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Scott Morrison says 'the risk of a pandemic is very much upon us' – politics live Scott Morrison says 'the risk of a pandemic is very much upon us' – politics live
(32 minutes later)
The prime minister announces Australia’s emergency response plan has been implemented to deal with coronavirus. All the day’s events, liveThe prime minister announces Australia’s emergency response plan has been implemented to deal with coronavirus. All the day’s events, live
The day, as seen by Mike Bowers:
One is not impressed
“ “
When the courtyard light is a gift to photographers
Waiting for a m8
Just once again – we are talking about these sports rorts, because Georgina Downer presented a giant novelty cheque of taxpayer funds with her face on it, to a sports club, when she was merely a candidate for the seat of Mayo.
Whoever came up with that idea has to be in the biggest of dog houses. The inquiry will now go until June. That means it will have dragged on for six months by the time it reports back. Just drip, drip, dripping revelations.
Fantastic. Great Move. Well done.
Anthony Albanese finishes with this on the sports grant affair:
Is that stimulus more urgent now, Patricia Karvelas asks, than when it was first called for?
Anthony Albanese:
On whether Labor believes the economy needs to be stimulated, Anthony Albanese says:
Anthony Albanese continues:
Patricia Karvelas just asked Anthony Albanese about the “playing politics” allegation:Patricia Karvelas just asked Anthony Albanese about the “playing politics” allegation:
Just on the ‘where was Anthony Albanese’ question raised in the press conference there, we are told that the meeting wasn’t confirmed until the last minute.Just on the ‘where was Anthony Albanese’ question raised in the press conference there, we are told that the meeting wasn’t confirmed until the last minute.
Albanese was with the prime minister at the time.Albanese was with the prime minister at the time.
Chris Bowen went to the meeting in his place, as did some of Albanese’s staff, once the briefing was confirmed and received apologies for the late confirmation of the meeting.Chris Bowen went to the meeting in his place, as did some of Albanese’s staff, once the briefing was confirmed and received apologies for the late confirmation of the meeting.
As for the advice the government has released, Labor says that is the same as was released publicly on February 18.As for the advice the government has released, Labor says that is the same as was released publicly on February 18.
Scott Morrison finishes that press conference with this message:Scott Morrison finishes that press conference with this message:
Greg Hunt:Greg Hunt:
Just in terms of briefings with Labor.Just in terms of briefings with Labor.
On the third of February, we briefed the opposition and these will generally involve either the chief medical officer or the deputy chief medical officer and members from my staff.On the third of February, we briefed the opposition and these will generally involve either the chief medical officer or the deputy chief medical officer and members from my staff.
The third of February, Senator Keneally, Senator Wong, Joel Fitzgibbon, Jim Chalmers, on 12 February, the leader of the opposition, between the 12th and the 23rd of February, regular briefings in particular with the shadow health minister’s office.The third of February, Senator Keneally, Senator Wong, Joel Fitzgibbon, Jim Chalmers, on 12 February, the leader of the opposition, between the 12th and the 23rd of February, regular briefings in particular with the shadow health minister’s office.
On the 24th of February, shadow health minister Chris Bowen. And last night, a briefing for the leader of the opposition and Chris Bowen.On the 24th of February, shadow health minister Chris Bowen. And last night, a briefing for the leader of the opposition and Chris Bowen.
I understand that at the last minute the leader of the opposition was unable to attend last night’s briefing at approximately 7.30pm.I understand that at the last minute the leader of the opposition was unable to attend last night’s briefing at approximately 7.30pm.
His office was present. Chris Bowen was there.His office was present. Chris Bowen was there.
I’ll leave it to the leader of the opposition, I believe approximately 7.30 last night. And we will continue to provide those briefings.I’ll leave it to the leader of the opposition, I believe approximately 7.30 last night. And we will continue to provide those briefings.
It is appropriate for the national security committee to meet today. It would have been ideal if it had been able to meet uninterrupted because they were notified that we were meeting for this very purpose. But we’ll continue to provide those briefings and they’ll have to explain that.It is appropriate for the national security committee to meet today. It would have been ideal if it had been able to meet uninterrupted because they were notified that we were meeting for this very purpose. But we’ll continue to provide those briefings and they’ll have to explain that.
Scott Morrison:Scott Morrison:
Can I thank Zali Steggall and Rebekha Sharkie who agreed to support the government on any procedural motions that they may have been engaged in this afternoon and enable us, the minister for health and I, to undertake the press conference.Can I thank Zali Steggall and Rebekha Sharkie who agreed to support the government on any procedural motions that they may have been engaged in this afternoon and enable us, the minister for health and I, to undertake the press conference.
Q: Mr Albanese suggested you’re acting politically and without decency by not briefing the opposition before you made this announcement. How do you react to that?Q: Mr Albanese suggested you’re acting politically and without decency by not briefing the opposition before you made this announcement. How do you react to that?
Scott Morrison:Scott Morrison:
On the question of what the economic boost Scott Morrison was talking about actually means, the prime minister says:On the question of what the economic boost Scott Morrison was talking about actually means, the prime minister says:
Health ministers will gather tomorrow to discuss the response, now that the emergency plan is being put into action.
Sabra Lane, from the ABC’s AM program, did a very good interview this morning about what a pandemic declaration would mean.
You can find that here.
She asked professor Alexandra Phelan what it would mean if Australia enacted its emergency plan (as is happening here).
The travel ban to China will continue for another week.
There is a significant change of language here with Scott Morrison when it comes to boosting the economy. From almost ruling it out, to considering it if it was “targeted, modest and scalable”:
Scott Morrison:
If you do go out for a Chinese meal (and I encourage you to do so, if you can, because it is delicious and also, because these small businesses really, really need our help right now) I hope it is succulent.
Scott Morrison has implemented Australia’s emergency response plan to deal with coronavirus.
He says while the World Health Organization hasn’t yet declared it a pandemic, he believes it is upon us, and it is time to enact the plan.
Scott Morrison is giving an update on Covid-19.
It is now spreading faster outside of China, for the first time.
While I am still wearing my ranty pants about the wellbeing budget mocking that Josh Frydenberg has engaged in ALL week, Jacinda Ardern is visiting Australia this week, and New Zealand DOES have a wellbeing budget, as part of its annual budget statement. So we are now also mocking one of our closest allies.
Get. In. The. Bin.
Friday is shaping up as a very busy day.
The prime minister is holding a press conference at 3.45pm in the PMO courtyard, the most serious of press conference locations.