PoliticsNow: Facebook news ban to end on Friday: Frydenberg
Australian news will return to Facebook feeds on Friday, Josh Frydenberg has confirmed.
Welcome to rolling coverage of news from Canberra and around the nation amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Greg Hunt has told parliament the CEO of Healthcare Australia has been stood aside after a doctor who wrongly vaccinated to elderly Queenslanders made a ‘serious mistake’. Fortunately, the Health Minister says the patients are both well.
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton says he stands by his decision to not tell Scott Morrison about the alleged rape of former Liberal Party staffer Brittany Higgins. It comes as government MPs and industry figures are questioning the future of Linda Reynolds as Defence Minister after she was admitted to hospital.
Greg Brown11.30pm:Pandemic brings cut to carbon emissions
Carbon emissions in the 12 months to September 2020 decreased by more than 4.4 per cent as COVID-19 took a sledgehammer to economic activity.
A report from the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources released on Friday showed emissions in the year to September were 510 million tonnes — the lowest level since 1995.
Emissions in the September quarter reduced by 1 per cent on trend terms but rose by 1.7 per cent on a seasonally adjusted and weather normalised basis.
“On a seasonally adjusted and weather normalised basis, there were signs of recovery in activity and emissions (1.7 per cent),” the report says.
“Although preliminary data for the December quarter show total emissions falling again.
Energy Minister Angus Taylor said emissions were 19 per cent below 2005 levels, the baseline year for the government’s 26-28 per cent Paris 2030 target.
“Increasing economic activity is flowing through to transport emissions, which rose during the quarter, together with emissions from agricultural production as the effects of the drought eased,” Mr Taylor said.
Robyn Ironside 10.50pm: Aviation stimulus support tops $1bn
Australia’s aviation industry will have received more than $1bn in coronavirus subsidies by the end of the JobKeeper scheme next month as airlines struggle amid continued international border closures and restrictions on interstate travel.
Qantas reported $459m in JobKeeper payments for the last six months of 2020, in addition of $267m paid before July — becoming the single-largest recipient of money from the federal government program intended to stave off a surge in unemployment as the coronavirus pandemic hit.
The airline’s plans to relaunch international flights by October come as the world’s largest carriers — in a submission to an Australian National Audit Office inquiry into how border arrangements were managed during the pandemic — warned they were often the last to learn about new restrictions, leaving them unable to communicate with passengers or plan flights.
Rhiannon Down 10.05pm:Allen defends Reynolds
Liberal MP Katie Allen has defended Linda Reynolds, describing the Defence Minister as a “great advocate for women”.
Ms Allen said the Defence Minister, who was hospitalised before she was due to front the media over the alleged rape of former staffer Brittany Higgins in her office, was a great supporter of women.
Asked if she thought Senator Reynolds handled the situation poorly, Ms Allen said: “In my heart of hearts, no,” she said ABC’s Q&A on Thursday night.
“I think Linda Reynolds, who is a great advocate for women, did everything she thought was appropriate at the time,” she said.
“It’s always easy to look back in hindsight. Linda is a woman who has great determination and courage and a great supporter of women.
“I think she personally must find this devastating.”
Asked what the government was doing to change its culture, Ms Allen said Ms Higgins had the “agency” to come forward.
“The Prime Minister has been pretty clear that he understands and respects that she does no longer think she has the support that she wanted to have and that she’s rethinking about that,” she said.
“And I think we need to respect that journey of trauma.”
READ MORE: Biden’s public reprimand for Saudi prince is a gamble
Paige Taylor9.20pm: McGowan wants transparency in developer donations
West Australian Labor Premier Mark McGowan has responded to calls for his government to ban political donations from property developers by promising more transparency.
The perceived influence of prominent Perth business figures on the WA government has become a theme of the state election campaign and property developers who publicly support Labor have benefited from the state government’s building stimulus packages during the pandemic.
There is no suggestion the developers or Mr McGowan have acted inappropriately, but former WA Labor premier Brian Burke on Thursday urged Mr McGowan to take action over the perceived influence of property developers. Mr Burke was jailed in the fallout of the wild WA Inc days of the 1980s when the state government got into bed with business.
Simon Benson8.35pm:How long before the feds step in to WA poll?
The amateur-hour spectacle of the WA Liberal Party’s pre-election surrender could soon warrant an unprecedented federal intervention.
This is where the debacle is headed if the WA Coalition is plunged into single-digit status in the lower house, as predicted.
It may well become a self-fulfilling prophecy after the admission by neophyte Liberal leader 34-year-old Zak Kirkup that they had already lost the state election three weeks before it is held.
Considering pre-polling started this week, this sort of ridiculous message can only add to the slaughter. Which would be fine in Canberra if it didn’t threaten to have some sort of residual impact on the federal scene for Scott Morrison.
Morrison’s key messaging has, is and will continue to be that the Coalition is the political emblem of stability and competence. Kirkup is telling WA voters that the Coalition in their state is not only incompetent but a joke.
His green energy plans directly repudiate the pro-worker and pro-mining platform Morrison took to the 2019 federal election.
Federal MP Andrew Hastie, whose local state member is Kirkup, must be beside himself.
For Morrison, the real danger is brand damage.
If the polls are correct, and such as the numbers are on the floor of the WA parliament, the Nationals could well become the dominant Coalition party in WA after the election.
The Liberal Party, unlike Labor, doesn’t have a history of federal intervention when state divisions go rogue.
Greg Brown 8.05pm:Labor revamps harassment code
Labor’s national secretary may appoint an “independent third party” to investigate allegations of sexual harassment under a new complaints handling policy recommended to the party.
Labor MPs and senior staff will also be issued with training on fostering a safe working environment, with a register to be established to document whether people are up to date with their tuition.
The ALP’s national executive has been given draft recommendations to adopt new procedures on dealing with sexual harassment and bullying by Labor MP Sharon Claydon, the chair of the party’s Sexual Harassment and Bullying Working Group.
Nicola Berkovic7.30pm:Call for onshore surrogate births
Nigeria, Namibia, Lebanon, Guatemala and Mexico have emerged as surrogacy destinations for Australian intended parents, prompting calls for legal changes to ensure more babies are born via surrogacy locally than in higher-risk countries.
Department of Home Affairs figures show 275 babies born overseas via surrogacy arrangements were granted Australian citizenship in 2019-20.
This is up from 232 the previous year and the highest number on record — eclipsing the 266 babies born in 2011-12 and 263 in 2013-14 before India and Thailand shut down their commercial surrogacy industries.
In the current year to January 31, there have been 165 babies granted citizenship — on track to beat last year’s figure, despite the disruption to overseas travel caused by COVID-19.
There has been an exponential rise in Australians turning to the US, with more babies born there via surrogacy to Australian parents than in Australia. Last year, 120 babies born in the US were granted Australian passports — up from 15 in 2010-11.
In contrast, 87 babies were born in Australia and New Zealand via surrogacy in 2018, according to the most recent Assisted Reproductive Technology in Australia and New Zealand Database figures — although this does not capture _babies born via surrogacy without help from a fertility clinic.
The Ukraine was the next most popular destination after the US last year (50 babies), followed by Canada (34), Georgia (20), Thailand (11) and China (9).
So far in 2020-21, the most popular destinations have been the US (55), Ukraine (27), Georgia (25), Canada (18) and Mexico (9) — while other countries to emerge include Brazil, Belarus and Columbia.
Agencies 6.55pm:Tell them what they need to hear: CIA pick
Veteran US diplomat William Burns, nominated to lead the CIA, pledged on Thursday AEDT to keep the agency free of politics and said China would be his main focus if confirmed.
Mr Burns was picked by US President Joe Biden to replace retiring CIA director Gina Haspel and to help restore an air of independence after former president Donald Trump allegedly tried to manipulate the country’s spies for political reasons.
Mr Burns told the Senate intelligence committee that his career in the Middle East and Russia made him appreciate the value of untainted intelligence.
“I learned that good intelligence, delivered with honesty and integrity, is America’s first line of defence,” he told the panel.
“I learned that intelligence professionals have to tell policymakers what they need to hear, even if they don’t want to hear it.
“And I learned that politics must stop where intelligence work begins.”
Mr Burns also told the panel that China was the main challenge the country faced, echoing views stated by Mr Biden and other top officials of his administration.
The CIA in particular has faced challenges, with China having recruited a number of US diplomats and spies over to its side in recent years and also, starting a decade ago, bringing down the CIA’s own network of informants in the country.
Gabriele Steinhauser 6.30pm:Free WHO vaccinations roll out in Africa
The first shipment of free COVID-19 vaccines from the World Health Organisation-backed Covax program have landed in Ghana, marking the start of what is shaping to be the biggest vaccination drive in history aimed at developing countries.
The delivery — comprising 600,000 doses of a vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca and produced by the Serum Institute of India — was greeted by senior Ghanaian government officials at Kotoka International Airport in the capital Accra. The doses will be enough to vaccinate 300,000 healthcare and frontline workers in Ghana, a West African country of about 31 million people that is battling its second wave of infections.
Richard Ferguson5.30pm: Facebook to break news ban on Friday: Frydenberg
Australian news will return to Facebook feeds on Friday, Josh Frydenberg has confirmed.
Several media companies including News Corp (publisher of The Australian) and Nine are in ongoing discussions with Facebook about commercial deals, after the Morrison government brought the social media giant back to the negotiating table over the media bargaining code.
BREAKING | Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has confirmed to @JimWilsonMedia news will return to Facebook tomorrow.
— 2GB 873 (@2GB873) February 25, 2021
Days after Facebook agreed to lift its blanket ban on Australian news content, the Treasurer said Facebook has informed him it will restore news by the weekend.
“I understand you’ll see some changes from tomorrow and that’s what they’ve told us,” he told Sydney’s 2GB radio.
“I think there was understandable outrage across the broader community as to what Facebook did.
“But since that time, there’s been extensive discussions with the company and we’ve reached a solution and the way forward.”
READ MORE:Peril and opportunity for Trump at CPAC
David Swan4.30pm:Facebook takes a hit after ban on news
The reputational damage Facebook suffered during its news blackout could be lasting, according new research. Read more here
Robert Gottliebsen4pm:Time to cut our losses on subs debacle
Linda Reynolds is the wrong person to take on the French and scrap the submarine contract. There are tougher ministers in cabinet. Read more here
Patrick Commins3.30pm:Tax incentives free up firms for spending spree
Generous tax incentives spark December quarter spending spree and hopes of business investment revival. Read more here
Adeshola Ore2.58pm:Labor trying to score points over rape allegations: PM
Scott Morrison has accused the Labor party of attempting to score political points in its response to the alleged 2019 rape of a former Liberal Party staffer.
During question time, the opposition pressed the Prime Minister on when he was made aware of the alleged incident after it was revealed Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton had received a briefing from federal police about the assault four days before it broke in the media.
Mr Morrison said his office had been informed of the alleged assault on Friday, February 12 but he became aware of the incident on Monday, February 15.
“I have been very clear about when my office advised me they knew about this matter and when I knew about it. I was not pleased that I was not advised at the time on Friday,” Mr Morrison told parliament.
“Labor may try as they might to score political points over such serious issues. My government will continue to focus on the issues here.”
READ MORE: PM dares Albanese to bring it on
Adeshola Ore2.49pm: Dutton tells parliament of rape allegation timeline
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton says his office told Scott Morrison’s chief of staff about the alleged 2019 rape of a former Liberal Party staffer on the Friday before the story broke in the media, but provided no “operational detail.”
Today, Mr Dutton revealed in parliament that he received a briefing by the Australian Federal Police commissioner on February 11, a day before a journalist’s questions were submitted to the Prime Minister’s office about the alleged incident.
Mr Dutton said he stood by his decision to not alert Mr Morrison about the alleged 2019 rape in a ministerial office, saying it was a high-level “operational manner” for the AFP.
After media inquiries were submitted to the government about the alleged incident on Friday February 12, Mr Dutton’s office told the Prime Minister’s office the AFP had raised the matter with the minister.
“There was no operational detail provided,” Mr Dutton told parliament.
“There was simply a passing of lodgement that the AFP had an interest in this matter.”
Australian Federal Police commissionerReece Kershaw has sent a letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday, warning MPs of the risks of failing to report crimes.
Adeshola Ore 2.41pm: Continuous disclosure bill ‘rushed through’
Labor has accused the Morrison government of trying to rush through a permanent watering down of continuous disclosure laws for listed companies.
On Thursday, Labor moved a motion in the senate to extend a Senate committee’s consultation time of the proposed laws from March 12 to 30 June. It means the government’s temporary dilution of continuous disclosure laws, which is due to expire on March 23, will lapse before the committee tables its report.
The opposition’s motion was supported by all crossbench senators.
“The government was trying to ram its changes through but the crossbench isn’t having it,” opposition financial services spokesman Stephen Jones said.
“The quick-and-dirty three week inquiry initially proposed by the government shows they know their changes will damage large sections of the community.”
“Like Labor, the crossbench has chosen to stand with mum and dad investors, stockbrokers, self-managed retirees, superannuation funds and the legal fraternity.”
Last week Josh Frydenberg announced the government would seek to make the temporary measure, introduced under emergency COVID-19 powers, permanent.
The changes to stock market disclosure laws means companies are only liable for civil legal action for continuous disclosure breaches where they acted with “recklessness” or “negligence” during updating shareholders on market-sensitive information. Prior to the change, the disclosure rules meant shareholders only had to prove that a company had failed to disclose information to the market, regardless of intention.
Labor has argued the changes will lead to misleading conduct in Australia’s share market and damage market integrity.
Adeshola Ore 2.28pm: Health care chief stood down over vaccine bungle
Health Minister Greg Hunt has told parliament that the chief executive of the company at the centre of an aged-care vaccination bungle has been stood down.
Two patients at a Queensland aged-care centre were wrongly injected with four times the recommended dose of the Pfizer jab by a doctor who had not completed the mandatory training, triggering a federal investigation into the incident.
“I’m advised that the CEO was being stood aside as a consequence of the discussions,” Mr Hunt told parliament during question time.
Earlier, Mr Hunt said Healthcare Australia was at fault for not sighting the completed training certificate of the doctor and falsely telling the federal government the doctor had completed the training.
The company has also been put on notice of potential termination for any further breaches.
The CEO of Healthcare Australia is Jason Cartwright.
READ MORE: Firms splurge $750m on new equipment
Jess Malcolm 2.23pm:Pfizer seeks TGA nod for standard freezer storage
Pfizer Australia has confirmed it will submit an application to the Therapeutic Goods Association to allow administrators of the vaccine to store it at standard freezer temperatures instead of in ultra-cold conditions.
Changes to the front-running vaccine could drastically speed up its rollout, opening up the possibility that smaller pharmacies and doctor’s clinics could administer the shots using existing refrigerators or freezers.
“If approved by regulators such as the FDA or TGA, the new storage option could offer vaccination centres greater flexibility in managing and maintaining vaccine distribution and supply,” a Pfizer spokesperson said.
This comes as the US FDA is expected to announce new guidelines after Pfizer US submitted a request to allow administrators to store the protein-based vaccine between -25C to -15C for up to two weeks.
It was only previously approved for distribution if it was kept between -80C and -60 degrees, shipped in specially designed containers used as temporary storage for up to 30 days and refilled with dry ice every five days.
The vaccine’s original requirement of freezing storage temperatures has created complex logistical challenges, as the ultra-cold storage needs meant its distribution was considerably more expensive, with potential for batches to become damaged if there were refrigeration issues.
Pfizer Australia said no changes have been made to the vaccine to enable this storage change.
“The new storage condition is the result of ongoing stability studies being conducted at a variety of temperature ranges,” a spokesperson said.
Tim Dodd2.11pm: Melbourne Uni overcomes loss of international students
The University of Melbourne has overcome a $335m budget shortfall due to COVID-19 and the loss of international students to post a small $8m operating surplus in 2020.
Vice-chancellor Duncan Maskell said the result was “slightly better than expected”.
“Most of that improvement is because we’ve taken serious measures. We’ve reduced our spending by $360m,” he said in an interview with The Australian.
The $8m operating surplus does not include improvements in the value of the university’s long term endowments and investments and, when these are factored in, the last year’s total surplus is expected to be about $180m.
READ the full story here
Ewin Hannan 2.06pm: CFMEU internal war goes to court
The CFMEU’s mining and energy division has launched extraordinary legal action to try to stop a meeting of the union’s national executive going ahead on Friday, in a public escalation of bitter divisions across the militant union.
The Federal Court on Thursday will hear an application from the mining and energy division for an injunction to stop the meeting that is scheduled to consider controversial rule changes proposed by the construction division.
The mining division says the construction division, which controls the numbers on the national executive, will be able to poach its members if it pushes through the rule changes at the national executive.
READ the full story here
Adeshola Ore1.34pm: Vaccine doctor made a ‘serious mistake’
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd said the doctor who wrongly vaccinated two elderly Queenslanders in aged care had made a “serious mistake.”
“He delivered an incorrect dose of the vaccine to two people. He had not undertaken the required training,” he said.
Professor Kidd said the Office of the Health Ombudsman in Queensland would determine whether to refer to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
He said the doctor had not been involved in the delivery of vaccines at any other facilities.
Mr Hunt said Healthcare Australia’s chief executive had advised the federal health department that all its health professionals involved in the vaccine rollout had their registration checked and had completed all mandatory training.
“The company had also advised that it had sighted copies of the successful certificate of completion of the course for each of the health professionals involved in the vaccine rollout,” he said.
“The company responsible for the rollout of the vaccine in residential aged care facilities in Queensland, HealthCare Australia, HCA, is clearly at fault here,” he said.
Mr Hunt said two breaches had occurred — the doctor immunising patients without completing compulsory training and the company not sighting his certificate of completion.
“The company did not meet its requirement under its contract with the Australian government Department of Health.”
On Wednesday, Healthcare Australia confirmed to the government that all other immunisers it employs have completed their training
READ MORE: Billions in balance on Covid insurance test
Adeshola Ore1.19pm: Both over-jabbed patients are well, Hunt says
Health Minister Greg Hunt says both patients of a Queensland aged-care centre who were wrongly injected with four times the recommended dose of the Pfizer jab are well, with one due to return to the facility today.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd has been charged with investigating how a Brisbane-based GP was able to administer Pfizer doses to an 88-year-old man and 94-year old woman at the Holy Spirit Home in Carseldine on Tuesday morning without completing compulsory training.
“The woman will return home to her residential home in the facility after she’s had lunch today. That was the request of the family,” he said.
“The man will stay in hospital for no other reason other than he was actually admitted in preparation for elective surgery.”
The incident, which occurred on day three of the national rollout, has reignited tensions with the Labor states and fresh demands from Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk for an emergency meeting of national cabinet to discuss vaccine protocols in aged-care facilities.
Labor has called for the federal government to restore public confidence in the national vaccine rollout and make assurances that all doctors administering COVID vaccines are properly trained.
Mr Hunt said the federal government has appointed Australia’s Chief Nursing Midwifery Officer of Australia as a clinical lead at the company, Healthcare Australia.
Healthcare Australia, which provides surge workers to help administer the COVID-19 jabs, has also been put on notice of potential termination for any further breaches.
Mr Hunt said the company had brought their chairperson on to act in an executive administration role as well as recruiting additional managerial staff.
“We will be stepping up additional support in New South Wales and in Queensland for aged care,” he said.
Mr Hunt said an additional provider for COVID vaccines will be appointed in New South Wales and Queensland, where Healthcare Australia operates as a contractor.
He said 71 aged-care facilities have had their residents vaccinated since Australia’s nation rollout began on Monday.
“Today, we’re expecting over 20 additional facilities,” he said.
Mr Hunt reiterated his apology to the families of the patients.
“I have apologised for that, and we apologise for that again. But it is very important to see that this program is actually rolling out right around the country,” he said.
The vaccination rollout at the facility, Holy Spirit Home in Carseldine, is continuing after 60 patients at the centre were vaccinated yesterday.
READ MORE: Time to redouble vaccine efforts
Jess Malcolm 12.11pm: Open home inspection sparked Covid outbreak
New Zealand authorities have confirmed that three people attended an open home at a household of positive COVID-19 cases.
The viewing took place on the Saturday before the Auckland high school student and her two siblings tested positive for the virus on Monday.
The viewing lasted half an hour and the attendees were contacted on Tuesday. They have all been tested and are awaiting their results.
This comes as no new cases were recorded in the community today, with three cases in hotel quarantine.
There are now 11 positive cases associated with the Auckland cluster.
READ MORE: Pandemic no brake on rise of the very rich
Adeshola Ore 11.49am: Dutton ‘didn’t want to impede’ investigation
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton says he did not tell Scott Morrison about the alleged 2019 rape of a former Liberal Party staffer because he did not want to “impede” the police investigation.
On Wednesday, Mr Dutton revealed in parliament that he received a briefing by the Australian Federal Police commissioner on February 11, a day before a journalist’s questions were submitted to the Prime Minister’s office about the alleged incident. He said he did not inform Mr Morrison because it was an “operational matter.”
“It’s also about the perception of it. I don’t want there to be a perception that there’s been an influence in a particular investigation or matter,” he told 2GB radio.
READ MORE: Language erasing women’s biology
David Rogers 11.44am: Capex rises 3pc smashing expectations
Australia’s private new capital expenditure has smashed estimates for the December quarter.
Capex rose 3pc, which was three-times Bloomberg’s consensus estimate of a 1pc rise.
Buildings and structures rose by 0.7pc while equipment, plant and machinery surged 5.7pc.
This is a good sign for December quarter GDP data next week.
READ MORE: CEOs declare economy is flying again
Sarah Elks 11.29am:Queensland to reopen border to Melburnians
Queensland will reopen its border to greater Melbourne on Saturday.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said travel restrictions for Victorian residents would be lifted on Saturday 1am, after the ban started on February 13.
“Queensland is the place to be,” Ms Palaszczuk told parliament.
Meanwhile Ms Palaszczuk said Queensland health authorities are still monitoring two elderly aged care residents who received extra doses of the COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday.
State authorities were monitoring the pair, who were given four times the proper dose at the Holy Spirit home at Carseldine on Tuesday morning.
“It’s important that the public has confidence in the delivery of this vaccine and we welcome the commonwealth’s commitment to sharing the findings of its investigation with Queensland, and what actions will be taken to ensure this doesn’t occur again,” Ms Palaszczuk told parliament.
Neither of the elderly people are experiencing adverse effects from the extra Pfizer doses.
READ MORE: Training quality fears over aged -care jabbers
Jess Malcolm 11.27am: NSW goes 39 days without local transmission
NSW has recorded its 39th day free from community transmission, which is the longest stretch of no locally acquired cases since the pandemic began.
There were nearly 18,000 tests recorded in the last 24 hours.
There were seven new cases acquired overseas, bringing the total number of cases in NSW to 4,973 since the pandemic began.
NSW recorded no new locally acquired cases of #COVID19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, the 39th consecutive day without a locally acquired case.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) February 25, 2021
Seven new cases were acquired overseas, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 4,973. pic.twitter.com/wf47rAoM2F
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Health Minister Brad Hazzard are expected to address the media at 12.15pm.
Jess Malcolm 11.22am: Qantas delays international flights until October
Qantas has announced a four month delay on its reopening of international flights as it reports a staggering $1 billion loss due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It will now resume flights on October 31 2021, instead of in July 2021 as originally planned.
It is unlikely its international network will be fully restored until 2024 at the earliest.
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said “full vaccination” will now be the requirement to reopen borders instead of herd immunity driven by the emergence of new, more infectious strains emerging overseas.
“As a result, we’re now planning for international travel to restart at the end of October this year, in line with the date for Australia’s vaccine rollout to be effectively complete.”
“We’re still targeting July for a material increase in New Zealand flights. We’re in close consultation with the government, and if things change, so will our dates.”
Qantas also confirmed all its Airbus A380 fleet would remain grounded until June 30, 2023 at the earliest.
READ the full story here
Finn McHugh 11.16am: MPs must report crimes in timely fashion, police chief warns
Australia’s top police officer has sent a strongly worded letter to the PM in the wake of the Brittany Higgins rape scandal, warning politicians delays in reporting crimes can seriously damage investigations and risk the perpetrator reoffending.
The alleged rape of Brittany Higgins in parliament has brought the process for reporting crimes into sharp focus.
Australian Federal Police commissioner Reece Kershaw sent a letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday, warning MPs of the risks of failing to report crimes.
“I cannot state strongly enough the importance of timely referrals of allegations of criminal conduct,” he wrote.
“Failure to report alleged criminal behaviour in this manner, or choosing to communicate or disseminate allegations via other means, such as through the media or third parties, risks prejudicing and subsequent police investigation.”
Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins alleged she was raped in 2019 by a colleague in the parliamentary office of her then-boss Linda Reynolds.
Senator Reynolds said she encouraged Ms Higgins to go to the police when she learned of the alleged crime, as does Ms Higgins’ subsequent boss Michaelia Cash.
But the government is facing scrutiny over its internal reporting mechanisms, with revelations Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton knew of the allegation four days before the Prime Minister said he knew.
Mr Dutton joined a group including Ms Reynolds, Ms Cash, House Speaker Tony Smith, and Senate President Scott Ryan, who knew about the alleged rape before Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Former Special Minister State Alex Hawke was also contacted over the termination of the male staffer.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Wednesday he would have approached the situation in the same way as his ministers had he been informed earlier.
Mr Kershaw warned failing to report crimes could embolden a perpetrator to taint evidence or even strike again.
“Any delay in reporting criminal conduct can result in the loss of key evidence, continuation of the offending and/or reoffending by the alleged perpetrator,” he said.
“It also has the very real potential to compromise the rights of victims and other parties to the alleged offences.
“By not adhering to this process, there is a real risk that any alternative actions by individuals may lead to obstructing, preventing, perverting or defeating the course of justice or the administration of law.”
Mr Morrison passed Mr Kershaw’s letter on to House Speaker Tony Smith and Senate President Scott Ryan, telling them MPs must understand their duty to provide “compassionate support” to victims seeking to come forward.
Both letters were circulated to MPs via parliament’s sergeant-at-arms. — NCA Newswire
Jess Malcolm 11.01am: Andrews waiting on health advice to lift restrictions
Daniel Andrews has refused to announce any changes to Victoria’s COVID-19 restrictions, citing he is awaiting advice from the Chief Health Officer.
He said he anticipates any announcement to “before lunchtime tomorrow” with the changes to take effect this weekend.
“There will be meetings tomorrow with the relevant Chief Health Officer and his team,” The Victorian Premier said.
“We can be quite positive about making some announcements tomorrow.”
Today Victoria recorded its 6th day of free from community transmission.
The Premier also confirmed that over 2000 Victorians have received their COVID-19 vaccine.
“We’re at the beginning of the end, but it’s not over yet.”
READ MORE: CBD under strain as workers return
Adeshola Ore 10.30am:Media bargaining code becomes law
The Morrison government’s media bargaining code has become law after it was passed in parliament.
Last night, the code passed through the upper house with the support of Labor.
In a statement, Josh Frydenberg and Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said the code would help “sustain public interest journalism in Australia.”
The code was developed to remunerate news media companies for their content tech giants publish.
The legislation will be reviewed by Treasury within one year to ensure it is still delivering outcomes the government intended it to.
READ MORE:Facebook to spend $US1bn on news’
Jess Malcolm10.16am: Pfizer’s effectiveness confirmed in real world study
The first peer-reviewed real world study has confirmed that the Pfizer vaccine is 94 per cent effective against COVID-19.
The study involved 1.2 million people in Israel, and gives hope to the power of mass immunisation campaigns to bring the pandemic to an end.
The paper also demonstrated there is a likely strong protective benefit against infection, which is significant in breaking onward transmission.
The experiment was carried out between December 20 2020 to February 1 2021, when the UK strain was rampant in Israel, making the vaccine’s performance even more impressive.
The efficacy against symptomatic infections was 57 percent between 14-20 days after the first dose, but rose to 94 percent seven days after the second dose which was very close to the 95 per cent achieved during Phase 3 clinical trials.
People who received second doses were also highly protected against hospitaliation and death.
READ MORE: Asian sceptics reject Chinese vaccine
Adeshola Ore 10.09am: ‘Public confidence in vaccine rollout needs to be restored’
Opposition health spokesman Mark Butler has called for the federal government to restore public confidence in Australia’s vaccine rollout after a Brisbane doctor injected two aged-care residents with four times the recommended dose of the Pfizer jab without completing his mandatory training.
An investigation has been called into the incident that occured on day three of the national rollout. The overdose reignited tensions with the Labor states and fresh demands from Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk for an emergency meeting of the national cabinet to discuss vaccine protocols in aged-care facilities.
“This is a terrible bungle at this aged-care facility by a provider contracted by the Commonwealth government,” he told Sky News.
“Beyond that particular case we need to get public confidence back on track. We need to get a very clear assurance from Greg Hunt and the Prime Minister that everyone administering these vaccines has done the training.”
READ MORE: Time to redouble vaccine efforts
Jess Malcolm 10.02am:South Africa strain vaccine ready for testing
Moderna has confirmed that its new, South African variant-specific vaccine is ready for testing, and has been shipped to the US National Institute of Health.
The South African variant is considered among the more dangerous of current mutations because it evades some of the blocking action of antibodies that target the older coronavirus strain.
This means that people who were infected with the classic strain are more susceptible to reinfection.
While initial testing has shown that Moderna’s original vaccine remains effective against emerging variants, the company said it was pursuing development of the variant-specific vaccine as part of a number of strategies being considered.
“We look forward to beginning the clinical study of our variant booster and are grateful for the NIH’s continued collaboration to combat this pandemic,” Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said.
This development might be even faster following the US Food and Drug Administration’s announcement on Monday that pharmaceutical companies making vaccines would not need to go through the same lengthy process of authorisation they had to originally.
READ MORE: Vaccine politics will run and run
Adeshola Ore 9.32am: ‘Dutton operated correctly over rape allegations’
Scott Morrison has defended Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton who is facing scrutiny over not telling the Prime Minister about the alleged rape of a former Liberal Party staffer in a ministerial office.
On Wednesday, Mr Dutton told parliament he received a briefing by the Australian Federal Police commissioner on February 11, a day before a journalist’s questions were submitted to the Prime Minister’s office about the alleged incident. Mr Dutton said he did not inform Mr Morrison because it was an “operational matter.”
“The minister for home affairs regularly briefed on sensitive investigations across a whole range of issues,” Mr Morrison said.
“If any agency, whether it be the Australian Federal Police, ASIO or any of the other intelligence agencies believe the Prime Minister must be directly briefed on such a matter, then they will arrange that briefing.”
“The minister for home affairs operates under that understanding.”
READ MORE: Howard anniversary a chance to recall lessons in leadership
Lachlan Moffet Gray9.26am: Candle-maker joins JobKeeper repayment line
ASX newcomer Dusk has announced it will repay $2.8m in Jobkeeper it received over the half as it recorded a net profit of $16.8m.
The candle manufacturer also declared a fully franked dividend of 15 cents per share.
Managing Director and CEO Peter King thanked the government for the support.
“dusk acknowledges the innovation and speed of this program and the part it played in guiding the country through this most difficult period,” he said.
“The JobKeeper program provided dusk the opportunity to stay connected with its team around the country and plan for and implement the resumption of normal business activity at the earliest opportunity.”
FOLLOWlive ASX updates at Trading Day
Adeshola Ore 9.20am:Human error challenges in vaccination rollout: PM
Scott Morrison says issues in Australia’s vaccination rollout will be “quickly addressed” after a Brisbane doctor injected two aged-care residents with four times the recommended dose of the Pfizer jab without completing his mandatory training.
An investigation has been called into the incident that occured on day three of the national rollout. The overdose reignited tensions with the Labor states and fresh demands from Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk for an emergency meeting of national cabinet to discuss vaccine protocols in aged-care facilities.
“In our health system, each and every day, there will be challenges related to human error,” Mr Morrison said.
“The vaccination process will have to deal with those as they occur. But there are systems in place to deal with that.”
Mr Morrison said the patients were “proceeding well” based on the reports he had received overnight.
READ MORE: Editorial — Time to redouble vaccine efforts
Jess Malcolm9.16am: WA Liberal contender: Now is not my time
West Australian Liberal leader Zak Kirkup has conceded his party is slated to lose the state election, but says he will keep “fighting” to preserve democracy.
Mark McGowan’s popularity in the polls is soaring from his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading the Liberal leader to declare that his chances of an election victory are slim.
“I accept it’s not my time but I’m not going to give up fighting,” Mr Kirkup has told The West Australian.
Mr Kirkup said he hoped that a landslide victory for Labor is avoided, pointing out it would be a “massive issue” for democracy.
The West Australian election is just 16 days away, and bookies have tipped it to be a bloodbath, with the WA Liberals on track to lose seven of their 14 seats.
READ MORE: ‘WA Inc’ Burke’s tip for McGowan
Robyn Ironside 9.01am: Qantas posts ‘stark’ $1.47bn statutory loss
Qantas has posted a “stark but not surprising” $1.47bn statutory loss for the first half of the 2021 financial year, down from a $648m profit in the previous corresponding period.
CEO Alan Joyce noted the heavy loss covered the period which included nationwide border closures triggered by Victoria’s second wave, slashing domestic travel by 70 per cent.
International travel stopped altogether.
Despite the challenges, Mr Joyce said the results showed the group’s underlying strength with the frequent flyer program and freight business performing well.
READ the full story here
Jess Malcolm 8.58am: Olympics to bring huge economic benefit: Palaszczuk
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she is “so excited” about Brisbane gaining preferred bidder status to host the 2031 Olympics and Paralympics.
Ms Palaszczuk confirmed the city is well-equipped to host the games, with a lot of infrastructure already in place from the Commonwealth Games.
“The Olympic Committee is looking for existing structures,” Ms Palaszczuk said on ABC News Breakfast. “They don’t want countries or states to go and invest in monumental, you know, stadiums that are not gonna be used in the future.”
“There’s a lot of roadworks and everything happening around the state as well.”
Ms Palaszczuk said she would like to see a funding agreement between the state, federal and councils to get the city ready for the games, but that it has to be practical.
“This is transformational infrastructure as well for our city and our region, and it would bring huge economic benefit and jobs as part of our economic recovery as we come out of COVID,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“We’re gonna work really hard with all levels of government to really try and make this happen.”
READ MORE: IOC confirms Brisbane as Olympics 2032 frontrunner
Adeshola Ore8.51am: Reynolds’ health improving, Scott Morrison says
Scott Morrison says Defence Minister Linda Reynolds’s condition has improved after she was admitted to hospital following increased pressure over her handling of the alleged rape of former staffer Brittany Higgins in her office.
The Australian has reported that government MPs and industry figures are questioning the future of Senator Reynolds, despite Mr Morrison standing by his embattled minister.
Mr Morrison said he spoke to Senator Reynolds on Wednesday evening
“I can tell you she is much improved from where she was the night before,” he said.
Mr Morrison said Senator Reynolds was “looking forward to returning to her duties.”
“She’s doing a great job and I have great confidence in the work she is doing,” he said.
Senator Reynolds went to hospital on Wednesday as a “precautionary measure” after the stress of the past week exacerbated an existing medical condition relating to her heart. She remained in hospital overnight.
READ MORE: Editorial — Kelly does no favours to electorate that backed him
Adeshola Ore8.36am: Dutton: Why I didn’t tell PM about Higgins
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton says he stands by his decision to not tell Scott Morrison about the alleged rape of a former Liberal Party staffer in a ministerial office when he was informed before the story broke in the media.
On Wednesday, Mr Dutton revealed in parliament that he received a briefing by the Australian Federal Police commissioner on February 11, a day before a journalist’s questions were submitted to the Prime Minister’s office about the alleged incident.
“I took a decision at that time that I wasn’t going to inform the Prime Minister because this was an operational matter,” he said.
“I have a special responsibility as the minister for the Australian Federal Police to receive briefings as I do on a regular basis from the commissioner.”
On Wednesday, Brittany Higgins made a formal complaint to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) about her alleged rape in March 2019.
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Adeshola Ore 8.27am: Respect is key in treatment of women in parliament: PM
Scott Morrison says respect for women is the key to changing the treatment of females in federal parliament, as the government faces increasing pressure over its handling of an alleged 2019 rape.
On Wednesday, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton revealed he was told about the alleged incident by the Australian Federal Police commissioner on February 11, a day before questions were submitted to the Prime Minister’s office by a reporter.
“In this place, we deal with so many of the consequences that start with a lack of respect,” The Prime Minister told a breakfast for an International Women’s Day breakfast in Canberra.
“Respect is where changing the culture, whether it be this building, and all of us who work here or outside of this building, where we deal with the many consequences which stem from a lack of respect in the first place.”
“Respect is where you first start”
READ MORE: PM dares Albanese to bring it on
Jess Malcolm8.15am: Victoria goes another day with no local virus cases
Victoria has recorded its sixth day free from community transmission of COVID-19, following 18,282 tests.
Yesterday there were no new cases reported. 18,282 test results were received. Thank you to those who got tested - #EveryTestHelps.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) February 24, 2021
More later: https://t.co/lIUrl0ZEco#COVID19Vic#COVID19VicDatapic.twitter.com/6ntbCucYGI
Case numbers across the state have now dropped to 16, down from 20 yesterday.
Premier Daniel Andrews is expected to address the media today to discuss the relaxation of restrictions on Friday.
READ MORE: Firms revers pandemic pay cuts
Jess Malcolm8.01am: Tech deal benefits to flow to smaller publishers
ACCC Chair Rod Sims has quashed any concern that tech giants Google and Facebook will not make deals with smaller media publishers, saying “these things take time”.
The deals announced so far have mostly covered larger publications, raising concern that smaller media businesses will be left behind.
“I think in any situation like this you expect the deals to the bigger organisations to be done first,” Mr Sims told ABC radio this morning.
“If you’re Google or Facebook, and you’ve done deals with people who employ 80 to 90 per cent of journalists in Australia, it makes sense to do that first.”
“It’s not a lot of money for Google and Facebook, but it will be a hell of a lot for these smaller publications.”
Mr Sims said the media bargaining code — which aims to legislate Google and Facebook to pay for the use of news content on their platforms — will benefit all journalists.
“This is about supporting journalism. That’s the objective here.”
The bill passed in the Senate yesterday, and will go through the House of Representatives today. It is expected to pass through as early as Thursday.
READ MORE: Facebook to ‘spend $US1bn on news’
Jess Malcolm 7.31pm: Doctors need ‘extensive mandatory training’ for jab
Australian Medical Association is calling for proper oversight into training for practitioners administering the COVID-19 vaccine after two aged care residents were given four times the recommended dose of the jab.
On the third day of the nation’s vaccine rollout, an investigation was called into how a Brisbane doctor was able to administer the jab without completing his mandatory training
Vice President Dr Chris Moy says he is “racking (his) brain” over how it could have happened.
“It is very clear that we have to go through quite extensive mandatory training through our regulation agency, which is Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, and have it confirmed with an accreditation certificate at the end of it,” Dr Moy said.
“I think it’s put the warning sign up for everybody that you’ve gotta tick all the boxes on this.”
Dr Moy said that while it is a positive sign the bungle was picked up so quickly, it cannot happen again due to the vaccine’s limited supply.
“This vaccine is extremely precious, and we will have lost probably about six doses of this, and we can’t have that because we don’t have that much and we need to get it out there quickly.”
READ MORE: Get some answers, but vaccine rollout’s in safe hands
Jess Malcolm7.15am:‘Do decent thing, pay up’: Berejiklian lashes Palaszczuk
Gladys Berejiklian has lashed out at her Queensland counterpart for refusing to foot the bill for hotel quarantine, telling Annastacia Palaszczuk to “do the decent thing and pay up”.
In another blow to state relations, NSW has been blindsided by Queensland’s refusal to pay its $30 million quarantine bill for putting thousands of its residents in Sydney hotels despite an agreement reached last year.
At a meeting between state treasurers, it was decided that each state would pay for their own residents, during the period of March and September before it was paid for by the individual.
Yesterday, Queensland said it would backtrack on the deal, according to the Daily Telegraph.
NSW is currently owed $86 million by the other states for taking a large portion of the returning residents from overseas.
“That’s a lame excuse for not paying up what they owe the citizens of NSW,” The NSW Premier said.
“Queensland’s quarantine hub issue is with the federal government, while this is a direct debt they owe to the people of NSW and they need to do the decent thing and pay up.”
Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles said the state was withholding the money until the federal government approved a quarantine hub in Toowoomba.
Despite the outstanding money, The Daily Telegraph is reporting that the NSW government will unveil a multi-billion dollar improvement to the state’s economic forecast today. It has been able to remove $2 billion off its projected deficit, through its ability to avoid lengthy lockdowns.
READ MORE: Politics of vaccine will run and run
Jess Malcolm6.45am: Sweden brings new restrictions on third wave fear
Sweden has imposed fresh virus restrictions amid fears of a potential third wave, threatening freedom would be curbed further if people did not stick to the rules.
Cafes, bars and restaurants will be forced to close by 8.30pm on March 1, and the number of people in shops and gyms will be reduced.
It has also banned the sale of alcohol after 8pm and outlawed gatherings of more than eight people both inside and outside.
A day earlier, Stockholm authorities recommended the use of face masks on public transport at all times, as well as indoors where social distancing cannot be maintained.
Previously, masks had only been recommended on public transport during rush hour.
Sweden has never imposed the type of lockdown seen elsewhere in Europe, and prioritised social distancing over the use of face masks.
READ MORE: CBD under strain as workers return
Jess Malcolm6.35am: FDA set to approve single dose vaccine
A single-dose Covid-19 vaccine is set to receive approval in the US as soon as Friday after proving safe and effective in trials.
The US Food and Drug Administration has found the Johnson & Johnson vaccine highly effective in preventing severe COVID-19, including against newer variants.
The regulator is set to convene an independent panel on Friday that will likely vote to authorise the vaccine, making it the third available in the country hit the hardest by the coronavirus pandemic.
In clinical trials, the vaccine’s efficacy against severe COVID-19 was 85.9 per cent in the US, 81.7 per cent in South Africa and 87.6 per cent in Brazil.
Overall, the efficacy against severe COVID-19 was 85.4 per cent but it fell to 66.1 per cent when including moderate forms of the disease. This was among nearly 40,000 participants across multiple regions and ages.
However its main advantage is that, unlike other vaccines, J&J requires just a single dose, and can be stored at fridge temperature which would help it accelerate and broaden mass vaccination efforts.
“The analysis supported a favorable safety profile with no specific safety concerns identified that would preclude issuance of an EUA (emergency use authorization),” the FDA said.
White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Jeff Zients told reporters that if authorized, the federal government would seek to distribute three to four million doses next week.
A third vaccine is seen as vital to efforts to ramp up the immunisation rate in the United States, where more than 500,000 people have lost their lives to the coronavirus.
READ MORE: Time to redouble vaccine efforts
Jess Malcolm6.20am: New restrictions on NZ travellers
New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland have imposed new restrictions on returning New Zealand travellers amid the growing Auckland outbreak.
There is now limited quarantine-free travel as the Auckland outbreak climbed to eight cases.
NSW has classified Auckland as a COVID-19 hotspot and travellers will now have to quarantine for 14 days. Anyone who returned from New Zealand since Saturday should go and get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.
Victoria has classified Auckland as a “red zone”, and is now also enforcing mandatory hotel quarantine.
Queensland has removed New Zealand’s “safe country” status, requiring all arrivals to go into mandatory quarantine. Anyone who returned from New Zealand since February 6 has been asked to get tested.
New Zealand Response Minister Chris Hipkins has said that authorities are confident that the outbreak is under control, as they ramp up testing and tracing capabilities.
All of New Zealand was moved back to a level one restriction on Tuesday, after a short lockdown was imposed in Auckland.
READ MORE: States seize on vaccine dose bungle
Victoria Laurie6.00am: Anti-vaxxers wage WA election crusade
Anti-vaccination candidates are contesting every seat in the West Australian election in March as activists around the country seize on the COVID-19 immunisation rollout to undermine faith in vaccines.
In WA, a No Mandatory Vaccination party is standing candidates in all 59 parliamentary seats. The party, which has been preferenced last by the major political parties, is led by a self-described “life member of the Liberal Party” and schoolteacher Cam Tinley.
His group participated in a Perth march last weekend as part of national anti-vaxxer rallies also held in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney two days before Australia began to roll out its COVID-19 vaccination program.
The rally campaign was widely promoted on sites such as Perth-based anti-vaxxer Judy Wilyman’s Vaccination Decisions’ Facebook page. Mr Tinley and Ms Wilyman both addressed the rally, but he said the two groups were not linked.
Mr Tinley said his party‘s Facebook access had been curtailed. “I was personally banned from Facebook and I lost 5000 ‘friends’ because they said I was in breach of COVID-19 policies … but we are getting more members now simply by word of mouth.”
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Rosie Lewis 5.30am:Doubts over Reynolds’ return as Defence Minister
Government MPs and industry figures are questioning the future of Linda Reynolds as Defence Minister after she was admitted to hospital following increased pressure over her handling of the alleged rape of former staffer Brittany Higgins in her office.
Scott Morrison is standing by his embattled minister, who went to hospital on Wednesday as a “precautionary measure” after the stress of the past week exacerbated an existing medical condition relating to her heart. She remained in hospital overnight.
While government sources stressed the Prime Minister was not considering a reshuffle and expected Senator Reynolds would be back at work soon, some Coalition MPs said her position was becoming increasingly untenable given the importance and sensitivity of the defence portfolio.
There were no suggestions she should be pushed out but — frustrated and surprised by how she had dealt with the rape allegations in 2019 and the fallout over the past 10 days — they questioned how Senator Reynolds could return to the role as normal.
Dozens of defence industry executives had flown to Canberra for a National Press Club address Senator Reynolds was due to give on Wednesday, but which was cancelled just after 9am following her admission to hospital.
Twice this week Senator Reynolds had to correct statements to the Senate after wrongly claiming she met with the Australian Federal Police about the rape allegations alone and on two occasions. In fact, Senator Reynolds had just one meeting with the police, on April 4, where she was joined briefly by her then chief of staff, Fiona Brown.
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Greg Sheridan 5.15am:Politics of vaccine will run and run
The vaccine fiasco in Brisbane may, paradoxically, show just how safe vaccines are. If you can give four times the specified dose to people in their 80s and 90s and not cause a negative medical reaction in them, it’s pretty safe stuff. But the politics of vaccines is becoming fraught all around the world. Vaccines will dominate politics the way the virus has for the past 12 months.
It is a classically Australian stuff-up that there was not a double, triple, quadruple, super-redundant assurance that everybody involved in administering the initial vaccines had gone through the required training.
Modern life is afflicted with endless compulsory online courses that instruct you on how to tie your shoe laces. But every now and again, as in when you’re administering a new and distinctive lifesaving vaccine to super-vulnerable people, one of them really is essential.
This is particularly unhelpful now because a crazy anti-vax sentiment is running loose in the wild fields of conspiracy madness that takes up so much of the time and energy of the chronically under-occupied. The Queensland incident will become totemic for the instinctive nutters among us, those drawn as though moths to a flame by every kooky bit of conspiracy tomfoolery on offer. In due course we will learn vaccines were invented by the lizard illuminati as part of the Great Reset being inflicted on the sovereign citizen at the behest of the New World Order etc.
The international politics of the vaccine are also increasingly important. Britain’s government led by Boris Johnson is universally thought to have made a mess of the early days of COVID-19. It was too slow to take COVID seriously. It was late to impose meaningful social distancing. And it was extremely reluctant to put in any serious border controls. As a result, it has had a shocking death rate, with more than 120,000 COVID deaths. It is only now instituting a limited form of hotel quarantine, modelled on Australia’s policies, for travellers from high-risk countries.
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