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Australia Covid live news update: Victoria records 603 cases and one death as state braces for construction industry fallout Australia Covid live news update: Victoria records 603 cases and one death as state braces for construction industry fallout
(32 minutes later)
Follow all the day’s news liveFollow all the day’s news live
Albanese:
Albanese is not holding back this morning when it comes to his criticisms of Christian Porter and the issue of MP’s blind trust.
Reporter:
Albanese:
Labor is using Scott Morrison’s trip to the US to try and apply pressure on the prime minister to commit to net-zero emissions by 2050.
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese is speaking now:
Former Labor leader and opposition frontbencher Bill Shorten seemed to be in agreement with John Setka on the “rent-a-crowd” nature of yesterday violent protests outside the CFMEU offices, suggesting people had simply bought “$2 high vis” on their way to the event.
Here’s what he had to say to the Today show this morning:
Union bosses have doubled down on their stance that yesterday’s violent protesters were not, in fact, mostly angry unionists but instead were far-right agitators and anti-vaccination activists.
Here is what Victorian CFMEU construction secretary John Sekta had to say when speaking to the Nine Network this morning:
Setka was asked in there were “actual neo-Nazis in the crowd”.
He said:
Speaking of the likely northern NSW lockdowns, Ballina MP Tamara Smith has told the ABC she wants tighter restrictions preventing people travelling up from Sydney to the region:
There is lots of chatter around that the northern NSW communities of Ballina, Byron Bay and Tweed Heads could go into lockdown from 5pm today after an infected Sydney traveller spent time in the area.
Deputy premier John Barilaro confirmed during media appearances this morning that it was on the cards.
We will likely get confirmation of this at the NSW presser at 11am, although given that this would spell the end of the border bubble arrangements in the area, I’d say it’s likely Annastacia Palaszczuk will be able to shed some light on this too when she steps up at 10am.
Labor and transparency experts have rubbished claims that MPs and senators may not be required to declare the source of gifts, a loophole that could make further action against Christian Porter more difficult.Labor and transparency experts have rubbished claims that MPs and senators may not be required to declare the source of gifts, a loophole that could make further action against Christian Porter more difficult.
Porter resigned from the Morrison government ministry on Sunday, but Labor has demanded he pay back the legal fees part paid by a blind trust or else disclose the source of the funds.Porter resigned from the Morrison government ministry on Sunday, but Labor has demanded he pay back the legal fees part paid by a blind trust or else disclose the source of the funds.
Labor has decided to refer the matter to the privileges committee for a ruling and possible sanction for failing to disclose more details of the gift. But the push could be thwarted by the fact rules governing the register of MPs’ interests do not appear to explicitly require donors of gifts to be named.Labor has decided to refer the matter to the privileges committee for a ruling and possible sanction for failing to disclose more details of the gift. But the push could be thwarted by the fact rules governing the register of MPs’ interests do not appear to explicitly require donors of gifts to be named.
You can read the full report below:You can read the full report below:
The Victorian numbers are out, and they are not good.The Victorian numbers are out, and they are not good.
603 local Covid-19 cases today, the highest for this outbreak and fast approaching the highest the state has ever recorded.603 local Covid-19 cases today, the highest for this outbreak and fast approaching the highest the state has ever recorded.
Sadly one more person infected with Covid-19 has died.Sadly one more person infected with Covid-19 has died.
Speaking of the Victorian contruction industry shutdown, industry group Master Builders Association of Victoria aren’t happy at all.Speaking of the Victorian contruction industry shutdown, industry group Master Builders Association of Victoria aren’t happy at all.
The association’s CEO, Rebecca Casson, released a statement this morning, labelling the move a “bitter blow for the vast majority of building and construction industry businesses which have done the right thing over the past 18 months”.The association’s CEO, Rebecca Casson, released a statement this morning, labelling the move a “bitter blow for the vast majority of building and construction industry businesses which have done the right thing over the past 18 months”.
Let’s get back to Australia for a second and have a think about the Victorian and New South Wales respected reopening plans.Let’s get back to Australia for a second and have a think about the Victorian and New South Wales respected reopening plans.
The amazing Melissa Davey has all the details, comparing and contrasting the two state’s road maps.The amazing Melissa Davey has all the details, comparing and contrasting the two state’s road maps.
You can read the full explainer below:You can read the full explainer below:
Reporter:Reporter:
Morrison:Morrison:
Morrison says he will have no opportunity to speak with (an extremely annoyed) French president Emmanuel Macron before meeting with the rest of the European leaders, despite US president meeting with him.Morrison says he will have no opportunity to speak with (an extremely annoyed) French president Emmanuel Macron before meeting with the rest of the European leaders, despite US president meeting with him.
Morrison:Morrison:
You know how I’ve been referring to Barnaby Joyce as the “acting prime minister” all morning, well that’s because the actual prime minister is in New York now for the Quad leaders’ summit.You know how I’ve been referring to Barnaby Joyce as the “acting prime minister” all morning, well that’s because the actual prime minister is in New York now for the Quad leaders’ summit.
His plane has just touched down and he is now chatting to reporters on the tarmac, mostly about how furious France is with us now that we have backed out of the $90bn submarine deal.His plane has just touched down and he is now chatting to reporters on the tarmac, mostly about how furious France is with us now that we have backed out of the $90bn submarine deal.
Reporter:Reporter:
Morrison:Morrison:
My lovely Queensland folks, we will be hearing from your leader at 10am today.
Now you might remember I mentioned that yesterday protests really ramped up when two union officials, including Victorian construction branch secretary John Setka, came outside the Elizabeth Street office to speak to protesters.
Setka has just spoken to ABC radio about the protests and while he condemned the action he said some of the government Covid-19 safety measures, including the shutting down of tea rooms, were unreasonable.
Just jumping back to the CFMEU protests in Melbourne, and there are fears that these scenes could be repeated today (and, according to some protesters, every day until the mandatory vaccine rules have changed).
Australian Council of Trade Unions, president Michele O’Neil, told ABC she hoped that this would not occur.
O’Neil conceded that while there were union members present, she is confident that rightwing extremists were involved in the protests.
OK here is a little blog treat for the morning. A video of everyone’s least favourite Bachelor (and I’m told a rugby player of some kind) the Honey Badger, rescuing a sheep from a barbed-wire fence.
Look at them run at the end! (The sheep not the Honey Badger.)
A vulnerable Indigenous inmate who prison officers allegedly depicted hanging from a noose on a prison whiteboard is suing the Australian Capital Territory government, alleging the drawing was a “vile and racist caricature” of “another Indigenous person they wished to see die in custody”.
In May 2018, correctional officers at the ACT’s jail, the Alexander Maconochie Centre, allegedly drew what appeared to be a game of hangman on a staff whiteboard. The man depicted hanging from the noose was an Indigenous inmate who has mental health issues and has previously attempted suicide.
A boat is shown sailing past with one of the passengers depicted saying “yay”.
In proceedings lodged in the ACT supreme court, the man’s lawyers, Ken Cush & Associates, say the whiteboard and the hangman picture were used as a “vehicle to ridicule, degrade, disrespect, and vilify the plaintiff amongst the correctional officers and detainees in the AMC”. They say the image was a “humiliating, disrespectful, degrading and hurtful parody”.
You can read the full report from Christopher Knaus and Lorena Allam below:
This is interesting. Former deputy chief medical officer Dr Nick Coatsworth has hit out against “zero Covid academics” and those who suggest children in primary school should wear masks in classrooms.
The acting prime minister ruffled a few feathers yesterday after he stated he believed Christian Porter would eventually be back on the frontbench after time in political purgatory.
The former attorney general quit as a minister on Sunday after revealing some of his legal fees from a defamation action against the ABC were paid by anonymous sources and was unable to reveal their identity.
ABC News Breakfast host Lisa Millar, today questioned those comments:
Joyce:
Millar:
Joyce:
Joyce said he isn’t totally convinced by the union’s suggestion that the protests yesterday were not truly caused by union members, but instead had been infiltrated by rightwing extremists and anti-vaccination advocates.
The acting prime minister Barnaby Joyce, is on ABC News Breakfast and has just been asked for his views on the violent CFMEU protests, and subsequent state government shutdown of the construction industry.
Joyce, who is standing in a paddock somewhere, is making it clear that this ban has nothing to do with him, and in fact, is Labor’s problem.
Good morning everyone, it’s Matilda Boseley here and let’s dive right into Tuesday.
So obviously the first thing we need to talk about were those violent protests outside the CFMEU union offices in Melbourne yesterday, which have now prompted the government to institute a two-week shutdown of the construction industry.
The closure was announced on Monday night after the building was damaged and riot police deployed in chaotic scenes, using rubber bullets and pepper spray to quell the crowd.
Only critical infrastructure, including hospitals and ongoing level crossing removal works, will continue during the shutdown, giving time for the workforce to get vaccinated.
Here is what the Victorian treasurer, Tim Pallas, had to say about it in a statement:
Union officials say Monday’s protesters were not actually CFMEU members, instead claiming “neo-Nazi’s and rightwing extremists” had hijacked the event.
The protest escalated when two union officials, including Victorian construction branch secretary John Sekta, came outside the Elizabeth Street office to speak to protesters just before midday and were met with boos and jeers.
Once Setka went back inside, the protesters smashed a glass door to the building.
Some said they would come to the CFMEU office every day until the union bows to their demands. But we shall have to wait and see what eventuates.
The acting prime minister has just spoken about this situation on ABC so why don’t we jump right in and I’ll bring you his comments.