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Coronavirus Australia live updates: PM speaks on national cabinet as ASIC chair and deputy stand aside after annual report audit Coronavirus Australia live updates: PM speaks on national cabinet as ASIC chair and deputy stand aside after annual report audit
(32 minutes later)
Today’s meeting between federal, state and territory leaders will focus on removing social and border restrictions to jumpstart the economy. Follow liveToday’s meeting between federal, state and territory leaders will focus on removing social and border restrictions to jumpstart the economy. Follow live
Morrison says there are around 2,800 vulnerable Australians still overseas, but 161 have now landed in Darwin for their two-week quarantine in the Howard Springs facility. More from Senate estimates, via AAP:
A senior official engaged in negotiations over the Aboriginal flag has described talks with the artist as complex and delicate.
The National Indigenous Australians Agency is locked in discussions with Harold Thomas and the flag’s licensees.
NIAA chief executive Ray Griggs acknowledged use of the Aboriginal flag remains a divisive issue and has pledged to resolve the negotiations in a timely, fair and reasonable way.
“These discussions are complex and delicate, and based on goodwill and trust,” he told a Senate estimates hearing in Canberra on Friday.
“Mr Thomas has asked for these discussions to remain confidential at this point and NIAA intends to respect this.”
The government is negotiating to potentially buy the commercial rights from Thomas and the flag’s non-Indigenous licensees, in a move that would allow the design to be freely used.
A parliamentary inquiry has recommended the government establish an independent body with custodial oversight of its use, if the artist is willing to part with its copyright.
Re a chartered flight from Laos with 41 vulnerable Australians that was cancelled because it was not allowed to land in Cairns, Morrison said that was a matter for the Queensland government.
Let’s summarise what Morrison announced out of national cabinet:
New reopening plan
Federal hotel quarantine review to be released today
COAG review to be released today
Recommendations of both have been adopted by national cabinet
National cabinet to keep exploring alternatives to hotel quarantine including quarantine for international students on campus, and mining workers at mining camps
Morrison aims to get 26,000 Australians stuck overseas back to Australia by Christmas, but depends on Victoria reopening
All states and territories bar WA have committed to reopening by Christmas.
Still 2,800 vulnerable Australians overseas
Just over 200 active cases of Covid-19 in Australia, and no one in the ICU
Morrison open to broader review of executive bonuses paid at government-owned businesses.
That’s the end of the press conference. It’s a bit delayed on ABC because of the US presidential debate. I will pass on the new roadmap when PMO provides it to us.
Morrison is asked if he is equally outraged about the ASIC chair standing aside amid the findings that he was overpaid as he was about Australia Post’s Cartier watches scandal.
Morrison said Shipton has stood aside.
He’s then asked whether he was engaging in the politics of envy around the watches scandal. Morrison said he does not agree.
“I don’t think what we learned yesterday would have passed any test with the Australian public when it comes to a company that is owned by the government,” he said.
Morrison said he’s open to a wider review of public servant executive bonuses, but thinks there wouldn’t be a board member or CEO of a government agency that didn’t get his message yesterday.
“I think they got it with a rocket.”
Prof Paul Kelly is asked about the commonwealth’s responsibility in aged care and the Covid-19 deaths in aged care.
Kelly says the government is “taking on board” the royal commission’s findings and will report in early December.
Morrison says he can’t put a timeline on when the international borders will reopen, and the airlines understand that.
“I think what is important is what we are signalling to the community ... We are already moving forward to try and solve these problems, so we are being proactive about it,” he says.
He says at this point in the pandemic with the cases coming under control, national cabinet not needing to have “phone books of announcements” every second day now means they have more time to plan when they meet.
Morrison says Victoria opening up in the next few weeks would allow for more returning Australians to quarantine in Victoria, and he said it would clear the backlog of more than 26,000 Australians wanting to get home before Christmas.
How long until people can return without being in hotel quarantine but in other quarantine arrangements such as at home? Morrison says it’s part of the review that is being conducted.
“There is no undue haste here. There are risks here ... We want to know what the options are. We want to know if they are safe.”
Morrison says the federal government is keen to see restrictions ease in Victoria this weekend.
He says the key to opening up is ensuring the public health system can cope with outbreaks, and all states and territories bar Western Australia had committed to opening the borders up before Christmas.
Morrison says there are about 2,800 vulnerable Australians still overseas, but 161 have landed in Darwin for their two-week quarantine at the Howard Springs facility.
Chief medical officer Prof Paul Kelly says there are just over 200 active Covid-19 cases in Australia, only 19 in hospital and nobody in intensive care. He said 80% of the cases are overseas-acquired.Chief medical officer Prof Paul Kelly says there are just over 200 active Covid-19 cases in Australia, only 19 in hospital and nobody in intensive care. He said 80% of the cases are overseas-acquired.
“We’re doing extraordinarily well, continuing to do testing whether it’s required and particularly in those geographic areas where cases have been found, or wastewater or sewage testing has shown that there may be cases,” he said.“We’re doing extraordinarily well, continuing to do testing whether it’s required and particularly in those geographic areas where cases have been found, or wastewater or sewage testing has shown that there may be cases,” he said.
Morrison says the recommendations out of the Peter Conran review of the Coag process been adopted by national cabinet and the report will be released later today.Morrison says the recommendations out of the Peter Conran review of the Coag process been adopted by national cabinet and the report will be released later today.
Morrison says it “basically streamlines further” the commonwealth and states relations process.Morrison says it “basically streamlines further” the commonwealth and states relations process.
He said the national federation reform council will meet in December in its new format, and will discuss women’s safety on top of the existing topics.He said the national federation reform council will meet in December in its new format, and will discuss women’s safety on top of the existing topics.
Caps on returning Australians will increase next month, Morrison announces. There will be an additional 140 next month in WA and another 150 in Queensland.Caps on returning Australians will increase next month, Morrison announces. There will be an additional 140 next month in WA and another 150 in Queensland.
All jurisdictions have agreed to flexibility on caps on returned travellers to accommodate the most vulnerable.All jurisdictions have agreed to flexibility on caps on returned travellers to accommodate the most vulnerable.
He says the national cabinet is also looking at other quarantining measures, including quarantining on farms, for those coming for mining in camps, or on campus for international students.He says the national cabinet is also looking at other quarantining measures, including quarantining on farms, for those coming for mining in camps, or on campus for international students.
Morrison announces a new reopening plan for the economy nationally.Morrison announces a new reopening plan for the economy nationally.
He says the recommendations of the hotel quarantine review conducted by Jane Halton were agreed to by national cabinet and the report will be released later this afternoon.He says the recommendations of the hotel quarantine review conducted by Jane Halton were agreed to by national cabinet and the report will be released later this afternoon.
The prime minister, Scott Morrison, is holding a press conference after today’s national cabinet meeting.The prime minister, Scott Morrison, is holding a press conference after today’s national cabinet meeting.
Morrison first pays tribute to former Labor minister for women Susan Ryan after her state funeral earlier today.Morrison first pays tribute to former Labor minister for women Susan Ryan after her state funeral earlier today.
“A remarkable and wonderful Australian, and we thank her for her service.”“A remarkable and wonderful Australian, and we thank her for her service.”
Qantas has suffered a $100m hit to its first quarter earnings after several states closed their borders in July in response to Victoria’s coronavirus outbreak, AAP reports.Qantas has suffered a $100m hit to its first quarter earnings after several states closed their borders in July in response to Victoria’s coronavirus outbreak, AAP reports.
Chief executive Alan Joyce said on Friday the states’ decisions had delayed Qantas’ recovery.Chief executive Alan Joyce said on Friday the states’ decisions had delayed Qantas’ recovery.
He had expected domestic services to be operating at 60% of pre-Covid levels.He had expected domestic services to be operating at 60% of pre-Covid levels.
Yet the border closures, which include Queensland and Western Australia, mean domestic services are operating below 30% of previous levels.Yet the border closures, which include Queensland and Western Australia, mean domestic services are operating below 30% of previous levels.
Joyce told shareholders at Qantas’ annual general meeting that if Queensland opened to NSW soon he expected domestic capacity to improve to up to 50%.Joyce told shareholders at Qantas’ annual general meeting that if Queensland opened to NSW soon he expected domestic capacity to improve to up to 50%.
“We’re expecting to see a boom in domestic tourism once more borders open up,” he said.“We’re expecting to see a boom in domestic tourism once more borders open up,” he said.
The airline aims to save $600m this financial year to stay viable. It’s cut 6,000 workers, is likely to cut 2,000 ground handling crew and has stood down 18,000 staff.The airline aims to save $600m this financial year to stay viable. It’s cut 6,000 workers, is likely to cut 2,000 ground handling crew and has stood down 18,000 staff.
All this ASIC drama happened while the chair, James Shipton, was appearing before a parliamentary committee.
Australian Securities and Investment Commission chair James Shipton has released a statement after treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s announcement that the auditor general found Shipton and his deputy, Dan Crennan had been paid over and above their remuneration tribunal defined limit.
The pair has agreed to pay the amount back, but Shipton said he will stand aside while an independent review is conducted:
The prime minister, Scott Morrison, will hold his post-national cabinet media conference at 1.30pm AEST.
My colleague Ben Butler says Shipton was paid nearly $120,000 for tax advice, plus more than $75,000 in fringe benefits tax. Crennan was paid $750 a week to relocate to Melbourne, paid for two years.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has said the Australian Securities and Investments Commission chair and deputy chair will repay payments they received for advice and for housing expenses that fell outside their remuneration limits.
Frydenberg said the auditor general found payments made to chair, James Shipton, relating to taxation advice, and deputy chair, Dan Crennan QC, relating to housing expenses may exceed the limits set by the Remuneration Tribunal.
The auditor general also found instances where the commonwealth procurement rules were not followed.
Shipton and Crennan have agreed to repay the amounts, and Asic will review remuneration and benefits paid to executives.
Frydenberg said Treasury would also undertake an independent review, to be done by Dr Vivienne Thom, and expected to be completed with the full cooperation of Asic by the end of the year.
An interim report on a Voice for Indigenous Australians has been handed to the responsible minister after dozens of co-design meetings over more than a year, AAP reports.
Three working groups have met more than 70 times since talks began in October 2019.
The 52 members have developed a range of contested models and options.
The co-design and senior advisory groups have finalised their proposals and recommendations.
Ray Griggs, from the National Indigenous Australians Agency, said their interim report captured “robust deliberations” throughout the process.
The report was handed to Indigenous Australians minister Ken Wyatt on Friday.
“This will mark the completion of the first stage of the process,” Griggs told a Senate estimates hearing in Canberra.
Public consultations are expected to run until March and Griggs anticipates a final report will be published between June and August next year.
He said Wyatt wanted to push the process along quickly, but would not be drawn on whether potential legislation would be introduced by the end of next year.
“I don’t think I should speak to a legislative timetable but I know the minister is very keen to see this through,” Griggs told the committee.
Some more news coming out of Senate estimates.
The Victorian health and human services department has put this out about the sewage testing that showed some traces of Covid-19 in Ararat:
Foreign affairs minister Marise Payne has apologised to Australians stranded overseas who had their personal identities inadvertently revealed in a consular email, in what was the third data breach in as many months. Payne also said she had sought clarification from the secretary of Dfat, after Guardian Australia revealed the latest privacy breach which occurred on Wednesday when the Australian embassy in Paris sent an email to Australians stuck in France who had registered with the department their wish to return home.
All recipients were listed in the CC section of the email, and when Dfat unsuccessfully attempted to recall the email, it sent out a follow-up request asking recipients to delete it from their inbox.
Asked about Guardian Australia’s report by the ABC’s Sabra Lane, Payne said: “It is not an ideal situation at all.”
AAP reports the Aboriginal Hostels company providing housing for Aboriginal people does not have any Indigenous senior staff.
Chief executive Dave Chalmers has set a target of 66% Indigenous staffing levels by the end of next year, but under questioning from Labor senator Malarndirri McCarthy, he conceded it would be difficult.
“Frankly we have been in a steady decline from the high some decades ago of 80% Indigenous staffing,” he told Senate estimates in Canberra on Friday.
“It’s just been a gradual decline and I intend to arrest that.”
Chalmers, who was appointed chief executive earlier this year, said he and the chairman were acutely aware the agency’s executive did not have Indigenous representation.
“That will be something that we can’t remedy in the short term because the recruiting has already taken place and we have people in place for a number of years,” he said.
“But I would be looking to ensure that we have opportunity for senior executives, as well as across the organisation, so we are better represented.”
Aboriginal Hostels Limited was established in 1973 to provide accommodation for Indigenous people away from home to study, work or receive medical treatment.
It runs 47 hostels across the country and was allocated $40m in this year’s federal budget.