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Coronavirus Australia live update: Marise Payne not consulted before George Christensen moved to 'summons' Chinese ambassador – latest news Coronavirus Australia live update: Marise Payne not consulted before George Christensen moved to 'summons' Chinese ambassador – latest news
(32 minutes later)
Treasurer says in statement in lieu of the federal budget: ‘There is no money tree. What we borrow today we must repay in the future.’ Follow the latest news liveTreasurer says in statement in lieu of the federal budget: ‘There is no money tree. What we borrow today we must repay in the future.’ Follow the latest news live
Michael Sukkar, the assistant treasurer, says it’s possible the treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, is “just a bit run down” having worked very long days.
Sukkar was asked during an interview with Sky News about the fact Frydenberg has been tested for Covid-19 after having coughing fit during the economic speech.
Sukkar said:
A coalition of Aboriginal peak organisations has told the government it should not use the coronavirus pandemic as an excuse to delay the new closing the gap targets.
The Coalition of Peaks, who represent more than 50 bodies, is due to meet with the government in June.
My colleague Lorena Allam has the full story:
Hi everyone, and thanks to Amy Remeikis for piloting the blog today. I’ll be with you for the rest of the evening.Hi everyone, and thanks to Amy Remeikis for piloting the blog today. I’ll be with you for the rest of the evening.
The education minister, Dan Tehan, has told the ABC that more than 750 private schools have applied for a scheme that links their funding to reopening early.The education minister, Dan Tehan, has told the ABC that more than 750 private schools have applied for a scheme that links their funding to reopening early.
According to AAP, the scheme offers private schools early access to one-eighth of their money – a total of almost $1.7bn – if they plan to fully reopen classrooms by 1 June.According to AAP, the scheme offers private schools early access to one-eighth of their money – a total of almost $1.7bn – if they plan to fully reopen classrooms by 1 June.
“We have had over 750 who have said that they would like to have their payments brought forward,” he said. “We will continue to work with [the states] to ensure that we are doing everything we can to enable all students to deal with what they might have missed out on with regards to their education.”“We have had over 750 who have said that they would like to have their payments brought forward,” he said. “We will continue to work with [the states] to ensure that we are doing everything we can to enable all students to deal with what they might have missed out on with regards to their education.”
And on that note, I will hand you over to Naaman Zhou for the next part of the blog’s day.And on that note, I will hand you over to Naaman Zhou for the next part of the blog’s day.
I’ll be back early tomorrow morning for more parliament and Covid coverage. Thank you for joining Mike Bowers, Katharine Murphy, Daniel Hurst and Paul Karp for today. Take care of you. And if you have to, cough into your elbow.I’ll be back early tomorrow morning for more parliament and Covid coverage. Thank you for joining Mike Bowers, Katharine Murphy, Daniel Hurst and Paul Karp for today. Take care of you. And if you have to, cough into your elbow.
The foreign affairs minister, Marise Payne, says she was not consulted before the Coalition backbencher George Christensen publicised his attempt to summons the Chinese ambassador to face questions before a parliamentary committee.The foreign affairs minister, Marise Payne, says she was not consulted before the Coalition backbencher George Christensen publicised his attempt to summons the Chinese ambassador to face questions before a parliamentary committee.
But she defended Christensen’s right to speak out, saying Australia’s democracy welcomed members of parliament “having a voice” on a range of issues.But she defended Christensen’s right to speak out, saying Australia’s democracy welcomed members of parliament “having a voice” on a range of issues.
Over the weekend, Christensen told the Sunday Mail newspaper he would try to summons the Chinese ambassador to answer questions before the trade-related committee he chairs – a move bound to fail because of diplomatic immunity. He also moved to set up a website proclaiming his “China inquiry” and that Australia must stand up “against threats from communist China”.Over the weekend, Christensen told the Sunday Mail newspaper he would try to summons the Chinese ambassador to answer questions before the trade-related committee he chairs – a move bound to fail because of diplomatic immunity. He also moved to set up a website proclaiming his “China inquiry” and that Australia must stand up “against threats from communist China”.
It comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions between China and Australia stemming from the Morrison government’s call for an international investigation into the origins and handling of Covid-19. In the past few days China has revealed plans to impose tariffs on Australian barley imports and suspend the supply of beef from four Australian abattoirs.It comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions between China and Australia stemming from the Morrison government’s call for an international investigation into the origins and handling of Covid-19. In the past few days China has revealed plans to impose tariffs on Australian barley imports and suspend the supply of beef from four Australian abattoirs.
In Senate question time, Payne said the Christensen-led inquiry into diversifying Australia’s export markets began in February, but it was one of “countless inquiries undertaken across the parliament”.In Senate question time, Payne said the Christensen-led inquiry into diversifying Australia’s export markets began in February, but it was one of “countless inquiries undertaken across the parliament”.
“I certainly don’t expect that every chair will consult with every minister in that process, and Mr Christensen did not raise the particular inquiry with me,” Payne said.“I certainly don’t expect that every chair will consult with every minister in that process, and Mr Christensen did not raise the particular inquiry with me,” Payne said.
Labor’s Senate leader, Penny Wong, asked the minister whether she believed it was in the national interest “for a backbench LNP member to be so prominent in the management of Australia’s largest trading relationship” and whether Payne endorsed Christensen’s actions.Labor’s Senate leader, Penny Wong, asked the minister whether she believed it was in the national interest “for a backbench LNP member to be so prominent in the management of Australia’s largest trading relationship” and whether Payne endorsed Christensen’s actions.
Payne replied that Australia’s democratic system of government “allows, respects, indeed welcomes members of parliament having a voice on issues across the nation, issues in Australia’s national interest”.Payne replied that Australia’s democratic system of government “allows, respects, indeed welcomes members of parliament having a voice on issues across the nation, issues in Australia’s national interest”.
“I understand the issues that prompt senator Wong to ask that question but for my part I am very strongly attached to Australia’s democratic processes and I will continue to be so.”“I understand the issues that prompt senator Wong to ask that question but for my part I am very strongly attached to Australia’s democratic processes and I will continue to be so.”
Or you could word this as the NRL having major issues with its draw – caused by NRL anti-vaxxers’ firm stance to not get the flu vaccination as required to restart competition:Or you could word this as the NRL having major issues with its draw – caused by NRL anti-vaxxers’ firm stance to not get the flu vaccination as required to restart competition:
In case you missed the cough heard around Canberra:In case you missed the cough heard around Canberra:
Dan Tehan is speaking to Patricia Karvelas on the ABC’s Afternoon Briefing.
He is asked if he is confident there won’t be a mass repeating of the school year:
Josh Frydenberg is also supposed to be on the ABC’s 7.30 tonight.
Not sure whether or not it was pre-recorded.
A new chapter in the sports grants saga:
The health department was concerned Bridget McKenzie could make decisions on sports grants in the caretaker period, and officials recorded any decision taken after the election was called would require consultation with Labor.
The former sport minister did overshoot on the timing of the grants. In all, $2.7m was added to the $100m cost of the sports grants program during a flurry of late changes to project lists passed between McKenzie and Scott Morrison’s offices after the governor general dissolved parliament on 11 April 2019 – and Labor wasn’t consulted.
The concern of departmental officials is noted in evidence by the Australian National Audit Office to the Senate inquiry, which reveals new details of 11 late changes made after the starter’s gun was fired on the 2019 election.
The ANAO evidence notes in the preceding months McKenzie visited four of the clubs whose projects were funded on 11 April, including one visit for the purpose of discussing the “proposed funding announcement” of a “community sporting infrastructure [grant]”.
The ANAO identified 11 changes made between the version sent to the prime minister’s office at 8.47am on 11 April 2019 and the one sent at 12.35pm, with a total net increase of $2,767,071 in grant funding.
The ANAO noted that four of the late changes occurred in projects put forward by clubs McKenzie had visited in preceding months.
This statement has just been sent out by the Treasurer:
Question time, as seen by Mike Bowers this morning:
The industrial relations minister, Christian Porter, has signalled that he is open to Pauline Hanson’s idea that emergency changes to workplace pay deals should be limited to 12 months’ operation.
Labor and the Greens are trying to disallow rules that allow employers to give just 24 hours’ notice to seek changes to work conditions and pay, down from a week.
Of particular concern is that changes can be baked into agreements for up to three years.
Hanson at first suggested she wouldn’t support the move, but then suggested she may change her mind unless the government agrees that changes to workers’ pay and conditions should not last longer than 12 months.
Porter told Guardian Australia:”That seems a reasonable request and I will discuss with senator Hanson and other crossbench senators over the next 24 hours or so.”
The government is looking to change the NDIS rules so it can’t be used to fund sex work.
There have been 18 new cases of Covid-19 diagnosed in the past 24 hours across Australia.
Further to the post on the federal court decision to allow NDIS funding to pay for sex workers, is this story from Luke Henriques-Gomes:
The crossbench has come together to ask the Senate select committee looking at the Covid response to include the impact on communities which were hit by the bushfires: