Australia live news update: fears child caught Omicron Covid variant on flight, Western Australia shuts border to SA | Australia news
16:12
Sticking with MPs speaking on the radio, independent MP Helen Haines is on RN Breakfast this morning, and she was asked her thoughts on the PMs take on a federal ICAC:
What we saw in Question Time this week was the Prime Minister brandishing what is essentially the same draft legislation the former Attorney-General put together more than a year ago… And nothing’s changed.
I would love the government to sit down with me… to put together a committee of both major parties and the crossbench to come together and get it done for the Australian people because the government doesn’t seem to wish to do it by itself.
This, of course, comes after Haines pushed to have a debate on a federal integrity watchdog last week, and was blocked by a parliamentary technicality.
16:07
Federal health minister Greg Hunt is on 2GB this morning, after announcing he would no contest the next election, and is discussing his retirement plans.
You’re only ever a part-time parent if you’re a parliamentarian.
Despite, or because of, these absences [my children] are growing up to be amazing young adults.
Ultimately, on my deathbed, I’ll be defined by my family.
16:04
The NSW Liberal Party has reportedly set a 50% target for female candidates in the upcoming federal election.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported the party adopted the quota last night, in consultation with the Prime Minister.
The report also says the target is exclusively for the 2022 election, and any further or more permanent quotas would need to be decided in the future.
At this point, only around a quarter of federal Coalition MPs are women.
15:56
Liberal MP Katie Allen is on RN Breakfast this morning. Asked what she thinks about the Jenkins report, she says there’s “a lot of very immediate things that are going to happen” and that it is a “necessary change to the culture”:
We are meant to have a higher standard. People need to look up to us and know we are doing the best we can to lead the country in the best way possible.
People should feel reassured that there’s a lot of very immediate things that are going to happen and have already been happening. This is a necessary change to the culture.
Asked if the men in parliament “get it”, Allen said:
I absolutely do, now. I think that this has been a real #MeToo moment in parliament.
I don’t think anyone blames [Scott Morrison] for causing the problem but they want him to fix it. It’s a very difficult thing for men to talk about an issue that men seem to be part of the significant problem that’s happening.
Is the Liberal party a “boys club”?:
I don’t feel that way. I’ve been completely supported by my Coalition colleagues. I have to say, the opposition men have been difficult to deal with sometimes. They’ve been quite aggressive in parliament.
Updated
15:51
There are reports a senator was granted an exemption to enter South Australia that is usually reserved for unvaccinated travellers.
The Advertiser is reporting that Liberal senator Alex Antic is spending 14 days in quarantine, again usually required for unvaccinated travellers.
Kathryn Bermingham
(@KatBermingham)BREAKING: Senator Alex Antic escorted from Adelaide Airport to a medi-hotel and 14 days quarantine after he was granted an exemption reserved for unvaccinated travellers. Last week PM confidently said “Alex is double-dose vaccinated”. More soon via @theTiser pic.twitter.com/7DMNi8Ur4D
When asked at the airport what his vaccine status was, he reportedly said: “It’s none of your business.”
Kathryn Bermingham
(@KatBermingham)EXCLUSIVE: Senator Alex Antic in hotel quarantine in Adelaide after he was granted an exemption for unvaccinated travellers. PM has said he is doubled vaxxed. Antic’s only comment at the airport: “it’s none of your business”. Details here: https://t.co/74IFEWkcKr @theTiser https://t.co/r9endZNvyI
This comes after Scott Morrison said on radio last week that Antic was vaccinated:
Alex is vaccinated and double dose vaccinated, and of course I’ve spoken to him over the course of this last week and been working with him.
We’ve reached out to the PM’s office for comment.
Updated
15:38
Good morning
Good morning, Mostafa Rachwani with you today after what was another wild sitting week in parliament.
We begin in NSW, where the Omicron strain is continuing to spread after two new cases were identified yesterday afternoon, including in a child, bringing the total number of cases of the new variant in the state to nine.
Urgent genomic testing is under way for the parents of the child, who also tested positive to the virus. The family had arrived on a flight from Doha on Thursday.
Western Australia has shut its borders to South Australia, after its neighbour recorded 18 new cases yesterday. Most were linked to a school reunion.
In Victoria, the new pandemic laws passed the state’s upper house, with the powers to be given to the premier and health minister in a fortnight.
Finally, the fallout in Canberra from Alan Tudge’s decision to step down pending a review of his conduct will continue. The decision came after Tudge’s former media adviser, Rachelle Miller, said yesterday the former education minister was emotionally and physically abusive. Tudge said he “completely and utterly rejected” the accusations.
We’re also expecting Labour to unveil medium-term emissions reductions targets, and a suite of new policies this morning, depending on the decisions of the shadow cabinet.
We’ll bring you updates on everything happening and everything in between as the day rolls on.
Updated
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