PoliticsNow: Push for royal commission into veterans’ suicide passes key hurdle
A motion that calls for a royal commission into veteran suicides has passed in the House of Representatives.
- War crimes unit has no investigators
- ICAC recommends charges against Daryl Maguire
- PM&C chief advised to halt Higgins probe
- Minister’s phone in message scam
- Higgins accused ‘harassed me too’
Welcome to PoliticsNow, our live coverage of the latest political headlines from Canberra and around the nation amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
A new office set up to build cases against up to 19 alleged war criminals still has no investigators more than four months after it was announced.
Scott Morrison has known for nearly two weeks that his top bureaucrat Philip Gaetjens’ inquiry into who in his office knew what and when about Brittany Higgins alleged rape had been “put on hold”after receiving advice from the Australian Federal Police.
The Australian Federal Police is investigating whether Finance Minister Simon Birmingham has had his phone compromised after it began sending unsolicited messages to his contact book.
In the messages sent using the Telegram platform, Senator Birmingham appears to make inquiries about “a Chinese person living here” and suggests he wants to ask them “about the situation in China or Hong Kong”.
Joseph Lam10.20pm:Former speaks out over Higgins
A former Parliament House worker has taken to Twitter after appearing on a Four Corners episode about the security guard who found Brittany Higgins on the night of her alleged rape.
Julia Cole said she was the target of bullying by those around her who “chose to misuse their power” at the expense of her and many others.
“When Brittany courageously told her story and spoke out against the culture that covered up and discredited what happened to her, I knew exactly how she felt,” Ms Cole wrote.
“While out circumstances are different, the culture that she spoke of I can most definitely agree with from my own time in the building.”
Ms Cole said Ken Wyatt’s former chief of staff Kate Johnson lost her role for standing up for her and others who had been bullied for “just coming to work each day”.
Ms Cole said she had been inspired to speak out by seeing the strength of Rachelle Miller, Emma Husa and Chelsey Potter and hoped speaking out would “spark change”, but instead her “hope is truly dwindling”.
My reasons why I contributed to the 4 Corners tonight. My story told by me. #4Cornerspic.twitter.com/hHR7zbFQJd
— Josie Coles (@josiemcoles) March 22, 2021
Rosie Lewis, Ben Packham9.05pm:‘I found Brittany Higgins naked’, says guard
A Parliament House security guard has revealed she found Brittany Higgins naked in the office of then defence industry minister Linda Reynolds at 4:20am on the same night the former Liberal staffer was allegedly raped, but then “shut the door” and “exited the room”.
Security guard Nikola Anderson told the ABC’s Four Corners program that Ms Higgins was clearly intoxicated when she entered the building with the man alleged to have raped her without their passes at about 2am back in March 2019.
Defending the procedures followed by security guards, Ms Anderson said at about 3am she and a colleague notified the night shift team leader “there might’ve been something a bit strange going on” after the alleged perpetrator left in a hurry and “had been acting strangely”. After discovering Ms Higgins naked in Senator Reynolds’ office, Ms Anderson thought she was “just sleeping off her night” and argued that she “made sure her dignity was intact” by closing the door.
The new details emerged after Scott Morrison’s chief bureaucrat said his review into who in the Prime Minister’s office knew about the rape allegation had been put on hold a fortnight ago — despite Mr Morrison telling federal parliament last week that he had no update on when he would receive the review.
Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary Philip Gaetjens revealed on Monday that his investigation, initiated by Mr Morrison on February 17, had stopped and it was not clear when it could restart after he received advice from Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw that it might hamper a criminal investigation.
Mr Gaetjens was tasked with checking what Mr Morrison’s office knew and when about the alleged rape of Ms Higgins by a colleague.
Mr Morrison has maintained his staff first became aware of the incident on February 12 and he personally did not know until February 15. Labor claimed that was implausible.
Ewin Hannan8.40pm: Crackers behaviour referred to police
Fair Work Commission deputy president Gerard Boyce has been referred to NSW police for setting off firecrackers during a post-Christmas party staff gathering on the tribunal’s office balcony in Sydney.
The Australian can reveal Fair Work general manager Bernadette O’Neill has referred Mr Boyce’s conduct to NSW police after he let off two “throwdown” firecrackers at a staff get-together in December.
Under NSW law, it is illegal to buy, possess or discharge fireworks unless a person has a single-use licence or holds a pyrotechnician’s licence.
Ms O’Neill has also referred Mr Boyce’s conduct to Comcare, the national authority for work, health and safety.
The referral came a year after Mr Boyce, appointed by the Coalition, came under criticism for displaying “scantily clad” figurines in his chambers.
Sydney-based commission members, their associates and tribunal staff held a Christmas lunch function at an Italian restaurant on December 11 before gathering for afternoon drinks on the commission’s 14th and 15th floor balconies.
Witnesses claimed several staff were “heavily inebriated”, including one male worker who vomited near the balcony.
Alice Workman 8.10pm:Leaks and spills may be a portent of locusts
It’s a familiar problem for political parties. Yet Parliament House seemed unprepared when a leak sprung outside the House of Representatives chamber.
A steady drip led to many a whispered spill joke (a giggle-litre?) among some knowing backbenchers. “Leakier than the Minister of Defence’s office,” one anonymous adviser declared.
Towels were hastily thrown across the floor to stop a Daniel Andrews-style slip and fall before question time. The last thing the Morrison government needs is another lawsuit. Oh, dam Daniel! The ACT’s dams reached 100 per cent capacity on Monday for only the second time since 2013.
Richard Ferguson, Rosie Lewis7.25pm:Tourism, hotels want ‘a Qantas lifeline too’
Hotels and pubs are demanding Scott Morrison give them the same $500 weekly retention payments the government is handing airlines Qantas and Virgin, amid warnings thousands of tourism and hospitality businesses will fail post-JobKeeper.
Australian Hotels Association chief executive Stephen Ferguson has written to the Prime Minister calling for either an extended cash flow boost or staff retention payments after wage subsidies end in March, saying the costs of the pandemic will hurt his members.
Other major tourism and hotel groups are also asking to get the “same level of support” as Qantas and for funding for the struggling $4.1bn JobMaker hiring credit scheme to be redirected towards supporting their post-COVID futures.
Under the government’s $1.2bn tourism and aviation package unveiled this month, major airlines will continue to be paid $500 direct support payments for international employees, the same as JobKeeper wage subsidies, after March.
Mr Ferguson said the Morrison government should expand those retention payments to his sector, or allow businesses to keep the tax they forward from employees’ wages on to the Australian Taxation Office.
“Given the vaccine rollout is predicted to be completed in about six months, what we are asking for are targeted, temporary measures of support until that process is complete.”
Hospitality and tourism leaders have broadly condemned Mr Morrison’s tourism stimulus, which centred on half-price airline tickets to government-picked holiday destinations.
Peter van Onselen7pm:Staffer sacked amid ‘sex act’ claims
A Coalition staffer who filmed himself performing a lewd act on a desk of a female MP has been sacked. The man was fired after reports first published in The Australian and Network Ten on Monday. Read more here
Rosie Lewis6.50pm:‘Pack your bags’: Senator fumes over lewd claims
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham told Coalition staffers alleged to have performed and documented the sex acts in MPs’ offices to “prepare to pack their bags and leave the building for good”. Read the full story here
Adeshola Ore6.40pm:Veterans’ suicide inquiry passes key hurdle
A motion that calls on the Morrison government to establish a royal commission into veteran suicides has passed in the House of Representatives.
This morning, the Prime Minister said the government would not oppose the motion. He said an inquiry could coexist with an independent commissioner, which he remains committed to legislating first.
Veterans Affairs Minister Darren Chester said the Morrison government would “carefully consider the views of the parliament.”
The Coalition previously proposed an independent and permanent commissioner to investigate veteran suicides, but the legislation failed to receive support in the Senate in December.
Today’s vote is not binding, but will put more pressure on the Prime Minister to announce a royal commission.
Last week, Coalition senators voted unanimously with Labor, the Greens and cross-bench senators to establish an inquiry into veteran and defence suicides which are nearly twice the rate of the general population once they cease serving.
Ben Packham6.10pm:ASIO wants more groups listed as terror organisations
ASIO has revealed it wants more ideologically motivated extremist groups be designated as terrorist organisations, in addition to the newly-listed Sonnenkrieg Division (SKD).
The listing of SKD under the Criminal Code, announced by Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton on Monday, marks the first designation of a far-right extremist group as a terrorist organisation. Read more here
Peter van Onselen5.40pm:Coalition staffers ‘filmed sex acts on desks’
Senior Coalition staffers have filmed themselves performing solo sex acts on the desks of female MPs and swapped images and videos of sexual encounters in Parliament House. Read more here
Ben Packham5.10pm:War crimes office has no investigators
A new office set up to build cases against up to 19 alleged war criminals still has no investigators more than four months after it was announced.
Office of the special investigator director-general Chris Moraitis told Senate estimates on Monday said the body, created following the Brereton war crimes inquiry, was unlikely to commence any investigations “for at least a couple of months”.
The OSP currently had 19 personnel, but was yet to bring any AFP agents or state police detectives on board.
Mr Moraitis said he hoped secondments from state and federal police would deliver “some of their best”, with the first investigators starting work within 1-3 months.
He said he hoped to build a team of 75 investigators in time.
Mr Moraitis warned of “legal complexities” in investigating the allegations, because evidence gathered in coercive interviews conducted by Justice Paul Brereton was not admissible in court.
He said the OSP had been working for the past ten weeks with a special counsel from the Australian Government Solicitor, Tim Begbie QC, who was reviewing and “quarantining” evidence obtained through the Brereton inquiry.
“This process will help ensure investigators will only receive information they can lawfully obtain and use in criminal investigations and any future criminal proceedings,” Mr Moraitis said.
“Given the size and complexity of the task, the work of the special counsel is expected to take some time.”
He warned complexity around evidence collection was likely to increase over time, given the alleged offences occurred about a decade ago.
Olivia Caisley4.04pm:Not a cent of $100m regional bushfire, Covid fund spent
The Morrison government hasn’t spent a cent of a $100m fund dedicated to boosting regional economic recovery after communities experienced the double crisis of the Black Summer fires and COVID-19.
In last year’s budget it was announced that ten regions would receive a portion of the commonwealth funding, but the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development’s deputy secretary, Rachel Bacon, has revealed that no money had yet been spent.
“We haven’t had (any) expenditure so far under this particular program,” she told a Senate Estimates hearing on Monday.
“The reason being is that the recovery partnerships are an exercise between three levels of government, as well as engagement with various community members, so those discussions are ongoing.”
She said she anticipated that the vast majority of the money would be spent by the end of the financial year.
But Labor Senator Murray Watt seized on the revelation, declaring the fund had the markings of a politically-motivated “regional rort”.
“So the government created a $100-million fund to help regions recover from bushfire and COVID and even though we are well over 12 months since those events occurred, not a dollar has been spent so far?,” he said.
The 10 localities earmarked for funding included the Snowy Mountains, Hunter, Newcastle and Parkes regions of NSW; Cairns, the Tropical North, Gladstone and Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday region in Queensland; Victoria’s Gippsland, Western Australia’s South West, South Australia’s Kangaroo Island and all of Tasmania.
Senator Watt questioned the methodology by which the regions were selected and asked why places such as the Labor-held Blue Mountains and NSW South Coast had missed out despite being ravaged by bushfires.
“Let’s be honest, the reason we’re asking about this is because there has been a history of this department... and its funds being rorted by ministers for political purposes,” Senator Watt said. “I’m just trying to protect the department’s honour, because I have great confidence (they) provide evidence-based, non-partisan advice and the question is what comes out the other end once certain National Party ministers get involved.”
Last week a Labor-controlled Senate committee, chaired by Anthony Chisholm, concluded there was “overwhelming evidence” the government used the Community Sport Infrastructure Program to gain political advantage.
This was disputed by Coalition Senators who used their dissenting report to argue the scheme was an “overwhelming success”.
READ MORE:State of disaster — and there’s worse to come
Chandni Vasandani3.55pm:AstraZeneca not ‘haram’
AstraZeneca has denied its product contains pork derivatives after Indonesia’s top Islamic body said the vaccine was “haram” but permissible for use, amid concerns that the label will affect public trust.
“At all stages of the production process, this virus vector vaccine does not use nor come in contact with pork-derived products or other animal products,” AstraZeneca spokesman Rizman Abudaeri said in a statement.
The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) last week found that AstraZeneca used “trypsin from the pork pancreas” in the manufacturing process of their Covid-19 vaccine, making it impure for Muslims.
The MUI’s own drugs and cosmetics monitoring agency LPPOM delivered its audit results internally in mid-March, concluding that AstraZeneca used porcine trypsin in the preparation stage of the coronavirus host cell, and stood by its finding on Monday.
“We trust the study conducted by LPPOM, we have worked with them for a long time,” Hasanudin Abdul Fatah, chief of the MUI’s Legal (Fatwa) Commission, told The Australian.
Despite its religious concerns, the MUI has said Muslims could receive the AstraZeneca in the absence of an alternative.
“This is a condition of urgent need and health experts have warned us about the dangers or fatal risks of not getting the Covid-19 vaccination immediately,” MUI Islamic scholar Asrorun Niam Sholeh said.
“As of now, the vaccine is available in limited quantity so we must use what is available.”
But some health experts fear the MUI’s “haram” label will compound existing public distrust over COVID vaccinations in Indonesia, which has been among the hardest hit by the pandemic in Asia.
Airlangga University epidemiologist Atoilah Isfandi likened the use of trypsin in the host cell preparation stage to using a “haram” fertiliser on a fruit tree, and insisted the fruit ultimately harvested would be still be permissible, or “halal”.
“The impure tag is bound to reduce enthusiasm, but now it is the government’s task to restore trust and enthusiasm for their vaccination program,” Dr Isfandi told The Australian.
Indonesia’s Health Ministry “welcomed” the MUI verdict but said the public should not hesitate to get inoculated because the AstraZeneca vaccine had received approval from a number of Islamic countries, including Saudi Arabia, and Islamic councils from all over the world.
READ MORE: US ramps up Covid vaccine production
Max Madison3.38pm:Daryl Maguire recommended for criminal charges by ICAC
Scandal-ridden former Liberal MP Daryl Maguire could face criminal charges for giving “false or misleading evidence”, with the corruption watchdog seeking advice from the NSW public prosecutor.
In the final report into the 2018 Operation Dasha probe – the investigation into former Canterbury Council councillors Michael Hawatt and Pierre Azzi – found Mr Hawatt, Mr Azzi and then director of city planning Spiro Stavis engaged in “serious corrupt conduct”.
The findings relate to the groups activities between 2014 and 2016, where Mr Hawatt and Mr Azzi used their positions as councillors to appoint Mr Stavis in his position, a role which would land him $250k per annum but which he was woefully underqualified for.
While the ICAC public hearings ensnared Mr Maguire after recorded phone conversations revealed he was trying to take cuts from property deals for a “mega big” developer, forcing the former Wagga Wagga MP to resign from the parliament, the final report didn’t recommend seeking advice for corruption charges.
Instead the report, handed down by Commissioner Patrica McDonald, found ICAC should seek the advice from the NSW Department of Public Prosecution for failing to provide ICAC with truthful evidence when he took to the stand in July 2018.
READ the full story here
Adeshola Ore3.14pm:Labor ‘political point scoring’ over rape allegations
Scott Morrison has accused Labor of political point scoring after the opposition used question time to press the Prime Minister on his staff’s handling of the 2019 alleged rape of a former Liberal Party staffer.
Labor frontbencher Catherine King repeatedly asked the Prime Minister to confirm if his staff had provided negative information to journalists about Ms Higgins’ loved ones.
At last week’s March 4 Justice in Canberra, Ms Higgins told the crowd the Prime Minister had publicly apologised to her while staff in his office “undermined” her loved ones.
Mr Morrison said there was “no information” to suggest his staff had provided negative information to journalists about those closed to Ms Higgins.
“Labor is playing political games, seeking to score political points on an issue that is far more important than their political objectives,” he said.
Last month, media reports claimed members of the Prime Minister’s Office had provided negative background information to journalists about the partner of Ms Higgins.
READ MORE: Flood insurance — how to speed up your claim
Ben Packham 2.55pm: AFP chief clarifies evidence on Higgins investigation
AFP commissioner Reece Kershaw has clarified his evidence to Senate estimates today, in which he said he did not advise the head of the Prime Minister’s department to halt an inquiry into rape allegations raised by Brittany Higgins.
He issued a statement after examining comments by PM&C secretary Phil Gaetjens, who said he was advised by Mr Kershaw that he “may wish to pause (or) alter” his investigation.
Mr Kershaw said: “I confirm I informed Mr Gaetjens on 9 March it was strongly advisable to hold off finalising the records of interviews with staff until the AFP could clarify whether the criminal investigation into Ms Higgins’ sexual assault allegations may traverse any issues covered by the administrative process he was undertaking.
“I support his decision to put on hold the process of finalising his inquiry. At this time, I support him not making any further comments on the process or content of his inquiry to avoid any risk of prejudicing the outcome of the criminal investigation.
“When the AFP has clarity about whether there is no intersection between Mr Gaetjens’ administrative inquiry and the criminal investigation I will contact Mr Gaetjens so he can move to completion of his inquiry.”
READ MORE: Albrechtsen — No, we won’t cop this jackboot abuse of power
Robyn Ironside2.38pm: Ardern kicks travel bubble further down road
New Zealand will name a date for the commencement of a trans-Tasman travel bubble with Australia on April 6.
It was hoped Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern would name a date on Monday at her post-cabinet press conference but instead she named a series of criteria that needed to be met before the bubble proceeded.
Speculation of a two-way bubble was heightened by the Australian government’s move to ease a ban on international travel to New Zealand.
Since mid-October, New Zealanders have been able to undertake quarantine-free travel to some Australian destinations.
Ms Ardern opened her press conference saying it had been a year since New Zealand went into level four lockdown, based on the country’s strategy of eliminating COVID-19.
“One year on, New Zealand’s overall COVID strategy remains the same - elimination, but how we eliminate is shifting,” she said.
“We intend to vaccinate everyone who can be vaccinated by the end of 2021. As a result of the vaccine, 2021 is the year when possibilities begin to open up.
“A key opportunity that has arisen is quarantine free travel with Australia. Opening up our borders to our nearest neighbour is a priority.”
She went on to say that her government knew many New Zealanders were nervous, and people wanted certainty about what lay ahead.
“Opening up a green travel zone with Australia is highly complex. Officials have been working through the complexities,” said Ms Ardern.
Among the criteria that needed to be met before a travel bubble was possible, were measures to effectively contract trace travellers from Australia and arrangements around COVID testing.
“We feel confident we can announce a date from April 6,” Ms Ardern said.
READ MORE: Give us scenery, and certainty in NZ travel bubble
Adeshola Ore2.34pm: PM rejects Albanese‘s accusation he misled parliament
Anthony Albanese has accused Scott Morrison of misleading parliament about the internal review led by head of his department into what staff in the Prime Minister’s office knew about the alleged rape of former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins.
During Senate estimates today, it was revealed that Mr Morrison had known for nearly two weeks that Philip Gaetjens’ inquiry had been paused following advice from Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw.
Last week, Mr Morrison told parliament that the inquiry was being conducted at an “arm’s length” for him, despite knowing then it had been put on hold.
Mr Morrison rebuffed the Opposition Leader’s accusation that he had misled the chamber.
“I completely reject the assertion put forward by the Leader of the Opposition,” he said.
Mr Morrison reaffirmed that the inquiry was independent to him and said he looked forward to its completion.
Mr Albanese also attempted to suspend standing orders over the Prime Minister’s knowledge of the review being paused, which the Coalition blocked.
Adeshola Ore 2.19pm: Morrison flags aerial support for flooded NSW
Scott Morrison has flagged aerial support for NSW which has been lashed by once-in-50-year flooding.
But the Prime Minister said the NSW government had not yet made a formal request for defence assistance.
“The ADF is readying itself for this task that lies ahead, particularly in the recovery phase,” Mr Morrison said.
He noted it would be a “very difficult week” for thousands of Australians.
“There will be many difficult months ahead as the cleanup and recovery from this natural disaster gets under way,” he said.
Rosie Lewis2.12pm: PM knew for two weeks Higgins inquiry was on hold
Scott Morrison has known for nearly two weeks that his top bureaucrat Philip Gaetjens’ inquiry into who in his office knew what and when about Brittany Higgins alleged rape had been “put on hold”.
Mr Gaetjens, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary, said he told the Prime Minister and his office on March 9 that he had decided to stop the investigation following advice from Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw.
“On the 9th of March because of the Commissioner’s advice I emailed the Prime Minister’s office staff to tell them that I would be not completing the documentation as per the Commissioner’s advice and at that same time I also told the Prime Minister of that, just in case his staff asked him any questions as to what was going on,” Mr Gaetjens told Senate estimates.
“(I told the Prime Minister) that we had been asked by the Federal Police Commissioner basically to make sure there was no intersection (with a criminal investigation) and therefore I was putting the inquiry on hold.”
Labour is furious at the revelation, questioning why Mr Morrison told the House last week that the party could ask questions of Mr Gaetjens at Senate estimates about his inquiry when he already knew the review was paused.
Labor is suggesting Mr Morrison misled the parliament when he said last week that Mr Gaetjens “has not provided me with a further update about when I might expect” his report, given he’d been updated on March 9 that the inquiry had stalled.
“He has not provided me with a further update about when I might expect that report, but I have no doubt the opposition will be able to ask questions of him in Senate estimates next week, which is the appropriate place where those matters can be raised with the secretary of my department,’’ Mr Morrison said.
READ MORE:Coital safe? What a classic Aussie brain fart
EWIN HANNAN2.03pm:Porter’s industrial relations adviser quits
Christian Porter’s senior industrial relations adviser, Graeme Watson, has left the Attorney-General’s office, a day after the Coalition’s workplace bill was gutted by the Senate.
A spokesman for Mr Porter said on Monday that Mr Watson told “the Minister late last year that he would depart the office following consideration of the IR bill”.
“The Minister is thankful to Mr Watson for his dedicated service to him over the past 20 months and to the Government over the past several years,” the spokesman said.
Mr Watson, a former Freehills partner and Fair Work Commission vice president, has long been a prominent figure in workplace relations circles, joining Mr Porter’s office in 2019 after working as an adviser to Kelly O’Dwyer.
He was involved in the government’s negotiations with the Senate crossbench over the bill before finishing up with Mr Porter’s office on Friday.
Falling one vote short of the numbers required to pass changes to enterprise bargaining laws, the award system, and greenfields agreements on major projects, the government ditched proposals to criminalise wage theft despite having the required support to legislate the compliance measures.
All that survived was a schedule of casual employment changes designed to reduce the liability of employers found to have misclassified casuals and to create a new casual definition.
The stripped back bill was legislated after being sent back from the Senate and passing the House of Representatives on Monday.
READ MORE: Inside Story — Bungled reform bill a tragedy of errors
Adeshola Ore1.40pm:280,0000 Aussies vaccinated as next phase begins
More than 280,000 Australians have received their COVID vaccine after the next phase of the rollout began today.
The commonwealth aims to inoculate six million people in phase 1b. The stage focuses on Australians aged over 70, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged over 55 and healthcare workers.
This week, more than 1000 GPs will begin administering vaccines before the network is ramped up to more than 4500 within the month.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said all clinics had been informed about their minimum vaccine supply so they had certainty to make bookings.
On Sunday, Australia’s medical regulator approved the locally-made AstraZeneca COVID vaccine. CSL will manufacture one million doses of the vaccine per week.
“Increasing doses will be coming off the production line over coming weeks that will provide us with a reliable steady and progressively increasing source of vaccine so that we can expand our rollout,” Department of Health secretary Brendan Murphy said.
He said the first batches of the vaccine would be released in the coming days.
READ MORE: Second opinion clears vaccine
Lachlan Moffet Gray1.18pm: Victoria Crown inquiry ‘broader’ than NSW
A hearing and witness schedule for Victoria’s royal commission into Crown Melbourne is being finalised and will be released shortly, just days before the commission first convenes on Wednesday under expansive terms of reference that asks whether it is in the public interest for Crown to continue operating in the state.
The $5m royal commission – headed by former Federal Court judge Raymond Finkelstein – has a hard end date of August 1, meaning Commissioner Finkelstein has less than five months to conduct hearings, interview witnesses and compile a report.
It is less than half the length of the NSW Bergin inquiry into the company, which was partially delayed by the pandemic, and contains much broader language in its terms of reference.
Like the NSW inquiry, the Victorian royal commission will have to consider the “suitability” of Crown Resorts and its subsidiary Crown Melbourne to hold a casino licence under state gambling regulations, as well as any changes the company may need to make to achieve suitability.
It will also examine the suitability of individual associates of the company like its current major shareholder, James Packer.
READ the full story here
Ellie Dudley 12.52pm: ‘Climate change to blame for floods’
The multiple natural disasters Australia has experienced over the past 18 months — such as the floods currently ravaging NSW — should be blamed on climate change, say experts from the Climate Council.
“The intense rainfall and floods that have devastated NSW communities are taking place in an atmosphere made warmer and wetter by climate change, which is driven by the burning of coal, oil, and gas,” Climate Council spokesperson Will Steffen said in a statement on Monday.
“For many communities dealing with floods right now, this is the latest in a line of climate change-exacerbated extreme weather events they have faced, including drought, the Black Summer bushfires, and scorching heat waves,” he added.
Global temperatures have risen 1.1C since pre-industrial levels, and this has led to a 7 percent increase in water vapour in the atmosphere-increasing the likelihood of extreme downpours.
“Climate change is harming the health, safety, and livelihoods of Australians, racking up billions of dollars in economic losses, and damaging many of our unique ecosystems. It’s time for all levels of government and businesses to step up their climate action efforts to protect people, our environment and the economy,” said Professor Steffen.
“We must take decisive action this decade to bring climate change under control. Australia must get to net zero emissions well before 2040, and accelerate efforts to shift away from coal and gas to a fully renewables-powered economy,” he said.
READ MORE: Lloyd — Floods prove the weather’s not broken
Rosie Lewis12.47pm: Gaetjens reveals he has not spoken to Higgins
When Labor reflected on evidence from AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw saying he had not asked PM&C chief Philip Gaetjens to stall, alter or stop his review into Brittany Higgins’ rape allegations, the department secretary responded: “He then also made mention that based on the intersection of the PM&C investigation and the AFP investigation the secretary may wish to pause, alter, based on the information provided to the secretary and that is exactly what I’ve done.”
Mr Gaetjens said he had not spoken to Ms Higgins as part of his review.
“This has been a very difficult matter and I have taken into specific account Ms Higgins’ statement on the 19th of February, which ended ‘this has been a very difficult and trying week for me, my partner and my family. I would ask please that my privacy is respected’,” he said.
“I have respected that privacy, I was asked to inquire into when the Prime Minister’s staff told the Prime Minister. I don’t need to speak to Brittany Higgins to actually undertake that work.”
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young declared Ms Higgins “would like to know when you will speak to her”.
“To come in here and pretend that you care about her welfare as part of the opportunity to cover up on behalf of the government is just frankly disgusting,” Senator Hanson-Young said.
The department secretary noted interviewing Ms Higgins was not the purpose of his investigation.
READ MORE:Trinca — Australia’s time of reckoning arrives
Ben Packham12.23pm:Neo-Nazi group listed as right-wing terror oganisation
A far-right extremist group has been formally listed as a terrorist organisation for the first time in Australia.
Peter Dutton announced the listing of the Sonnenkrieg Division (SKD) as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code, enabling Australian members of the group to be charged with terrorist offences.
“SKD adheres to an abhorrent, violent ideology that encourages lone-wolf terrorist actors who would seek to cause significant harm to our way of life and our country,” the Home Affairs Minister said.
READ the full story here
Ellie Dudley11.55am: ‘NSW vaccine program won’t slip during floods’
Gladys Berejiklian has confirmed 65,000 vaccines have been administered in New South Wales in the first four weeks of the rollout.
The tally comes after 20,000 people received the jab last week, 8000 of whom were receiving their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
Ms Berejiklian said the state authorities would not let the vaccine program slip while the floods continue.
“While the flood situation is obviously on the top of mind for us, so is making sure we roll out the vaccine program,” she said.
“It is important for us to not just focus on one thing.”
She added the state health authorities would meet on Wednesday to discuss further easing restrictions.
Ms Berejiklian urged people eligible to receive the vaccine in Phase 1B of the rollout to attend their bookings unless it is unsafe to do so.
“There are parts of the state heavily impacted where people are stranded or have to stay at home or be ready to evacuate,” she said. “Please know that if you have been booked in to get a vaccine it is important for you to be vaccinated.”
“All of our Sydney locations are still up and running ... if you can safely access, please continue to be vaccinated.”
ROSIE LEWIS11.39am: AFP advised PM’s bureaucrat to pause Higgins inquiry
Scott Morrison’s chief bureaucrat has stopped his inquiry into who in the Prime Minister’s office knew what and when about former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins’ alleged rape after receiving advice from the Australian Federal Police.
Appearing before Senate estimates, Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary Philip Gaetjens said AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw had advised he “pause” his review amid concern it would interfere with a criminal investigation into the allegation.
“March 9 the AFP Commissioner informed me it would be strongly advised to hold off finalising the records of interviews with staff until the AFP could clarify whether the criminal investigation into Ms Higgins’ sexual assault allegations may traverse any issues covered by the administrative process I was undertaking,” Mr Gaetjens said.
“I was advised this reflects the strong preference of the AFP in all cases when a criminal process is underway and that the AFP would advise me as soon as there is clarity about areas of potential overlap. The AFP Commissioner outlined the primacy of the criminal investigation in his evidence to Senate estimates earlier today.
“As a result I have put on hold the process of finalising documentation of my inquiries and the preparation of a report to the Prime Minister. This is to ensure there is no real or perceived intersection between my administrative inquiry and the criminal investigation into Ms Higgins’ allegations. Both the Commissioner and I are concerned that we do nothing that could prejudice the outcome of the police investigation.”
Mr Gaetjens said the “pause” on his inquiry – which Mr Morrison requested on February 17, two days after Ms Higgins went public with alleging she was raped by a colleague in Parliament House – related to legal processes and not any particular interview or finding of the review.
Mr Gaetjens sparked uproar from Labor and Greens senators when he said the “pause” of his inquiry and refusal to answer questions about its details was “for the benefit of Ms Higgins”.
“This is not for me,” he said.
Labor Senator Penny Wong fired back: “Please do not use her interests as a shield.”
Ellie Dudley 11.11am: Queensland, NSW, Victoria all have 0 local virus cases
New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria have all recorded no new cases of community transmitted COVID-19 today.
NSW recorded five in overseas arrivals, Queensland four and Victoria none.
NSW recorded no new locally acquired cases of #COVID19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) March 22, 2021
Five new cases were acquired overseas, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 5,077. pic.twitter.com/BcNIH2mVOz
READ MORE: Pandemic sets pace for economic recovery
Ellie Dudley 10.47am: Defence depoyed today to NSW flood emergency
NSW Police Commissioner David Elliot has said the Australian Defence Force (ADF) will be deployed by the end of the day.
While the State Emergency Services (SES) are the “primary agency” fighting the floods, Mr Elliot confirmed the ADF will be used to assist with amphibious vehicles and other assets available only to the federal agency.
“They will be using whatever assets they have available,” Mr Elliot told Sky News.
Mr Elliot emphasised the ADF would be more heavily depended on in assisting with the clean up once the floods end.
“That’s exactly what happened after the bushfires,” he said. “I assume that is something that will occur after this event after we see how much damage has been done.”
READ MORE: Livelihoods disappear from view
Adeshola Ore 9.52am:Flooding results in ‘inevitable’ delays to vaccine rollout
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd says the federal government is yet to determine how many GP clinics have been impacted by flooding in NSW, as the next phase of the rollout commences today.
The federal government has warned that there will be inevitable delays as large parts of NSW are lashed with once-in-50-year flooding. Some GP clinics have been unable to open due to flooding while others have not received their vaccine COVID doses.
“The most important thing, of course, is safety,” Professor Kidd said.
“People should make sure that they are not putting themselves at risk by being on the roads. They should be following of course all of the instructions that are in place.”
READ MORE: Tesltra to split into four groups
Ben Packham 9.47am:AFP commissioner concerned over Higgins investigations
AFP commissioner Reece Kershaw says he is concerned an investigation by the head of Scott Morrison’s department into the Brittany Higgins rape allegation could interfere with the police investigation into the matter.
Commissioner Kershaw told a Senate estimates hearing on Monday he would be limited in what he could say about the investigation, “to ensure the active criminal investigation is not compromised”.
He said the investigation into Ms Higgins allegation that she was raped in Defence Minister Linda Reynolds’ office was “being treated with due care” under the oversight of the AFP’s Sensitive Investigations Oversight Board.
He said he had spoken to the parliament’s presiding officers and Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins emphasising the police inquiry should trake precedence over other investigations.
“Noting there are a number of inquiries into related matters, I have communicated to those responsible the primacy of the criminal investigation and the importance of letting it run its course,” he said.
“I have also spoken with Mr Gaetjens, Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, that I am particularly concerned about the intersection of his inquiry with our investigation.”
He said the AFP’s Sensitive Investigations Oversight Board was also overseeing police involvement in relation to “the allegations against a Member of Parliament”.
He was referring to the alleged rape allegation against Attorney-General Christian Porter by a now-dead woman, but did not mention his name.
Mr Kershaw said the AFP first received a report on the matter on February 24 via a member of parliament.
He said the matter was referred “at the earliest opportunity” to NSW Police, after determining the AFP had no jurisdiction over the matter.
He said police had received 32 referrals of information from parliamentarians and other sources — some anonymous — in relation to the allegation, which had been narrowed down to six separate pieces of evidence.
Mr Kershaw urged senators not to raise matters under consideration by police or state coroners, so as not to prejudice investigations.
Asked by Labor’s Kristina Keneally whether Mr Gaetjens inquiry could hamper the police investigation, Mr Kershaw said: “It may.”
“Whilst I have the terms of reference, we are not embedded in that inquiry, nor would we want to (be),” he said.
Mr Kershaw said Ms Higgins contacted the AFP over the alleged rape on April 1, 2019, with the assistance of Senator Reynolds’ chief of staff.
He said the Department of Parliamentary Services didn’t contact the AFP until two days later.
Mr Kershaw revealed Scott Morrison was on a February 24 conference call with him and Mr Gaetjens to discuss the allegations against Mr Porter.
He said he briefed the Prime Minister about the allegation and the existence of the dossier detailing the victim’s claims. He also set out the South Australian coroner’s involvement, and the NSW jurisdiction over the matter.
READ MORE: PM yet to receive Higgins report
Adeshola Ore 929am: ABC severs deal with The New Daily
NSW Liberal senator Andrew Bragg says the ABC has terminated its agreement with superannuation fund-owned digital publication The New Daily.
Senator Bragg has previously criticised The New Daily as a “propaganda arm” of superannuation companies.
“This sort of largesse will be illegal if our proposed Your Future Your Super bill passes the Senate,” he said in a statement.
The Morrison government’s legislation will require trustees to demonstrate they are working in the best financial interests of its members and identify a quantifiable financial benefit.
Senator Bragg said the public broadcaster’s deal with The New Daily was a “reputational nightmare.”
“Why anyone at the ABC thought it was a good idea to get into business with superannuation lobbyists is beyond reason,” he said,
“Credit where credit is due and I thank the ABC for ending this dreadful deal.”
READ MORE: Sloan — Don’t be fooled, super’s schmaltz is entirely self-serving
Robert Gottliebsen9.01am:Why Hollywood is being lured Down Under
Along the east coast of Australia, from the Gold Coast to Melbourne, American film studios and production houses are opening up for business.
It’s true that they are enticed across the Pacific by favourable state and federal government support programs and, in addition, Australia is relatively free from COVID-19 compared to the US.
But there is a deeper and more fundamental set of forces in the US that is driving film makers out of California. It’s bad news for the US and, potentially, great news for Australia.
Leaving aside the COVID-19 pandemic, the US is becoming an unpleasant place to do business.
Australia will benefit greatly from the skills and employment that will be generated by this filmmaking boom. Many people in these industries have or will develop skills that can be used in other areas.
We need to step back and realise that we have an opportunity in Australia that is greater than simply developing film making, albeit film making is very beneficial.
READRobert Gottliebsen’s full commentary here
Adeshola Ore8.52am: ‘Morrison should have acted sooner on veterans suicide’
Anthony Albanese has lashed Scott Morrison for dragging his feet on establishing a royal commission into veteran suicide.
The Prime Minister today confirmed the government would not oppose a motion to establish a royal commission, after some Coalition MPs indicated they would cross the floor on the vote.
But the Opposition Leader said Mr Morrison should have acted sooner to establish the inquiry.
“This should be above politics, but we get more spin. He won’t oppose a motion, how about he support the motion and support what the parliament is asking for,” the Opposition Leader said.
“He should have listened to the families who were calling for a royal commission some time ago.”
The Morrison government proposed an independent and permanent commissioner to investigate veteran suicides, but the legislation failed to receive support in the Senate in December.
“What the government tried to do was establish a process to avoid having a royal commission. The government is within its rights to set up standing bodies, but we need a royal commission,” Mr Albanese said.
Ellie Dudley 8.46am: Kiwi travel bubble may be finalised today
Details of a quarantine-free travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand could be finalised as early as today, as the New Zealand Cabinet prepares to meet.
“There’s a few issues still to talk through, including what we do in the event there is an outbreak, how we manage people who aren’t in their home country at that time,” NZ Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson told Radio New Zealand.
“So we’re working through that, but I’m very optimistic we’ll sort that out in reasonably short order. I don’t think we’re too far off.”
Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan is looking forward to the two-way bubble commencing, and has also offered an invitation to Singapore to participate.
“If we could get that bubble expanded between New Zealand, Australia and Singapore, or one just operating with Singapore itself, that would be another step in the right direction,” he told Sunrise last week.
READ MORE: Tehan hunting ‘lost’ $28bn
Ellie Dudley 8.30am:Dispute rages over release of dam water
NSW Water Minister Melinda Pavey has defended the decision of state authorities not to release water from the Warragamba Dam before the floods, in a growing dispute over dam management.
The Warragamba Dam, Sydney’s primary water supply, reached full capacity on Saturday and has been spilling hundreds of gigalitres of water since then, threatening communities along the Nepean River.
Communities surrounding the Nepean River were instructed to flee to safety on Sunday night.
While flood control specialists have said the water from the dam should have been released Earlier, Ms Pavey said it was “an impossible task.”
“We would have needed to drop the dam to 25 per cent to stop any spill,” she told Sunrise. “That is an impossible task.”
“I understand the concern that residents have, but we’ve also seen record rainfall into the Sydney basin itself.”
Ms Pavey implored NSW residents to listen to emergency services who are “working so hard to protect us all.”
READ MORE: Late release of dam water sparks brawl
Ore, Adeshola8.20am:PM says defence ready to help with floods recovery
Scott Morrison says he expects the federal government will receive requests for the defence force to be involved in recovery efforts later today as large parts of NSW are lashed with once-in-50-year flooding.
A total of 20 evacuation orders have been issued to areas across New South Wales, as the prepares for another two days of heavy rains and floods.
“We expect later today we will start getting requests for the recovery operations on the other side,” the Prime Minister told 2GB radio.
“The NSW government has very, very good and significant resources and capable agencies to deal with the floods and they’ve got that in hand. Should they need anything further, I’ve got no doubt they will request it and will move very quickly.”
“It’s a matter of pulling through together once again.”
Mr Morrison said emergency payments of $1,000 for adults and $400 were already in place for affected areas.
READ MORE: Insurers brace for flood of storm payouts
Adeshola Ore 8.16am: PM to wave through veterans suicide royal commission
Scott Morrison has confirmed the federal government will not vote against a motion to establish a royal commission into veterans suicide in parliament today.
Last week, Coalition senators voted unanimously with Labor, the Greens and crossbench senators to establish an inquiry into veteran and defence suicides which are nearly twice the rate of the general population once they cease serving. The House of Representatives are expected to vote on the motion today.
“We won’t be opposing that motion at all,” the Prime Minister told 2GB radio.
“We’ve always thought you needed something better and more than a royal commission. What we need is a permanent arrangement and that’s what we’ve put into the parliament.”
“I’m sure these two things can come together and we can come to some agreement over the course of the week.”
“Royal commissions are fine, but they’re only temporary, they’re not a silver bullet.”
The Morrison government proposed an independent and permanent commissioner to investigate veteran suicides, but the legislation failed to receive support in the Senate in December.
READ MORE:Ticky Fullerton — Politics complicates the vaccine rollout
Nick Tabakoff8.01am: Sales rethinks privacy for politicians
Leigh Sales says she is giving “a lot of deep thought” to changing her policy on how she treats politicians’ private lives, in comments likely to cause heart murmurs on both sides of politics in Canberra.
Sales has revealed that until the last few weeks, she has adhered to unspoken rules that “people’s private lives are off bounds unless it has a direct bearing on the execution of their public duties”.
“That’s the standard I’ve adhered to for my entire working life,” she says.
But for the 7.30 host, that time-honoured principle may be about to change. In light of the momentous events of recent events, the 7.30 host is now weighing up whether that longstanding general principle of keeping the personal lives of public figures private — which she has observed since she was 20 — still stands.
READ the full story in Media Diary
Rosie Lewis7.52am: Higgins rape claim: he harassed me too
An ex-housemate of the former Liberal staffer accused of raping his then colleague Brittany Higgins in Parliament House says the man sexually harassed her while they were living together.
Kriti Gupta learned only on March 10 that her former housemate was the alleged rapist and last week gave a statement to the Australian Federal Police, who are investigating Ms Higgins’ case.
Ms Gupta, 24 decided to go public with her story so the man could see she and other alleged victims were “not going to hide”.
“I was at work when I got the text message from my friend saying it was (him),” Ms Gupta said.
“I had a full blown panic attack, but I wasn’t surprised either. He had that type of personality where he didn’t really respect women, he always spoke poorly about women. ‘’
READ the full story here
Ellie Dudley7.35am:‘Remain vigilant as flooding continues’
Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud has urged NSW residents to remain vigilant as heavy rain and flooding continues for the early parts of the week.
Mr Littleproud said the state has another “24, 48 hours to get through”.
“I just had an update from the bureau saying they believe there will be heavy rain again today into Tuesday,” he told Channel 9’s Today.
“With the catchment so wet you have to expect that water will cause flash-flooding.”
Mr Littleproud also warned residents not to put emergency service workers in danger by not following the rules.
“We’re saying to people you have a responsibility to yourself and your family to understand the risks that are coming your way,” he said. “Particularly for those men and women that are putting themselves on the line.”
The federal government is prepared to deploy the Australian Defence Force to assist with the emergency if needed, Mr Littleproud confirmed.
FOLLOW live updates on NSW flood emergency here
Ellie Dudley6.30am:Australia enters Phase 1B of vaccine roll out
More than six million people will become eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine from today, as Australia enters Phase 1B of the roll out. Those aged over 70, critical workers such as police and people with some underlying health conditions will be able to receive the jab from their GP.
More than 4000 GP clinics will be able to administer the vaccines by the end of April, according to the federal government, while all Australians will get their first dose of the jab by October.
Federal authorities said on Sunday they were confident they would meet the vaccine targets despite flooding in areas of NSW slowing the distribution of the shots.
Authorisation to produce the AstraZeneca vaccine in CSL in Melbourne has also been given by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said the first doses would be released within days.
“This is a fundamental decision which locks in for Australia access to 50 million units of domestically produced vaccines,” he told the ABC.
“It means the manufacturing process for CSL has been approved, it’s safe, it’s effective, it meets all of the requirements from one of the toughest regulators in the world.”
READ MORE:Ready to jab despite NSW deluge delay
Sharri Markson5.10am:Cabinet minister’s phone caught up in message scam
The Australian Federal Police is investigating whether Finance Minister Simon Birmingham has had his phone compromised after it began sending unsolicited messages to his contact book.
In the messages sent using the Telegram platform, Senator Birmingham appears to make inquiries about “a Chinese person living here” and suggests he wants to ask them “about the situation in China or Hong Kong”.
The matter was first raised with authorities on March 18, the AFP said in a statement on Sunday.
“The AFP is aware of a messaging scam and we are investigating,” a spokeswoman said.
“The scam appears to be in the form of a message for an associate … (the request) may be an attempt to obtain information from the user or their device.”
Senator Birmingham’s spokeswoman said he did “not have a Telegram account and appropriate security steps have been taken to secure his actual means of communication”.
Read the full story, by Sharri Markson and Olivia Caisley, here.
Rosie Lewis5am:Higgins rape claim: ‘He harassed me too’
An ex-housemate of the former Liberal staffer accused of raping his then colleague Brittany Higgins in Parliament House says the man sexually harassed her while they were living together.
Kriti Gupta learned only on March 10 that her former housemate was the alleged rapist and last week gave a statement to the Australian Federal Police, who are investigating Ms Higgins’ case.
Ms Gupta, 24 decided to go public with her story so the man could see she and other alleged victims were “not going to hide”.
“I was at work when I got the text message from my friend saying it was (him),” Ms Gupta said.
“I just kept thinking about all the times he touched me and made me uncomfortable, all the times he was sexually suggestive in our old Instagram messages.”
Read the full story here.
Ben Packham4.45am:Trade Minister on hunt for ‘lost’ $28 billion
Trade Minister Dan Tehan will meet with bankers, fund managers and his counterparts in Washington, London, Berlin and Brussels next month as the federal government attempts to restore a $28bn a year drop in foreign investment.
In an interview with The Australian, Mr Tehan said strengthening trade and investment engagement with Quadrilateral Security Dialogue partners — the US, India and Japan — was a key priority, together with World Trade Organisation reform.
He said he hoped to seal free-trade agreements with the EU and Britain by Christmas, but declared he would not compromise on the quality of the deals.
He said he hoped China would re-engage with Australia “sooner rather than later”, ending $20bn in trade strikes against Australian exporters.
But he said: “We won’t be putting everything else on standstill. There is plenty more for us to be getting on with.”
Read the full story here.
Labor powerbroker wins $350,000 compo from lobbyist
Labor-aligned lobbying firm Hawker Britton has paid $350,000 to one of its former senior executives to settle Federal Court action over his swift exit from the business.
Hypocrisy, bad taste and other follies of 2024
On New Year’s Day 2024, morale was relatively high since the Year of the Dragon was expected to usher in a time of rational thinking. Not quite how it worked out.