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Australia news live: NSW Health testing dock workers who boarded Covid ship; vaccine rollout reset Australia news live: NSW Health testing dock workers who boarded Covid ship; vaccine rollout reset
(32 minutes later)
Fifteen Sydney waterfront workers waiting on coronavirus test results after boarding ship carrying infected sailorsFifteen Sydney waterfront workers waiting on coronavirus test results after boarding ship carrying infected sailors
China has threatened to take further action against Australia after the Morrison government cancelled Victoria’s two Belt and Road agreements in a sign the diplomatic dispute between the two countries may worsen.
China’s foreign ministry said on Thursday it had lodged a “solemn” protest with Australia and reserved the right to take further action, just hours after the Chinese embassy in Canberra warned Australia would “only end up hurting itself”.
The message was amplified by Chinese state media, with the nationalistic tabloid the Global Times stating Australia had fired a “major shot” in what could be another trade war.
But the Australian government insisted on Thursday it was simply defending its national interests by blocking the two agreements between the Victorian state government and China’s reform commission.
You can read the full report from Helen Davidson and Daniel Hurst here:
Just bringing back this tweet now. No particular reason.
Malcolm Turnbull has flipped his position on releasing a family of Tamil asylum seekers being detained on Christmas Island, AAP reports.
Turnbull was prime minister when Priya, Nades and their two daughters were taken from Biloela in central Queensland and put into detention. But now, more than three years on, he says he supports the family being resettled in Australia.
Speaking to the ABC, Turnbull acknowledged the importance of tough border security policies to stop asylum seekers making the risky journey to Australia by boat, but called on new home affairs minister Karen Andrews to exercise some discretion.
He urged Andrews to seize on the recent cabinet reshuffle to adopt a fresh approach.
Andrews received a high-level briefing on the Tamil family when she became minister last month, and told ABC radio she was unwilling to make a decision while their case for protection is before the courts.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the family had spent more than 1,000 days in detention, costing taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.
As Australia came under international pressure to lift its climate commitments ahead of a virtual summit hosted by US president Joe Biden, the prime minister, Scott Morrison, and his emissions reduction minister, Angus Taylor, have made a series of claims to defend the government’s position.As Australia came under international pressure to lift its climate commitments ahead of a virtual summit hosted by US president Joe Biden, the prime minister, Scott Morrison, and his emissions reduction minister, Angus Taylor, have made a series of claims to defend the government’s position.
Do they stack up? Adam Morton looks at the evidence.Do they stack up? Adam Morton looks at the evidence.
A must-read fact check below:A must-read fact check below:
OK, this isn’t from Australia, but I think we all deserve a little joy this morning. Think of it as a treat for making it through the week.OK, this isn’t from Australia, but I think we all deserve a little joy this morning. Think of it as a treat for making it through the week.
Important police news coming from Victoria’s police commissioner Shane Patton this morning.Important police news coming from Victoria’s police commissioner Shane Patton this morning.
Thousands of people subjected to a strip search in New South Wales have been left with a police record, despite officers not finding anything illegal. The state’s law enforcement watchdog has warned the practice could lead to further targeting without any cause.Thousands of people subjected to a strip search in New South Wales have been left with a police record, despite officers not finding anything illegal. The state’s law enforcement watchdog has warned the practice could lead to further targeting without any cause.
Data obtained by the Redfern Legal Centre has revealed that between 2018 and 2020, more than 5,500 people had their details recorded in the central intelligence database used by police following a strip search in cases where nothing illegal was found.Data obtained by the Redfern Legal Centre has revealed that between 2018 and 2020, more than 5,500 people had their details recorded in the central intelligence database used by police following a strip search in cases where nothing illegal was found.
The data shows that 61% of strip searches recorded in the Computerised Operational Policing System, known as Cops, during the period did not discover anything illegal. The Cops system holds more than 40m records accessible by the state’s police, and acts as the force’s central intelligence database.The data shows that 61% of strip searches recorded in the Computerised Operational Policing System, known as Cops, during the period did not discover anything illegal. The Cops system holds more than 40m records accessible by the state’s police, and acts as the force’s central intelligence database.
Sam Lee, a solicitor at the RLC currently involved in a mooted class action lawsuit against police over the use of strip searches, said data obtained by the legal centre showed that thousands of people were being “left with a permanent police record for no reason”.Sam Lee, a solicitor at the RLC currently involved in a mooted class action lawsuit against police over the use of strip searches, said data obtained by the legal centre showed that thousands of people were being “left with a permanent police record for no reason”.
You can read the full report below:You can read the full report below:
A Covid-19 free day in Queensland. Don’t you love to see it!A Covid-19 free day in Queensland. Don’t you love to see it!
You might remember yesterday I mentioned the federal government had torn up Victoria’s Belt and Road Initiative agreements with Beijing and China responding by threatening to launch fresh action against Australia.You might remember yesterday I mentioned the federal government had torn up Victoria’s Belt and Road Initiative agreements with Beijing and China responding by threatening to launch fresh action against Australia.
Well, now Peter Dutton has declared Australia will never surrender its sovereignty or compromise its values to appease China, reports AAP.Well, now Peter Dutton has declared Australia will never surrender its sovereignty or compromise its values to appease China, reports AAP.
The Chinese government said it would “reserve the right to take further action” after lodging a formal protest with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.The Chinese government said it would “reserve the right to take further action” after lodging a formal protest with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin accused the Morrison government of “political manipulation and bullying” and warned cancelling the agreements would make already strained China-Australia relations worse.Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin accused the Morrison government of “political manipulation and bullying” and warned cancelling the agreements would make already strained China-Australia relations worse.
Dutton told Nine on Friday Australia had been clear with China throughout the long-running diplomatic stoush.Dutton told Nine on Friday Australia had been clear with China throughout the long-running diplomatic stoush.
“We’re not going to have our values compromised; we aren’t going to surrender our sovereignty,” the defence minister said.“We’re not going to have our values compromised; we aren’t going to surrender our sovereignty,” the defence minister said.
He said Victorian premier Daniel Andrews had done the wrong thing in signing the agreements with China.He said Victorian premier Daniel Andrews had done the wrong thing in signing the agreements with China.
Dutton also took aim at China for building up military bases in the region and launching cyber attacks.Dutton also took aim at China for building up military bases in the region and launching cyber attacks.
No Covid-19 in Victoria today by the way!No Covid-19 in Victoria today by the way!
The behaviour of a judge and barrister who failed to declare their relationship before appearing in the same trial and continued private contact while the case was being heard strikes at the foundation of the justice system, a submission made to the high court says.
The court is hearing an appeal by a Perth real estate agent against a decision by the full family court not to grant him a retrial after details about the relationship between key players were discovered.
The agent, known by the courts as Mr Charisteas, has been involved in family law proceedings against his former wife for almost 15 years. About $4m has been spent on legal fees.
Charisteas filed his submissions in the high court case last week.
In the submissions, he says that despite a recusal application having previously been made against family court of Western Australia judge John Walters, he had failed to declare a relationship with barrister Gillian Anderson, who represented Mrs Charisteas.
You can read the full report below:
We have all be plagued by the Zoom mute button this year, but apparently even world leaders are not immune.
Here is the start of Scott Morrison’s address to Biden’s climate summit:
A man is in a serious condition after suffering severe burns and other injuries in a suspicious house fire in south-east Queensland, AAP reports.
Paramedics and police were called to the fire at home at Raceview, near Ipswich, at 4.54am on Friday.
They found a man suffering burns to his arms and legs and abdominal and facial injuries.
He was rushed to Royal Brisbane and Women’s hospital with a high acuity response unit ambulance officer, who specialises in treating severe life-threatening injuries.
The man remains in a critical condition.
Queensland police said the fire was suspicious.
Three new Victorian mass vaccination hubs will be established in Ballarat, Heidelberg and Sunshine.
Hunt was asked what percentage of the eligible population has been vaccinated.
Health minister Greg Hunt spoke to ABC News Breakfast this morning and was questioned by host Michael Rowland over the government’s “confusing” approach to the vaccines rollout:
* A politician reminding us how lucky we have it compared to the rest of the world to justify the low vaccine rollout. Sip!
** Double sip!
The Nationals MP George Christensen has announced he will not contest the next election in a shock decision he attributed to the “broken” state of Australian politics and a desire to spend time with family.
Christensen revealed the news in a statement to the Courier-Mail, since confirmed by Guardian Australia, and said the time was right for him to give up representing the Mackay-based seat of Dawson.
Christensen will remain a member of the Coalition until the next poll but even from the backbench he could prove a handful for the Morrison government due to his outspoken views on topics including abortion.
In his statement, Christensen said he had only ever intended to “serve three terms” when he first ran for office in 2010, although he is already in his fourth term.
Remember the confusing “milkshake consent” government video that’s been all over the news this week?
Well, Naaman Zhou and I obtained early draft scripts of the series and we break down exactly what was amended and cut.
You can read our full report below:
Now I know what you are all thinking: didn’t Scott Morrison speak at US president Joe Biden’s climate summit last night? How did that go?
Well, luckily Katharine Murphy and Adam Morton have given us a full breakdown.
You can read their full report below:
Good morning, it’s Matilda Boseley here.
This morning we are waiting with bated breath for the Covid-19 test results to come in for a group of Sydney dock workers after they boarded a ship that was later found to be carrying infected sailors.
The Inge Kosan, an LPG tanker, was docked in Port Botany for a day on 31 March, having sailed from Papua New Guinea’s capital, Port Moresby. Some 15 wharfies boarded during this time.
It then departed, destined for Vanuatu, but NSW Health said it had received worrying news from the Pacific island nation’s government.
The body of a Filipino sailor from the ship was found washed up on the beach and local health authorities learnt he was Covid-19 positive.
NSW Health released the following statement:
Six of the 15 Australian wharfies that boarded the infected ship tested negative on Thursday night. The results for the remaining nine are expected today.
NSW Health said none of the crew of the Inge Kosan left the ship when it was in Sydney and the wharfies who boarded it were wearing protective gear.
And with that, let’s get cracking with the day’s news. If there is something you reckon I’ve missed or think should be in the blog but isn’t, shoot me a message on Twitter @MatildaBoseley or email me at matilda.boseley@theguardian.com.