PoliticsNow: NSW MP accused of raping sex worker
NSW Labor MP Trish Doyle has used parliamentary privilege to allege a NSW government MP raped a sex worker.
- Mass vaccine hubs to turbocharge rollout
- Major restrictions rolled back in NSW
- ‘I was wrong to raise it’: PM’s apology
- Abuse of women must stop: Morrison
- Libs divided on quotas for women
Welcome to PoliticsNow, our live coverage of the latest headlines from Canberra and around the nation amid the ongoing response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Scott Morrison has told parliament he is “understanding the pain so many Australians are feeling”, as Labor used question time to attack his government’s handling of sexual assault and harassment allegations.
Mass vaccination clinics will be established around the country to help vaccinate the population, the secretary of the federal health department says. Scott Morrison has issued a late-night apology to News Corp Australia after he claimed a woman had been harassed in a toilet. It came hours after he backed gender quotas in the Liberal Party and called for an end to the “crap’’ endured by women, as he acknowledged many voters were unhappy with his response to the rape and sex scandals engulfing the government.
Greg Brown 8.45pm: Labor to scrap tax and spend agenda
Richard Marles says taxes will not increase under Labor, putting a nail in the coffin on the tax and spend agenda the ALP took to the 2019 poll.
The deputy Labor leader said an Albanese government would put its focus on different areas to the government, but the amount of overall taxation and spending would not be higher if Anthony Albanese became prime minister.
Speaking at the National Press Club, Labor’s most senior Right faction MP used science as an example where better results could be achieved without more spending.
“We need to change the cultural relationship to science. That’s not a function of government revenue,” Mr Marles said.
“That’s a function of how we place science in our societal view. Do we reckon it is important?”
When asked whether a Labor government could achieve its economic goals without increases to taxes or spending, he said: “Correct.”
Jacquelin Magnay8.05pm:Beijing bullying Aussies: NATO chief
NATO has issued a blunt message to China that its member countries will stand together and back Australia to counter Chinese bullying and bad behaviour.
In a boost for Australia’s stance to challenge China over the origins of coronavirus, and the resulting trade war, NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday night that “China behaved very badly against Australia’’.
He vowed that NATO’s 30 member countries would show solidarity with Australia because “we are like minded countries’’. While Australia is not a member of NATO, it has contributed to some of its programs, including in Afghanistan.
Mr Stoltenberg has encouraged countries like Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea to be involved as NATO broadens its approach to help counter China’s rise and Russia’s aggression.
He said when attacks are made on the rules-based international order — “which has served Australia, NATO allies, and many other countries so well over so many decades’’— the alliance has to stand up.
“Just by strengthening the partnership, we are sending a clear message to countries like for instance China which is actually undermining these rules-based order,” he told a virtual press conference from Brussels attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
“I also think it is important that we demonstrate that we are able to stand together when we see China trying to bully countries all over the world.
“They have behaved very badly against Australia after Australia has asked for an independent investigations to the originals of the coronavirus.’’
Ewin Hannan7.35pm:Parliament House workers slam ‘toxic culture’
Workers in federal parliament are demanding an end to the building’s “toxic culture”, calling for policy changes including a “victim-centric”’complaints process.
Following a meeting with ACTU president Michele O’Neil, members of the Community and Public Sector Union said the government had failed in its obligation as an employer to make their workplace safe.
“The work our members do is incredibly important for our democracy, but their workplaces have significant power imbalances, which can allow bullying, sexual harassment, and sexual assault to fester and go unpunished. This must change,” CPSU national secretary Melissa Donnelly said on Tuesday.
CPSU members called for an independent and confidential complaints process that staff could have confidence in.
They are seeking mandatory training for parliamentarians and staff, safe reporting mechanisms, and data reporting to workplace health and safety committees or equivalent.
Workers also sought provisions to mitigate gendered violence and sexual harassment agreed to in the enterprise agreement currently under negotiation.
Ms O’Neil said the government had been “dragged to the realisation that the workplace culture in Parliament House is toxic and dangerous, especially to women”.
“This is not news to workers who go to work every day in a high risk workplace where sexism is rife, sexual harassment is common and sexual assaults are alleged to have happened,” she said.
“These demands if met would provide clear and confidential reporting lines, consequences for actions, training, support and obligations to mitigate risk.
“It also asks the Morrison government to implement the recommendations of its own report into sexual harassment in the workplace, which has been sitting in a drawer in Christian Porter’s office for more than a year.
“The entire union movement stands with these workers who are fighting to make their workplace safer. It is past the time for the Morrison government to act.”
Walter Russell Mead7pm:America’s back — against a wall
Anyone who thought international politics would calm down once Donald Trump left centre stage has had a rude awakening. After the Alaska confrontation between top US and Chinese officials and the slanging match between presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin, the world is as fraught as ever. American relations with Russia are at their lowest ebb since the Kennedy administration and US-China relations at their frostiest since Henry Kissinger went to China in 1971, while Beijing and Moscow are more closely aligned than at any time since the death of Stalin.
It is not just the big boys who are testing the Biden team. Officials at Washington’s Fort McNair tightened security after reports of Iranian threats against the facility. North Korea is said to be moving toward new tests of long-range missiles. The Taliban announced that it plans to impose “Islamic rule” on Afghanistan when American forces leave.
Meanwhile, US Special Forces have arrived in Mozambique to train local troops in the face of a major offensive by ISIS-aligned militia groups.
Max Maddison6.20pm: NSW MP accused of raping sex worker
NSW Labor MP Trish Doyle has used parliamentary privilege to allege a NSW government MP raped a sex worker.
Ms Doyle, MP for the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, told the legislative assembly she had been contacted 18 months ago by a sex worker who had been “assaulted in my electorate” by a “government member of this chamber”. The accused MP was not named.
A police investigation over the matter has begun, the ABC reported.
“It was an assault, and it was against her explicit instructions. She did not consent. It was rape. This assault has had terrible consequences for the woman’s mental health and wellbeing,” Ms Doyle told parliament on Tuesday.
“This fear of hurt and anger is not something any woman should be made to feel, but it is all the worse that this man who raped her was a government member of this chamber.
“His power and his privileged position as a civic leader make that fear, anger and hurt all the worse the abuse of power and privilege to harass, coerce and assault women in the home in the street in their workplace must stop perpetrators must be held accountable.”
Ms Doyle added: “She had been clear with her client from the outset about what she was willing to do with him, and what she was unwilling to do.
“She tells me that she made herself clear that she was not willing to have penetrative sex with him.
“However, towards the end, the man moved around behind her and assaulted her in a way she had not consented to.”
MORE TO COME
Jess Malcolm 6.05pm: First flood victim identified
NSW Police have confirmed the first fatality of the flood disaster was a 25-year old Pakistani man.
Detective Inspector Chris Laird said he was driving a hired Toyota car and was on his first day as a contractor in the region.
“To give you a bit of background, that road up there did have a number of signs and was partly blocked with road closure signs,” Detective Inspector Chris Laird said.
The Toyota Camry was found about 6m underwater, about 30m from the road.
Police will investigate why he was unable to escape the vehicle suspecting an electric failure in the vehicle, confirming he was on the phone to police for “a long period of time” while trapped.
“You can only just imagine somebody fighting for their life to get out of the car, that’s what the inside damage of the car looked like,” Detective Inspector Laid said.
The man died in his car after being trapped in floodwaters in Sydney’s northwest, when emergency services were alerted around 6.30am of a car caught up in Glenorie.
SES, ambulance and police including divers were called to the corner of Cattai Ridge Road and Hidden Valley Lane about 6.30am on Wednesday morning.
Jess Malcolm6pm: Body found in overturned ute
Queensland authorities have confirmed that a body has been found in the overturned ute in the Gold Coast Hinterland.
The body was found around 4.30pm after a rescue effort by police and emergency services in an attempt to remove the vehicle from floodwaters in Canungra Creek.
Joseph Lam5.25pm:Expert medical team sent to flood area
A team of medical specialists will be sent to North Richmond, in northwest Sydney, to provide emergency care to those who have been cut off from accessing hospitals.
The seven-person team includes two emergency medicine and retrieval specialists, two paramedics, two registered nurses and one logistics expert.
“We are stepping up our response to ensure patients in flood-affected areas who call triple zero are able to receive treatment, where road closures have cut off access to emergency care in hospitals,” NSW Health deputy secretary Deborah Willcox said.
NSW Ambulance’s emergency response capability manager David Koop said the team will be able to provide essential emergency department care diagnosing, as well as treating acute and urgent illnesses and injuries.
“Many residents have been left isolated due to flooding on roads, so we need to be able to get patients safely from the regions to the emergency department,” he said.
“Our primary job will be to provide temporary high-level care to unstable patients, as well as facilitating evacuations by air if needed.”
The team will be set up at the St John of God Hospital. The facility will not be open for walk-in patients.
Greg Brown 5.25pm:Pearson gains powerful backing on voice recognition
Mark Leibler, the co-chair of the Referendum Council that endorsed the Uluru Statement from the Heart, has backed Noel Pearson’s call for constitutional recognition to be fast-tracked ahead of a legislated voice to government.
In a submission to the advisory panel that is co-designing a “voice to government”, Mr Leibler, a partner at Arnold Bloch Leibler, said a legislated voice would not attract the support of Aboriginal Australians.
“As part of the final phase of the co-design process, an exposure draft bill for the voice should now be developed, as well as options for the wording of a possible constitutional amendment,” Mr Leibler wrote.
“As a purely legislated voice would be highly unlikely to attract support from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and therefore unlikely to attract support from the wider community, enabling legislation should only be passed subsequent to a successful referendum.”
He also wrote that, contrary to the recommendations in the interim report, “policy makers should be obliged, rather than purely expected, to consult the advisory voice”.
The submission from Mr Leibler shows the growing divide among supporters of the Uluru Statement from the Heart about how constitutional recognition should be progressed.
Last week, the co-chairs of the group co-designing an Indigenous voice to government — Marcia Langton and Tom Calma — said taking the proposal to a referendum before it was legislated risked scuppering the entire reform.
Professor Calma and Professor Langton pushed back against Mr Pearson, who used a speech last Wednesday to call for the delay of the Indigenous advisory body until there could be a referendum to recognise Indigenous Australians in the Constitution.
Patrick Commins4.55pm:$180m in JobKeeper repayments from 33 firms
A total of 33 big businesses have promised the Taxation Office they will repay $180m in JobKeeper payments they didn’t need.
“Pretty much all” are big listed companies, the ATO said, and about 10 of those companies have already repaid a bit over $60m of that amount.
ATO representatives in Senate estimates on Wednesday also said there had been $284m in overpayments to JobKeeper applicants who proved, in hindsight, to be ineligible.
The ATO has recovered $138m of that amount, with a further $82m being pursued. The balance of $64m was not being pursued under the “commissioner’s discretion”, which allows the Tax Office to decide it either wasn’t worth chasing a few thousand dollars, or that the incorrect application was an honest mistake and the money was passed on to employees.
The ATO said there were five cases of JobKeeper overpayments with the Serious Financial Crime Taskforce — making up the bulk of the $82m referred to above as being pursued. There were another six cases with the taskforce relating to fraudulent access to the Early Release of Super Scheme.
Dennis Shanahan4.30pm: Porter, Reynolds set to move in cabinet reshuffle
There is growing expectation in senior government ranks that Scott Morrison will soon announce ministerial changes and not return Christian Porter and Linda Reynolds to their respective roles as Attorney-General and Defence Minister after their extended leave.
Peter Dutton is expected to become the new Defence Minister after having an expanded role on defence in the House of Representatives this year and Michaelia Cash to be confirmed as Attorney-General.
Long-term supporter of the Prime Minister, Stuart Robert, currently Minister for the NDIS and Government Services could be promoted to the Home Affairs Portfolio if Mr Dutton is moved.
Mr Morrison is being forced to make ministerial changes as the deadline for the ministers’ return to work is next week but wants to continue to defend his ministers and resist Labor calls to sack them.
Anthony Albanese challenged Mr Morrison in Parliamentary question time to say if he was going to turn Mr Porter “into a part time Minister or drop him completely”.
Mr Morrison continued to fend off the Labor questions about the Attorney-General’s future repeating the advice that he is considering a report from the Solicitor-General into potential conflicts of interest and “ministerial standards”.
“I will be making further decisions on that matter and I will alert you to those when they are made,” Mr Morrison said.
Ben Packham 4.15pm:Future Frigate program delayed
Defence officials have warned a key milestone on the $45bn Future Frigate program is running five months late, and delays to the British navy’s “reference ship” could set back the construction on the first of Australia’s nine vessels.
First assistant secretary for ships Sheryl Lutz said it was hoped work would commence on the first frigate on schedule at the end of next year.
But she said a systems review due in May was now scheduled to be completed in December, and delays to the Type-26 reference frigate in Britain could filter through to the Australian program.
“There is a risk to schedule at present,” she said. “That risk is because Type-26 is delayed and running behind its current schedule.
“The design maturity is impacting when we can start construction.”
Ms Lutz also confirmed the ship was “longer and heavier” than intended, as the weight of the Type-26 had increased, and Australia required additional equipment.
Senate estimates also heard that a newly signed contractual amendment to deliver 60 per cent Australian industry expenditure on the $90bn Attack-class submarines could be undermined in the future if key technology emerges which is developed offshore.
Submarine program manager Greg Sammut said: “I am just contemplating a situation where ... there may be a technology sometime in the future that cannot be produced in Australia, that is deemed so necessary for capability, that we direct Naval Group to do something which is against the current plans for the use of Australian industry.
“It will be hard to hold them to a 60 per cent minimum if we are directing them to do something.”
Defence officials revealed the amended contract had not been sighted by any government ministers.
Labor frontbencher Penny Wong said she was astounded the deal had been done without a minister reading the new clauses.
But Senator Payne said she had been well briefed on the matter and was “confident that the outcome that has been achieved is the outcome that we wanted reflected in the amendment to the Strategic Partnership Agreement”.
The 60 per cent benchmark will be calculated over the entire program, which will see the 12th Attach-class boat submarine completed sometime in the 2050s.
However, earlier submarines will be allowed to have lower levels of Australian industry expenditure, ensuring later boats must have higher levels of Australian content.
Matthew Denholm4.10pm:Tasmania passes ‘world’s most expensive euthanasia system’
Tasmania has passed what critics say is the world’s most expensive euthanasia law, with an estimated $2.4m annual cost to assist the death of a predicted 10 people a year.
The End-of-Life Choices bill passed the state’s upper house in its amended format on Tuesday night, as widely expected, making Tasmania the third state to legalise voluntary euthanasia, behind Victoria and WA.
The architect of the law, independent upper house MP Mike Gaffney, hailed it as “finally” giving Tasmanians suffering intolerably with a terminal illness “the right to choose” the manner of their death.
However, critics said the bill’s safeguards were insufficient to protect the vulnerable and its cost, estimated by the government to be $2.4m a year, could have been better used on palliative care.
In his second reading speech for the bill, Mr Gaffney estimated, based on Victorians’ use of that state’s VAD law, that 10 Tasmanians a year would use the new law to end their lives.
“At an estimated cost of $240,000 per person, Tas VAD will be arguably the most expensive system in the world, when these funds could be used to provide Tasmanians with a world class standard palliative care,” said Ben Smith, of umbrella group Live and Die Well.
“The use of audio-visual links for VAD consultations (allowed for in the state law) is legally defective, medically compromised and open to elder abuse.
“Vulnerable Tasmanians will be at a significantly increased risk of a wrongful death due to misdiagnosis or undue influence from relatives who are off-camera.”
Backers of the bill argue its safeguards, including a multi-stage process requiring approval from two doctors, protect the vulnerable.
Mr Gaffney defended the cost. “As with all legislative initiatives, the government will budget appropriate funds for the VAD process to be implemented, as reflecting the wishes of the Tasmanian people,” he told The Australian.
“It is pleasing to hear recently from the Premier that there will be a substantial investment to deliver new palliative care services.”
Adeshola Ore 3.55pm: PM and Albanese applaud Hayes
Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese have both paid tribute to veteran Labor MP Chris Hayes, who will leave politics at the next election.
Mr Hayes, who serves as the opposition’s chief whip, has announced he will not recontest his western Sydney seat of Fowler at the next election, after a 16-year career in politics.
Mr Hayes said the constituents of Fowler had been “kind” and “patient” as he learnt about the “vibrant” and multicultural community electorate he has held since 2010.
“I really believe being a member of parliament is not a job... it is a privilege to serve,” he told parliament.
“People of this place, regardless of their party affiliations, I really believe are here for the right reasons — to make a difference for the better in their communities.”
Mr Albanese said Mr Hayes was “well-loved across this parliament”, noting he would depart politics without enemies on either side.
“I’m very proud to call the member for Fowler a friend,” he said.
“As chief whip, in government and opposition, his loyalty to Julia Gillard, Bill Shorten and to myself was unquestioned. He just always got the job done.”
“Chris Hayes has the absolute trust of everyone in this parliament, not just this side.”
Mr Morrison said when he first entered federal politics in 2007 Mr Hayes was a great support to him.
“He is someone who looks at one another human being and seeks to connect with them as another human being,” he said.
Adeshola Ore 3.50pm: PM pays tribute to flood victim
Scott Morrison has sent condolences to the family of a man who has died in flood waters in Sydney’s north-west.
NSW Police confirmed a man died in his car after being trapped in floodwaters in Sydney’s northwest on Wednesday. The man’s identity has yet to be confirmed.
The Prime Minister said Australia had battled “floods, fires, viruses, drought and now these floods again” over the past year.
“Now this family will get this news and they will grieve ... The activity will occur as the flood waters recede and the clean-up begins, but their house will be dark and their grief will be great,” he said. “Because their loss will not recede.”
Mr Morrison also paid tribute to NSW Police.
Greg Brown 3.41pm:Labor to scrap failed tax and spend agenda
Richard Marles says taxes will not increase under Labor, putting a nail in the coffin on the tax-and-spend agenda the ALP took to the 2019 poll.
The deputy Labor leader said an Albanese government would put its focus on different areas to the government, but the amount of overall taxation and spending would not be higher if Anthony Albanese becomes prime minister.
Speaking at the National Press Club, Labor’s most senior Right faction MP used science as an example where better results could be achieved without more spending.
“We need to change the cultural relationship science but that’s not a function of government revenue,” Mr Marles said.
“That’s a function of how we place science in our societal view. Do we reckon it is important?”
When asked if a Labor government could achieve its economic goals without increases to taxes or spending, Mr Marles said: “correct”.
READ the full story here
Adeshola Ore3.26pm: I feel your pain, PM assures women
Scott Morrison has told parliament he is “understanding the pain so many Australians are feeling”, as Labor used question time to attack his government’s handling of sexual assault and harassment allegations.
Yesterday, Mr Morrison attempted to reset the conversation about the accumulating allegations that have plagued federal parliament for more than one month, telling a press conference the “crap” women endure must end.
Today Anthony Albanese again accused the Prime Minister of misleading the parliament about an internal review about what his staff knew about the alleged 2019 rape of former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins.
The Opposition Leader also questioned Mr Morrison about Attorney-General Christian Porter’s ministerial roles ahead of his impending return to parliament next week. Mr Morrison has indicated he is seeking legal advice from Solicitor-General over whether there should be an independent inquiry Mr Porter over historical rape allegations. Mr Morrison told parliament he was considering the advice he has received with his department secretary.
Mr Morrison also told parliament that Australian women wanted him to “demonstrate my understanding of the issues that they have raised” and show he was “listening to the great pain that they have been enduring.”
“I’m understanding the pain that so many Australians are feeling.”
READ MORE:Porter future tied to ministerial standards
Jess Malcolm 2.57pm:Man’s body found trapped in car in floodwaters
A man has died in his car after being trapped in floodwaters in Sydney’s north west today.
Emergency services were first alerted around 6am on Wednesday morning of a car that was caught up in floodwaters in Glenorie.
SES, ambulance and police including divers were called to the corner of Cattai Ridge Road and Hidden Valley Lane about 6.30am on Wednesday morning.
Authorities combed the area for hours, which has been inundated with heavy rain since Saturday.
NSW Police say it recovered a body at about 1.10pm. They are yet to formally identify the man.
“A crime scene has been established and a report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner,’’ a statement said.
In question time this afternoon, Gladys Berejiklian informed NSW Parliament that she was aware of the fatality.
“Because it’s early stages I will allow emergency services to comment at the appropriate time to ensure arrangements have been made with next of kin.”
The NSW Premier urged people to take caution in dangerous flood waters.
READ the full story here
Adeshola Ore 2.37pm:Sex worker whistleblower now staying mum
Scott Morrison says the whistleblower at the centre of an exposé about sex workers being brought into Parliament House for MPs is no longer providing information to the government about the reported behaviour.
A report by The Australian and Channel 10 revealed that a group of Coalition male staffers had swapped graphic videos and photos of them performing solo sexual acts on the desks of female MPs over a two-year period. A man at the centre of the behaviour has been sacked and the Morrison government is searching for the names of other staffers involved.
The media report also published allegations that staffers were tasked with bringing sex workers into the building for MPs.
On Tuesday, Mr Morrison told parliament the report referred to a former minister.
“The processes that we were following yesterday was to make contact with the whistleblower on the issue and encourage them to bring that information forward that would allow us to take that matter further,” he said.
“Now, I am advised that after the contact has been made, that the whistleblower at this point is not in a position to do that and that makes this issue very difficult to pursue.”
Mr Morrison also urged anyone with relevant information regarding the media report to come forward.
READ MORE: Staffers’ sex acts bring PM back to reality
Adeshola Ore2.27pm: PM backs Abetz after denial of ‘slut shaming’
Scott Morrison has told parliament Liberal Senator Eric Abetz has “absolutely denied” the accusation that he “slut-shamed” Brittany Higgins.
On Wednesday, Tasmanian Parliament speaker Sue Hickey said on radio that the senior Liberal had claimed Ms Higgins, who alleged she was raped in Parliament House in 2019, was so drunk she could have “slept with a spy.”
Mr Abetz today labelled Ms Hickey’s comments defamatory and denied the accusation.
During question time, Labor frontbencher Julie Collins pressed the Prime Minister on if Senator Abetz was a “fit and proper person” to represent the government on a joint parliamentary committee on intelligence and security given his comments.
Mr Morrison said Senator Abetz would continue to serve in this role.
“What I can only refer to is the absolute denial of those statements by Senator Abetz,” Mr Morrison said.
“Senator Abetz has been a significant contributor to this house, to the chamber opposite.”
READ MORE: Abetz denies ‘slut-shaming’ Higgins
Adeshola Ore2.14pm:PM: I saw water lapping at RAAF base fence
Scott Morrison has told parliament about the “devastating” impact of flooding in NSW after he toured some of the affected regions in a helicopter this morning.
Earlier today the Prime Minister flew above flood-stricken parts of the Hawkesbury region and visited a Royal Australian Air Force base in Richmond.
“I’m looking forward to returning to not only these areas but many areas once parliament rises,” he said.
“When I was there, I could see the water almost literally lapping at the fence of the RAAF Richmond base.... the expanse of water that went right across that region was quite devastating to see.”
Defence force helicopters were yesterday used in search and rescue missions in communities hard-hit by the extreme weather.
READ MORE about the unfolding floods crisis here
Cameron England2.12pm: Electric vehicle imports powering up
An almost five-fold increase in electric vehicles shipped to Australia in February has helped push vehicle import figures to the highest level in more than two years.
Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday shows that electric vehicle imports jumped 485 per cent in February to $104m, while hybrid vehicle imports were up 101 per cent to $190m.
The monthly figures contributed to a 24 per cent - or $705m - increase in vehicle imports in February, pushing the vehicle import value to $3.58 billion.
This is the strongest figure since mid-2018 and indicates that an expected return to form for the vehicle sector, after a lacklustre 2020, is well and truly on the cards.
“This is the highest month on record for electric vehicle imports (four times that of February 2020) and the third highest for hybrids,’’ the ABS said in a statement.
READ the full story here
Mackenzie Scott2.04pm: Home sale profits rebound to pre-Covid levels
An overwhelming majority of property owners who sold their home at the end of last year to take advantage of rising prices earned a profit, according to CoreLogic.
The property researcher’s latest “pain and gain” report showed profitability in the marketplace rose to pre-COVID levels through the December quarter, with nine in 10 (89.9 per cent) properties selling for a profit.
Total gains from resales completed in the three-month period rose to $31.9 billion, up from $24.8 billion in the September quarter, while losses at re-sale shrank from $1.2 billion to $1 billion.
CoreLogic’s head of research Eliza Owen said the higher incidence of profitability was off the back of increased sales volumes, with the number of sales through the December quarter 20.4 per cent above the five-year average. At the same time, national prices rose 2.3 per cent.
“As property values rose across each state and territory through the December quarter, buoyed by a cash rate reduction through November, the value of profits also increased substantially,” Ms Owen said.
Jack the Insider 1.57pm: Is anyone still talking about an early election?
At the beginning of the year the commentariat were almost as one in predicting an early federal election. There was much to be said for it. Australia was emerging from a pandemic, returning to economic growth, solid employment growth figures and the hope of a successful roll out of the vaccine.
No doubt the public discourse will at some point return to these issues and the Morrison government, led by its two of its leading lights, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Health Minister Greg Hunt will be desperate to direct the conversation in that direction.
But in February came the Brittney Higgins allegations.
The problem the government faces is messaging. It’s not helped by a Prime Minister behaving like a batsman who comes to the crease only to lose his bottle over a sledge from first slip.
READJack the Insider’s full commentary here
Ben Packham 1.34pm:PNG Covid now right on our doorstep
COVID-19 has officially reached Papua New Guinea’s closest district to Australia, with three positive cases identified in South Fly, parts of which are just a few kilometres from Australia’s northernmost islands.
PNG’s total coronavirus caseload surged by 351 according to the country’s latest national COVID bulletin, which is likely to dramatically under-report the number of positive cases due to low testing rates.
South Fly is part of Western Province which had 166 new cases in the 24 hours to noon on Tuesday, bringing its total caseload to 786.
It includes the town of Daru, and the so-called Treaty Villages on the PNG side of the Torres Strait.
The latest update came as a shipment of 8000 AstraZeneca jabs provided by Australia arrived in the country, to allow vaccinations for front-line medical staff.
Australia has also pledged to vaccinate Treaty Villages residents, and has commenced vaccinations for Torres Strait islanders in recognition of their proximity to PNG and their close familial links to those on the northern side of the border.
Lowy Institute researcher Shane McLeod said the scale of the outbreak in Western Province was particularly alarming.
“Until now, most of the cases seem to have been from the North Fly region, home to the Ok Tedi mine.
“The bigger concern for Australia from this data will be the three cases in the South Fly. It suggests the virus is now present in the district that adjoins the Torres Strait.
“It shows why vaccination in Torres Strait island communities is so important, but shows why getting vaccine support into the PNG side of the border is so critical.”
READ MORE: Rural PNG citizens most vulnerable
Eli Greenblat1.28pm:Lew, ALP in scrap over JobKeeper
Billionaire Solomon Lew has hit back at Labor following its attacks over the decision of companies like his Premier Investments not to repay tens of millions of dollars in JobKeeper funds.
And the war of words has become personal, with the owner of fashion brands and retail chains accusing opposition treasury spokesman Andrew Leigh of not taking a pay cut through the COVID-19 pandemic, while other workers lost their livelihoods.
It came after Premier said it would keep $15m in JobKeeper payments from its first half, despite a near doubling of interim profit.
In a statement emailed to the media on Wednesday Dr Leigh accused Mr Lew, and billionaires like him, of benefiting from JobKeeper so they can “buy their next yacht” and live off corporate welfare.
Responding, Mr Lew reminded the Labor Party it fully endorsed JobKeeper when it was launched last year and voted for the legislation, and labelled its attacks on companies that had posted strong profits but not returned JobKeeper hypocritical.
Natasha Robinson12.10pm:Mass vaccination hubs to turbocharge rollout
Mass vaccination clinics will be established around the country to help vaccinate the population, the secretary of the federal health department has confirmed.
Plans are already underway in Victoria for four mass vaccination centres, and other mass centres will be established in other states as the vaccine rollout gathers pace.
Giving evidence in Senate estimates this morning, Brendan Murphy was repeatedly quizzed on what Australia’s short-term vaccination targets are now that GP clinics are administering vaccines.
He refused to outline a target for March or April, saying it would depend on the lcoal supply of AstraZeneca vaccine from CSL.
“We want to wait and see what the throughput from the CSL before we give more accurate predictions,” Professor Murphy said. “I am not in a position to give an exact figure. It would be pointless before we’ve got absolutely certainty about the CSL rollout.”
The government has been under fire for its slow initial vaccine rollout, but has committed to everyone receiving their first jab by October.
Queensland Senator Murray Watt asked in Senate estimates why countries including Ghana and Rwanda had been able to vaccinate a greater proportion of their populations than Australia currently had.
“We’ve gone through the normal processes without needing to revert to emergency use,” Professor Murphy said. “Now that we have local supply we will ramp up safely.
“There is no burning platform. We can take our time to do this carefully.”
As of Monday night, Australia had vaccinated 312,502 people, including 62,262 in aged care and 29,000 in GP surgeries. In the past week there have been 116,000 vaccinations.
Professor Murphy was quizzed on why Australia was not immediately setting up mass vaccination centres to speed up the vaccine rollout. He said such centres were planned.
“The states are all keen to do some mass vaccination clinics,” Professor Murphy said.
He said the state-based hospital hubs that are currently administering vaccines to high-risk healthcare workers and others included in the 1A rollout phase will continue to operate after completing that stage and will eventually open up to the general population.
Head of the Therapeutic Goods Administration John Skerritt told Senate estimates there had been a small number of adverse reactions developed following administration of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines.
More adverse events had been observed with the Pfizer vaccine he said. They included 1508 “reactogenic” events, which involve largely minor symptoms. The TGA was also investigating a small number of more serious adverse reports, but no link had been established with the Pfizer vaccine. These instances included 13 reports of anaphylaxis, 5 reports of facial weakness, two seizures, two strokes, and one report of deep vein thrombosis.
The only significant adverse report involving the AstraZeneca vaccine was a patient who lost their sense of taste.
The Senate also heard that Australia had not yet been able to secure one million AstraZeneca vaccine doses from Europe that it wants to send to PNG. Professor Murphy said consideration would be given to release some of Australia’s domestic supply of vaccine to PNG if negotiations to secure the vaccine from Europe were unsuccessful.
READ MORE:US slaps down AstraZeneca over trial data
Ellie Dudley11.46am:Major COVID restrictions rolled back in NSW
Gladys Berejiklian has announced authorities are scrapping all caps on weddings, funerals and guests in a house, in the latest round of easing restrictions for the state.
All patrons will also be permitted to dance and sing. The caps will be lifted from Monday March 29.
The Premier emphasised the importance of electronic check-ins alongside these loosened restrictions.
“These easing of restrictions will only work if all of us stay COVID-Safe,” Ms Berejiklian said. “It means good social distancing, and more importantly it means electronic registering.”
Masks will no longer be mandatory in any setting, including public transport, however Ms Berejiklian said they are “recommended” in situations where social distancing can not be achieved.
Chief health officer Kerry Chant said: “We are able to ease these restrictions with the knowledge that we have no community transmission at this time.”
She, too, urged people to continue to check in upon arriving at a venue.
“With these easing restrictions comes added responsibility,” she said.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said today’s easing of restrictions will add $50m per month to the state’s economy.
READ MORE:Super flu vaccine gets the go-ahead
Natasha Robinson11.38am:Latest vaccine figures: 312,000 doses administered
As of Monday night, 312,502 vaccines have been administered in Australia. At GP practices, 29,000 vaccines have been administered so far. Check out the latest figures here.
Richard Ferguson11.27am:Eric Abetz accused of slurring Brittany Higgins
Liberal senator Eric Abetz has been accused in Tasmanian Parliament of making slurs against former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins and questioning how drunk she was the night she was allegedly raped in Parliament.
Independent Tasmanian Legislative Assembly speaker Sue Hickey said on radio on Wednesday that a senior Liberal had claimed Ms Higgins was so drunk she could “slept with a spy”.
Ms Hickey later stood up in the Tasmanian parliament, protected by parliamentary privilege, and identified that senior Liberal as Senator Abetz.
“Recently a high-profile Liberal spoke to me about the Higgins matter and said if a young girl is going to get so disgustingly drunk she can sleep with anybody, she could sleep with a spy and our national security is at risk,” Ms Hickey said on Tasmanian radio.
“And I went away and actually told the Premier (Peter Gutwein) how sick I felt about that.
“If we want the views of our parliament to reflect the views of our community, I strongly urge those preselectors not to reward bad behaviour.”
Greg Brown11.05am:Labor MP’s retirement creates replacement stoush
The plans of Labor MP Chris Hayes to retire from politics is set to create a stoush within the NSW Right over who will replace the Fowler MP.
The Australian has been told there is fury within the NSW Right over Mr Hayes’ push to install a party member Tu Le as his replacement in the safe Labor seat.
Sources say NSW Right frontbencher Tony Burke is supporting Mr Hayes’ decision to appoint his successor, but the biggest bloc of the NSW Right – which is led by Chris Bowen – is furious about the move.
A Labor source said it was inappropriate for Mr Hayes to play “kingmaker” given the seat is one of the ALP’s safest.
READ MORE:Labor MP announces retirement
Ben Packham 10.58am: PM takes charge of troubled submarine program
Scott Morrison has taken charge of efforts to get the nation’s troubled $90bn submarines program back on track, chairing a new cabinet committee that will receive reports every six weeks from an independent advisory committee.
Senate estimates heard the new Naval Shipbuilding Expert Advisory Council would provide cabinet-in-confidence advice to the special cabinet committee on issues with the subs, the $45bn Hunter-class frigates, and other key programs.
He will also receive direct advice from naval shipbuilding special advisor, Professor Don Winter, who has been engaged on a $1.5m, three year contract.
Prof Winter was the former head of the Naval Shipbuilding Advisory Board, which has been disbanded and replaced by the new slimmed-down shipbuilding advisory council.
The council’s chair, Vice Admiral William Hilarides, the panel would help the government manage project risks, providing “frank and fearless advice” before issues become a problem.
Defence Minister Linda Reynolds will be a member of cabinet’s new Naval Shipbuilding Enterprise Governance Committee, but it will be chaired by the Prime Minister.
READ MORE: Subs builder agrees to terms of local content
Ben Packham10.47am: Defence not notified about Reynolds office security incident
The Defence Department was not notified of a security incident in Defence Minister Linda Reynolds office on the night of Brittnay Higgin’s alleged rape.
Scott Morrison and Senator Reynolds have said there was a security breach in relation to unauthorised access to her office over the night of March 22-23 — the night of the alleged rape — for which a male staffer was dismissed.
But Associate Secretary Katherine Jones said the only security breach the department was aware of in Senator Reynolds’ office was a breach of Defence information security on March 19, 2019.
“It is a separate incident,” Ms Jones said.
Such a breach involves unauthorised access to a document, or poor security processes around confidential information.
Ms Jones said Defence was not aware of any security breach in relation to unauthorised access to Senator Reynolds’ office.
She said unauthorised access to the minister’s office would not normally be reported to Defence, because it was not a Defence site.
The Prime Minister said on Tuesday that the male staffer was dismissed over “a security breach involving unauthorised access” to Senator Reynolds’ office.
“I have been advised this followed an earlier security breach by the male staff member that related to the handling of classified documents in what is clearly a highly sensitive portfolio area.
“Consequently, this was considered serious misconduct in relation to the statements of standards for ministerial staff.
“So in other words, he had some form when it came to the security issues regarding that office and this was the final straw.”
READ MORE: ‘No breach’ on alleged rape night
Adeshola Ore10.44am: Hunt joins PM in being open to quotas
Health Minister Greg Hunt says he is open to the introduction of gender quotas in the Liberal Party.
The Coalition is divided on the issue after Scott Morrison publicly said he was open to the measure.
Mr Hunt said he wanted to see at least 50 per cent of places in the Coalition party room held by women.
“Whatever way will get us there, I’m very open to that,” he said.
He said if 50 per cent representation could not be achieved through “active management”, quotas could be used.
READ MORE: Men rule when it comes to power at play
Lachlan Moffet Gray10.24am:Victoria’s Crown royal commission commences
The Victorian royal commission into the suitability of Crown Resorts to operate Crown Melbourne has officially begun, with former federal judge Ray Finkelstein opening the inaugural hearing as its commissioner.
After a reading of the letters patent and terms of reference — which also asks the Commission to evaluate the gaming regulatory regime in the state and whether it is in the “public interest” for Crown to continue owning a casino license in the state — Mr Finkelstein outlined the unique position gambling occupies in Australian culture by quoting historian Russel Ward.
“There’s a wealth of testimony for the passion for gambling,” Mr Finkelstin said, before discussing the pros and cons of gambling generally — a sign that the commission may consider the actual benefit of having a casino in Melbourne generally under its public interest remit.
“Gambling has significant benefits,” he said.
“The industry generates substantial income and employs many people.
“At the same time, gambling has major adverse impacts on the community.”
Mr Finkelstein said casinos lead to criminal activity such as: “petty crime in the gambling venue itself, street crime in the vicinity of the venue, money laundering and the infiltration of organised crime syndicates” and help create gambling addicts.
“The impact of this problem gambling is widespread and affects not only the gambler, but the gambler’s family, employers and unrelated third parties.”
READ MORE: All bets are off in Crown’s big gamble
Adeshola Ore10.04am:Morrison personally apologised to Sky News editor
Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell says Scott Morrison personally apologised to him after he made a reference to an anonymous incident at News Corp that has been rejected by the company.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Mr Morrison deflected questions from Clennell by incorrectly claiming there was a HR complaint at News Corp about a harassment incident in a woman’s toilet. Late last night, Mr Morrison issued an apology, conceding he had no right to make the allegation without the permission of the woman involved. Mr Morrison accepted that the incident did not occur.
“Hopefully we can all move on from this rather unfortunate outburst by the Prime Minister,” Clennell said on Wednesday.
READ MORE: PVO — Enough words .. it’s time for action
Adeshola Ore9.55am:Wyatt, Burney receive AstraZeneca vaccine
Indigenous Affairs Minister Ken Wyatt has received his AstraZeneca COVID-19 jab alongside Ngunnawal elders in Canberra this morning.
Opposition Indigenous affairs spokeswoman Linda Burney also received her vaccine.
Phase 1b of the national vaccine rollout focuses on Australians aged over 70, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged over 55 and healthcare workers.
READ MORE:China ‘vax-mail’ to swap jabs for access
Ellie Dudley9.48am:Fitzsimmons’ warning amid flood clean up
NSW Resilience Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons has warned residents cleaning up their homes of contaminated water from the floods.
The emergency services have a renewed focus today to begin repairing communities ravaged by floods.
“We are mindful that there is a lot of contaminated water,” Mr Fitzsimmons said.
“There have been big disruptions to water pumping stations, to sewage treatment plants, so health is going to be a big issue and the focus is going to remain on safety.”
Mr Fitzimmons confirmed 500-1000 firefighters will be deployed to assist with the clean up, along with personnel from the Australian Defence Force.
“The big focus is to help people get back into their home, into their business and help with the tidy up,” he said.
“Bedding, mattresses, white goods, carpets off the floor. In floods there are plenty of personal possessions that can be salvaged, they might be soiled but they can be salvaged.”
READ MORE:Blue skies, but ‘we’re not out of the woods’
Adeshola Ore9.47am:500,000 vaccine doses to be rolled out each week: Hunt
Health Minister Greg Hunt says about 500,000 doses of the locally-made AstraZeneca COVID vaccine doses will be rolled out each week.
The first batches of the Australian made CSL-made AstraZeneca vaccine, with about 800,000 doses, have been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
“This provides the security of supply for the general population rollout,” Mr Hunt said.
He also confirmed about 312,000 people in Australian have received a COVID vaccine.
Mr Hunt said the commonwealth was considering options to expand local manufacturing of AstraZeneca COVID vaccines.
CSL is expected to manufacture one million vaccine doses per week.
“We’re looking at options with CSL and options where they may have contract manufacturers,” Mr Hunt said.
“CSL is looking at what they can do to expand but we’re also looking beyond CSL.”
“We’re always looking to expand but we’re being conservative.”
READ MORE:Super flu vaccine gets the go-ahead
Greg Brown9.45am:Labor MP Chris Hayes to retire
Labor MP Chris Hayes is set to announce his plans to retire from politics, according to sources.
Labor sources have told The Australian that Mr Hayes, the member for the western Sydney seat of Werriwa, will announce as early as today his plans to leave politics. Mr Hayes has served in parliament since 2005.
Adam Creighton9.25am: Up to 150,000 may lose jobs as JobKeeper ends
Treasury Secretary Steven Kennedy said between 100,000 and 150,000 workers could lose their jobs when JobKeeper winds up at the end of the month.
In testimony to the Senate Economics committee in Canberra on Wednesday morning, Mr Kennedy said the unemployment rate, which fell to 5.8 per cent in February, wouldn’t necessarily increase between large numbers of people moved in and out of the labour force every month.
“The unemployment rate could rise a little in coming months before resuming downward trajectory,” he said.
Around 88,000 workers in receipt of JobKeeper – of around 1.1 million in total - were ong zero or minimal hours in February, he added.
JobKeeper payment will cease at the end of March.
READ MORE: One in five in arts still on JobKeeper
Ben Packham 9.12am:Reynolds skips India security meeting
Defence Minister Linda Reynolds will skip a high-profile security dialogue in India next month, amid growing uncertainty over her future in the portfolio.
Senator Reynolds was expected to attend the prestigious Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi on April 13, with Chief of Defence Angus Campbell and Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne.
Senator Reynolds’ office confirmed on Wednesday she would not attend the dialogue, but denied she had pulled out.
“She did not withdraw. She had never formally accepted the invitation to attend,” her spokeswoman said.
Senator Payne said Senator Reynolds had decided not to attend the dialogue on medical advice.
“Given advice from her cardiologist, the senator will not attend,” she told Senate estimates.
Senator Payne said it had been hoped she and Senator Reynolds would meet with their Indian counterparts during the trip for a “2+2” meeting.
That meeting would be postponed, she said, but she was optimistic it would occur later this year.
Senator Reynolds has been on medical leave since February 24 when she experienced heart issues amid intense criticism over her handling of a rape allegation made by her former staffer Brittany Higgins.
She will avoid scrutiny over her handling of difficulties across her portfolio during Senate estimates today, leaving Senator Payne to answer questions in her place.
Australia’s High Commissioner in New Delhi, Barry O’Farrell, told India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh last month that Senator Reynolds “very much looks forward to the upcoming Raisina Dialogue and hopes to meet you there in person”.
Australia is in the midst of ramping up its diplomatic and security engagement with Quadrilateral Security Dialogue partner India to counter growing regional assertiveness by China.
READ MORE: Australians must accept grim need for the Quad
Ellie Dudley9.03am: PM tours flood zone aboard Defence helicopter
Scott Morrison has toured flood-stricken parts of NSW in an Australian Defence Force helicopter.
The Prime Minister on Tuesday urged Australians under threat from the rising water levels to “remain calm” throughout the “complex weather event.”
In a video posted to his Instagram today, Mr Morrison showed the swollen Hawkesbury River in north-west Sydney, and said it was “just heartbreaking to see the scale of the flooding.”
He also included a video of him in the helicopter looking downcast upon viewing the damage.
Defence force helicopters were used yesterday in search and rescue missions in communities hard-hit by the extreme weather.
Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and equipment will also be used later this week to assist with the “clearance and recovery operation,” according to Acting Defence Minister Marise Payne.
Adeshola Ore 8.49am:There’s deeper problems with the PM: Plibersek
Opposition women’s spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek has doubled down on her attack on Scott Morrison after the Prime Minister apologised for making reference to an anonymous incident at News Corp that has been rejected by the company.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Mr Morrison deflected questions from Sky News journalist Andrew Clennell by incorrectly claiming there was a HR complaint at News Corp about a harassment incident in a woman’s toilet. Late last night, Mr Morrison issued an apology, conceding he had no right to make the allegation without the permission of the woman involved.
“There’s a deeper problem with what the Prime Minister did yesterday... we’re in engaged in a big review of culture here at Parliament House to participate in that review, people have to have confidence that they can come forward and tell their story confidentially,” Ms Plibersek told the ABC.
“What the Prime Minister did yesterday really undermined that.”
READ MORE: Liberals divided on quota debate
Ellie Dudley 8.34am: NSW not out of the woods yet, Berejiklian warns
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has issued a stern warning to residents that “we are not out of the woods” as the winds set in for the state on Tuesday.
Winds of up to 125km/h will hit the south east of the state today, possibly pushing over saturated trees.
“There are concerns about wind conditions in the south-east - eastern part of the state which will exacerbate conditions,” Ms Berejiklian told a press conference.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s Jane Golding said while there will be “no more major rainfall” for NSW this week, emergency services will be keeping an eye on gusts on the south coast.
“What we do need to watch today is some strong and gusty winds over the southern ranges and the Illawarra so with sodden earth, some vulnerable still remain from the fires last year we’re expecting to see quite a few trees down that way,” she said.
There has been a severe weather warning issued to the south coast area.
An additional 6000 people were evacuated from their homes over the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 24,000.
Given the state’s clear skies today, the State Emergency Services (SES) will be in a position to assess whether it is safe for displaced people to return to their homes.
READthe full story on the NSW floods crisis here
Adeshola Ore8.26am:TGA doesn’t share US concerns over AstraZeneca
Therapeutic Goods Administration head John Skerritt says the medical regulator does not share concerns of US officials who have questioned AstraZeneca COVID vaccine data that may have been outdated.
The federal health officials said the results the company had released about its COVID vaccine may have been based on outdated and incomplete information about the vaccine’s effectiveness.
“We’re not particularly worried because by law we have to get the complete, unredacted set of data,” Professor Skerritt. said.
“In fact, it’s a contractual requirement when we approve a product. That will come sometime during April. This was interim data that was released.”
The first 800,000 doses of the Australian-made AstraZeneca vaccine have been released for use following approval by the TGA.
“The Australian manufacturer will be the backbone of the vaccine operation in the next few months,” Professor Skerritt said.
READ MORE:US slaps down AstraZeneca over trial
Anton Nilsson8.17am:‘Indefensible’: Liberal MP blasts Morrison
A NSW Liberal MP has come out swinging against Prime Minister Scott Morrison, saying his handling of sexual misconduct complaints at federal parliament has been “indefensible”.
Catherine Cusack, a state upper house member based on the NSW north coast, fired off a series of blistering tweets on Tuesday night, addressing the Prime Minister and telling him “he doesn’t get it”.
“Dear Prime Minister I am not your wife/mother/daughter. I am a female Liberal MP,” she began her message.
Dear Prime Minister I am not your wife/mother/daughter. I am a female Liberal MP. I know you love family as do I - and mean well but you clearly do not understand anything about our political experiences. Pls talk your women MPs. If they feel safe- they will tell you!
— Catherine Cusack (@katieqs) March 23, 2021
“I know you love family as do I – and (I know you) mean well but you clearly do not understand anything about our political experiences. Pls talk to your women MPs. If they feel safe - they will tell you!”
She said she had a responsibility to feminists who came before her to stand with women.
“It’s a no brainer - we must stand with the women of Australia, be true to them and ourselves,” she wrote.
Mr Morrison has copped sustained and heavy criticism for the way he’s dealt with the current political storm concerning allegations of sexual assaults and misconduct in Canberra.
An attempt at a reset on Tuesday where Mr Morrison faced the press to acknowledge the “rubbish and crap” women have to put up with ended up with the Prime Minister having to make a late-night apology for making insensitive remarks.
Ms Cusack, who tweeted before the apology, urged female federal MPs to speak up and tell the Prime Minister how they feel.
“The federal women MPs are furious and embarrassed but are not speaking out due to ‘party loyalty’,” she wrote.
“I have personally passed my tipping point. I can’t defend the indefensible. If he empowers his female MPs to publicly state their thoughts – then we have the revolution we need.”
She said the women in parliament need to “show the character and guts that got (them) into the role”.
Replying to a woman who said she wasn’t sure Mr Morrison would be able to “recognise courage”, Ms Cusack wrote: “I am not confident he will either.”
“I am really appealing to my female colleagues in federal parliament to give it a go. On this issue. Now. Just tell him, because he doesn’t get it and they really can make a difference.”
A man who asked her “Do the men feel safe?” received the response: “If this issue is addressed it’s good for men too.”
“Good men are as repulsed by these behaviours as women. I have sons in their 20s – loyal Liberals and they want to see this addressed as much as I do. The culture is toxic for everyone irrespective of gender.”
Let me put it bluntly. I would not even be in Parliament but for the heroic efforts of feminists before me. So why did they make so much effort? What is my responsibility here? Is a no brainer we must stand with women of Australia be true to them and ourselves.
— Catherine Cusack (@katieqs) March 23, 2021
It’s not the first time Ms Cusack has taken a rebel stance.
She was reprimanded by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian last November for going against the state government in a crucial vote on a bill related to koala protections.
Ms Cusack was removed from a post as parliamentary secretary and called out indirectly by Ms Berejiklian in a statement that charged her action would lead to NSW farmers being “held to ransom” by the Greens party. — NCA Newswire
READ MORE: Paul Kelly — PM struggles to rescue his reputation on women
Ellie Dudley 7.56am:‘Unfortunate’ to focus on PM’s harassment ‘misstep’
Liberal MP Katie Allen has said it was “unfortunate” the discussion surrounding Scott Morrison’s speech on Tuesday focussed on his false accusation of sexual harassment at News Corp, rather than solutions for women in parliament house.
The Prime Minister issued an apology late last night for making an “anonymous reference to an incident at News Ltd that has been rejected by the company” during his earlier press conference in which he claimed a woman was harassed in a toilet.
While Dr Allen condemned the comments made by Mr Morrison, she said the focus should be on practical steps to have more women represented in parliament.
“He has withdrawn what he said and that is absolutely right. He shouldn’t have said what he said,” she told ABC News Breakfast.
“But what I’m interested is in a Prime Minister who’s delivered a safe country through COVID last year and who has delivered a strong economy and I like to see him deliver what we would regard as one of the most difficult problems for women across this country.”
“Absolutely a misstep. I completely agree with that. Let’s move on.”
When questioned on why she was less shocked about the accusations of rape from Brittany Higgins than she was the latest incident of a Liberal staffer performing lewd acts on parliament house desks, Dr Allen said it was because she knew the perpetrator.
“I don’t know who the perpetrator was of (Brittany Higgins’ incident), in an event that
happened two years ago before I was here,” she said.
“But I know who the perpetrator was of that event who was walked out the door and he is someone that I have had interactions with, who I thought we had a respectful relationship with, and I view all my interactions with him very differently now.”
READ MORE: The Sketch — A stain on a desk; a pox on the house
Ellie Dudley 7.34am:Vaccine rollout pace will soon increase dramatically
The head of the Therapeutic Goods Administration has defended the government against criticisms of a slow vaccine roll out, claiming the pace will “shortly increase dramatically.”
Earlier this week, the TGA approved the domestic manufacturing of the AstraZeneca vaccine by CSL in Melbourne.
TGA head John Skerritt said the local production will mean more people will be vaccinated more quickly, after 832,000 were approved yesterday.
“We will be able to up the ante because we have locally manufactured vaccines,” he told Channel 9’s Today.
“That’s much more than we already have onshore so the pace will increase dramatically now.”
Over the next three or four weeks, more than 4000 doctors’ practices will be permitted to administer the COVID-19 vaccines, Professor Skerritt said.
The TGA must approve every batch before it is sent to the GPs.
READ MORE: China ‘vax-mail’ to swap jabs for access
Ellie Dudley7.20am:Flood looters ‘the lowest of the low’: police
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys has promised an increased police presence as floods dried up to prevent “the lowest of the low” looters from targeting affected properties.
No official police reports have been received of looting, but Mr Worboys said police would get on the front foot to ensure it remained that way.
“We’ll pay attention to that particularly on the mid north coast as the waters start to recede,” he told Channel 9’s Today.
“We haven’t had any reports to police as yet but of course if people are seeing that or hearing that or victims of looting they need to report it to their police straight away.”
“We’ll have a strong police presence as the waters recede not just in the Hawkesbury and Nepean but up and down the coast to make sure that the property is owned by people.”
He ended with a stern warning to any wrong-doers: “If you do not own that property, do not touch it.”
READ MORE:Off-the-grid family on the torrential frontline
Ellie Dudley7am:Quotas a ‘dilution of democracy’: Canavan
Nationals senator Matt Canavan does not support the implementation of quotas in parliament, saying they’re “a dilution of democracy”.
While Prime Minister Scott Morrison said yesterday he was open to quotas in the Liberal Party to increase the number of women in federal parliament, Senator Canavan disagreed.
“As soon as you say only one gender may apply for a certain seat you take away the rights of local branch members, either the local electorate as well to choose their own representation,” Mr Canavan told Channel 9’s Today.
“I do think we should make sure everyone has a chance to stand, whether you are male, female, other sexualities, whatever.”
Instead, Senator Canavan said a focus on “lack of standards and discipline” would help stop the “major misconduct we have seen exposed in the last month.”
Senator Canavan also said he did not think the Nationals Senate had a problem with female representation.
“I’m a member of the Nationals Senate party room, I’m the only bloke,” he said. “There are five of us, so the maths there is 20 per cent male and 80 per cent female.”
READ MORE:Liberals divided on quotas for women
Ellie Dudley6.30am:More financial assistance to come for flood-stricken
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro has promised flood-stricken families the government will “revisit” financial support when the time comes.
The government previously announced handouts for people in the 38 “disaster zones” declared by the state of $1000 per adult, and $400 for a child.
Mr Barilaro said today there would hopefully be more to come.
“We will revisit all of it,” he told Sunrise.
“We have done this before, we are in a better position, because post-bushfires we had no architecture of government in place to deal with what was a logistical nightmare.
“Now, we have got that running, it’s operating ... so we can switch that on, refocus, get money out of the Treasurer.”
Mr Barilaro has also slammed David Elliott’s comments that the Warragamba Dam should have been emptied prior to the flood crisis.
The Emergency Services Minister had said there needed to be a “full and frank discussion” around the management of the dam with Water Minister Melinda Pavey.
Mr Barilaro said it was an “ignorant call.”
“Melinda Pavey is the minister,” he said.
“We know you can’t release more than we could have. If she had released more water ... those river beds would have been saturated, therefore the downpour we received which was torrential would have flooded even further.”
READ MORE:Dangers remain as wild weather begins to ebb
Joe Kelly5am:‘I was wrong’: PM apologises to News Corp
Scott Morrison has issued a late-night apology for making an “anonymous reference to an incident at News Ltd that has been rejected by the company” during his earlier press conference in which he claimed a woman was harassed in a toilet.
The Prime Minister said he had no right to make the allegation without the permission of the woman involved and expressed deep regret for the comments.
Mr Morrison acknowledged that News Corp had rejected the claim. “I accept their account. I was wrong to raise it, the emotion of the moment is no excuse”, he said.
Mr Morrison also said he that especially wished to “apologise to the individual at the centre of the incident and others directly impacted” and conceded that he “had no right to raise this issue and especially without their permission.”
News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller said there had been a “verbal exchange” between two employees over a workplace issue but it was not of a sexual nature, did not take place in a toilet and neither person made a complaint.
The verbal exchange involved two women.
Following his tense exchange w/ @aclennell, I asked Scott Morrison to explain how he knows about an anonymous press gallery HR complaint but was never told by anyone in his own office or @lindareynoldswa' about a rape on her ministerial couch. Watch his response... @australianpic.twitter.com/nCR36buo9f
— Olivia Caisley (@livcaisley) March 23, 2021
Read the full story here.
Rosie Lewis4.45am:Scott Morrison says abuse of women must stop
Scott Morrison has backed gender quotas in the Liberal Party and called for an end to the “crap’’ endured by women, as he acknowledged many voters were unhappy with his response to the rape and sex scandals engulfing the government.
In an emotional news conference after revelations on Monday that government staffers performed and filmed vulgar sex acts in parliament, the Prime Minister demanded structural reforms to improve the treatment of women as he called on the Liberal Party to lift its female representation.
Mr Morrison earlier revealed he was studying advice from the Solicitor-General on the continuing role of Attorney-General Christian Porter, who has taken leave until the end of the month after being accused of raping a woman 30 years ago. Mr Porter strenuously denies the allegations.
Read the full story, by Rosie Lewis and Geoff Chambers, here.
Olivia Caisley4.30am:Liberal Party divided on quotas for women
The Liberal Party remains at odds over quotas for women after Scott Morrison endorsed the measure and warned the status quo was not working, as a growing number of his MPs spoke out in favour of having a debate in a bid to boost female representation.
The Prime Minister has been advocating internally for quotas and will continue doing so, but it will ultimately be up to the Liberal Party divisions to form their positions on the quota issue.
Only 25.4 per cent of Liberal MPs across federal and state parliaments were women in July last year, compared with 22.4 per cent of MPs in May 2015 — an increase of just 3 per cent in four years.
Labor, by stark contrast, has increased its female representation from 11.82 per cent to 47.87 per cent since it introduced a quota in 1994.
Mr Morrison said on Tuesday he was open to a conversation about quotas as he called out the “rubbish and crap” women have experienced in workplaces across the nation, saying he believed the Liberal appetite for mandated female participation was changing.
Read the full story, by Olivia Caisley and Rosie Lewis, here.
More Coverage
RBA leaves all options on the table in inflation fight
Despite keeping interest rates on hold at its September meeting, the RBA left the door open for additional tightening in its efforts to tame inflation, minutes show.
‘You should stand condemned’: Dutton refuses to back PM’s Oct 7 motion
In an impassioned address responding to the PM's motion condemning the Oct 7 attacks, Peter Dutton accused Anthony Albanese of 'trying to please all people' after repeated attempts to reach a bipartisan position broke down.