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| Victorian government loses second minister, Robin Scott, following branch stacking scandal – politics live | |
| (30 days later) | |
| Adem Somyurek sacked and Robin Scott resigns from ministry, as state records 12 new Covid-19 cases. Follow the latest updates live | Adem Somyurek sacked and Robin Scott resigns from ministry, as state records 12 new Covid-19 cases. Follow the latest updates live |
| With that, we’ll be closing the blog for today. Thanks as always, for reading along. Stay safe everyone. | With that, we’ll be closing the blog for today. Thanks as always, for reading along. Stay safe everyone. |
| Here’s what happened today: | Here’s what happened today: |
| A Victorian government minister, Adem Somyurek, was sacked by premier Daniel Andrews after allegations of extensive branch-stacking and sexist and homophobic remarks were revealed by The Age newspaper and 60 Minutes. | A Victorian government minister, Adem Somyurek, was sacked by premier Daniel Andrews after allegations of extensive branch-stacking and sexist and homophobic remarks were revealed by The Age newspaper and 60 Minutes. |
| A second minister, Robin Scott, resigned from the ministry, but will remain an MP as he seeks to “clear his name”. | A second minister, Robin Scott, resigned from the ministry, but will remain an MP as he seeks to “clear his name”. |
| Labor’s national executive are poised to audit the party membership in Victoria or intervene administratively, as they meet this evening. | Labor’s national executive are poised to audit the party membership in Victoria or intervene administratively, as they meet this evening. |
| The Northern Territory chief minister, Michael Gunner, said he could announce as early as Friday whether the NT would re-open its borders, possibly by July 20. | The Northern Territory chief minister, Michael Gunner, said he could announce as early as Friday whether the NT would re-open its borders, possibly by July 20. |
| Victoria recorded 12 new cases of Covid-19. Seven of those people are from one family and are linked back to a GP who tested positive for the virus but had seen patients. | Victoria recorded 12 new cases of Covid-19. Seven of those people are from one family and are linked back to a GP who tested positive for the virus but had seen patients. |
| Scott Morrison said the government can’t “save” every job and will need to be “extremely cautious about expenditure” in a sign that it is expecting to withdraw pandemic economic support. | Scott Morrison said the government can’t “save” every job and will need to be “extremely cautious about expenditure” in a sign that it is expecting to withdraw pandemic economic support. |
| The Australian share market fell 2.19%, the third day of losses in a row. | The Australian share market fell 2.19%, the third day of losses in a row. |
| Labor’s national executive could audit the party membership in Victoria after the allegations of branch-stacking against Victorian MP Adem Somyurek. | 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. | 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: | Katharine Murphy and Daniel Hurst have the story: |
| In sport news, AAP are reporting that coronavirus restrictions for AFL players have been relaxed. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 two | Also, it looks like Nick McKenzie has a part two |