Key posts
PM ‘wouldn’t describe’ G7 side trip as hypocritical
By Jenny Noyes
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has played down reports he took a secret side trip to explore his family history on his recent visit to the UK.
Earlier this morning, 2GB’s Ben Fordham asked whether it was hypocritical to plan such a trip while ordinary Australians were prevented from travelling to the UK. Mr Morrison said he “wouldn’t describe it like that at all” and suggested the trip was unplanned.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison during his recent trip overseas. Credit:AP
“After the G7 on the way to the airport we stopped at another place where it just happened to be where my fifth-great grandfather was from,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Morrison, who is now back in Australia and quarantining at The Lodge, said he “would certainly hope” Australians will be able to travel internationally before Christmas 2022. But with the UK continuing to battle the virus despite 76 per cent of its population vaccinated, “we can’t come to definitive conclusions”.
He said Australia has “got to be a bit more careful we don’t let [coronavirus] in” and that he expects to learn a lot from what happens over the European summer.
Coalition should focus on jobs instead of changing leaders: Birmingham
By Broede Carmody
Speaking of the leadership tensions in the Nationals, here’s a rather insightful exchange between ABC News Breakfast’s Michael Rowland and Finance Minister Simon Birmingham from ABC TV just moments ago:
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
Rowland: A senior unnamed Liberal has told the Financial Review this morning that the Government will lose the election if Barnaby Joyce becomes Deputy Prime Minister again because of his climate change concerns. Firstly, that wasn’t you, was it?
Birmingham: No. I don’t run around giving off the record or background quotes like that.
Rowland: Are you concerned about the prospect of Barnaby Joyce coming back as this country’s Deputy Prime Minister?
Birmingham: Well, I see Barnaby Joyce has said this morning that there’s no prospect of a spill.
Rowland: Do you believe him? Do you believe him?
Birmingham: Well, I welcome that [he said there will be no spill]. I expect that that would be the truth if that’s what he’s saying. I expect that everybody ought to be focused on the jobs and security and safety of Australians. And we have a record number of Australians in employment at present. They’re the jobs that matter and they’re the jobs we’ve got to keep creating and growing.
Rowland: It’s not a great look, though, is it?
Birmingham: I don’t know where the speculation has come from. I see Barnaby Joyce is ruling it out. That’s welcome because the priority is about Australians outside of this building. That’s Prime Minister’s focus is. It’s where my focus is and I know it is where Michael McCormack’s focus is, too.
Nationals leadership speculation ‘ahead of the show’: Joyce
By Broede Carmody
Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce was on Seven’s breakfast show Sunrise earlier to talk down the prospect of a leadership challenge.
All eyes are on the Government’s junior coalition member this morning given reports that Mr Joyce wants to topple current leader Michael McCormack so he can have his old job back.
The rivalry between Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack could come to a head this week. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
The member for New England, whose electorate encompasses the NSW towns of Tamworth and Armidale, said there was “no prospect of a spill at this point in time”. He added that political reporters were trying to entertain readers and get “ahead of the show”.
But Mr Joyce also had this to say when asked if he was happy with the current Nationals leader:
“There are times where I think we could do things differently, no doubt about that. But that’s a decision for the party room. I’m not going to start delving into what is National party business ... [MPs] can make those discussions and decisions themselves.
“I think he is doing the best job he can. He is a good bloke and has been working as hard as he can. The issue is in the next election.”
NSW will have to tighten restrictions if testing numbers are low: expert
By Broede Carmody
The chair of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness, Jane Halton, was speaking on the Today show a short while ago.
She said it’s understandable if people in Sydney feel on edge this morning. Today’s coronavirus numbers haven’t landed yet, but so far the city’s eastern suburbs outbreak stands at nine cases.
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness chair Jane Halton.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
“If people come out and get tested and we’re confident anybody with symptoms has come forward for a test, then we can have a confidence that we can find the virus,” Dr Halton said.
“All I can do is encourage anybody, sniffle, scratchy throat, anything get tested.”
NSW Health asked anyone who was at Westfield Bondi Junction, including the car park, at any time on the weekend of June 12 and 13 to get tested.
Dr Halton added that if people don’t come forward for testing, then NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian will have “no choice” but to increase coronavirus restrictions. Masks are now required indoors across large parts of Sydney.
“She doesn’t like doing this. She’s done a remarkably good job throughout the pandemic. We’ve just seen two weeks in Victoria with people in lockdown. No one in Sydney wants that.”
Scott Morrison’s secret G7 side trip to explore his family history
By Bevan Shields
Scott Morrison’s office spent weeks planning a G7 side trip to explore his convict family roots while the Prime Minister publicly argued Britain was too risky for Australian travellers.
Last Sunday’s pilgrimage to St Keverne, a small village 45 minutes south of the G7 summit site in Cornwall, was never disclosed to the media despite being on the schedule for at least a fortnight.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his British counterpart Boris Johnson at press conference in the Downing Street garden.earlier this month.Credit:Getty
Stranded Australians have seized on the non-official travel as evidence politicians are not subject to the same pandemic rules as others, while government officials have downplayed the extent of the Prime Minister’s activities.
Read the full story here.
Today’s headlines at a glance
By Broede Carmody
Good morning and thanks for your company. It’s Monday, June 21. I’m Broede Carmody.
It’s set to be a busy day given Sydney’s COVID-19 outbreak and the fact it’s a parliamentary sitting week in Canberra. Here’s what you need to know before we jump into our rolling coverage:
Most Viewed in National
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMilgFodHRwczovL3d3dy5zbWguY29tLmF1L25hdGlvbmFsL2F1c3RyYWxpYS1uZXdzLWxpdmUtbnN3LWNvdmlkLTE5LWNhc2VzLWNvbnRpbnVlLXRvLWdyb3ctYXMtcmVzdHJpY3Rpb25zLWltcGxlbWVudGVkLWFjcm9zcy1zeWRuZXktMjAyMTA2MjAtcDU4Mm52Lmh0bWzSAZYBaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuc21oLmNvbS5hdS9uYXRpb25hbC9hdXN0cmFsaWEtbmV3cy1saXZlLW5zdy1jb3ZpZC0xOS1jYXNlcy1jb250aW51ZS10by1ncm93LWFzLXJlc3RyaWN0aW9ucy1pbXBsZW1lbnRlZC1hY3Jvc3Mtc3lkbmV5LTIwMjEwNjIwLXA1ODJudi5odG1s?oc=5
2021-06-20 21:56:29Z
52781680525693
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Australia news LIVE: NSW COVID-19 cases continue to grow as restrictions implemented across Sydney - The Sydney Morning Herald"
Post a Comment