PoliticsNow: Scott Morrison seeks advice on Christian Porter’s role as Attorney-General
The PM says the issue relates to any potential conflict of interest regarding Mr Porter’s involvement in the Sex Discrimination Act.
- Labor undermines unity on vaccine rollout: PM
- GetUp volunteer ‘pushed’ female Liberal
- Albanese condemns Flint treatment
- Get your own house in order: Flint
Welcome to PoliticsNow, The Australian’s live coverage of the latest headlines from Canberra and around the nation amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Scott Morrison is seeking advice on any potential conflict of interest involving Christian Porter when he returns as Attorney-General.
The PM has accused Labor of undermining national unity on the coronavirus vaccine rollout, as the opposition attacks the Coalition for its online booking system.
A second Liberal female MP has called out intimidating behaviour by GetUp volunteers, with Fiona Martin revealing she was pushed by one of their campaigners and had a corflute pulled out of her hand during the 2019 election campaign.
It comes as outgoing Liberal MP Nicolle Flint accused Anthony Albanese and Tanya Plibersek of failing to condemn ALP, Get Up and union supporters who “chased, harassed and screamed” at her during the campaign.
Australia will provide 8000 locally-produced AstraZeneca jabs to Papua New Guinea to urgently vaccinate its frontline health workers, amid a worsening COVID emergency in the country. The Morrison government is seeking Europe’s support to access a further one million of Australia’s contracted supplies of the AstraZeneca vaccine to the virus-hit nation. Flights from PNG to Cairns have been suspended.
Greg Brown10.20pm:Pearson raises the stakes on ‘voice’
Noel Pearson says legislation to establish an Indigenous voice to parliament should be drafted and then set aside, arguing that a referendum to recognise Indigenous Australians in the Constitution should be held before the indigenous advisory body is created.
Mr Pearson, the leader of the Cape York Partnership, said the nation was “incomplete” without constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians in a landmark address in which he ramped up demands for the government to reverse its opposition to a constitutionally enshrined “voice to parliament”.
Mr Pearson’s intervention will reinforce to Aboriginal leaders that Indigenous recognition in the Constitution should be their main priority ahead of a legislated voice to government.
Alice Workman9.40pm: Speaking of celebs, look who came to town
The timing couldn’t have been better. As Scott Morrison spruiked his $1.2bn package that “will see Australians getting in the air”, who was watching on? Chopper cheerleader Bronwyn Bishop.
The former Iron Speaker cast a formidable shadow as she watched her successor Tony Smith fail to boot a single person from the chamber. During Bishop’s peak, she was punting 18 Laborites per day. It was 50 Shades of 94a!
A herculean effort only Bishop could have made look so effortless. She scored 400 sin bin hits, including a few regrettable incidents of friendly fire, during her one year and 263 days on the throne. (For those looking for the full figures, 393, or 98.25 per cent, were from the red corner and seven from the blue).
With such high-flying political royalty in attendance (Peter Garrett was also there, but we doubt the Midnight Oil frontman would have much of an impact on the frontbench), the government couldn’t help but elevate their Dorothy Dixers.
Trade Minister Dan Tehan put on his pilot’s hat to launch a fire sale for tickets that aren’t on sale yet. “Can I tell the house that the reception there of our package on the Gold Coast was huge. Absolutely huge,” he declared grandly.
And for tourism operators who missed out, Tehan found an extra $12m in the budget for “new photography and video material”.
Rosie Lewis9pm:Election protection for candidates on agenda
The Morrison government is considering new measures to protect candidates from violence, harassment and bullying during federal elections to try to prevent a repeat of “one of the ugliest campaigns” that was waged against outgoing Liberal MP Nicolle Flint.
The joint standing committee on electoral matters has recommended a new “electoral violence” offence be added to the Electoral Act, which would cover behaviour in an election such as violence, obscene or discriminatory abuse, property damage and stalking candidates or their supporters.
Assistant Minister for Electoral Matters Ben Morton noted that many of the offences listed in the recommendation were already covered by federal and state criminal codes but added: “I am looking very carefully at the committee proposals to understand what more could be possible to protect participants in an election from intimidatory conduct.”
Tim Dodd8.15pm:ANU to shut down Nobel-winning research field
The Australian National University will shut down its research in neuroscience, the field in which it won its first Nobel prize, as it reels from a 2020 deficit of $200m and heads towards its debt ceiling.
Vice-chancellor Brian Schmidt told staff in an update that “there is not a surprise surplus as seen at other universities — we will unfortunately see a deficit for 2020 as we expected”.
ANU last year flagged an estimated 2020 deficit of just over $200m, and expects to report deficits this year and next year, taking the university close to its debt limit.
Simon Benson, Geoff Chambers 7.40pm:ASIO unearths foreign ‘nest of spies’
ASIO has cracked a major foreign spy network operating in Australia that successfully recruited a government official with security access to classified defence technology, in what the security agency has described as a “nest of spies”.
The spies also groomed current and former politicians, officials of an unnamed state police service, and sought access to sensitive security protocols for a major airport via a public servant.
The spy ring, which was busted last year, was disclosed on Wednesday night in the annual threat assessment delivered by Australian Security Intelligence Organisation director-general Mike Burgess, who has ordered a number of foreign agents be removed from the country.
Ben Packham, Greg Brown7.20pm:PM backs net-zero, energy shift in call to Kerry
Scott Morrison has told US President Joe Biden’s special climate envoy, John Kerry, that Australia will reach net-zero emissions “as soon as possible, and preferably by 2050”, but argued the climate debate must focus on achievements “not just future ambition”.
A readout of the call by the Prime Minister’s office said Mr Morrison and Mr Kerry discussed ways Australia and the US would work together on technological advances to “address the climate challenge and the transition to a new energy economy”.
The nations will collaborate on research, innovation and clean technology through a new bilateral working group.
“The PM reiterated his commitment to reaching net zero emissions as soon as possible, and preferably by 2050 and the work that needed to be done together to achieve such a goal
while protecting jobs and livelihoods, especially in regional areas, that rely on energy intensive industries,” his office said.
Eli Greenblat6.55pm:$60bn spending lift key for retailers
JB Hi-Fi chief executive Richard Murray believes retailers will never forget the key number of “$60 billion”, an estimate of the amount spent by Australians travelling overseas before COVID-19, with that money now staying within our borders and up for grabs by stores. Read more here
Richard Ferguson6.30pm:Chief scientist backs China research
Cathy Foley warns Australia must continue to conduct research with China despite growing geopolitical tensions. Read more here
Remy Varga6pm:Cyber incident forces health network offline
Computer systems at one of Melbourne’s biggest health networks are down after a “cyber incident”, forcing some elective surgeries to be postponed.
Eastern Health, which operates more 50 facilities and provides clinical services to 750,000 people, confirmed on Wednesday night a number of IT systems had been taken offline as the health network investigated the cyber incident.
A number of Eastern Health ICT systems are off-line
— Eastern Health (@easternhealthau) March 17, 2021
It is important to note, patient safety has not been compromised. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Please call 000 for emergencies and call our contact centre if needed on 1300 342 255 pic.twitter.com/F613Mw6P2t
“Late on Tuesday, Eastern Health experienced a cyber incident,” a spokeswoman said.
“Many Eastern Health IT systems have been taken off-line as a precaution while we seek to understand and rectify the situation.”
“It is important to note, patient safety has not been compromised.”
The spokeswoman said category 1 elective surgery would continue as planned but the “cyber incident” had impacted Eastern Health’s ability to undertake category two and three procedures.
“We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause,” she said. “We thank our staff, patients, and their families for patience during this situation and we will keep them informed.”
READ MORE:Virgin shift ‘could help Qantas’
Adeshola ore4.50pm: Charity praises Australia’s PNG virus support
Save The Children says the Morrison government’s emergency support for Papua New Guinea is vital to bolster the country’s response to coronavirus as infection rates soar.
Scott Morrison today announced Australia would send 8000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to PNG to begin inoculating healthcare workers and residents of “treaty villages.” Australia will also make a formal request to AstraZeneca to access one million of the country’s contracted supplies of the COVID vaccine as part of an emergency support package.
“PNG was there for Australia in our ‘hour of need’ in WWII, and we must be there for PNG now. It’s fantastic to see Australia showing this regional leadership,” Save The Children’s deputy chief executive Mat Tinkler said.
He said children and family in PNG were facing the “life-threatening consequences” of the outbreak.
“Parents are struggling to provide food and shelter and young girls are being forced to abandon their education and pushed into child marriage. Violence in the home, already at endemic levels, is increasing.”
READ MORE: ‘Real risks’: PM’s support plan for PNG
Ben Packham4.35pm: PM, Kerry discuss working with US to address climate
Scott Morrison has told Joe Biden’s special climate envoy John Kerry that Australia will reach net-zero emissions “as soon as possible, and preferably by 2050”, but argued the climate debate must focus on achievements “not just future ambition”.
A readout of the call by the Prime Minister’s office said Mr Morrison and Mr Kerry discussed ways Australia and the US would work together on technological advances to “address the climate challenge and the transition to a new energy economy”.
The nations will collaborate on research, innovation and clean technology through a new bilateral working group.
“The PM reiterated his commitment to reaching net zero emissions as soon as possible, and preferably by 2050 and the work that needed to be done together to achieve such a goal
while protecting jobs and livelihoods, especially in regional areas, that rely on energy intensive industries,” his office said.
“They discussed the critical role that technology, such as hydrogen breakthroughs, had to play in reducing global emissions, particularly in developing countries.
“They agreed that there was increasing momentum in business and finance in driving economic opportunities from the transition to the new energy economy and that Australia is keen to be a part of.”
Mr Morrison emphasised Australia’s strong record of “meeting and beating our emissions reduction targets”, noting Australia had reduced carbon emissions by 19 per cent since 2005, “far exceeding the OECD average”.
“He added that the climate discussion must importantly focus on what nations are achieving in emissions reductions to date, not just future ambition,” the Prime Minister’s office said.
READ MORE:Power grid plans for emissions target
Adeshola Ore3.55pm: Domestic violence superannuation move in doubt
A controversial initiative that would allow domestic violence victims fleeing abusers to access up to $10,000 of their superannuation is in doubt, with Scott Morrison signalling it could be dumped.
During question time on Wednesday, the Prime Minister signalled the government would not pursue the draft legislation, citing “strong concerns” raised by various groups.
“We are listening to those concerns, Mr Speaker, and that measure is under review,” he told parliament.
READ MORE:Staffers want stronger privacy protection in review
Adeshola Ore3.30pm: PM seeks advice on possible Porter conflict
Scott Morrison says the federal government is seeking advice about if there is a conflict of interest regarding Attorney-General Christian Porter’s involvement in the Sex Discrimination Act when he returns from medical leave.
On Tuesday, the Prime Minister said Mr Porter would not be involved in any ministerial duties related to the Federal Court or the ABC when he returns to parliament after he launched defamation proceedings against the public broadcaster. The Australian has reported that Mr Porter is prepared to take the witness stand and give evidence under oath to deny a rape allegation in a defamation case against the ABC.
The Attorney-General, who will resume his duties on March 31 after taking almost a month off for his mental health, launched Federal Court defamation proceedings on Monday against the ABC and journalist Louise Milligan, claiming he had been subject to a malicious trial by media.
Mr Morrison said advice had been sought in response to the defamation lawsuit.
“Once that advice is received, arrangements will be put in place that are consistent with that at the time of the Attorney-General’s return,” he said.
READ MORE:Porter double standards leave ATO wanting
Adeshola Ore2.55pm: ‘No information to suggest’ alleged rapist met PM, staff
Scott Morrison says he has “no information to suggest” that the alleged rapist of Brittany Higgins met his ministers or staff after the incident.
During question time on Wednesday, Greens leader Adam Bandt asked the Prime Minister to provide an update on if the man had met with “staff at any time” after the alleged incident.
“It is not something that we can give a definite response to,” Mr Morrison told parliament.
“We have looked into the matter, Mr Speaker, and I have no information to suggest that what the member suggests is true.”
Last month, the former Liberal Party staffer alleged she had been raped in then defence industry minister Linda Reynolds’ office in Parliament House in 2019.
Her allegation triggered an independent inquiry into workplace culture at Parliament House.
Mr Morrison also told parliament he had not yet received a report being prepared by his former chief of staff about what his staff knew about the 2019 alleged rape of Ms Higgins.
The Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet Phil Gaetjens is investigating what staff in the Prime Minister’s Office knew about the alleged rape and when they were made aware of the information.
The Prime Minister has refused to guarantee that he will make the report public.
“I’ll report further once I have received that report,” he told parliament.
READ MORE:Discard stigma of shame: Higgins
Rosie Lewis2.45pm: Staffers want stronger privacy protections from Jenkins review
Former and current Labor and Liberal staffers have called for stronger privacy protections from Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins’ review into federal parliament’s workplace culture, warning the publication of allegations could “significantly damage a victim’s career” and retraumatise them.
In a letter sent on Wednesday to Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese, the group of women, who include former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins and former Albanese, Shorten and Rudd Labor staffer Fiona Sugden, say legislative changes are required this sitting fortnight to protect participants’ privacy.
“As the Australian Human Rights Commission is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act) and the Archives Act 1983 (Cth), there is currently no guarantee that information submitted will remain private as it would if the inquiry were conducted under parliamentary privilege,” the women say.
“We are concerned that even if names are redacted, details of submissions could still lead to the identification of victims – or the alleged perpetrators. For example, particular details being provided could of course point to individuals, periods of time of their employers.
“The possibility that submissions may be made public in 20 years by the National Archives of Australia has similar problems as discussed above. Further, it may significantly damage a victim’s career at the time and cause retraumatisation.”
Signatories of the letter also include Therese Rein and Lucy Turnbull, the wives of former prime ministers Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull.
Adeshola Ore2.37pm: Labor undermining national unity on vaccine rollout: PM
Scott Morrison has accused Labor of undermining national unity on the coronavirus vaccine rollout, as the opposition attacks the Coalition for its online booking system that has faced issues on the first day of its launch.
Frustrated patients have been unable to book online for a jab at GP clinics via the government’s COVID booking system.
During question time on Wednesday, Labor accused the government of being more focused on its “media strategy” for the website rather than reaching its inoculation targets.
“As I said in this place yesterday, Mr Speaker, that characterisation of that question in that way has only one purpose, and that is to seek to undermine the vaccination program in this country,” Mr Morrison said.
“[The assertions] … by the shadow minister are false. They’re disingenuous and seek to undermine one of the most important vaccination programs this country has undertaken for the good health and the recovery of this country.
“I would urge members to engage in this national project of such great importance to this country rather than continuing to stoop into the partisanship of playing politics with the Covid pandemic.
“When you order 3.8 million vaccines from Europe and 700,000 are able to be delivered because of the crisis in Europe, this is something that the Labor Party seems to overlook,” the Prime Minister told parliament.
The Morrison government has today confirmed more than 203,000 Australians have received their coronavirus vaccines.
READ MORE: Hunt calls for calm amid vaccine rollout glitches
Adeshola Ore2.15pm: Anaphylaxis should be monitored post-vaccine: Murphy
Department of Health secretary Brendan Murphy says people with a history of anaphylaxis should be monitored for 30 minutes after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine, despite the Queensland government urging those prone to the life-threatening allergic reaction to “hold off” receiving the jab.
Queensland health authorities recorded a small number of anaphylaxis in patients who received the AstraZeneca vaccine. The state’s health authorities have suggested those who have a history of significant allergic reactions should delay getting vaccinated.
But Dr Murphy said people with anaphylaxis should be monitored for half an hour rather than the recommended 15 minutes.
“We have seen anaphylaxis with the Pfizer vaccine, we have seen it with the AstraZeneca vaccine, and they have all been expertly treated,” he said.
“We are confident the program should continue to go ahead as it has.”
Adeshola Ore1.35pm: ‘Be patient’ as vaccination ramps up: Hunt
Health Minister Greg Hunt has urged Australians waiting to be vaccinated to be patient, as the government prepares for the commencement of the next stage of the rollout.
Phase 1b, which begins on Monday, will focus on vaccinating six million Australians including older people and those with underlying medical conditions. From next week, 1,000 GP clinics will be involved in vaccine administration.
Mr Hunt said it would “take time” for all of the eligible people in the phase to receive their vaccination.
“It is very important to understand that not everybody will be able to be vaccinated on day one,” he said.
Mr Hunt said more than 203,000 Australians had now been vaccinated.
Department of Health secretary Brendan Murphy said people eligible to be vaccinated in phase 1b may not be able to make an appointment for “some weeks.”
READ MORE:Where you can book a vaccine jab
Adeshola Ore1.27pm: Chief scientist has ‘full faith’ in AstraZeneca
Australia’s chief scientist Cathy Foley says she has full faith in the AstraZeneca vaccine despite a growing number of European countries suspending the vaccine due to purported links to blood clots.
Overnight, the European Medical Agency said it remained firmly convinced that the benefits of the vaccine outweighed the risks despite several countries halting the rollout, citing safety concerns.
Dr Foley said Australians should be “very confident” that the government would “immediately jump to changing something” if the evidence changed.
“At this stage, we have full confidence that there is no reason for it,” she told the National Press Club.
READ MORE:PM’s support plan for PNG
Adeshola Ore1.16pm: Hunt ‘surprised’ by vaccine booking system problems
Health Minister Greg Hunt says he’s surprised that the federal government’s online booking website for COVID-19 vaccines is not functioning on the first day of its launch.
Frustrated patients have been unable to book in to receive their vaccination at GP clinics across the country. The COVID-19 national booking service lists GP clinics that will have vaccines available at the beginning of the 1B rollout, which begins on Monday. However, most of the GP clinics that are listed on the national booking service say they are taking phone bookings only.
Asked if there was a problem with the site, Mr Hunt said “that would be a surprise.” But he told 3AW radio he would investigate the issues with clinics not taking bookings.
He refuted the suggestion that issues with bookings were due to uncertainty around dose numbers.
“No, every clinic that has been listed is only listed because they have made and had confirmed an order,” he said.
“Be calm this morning. This is a process that’s going to take some months. And if there are any specific clinics, we’re happy to receive the information from the program.”
READ the full story here.
Sarah Elks 12.55pm: Federal response to PNG first class: Palaszczuk
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says Australia’s “comprehensive” response to the escalating COVID-19 crisis in Papua New Guinea will allow Queensland’s hospitals to get “on top” of the issue.
Ms Palaszczuk said the federal government’s co-operation with Queensland had been “first class” to the “imminent threat on our doorstep” of the spreading coronavirus situation in PNG.
Over half of the COVID-19 cases in Queensland hospitals currently came from PNG.
Speaking in Cairns, Ms Palaszczuk thanked Prime Minister Scott Morrison for the package of measures, including extra vaccines, suspending flights from Port Moresby to Cairns, and reducing the cap of people from PNG coming into Brisbane.
“This will enable our health services to get on top of the issues,” she said.
Already, Queensland has vaccinated 99 people in the Torres Strait, and more will receive the AstraZeneca jab in coming days.
Ms Palaszczuk said the rising numbers in PNG were “quite alarming” but people in Australia and PNG could sleep easier tonight knowing the Australian and Queensland governments were working together.
“We’re in this together, we’re neighbours … we help each other out,” she said.
She said she spoke to the Prime Minister last night, and Queensland would consider sending health staff to help vaccinate people in PNG’s western provinces, which border the Torres Strait.
READ MORE: ‘Real risks’ — PM’s support plan for PNG
Natasha Robinson 12.37pm: Online vaccine booking site’s day one fail
The Federal government’s online booking website for COVID-19 vaccines is not functioning on the day of its launch, with frustrated patients unable to book online for a jab at GP clinics.
The COVID-19 national booking service lists GP clinics that will have vaccines available at the beginning of the 1B rollout, which begins on Monday.
However, most of the GP clinics that are listed on the national booking service, which is very difficult to find on the Federal health department’s website, say they are taking phone bookings only. For the minority of practices that say they allow online bookings via the national booking service website, nobody is actually able to make an online booking.
The national booking service website connects to the HealthEngine booking system site, but all patients eligible for vaccines in the 1B rollout who try to make a booking are met with the message ‘this practice is not accepting online bookings for existing patients’.
READ the full story here
ROSIE LEWIS12.00pm: Aggressive GetUp ‘distressed’ second female Liberal
A second Liberal female MP has called out intimidating behaviour by GetUp volunteers, with Fiona Martin revealing she was pushed by one of their campaigners and had a corflute pulled out of her hand during the 2019 election campaign.
“On a dual booth, I did experience what I would describe as quite aggressive behaviour at the booth down in Ashfield, and I was affected by that at the time,” Ms Martin, who is the member for Reid, told Sky News.
“It was distressing that I expect to be physically pushed and I certainly didn’t expect to have someone try and grab a corflute of me out of my hand.”
Ms Martin said there was no apology from the GetUp campaigner or the organisation, which has been contacted for comment.
The activist group labelled the treatment of outgoing South Australian Liberal MP Nicolle Flint during the campaign as “abhorrent” after she made an emotional speech to parliament on Tuesday night accusing Anthony Albanese and Tanya Plibersek of failing to condemn her being “chased, harassed and screamed at”.
“We condemned the behaviour at the time and went to great lengths to confirm our members were not involved,” a GetUp spokesperson said.
“We conducted a thorough investigation that confirmed our staff and members were not involved in any of the alleged behaviour levelled against us in this long running effort to smear our reputation.
“We campaigned in the seat of Boothby and other key seats with hard right Liberal MPs, but it is simply wrong to characterise our campaign as harassment or misogyny.”
READ MORE:Get your own house in order, Flint tells ALP
Ellie Dudley11.49am: Allergic reactions to AstraZeneca jabs ‘expected’
Queensland health authorities have recorded a small number of anaphylaxis in patients who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine, and have suggested those who have a history of significant allergic reactions to “hold off”.
Four cases of anaphylaxis have been recorded in Queensland, as the state continues the second week of the AstraZeneca roll out.
“In the past 48 hours we have had four cases of anaphylaxis,” Queensland Health Director-General John Wakefield said. “One case in Bundaberg, one in Toowoomba and two in Ipswich.”
“We expect with a vaccination program, to see allergic reactions.”
“If people do have that strong history of anaphylaxis, we will talk to them individually and recommend that they perhaps hold off, until we get the further information.”
Dr Wakefield confirmed he will still be receiving the AstraZeneca jab when it is his turn.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said they were making the announcement “as a matter of transparency” and the state does not plan to stop the roll out.
“We put out a notice to the vaccination hubs today simply saying you should make people aware if they have had a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis in the past, that they may choose to delay the vaccination,” Ms D’Ath said.
READ MORE: ‘Fortress China’ invite a hospital pass for SA Premier
Ellie Dudley11.43am:All infected Brisbane doctor’s contacts test negative
Queensland health minister Yvette D’Ath has confirmed all contacts of the COVID-19 case recorded in a doctor at Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital on the weekend, who have been tested so far have received negative results.
The positive case, reported on Saturday, forced a lockdown of all aged facilities, hospitals and disability services in the Greater Brisbane region.
Ms D’Ath said the negative results from close contacts show the state is on track to lift the restrictions on Friday.
“Shows the quick action of the doctor … and taking the measures we have taken shows we are in a good position over the next few days to lift those restrictions,” she told reporters today.
Today, Queensland recorded no new cases of locally-acquired COVID-19, and six in overseas arrivals.
READ MORE: LNP director exits amid party unrest
Perry Williams 11.38am: ‘All Australian coal plants may want safety net’
All coal plants in Australia’s national electricity market including AGL Energy may look to qualify for a government-backed safety net after EnergyAustralia’s secret deal for its Yallourn station with the Daniel Andrews government, JP Morgan said.
The Victorian government has provided unspecified financial backing to ensure Yallourn stays in the system, a first step in effectively putting coal plants on a path toward receiving capacity payments that keeps baseload power in the grid amid heightened competition from renewables.
“The government cannot however preferentially treat Yallourn over others and therefore this safety net could be applied to all baseload generators in the NEM,” JP Morgan analyst Mark Busuttil said. “Should this eventuate then spot prices would naturally settle at that guarantee. This would effectively mean that generators will be paid for capacity rather than energy generated.”
AGL Energy will likely focus on improving the profitability of its generators such as Loy Yang and Bayswater at its upcoming investor day, rather than pursuing a split of its business according to JP Morgan.
The broker thinks AGL will focus on lowering operating and capital costs, increasing asset flexibility, changing bidding and contracting behaviour and, most importantly, appealing for government subsidies.
FOLLOW live ASX updates at Trading Day
Adeshola Ore11.34am:Beijing blames Australia for poor US relationship
China has blamed Australia for the deteriorating relationship between the two countries after US President Joe Biden’s top aide in the region accused Beijing of economic coercion.
The National Security Council’s senior Asia director Kurt Campbell told Nine Newspapers that the US had indicated to Beijing it would not leave Australia “alone on the field.” The comments come ahead of a meeting between President Biden’s top foreign affairs officials and their Chinese counterparts on Thursday.
China’s Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman said Beijing was not responsible for the relationship breakdown between the two countries. The escalating trade tensions between the countries has resulted in Beijing placing tariffs on more than $20bn worth of Australian exports.
“The root cause of the current difficulties in bilateral relations is Australia’s wrong words and deeds on issues concerning China’s sovereignty, security and development interests,” Zhao Lijian said at a press conference.
“The Australian side knows the ins and outs better than anyone else.”
READ MORE: US brings weight to Quad as China airs contempt
Denis Shanahan11.30am: Labor demands clarity on Porter role
Labor MPs have called for clarification of Christian Porter’s role as Attorney-General when he returns to the job at the end of March, fearing vital recommendations for Family Law System reform to cut delays and costs will be sidelined.
ALP members of the Parliamentary committee review of Australia’s Family Law System committee are concerned that the announcement his duties will be curtailed because of his involvement with a defamation action against the ABC over historical rape allegations will lead to even further delays in the system.
Graham Perrett, Queensland Labor MP for Moreton, who served on the committee said on Wednesday:
“The Attorney-General has been neglecting the family law system for years, and now we learn that even when he returns to the parliament he will be unable to fully perform a crucial function of his office”.
“On average, Federal Circuit Court judges are already handling 330 matters each. One judge in Brisbane is juggling over 600 individual matters. For months there have been nine vacant judicial positions which the Attorney-General has not bothered to fill. One single judge is currently hearing all family law matters in Tasmania,” Mr Perrett said.
Ellie Dudley 11.17am: One new virus case as NSW probes hotel link
New South Wales has recorded one new case of locally-acquired COVID-19 in a returned traveller who was in quarantine in the Sofitel Wentworth hotel on the same floor as the security guard who tested positive on Sunday.
NSW recorded one new locally acquired case of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) March 17, 2021
Six new cases were acquired overseas, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 5,059. pic.twitter.com/XRfhmB8uif
As Premier Gladys Berejiklian hinted this morning, NSW Health have confirmed genomic sequencing links the case to the security guard, and another returned traveller in quarantine who previously tested positive.
“The latest case tested positive yesterday during additional follow-up testing carried out as part of NSW Health’s extensive investigations into the source and nature of the transmission to the security guard,” NSW Health wrote on Twitter.
“Genome sequencing results indicate this latest case matches the strain found in the other hotel quarantine guest and the security guard. This strain is the more transmissible B1.1.7 variant of the virus.”
Investigations into the nature of the transmission will continue, but NSW Health confirmed there was no shared airconditioning between the two rooms.
They also do not connect to the corridor.
READ MORE: Westpac to combine retail, business banking divisions
Robert Gottliebsen 11.13am:Porter double standards leave ATO wanting
Suddenly, the traditional Australian symbol of justice – you are presumed innocent until proved guilty – has come to the fore in deciding the fate of the Australian Attorney-General Christian Porter.
There is no question that there are a lot of issues in Canberra and elsewhere in the way females have been treated on too many occasions.
But Scott Morrison and Christian Porter took a stand on innocent until proved guilty, which I support. What I don’t think either Morrison, Porter or other cabinet ministers fully understood was that the reverse principle “you are assumed to be guilty unless you prove yourself innocent” is the philosophy used by vast areas of the Australian Taxation Office.
READ Robert Gottliebsen’s full commentary here
Anthony Piovesan10.44am:‘Demand is huge’: GPs slammed with vaccine queries
Victorians desperate to get the coronavirus vaccine are inundating their local general practitioners with phone calls, after it was revealed GP clinics would be offering the COVID-19 jab from Monday.
Hanover Street Medical Centre manager Susan Karakostas told NCA NewsWire the Oakleigh clinic had completely booked two weeks worth of vaccines within an hour on Monday after they sent a text message out to patients over 70 years old.
And on Wednesday when the list of 285 Victorian GP clinics which could administer the vaccine went public the phones “rang off the hook”.
“The girls have been run off their feet this morning, it’s just call after call – the demand is huge,” Ms Karakostas said.
“People aren’t even asking what vaccine it is we’re offering, they’re just asking ‘can I book, can I book’.”
The clinic has been allocated 80 vaccines in the first week and then 100 for the week after.
Ms Karakostas said her clinic was “one of the lucky ones”, with other clinics forced to wait up to 10 weeks to receive their first batch of vaccines.
The number of GP practices able to deliver vaccines will progressively expand to more than 4,000 by the end of April.
Nearly three million Australians aged over 70, healthcare workers, people with some chronic medical conditions, those with a disability, Aboriginal people aged over 55 and 200,000 people working in defence, police, fire, emergency services and meat processing will be eligible for the jabs from next week. — NCA Newswire
READ MORE: Where to book your vaccine jab — FULL NATIONAL LIST
Adeshola Ore 10.28am:Labor aware of attacks on Flint, PM says
Scott Morrison has praised outgoing Liberal MP Nicolle Flint for condemning the harassment she experienced during the 2019 election campaign, describing her as an “incredibly brave woman.”
Ms Flint has accused Anthony Albanese and Tanya Plibersek of failing to call out ALP, Get Up and union supporters who “chased, harassed and screamed” at her during the 2019 election. The outgoing Liberal MP, who is leaving politics because of the toxic culture she experienced as a female MP, used an adjournment speech in parliament on Tuesday night to take aim at the Opposition Leader for crawling “down into the gutter” and politicising the safety of women.
“I know how brave she was because I was there with her as she endured one of the ugliest campaigns I’ve ever seen waged against not just a woman but anyone in this country,” Mr Morrison said.
He said the Labor Party had stood by the harassment by ALP, Get Up and union supporters.
“They were aware. They saw it. They were happy to be advantaged by it and I think she’s called it out well and I think she’s an incredibly strong woman,” he said.
Mr Morrison also revealed that he knew late last year that Ms Flint would be bowing out of politics.
He said Ms Flint indicated to him she did not want to be considered for a ministry position in the government’s cabinet reshuffle in December.
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Natasha Robinson 10.20am:AstraZeneca vaccine benefits ‘firmly’ outweigh any risk
The European Medicines Agency has strongly backed the AstraZeneca vaccine in the wake of blood clot fears, saying it is “firmly convinced” that its benefits outweigh any risks.
The EMA is currently investigating 30 cases of thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in a number of European countries, but says such conditions are relatively common and there is no indication that they are occurring at a higher rate among vaccinated people than in the general population.
EMA executive director Emer Cooke said he was gravely concerned that the move by Germany, France and Italy together with a host of other European countries to temporarily suspend administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine would undermine vaccine confidence based on scant evidence of any harms.
“We are worried that there may be an effect on trust in the vaccines,” Ms Cooke said. “While the investigation is still ongoing, we are still firmly convinced the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing COVID-19 with its associated risk of hospitalisation and death outweigh the risks of these side-effects.”
Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration has also backed the AstraZeneca vaccine, saying it saw no reason to suspend its use in Australia.
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Adeshola Ore9.49am: Australia asks Europe for 1m more vaccines for PNG
The Morrison government will make a formal request to AstraZeneca to access one million of Australia’s contracted supplies of the COVID vaccine to provide to Papua New Guinea, as the Pacific country battles a COVID emergency.
The government will also provide 8000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from Australia’s domestic supply.
The Prime Minister said Australia would seek support from the European Union and AstraZeneca to provide vaccines for Papua New Guinea, “a developing country in desperate need of these vaccines.”
“We’ve contracted them. We’ve paid for them and we want to see those vaccines come here so we can support our nearest neighbour, PNG, to deal with their urgent needs in our region,” Mr Morrison said.
Australia’s delivery of emergency medical supplies will also include one million surgical masks, 100,000 medical gowns, 20,000 face shields and 200 non-invasive ventilators.
Mr Morrison said Australia would also deploy a humanitarian team of doctors to establish and prepare plans for the country’s COVID emergency.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne said the federal government’s emergency COVID supplies for Papua New Guinea has been co-ordinated in partnership with the Pacific country.
Senator Payne said the delivery of emergency coronavirus vaccines was based on the country’s “priorities and their needs.”
“The 8000 doses of vaccines that we have referred to this morning will fill a critical gap in advance of Papua New Guinea’s receipt of its vaccines from the COVAX facility,” she said.
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Adeshola Ore 9.37am:Flights from PNG to Cairns suspended
Scott Morrison says the federal government will suspend all passenger flights from Papua New Guinea to Cairns, as he declared the Pacific nation’s COVID emergency presented “real risks” to Australia.
The Prime Minister confirmed Australia would deliver 8000 emergency AstraZeneca COVID vaccines to Papua New Guinea as infection rates in the Pacific nation soar.
The worsening COVID emergency in the country poses a threat to Australia’s north. PNG recorded 82 positive cases from 91 tests processed in a day, leading Queensland on Tuesday to suspend charter flights from the OK Tedi Mine in the country’s Western Province to Cairns.
The vaccines will be sent to the capital Port Moresby, before being delivered to other provincial capitals.
Mr Morrison said Australia would always stand with PNG “as they meet this challenge.”
“It is also true that the escalation of issues with the virus in PNG presents very real risks to Australia as well,” he said.
Mr Morrison said the passenger flights would be suspended for two weeks before the government reassessed the situation.
Freight flights will continue to ensure “necessary supplies” travel between Cairns and Papua New Guinea.
Charter flights from Papua New Guinea to Australia will be suspended, with “limited exemptions” for medical purposes.
The government will also reduce passenger capacity by one-quarter for flights between Port Moresby to Brisbane, from midnight.
The government will halt all outbound travel exemptions to Papua New Guinea, with essential workers exempt.
Mr Morrison said fly-in-fly-out workers would not be exempt from the travel ban.
“If you’re there, you stay. If you’re here, you stay. We cannot risk people going into those areas and back to Australia,” he said.
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Adeshola Ore 9.29am:Lets work together, Wong tells Flint
Labor’s senate leader Penny Wong has denied the claim by Nicolle Flint that she failed to condemn harassment the outgoing Liberal MP experienced during the 2019 election campaign.
Ms Flint said the Opposition Leader and Tanya Plibersek failed to denounce ALP, Get Up and union supporters who “chased, harassed and screamed” at her during the 2019 election. The outgoing Liberal MP, who is leaving politics because of the toxic culture she experienced as a female MP, used an adjournment speech in parliament on Tuesday night to take aim at the Opposition Leader for crawling “down into the gutter” and politicising the safety of women. Ms Flint also singled out Senator Wong, saying she knew about the treatment she was facing and yet said she was “not subjected to a co-ordinated sexist campaign”.
On Wednesday, Senator Wong said the harassment Ms Flint had experienced was “utterly unacceptable.”
“It is also unfair of her to seek to tie me and Tanya Plibersek to it. I would say to Ms Flint, I agree with you, let’s work together to make this a better place for women,” she said in Canberra.
“If she genuinely wants to sit down with Tanya and I to talk about how we can work together to make this a better place for women, a safer place for women, and how we can make workplaces across Australia safer for women, I’d be very happy to do so.”
“Whenever I’m asked, regardless of who the person is, about these sorts of behaviours I would say they are unacceptable.”
READ MORE: Get your own house in order, Flint tells Labor
Ben Packham9.15am:Australia to send 8000 AstraZeneca jabs to PNG
Australia will provide 8000 AstraZeneca jabs to Papua New Guinea to urgently vaccinate its frontline health workers, amid a worsening COVID emergency in the country.
Scott Morrison rang PNG Prime Minister James Marape on Tuesday afternoon to offer the vaccines, drawn from Australia’s domestic supply, along with tents and personal protective equipment.
The vaccinations will begin in the capital Port Moresby, before being delivered to other provincial capitals.
PNG’s High Commissioner to Australia John Kali said the country was “ever so grateful for this gesture from the Australian government and its people”.
He said the COVID crisis was “very scary”.
“The fact is we don’t know the true extent of the situation because testing has not really been ramped up,” Mr Kali said.
more to come
Adeshola Ore 9.11am:PM ‘should have acted sooner on PNG’
Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong says the Morrison government should have acted sooner to deliver emergency COVID vaccines to Papua New Guinea as infection rates soar.
Scott Morrison will send vaccines to the Pacific nation to protest frontline health workers, as their rising number of cases threaten Australia’s north. PNG recorded 82 positive cases from 91 tests processed in a day, leading Queensland on Tuesday to suspend charter flights from the OK Tedi Mine in the country’s Western Province to Cairns.
“The point, I’ve made for some time, is our safety and security depends on the safety, security and stability of our neighbours and our regions,” Senator Wong said in Canberra.
“We know PNG has a lot of challenges in public health infrastructure so whatever Australia is able to do to contain this outbreak for the people of PNG and to lessen the risk of this generating a greater outbreak in northern Australia, we should do.
“I would say the government’s response has not reflected that clear and present danger. It has been uncertain. It has been tardy and I would urge the government to act promptly and swiftly to provide PNG with the support, with the vaccines, with the personal protective equipment that are required.”
READ MORE:Covid’s northern exposure to PNG outbreak
Ellie Dudley 9.06am: No chance AstraZeneca will be suspended
The Head of the Therapeutic Goods Administration has ruled out any chance the AstraZeneca vaccine is suspended, as more countries press pause on the roll out.
A total of 27 countries including Germany, France and Spain have suspended the vaccine after 37 inoculated people in Europe reported having blood clots, despite no evidence that shows causation between the two events.
John Skerritt said Australia will continue with the roll out of the shot as planned, as the issues had not arisen in countries with large-scale vaccination rates.
“Several of us were on video conferences until almost midnight last night with about 15 or 16 countries,” he told the ABC.
“It’s quite clear that the largest countries have rolled out the vaccine — the UK with 11 million doses where they haven’t seen any problems and even some left-field countries such as Saudi Arabia who have rolled out a million doses and have quite a sophisticated monitoring system have not seen any problems.
“The problems seem to have been limited to reports in Denmark, Germany and perhaps Norway and it’s important to emphasise that Europe as a whole, the European medicines regulator is still strongly promoting that the rollout should continue.”
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Ellie Dudley 8.54am:US vaccine tested in babies, children
Moderna has begun studying its US-manufactured COVID-19 vaccine in babies and children, the company has announced.
The research is seen as critical to achieve the level of herd immunity necessary to stop the pandemic.
The company plans to enrol some 6750 young people — from six-month olds to children aged 11 — in the US and Canada for the trial.
While the risk of children becoming seriously unwell from COVID-19 is much smaller than for adults, they are still able to carry and transmit the virus.
“This paediatric study will help us assess the potential safety and immunogenicity of our COVID-19 vaccine in this younger age population,” Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said.
Both Moderna and Pfizer began testing their vaccines on children aged 12 years and older in 2020. Results on these trials are yet to be revealed.
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Adeshola Ore 8.45am:Morrison’s workplace review will achieve change: Flint
Outgoing Liberal MP Nicolle Flint says an independent review into the workplace culture of parliament “will achieve change” after she accused Labor of failing to condemn harassment she experienced during the 2019 election campaign.
Ms Flint said Anthony Albanese and Tanya Plibersek failed to denounce ALP, Get Up and union supporters who “chased, harassed and screamed” at her during the 2019 election. The outgoing Liberal MP, who is leaving politics because of the toxic culture she experienced as a female MP, used an adjournment speech in parliament on Tuesday night to take aim at the Opposition Leader for crawling “down into the gutter” and politicising the safety of women.
“I don’t want to see the behaviour that occurred in the seat of Boothby last election repeated anywhere, ever again, against any member of parliament,” she told 2GB radio.
Ms Flint said she was “delighted” that the Morrison government had established an independent review into the workplace culture at Parliament House. The review, which was announced after former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins alleged she was raped in a ministerial office in 2019, is led by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins.
“This is the moment that we will achieve change,” Ms Flint said.
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Adeshola Ore8.19am: Labor not part of attack on Flint: Albanese
Anthony Albanese has denied the claim by outgoing Liberal MP Nicolle Flint that the Opposition Leader and senior Labor frontbenchers failed to condemn the harassment she experienced during the 2019 election.
Ms Flint has also accused Tanya Plibersek of not condemning ALP, Get Up and union supporters who “chased, harassed and screamed” at her during the last federal election campaign. Ms Flint, who is leaving politics because of the toxic culture she experienced as a female MP, used an adjournment speech in parliament on Tuesday night to take aim at the Opposition Leader for crawling “down into the gutter” and politicising the safety of women.
Mr Albanese told the ABC the harassment against Ms Flint should not have happened, but said it was “not right” to claim that Labor participated in a co-ordinated attack against Ms Flint by not speaking up against the harassment.
“Anytime that I get asked about behaviour and I’m sure Penny Wong and Tanya Plibersek are exactly the same, we are consistent in saying that such behaviour towards anyone in politics is completely inappropriate and should not happen,” he said.
“The people who have been named in articles as being involved in this are organisations like Extinction Rebellion and Get Up. At the same time they were, of course, protesting against Labor.
“I condemn it. I can’t do more than that. I wasn’t visiting Boothby in those last couple of weeks. Anytime that I got asked about behaviour, I would have said exactly the same thing. I said the same thing when my office had broken windows every week.
“I stand with Nicolle Flint. Her story is one that is appalling that that sort of behaviour was directed at her.”
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Ellie Dudley 8.11am:Why AFL fans won’t be getting on their feet
As NSW pub patrons welcome the easing of restrictions on being upright while drinking, Victorian AFL fans remain banned from standing in their seats when crowds return to watch the footy this weekend.
New COVID-safe rules will be introduced at Marvel Stadium as spectators make their long-awaited return to AFL for the first time since 2019.
“No standing at or on your seat, patrons must be seated at all times when at their designated seat,’’ fans have been told.
In addition, no bags bigger than A4 size will be allowed into the ground, free water fountains have been switched off and all food and drink must be consumed in seats.
Meanwhile, today NSW eased restrictions allowing pub patrons to stand while drinking ahead of St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
Victoria has reported no new cases of locally transmitted COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, nor any in overseas arrivals.
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Ellie Dudley 8.00am:‘Missing link’ believed found in NSW security guard case
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has hinted at finding the “missing link” of the source of the positive COVID-19 case found in a hotel quarantine security guard on the weekend.
A returned traveller on Level 11 of the Sofitel Wentworth had been genomically linked to the security guard, but was not the definitive source of case in the worker.
Ms Berejiklian today, however, announced a new case was found in a person on the same floor of the hotel as the infected traveller and the security guard, which could have been the intermediary between the two.
“Overnight we did have an additional case,” Ms Berejiklian said this morning. “It was a person in the hotel on the same floor as the guard and the overseas traveller.”
“It could very well be the missing link.”
Ms Berejiklian said the case “doesn’t change anything here in Sydney” as the person was “already in quarantine.”
NSW Health is making further investigations and will provide an update at 11am (AEDT).
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Ellie Dudley 7.40am:Out yourselves, sex assault accused told
Labor Senator Malarndirri McCarthy has called for instigators of sexual assault to out themselves, as the culture of Parliament House suffers more scrutiny.
Liberal MP Nicolle Flint yesterday accused Labor leaders of failing to condemn sexual harassment, after announcing she was leaving Parliament House because of the toxic culture.
An unnamed Labor member was accused of rape late last month, after Liberal senator Sarah Henderson referred the allegation to the federal police.
These accusations were made alongside allegations against Attorney-General Christian Porter for an historical rape in 1988, and the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins by an unnamed Liberal staffer in Linda Reynolds’ office.
Ms McCarthy said MPs and staff members who have harassed or assaulted anyone should “step up.”
“It doesn’t matter what political party you are, it is just wrong,” she told ABC TV.
“Step up whether you’re here in the Parliament or outside in the broader Australian community,
“This is the time to stop that behaviour, acknowledge it, step out, admit it, and know that our country is making a move to be much better than what it has been.”
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Ellie Dudley7.15am:NSW allows pub patrons to stand while drinking
Residents in New South Wales will be permitted to stand up and drink in licensed venues from today in the latest easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
The announcement from NSW Health comes just in time for St Patrick’s Day festivities to commence.
Despite NSW authorities being unable to determine the source of a community case in a hotel quarantine worker over the weekend, the ban will be lifted.
The news comes as the state ramps up its vaccination program to reach 80,000 jabs in the next three weeks.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian is set to hold a press conference at 7.30am (AEDT).
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Ellie Dudley7am:Canavan continues calls for AstraZeneca jab pause
Nationals senator Matt Canavan has doubled down on calls for the Australian government to press pause on the rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
A total of 27 countries have halted the rollout of the jab, after reports of blood clots in 37 people who have been inoculated.
Mr Canavan yesterday said Australia should suspend the rollout, and continues to maintain that is the correct course of action.
“I think a pause right now is the prudent path,” he told Channel 9’s Today this morning.
“At the start of the year we waited months before we even began our rollout compared to other countries because we were being prudent and waiting.
“I think that approach served us well and it should be a similar approach we take right now.”
He went on to say there wasn’t a “clear answer” despite the Therapeutic Goods Administration and the World Health Organisation continuing to back the shot.
Phase 1b of the vaccine rollout will begin for Australia on Monday.
READ MORE:Health officials give all clear to AstraZeneca vaccine
Ellie Dudley6.45am:Six million Australians can now access vaccine
Six million Australians will be able to book in for a COVID-19 jab from today, as leaders push the vaccination rollout forward.
The Healthdirect website, which offers the vaccine to any eligible person, will be launched by Health Minister Greg Hunt.
The first 1100 GP clinics across the country taking part in Phase 1B of the vaccine rollout strategy will also be revealed.
Australia has quashed doubts over AstraZeneca’s safety as some countries pause its rollout. Here are the facts about the jab. https://t.co/p74UuYKcQy
— The Australian (@australian) March 16, 2021
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Joe Kelly5.10am:Get your own house in order, Flint tells ALP
Outgoing Liberal MP Nicolle Flint has accused Anthony Albanese and Tanya Plibersek of failing to condemn ALP, Get Up and union supporters who “chased, harassed and screamed” at her during the 2019 election, saying they created an environment “in which hate could flourish”.
Ms Flint, whom The Australian revealed was leaving politics because of the toxic culture she experienced as a female MP, used an adjournment speech in parliament on Tuesday night to take aim at the Opposition Leader for crawling “down into the gutter” and politicising the safety of women.
She urged him to “get your house in order”, saying responsibility for change needed to be shared by both sides of politics.
“I heard him say almost nothing about his own … Well I say to the Leader of the Opposition, and I hope he is listening right now, I will not be lectured by you or by anyone on your side of politics about the treatment of women in this place. Where was he, and where was his predecessor, and where were all the senior Labor women, when the Get Up, Labor and union supporters chased, harassed and screamed at me everywhere I went in the lead-up to the 2019 election?
“Where were they (Labor) when I was subjected to horrendous sexist and misogynistic abuse scrawled all over my campaign office?”
Read the full story here.
Ben Packham5am:COVID-19’s northern exposure to PNG outbreak
Scott Morrison will send emergency coronavirus vaccines to Papua New Guinea to protect frontline health workers as soaring infection rates pose a “clear and present danger’’ to Australia’s north.
PNG recorded 82 positive cases from 91 tests processed in a day, leading Queensland on Tuesday to suspend charter flights from the OK Tedi Mine in the country’s Western Province to Cairns.
Medical experts say the coronavirus is spreading rapidly in the PNG community and there are fears a memorial service for former prime minister Michael Somare could become a superspreader event as people crowded together to pay respects to the country’s first leader after independence.
Read the full story, by Ben Packham and Charlie Peel, here.
Natasha Robinson4.45am:AstraZeneca vaccine cleared amid European freeze
Australia will push ahead with its COVID-19 vaccination program using the AstraZeneca jab, as senior health officials dismiss concerns over 37 bloodclotting incidents out of 17 million inoculations in Europe that have sparked temporary suspensions of the program.
France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Indonesia were the latest countries to suspend their AstraZeneca programs on Tuesday pending a review by European medical regulators.
Australian officials are looking to the United Kingdom which has delivered the most jabs of the vaccine. The UK is continuing its program, insisting there has been no link to bloodclotting in the 11 million jabs administered so far.
Read the full story, by Natasha Robinson and Olivia Caisley, here.
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