Michelle Grattan about the week in politics, including the implementation of an emergency plan to tackle the spread of coronavirus, climate change policy, national security and Bettina Arndt
Faced with the fast moving targets of the coronavirus, and climate change, Scott Morrison must find a policy that sidelines the opposition, without alienating the Nationals of the Coalition
The federal government has activated its emergency response plan to deal with a spread of the coronavirus locally, in anticipation of it becoming a “pandemic”.
Australia’s tourism sector has been hit hard by bushfires and coronavirus. The are good reasons to think it may take a lot longer than in the past for the numbers to bounce back.
Michelle Grattan talks with Deputy Vice Chancellor Geoff Crisp about the week in politics, including the “sports rorts” affair, the future of Michael McCormack and the corona virus travel ban.
The 12th Closing the Gap report shows disappointing results on key targets, including child mortality, school attendance literacy and numeracy, employment and life expectancy.
Addressing Tuesday’s Coalition party room, Morrison called for unity, reminding members they were not there as a team, and declaring the government had a “contract” with the Australian people.
Whatever our differences, Australians’ essential empathy and yearning for connection always come out in times of crisis. We have a responsibility to make sure it stays that way.
Scott Morrison dodged a bullet when the Nationals clung on to Michael McCormack. There was palpable relief when the news came through to the Liberals. “We still have a Coalition,” one MP was heard to say…
If the PM continues to hide behind cabinet confidentiality and precedent, it won’t just be his skin that sustains bruises, but that of his right hand bureaucrat.
It’s much harder to remove a minister these days than it used to be – and there’s no sign Bridget McKenzie’s departure will prove a damaging blow for the Morrison government.
The government’s approach to Bridget McKenzie reveals a remarkable misunderstanding (or perhaps a remarkable misrepresentation) of the respective roles of ministers and administrators.
Despite Morrison saying how much he respected the “professionalism”, “expertise” and “skills” of the public service, his remarks won’t be lost on federal bureaucrats.
Morrison’s hope for clear air for his messages is being stymied by the crisis around deputy Nationals leader Bridget McKenzie, as more damaging information emerges against her in the sports rorts affair.
Senior Lecturer in Political Science: Research Fellow at the Cairns Institute; Research Associate for Centre for Policy Futures, University of Queensland, James Cook University