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Version 15 Version 16
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
Sigh.
That brings us to the end of this week’s blog – but not the end of the sitting. The parliament will resume on Monday, when no doubt all of the same issues will be brought up again.
Make sure you stay up to date with the Guardian tomorrow, when we will bring you the next sports grants inquiry hearing, as well as the regional grants inquiry – plus everything else.
A very big thank you to Mike Bowers, Katharine Murphy, Sarah Martin and Paul Karp, as well as everyone else in the Guardian brains trust.
And to you, as always, for following along. It means the world and we couldn’t do it without you. Yes, you. Thank you. Have a wonderful weekend – and take care of you.
The day, as seen by Mike Bowers:The day, as seen by Mike Bowers:
One is not impressed One is not impressed.
“ ““ “
When the courtyard light is a gift to photographersWhen the courtyard light is a gift to photographers
Waiting for a m8Waiting 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.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.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. Fantastic. Great move. Well done.
Anthony Albanese finishes with this on the sports grant affair: Anthony Albanese finishes with this on the sports grants affair:
Is that stimulus more urgent now, Patricia Karvelas asks, than when it was first called for?Is that stimulus more urgent now, Patricia Karvelas asks, than when it was first called for?
Anthony Albanese:Anthony Albanese:
On whether Labor believes the economy needs to be stimulated, Anthony Albanese says:On whether Labor believes the economy needs to be stimulated, Anthony Albanese says:
Anthony Albanese continues: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 18 February.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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: