This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2020/jun/15/coronavirus-australia-update-andrews-to-address-explosive-allegations-of-branch-stacking-by-victorian-mp-politics-live

The article has changed 24 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Daniel Andrews sacks Adem Somyurek for 'deplorable' conduct and comments – politics live Daniel Andrews sacks Adem Somyurek for 'deplorable' conduct and comments – politics live
(32 minutes later)
Victoria’s premier says minister accused of branch stacking was not given an opportunity to resign. Follow the latest updates liveVictoria’s premier says minister accused of branch stacking was not given an opportunity to resign. Follow the latest updates live
Asked about the future of the memberships Adem Somyurek was involved in, Anthony Albanese says:
Anthony Albanese:
Anthony Albanese then confirms Murph’s report:
The federal Labor leader is now addressing the 60 Minutes/The Age story:
Ben Morton has put out the official statement on the deregulation plan he is in charge of (and of course it comes with a name):
Modernising business communications
Commonwealth and state laws have not kept pace with the way Australians engage with digital communications and add compliance costs, for example, by mandating that businesses use certain methods of communicating or storing information – preventing them from using electronic delivery or adopting new technologies such as blockchain applications.
The Electronic Transactions Act 1999 (ETA) facilitates commerce by removing impediments to using electronic communications to satisfy legal obligations but, in the 20 years since its introduction, digital communication has proliferated while the number of exemptions, currently 147, has hardly changed. State and territory jurisdictions have similar ETAs, also with numerous exemptions.
The taskforce will also examine other legislation which can be made technology neutral.
In order to reduce business costs and better reflect the way Australians want to engage and communicate, the deregulation taskforce will work with business and consumers to identify and address these issues and, with state and territory governments, to explore complementary reforms.
Improving occupational mobility
Occupational licensing and registration requirements often vary across states and territories, which increases costs on business and workers who operate or move across Australia.
Twenty per cent of workers in the economy are required to be licensed or registered, while there are in excess of 800 licenses in manual trades across states and territories.
The deregulation taskforce’s work area is aimed at cutting red tape by exploring greater mutual recognition of qualifications and improved information flows between jurisdictions.
State and territory treasurers have written to the commonwealth asking that the deregulation taskforce consider potential reforms to Australia’s mechanism for the mutual recognition of occupational licences.
The government is seeking to partner with state and territory governments to progress this work.
This will let business access skilled workers more quickly and provide more opportunities for people such as builders, trades workers and architects and engineers. It will also facilitate labour movement across borders in response to disasters, such as bushfires.
The work of the deregulation taskforce continues the Australian government’s commitment to reducing red tape, to make it easier for businesses to invest and create jobs. Further information is available on the deregulation taskforce webpage.
Anthony Albanese will hold a doorstop of his own at 11.45am.
The mess in Victoria with the ALP is of course reverberating in Canberra this morning.
The ALP national executive is expected to hold a phone hook-up at lunchtime to consider Adem Somyurek’s membership of the party and have a preliminary conversation about next steps.
This could be complicated by the fact that Somyurek is, in fact, on the national executive. He’s not expected to show up.
Gabrielle Williams has also responded:
On Friday the commonwealth attorney general, Christian Porter, lodged notices to intervene in three high court cases challenging the Queensland and Western Australian governments’ bans on interstate travel.On Friday the commonwealth attorney general, Christian Porter, lodged notices to intervene in three high court cases challenging the Queensland and Western Australian governments’ bans on interstate travel.
The cases are brought by Clive Palmer, his company Mineralogy, and a group of Queensland tourism operators backed by One Nation.The cases are brought by Clive Palmer, his company Mineralogy, and a group of Queensland tourism operators backed by One Nation.
Porter said:Porter said:
The notices of intervention are very short and sharp documents that don’t explain much about which points the commonwealth will argue, but it sounds as though it’s the section 92 point (“trade, commerce and intercourse among the states ... shall be absolutely free”) that’s the focus.The notices of intervention are very short and sharp documents that don’t explain much about which points the commonwealth will argue, but it sounds as though it’s the section 92 point (“trade, commerce and intercourse among the states ... shall be absolutely free”) that’s the focus.
And on what has suddenly become the biggest issue in this country, despite it just starting as a talking point, and not included in any Black Lives Matters advocates calls (that I can see), Daniel Andrews says:And on what has suddenly become the biggest issue in this country, despite it just starting as a talking point, and not included in any Black Lives Matters advocates calls (that I can see), Daniel Andrews says:
Meanwhile, AAP has an update on Victoria’s coronavirus position:
A Victorian school has been shut after two students tested positive for coronavirus.
Pakenham Springs primary school will be closed from Monday after two students from the same family were diagnosed.
The shutdown will last at least one day while cleaning and contact tracing are carried out.
Investigations are under way to identify whether any staff or students must self-isolate, the education department said.
“We wish the students a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming them back to school once they’ve recovered,” a department spokeswoman said in a statement.
Meanwhile, restrictions in Victoria will wind back again in a week with cinemas and theatres to reopen among the changes.
Cafes, restaurants and pubs will be able to increase their capacity from 20 to 50 patrons from 11.59pm on Sunday.
Patrons will be able to order a drink without buying a meal, but they will need to be served at a table, rather than the bar.
Non-contact sport will return for all age groups from next Monday, as will skiing, with the season to start from that date.
The announcement to ease restrictions came as the state recorded nine new coronavirus cases on Sunday.
Daniel Andrews says the member for Essendon, Danny Pearson, will be the new minister for local government and small business.
Daniel Andrews:
On Adem Somyurek’s statement, which said he resigned, Andrews says:
Q: How concerned were you that it is happening and you had no idea?
Daniel Andrews:
In terms of the investigation, Daniel Andrews says:
On whether he thinks it was a mistake to bring Adem Somyurek back into the cabinet after the first time he was sacked as a minister, Daniel Andrews says:
In terms of the involvement of others in the allegations raised against Adem Somyurek, Daniel Andrews says he has been assured no one acted inappropriately.
He says he expects everyone to cooperate with the police and Ibac investigations.
Asked if he has ever branched stacked himself, Daniel Andrews says:
Here is the official statement from Daniel Andrews:
In terms of the allegations of branch stacking in the Labor party, Daniel Andrews says: