias Cormann cutting in his response. Read more here.
Elias Visontay 11.45am: Call to add Italy, South Korea to restricted travel list
One of Australia’s leading virologists has called for Australia to restrict travel to South Korea and Italy as pressure mounts on the government to expand the list of banned countries.
Ian Mackay, a professor at the University of Queensland, said community transmission would begin to occur as more foreign travellers arrived in Australia and unwittingly spread the disease.
Responding to news of the death of 78-year-old James Kwan, Australia’s first reported coronavirus fatality, Professor Mackay told ABC Radio: “That’s what this virus does in a small percentage of people, it does end up causing death.”
“I think we should probably be more even handed in our travel bans. South Korea and Italy should be included in that list because they are places with a lot of cases every day,” Professor Mackay said, arguing the two countries should be subject to the same travel restrictions in place for visitors from China and Iran to Australia.
“Eventually there’s going to be too many cases probably in different parts of the world arriving in Australia. And they’ll cause more and more cases.”
Elias Visontay 11.40am: Help fire-hit small business now: Labor
Labor has blasted the government for its handling of bushfire relief support, saying red tape is and other requirement issues with business support grants and loans are responsible for the delays in money reaching struggling businesses.
Anthony Albanese has also called on the government to introduce a wage assistance program for bushfire affected businesses, arguing employees who lose their jobs when the small businesses they work at go under will ultimately end up on welfare.
“Small businesses in fire devastated areas around the country are desperate for financial help right now. Concern is mounting that the Morrison Government’s small business package is not getting to businesses that need it most, nor having the desired result,” the Opposition Leader said in a statement.
“These small businesses in fire affected areas are facing a cash flow crisis — while shopfronts are still standing, many have lost their livelihoods due to the ongoing bushfires, and are facing continued economic uncertainty, severely impacting their ability to employ staff.
“That is why the Government should consider extending eligibility and access to wage assistance programs for small businesses significantly directly and indirectly affected by the bushfire crisis.
“Wage assistance was provided to North Queensland communities of up to 26 weeks at the Newstart rate by the previous Labor Federal Government when tropical Cyclone Yasi hit in 2011. Why has the Morrison Government not considered this response already?”
Mr Albanese also said a similar fiscal support package needed to be considered for industries affected by coronavirus, including the tourism industry.
10.42am: Bandt introduces ‘climate crisis’ bill
Greens leader Adam Bandt has painted a post-apocalyptic future for Australia unless the government declares a climate emergency.
Mr Bandt told parliament on Monday that “environmental collapse was here” as he introduced his bill to formally declare the crisis.
“It is not scaremongering, it is hard physics and we have just had a taste of it over the last summer,” he said.
“People are angry and are anxious and are desperately looking for leadership.”
Under the bill, the government would be required to set up a “war cabinet” to tackle the crisis, government agencies would refer to the declaration of a climate emergency when developing policy and table annual reports on how they were meeting their obligations.
Mr Bandt’s bill was seconded by independent MP Zali Steggall.
A climate emergency motion moved in October fell four votes short. — AAP
Graham Lloyd 10.30am: Weather not sole factor in deadly bushfires: BOM head
Weather conditions were only one of a number of factors that contributed to Australia’s bushfires, Bureau of Meteorology chief executive, Dr Andrew Johnson told Senate estimates.
Dr Johnson said there was no question that dry conditions were a major contributing factor to the fires but it was not possible to say to what extent.
“When looking at the bushfire there were a whole range of factors and weather was only one of them”, Dr Johnson said.
Dr Johnson said the fires were the result of many factors coming together including hot, dry and windy conditions.
Other factors included land use and source of ignition.
Dr Johnson said Australia had experienced a warming and drying trend.
Dr Johnson said as the climate continued to warm and dry the bushfire risk would continue to increase.
He said based on current trajectories for greenhouse gas emissions BOM would expect the warming and drying to continue.
Dr Johnson said the link between the emissions and warming trend was “inarguable”.
Should the emissions trends change, Dr Johnson said the Bureau would reassess its outlook.
Greg Brown 10.20am: First boat turnback to Indonesia since mid-2018
Eight illegal immigrants were returned to Indonesia after a boat was intercepted by Australian Border Force authorities.
The Morrison government has confirmed a vessel was turned back to Indonesia in mid-January under the Operation Sovereign Borders policy.
The boat included six Chinese nationals and two Indonesian crew. It was the first boat turnback to Indonesia since mid-2018.
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said the turnback showcased the government’s steadfast commitment to secure borders.
“We will not tolerate a return to past circumstances where more than 1200 people died at sea attempting illegal and dangerous journeys to Australia,” Mr Dutton said.
“Illegal maritime travel to Australia is as pointless as it is dangerous. There is zero chance of illegal migration to Australia.”
The ABC reported last month the boat was captured crossing through the Timor Sea as the spread of coronavirus was making global headlines.
The report said eight men were detained in a naval base in the East Nusa Tenggara province and quarantined in the wooden boat.
Under Operation Sovereign Borders, 873 people in 38 vessels have been returned to their country of origin or departure.
The Australian revealed last year that Australian Border Force officials were facing a surge of people-smuggling activity from Sri Lanka after the border policies were watered down under the Labor-backed medivac laws.
The government repealed the medivac laws in December after securing the support of crossbench senator Jacqui Lambie.
When the medivac laws were active, 184 people were transferred to Australia and 418 applications were lodged.
The laws, which were backed by Labor, the Greens and some crossbenchers, gave doctors greater powers to refer asylum-seekers on Manus Island and Nauru to Australia for medical treatment.
Mr Dutton was able to refuse a transfer on national security grounds or if a potential transferee held a substantial criminal record.
10.15am: AFP didn’t interview Clover before dropping Taylor interview
Australian Federal Police did not interview Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore during an investigation into allegedly doctored documents Energy Minister Angus Taylor used to attack her.
AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw confirmed that Ms Moore was not spoken to before his officers abandoned their investigation into the falsified travel figures. “The mayor was not interviewed,” Mr Kershaw told a Senate estimates hearing on Monday.
Labor senator Kristina Keneally repeatedly questioned why Ms Moore was not interviewed before the AFP decided the allegations presented a “low level of ongoing harm”.
“The lord mayor is the victim, if you will, in this circumstance,” Senator Keneally said.
“How do you make a determination of harm and a decision not to continue an investigation without speaking to the victim of the alleged crime?” Mr Kershaw said the decision was objective and considered.
“That’s a matter again for the decision-makers and they have made that decision on the materials available to them at the time,” he said.
“That was what was referred to us by the NSW Police.” Greens senator Nick McKim asked whether the AFP had considered ringing Mr Taylor to ask whether he had forged the City of Sydney travel figures. “Isn’t that the first thing you’d do?” Senator McKim said.
Mr Kershaw laughed off the question.
“No, we don’t operate like that,” the commissioner said.
Elias Visontay 9.05am: Dutton has no regrets over deportations
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has criticised New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for publicly attacking Australia’s deporting practices, accusing her of making the comments as an effort to win votes ahead of an election.
Mr Dutton was responding to comments Ms Ardern made at a press conference last week telling Prime Minister Scott Morrison , who was standing next to her, that he was deporting “your people and your problems”.
EDITORIAL: Australia forced to manage an ungracious guest
She also urged the Prime Minister to send back “genuine Kiwis” and accused the government of deporting its own people, convicted criminals who had spent a period of time in New Zealand as children but had lived in Australia since.
Mr Dutton told Sky News Ms Ardern’s comments did not come as a surprise.
“New Zealand obviously is in the electoral cycle at the moment. It’s I think regrettable that she made the comments but that would have played well domestically for her and I think for Australia we act in our national interest and her job is to act in the national interests of New Zealand,” he said.
“I don’t have any regrets about the numbers of visas we’ve cancelled, particularly people that have committed sexual offences against women and children. We’ve had a concerted effort to make sure that those people hear a very clear message that if you commit that sort of an offence in our country, you can expect to be deported.”
Mr Dutton said he suspected there was an element of grandstanding to Ms Ardern’s comments.
“My responsibility is to keep Australians safe and we’ve now cancelled the visas of over 5000 criminals.
“I sleep well at night knowing that deporting pedophiles from our shores mean that more Australian children won’t fall victim to that pedophile, and I’d want to make sure that we have a great migration system, we celebrate 99 per cent of people that come into our country, whether it’s on a tourist visa or to live here permanently and ultimately become an Australian citizen — but people who aren’t Australian citizens who come to our country, committing crimes against Australians, can expect to be deported.”
Lachlan Moffet Gray 8.30am: Don’t panic over coronavirus, Hunt urges
Health minister Greg Hunt has refused to confirm if a travel ban would be levied on Italy following an overnight spike in coronavirus cases from 600 to 1700.
“We were one of the first in the world to declare this as a disease of pandemic potential. We made the difficult decision in relation to the borders with China,” Mr Hunt told Today.
“What we are doing is following the medical advice, and our message to the Chief Medical Officer and State Chief Health Officers is provide your advice frankly and fearlessly and we will follow it.”
“Overnight alone, we have just upgraded the travel advisories for Italy and this is what we should be doing, and it is what we are doing.”
We’ve raised our travel advice for #Italy due to the #COVID19 outbreak. Exercise a high degree of caution in all of Italy and reconsider your need to travel to 10 small towns in Lombardy and one in Veneto. #beinformed #beprepared https://t.co/q4SmEpynmH
— Smartraveller (@Smartraveller) March 1, 2020
Mr Hunt said the decision to declare coronavirus a disease of pandemic potential — a step yet to be taken by the World Health Organisation — was based on the advice of Australian medical professionals. He urged Australians not to panic or rush to buy essentials from stores.
“The message, not just from the Chief Medical Officer, but from myself, is we have a small number of cases in the community in Australia,” he said.
“It is important to be calm and to be confident, and to go about your daily business — within Australia at the moment, we have supplies, we have lines of supply, we are in a strong position.
“I will say to the Australian people, we have got you covered. We are here to take care of you.”
Elias Visontay 8.20am: ‘Emissions targets mean nothing without a plan’
Environment Minister Sussan Ley has weighed in on the zero-net emissions target to which Labor and state and territory governments have committed, saying “dates and statements and targets don’t mean anything without the plan”.
Asked what emissions reduction she supported, Ms Ley told Sky News she wanted “to see us being ambitious, and we are — and (Energy Minister) Angus Taylor with his draft technology road map … will do that”.
“I have been a farmer, I live in an area where we do see the impact of climate change on our farming systems,” Ms Ley said.
“But I’m also seeing the actions that farmers are taking and the projects and the real change that is being made in how they manage their crops, what they do with livestock, what they do with water and how they are in real time taking the steps they need to to create the change that still keeps them successful farmers for the future while recognising that our seasons are changing.”
Ms Ley also praised her government for investing in new recycling infrastructure across Australia and implementing an environmental sustainability trigger for federal contracts to drive a green job boom and develop a targeted national waste market.
“This is real microeconomic reform, it’s new jobs. It’s jobs in regional Australia, and it’s turning plastic into a resource, it’s just not seeing waste as a problem to be solved,” she said.
Lachlan Moffet Gray 7.45am: Aussies must develop virus risk plans
Barnaby Joyce has warned all institutions in Australia to develop a risk plan for coronavirus in the event the disease becomes a pandemic, including federal parliament.
“I think it is incumbent on everyone everywhere to have a risk plan,” the former Nationals leader told Sunrise, adding that politicians could potentially carry the virus to “every corner of the country” if just one becomes infected.
“In Korea, the reason they said it has spread through the church is that they were sitting next to each other and shouting. Sounds like question time to me.”
Opposition shadow minister for agriculture and resources Joel Fitzgibbon expressed faith in the government to make the right choices over imposing further economically damaging travel restrictions, an idea expected to be discussed in Canberra today after the number of confirmed cases in Europe shot up overnight.
“I think all of us members of the community have to have faith in those at the coalface, the Prime Minister, the health minister, who are receiving daily briefings from the health authorities,” Mr Fitzgibbon told Sunrise.
“I have faith the Prime Minister is doing the right thing.”
Queensland senator Pauline Hanson told Today that the government should wait a few weeks before considering further travel restrictions.
“I would say no because China was the epicentre of it. I just think it will send the wrong message at this stage,” Senator Hanson said.
“Give it another week or two and see how it goes.”
Also on Sunrise, Mr Joyce labelled the presence of foreign spies on Australia “an interference in our democracy”. He commended Home Affairs minister Peter Dutton for declaring the government would act to track down a swelling group of foreign agents in Australia following ASIO’s warning that “hostile intelligence services” were directly threatening Australians.
“I think anyone who wants to interfere in our sovereignty, they’re not because they want to help out there here because they want her cause problems,” Mr Joyce said.
“This is an interference in our democracy … I want to commend what Peter Dutton is doing.”
Elias Visontay 7.30am: Alinta sale exposes privacy issues
Labor Senator Deborah O’Neill has hit out at Scott Morrison over a decision he made as Treasurer to approve the sale of an energy company to a Hong Kong owner that has been caught up in an “extremely concerning” privacy breach.
She was responding to reports that the personal information of Alinta Energy’s 1.1 million customers could be in jeopardy due to a possible breach of Australian privacy laws.
Senator O’Neill is critical of the role of Mr Morrison, who approved the sale of Alinta to a Chinese conglomerate when he was Treasurer.
“It’s extremely concerning that the privacy data of over a million Australians is now at risk,” Senator O’Neill told Sky News.
“There’s one person who’s responsible for that, and that is the man who approved the acceptance of the Chow Tai Fook bid for Alinta Energy. So people who wake up this morning and turn on the kettle using Alinta Energy cannot be assured because Scott Morrison didn’t do his job, that their privacy is protected.
“If somebody takes your identity, the risks are enormous, loans taken out in people’s names. And what we see is a government, particularly a leader, Mr Morrison, who was the Treasurer, simply didn’t do his job.”
Senator O’Neill acknowledged the Foreign Investment Review Board “makes advice that’s given to the Treasurer”, but said “there is no one else who can take responsibility for giving approval to a purchase”.
“Mr Morrison was the one who gave it the tick off and on giving that tick off, he had a series of conditions that had to be applied. One of them was all the data of customers who use Alinta would be stored in Australia. I have spoken with the whistleblower (mentioned in reports) who knows chapter in verse on this. And the reality is that there is data now in three jurisdictions, New Zealand, Singapore, and the Philippines. That is a total breach of the conditions.”
Elias Visontay 7am: What’s making news in Canberra
The coronavirus has claimed the life of its first Australian victim as infections exploded across the globe, piling pressure on the Morrison government to consider wider travel bans to contain the health crisis.
Scott Morrison will invest in new recycling infrastructure across Australia and implement an environmental sustainability trigger for federal contracts to drive a greens job boom and develop a targeted national waste market.
Scott Morrison will invest in new recycling infrastructure across Australia and implement an environmental sustainability trigger for federal contracts to drive a greens job boom and develop a targeted national waste market #auspol https://t.co/xSjXEFesng
— The Australian (@australian) March 1, 2020
Global homewares giant IKEA has pushed back against the PM’s planned religious discrimination act, as legal experts warn loopholes in the draft bill leave it “largely useless”.
China is on track for its worst first-quarter performance on record, with the latest figures set to inject fear into already volatile sharemarkets and pressure central banks to act to stimulate their economies.
Simon Benson writes: By wedding Labor to a 2050 zero net emissions target so early in the term, Anthony Albanese has revealed a structural weakness in his leadership and gambled away an important political advantage he had over Scott Morrison.
Jennifer Oriel writes: The Chinese Communist Party has done more damage to China’s prospects of becoming a global superpower than its most ardent detractors.
Crisafulli’s $50m anti-crime canoe camps
Children who wag school will have their phones confiscated and be sent on taxpayer-funded camps to canoe and learn coding under a Liberal National Party plan to drive down youth crime rates in Queensland.
RBA leaves all options on the table in inflation fight
Despite keeping interest rates on hold at its September meeting, the RBA left the door open for additional tightening in its efforts to tame inflation, minutes show.