PoliticsNow: Christine Holgate applauds Senate probe findings
Christine Holgate has welcomed the findings of a Senate probe into the Cartier watch scandal as vindication for ‘everyone who has suffered bullying or has felt powerless’.
- PM ‘should apologise to Holgate’
- Porter’s ‘massive’ financial drain
- Leadership rival quits McKay frontbench
- US eyes Top End military build up
Welcome to PoliticsNow, our live coverage of the latest in federal and state politics.
Former Australia Post chief executive Christine Holgate was treated appallingly, should receive an apology from Scott Morrison and was denied justice for due process, a Senate probe into the Cartier watch scandal has concluded.
Taxpayers are footing the legal bill of former Defence Minister Linda Reynolds over the Australian Federal Police investigation into the alleged rape of former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins in her office in March 2019.
In his first media interview since he was accused of a historic rape Christian Porter says he’s been amazed at the volume of support he’s received.
For full coverage of Australia’s battle with the coronavirus pandemic including the latest from Victoria’s cluster, our dedicated Covid-19 blog is live here.
Yoni Bashan9.25pm:Archbishop attacks cemetery policy
Sydney’s Catholic Archbishop has launched an extraordinary attack on the Berejiklian government over its decision to overhaul the state’s cemeteries management, accusing Gladys Berejiklian of deceiving the Church, marginalising its role in burials, and timing its announcement to be “dumped” on Catholic leaders just days after a crucial by-election.
In remarks directed at the premier and her government, Archbishop Anthony Fisher said Ms Berejiklian had repeatedly assured him during consultations that faith groups would be included the solution to Sydney’s shortage of cemetery space.
The state’s highest-ranking Catholic leader also took special aim at government bureaucrats, who he said were intent on secularising the cemeteries industry and had “no sympathy for the mission of caring for the dead”.
“It’s a shocking decision,” he said. “I call on the Premier to reverse the announcement of (Property) Minister (Melinda) Pavey and restore people’s confidence that their loved ones will be truly allowed to rest in peace.
Pointing to more than 150 years of work conducted by the Catholic Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust, one of five Crown cemetery trusts that will be consolidated under the plan, Archbishop Fisher said its pool of funds would not be usurped by government and controlled by “some secular bureaucrat”.
“Our state government has made absolutely no provision for a single new cemetery in over a century. They have made absolutely no provision for the perpetual care of existing graves,” he said.
Rosie Lewis 8.20pm:Porter to disclose any legal donations
Christian Porter may accept donations to help fund his defamation action against the ABC, which he says will be a “massive drain” on his finances.
The former attorney-general, who earns $364,400 as a cabinet minister, also urged the public broadcaster to be “expeditious” in legal proceedings in order to keep costs down.
In one of his first media interviews since outing himself as the cabinet minister at the centre of an historical rape allegation, which he vehemently denies, Mr Porter refused to say if he would run at the federal election due by May next year.
Olivia Caisley 7.40pm:Taxpayers to foot bill in Higgins case
Taxpayers are set to foot the legal bill of Government Services Minister Linda Reynolds over the Australian Federal Police investigation into the alleged rape of former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins in her office in March 2019.
The revelations in estimates come weeks after Senator Reynolds was demoted from her former post of defence minister amid accusations she mishandled Ms Higgins’ case.
She also had to settle a defamation dispute with her former staffer for calling her a “lying cow” in front of ministerial staffers.
Nicholas Jensen7.10pm:Taylor joins International Energy Agency body
Energy Minister Angus Taylor has been appointed as vice-chair of the International Energy Agency’s governing body.
Mr Taylor will work alongside US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, who has been appointed to the role of chair.
The governing board has also appointed two other vice-chairs, including Belgian Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten and Denmark’s Climate Minister, Dan Jørgensen.
The IEA said the body will meet in Paris in the first quarter of next year and “every two years to set the Agency’s mandate and review its achievements”.
“It will provide a key opportunity after COP26 (UN Climate Change Conference) in Glasgow for countries to advance how they can work together to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement while ensuring secure energy supplies,” a statement said.
Olivia Caisley 7.01pm:Australia Post boss pays tribute to Holgate
Australia Post Chair Lucio Di Bartolomeo says he remains optimistic about the future of the organisation and wishes former CEO Christine Holgate well after a Senate inquiry into the Cartier watch scandal called for his resignation.
A Senate committee dominated by Green and Labor senators made 25 recommendations in their final report, released on Wednesday, including the total overhaul of the Australia Post board and for Scott Morrison to apologise for his treatment of Ms Holgate.
Mr Di Bartolomeo said the organisation wished Ms Holgate well for the future.
“Ms Holgate was a very good chief executive for Australia Post and the organisation wishes her well for the future. Australia Post remains engaged in a mediation process with Ms Holgate around the circumstances of her departure from the organisation,” he said.
“With new CEO Paul Graham joining in coming months, Australia Post remains optimistic about its future and will continue working to improve capacity and reliability to better serve its customers.”
Sophie Elsworth 6.27pm:ABC lawyer ‘quit after Morrison comments’
A senior in-house ABC lawyer has resigned after he labelled the Morrison government “fascist” and described Prime Minister Scott Morrison as “an awful human being”.
ABC managing director David Anderson told a Senate estimates hearing on Wednesday that lawyer Sebastien Maury no longer worked at the public broadcaster.
Revelations were made in March of his tweeted comments, which slammed the Coalition.
“We did an investigation on that, we followed the process, we got to the end of that process and Mr Maury resigned, he no longer works at the ABC,” Mr Anderson said.
Olivia Caisley6.06pm: Holgate applauds Senate report findings
Former Australia Post chief executive Christine Holgate has welcomed the findings of a Senate probe into the Cartier watch scandal, declaring the report vindication for “everyone who has suffered bullying or has felt powerless”.
Ms Holgate, quit Australia Post in November after it was revealed she bought four luxury watches worth $12,000 as rewards for senior employees — a move that sparked a personal intervention from the Prime Minister when he publicly called for an investigation into the purchases.
A parliamentary probe into the saga made 25 recommendations in their final report, handed down on Wednesday, including that Scott Morrison apologise for Ms Holgate’s treatment and for Australia Post chairman Lucio Di Bartolomeo to resign.
“I want to dedicate today’s outcome to everyone who has suffered bullying and has felt powerless and alone,” she said. “I hope that the findings of the committee’s report are enacted, and that we can finally settle my personal issues via mediation.”
Ms Holgate also thanked the Senate committee for their diligence and commitment to the truth.
“I welcome their findings and I hope that they lead to meaningful positive change within Australia Post and the government sector,” she said.
“I want to again thank everyone who supported me during my experience, particularly the Community Licenced Post Offices and the employees of Australia Post.”
Steven Swinford 5.50pm:Johnson said ‘Covid only kills 80-year-olds’
Dominic Cummings is expected to accuse Boris Johnson of claiming that “Covid is only killing 80-year-olds” as he resisted a push to impose a second lockdown.
The British Prime Minister’s former senior adviser will use an appearance before MPs to criticise Mr Johnson for delaying the second lockdown last year despite increasing numbers of coronavirus cases. Mr Cummings will argue that the delay in implementing the lockdown in September, along with other government failings, ultimately cost thousands of lives.
ITV News reported that Mr Johnson made the comments during a period of intense debate in government in September, when Mr Cummings and scientific advisers were pushing for a “circuit-breaker” lockdown. The Prime Minister told colleagues the economic damage wrought by a second lockdown would outweigh the public health benefits.
Richard Lloyd Parry5.30pm:US can’t refight Cold War in Asia
To those who remember it, there is something grotesquely nostalgic about the Cold War. Commies and capitalists, goodies and baddies, the Free World and the Evil Empire: it was terrifying but it was also simple compared with the 30 years that followed, with its soupy fog of Islamic terrorists, regional despots and protracted wars in the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan.
So it’s with a kind of relief that some pundits are declaring the advent of Cold War II. In the long-awaited sequel, Russia has only a supporting role; this time around the leads are the US and China. The locations have shifted too, from Europe to Asia, allowing the introduction of glamorous new stars such as Japan, India and Australia. The Iron Curtain is to be replaced by one made of bamboo, but the plot is the same: two nuclear superpowers locked in a struggle for mastery over a neatly divided world.
James Madden5pm:ABC in deals with Google and Facebook
The ABC has signed letters of intent with Google and Facebook, which will see the tech giants pay the national broadcaster for the use of its journalism content.
The agreement mirrors deals already struck by commercial media companies, including News Corp (publisher of The Australian), Nine, Seven West Media and the Guardian Australia.
The ABC’s managing director David Anderson told a Senate Estimates hearing on Wednesday: “I am pleased to announce that the ABC has signed letters of intent with both
Google and Facebook.
“When these commercial deals are concluded, they will enable
the ABC to make new and significant investments in regional services.
“These investments will provide a huge boost to the regions at a time when many areas
of regional and rural Australia have experienced a withdrawal of media services.”
Mr Anderson did not put a dollar figure on the proposed deal between the ABC and the tech giants.
READ MORE:Friends of Porter’s alleged rape victim like ‘cult members’
Olivia Caisley 4.07pm: Hanson backs Holgate, pans Morrison
Pauline Hanson, who endorsed the Senate committee’s majority report scrutinising the Cartier water scandal, says Christine Holgate has been treated appallingly.
The One Nation leader also took aim at Prime Minister Scott Morrison for “putting his mouth in action before he engaged his brain” when he called on Ms Holgate to stand aside in Question Time.
Senator Hanson, who is a key supporter of Ms Holgate and pushed for the inquiry into her departure from Australia Post, said she agreed the organisation’s chair Lucio DiBartolomeo should stand aside because he had shown he wasn’t “up to the job”.
“Morrison put his mouth into action before he engaged his brain and his words in parliament when he said ‘stand down or go’,” Senator Hanson told The Australian on Wednesday.
Ms Holgate had not been recognised for her work in steering Australia Post through the coronavirus pandemic and the Prime Minister had been “arrogant and rude” in his treatment of her, Senator Hanson added.
She said moves to stop the further privatisation of the organisation and restructuring the board to include MPs and senators could help solve the issue of too many Liberal appointees and “jobs for the boys”.
READ MORE:Palmer to bankroll Craig Kelly as independent
Olivia Caisley3.48pm: Fletcher congratulates Holgate
Paul Fletcher has congratulated Christine Holgate on her new job as chief executive at Toll Global Express:
“The government has consistently acknowledged that Ms Holgate was an effective chief executive of Australia Post and I congratulate her on her new role at Global Express,” the Communication Minister said on Wednesday.
“The government’s response to the findings of the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee is reflected in the detailed dissenting report.”
READ MORE: Biden needs regional fire power
Olivia Caisley3.37pm:Holgate ‘disgraced and humiliated’: Hanson-Young
The chair of the Senate committee scrutinising the Cartier watch scandal, Sarah Hanson-Young, said Christine Holgate had been “disgraced and humiliated” by Scott Morrison and had been abandoned by the board.
The Greens Senator conceded that while the purchase of Cartier watches was “unwise”, her treatment had been disproportionate.
“Ms Holgate was denied natural justice, due process, and fair treatment and is owed an apology from Mr Morrison and his Government,” she said.
“... The purchase of Cartier watches was unwise. However, the treatment of Ms Holgate by the Prime Minister and the Australia Post Chairman was disproportionate and denied Ms Holgate of a fair process.
READ MORE: Palmer to bankroll Craig Kelly as independent
Adeshola Ore3.35pm: MPs told to stay in Canberra
Federal MPs planning to travel to Victoria this weekend when parliament rises have been warned they may face border restrictions when they return to Canberra next week.
Victoria’s coronavirus outbreak has risen to 15 cases, with health authorities saying they will not rule out imposing further restrictions.
A statement from the Presiding Officers advised MPs to consider remaining in Canberra.
“MPs and Staff who intend to return to Victoria this weekend should be aware ACT entry conditions may change without notice or on very short notice,” it said.
“This may delay or restrict travel back to the ACT next week.”
Anyone in the ACT who visited a close exposure or tier 1 site in Victoria is required by ACT Health to immediately quarantine for 14 days since attending the venue. Everyone in the ACT who has been in the Greater Melbourne area in the past two weeks is required to complete an online declaration form.
READ MORE: Friends of Porter’s alleged rape victim like ‘cult members’
Greg Brown3.20pm: Palmer to bankroll Craig Kelly as independent
Clive Palmer has revealed he will bankroll Craig Kelly’s campaign to run as an independent in the seat of Hughes at the next election.
The mining magnate was in Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday with the Hughes MP, who left the Liberal Party this year over his controversial backing of hydroxychloride as a treatment to Covid-19.
Mr Palmer said, while his own party will run candidates in most seats at the next federal election, he would personally support Mr Kelly in Hughes.
“In this critical time in our nations future, it is more important than ever that we have some independent leadership and Craig Kelly is a person of great integrity,” Mr Palmer told The Australian.
“My admiration for Craig Kelly stems from the courage he has got. Courage is one of the rarest things in political life today and it is good to see someone who has the conviction to stand up for what he believes in.’’
READ the full story here
OLIVIA CAISLEY3.14pm: Morrison should apologise to Holgate, Senate probe says
Former Australia Post chief executive Christine Holgate was treated appallingly, should receive an apology from Scott Morrison and was denied justice for due process, a Senate probe into the Cartier watch scandal has concluded.
The committee has also called for Australia Post chair Lucio Di Bartolomeo to resign and for the board to be restructured to include MPs and Senators to make the organisation more accountable to the public, as part of its 25 recommendations.
“The committee recommends that the Australia Post Board and Shareholder Ministers and the Prime Minister apologise to Ms Holgate for denying her the legal principles of procedural fairness and natural justice in her departure from Australia Post,” it reads.
Other suggested improvements include preventing further privatisation of the organisation and for Communications Minister Paul Fletcher to be referred to Auditor-General Grant Hehir for “instructing” the board to stand Ms Holgate aside.
The Senate committee was formed to probe Ms Holgate’s controversial departure as chief executive amid a political firestorm over her decision to buy four Cartier watches worth $12,000 as rewards for senior employees.
She was forced to stand aside after Mr Morrison personally intervened and ordered an investigation into the purchase.
Over the course of the inquiry the committee took evidence on whether the-then Australia Post chair knew about the watches, whether the gifts were within the rules, and how they compared with bonuses given within other government-owned corporations. It also examined issues around the future of Australia Post’s services.
Ms Holgate has claimed she was “unlawfully stood aside” and when appearing at the committee last month she attacked the Prime Minister and Australia Post over the “bullying” and “humiliation” she endured after she was forced out.
Liberal and Nationals senators dissent
A separate dissenting report from Liberal and Nationals senators accused the inquiry of becoming a “highly politicised exercise”, declaring they did not support “aspects of the analysis of evidence” and disagreed with “many of the recommendations of the majority report.”
“The claim that Ms Holgate was denied procedural fairness and natural justice is contested,” they said. “Evidence to the inquiry was characterised by differing recollections of events and interpretations placed on evidence such as phone records.”
Also disputed was the recommendation that Mr Di Bartolomeo resign.
“The evidence of the Chair of Australia Post, Mr Lucio Di Bartolomeo, confirmed that the Minister for Communications had asked him to stand Ms Christine Holgate aside. However, despite agreeing, Mr Di Bartolomeo gave evidence this had not been taken as a ‘formal direction’,” the dissenting report said.
Adeshola Ore3.07pm: Kunkel ensured Higgins had a copy of his report
Scott Morrison has told parliament former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins was informed about a report into the alleged “backgrounding” against her partner when it became public.
The Prime Minister’s chief of staff, John Kunkel, was unable to find anyone in his office who backgrounded against Ms Higgins’ partner, David Sharaz.
In a four-page report tabled in parliament on Tuesday, Mr Kunkel said on first-hand evidence “I do not make a finding that negative briefing against Mr Sharaz of the sort alleged has taken place.”
During question time on Wednesday, Labor frontbencher Catherine King accused Mr Morrison of tabling the report without informing Ms Higgins it would be made public.
“No-one had told Ms Higgins it would repeat the smear that led to the report in the first place,’’ she said. “Doesn’t Ms Higgins deserve better than this, Prime Minister?”
Mr Morrison told parliament at the time of tabling the report, Mr Kunkel contacted Ms Higgins and “ensured that she had a copy.”
READ MORE: Report clears PM’s staff on Higgins claim
Adeshola Ore2.52am:Australians happy to live here during pandemic: PM
Scott Morrison says the public is thankful to be living in Australia during the pandemic, as Labor attacks the Morrison government on the vaccine rollout during question time.
Opposition health spokesman Mark Butler said Australia’s vaccine rollout was so delayed “we can’t even see the front of the queue.”
“I know every Australian is very happy to be living in Australia during the course of this pandemic,” the Prime Minister said.
He told parliament he was regularly approached by Australians who he said knew they were living “like few are anywhere else in the world.”
“They know the reality - that the government of this country has worked together with other governments at a state and territory level,” he said.
Mr Morrison also accused Labor of “whingeing and complaining” about the vaccine rollout and undermining the government’s ability to “fight the virus” by politicising the issue.
READ MORE: Jack the Insider – Pete Evans: harmless idiot or dangerous influencer?
Ben Packham2.45pm: Morrison has warm discussion with Vietnamese counterpart
Scott Morrison has spoken for the first time to new Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, emphasising Australia’s commitment to working more closely with the country which it counts as a strategic partner.
The call was said to be warm, and included discussion on how the two nations could work together more closely on “shared interests” in the Indo-Pacific.
The leaders discussed their ambition for the nations to double bilateral investment and become top ten trading partners through the finalisation of an Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy.
They also covered Australia’s support in procuring vaccines for Vietnam, Australia’s engagement through ASEAN on Mekong issues, and ADF support for Vietnam’s contribution to UN peacekeeping missions.
Vietnam, a longtime rival of China with competing maritime claims, is a key Southeast Asian partner of Australia and other Western allies.
Vietnam’s parliament elected Mr Chinh, the former head of the Communist Party’s Central Organisation Committee, as Prime Minister in April.
READ MORE:US eyes Top End military build-up
Adeshola Ore2.30pm:3.8m Australians now vaccinated, Hunt says
Health Minister Greg Hunt says about 3.8 million coronavirus vaccine doses have been administered across Australia.
He said a record number of 104,00 vaccinations were administered on Tuesday.
“Between the general practice and the aged care vaccinations, we’ve seen over 60,000 vaccinations in the last 24 hours, and through the state system, where we have seen approximately 40,000 vaccinations,” he told parliament.
“Those two systems are working together. And what that means is that more Australians are being vaccinated every day. Three weeks ago was a record week. Two weeks ago was another record. Last week was a record. This week, we’ve already seen a record daily number.”
Mr Hunt stressed that the Northern Territory government had requested it take over the responsibility of the Howard Springs facility from the commonwealth.
“What we’re seeing is that that capacity is being expanded. We have already brought home two flights recently from India, and we have seen a far lower rate of positivity,” he said.
READ MORE: Friends of Porter’s alleged rape victim like ‘cult members’
Adeshola Ore2.27pm: Commonwealth quarantine in QT spotlight
Labor has used Question Time to attack the Morrison government for not establishing a nation-wide quarantine system, as Victoria’s coronavirus cluster expands to 15.
Victorian health authorities have not ruled out imposing further restrictions and warned the next twenty-four hours are critical.
Deputy Labor leader Richard Marles accused Scott Morrison of failing to establish a nation-wide purpose-built quarantine facility.
Mr Morrison defended the commonwealth’s collaboration with state and territories to create a quarantine system he said had a “99.9 percent effectiveness rate” and pointed to the government’s $500 million to expand capacity at the Howard Springs centre near Darwin.
Mr Morrison also said he would not “attack the states”, triggering a roar of interjections from Labor.
Speaker of the lower house Tony Smith also booted Employment Minister Stuart Robert and Labor frontbencher Andrew Giles from the chamber.
OLIVIA CAISLEY2.14pm:Taxpayers footing Reynolds’ bill for Higgins probe
Taxpayers are footing the legal bill of former Defence Minister Linda Reynolds over the Australian Federal Police investigation into the alleged rape of former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins in her office in March 2019.
The Morrison government told a Senate Estimates hearing on Wednesday Senator Reynolds had engaged legal counsel that was being paid for by the taxpayer.
“And now, I see here, that on the 30th of April, the Minister Finance, approved assistance for Senator Linda Reynolds, in relation to an AFP investigation,” Labor Senator Murray Watt said. “So that application was made to this department for approval of legal assistance, correct?’”.
A government official from the Attorney-General’s office confirmed the spend was “actioned by the Finance Minister on the advice of the Department of Finance.”
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham, rather than Attorney-General Michaelia Cash, approved the spend to avoid any conflict of interest as Ms Higgins had also worked in Senator Cash’s office.
“(Brittany Higgins) was an employee in my office, it wouldn’t have been appropriate,’’ Senator Cash said.
A separate Senate Estimates hearing on Tuesday revealed that 20 allegations of sex crimes and other misconduct involving federal MPs and staff have been reported to authorities since Ms Higgins went public with allegations she was raped in Parliament House.
Joseph Lam 1.51pm: Melbourne ‘staring down the lockdown barrel again’
UNSW epidemiologist Marylouise Mclaws says she believes Melbourne looks as if it will head into another lockdown.
Professor McLaws appearing on Sky News said given the city’s sociable manner, there was a high chance the virus had spread.
“I think they’re looking down the barrel at a three-day lockdown sooner or later,” Professor McLaws said.
“This is a highly connected city, it’s very sociable, it’s easy to get around and therefore the spread is highly probable to spread around the city.”
Asked if Victoria was well-placed to handle the cluster, Professor McLaws said all Australian states could benefit from sharing resources.
“This (cluster is an example of) why we should have much more connection with other states and territories.”
READ MORE: Durie – No logic to Frydenberg’s Port decision
Courtney Walsh 1.45pm: All Melbourne-based AFL players in lockdown
Every AFL player from Melbourne-based clubs has been put into an effective lockdown as the league seeks to do all it can to ensure the season can progress without interruption.
Footballers, their coaches and other club staff members will only be allowed to leave home to shop for food and supplies, give care to relatives if necessary, exercise and work, which are similar to the protocols all Victorians lived by in 2020 during the two lockdowns.
The AFL has moved to split the AFL groups from their VFL affiliates to minimise the risk of infection. AFL groups can still train together, as per normal, but meeting sizes have been reduced.
Games in Victoria this weekend will progress at this stage with a crowd capacity capped at 85 per cent.
Marvel Stadium will have its roof open for a match for the first time this year for the top-of-the-table clash between Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs, with St Kilda and the Kangaroos set to play at the ground on Saturday.
READ MORE: Buddy admits he’s close to retirement
Michael McKenna12.39pm: ‘Voice of reason’ Sir Llew Edwards dies
Sir Llew Edwards, former Queensland treasurer and deputy premier who later oversaw Brisbane’s transformative World Expo 88, has died at the age of 85.
An electrician-turned medical doctor – and then the youngest-ever cabinet minister when he was appointed health Minister at 37 – he was regarded as the “voice of reason” as state Liberal leader in the coalition government under Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen.
After his retirement from politics in 1983, he was appointed by then prime minister Bob Hawke as chair and chief executive of Expo 88 – widely-credited with heralding Brisbane’s evolution into a contemporary city with its South Bank arts precinct and parklands.
READ the full Llew Edwards obituary here
Rachel Baxendale12.15pm: Victorian parliament not using official QR check-in app
Victoria’s parliament still isn’t using the state government’s Service Victoria QR code check-in app, eight months after other states and territories made their government check-in apps compulsory at public venues, and two days before the app becomes mandatory.
While NSW and the ACT introduced an official QR code app in September last year, Victoria did not introduce its app until November 30, meaning many businesses and venues, including state parliament, have been continuing to use their own systems.
The lack of a uniform check-in system has been blamed for poor levels of compliance at hospitality venues and other businesses, as Victoria battles a growing cluster of 15 coronavirus cases.
From this Friday May 28, it will become compulsory for all businesses to use the government app to keep electronic records of all visitors.
Almost a fortnight ago, the Andrews government announced it would punish venues which did not comply with on-the-spot fines of $1652, and fines of up to $9913 for repeated non-compliance.
READ MORE: ‘Update your Mac, iPhone urgently’
OLIVIA CAISLEY 12.11pm: No national plan to counteract mouse plague
There is no commonwealth plan to deal with a devastating mouse plague sweeping through multiple states and costing farmers millions, a senate estimates hearing has been told.
Labor Senator Glenn Sterle quizzed Department of Agriculture Secretary Andrew Metcalfe about whether the Morrison government would mount a national response as the plague worsened.
“The answer at this stage is no,” Mr Metcalfe said. “It’s seen as something each state is responsible for.”
Mr Metcalfe said each state department had primary responsibility for local matters but the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) would play a “major role” in the scientific management of infestation.
Opposition agriculture spokeswoman Julie Collins described the lack of co-ordinated action as “yet another stunning failure of leadership from Scott Morrison” when farmers were crying out for help.
Estimates heard the Morrison Government would convene a meeting of Agriculture Ministers next week.
Ms Collins said the costly mouse plague must be at the top of the agenda.
READ MORE: Shy mice may not take bait
Mackenzie Scott 12.00pm: Covid outbreak to cool Melbourne property market
Melbourne’s residential property market looks likely to cool for winter ahead of other capital cities, with the latest coronavirus outbreak only placing further pressure on the city’s fundamentals.
Last year’s four-month long lockdown in response to the prolonged coronavirus outbreak restricted housing market operations and made it the last capital to begin its house price recovery.
Auction numbers have been strong and homes have sold at pace over the past six months, but Melbourne’s annualised gains of 2.2 per cent make it the worst performing capital city in the country and significantly behind the similar Sydney market (7.5 per cent in the year to April).
Archistar chief economist Andrew Wilson said the new Covid cluster adds a “flavour of uncertainty” to the market ahead of the traditional winter slowdown of the housing sales.
“The next few days will tell the story. The market has underperformed compared to other cities, not hitting the spectacular highs other have experienced recently,” Dr Wilson said.
“It will accelerate what is happening already. The Melbourne market is already showing signs it is past its peak (in activity).”
Joseph Lam11.55am:No special treatment for the vaccinated: Berejiklian
Residents who have visited Covid-19 exposure sites in greater Melbourne and have since returned to NSW will not be treated differently and will still be required to get tested and isolate, authorities say.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday said that vaccination rates are too low for any special provisions to be provided.
âš ï¸REMINDER: VICTORIAN ARRIVALS INTO NSWâš ï¸
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) May 25, 2021
People arriving in NSW from the Greater Melbourne area are reminded that they must complete an online declaration form which confirms they have not attended one of the venues of concern. pic.twitter.com/iLBAi4wAXh
“Whe we ask questions about if people can be treated differently when they are vaccinated, we can’t right now because people have not been vaccinated enough,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We are still in very initial stages of getting our population vaccinated, and that is why it is really essential - when you look around the world, look at what is happening in Victoria - that could happen in any state in Australia.”
“The more people vaccinated, the more we can look at those issues in the future.”
Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant backed Ms Berejiklian’s comments, saying that “no vaccine is 100 per cent effective”.
“When we are striving to achieve no community transmission, we cannot have any risk, so at the moment, regardless of your vaccination status, if you have been to a high-risk venue, you are required to quarantine for 14 days.”
READ MORE: Urgent virus alert for 48 venues
PATRICK COMMINS11.41am: Future Fund warns of inflation risk
The federal government’s $226 billion Future Fund will double its investment team ahead of what it expects will be a particularly difficult period in markets in the wake of the pandemic, warning a risk of the massive global policy response was a “significant increase in inflation”.
Speaking in front of a budget estimates committee hearing in Canberra on Wednesday morning, Future Fund Management Agency chief executive Raphael Arndt said the Covid-19 pandemic had been the “catalyst for deep and lasting changes in economies and financial markets”.
Dr Arndt said the “outlook overall has greatly improved” following the “unprecedented” turmoil of last year.
But the Future Fund boss said the “world is changing” and “how we respond to the changes now will have a lasting impact”.
“We think to be able to meet our (investment return) mandates in the period ahead, we need to ramp up our activity in a number of areas, particularly in what we call alpha-seeking strategies,” for example by placing funds with private equity managers and hedge funds, Dr Arndt said.
“Our view is that the world is fundamentally changing and financial markets are changing with them.”
Dr Arndt said the Future Fund, which manages money on behalf of the Commonwealth to pay for unfunded superannuation liabilities, had generated returns of 9.1 per cent a year over the past decade, against its 6.1 per cent target.
With rates near zero around the developed world, achieving this mandate would be “more challenging,” he said.
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John Ferguson11.25am: Latest outbreak exposes glaring flaws in Covid battle
The outbreak in Melbourne has highlighted the significant issues with a lack of vaccination, caused by hesitancy and the overall slow rollout.
Conversely, the high rates of vaccination among frontline health workers will help minimise both the spread and potential illness rates among these staff if the virus were to spread.
Once again, the virus has spread out of hotel quarantine and it is becoming increasingly clear that the current system doesn’t work.
This should intensify the pressure on Canberra to back quarantine outside city centres and away from hotels.
READ John Ferguson’s full commentary here
Joseph Lam 10.39am:Victorians double vaccination rate in one day
Victoria administered more than 15,000 Covid-19 vaccines over the past 24 hours, a figure almost double that of the previous day.
The state administered a total of 15,858 vaccines, up from 8269 in the 24 hours to Tuesday.
Acting Premier James Merlino said the uptake in vaccines was something the state would like to see more of.
The positive figure comes as it emerge that three people aged over 50 at the centre of the Melbourne cluster were yet to get their Covid-19 jab despite being eligible to receive the vaccine.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said it triggered concern more broadly about a lack of people across the population getting vaccinated.
“We can replicate yesterday’s number every day and do more, and people see the incentive,” he said.
“We know that the best way to defeat outbreaks and the best way to defeat the pandemic is the successful rollout of the commonwealth vaccine program and, secondly, to have an alternative quarantine system, particularly for our most at risk individuals.”
“As I have said a number of times, we have the capacity to do two to three times what we have been doing, and we saw that yesterday.”
Victorians will not be subject to any further restrictions as yet, despite the cluster growing to 15 cases.
Mr Merlino told the public that while the state was happy with an increased number of vaccinations, the next 24 hours were crucial.
“We can get on top of this if people get tested and if people follow public health advice in regard to exposure sites,” Mr Merlino said.
“We can follow this chain of transmission and can get on top of this, but the next 24 hours will be critical.
Professor Sutton added that “everything is on the table” when it comes to further restrictions.
READ MORE: Paul Kelly – PM’s poll plan to pick off Labor’s working voters
Adeshola Ore9.38am: Porter faces ‘massive’ financial drain over ABC suit
Former Attorney-General Christian Porter says he has received offers of donations for his defamation case against the ABC.
In his first media interview since he was accused of a historic rape, Mr Porter said he received the offers from people in his West Australian electorate, noting he was amazed by the “sheer volume” of support and empathy.
“I went into this litigation, knowing that it’s going to put a massive personal financial drain on me and my resources and I’m completely committed to that,” he told Sky News.
“I’m doing what I need to do to pay for litigation and that’s going to be a massive drain on me. If at any point in time anything arises that requires me to make disclosures that members of parliament regularly do, of course, I’ll do that.”
Mr Porter, who is now Industry Minister, is suing the ABC and journalist Louise Milligan over an online article published on February 26, which reported that an unnamed cabinet minister was facing historical rape allegations. His lawyers argue the article was defamatory because Mr Porter was easily identifiable in the report.
Mr Porter later outed himself as the unnamed minister at a press conference, and launched the defamation action against the ABC on March 15. He emphatically denied the allegations.
Mr Porter said the support from his electorate had been “remarkable.”
“They do say they sort of challenging periods in your life that you get to know who your friends are,” he said.
“The support that I’ve received from the people that I’ve worked with for the last several years has just been incredible.... I mean I guess in a way it was surprising the rallying and the support that I got from the electorate.”
He said when he returned to his electorate office after taking mental health leave he was met by ‘lever arch folder after lever arch folder of messages of support and empathy.
“I haven’t even had the chance to read through them all, you know, and some people did offer money in emails.”
Mr Porter stressed he was not at the point of crowdfunding for his defamation case yet, but did not rule out accepting donations.
Asked if he would run at the next federal election, Mr Porter coyly replied “everyone loves elections.”
“I’m just completely committed to my electorate and completely committed to the government,” he said. “It has never occurred to me to not be a part of that going on.”
Mr Porter said he hoped his defamation case would be finalised as quickly as possible.
“If that’s what you’ve got to do to clear your name, that’s what you do,” he said.
“It’s an expensive business. It’s hard work defending yourself.”
READ MORE: Wave of sex crime cases hits politics
Adeshola Ore9.29am: Coalition ‘committed to super powers reform’
Superannuation Minister Jane Hume says the federal government remains committed to a directions power in its superannuation reform legislation which gives the government the power to veto investments.
The proposed laws would give the federal government the power to block super fund investments it considered “unsuitable expenditure by trustees in any circumstance.”
Labor, the Greens and a number of other crossbench MPs are also against the legislation. The government would require the support of one crossbench MP to pass the bill.
Senator Hume said the reforms would increase transparency for funds.
“The industry is now $3.1 trillion in size. So these reforms are all about having your fund follow you from job to job, making it easy to choose a better fund, holding funds to account for the underperformance and increasing transparency and accountability,” she told the ABC.
She said the reforms would clarify the trustee’s duties, as recommended by the Productivity Commission.
“Let’s remember that superannuation funds or trusts, they can’t raise money any other way. They can’t, you know, take on debt, they can’t raise equity, the only money they’ve got to spend is member’s money. So they have to focus their minds as to how they’re spending member’s money.”
READ MORE: Gottliebsen — Refresh Hockey reforms to revamp tax office
Joseph Lam 9.22am: ‘Time for Melburnians to restrict their travel’
A University of Melbourne epidemiologist says he expects significant changes to be brought into Victoria on Wednesday as five further cases of Covid-19 were recorded.
Professor Tony Blakely said it’s time Melburnians started becoming proactive and reducing their travel.
“Now hearing that there has been another five cases reported overnight with no details I’m getting quite concerned,” Professor Blakely said.
‘We do, unfortunately, have a problem on our hands.”
Professor Blakely said a best case scenario for Victoria would be if those who had tested positive had not travelled much over the past week.
“The more likely scenario is that they were scattered around a little bit.”
Crowds still permitted at MCG
Nevertheless, football crowds will be permitted at the MCG and Docklands this weekend, despite Victoria’s coronavirus cluster reaching 14 cases, Sports Minister Martin Pakula says.
Mr Pakula said Victoria’s public health team was satisfied it could successfully contact trace any possible coronavirus cases, after a positive case attended Sunday’s clash at the MCG between Collingwood and Port Adelaide.
“There will be crowds at the footy this weekend,” Mr Pakula said on his way in to state parliament on Wednesday morning.
He said the Docklands Marvel stadium would likely have the roof open, with added rules around masks.
A statement from the AFL is set to be issued “likely before lunchtime”, Mr Pakula said. – With Rachel Baxendale
READ MORE:ABC told hand over files on Luna Park fire
Rachel Baxendale 9.10am: Five more virus cases take Victoria cluster to 14
Five more coronavirus cases overnight have taken Victoria’s latestcluster to 14.
Acting Premier James Merlino, Health Minister Martin Foley and chief health officer Brett Sutton are due to provide an update at a press conference scheduled for 9.45am.
Reported yesterday: 10 new local cases and no new cases acquired overseas.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) May 25, 2021
- 15,858 vaccine doses were administered
- 26,180 test results were received
More later: https://t.co/lIUrl0ZEco#COVID19Vic#COVID19VicDatapic.twitter.com/BCp1fpOLJB
Wednesday’s official Health Department numbers include 10 new cases, including five cases which were made public on Tuesday.
The cluster has prompted Victorians to get tested and vaccinated, with 26,180 tests processed on Wednesday compared with 14,892 on Tuesday, and 15,858 vaccines administered by the state Health Department, compared with 8269 on Tuesday.
FOLLOWlive Melbourne coronavirus updates here
Adeshola Ore9.10am: Craig Kelly puts super reform bill in doubt
The federal government’s superannuation reform legislation is in doubt, with crossbench MP Craig Kelly opposing the bill.
The proposed laws would give the federal government the power to block super fund investments if considered “unsuitable expenditure by trustees in any circumstance.”
Labor, the Greens and a number of other crossbench MPs are also against the legislation. The government would require the support of one crossbench MP to pass the bill.
On Twitter, Mr Kelly said “I stand with the cross bench, industry super funds, unions and employers in opposing the federal government’s attempt in its “Your Super Your Future” bill to give the Treasurer the power to veto investments by super funds.”
“This would go too far and would create business uncertainty.”
The Morrison government lost a working majority in parliament after Mr Kelly resigned and moved to the crossbench in February. He told Scott Morrison he would support supply and confidence bills, but said he was prepared to vote against the government.
READ MORE: Super funds brace for merger gridlock
Joseph Lam 9.03am:‘Opposition’s job isn’t to oppose everything’
Chris Minns says NSW Labor has been far too negative over the past few years and its strategy isn’t working.
The former NSW Opposition transport spokesman, who resigned early on Wednesday, told the ABC he believed politicians needed to be more “authentic’’.
“I think if you play negative politics against a government, it’s not working, and negative politics against our own side is not working either,” Mr Minns said.
‘I think the Labor Party over the last two years has been too negative. I don’t think negative politics works.”
Following his resignation, Mr Minns said he would be going to the backbench to fight for his community and “fight for Labor”.
“I don’t think the opposition’s job is to oppose everything. I think it’s to offer solutions to the challenges facing the state.”
READ MORE: Pleas for Premier to back mine extension
YONI BASHAN 8.54am: Dirt file made my position untenable: Minns
Former NSW Labor frontbencher Chris Minns says his position become “completely untenable” after a dirt file about him was circulated by his own party, and that he will speak to colleagues about options for a leadership spill.
Mr Minns announced his resignation as shadow transport minister on Wednesday morning and took aim at the opposition’s political direction and strategy. His resignation came one day after shadow treasurer Walt Secord quit the shadow ministry citing an inability to work with leader Jodi McKay.
Asked whether he would contest the Labor leadership, Mr Minns said: “I don’t know, I need to speak to my colleagues over the coming few days over the direction of Labor.”
He added: “I’ve got no plans to do that. I need to speak to my colleagues over the coming days about the best way forward for the NSW Labor party, (and) how we mount a credible challenge against the Liberal Party.”
Queried whether Labor was “imploding”, Mr Minns said “it is what it is” and pointed to the fact that he was departing shadow cabinet.
READ MORE: We’re heading off a cliff, says Labor MP
Joseph Lam8.33am:McKay: We need to move on from Minns’ resignation
“Disappointed” NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay says her party needs to move on from Chris Minns’ resignation and continue holding the NSW Premier to account.
Appearing on Sky News on Wednesday, Ms McKay brushed off the dirt dossier released about Mr Minns on Tuesday evening and turned the spotlight on to Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
“This isn’t about me. I would have never had guessed this would all unfold the way it has after a by-election loss we were never supposed to win,” Ms McKay said.
“I think we just need to get back on to holding Gladys Berejiklian to account.”
Ms McKay regurgitated her speech from a press conference on Tuesday when she repeatedly said: “I was democratically elected. If I don’t have support, I won’t be there.”
“Gladys turned a blind eye to corruption. In a Covid environment she’s allowed to get away with it.
“She can have whatever partner she wants but she can’t not report what she knew to ICAC and she can’t give out money that benefits her boyfriend.”
READ MORE:State by-elections do matter. Just ask Rudd
Yoni Bashan8.05am:Leadership rival Minns quits McKay frontbench
NSW Labor’s Transport spokesman Chris Minns, who previously lost a leadership contest to embattled leader Jodi McKay in 2019, has quit her frontbench amid jostling to shore up support for a challenge to her job.
Tumult within the party accelerated rapidly on Tuesday when a dirt file targeting Mr Minns was circulated widely to journalists, allegedly by a staff member working within the ALP’s leadership team.
On Wednesday morning, Mr Minns said his position had become untenable. “I’m obviously disappointed by news reports that a dirt dossier was distributed by the deputy leader of the Labor Party’s office,’’ he said.
— Chris Minns (@MinnsChris) May 25, 2021
“In the last 24 hours, I have not received any communication or explanation from the Leader, or the deputy leader as to how or why this was done.
“As a result my position in the Shadow Cabinet is untenable and I will resign effective immediately. The public wants a contest of ideas and a vision to improve the lives of working families, not negative politics.”
Ben Packham8am:US eyes Top End military build-up
The US wants to store munitions and defence equipment in Australia’s Top End under a bilateral force posture review to better prepare the ANZUS allies for growing strategic threats from China.
In an interview, acting US ambassador Mike Goldman said it “just makes sense to forward deploy” US war stocks in Australia, given US bases in Guam and elsewhere in the region were within reach of Chinese missiles.
The US charge d’affaires also expressed support for a more “ambitious” redevelopment of the Lombrum naval base in Papua New Guinea, subject to negotiations with PNG and Australia.
Mr Goldman said geostrategic tensions required a more “innovative defence partnership” between Australia and the US, including co-production of precision-guided weapons on Australian soil.
He said a bilateral force posture review working group, established following last year’s AUSMIN talks, had met for the first time earlier this month to discuss “a wide range of contingencies”.
Amanda Hodge7.42am:War crimes probe ‘put at risk’
Australia’s decision to close its embassy in Afghanistan by the end of this week could impede investigations into alleged war crimes by ADF troops who served there, the Office of the Special Investigator has warned.
Scott Morrison on Tuesday confirmed a report in The Australian that the embassy in Kabul would close this month and its diplomats revert to a fly in, fly out presence from a nearby regional base (likely the UAE) because of the uncertain security situation as the last foreign troops leave the country.
Burke mulls cancelling visa of academic who called Oct 7 ‘a celebration’
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke is considering the visa status of a US-based academic who attended Monday’s Hizb ut-Tahrir-associated rally in Sydney, praising the Houthi rebels and saying Hamas's attacks were a day of 'growth' for Palestinians.
Israel a ‘miracle’, says Labor senator
Labor Senator Deborah O’Neill has condemned the rise of anti-Semitism, as politicians from both sides of politics paused to commemorate October 7 in Canberra.