Scott Morrison imposed coronavirus Italy travel ban despite ‘neutral’ advice it wasn’t necessary

Scott Morrison speaks alongside chief medical officer Brendan Murphy, centre, and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Friday. Picture: AAP

The Government imposed bans on travel from Italy despite initial advice from the nation’s chief medical officer that it was unnecessary at the time.

As Scott Morrison faced questions for the confusion over delaying the banning of gatherings of more than 500 people until Monday — based on CMO Brendan Murphy’s advice — The Weekend Australian can reveal the Government went ahead with the travel ban for flights from Italy despite the medical expert’s advice being “neutral” on the need for it.

That ban came into effect on Wednesday, March 11, at 6pm, following a national security committee meeting that morning. It is understood that NSC meeting agreed on the ban after earlier agreeing to put in place extra screening at airports for passengers from Italy based on the medical advice.

On Friday I spoke to Dr Murphy and he revealed the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee on Tuesday, the day Cabinet met, did not encourage the “broadening” of the travel bans to include Italy.

He added on Saturday the AHPPC, which advises the Government on the coronavirus crisis, “did not advise for or against the travel bans” but the Government went ahead with the ban, which he personally supported.

The Government decision “went beyond the AHPPC collective decision which was neutral on the issue”, he told The Weekend Australian.

However, Dr Murphy said on Saturday that he was personally not opposed to that decision made by Government as it was “consistent” with the bans from other countries already in place.

A spokesman for Mr Morrison on Saturday said there were “two separate decisions of NSC” regarding Italy and South Korea travel and said there were no issues between the CMO’s advice and the Government’s decision making.

“The CMO is working closely with the PM and relevant ministers and has their total respect and confidence. Any suggestion to the contrary is false and reckless, particularly during a national health crisis.”

Despite the initial advice that an immediate Italy ban wasn’t necessary, it is understood Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton took a very different view, as did other members of cabinet.

It has since been revealed that Mr Dutton contracted coronavirus on a recent trip to the US and is now in a Queensland hospital.

The PM has relied on Dr Murphy’s advice to ward off criticism about his refusal to immediately institute a ban on mass public gatherings, instead waiting until Monday — on Dr Murphy’s advice — for that ban to take effect. Government MPs have told The Weekend Australian they disagree with that decision.

While the ban on flights from Italy, Iran, China and South Korea remain in place, the government won’t consider extending the ban to flights from the US. Even though more people who have entered Australia from the US have been diagnosed with the coronavirus than was the case with incoming flights from Iran. Actor Tom Hanks and his wife are receiving care in a Gold Coast hospital having been diagnosed with the virus after recently flying into Australia from the US.

The Weekend Australian can also reveal that a number of federal MPs have been tested for the coronavirus, having met the criteria for testing, but all have been cleared. This includes former deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek, who used Twitter to announce on Saturday that she had been tested and cleared.

A quick update from me:

I briefly attended a uni conference about a fortnight ago. I was informed on Thursday that a conference delegate may have had COVID-19.

The medical advice was that I should self-isolate + have a test. That’s exactly what I did. The test was negative.

— Tanya Plibersek (@tanya_plibersek) March 13, 2020

Meanwhile, the government continues to insist that members of cabinet do not need to self-isolate or be tested for the coronavirus, because under the advice of the CMO they did not come into contact with Mr Dutton within 24 hours of him showing symptoms, and therefore are unlikely to have been infected.

This is despite travellers on Mr Dutton’s inbound US flight earlier in the week being told to self-isolate, and despite the World Health Organisation advice that the coronavirus might be infectious for up to 48 hours before symptoms show.

Labor health spokesman Chris Bowen has said that the government should comply with its own advice for Australians that says “if you have been in close contact with a proven case of coronavirus, you must isolate yourself for 14 days from the date of last contact with the confirmed case”.

Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce told The Weekend Australian the Prime Minister should be tested and self isolate: “Of course he should be tested, and of course he should self-isolate. Members of the government need to be model litigants when responding to the threats of this virus.”

Mr Joyce also said that parliament should not return on March 23, instead a virtual parliament should be used, warning of the threats a return of parliament poses to the further spreading of the virus.

“Politicians touch hundreds of hands then jump in a plane and fly to boarding school in Canberra, then after that take what has been picked up in the process, jumps back on a plane and fly to every corner of Australia,” Mr Joyce said.

Mr Joyce said there was the potential that some Coalition MPs might refuse to return to the nation’s capital when parliament resumes, thereby threatening the government’s majority.

Peter van Onselen is political editor for Network 10 and professor of politics and public policy at the University of Western Australia and Griffith University.