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Coronavirus Australia update: Victorian government loses second minister, Robin Scott, following branch stacking scandal – politics live Coronavirus Australia update: Victorian government loses second minister, Robin Scott, following branch stacking scandal – politics live
(32 minutes later)
Adem Somyurek sacked and Robin Scott resigns from ministry, as state records 12 new Covid-19 cases. Follow the latest updates liveAdem Somyurek sacked and Robin Scott resigns from ministry, as state records 12 new Covid-19 cases. Follow the latest updates live
Labor’s national executive could audit the party membership in Victoria after the allegations of branch-stacking against Victorian MP Adem Somyurek.
The party’s national executive committee is meeting this evening to discuss how to respond – before a full meeting of the party’s national executive on either Tuesday or Wednesday.
Katharine Murphy and Daniel Hurst have the story:
In sport news, AAP are reporting that coronavirus restrictions for AFL players have been relaxed.
Previously, players were effectively housebound as the competition eased into its restart.
Now, players will be able to play golf and tennis, as well as go fishing and surfing and up to five members of a player’s immediate family will be allowed over.
Last week, four AFL players were fined for breaching the stricter restrictions. Port Adelaide midfielder Ollie Wines was suspended after allowing a television news crew in his home for an interview.
Melbourne’s Charlie Spargo (two games) and Kysaiah Pickett (one), and Essendon defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (one) were also given bans for breaking protocols.
Scott Morrison has said the government can’t “save” every job and will need to be “extremely cautious about expenditure” in a signs that it is expecting to withdraw pandemic economic support.Scott Morrison has said the government can’t “save” every job and will need to be “extremely cautious about expenditure” in a signs that it is expecting to withdraw pandemic economic support.
Paul Karp has the full story:Paul Karp has the full story:
A NSW public health official has said he would have assessed the Ruby Princess cruise ship as medium-risk, rather than low-risk, if he thought of a guideline change.A NSW public health official has said he would have assessed the Ruby Princess cruise ship as medium-risk, rather than low-risk, if he thought of a guideline change.
AAP have this report from today’s hearing:AAP have this report from today’s hearing:
The Australian share market fell today – for the third day in a row, following fears of a second wave infections in the US and China.The Australian share market fell today – for the third day in a row, following fears of a second wave infections in the US and China.
The ASX200 fell 2.19% by the close, to hit a two-week low of 5,719.8 points.The ASX200 fell 2.19% by the close, to hit a two-week low of 5,719.8 points.
CommSec market analyst James Tao told AAP that a rise in cases in Beijing and several US states had soured hopes for a quick global recovery from the pandemic and associated lockdowns.CommSec market analyst James Tao told AAP that a rise in cases in Beijing and several US states had soured hopes for a quick global recovery from the pandemic and associated lockdowns.
“Those particular facts can turn rather quickly, and that’s what we’ve seen in the last couple of days,” he said.“Those particular facts can turn rather quickly, and that’s what we’ve seen in the last couple of days,” he said.
US share price futures are pointing to a 900-point drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average when Wall Street reopens later on Monday night were responsible for the final dive, Tao said.US share price futures are pointing to a 900-point drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average when Wall Street reopens later on Monday night were responsible for the final dive, Tao said.
In an update from one of our stories on the weekend, Josh Taylor has revealed Facebook is blocking and banning users who are posting a Guardian Australia article about Australia’s history of Indigenous slavery.In an update from one of our stories on the weekend, Josh Taylor has revealed Facebook is blocking and banning users who are posting a Guardian Australia article about Australia’s history of Indigenous slavery.
Earlier, we reported that Facebook had been taking down the image – of Aboriginal men in chains in 1896 – because it contained “nudity”.Earlier, we reported that Facebook had been taking down the image – of Aboriginal men in chains in 1896 – because it contained “nudity”.
The post was restored, but the Guardian Australia article about the post was still being blocked, and made unavailable, when posted.The post was restored, but the Guardian Australia article about the post was still being blocked, and made unavailable, when posted.
Now it turns out that some of the people who shared the article were banned from posting on Facebook for up to 30 days.Now it turns out that some of the people who shared the article were banned from posting on Facebook for up to 30 days.
The Northern Territory’s chief minister, Michael Gunner, has indicated he could reopen the Territory’s borders by mid-July.The Northern Territory’s chief minister, Michael Gunner, has indicated he could reopen the Territory’s borders by mid-July.
South Australia and Queensland have already announced they will open their borders on Monday, July 20, while Tasmania will do so in late July.South Australia and Queensland have already announced they will open their borders on Monday, July 20, while Tasmania will do so in late July.
Speaking to Mix FM radio, Gunner said there could be an announcement on this by Friday.Speaking to Mix FM radio, Gunner said there could be an announcement on this by Friday.
“We had those mass gathering movements about a week ago, we will see the full results of that about 10-14 days afterwards and what the medical advice is,” he said.“We had those mass gathering movements about a week ago, we will see the full results of that about 10-14 days afterwards and what the medical advice is,” he said.
“I said I would give 30 days notice, if I was to make a decision at the end of this week to lift borders that puts us on the same timeline as South Australia.“I said I would give 30 days notice, if I was to make a decision at the end of this week to lift borders that puts us on the same timeline as South Australia.
“I wanted to get more information from [SA] Premier Marshall has about how those mass gathering events went. At the moment it is looking good, the rest of Australia is crushing coronavirus.”“I wanted to get more information from [SA] Premier Marshall has about how those mass gathering events went. At the moment it is looking good, the rest of Australia is crushing coronavirus.”
Hi everyone, it’s Naaman Zhou here. Thanks to Amy Remeikis, as always, for her work on the blog.Hi everyone, it’s Naaman Zhou here. Thanks to Amy Remeikis, as always, for her work on the blog.
For those who have been following the Ruby Princess special inquiry, tomorrow you ... won’t be able to.For those who have been following the Ruby Princess special inquiry, tomorrow you ... won’t be able to.
The special commission of inquiry has been livestreaming its hearings for the past week, and the previous hearings in previous months. But reporters have just been told that tomorrow will be a private hearing – and won’t be livestreamed.The special commission of inquiry has been livestreaming its hearings for the past week, and the previous hearings in previous months. But reporters have just been told that tomorrow will be a private hearing – and won’t be livestreamed.
On Wednesday, the inquiry will return to public hearings, and will hear from Dr Vicky Sheppeard of NSW Health.On Wednesday, the inquiry will return to public hearings, and will hear from Dr Vicky Sheppeard of NSW Health.
Parliament is winding down - but don’t despair (or celebrate) there are three days left.Parliament is winding down - but don’t despair (or celebrate) there are three days left.
Party room meetings are tomorrow, so we’ll bring you those highlights, as well as the never ending spark that is Australian democracy.Party room meetings are tomorrow, so we’ll bring you those highlights, as well as the never ending spark that is Australian democracy.
The wonderful Naaman Zhou is going to take you into the evening. Thank you for joining me – and please, take care of you.The wonderful Naaman Zhou is going to take you into the evening. Thank you for joining me – and please, take care of you.
Also, it looks like Nick McKenzie has a part twoAlso, it looks like Nick McKenzie has a part two
AAP has an update on the Queensland border case:
Two challenges against the Queensland government’s constitutional right to keep the state’s borders closed amid the coronavirus crisis are set to return to the High Court.
Billionaire businessman Clive Palmer and a group of businesses and individuals named Travel Essence launched separate legal proceedings after the borders were closed in March.
They are intent on forcing Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to reverse her government’s decision to isolate the state, saying they want to limit the economic damage caused by keeping the borders shut.
The challenges are unlikely to be heard before the borders reopen, however.
On Friday, Chief Justice Susan Kiefel told lawyers for the parties it was unlikely the cases would be heard before the end of June after learning the opposing sides were having difficulty agreeing on the terms of the battle.
It comes as Ms Palaszczuk on Monday said the government would revisit the decision to close the borders at the end of June.
Stage three of the state’s coronavirus recovery roadmap has always planned for interstate travel to be permitted from July 10, conditional on Queensland chief health officer Jeannette Young’s advice.
Currently, school students, workers and freight drivers can enter the state without an issue, but Queensland is closed to anyone else.
Mr Palmer is also challenging the Western Australian government’s right to close its border.
All three cases will return to the Brisbane courtroom for a directions hearing on Tuesday.
After Daniel Andrews said he had been assured that there had been no further cause for concern from other ministers mentioned in the 60 Minutes and The Age story last night, Robin Scott has announced he is resigning from the ministry, but will remain in parliament as a Labor party MP
For those asking, the Victorian chief medical officer, Professor Brett Sutton, said the person who tested positive for Covid, and attended the Black Lives Matter protest last weekend, was unlikely to have picked up the virus at the protest, and had taken social distancing measures, including wearing a mask.
And he also said this:
From Mike Bowers eyeball to your eyeballs
Just another manic Monday
Tell me more, tell me more...
Welcome to the house of fun
It feels like another time.
Via AAP:
A DNA test linked a Queensland woman to a needle found in a strawberry punnet, a court has heard.
Former strawberry farm supervisor My Ut Trinh, 52, was a person of interest early in the investigation into deliberate strawberry contamination in 2018, says Detective Sergeant Gary Perrett.
But officers found there was insufficient evidence to charge Trinh until they received DNA test results linking her to a needle, he told a committal hearing in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday.
Trinh is charged with six counts of contamination of goods to cause economic loss.
She was working at Berrylicious in her hometown of Caboolture, north of Brisbane, between September 2 and 7, 2018, when she allegedly inserted needles into the fruit.
A man found a needle when he bit into a contaminated strawberry on September 9, sparking a national food safety frenzy with strawberries stripped from shelves nationwide.
Det Sgt Perrett said more than 240 copycat incidents were reported after the initial incident.
“It went berserk,” he told the court.
Det Sgt Perrett was asked about leads like a report of a suspicious person seen on a road in a strawberry farm a few days before news about the contamination broke.
He was unable to provide information about any follow-up to that report, but told defence barrister Terry Morgans strawberry farms are open to the public.
“You can walk into these strawberry farms at any time at any place - he may have been stealing strawberries,” Det Sgt Perrett said.
The officer said leads provided to police were followed up and documented by other officers, while he and a colleague focused on the investigation into Trinh.
The hearing was adjourned until July 27 for information about leads provided to police and how they were followed up to be given to the defence team.
Stephen Jones is then asked if he thinks it is deliberate:
Patricia Karvelas asked Julian Leeser what he thought of Amanda Stoker’s comments:
Which doesn’t really answer the question.
PK pulls him up on that, to which Leeser responds:
Rachel Siewert has led a motion calling on the parliament to acknowledge slavery happened in Australia.
(That follows the “there was no slavery in Australia” comment from the prime minister last week, something he raised, then said was meaning about the principles the NSW settlement was made on, but also neglecting that just because something is illegal, doesn’t mean it’s not happening, but hey – maybe that means the statues are finally safe, because it is illegal to deface them too, so obviously, it is not happening, using that logic.)
Anyways. Back to Siewert:
I am pleased that the Senate has supported the Greens motion acknowledging the true history of Australia which despite what the prime minister might say includes slavery, indentured labour and stolen wages.
“The prime minister’s comments last week in regards to slavery were outrageous and I don’t believe he has properly apologised or engaged with the heart of the matter.
“Rather than perpetuating false history of this nation, the Australian government needs to make a concerted effort of truth telling for all Australians, including new Australians.
“It is a national shame that the broader community knows so little about First Nations history, culture and how this country was founded.
“It is time we stopped pretending that meaningful change can happen in a system that is grounded in denial.
“Change is possible when you tell the truth, when you listen deeply and acknowledge and address the impacts that continue today.”
The motion reads:I give notice that on the next day of sitting I shall move – That the Senate – a) Notes that: i. On Thursday June 11th the prime minister Scott Morrison said in a radio interview that “there was no slavery in Australia”. b) Acknowledges that: i. First Nations peoples worked on farms and pastoral stations for rations instead of wages. They were traded amongst settlers, with children being taken from their families and moved across the country to work ii. First Nations peoples wages were stolen iii. First Nations peoples had restrictions placed on them such as restrictions on movement and choice for example people had to apply for permission to travel and what they could purchase and where they could live iv. First Nations peoples were subject to forced labour v. At least 60,000 South Sea islanders were taken to Australia from 1857 to 1908, where they worked largely in cotton, sugar and pastoral industries in a process named blackbirding. vi. There are many other examples of such abuse. c) Calls on the prime minister to withdraw these comments, apologise and engage in a genuine process of truth telling about Australia’s history.
Get used to this
Malarndirri McCarthy asked Mathias Cormann about Amanda Stoker’s Sky after dark (Sad) comments in Senate question time today.
Cormann said he had not seen the comments, but would have a “private conversation” with the senator.
He’s taken on notice whether or not the prime minister was aware of them.