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Australia news live: Daniel Andrews in hospital for X-rays after fall; Oprah interview prompts renewed calls for republic Australia news live: Kevin Rudd addresses National Press Club; Harry and Meghan interview prompts calls for republic
(32 minutes later)
James Merlino holds press conference on ‘truth-telling’ commission in premier’s place Daniel Andrews in hospital for X-rays after fall. Follow the latest updates
The essay is basically about the overreach of the Murdoch press, and therefore so is the speech.
He opens with a joke about how short the book is, which as already discussed, is a good thing.
Rudd says the book “deals with what I describe as the five mega-challenges for Australia” which he says have been “swept aside” in recent years.
Good afternoon everyone.
Kevin Rudd has just begun his address at the National Press Club, which is hinged off the publication of an essay called “The Case for Courage”.
Rudd keeps referring to the essay as a book. I am delighted to report that it is considerably slimmer than his previous published works. Please feel free to yell at me on Twitter @callapilla if you disagree with my correct opinion that nonfiction books (including memoir) should not be more than 250 pages without some sort of special approval.
Good lord it’s getting late in the day and it’s about time I start making another Tiktok (I’m not joking, that’s part of my job in the afternoon).
So with that, I will give you over to Calla Wahlquist to guide you through Rudd’s speech.
A reminder that we are expected to hear from former prime minister Kevin Rudd at a National Press Club event in about 10 minutes.
Wowzzahs! Nearly 77,000 Queenslanders have already entered the draw in just one day for a $200 holiday voucher offered by the state government.
The premier annouced yesterday that the government would provide 15,000 vouchers to be used on tourism experiences in Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef region, in an attempt to bolster the flagging tourism industry.
Today she also announced a $150 per student grant program to allow thousands of school excursion groups to visit the reef.
For those wondering, there is no update on Victorian premier Daniel Andrews’ condition after he fell and injured himself while getting ready for work this morning.For those wondering, there is no update on Victorian premier Daniel Andrews’ condition after he fell and injured himself while getting ready for work this morning.
Andrew went to hospital as a precaution for injuries and his deputy leader James Merlino stepped in as acting premier today.Andrew went to hospital as a precaution for injuries and his deputy leader James Merlino stepped in as acting premier today.
I’ll let you know when we get more clarity on the severity of the premier’s injuries and if he is expected to be off work for additional days.I’ll let you know when we get more clarity on the severity of the premier’s injuries and if he is expected to be off work for additional days.
About 85% of people receiving the jobseeker payment will be living below the poverty line when the base rate is set at $43 a day next month, a Senate inquiry has been told.About 85% of people receiving the jobseeker payment will be living below the poverty line when the base rate is set at $43 a day next month, a Senate inquiry has been told.
Ben Phillips, of ANU’s Centre for Social Research and Methods, told an inquiry into the government’s jobseeker bill the decision to increase the base rate by $50 a fortnight would see a small reduction in poverty compared with before Covid.Ben Phillips, of ANU’s Centre for Social Research and Methods, told an inquiry into the government’s jobseeker bill the decision to increase the base rate by $50 a fortnight would see a small reduction in poverty compared with before Covid.
This meant 85% of people in households whose main income was jobseeker would be living in poverty, rather than 88% as was the case before Covid.This meant 85% of people in households whose main income was jobseeker would be living in poverty, rather than 88% as was the case before Covid.
However, Phillips noted that when the $550 per fortnight coronavirus supplement was in place at the height of the pandemic unemployment, the same figure was 26%. The supplement, now $150 a fortnight, expires at the end of March.However, Phillips noted that when the $550 per fortnight coronavirus supplement was in place at the height of the pandemic unemployment, the same figure was 26%. The supplement, now $150 a fortnight, expires at the end of March.
The inquiry was told the jobseeker payment was closer to 55% of the minimum wage in the early 90s, compared to about 40% now. The inquiry was told the jobseeker payment was closer to 55% of the minimum wage in the early 90s, compared with about 40% now.
Yet Phillips said the most recent data showed more than 75% of people had been on jobseeker payment longer than 12 months, compared with 48% in 1994.Yet Phillips said the most recent data showed more than 75% of people had been on jobseeker payment longer than 12 months, compared with 48% in 1994.
That is despite the government arguing that more generous welfare payments would disincentive people from taking up work.That is despite the government arguing that more generous welfare payments would disincentive people from taking up work.
If you caught the Four Corners Bursting the Canberra Bubble story last night, you would have seen the revisiting of the meeting then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull held with Christian Porter in December 2017.If you caught the Four Corners Bursting the Canberra Bubble story last night, you would have seen the revisiting of the meeting then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull held with Christian Porter in December 2017.
As was shown in the first Four Corners story Inside the Canberra Bubble, which went to air in November 2020, Turnbull said he held a meeting with Porter to discuss some rumours he had heard about Porter’s alleged conduct with a staffer at a Canberra bar.This is what Turnbull had to say in that November piece:As was shown in the first Four Corners story Inside the Canberra Bubble, which went to air in November 2020, Turnbull said he held a meeting with Porter to discuss some rumours he had heard about Porter’s alleged conduct with a staffer at a Canberra bar.This is what Turnbull had to say in that November piece:
In a statement given to Four Corners in November, Porter refuted the allegations:In a statement given to Four Corners in November, Porter refuted the allegations:
As part of an introduction to last night’s story, Turnbull’s account, and Porter’s refuting of it, were both repeated.As part of an introduction to last night’s story, Turnbull’s account, and Porter’s refuting of it, were both repeated.
Porter had also refuted the Canberra bar allegations in an interview with Perth radio 6PR shortly after the original Four Corners story aired.Porter had also refuted the Canberra bar allegations in an interview with Perth radio 6PR shortly after the original Four Corners story aired.
Turnbull has stood by his version of events.Turnbull has stood by his version of events.
Victoria also recorded no local Covid-19 cases today, but one overseas case.Victoria also recorded no local Covid-19 cases today, but one overseas case.
Given international passenger flights and the hotel quarantine program have been suspended in the state this is perhaps a crew member on international freight flights.Given international passenger flights and the hotel quarantine program have been suspended in the state this is perhaps a crew member on international freight flights.
It’s worth noting that testing number for the state have dipped below 10,000 as the state records its 11th doughnut day.It’s worth noting that testing number for the state have dipped below 10,000 as the state records its 11th doughnut day.
Also, here is a bit more info on the NSW Covid-19 number for today.Also, here is a bit more info on the NSW Covid-19 number for today.
Scott Morrison is sticking to the government’s population-wide coronavirus vaccine October goal despite delays and doubts from medical experts.Scott Morrison is sticking to the government’s population-wide coronavirus vaccine October goal despite delays and doubts from medical experts.
Logistical issues and minor bungles put the jabs behind schedule, with around 86,000 people receiving their first injection in the first fortnight of the rollout.Logistical issues and minor bungles put the jabs behind schedule, with around 86,000 people receiving their first injection in the first fortnight of the rollout.
But Morrison said he is still confident all Australians who wanted a vaccine would have access to one by the end of October.But Morrison said he is still confident all Australians who wanted a vaccine would have access to one by the end of October.
Later in the month, doses of the AstraZeneca jab produced in Melbourne are expected to be added to the network at a rate of about one million a week.Later in the month, doses of the AstraZeneca jab produced in Melbourne are expected to be added to the network at a rate of about one million a week.
GFG Alliance, the owner of the Whyalla steel mill, has responded to our inquiry about how the collapse of its financier, Greensill Capital, affects the operation – and the thousands of jobs there.GFG Alliance, the owner of the Whyalla steel mill, has responded to our inquiry about how the collapse of its financier, Greensill Capital, affects the operation – and the thousands of jobs there.
It’s not a big comment but points to more trouble (at the mill) ahead:It’s not a big comment but points to more trouble (at the mill) ahead:
Guardian Australia understands GFG has been in talks with both the South Australian government and the union that covers the site, the Australian Workers’ Union, over the past week.Guardian Australia understands GFG has been in talks with both the South Australian government and the union that covers the site, the Australian Workers’ Union, over the past week.
We’ve gone to both to see what they have to say.We’ve gone to both to see what they have to say.
Julie Stephen, a jobseeker in her 50s who has been battling breast cancer, has pleaded with Scott Morrison to consider how an impending reduction to welfare payments will impact people like her.
At the only hearing into the government’s jobseeker bill – which will permanently increase benefits by $50 a fortnight, but end the more generous $150 Covid supplement – Stephen says she was diagnosed with breast cancer in July last year and had her final stage of chemotherapy in December.
However, she was rejected for the more generous disability pension last year, meaning she has been on the jobseeker payment.
She said could “just manage” on the current jobseeker rate of $715, but she was still worried about being able to register her car, which she needs to attend medical treatments.
Stephen, who mortgage repayments, says she will be in “arrears” when the rate reduces in April.
Asked for her message to Scott Morrison, Stephen says he needed to “get down to our playing field”, and was worried he was “out of touch with what’s really going on”.
The Acoss chief executive, Cassandra Goldie, and Corey Irlam, Deputy Chief Executive at the Council of the Ageing, told the inquiry the $50 a fortnight was totally insufficient.
Andrew Leigh was also asked about this (now infamous) tweet from Liberal MP Dave Sharma:
Leigh said the move was tone-deaf:
Opposition frontbencher Andrew Leigh has spoken on 2SM labing the parliament the “the blokiest workplace [he’s] ever been in,”and called for a new non-partisan compliance mechanism.
The Oprah interview with Meghan & Harry on Channel 10 had 1.37m viewers last night, making it the highest-rating program on Monday night.
The ABC’s Four Corners Bursting the Canberra Bubble, which went up against Oprah for an hour at 8.30pm, still managed 624,000 viewers, significantly up on previous weeks.Reality shows Married at First Sight on Nine had 804,000 and Ultimate Tag on Seven had 260,000.
NSW has gone 51 days with a local Covid-19 case.
At the tail end of the press conference, Scott Morrison was asked if he had sought the solicitor general’s advice about Christian Porter’s situation.
This is quite a significant question – for a week now Morrison and senior ministers have been that setting up an independent inquiry into the sexual assault allegation (which Porter denies) would offend the rule of law. So it matters whether that view is based on legal advice or is just a construction to deflect questions.
Asked if he had sought the SG’s advice, and if not why not, Morrison replied:
Which is to say – Morrison answered a different question: will you set up a separate inquiry? That wasn’t what he was asked.
The solicitor general would not be asked to inquire into the attorney general personally, he would be asked whether setting up such an inquiry offends the rule of law.
Morrison has indicated his government will proceed with its industrial relations bill when parliament resumes next week, even without the industrial relations minister, Christian Porter, present.
He touched on the topic at the Australian Financial Review Business Summit in Sydney.
The employment minister, Michaelia Cash, is acting industrial relations minister and attorney general.
The parliamentary inquiry examining the Morrison government’s jobseeker bill is under way today. Reporter Luke Henriques-Gomes is keeping abreast of all developments and is tweeting updates this morning.
If you want to get up-to-date on exactly what’s going on, can I recommend Luke’s story below:
The prime minister says he wants Anzac Day celebration to go ahead this year but could leave it up to the states:
Morrison has been asked about the interview given by Julie Bishop on ABC’s 7.30 late night where she made some colourful comments about the culture within parliament.
Reporter:
Morrison:
Reporter:
Morrison: