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| Australia news live updates: PM says politics ‘a brutal business’ as Joyce to face party room over leaked SMS; nation records 43 Covid deaths | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Follow all the day’s news live | Follow all the day’s news live |
| Back to Scott Morrison’s press conference, the prime minister rejected the idea that the latest texting scandals showed disunity within the government, saying that “my record with my party members and my party in the parliament has been the most united Liberal party and Coalition that we have seen.” | |
| This brings the number of active cases to 2,623. | This brings the number of active cases to 2,623. |
| There are 60 people in hospital with the virus, including two in intensive care with one ventilated. | |
| Morrison said that he and Joyce have “both surprised each other” since being in leadership together. | Morrison said that he and Joyce have “both surprised each other” since being in leadership together. |
| Morrison opens it up to questions and, of course, discussion immediately turns to that text that Barnaby Joyce sent about the prime minister (the one that described Morrison was “a hypocrite and a liar”). | Morrison opens it up to questions and, of course, discussion immediately turns to that text that Barnaby Joyce sent about the prime minister (the one that described Morrison was “a hypocrite and a liar”). |
| Asked how he can continue to work with Joyce, Morrison puts the whole situation down to human frailty. | Asked how he can continue to work with Joyce, Morrison puts the whole situation down to human frailty. |
| Morrison also raises the fact that parliament will be addressing the issue of opening up international borders to international visitors again during this week’s sitting week. | Morrison also raises the fact that parliament will be addressing the issue of opening up international borders to international visitors again during this week’s sitting week. |
| Morrison starts by acknowledging the 70th anniversary of the Queen’s ascension to the throne. | Morrison starts by acknowledging the 70th anniversary of the Queen’s ascension to the throne. |
| Prime minister Scott Morrison is speaking live from Sydney. | Prime minister Scott Morrison is speaking live from Sydney. |
| Home affairs minister Karen Andrews wants to open international borders as soon as possible, but says Australia is not at that point at the moment, AAP reports. | Home affairs minister Karen Andrews wants to open international borders as soon as possible, but says Australia is not at that point at the moment, AAP reports. |
| News Corp newspapers reported the Morrison government’s nation security committee will meet on Monday where it’s expected to agree to reopening Australia to tourists within two or three weeks. | News Corp newspapers reported the Morrison government’s nation security committee will meet on Monday where it’s expected to agree to reopening Australia to tourists within two or three weeks. |
| “We don’t have all of the information that we need to be able to take the decision to open, but we are very close,” Andrews told ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday. | “We don’t have all of the information that we need to be able to take the decision to open, but we are very close,” Andrews told ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday. |
| Just 5% of Australians have not had a Covid-19 vaccine, making Australia one of the world’s most vaccinated countries. | Just 5% of Australians have not had a Covid-19 vaccine, making Australia one of the world’s most vaccinated countries. |
| A total 95% of Australians aged 12 and over have had at least one dose of a vaccine, health minister Greg Hunt said on Saturday. | A total 95% of Australians aged 12 and over have had at least one dose of a vaccine, health minister Greg Hunt said on Saturday. |
| The country’s level of protection is now “right at the front of the highest global vaccination rate”, Hunt said. | The country’s level of protection is now “right at the front of the highest global vaccination rate”, Hunt said. |
| This rate of vaccination for children is also one of the highest in the world, he said. | This rate of vaccination for children is also one of the highest in the world, he said. |
| Scott Morrison has issued a statement acknowledging the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s accession. | Scott Morrison has issued a statement acknowledging the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s accession. |
| Meanwhile, the Queen has thanked the public for their support and asked them to recognise the Duchess of Cornwell as Queen Camilla when Charles takes the throne. | Meanwhile, the Queen has thanked the public for their support and asked them to recognise the Duchess of Cornwell as Queen Camilla when Charles takes the throne. |
| Queensland chief health officer Dr John Gerrard said that there has been a “substantial reduction in the number of in-patients in public hospitals” with Covid-19. | Queensland chief health officer Dr John Gerrard said that there has been a “substantial reduction in the number of in-patients in public hospitals” with Covid-19. |
| He said that the number in public hospitals has gone down from 727 to 663. The number of people in intensive care there has gone down from 46 to 45. | He said that the number in public hospitals has gone down from 727 to 663. The number of people in intensive care there has gone down from 46 to 45. |
| The number of patients with the virus in private hospitals has stayed the same, at 63. | The number of patients with the virus in private hospitals has stayed the same, at 63. |
| Queensland deputy premier Steven Miles is providing today’s Covid-19 case update. | Queensland deputy premier Steven Miles is providing today’s Covid-19 case update. |
| There are 5,746 new cases and nine deaths. This brings the total number of deaths reported in the state to 277. | There are 5,746 new cases and nine deaths. This brings the total number of deaths reported in the state to 277. |
| Environment minister Susan Ley told Sky News Sunday Agenda this morning that, while it’s been a tough week this morning, said that it’s been a tough week for the prime minister, but insisted that their cabinet is united. | Environment minister Susan Ley told Sky News Sunday Agenda this morning that, while it’s been a tough week this morning, said that it’s been a tough week for the prime minister, but insisted that their cabinet is united. |
| Our friends at AAP have the story: | Our friends at AAP have the story: |
| “The most important issue is the unity in the Morrison government,” Ley said. | “The most important issue is the unity in the Morrison government,” Ley said. |
| Asked whether there was any prospect of Morrison or Joyce being rolled as leader of their respective parties, Ley said: “Not at all, absolutely none.” | Asked whether there was any prospect of Morrison or Joyce being rolled as leader of their respective parties, Ley said: “Not at all, absolutely none.” |
| But shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers said there is no salvaging this government. | But shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers said there is no salvaging this government. |
| Finally, Speers asked about the $60m in extra funding to combat violent extremism, announced last week. He wanted to know whether any of this funding was in response to the anti-vax, anti-mandate protests gathering in Canberra and other places. | Finally, Speers asked about the $60m in extra funding to combat violent extremism, announced last week. He wanted to know whether any of this funding was in response to the anti-vax, anti-mandate protests gathering in Canberra and other places. |
| Andrews said “not specifically”, but added that “our intelligence agencies and law enforcement agencies certainly keeps a very close eye on who is attending those rallies, what the activity is...” | Andrews said “not specifically”, but added that “our intelligence agencies and law enforcement agencies certainly keeps a very close eye on who is attending those rallies, what the activity is...” |
| She said that the funding announced will go towards “countering violent extremism particularly in rural and regional Australia to stop it before it starts”. | She said that the funding announced will go towards “countering violent extremism particularly in rural and regional Australia to stop it before it starts”. |
| Speers pointed out that Andrews’ colleague, George Christensen, was among the protesters this week. He asked Andrews whether Christensen’s actions were “helpful”? | Speers pointed out that Andrews’ colleague, George Christensen, was among the protesters this week. He asked Andrews whether Christensen’s actions were “helpful”? |
| Andrews: | Andrews: |
| Speers asked why “those who have been found to be refugees, don’t pose as a security risk, are still stuck in that hotel?” | Speers asked why “those who have been found to be refugees, don’t pose as a security risk, are still stuck in that hotel?” |
| Andrews: | Andrews: |
| Speers moved on to ask the home affairs minister when the international border is going to open. | Speers moved on to ask the home affairs minister when the international border is going to open. |
| Andrews said that is a priority for the government, and that “the prime minister and I know that I have been working over the last few weeks in particular to make sure that we are ready to open to international tourists as soon as it is safe to do so.” | Andrews said that is a priority for the government, and that “the prime minister and I know that I have been working over the last few weeks in particular to make sure that we are ready to open to international tourists as soon as it is safe to do so.” |
| But she stopped short of setting a date, saying that “we don’t have all the information that we need to be able to make the decision to open, but we are very close.” | But she stopped short of setting a date, saying that “we don’t have all the information that we need to be able to make the decision to open, but we are very close.” |
| Speers asked whether tourists could be turned away after arriving in Australia, like Novak Djokovic. | Speers asked whether tourists could be turned away after arriving in Australia, like Novak Djokovic. |
| Andrews said that it is possible that tourists could be turned back. | Andrews said that it is possible that tourists could be turned back. |
| Andrews said that the government is “doing absolutely everything we can to bring the workforce that is needed” to aged care homes, but said she doesn’t believe it’s possible to guarantee that some aged care homes won’t have to shut down due to workforce shortages. | Andrews said that the government is “doing absolutely everything we can to bring the workforce that is needed” to aged care homes, but said she doesn’t believe it’s possible to guarantee that some aged care homes won’t have to shut down due to workforce shortages. |
| Speers: | Speers: |
| Andrews: | Andrews: |
| Speers turned the conversation to discuss the aged care Covid-19, noting that the Jeta Gardens home, where 15 residents have died from the virus, is not far from Andrews’ electorate. He asks what the government is doing? | Speers turned the conversation to discuss the aged care Covid-19, noting that the Jeta Gardens home, where 15 residents have died from the virus, is not far from Andrews’ electorate. He asks what the government is doing? |
| Andrews: | Andrews: |