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| Australia politics live update: new Covid-19 variant Omicron detected in Sydney; NSW floods worsen | Australia politics live update: new Covid-19 variant Omicron detected in Sydney; NSW floods worsen |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Follow all the news live | Follow all the news live |
| The Northern Territory rights bill debate is momentarily adjourned and the Senate moves on to a health insurance legislation amendment. | |
| For those with one eye on the Hunter river at the moment. | |
| Labor senator Malarndirri McCarthy says she does not personally support voluntary assisted dying (which the NT rights bill focuses on) but she thinks the territory should have the rights to set its own laws. | |
| Zed Seselja has switched the ensuring Northern Territory rights bill (Sam McMahon’s private members bill) to what it would mean for the ACT – and he is not a fan. | |
| Greg Hunt will be holding a press conference at 11.30. | Greg Hunt will be holding a press conference at 11.30. |
| The royal commission into veteran suicide begins today in Brisbane. | The royal commission into veteran suicide begins today in Brisbane. |
| AAP has a recap: | AAP has a recap: |
| A suicidologist and the mother of an army veteran who took his own life will be the first witness to appear at the royal commission into veteran suicide at its first round of public hearings. | A suicidologist and the mother of an army veteran who took his own life will be the first witness to appear at the royal commission into veteran suicide at its first round of public hearings. |
| Nikki Jamieson will join a panel of experts to give evidence about her own experience, following the death her son Daniel in 2014 and her subsequent work as a university researcher into the impact of “moral injury” within veteran communities. | Nikki Jamieson will join a panel of experts to give evidence about her own experience, following the death her son Daniel in 2014 and her subsequent work as a university researcher into the impact of “moral injury” within veteran communities. |
| Evidence from veterans and their families will be the main focus in the first two weeks of the wide-ranging inquiry being held at the Brisbane Convention Centre from Monday. | Evidence from veterans and their families will be the main focus in the first two weeks of the wide-ranging inquiry being held at the Brisbane Convention Centre from Monday. |
| The commission has flagged its landmark inquiry into Australia’s defence force culture will include confronting accounts of life in the service, including bullying, “concerns over the treatment of women”, sexual and physical assaults and ritual hazing of new recruits. | The commission has flagged its landmark inquiry into Australia’s defence force culture will include confronting accounts of life in the service, including bullying, “concerns over the treatment of women”, sexual and physical assaults and ritual hazing of new recruits. |
| Evidence will also be heard about the challenges of accessing mental health support after deployment and “the loss of identity and community” after transitioning to civilian life. | Evidence will also be heard about the challenges of accessing mental health support after deployment and “the loss of identity and community” after transitioning to civilian life. |
| Chair of the inquiry, commissioner Nick Kaldas, said on Friday he and his two fellow commissioners believe it is a “once in a generation opportunity for lasting, fundamental change” to tackle the suicide crisis. | Chair of the inquiry, commissioner Nick Kaldas, said on Friday he and his two fellow commissioners believe it is a “once in a generation opportunity for lasting, fundamental change” to tackle the suicide crisis. |
| Commissioner and psychiatrist Peggy Brown added that “while I don’t believe that any government department ... in Australia sets out to fail, or to lack compassion, there can be no doubt that systemic issues are contributing to the suicide deaths of our defence members and veterans.” | Commissioner and psychiatrist Peggy Brown added that “while I don’t believe that any government department ... in Australia sets out to fail, or to lack compassion, there can be no doubt that systemic issues are contributing to the suicide deaths of our defence members and veterans.” |
| “That is something this royal commission must change – absolutely.” | “That is something this royal commission must change – absolutely.” |
| Labor’s ploy worked. | Labor’s ploy worked. |
| Labor has worked with the crossbench to bring this forward – the bill belongs to Country Liberal party MP Sam McMahon, but it was dropped by the government last week in exchange for Pauline Hanson’s anti-vaccine mandate bill (which the government didn’t support, but five government senators, including McMahon crossed the floor on). | Labor has worked with the crossbench to bring this forward – the bill belongs to Country Liberal party MP Sam McMahon, but it was dropped by the government last week in exchange for Pauline Hanson’s anti-vaccine mandate bill (which the government didn’t support, but five government senators, including McMahon crossed the floor on). |
| For those wondering what the parliament will be doing today (legislation wise). | For those wondering what the parliament will be doing today (legislation wise). |
| If you are in the flood zone, we are thinking of you. | If you are in the flood zone, we are thinking of you. |
| New South Wales premier Dominic Perrottet says that a third person in the state has “possibly” tested positive for the new strain of Covid-19, Omicron, but has urged other leaders against making “knee-jerk” reactions to the variant. | New South Wales premier Dominic Perrottet says that a third person in the state has “possibly” tested positive for the new strain of Covid-19, Omicron, but has urged other leaders against making “knee-jerk” reactions to the variant. |
| The state’s health department announced yesterday that two people who had recently returned from southern Africa had tested positive for the new variant in Sydney. | The state’s health department announced yesterday that two people who had recently returned from southern Africa had tested positive for the new variant in Sydney. |
| New rules introduced by the government over the weekend means that people arriving from a series of southern African countries – where the variant was first detected – must undergo 14 days quarantine. | New rules introduced by the government over the weekend means that people arriving from a series of southern African countries – where the variant was first detected – must undergo 14 days quarantine. |
| On Monday, Perrottet announced that in addition to the two confirmed cases, NSW Health was reviewing whether there was “possibly” a third case among the 141 people who flew into the state from southern Africa in the past 48 hours. | On Monday, Perrottet announced that in addition to the two confirmed cases, NSW Health was reviewing whether there was “possibly” a third case among the 141 people who flew into the state from southern Africa in the past 48 hours. |
| But the premier – who despite reintroducing quarantine measures has resisted any changes to the state’s roadmap out of Covid-19 restrictions – warned he was not interested in returning to wide scale hotel quarantine or heavy handed restrictions. | But the premier – who despite reintroducing quarantine measures has resisted any changes to the state’s roadmap out of Covid-19 restrictions – warned he was not interested in returning to wide scale hotel quarantine or heavy handed restrictions. |
| Parliament begins at 10am today. | Parliament begins at 10am today. |
| Who will be voting for what? | Who will be voting for what? |
| Who knows these days. | Who knows these days. |
| The federal government plans on changing regulations to let the telecommunications sector shut down scam text messages. | The federal government plans on changing regulations to let the telecommunications sector shut down scam text messages. |
| But that won’t stop you getting spam messages from the Palmer United party. That’s a different thing entirely. | But that won’t stop you getting spam messages from the Palmer United party. That’s a different thing entirely. |
| And ahead of parliament (where the government does not want to talk about an anti-corruption commission) there is also this story from Katharine Murphy: | And ahead of parliament (where the government does not want to talk about an anti-corruption commission) there is also this story from Katharine Murphy: |
| Scott Morrison enters the final parliamentary sitting week of the year facing fresh questions about the Coalition’s record of administering grants to government electorates. | Scott Morrison enters the final parliamentary sitting week of the year facing fresh questions about the Coalition’s record of administering grants to government electorates. |
| New analysis has found, since 2013, the bulk of government grant money has gone to government-held seats. | New analysis has found, since 2013, the bulk of government grant money has gone to government-held seats. |
| The analysis says $3.9bn has been allocated under seven federal programs since the Coalition came to power, and $2.8bn, or 71% of the total taxpayer-funded pool, has gone to projects in government electorates. | The analysis says $3.9bn has been allocated under seven federal programs since the Coalition came to power, and $2.8bn, or 71% of the total taxpayer-funded pool, has gone to projects in government electorates. |
| According to the analysis, conducted by the Australia Institute, only $903m was distributed to Labor-held seats in programs that gave ministers discretion over how grants were allocated, while $232m went to electorates held by independents or minor parties. | According to the analysis, conducted by the Australia Institute, only $903m was distributed to Labor-held seats in programs that gave ministers discretion over how grants were allocated, while $232m went to electorates held by independents or minor parties. |
| NSW and Victoria have posted their daily updates: | NSW and Victoria have posted their daily updates: |
| Radio and TV broadcaster Patricia Karvelas will replace Fran Kelly on RN Breakfast on ABC Radio it was announced this morning. | Radio and TV broadcaster Patricia Karvelas will replace Fran Kelly on RN Breakfast on ABC Radio it was announced this morning. |
| The host of Radio National’s RN Drive will move into the Breakfast slot next year, replacing Kelly who is stepping down after 17 years. | The host of Radio National’s RN Drive will move into the Breakfast slot next year, replacing Kelly who is stepping down after 17 years. |
| Known as PK, Karvelas said the radio show set the national agenda each day and it is “the best job on radio”. | Known as PK, Karvelas said the radio show set the national agenda each day and it is “the best job on radio”. |
| Karvelas will host the show from Melbourne, joining ABC TV’s News Breakfast as a Victorian based national news program. | Karvelas will host the show from Melbourne, joining ABC TV’s News Breakfast as a Victorian based national news program. |
| The ABC’s head of entertainment and specialist Michael Carrington said PK “has something to offer every listener from political analysis to important and intriguing social and cultural issues”. | The ABC’s head of entertainment and specialist Michael Carrington said PK “has something to offer every listener from political analysis to important and intriguing social and cultural issues”. |
| Kelly’s last day is Thursday. | Kelly’s last day is Thursday. |
| The Kate Jenkins review into the parliamentary workplace culture will be handed to the government today. | The Kate Jenkins review into the parliamentary workplace culture will be handed to the government today. |
| Asked about it last week, Scott Morrison did not commit to making it public. | Asked about it last week, Scott Morrison did not commit to making it public. |
| NSW premier Dom Perrottet is not for closing: | NSW premier Dom Perrottet is not for closing: |