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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
Nathan Cleary, the Penrith Panthers player banned and fined by the NRL for being “untruthful” during the league’s investigation into his social distancing breach, has apologised.
“I’m obviously embarrassed with myself and I’m not happy with what I’ve done,” Cleary told the club’s website. “I just to want to apologise for my actions. My actions were irresponsible, selfish and pretty stupid, to be honest.
“I brought a lot of negative attention to not only myself, but my family, the club, the game as well, and that’s what has hurt me the most.
“To move on from here I need to realise I can’t change what has already happened, even though I wish I could. The reality is I can’t. The one thing I can control are my actions moving forward.”
In a departure from the usual mea culpas from NRL players, Cleary then quoted the American theologian, Tryon Edwards, before adding the experience had been a “massive learning curve”.
“Someone sent me a quote the other day that said, ‘Good actions in the future are the best apologies for bad actions in the past’,” he said. “And that’s what I’ll be taking on board. It’s a massive learning curve for me. I’ve learnt a lot about myself and I never want to go through this again.
“This could be the moment I can kick on, especially as a leader and as a person and become better. That’s the positive I’m taking out of this, if there is any.”
Cleary will miss the Panthers’ first two games once the season gets back underway, and was fined $30,000 by the NRL.
Victoria has announced 17 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, including eight at the Cedar Meats abattoir.
That means there have been 85 cases linked to the meat processing facility.
There is also a new case in a cluster at a McDonald’s in Fawkner, in Melbourne’s north, taking that total number to three; 92 staff have been tested and the restaurant has been closed for cleaning, the health department said.
Two people who were previously classified as positive have also been removed from the overall total.
The state’s chief health officer, Prof Brett Sutton, said this showed the “battle against Covid-19 is far from over”.
“We are asking Victorians to continue this amazing effort and get tested if they have symptoms, because the more tests we do, the more data we have about the prevalence of coronavirus in the community,” he said.
The department also said “the time it takes to complete a test is improving” due to increased capacity, but it still takes between 24 hours and three days.
Fifteen laboratories in the state are analysing swabs.
Michael Sukkar, the assistant treasurer, says it’s possible the treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, is “just a bit run down” having worked very long days.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 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: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.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.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: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: