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Coronavirus live update Australia: Victoria records 116 new cases and 15 deaths as NSW reports three new cases Coronavirus live update Australia: Victoria records 116 new cases and 15 deaths as NSW reports three new cases
(32 minutes later)
Brisbane watches hotspots after youth detention centre outbreak, Victoria’s hotel inquiry continues and politicians gather in Canberra for the first time in 10 weeks. Follow today’s latest updatesBrisbane watches hotspots after youth detention centre outbreak, Victoria’s hotel inquiry continues and politicians gather in Canberra for the first time in 10 weeks. Follow today’s latest updates
Kristy McBain is also about to be sworn into the House.
Question time is going to be a bit later than usual today - there will be some speeches on what is happening in Victoria (and what has happened since June) before the questions begin
Sky News is reporting John Howard has “gone to hospital” but the former prime minister has told the network he is “fine”.
It is the downhill slide to question time.
The first since June.
Childcare is another issue bubbling along under the surface.
And Tasmanians are the most proficient hand washers
This is going to be a tough week for many for so many reasons.
David Littleproud has been doing media on this since Friday, but the Victorian Nationals have decided to take matters into their own hands:David Littleproud has been doing media on this since Friday, but the Victorian Nationals have decided to take matters into their own hands:
A nationally consistent approach to border closures and quarantine processes is vital in allowing regional and rural communities to function, as we continue to navigate our way through the Covid-19 pandemic.A nationally consistent approach to border closures and quarantine processes is vital in allowing regional and rural communities to function, as we continue to navigate our way through the Covid-19 pandemic.
The call comes on the back of an announcement by the Queensland government that will see exemptions for farmers and agriculture workers to cross the NSW/Queensland border.The call comes on the back of an announcement by the Queensland government that will see exemptions for farmers and agriculture workers to cross the NSW/Queensland border.
Leader of The Nationals in the Senate Bridget McKenzie, NSW Senator Perin Davey, Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster and Member for Nicholls Damian Drum are calling on the NSW and Victorian governments to urgently replicate the move.Leader of The Nationals in the Senate Bridget McKenzie, NSW Senator Perin Davey, Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster and Member for Nicholls Damian Drum are calling on the NSW and Victorian governments to urgently replicate the move.
Senator McKenzie said if Queensland can introduce an exemption system, other states should be able to do the same.Senator McKenzie said if Queensland can introduce an exemption system, other states should be able to do the same.
Senator Davey said with Victoria’s daily infection numbers easing, there is no reason for border communities to not be given exemptions to cross the border.Senator Davey said with Victoria’s daily infection numbers easing, there is no reason for border communities to not be given exemptions to cross the border.
Federal Member for Nicholls Damian Drum has called for critical workers to undergo Covid-19 tests so they can go about their daily work.Federal Member for Nicholls Damian Drum has called for critical workers to undergo Covid-19 tests so they can go about their daily work.
Federal Member for Mallee, Anne Webster has called for national codes for Agriculture, Health and Education to be implemented without delay.Federal Member for Mallee, Anne Webster has called for national codes for Agriculture, Health and Education to be implemented without delay.
Labor is still calling for aged care minister, Richard Colbeck, to be sacked.Labor is still calling for aged care minister, Richard Colbeck, to be sacked.
A hearing of the faunal extinctions committee has had to be postponed after the Liberal senator David Fawcett was a no show.A hearing of the faunal extinctions committee has had to be postponed after the Liberal senator David Fawcett was a no show.
Senators were due to grill department officials about the Australian National Audit Office’s scathing review of the government and bureaucracy’s administration of Australia’s national environmental laws.Senators were due to grill department officials about the Australian National Audit Office’s scathing review of the government and bureaucracy’s administration of Australia’s national environmental laws.
That review, published in June, found the government had failed in its duty to protect the environment, the department had been ineffective in managing risks to the environment, that its management of assessments and approvals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act was not effective, and that the department had failed to properly manage potential conflicts of interest in its work.That review, published in June, found the government had failed in its duty to protect the environment, the department had been ineffective in managing risks to the environment, that its management of assessments and approvals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act was not effective, and that the department had failed to properly manage potential conflicts of interest in its work.
This was also the report that found a correlation between cuts to funding and staffing and a slow down in decision-making timeframes, as previously highlighted by Guardian Australia.This was also the report that found a correlation between cuts to funding and staffing and a slow down in decision-making timeframes, as previously highlighted by Guardian Australia.
The committee’s chair, the Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, said she was concerned today’s hearing had not gone ahead and senators had not had the opportunity to ask officials questions, given the report’s findings.The committee’s chair, the Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, said she was concerned today’s hearing had not gone ahead and senators had not had the opportunity to ask officials questions, given the report’s findings.
Hanson-Young also asked after the whereabouts of legislation the government said it would introduce this week as part of its plan to devolve environmental approval powers to state and territory governments.Hanson-Young also asked after the whereabouts of legislation the government said it would introduce this week as part of its plan to devolve environmental approval powers to state and territory governments.
Fawcett’s office would not comment on why the senator missed the hearing.Fawcett’s office would not comment on why the senator missed the hearing.
And from the member herself:And from the member herself:
The Conservative Political Action Conference has booked a new speaker.
Here is their announcement:
Cousens included this quote: “A lot has changed since 2018. The culture war has escalated from the classroom, to the internet, to politics, and the media, and most worryingly, to the streets.”
I mean there is also a global pandemic, but yes, it is very hard to concentrate on that when you are so busy inventing culture wars to trip over on every corner.
Queensland has declared several areas of greater Brisbane as restricted areas, and urged residents if they show any symptoms to get a Covid test after an outbreak of Covid.
So Terri Butler is following the advice.
There were no travel restrictions in place – Queensland MPs have to isolate for two weeks on their return.
Terri Butler has left parliament to get a Covid test, my spies tell me.
We hope she is OK.
AAP has an update on tracing back Covid conspiracies:
Virtual parliament has so far gone off without a hitch.
Malcolm Roberts has been spotted on a screen – which means that no, he is not in Canberra. No sighting of Pauline Hanson either.
The ACT has reported no new cases of Covid in the last 24 hours.
Labor’s Julie Collins has responded to the Newmarch House report released by Richard Colbeck (which Dan has updated you on just below):
Deputy chief medical officer, Dr Nick Coatsworth, will give a national Covid update at 3.30pm.
There have been seven new cases of Covid recorded in the NDIS – all participants and all in Victoria.
A review has found a lack of clarity about the roles and hierarchy of government agencies in responding to the coronavirus outbreak at Sydney’s Newmarch House “added confusion to the burden of an already stressed situation”.
The report, released by the federal government today, also noted that the first stages of the response to Covid-19 infections were “characterised by turmoil and upheaval”.
As the opposition prepares to use parliamentary question time today to challenge the federal government over its handling of the Covid-19 risk in aged care facilities, the report shines a light of the challenging situation experienced in Newmarch House, where 37 residents and 34 staff members tested positive. Nineteen residents passed away, 17 of them directly attributed to Covid-19, the report said.
Given political pressure has been building on the federal government over aged care outbreaks, there will be intense focus on what the report has to say about governance arrangements.
The report says daily teleconferences that began on 15 April to share information and monitor the course of the outbreak at Newmarch House included representatives of the national Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, the federal department of health, Nepean Blue Mountains public health unit, NSW State Health Operations Centre, Nepean Hospital specialists and Anglicare.
The very first teleconference began with disagreements about relocating Covid-19 infected residents to another facility, and on occasions “there were open and frank disagreements with varying opinions on how to proceed” which “added to rising tensions”.
Anglicare managers reported “frustration about conflicting advice from different agencies and the lack of clarity about the hierarchy of authority”, says the report, written by Professor Lyn Gilbert and Adjunct Professor Alan Lilly.