Brittany Higgins: Linda Reynolds ‘deeply sorry’ for ‘lying cow’ comment. For full Terms and Conditions please click here.
WHO investigators to scrap interim report on probe of Covid-19 origins. Nation’s largest law firm, MinterEllison, erupts over its representation of Christian Porter. PoliticsNow: PM would ‘welcome’ inquest into rape claimant’s death. Christian Porter allegations: Prime Minister Scott Morrison would support inquiry into woman's death. 'Deeply sorry': Linda Reynolds apologises to Brittany Higgins. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has again given his support to Linda Reynolds, who came under fire for calling Brittany Higgins a "lying cow" after the former staffer made rape allegations.
The defence minister apologised for her remarks today after a law firm representing Ms Higgins issued a demand for "an immediate and unequivocal public withdrawal of your comments and apology to our client for the hurt and distress caused". Mr Morrison agreed Senator Reynolds was right to issue an apology, but said the comments made in front of her staffers did not put her job on the line. "Linda Reynolds is returning. Kate Jenkins to lead review into parliamentary workplace culture following Brittany Higgins allegations. Australia breaking news today, live coronavirus updates and latest headlines March 5, 2021: Darwin quarantine camp expanded as international borders stay shut ; GPs to start receiving vaccines later this month; Reynolds 'deeply sorry' for calling alleged. Coronavirus vaccine Australia: Doctor in regional SA becomes first Australian to receive AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
Australia reached its second vaccine milestone this morning with the rollout of the new vaccine beginning in South Australia.
The community of Murray Bridge will lead the nation in the rollout with 1000 doses arriving yesterday. Dr Phegan said she feels "privileged" to be the first person in the country to receive the jab. "I'm a GP consultant who works in the emergency department, I often roll up my sleeves to help out when they need a hand and I think it's really important to be a part of of the rollout and the solution to the COVID-19 pandemic," she said. "I hope I reassure people it's a safe vaccine ... I'm actually immunocompromised myself and I'm really excited abut it. "I feel its really important to receive this vaccine and have that protection not only for myself, for my works but for the people we serve which is the public.
" Leaders aren't talking and trade tensions remain, but Chinese students haven't abandoned Australia … yet. Chinese people in Australia have lodged more student visa applications in the month of January this year than in January during any previous year.
Key points: The diplomatic relationship between China and Australia is strainedLast year, the Chinese ambassador warned students may choose to go to other countriesNew figures appear to show Chinese nationals already in Australia want to stay and study during the pandemic While it's a positive sign for the local education industry, the volume is far from making up the shortfall in applications being lodged from overseas.
And experts say it's too soon to assess whether diplomatic and cultural tensions are affecting the Chinese appetite for Australian education. Russian COVID-19 variant confirmed in five cases in Queensland hotel quarantine as wedding, funeral restrictions set to ease. Five people have been confirmed to have the Russian variant of COVID-19 in Queensland as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announces further easing of restriction for weddings and funerals across the state from Monday.
Key points: From Monday there is no longer a maximum of 200 guests at weddings and funeralsLogan and Bundaberg are set to become vaccine hubsMore than 6,500 doses of the Pfizer vaccine have been administered in Queensland No further cases were linked today to the Qatar Airways flight that landed in Brisbane last month but genome testing found five of the six positive COVID-19 cases, that were previously detected, are the Russian variant. Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said health authorities had managed to track down all eight people who had stayed at the Mercure Hotel in Brisbane on the eight floor and left between February 18 and 21. Dr Young said all 74 passengers on the flight had been retested after their quarantine period was extended until Monday.
First locally made AstraZeneca COVID vaccine doses rolling out from March 22. The first locally produced doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines will be administered in just over a fortnight.
Key points: Christian Porter is correct — this is an extremely unsatisfactory state of affairs. The "rule of law" is a fine thing.
It is, at its simplest, the principle that laws be applied equally, that an accused is innocent until proven guilty, that proper checks and balances exist upon the exercise of power, that access to justice be available for all. Christian Porter — the Attorney-General, the custodian of Australian laws — this week appeared drawn and pale as he confronted the disorienting prospect of a world in which the rule of law did not apply.
Anyone who has witnessed the frightening power of online mobs or the ability of demagogues to inflame real-world violence with lies cannot help but feel sympathy for his shaken plea that order be restored, that due process govern the dispensing of justice amid the most "wild, intense and unrestrained series of accusations I can remember in modern Australian politics". Government has 'demonstrably failed' in its response to rape allegations, says Natasha Stott Despoja. Scott Morrison faces growing pressure to establish an independent investigation into a rape allegation against the Attorney-General, with Natasha Stott Despoja condemning the government, saying it has "demonstrably failed" in its response so far.
Key points: Attorney-General Christian Porter has strenuously denied a historical rape allegation made against himFormer Democrats leader Natasha Stott Despoja has joined calls for an independent inquiryShe says a culture of "sexism" existed when she was in Parliament in the late 1990s and early 2000s Christian Porter has strenuously denied the allegation he raped the girl in 1988 saying he was "friends" with her for the "the briefest periods" when they both attended debating competitions as teenagers three decades ago.
The woman took her own life last year, and the South Australian coroner is still considering whether to hold an inquest into the circumstances surrounding her death. Key points: Donald Trump's election fraud claims are turning into a policy push that could be devastating for Democrats. Former US president Donald Trump's months-long campaign to convince Americans of election fraud is morphing into a years-long legislative skirmish.
Yesterday, the Democratic-held House of Representatives passed a sweeping, 791-page bill aimed at standardising federal elections, with a stated aim of making polls more fair by ending voter suppression. It's being described as "historic" and "monumental", but it's highly unlikely to become law. The Democrats control the Senate with only a tie-breaking vote, and the threshold for passing such a bill would require support from at least 10 Republicans. The two parties can't even agree on an economic stimulus bill that 76 per cent of Americans support, let alone a policy area that led to bloodshed in the US Capitol just a few months ago.
Scott Morrison announces Howard Springs coronavirus quarantine facility will increase capacity. The Northern Territory's Howard Springs quarantine facility will soon be responsible for quarantining 15 per cent of all Australians returning on international repatriation flights.
Key points: The Howard Springs quarantine facility began taking in repatriated Australians last OctoberThe facility also quarantines domestic travellers in a separate section managed by the NT GovernmentExperts have described the facility as a "gold-standard" for infection control Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Northern Territory's Howard Springs quarantine facility would expand to accept 2,000 returned Australians a fortnight, up from 850. Christian Porter's internal investigation into Dyson Heydon reveals more complaints. An inquiry by the Attorney-General's Department into whether former High Court justice Dyson Heydon faced any complaints of workplace behaviour during his time as the trade union royal commissioner reported back last week, finding two former staff members made "relevant disclosures" but did not want the department to take any further action.
Key points: Export bans on coronavirus vaccines are a problem, but why is the supply of vaccines so limited in the first place? News of the blockage of a shipment of 250,000 COVID-19 vaccines from Europe to Australia has caused concern and outrage. The immediate problem will probably be quickly solved through diplomatic channels. Even if it is not, onshore manufacturing of the AstraZeneca vaccine will soon make up for any shortfall in Australia's vaccine supply.
But to avoid these types of supply shortfalls in future, it's important to address the underlying problems behind this example of vaccine nationalism. Australia is both a victim of these problems, as well as a contributor. Kate Jenkins to lead independent inquiry into Parliament House culture following Brittany Higgins allegations. Sex discrimination commissioner Kate Jenkins will lead an independent inquiry into the culture of Parliament House, the result of shocking allegations of rape in a ministerial office. Brittany Higgins's allegations have prompted an independent inquiry into the culture at Parliament HouseKate Jenkins will review the workplace culture in all the federal parliamentary partiesHer final report will be made public and released at the end of the year. Defence Minister Linda Reynolds apologises to Brittany Higgins for calling her a 'lying cow' Defence Minister Linda Reynolds has apologised to Brittany Higgins for calling her a "lying cow" after Ms Higgins went public with allegations she was raped by another staffer in 2019.
Key points: Senator Reynolds says she is deeply sorry for any hurt the comments causedLawyers for Ms Higgins sent a letter demanding the senator apologise yesterdayMs Higgins has made a formal police complaint alleging she was raped by a colleague in 2019 The Australian reported yesterday that Senator Reynolds made the comments to her staff in Parliament House a fortnight ago. "I want to express how deeply sorry I am for these remarks and for any hurt and distress they have caused," Senator Reynolds said in a statement. Italy blocks Australian shipment of 250,000 AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine doses. Italy says it has blocked a shipment to Australia of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine in the first such export ban under an EU vaccine monitoring scheme. Italy’s order blocking the dispatch of more than 250,000 doses was accepted by the European Commission, which has fiercely criticised the Anglo-Swedish company this year for supplying just a fraction of the vaccine doses it had promised to deliver to the bloc.
Northern Territory quarantine facility to more than double its capacity to bring stranded Australians home. More stranded Australians will soon be able to return each fortnight with a quarantine facility in the Top End given the all clear to increase its capacity. Capacity at the Howard Springs quarantine facility near Darwin will increase to 2,000 per fortnight up from 850, over the coming months. The decision was made on Friday at a national cabinet meeting between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and state and territory leaders.
Share. 'Right a wrong': Calls for Nazi symbols to be outlawed across Australia as Victoria moves towards ban. Civil rights advocates and Jewish groups are calling for state and territory leaders across Australia to follow Victoria’s lead after the state earlier this week moved towards outlawing the public display of Nazi symbols. Sex discrimination commissioner to lead inquiry into Parliament House culture after Brittany Higgins' rape allegation. Linda Reynolds says she is 'deeply sorry' for calling Brittany Higgins a 'lying cow' in wake of rape allegations. SBS suspends Chinese-sourced news programming after receiving human rights complaint. SBS is suspending the broadcast of Chinese TV news services CGTN and CCTV after becoming aware of serious human rights concerns surrounding the channels.
CGTN, a 15-minute English service, and CCTV, a 30-minute Mandarin language service, are aired on SBS as part of World Watch programming. World Watch is an SBS service that provides international news bulletins to Australians. These two children have now been in Australian immigration detention for three years. Tharunicaa Murugappan is three years old and has spent three years in immigration detention.
Donald And Melania Trump Quietly Received COVID-19 Vaccine In January: Reports. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump quietly received the COVID-19 vaccine at the White House in January, several outlets reported Monday. Kayleigh McEnany Makes Questionable Claims In First Interview Since Leaving White House. James Corden Spots The Trump CPAC Moment That Proves He's A Villain. When Donald Trump asked fans at the Conservative Political Action Conference over the weekend if they missed him, James Corden saw some dangerous parallels with Hollywood’s worst.
(Watch the video below.) Grace Tame Responds To Scott Morrison's 'As A Father' Reaction To Brittany Higgins' Allegations. White House Residence Staffer Saw An Immediate Difference Between Trumps, Bidens. Australia ‘Finally’ Announced A Diverse Bachelor And People Are Already Being Horrible. Insurrectionist Photographed In Nancy Pelosi's Office Says It's Unfair He Remains Jailed.
Self-Proclaimed Billionaire Trump Now Begging Small-Dollar Donors For Money. The World Finally Started Cutting Climate Pollution. Now It Needs To Multiply That By 10. Scott Morrison Says Cabinet Minister Accused Of Rape 'Vigorously' Denies Allegation. 'I am on the side of Western Australians': Albanese. Daniel Andrews spends nearly $800,000 on Facebook pushing ‘cult of Dan’ Matt Kean is fast becoming ‘one of the most dangerous politicians in Australia’: Alan Jones.
Export block of AstraZeneca doses will not affect the pace of vaccine rollout: Hunt. Reynolds offers apology to Brittany Higgins over 'lying cow' remark. Italy's AstraZeneca export ban likely to have 'minimal' impact on Australia's rollout. Review to be conducted into parliamentary workplace. National Cabinet to discuss vaccines as rollout falls behind schedule.