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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Nino Bucci and Royce Kurmelovs

Labor’s Katy Gallagher says ‘mean girls’ label ‘diminishes women’; 11 virus deaths – as it happened

Labor Katy Gallagher Kim Carr Taylor Hawkins Scott Morrison Queensland Jim Chalmers Kimberley Kitching Bureau of Meteorology Qantas
Labor senator Katy Gallagher
Labor senator Katy Gallagher was asked on Sunday about the ‘mean girls’ label she and other Labor senators have been tagged with after the death of Kimberley Kitching, and said it wasn’t a term she had heard Kitching use. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

That's it for today, thanks for reading

Here are the main stories on Sunday, 27 March:

Enjoy the last few hours of your weekend. We will see you all back here tomorrow.

One of Queensland’s leading infectious diseases experts has called on the state government to rethink winding down Covid testing services given the current wave of infections.

On Saturday, Queensland recorded 9,404 new Covid cases, with eight deaths, and 295 patients in hospital, including 19 in ICU.

Covid infections had increased by more than 50% in the past two weeks, and the state’s chief health officer, John Gerrard, said on Friday that about one in 50 school-aged children had tested positive in the past week alone.

More on that story here:

Airlines are having a crack at wooing travellers back into the skies after the pandemic, AAP reports.

Virgin Australia has announced discounts on up to 1.5 million flights, including short-haul international destinations.

However it’s international visitors the federal government most hopes to entice.

While still needing to be fully vaccinated, from April 17 they will no longer require a negative test result to board a flight to Australia.

Qantas on Sunday subsequently announced a new direct passenger route between Dallas Fort Worth and Melbourne and an increase in Los Angeles to Melbourne services.

Victorian Trade Minister Martin Pakula says with a total of 12 weekly flights to the US, the carrier should bring around 105,000 visitors a year to the state, creating more than 800 tourism and aviation jobs.

“These new flights provide excellent connections for Australians ... and allow Melbourne to tap into an enormous inbound tourism market from cities like New York, Chicago, Boston, Houston, Washington DC and Miami,” said Qantas customer boss Stephanie Tully.

The airline launched a campaign on Friday to internationally showcase the country.

International travellers at the arrivals hall in Melbourne Airport last month.
International travellers at the arrivals hall in Melbourne Airport last month. Photograph: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

AAP has reported on a $38m agreement between the ACT and federal governments to improve mental health and suicide prevention services in the capital.

The federal and ACT governments have signed a $38 million agreement to boost mental health and suicide prevention services as part of the territory’s pandemic recovery.

Under the ACT deal, the Commonwealth will spend $25.2 million and the Barr Labor government $12.9 million over the next five years.

New services particularly for those known in the mental health sector as the “missing middle” will be established.

Some $8.3 million will go to addressing gaps in the system and providing more integrated care for adults and older Australians.

A further $9 million will be channelled into improving access to multidisciplinary team care for children in line with the National Head to Health Kids Hub model.

More than $9 million will flow to the territory’s headspace centre to improve access and early intervention for at-risk young people, while $6 million will boost aftercare services following suicide attempts or suicidal crises.

Another $2.8 million is being directed towards perinatal mental health screening and $1.9 million will be used to tackle eating disorders.

In addition, the two tiers of government will share more data and further integrate referral pathways.

More jobs are also likely for the sector.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt says the agreement will ensure ACT residents have access to support when and where they need it.

“This landmark agreement will be of immense benefit to everyone in the ACT and will support our ongoing national recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said on Sunday.

Updated

The Foo Fighters had just finished a tour of Australia, and were due back again later this year.

This longer piece by Tamsin Rose on woolgrowers turning to the active wear market is well worth a read:

Updated

National Covid-19 update

Here are the latest coronavirus numbers from around Australia today, as the country records at least 11 deaths from Covid 19:

ACT

  • Deaths: 0
  • Cases: 799
  • In hospital: 45 (with three people in ICU)

NSW

  • Deaths: one
  • Cases: 17,450
  • In hospital: 1,171 (with 47 people in ICU)

Queensland

  • Deaths: one
  • Cases: 7,738
  • In hospital: 284 (with 13 people in ICU)

South Australia

  • Deaths: 0
  • Cases: 3,815
  • In hospital: 158 (with six people in ICU)

Victoria

  • Deaths: five
  • Cases: 7,466
  • In hospital: 209 (with 19 people in ICU)

Western Australia

  • Deaths: four
  • Cases: 7,197
  • In hospital: 215 (with 10 people in ICU)

Updated

The tributes to Labor senator Kim Carr continue to pour in, after the Victorian decided to quit politics amid an internal fight over his spot on the ticket.

I quite enjoyed this little story from AAP about an impending renovation of an Australian base on Macquarie Island:

Next time you’re sweating over a home renovation, spare a thought for the tradies on remote Macquarie Island who will be battling 90km/h winds and below-zero temperatures as they spruce up the subantarctic research station.

The Australian Antarctic Division’s icebreaker Nuyina has returned to Hobart after dropping 100 tonnes of cargo on the remote island halfway between Antarctica and Australia.

Manager of operations and safety Charlton Clark said members of the division’s 21-strong contingent will be working in harsh conditions to modernise the ageing facilities over the next year.

“They’re committing one of the most amazing Renovation Rescues,” Mr Clark said on Sunday.

“It’s not an easy environment to work in.”

The incoming station leader, Pete Pedersen, said the existing facilities on the World Heritage site were sparse and “quite rustic”.

“It’s been in a really harsh environment for such a long time,” Mr Pedersen said.

Macquarie Island staff monitor local wildlife including elephant seals, king penguins and the endangered wandering albatross.

The station also helps collect climate change data for the Bureau of Meteorology and other government agencies.

“Plenty on. Everyone will be busy,” Mr Pedersen said.

The modernisation of the station could take up to seven years, with dozens of old buildings needing to be turned into modern, energy efficient and research friendly homes for those who call it home in the summer months.

Research will continue as the site is upgraded, with the station hosting all the trappings of a small town, as doctors, plumbers and scientists live “cheek-to-jowl” with the local wildlife, Mr Pedersen said.

Mr Clark said the Nuyina battled eight-metre seas on its return to Hobart with more than 130 crew on board from a variety of Australia’s Antarctic research stations.

He described the icebreaker as a “Swiss Army knife”, able to haul tonnes of cargo and crew boats and launch helicopters.

Updated

Thanks to Royce, whose performance this weekend has been bested only by Lance Franklin. While we’re on Buddy, a reminder that you really should read this.

And that’s it for me on this fine Sunday afternoon. I’ll be leaving you in the capable hands of the legendary Nino Bucci who will take you through to close.

A New South Wales man has been charged after a shooting in Sydney’s west this morning.

Police responded to reports of a fight in a suburban street at 3am with members of the public saying a 39-year-old man had been shot in the leg and shoulder outside his home.

Upon arrival police arrested a 30-year-old man in connection with the incident and seized a pistol and shotgun from the scene. The man was taken to Fairfield police station, where he has been charged with intent to murder.

In an unrelated case in Queensland, a 56-year-old man being taken to hospital has allegedly attacked two paramedics before stealing their ambulance south of Bundaberg.

The alleged attack took place at 10.30pm last night when the man is said to have attacked a paramedic by punching him in the head before throwing an item at the driver. After the paramedics withdrew, the man stole the ambulance and fled.

Police found the ambulance a short distance away and arrested the man, who is expected to face charges of assault.

– with AAP

Updated

The independent candidate for Mackellar has backed an outgoing Liberal MP’s call for the creation of an independent infrastructure body to plan long-term projects in the national interest.

In a statement released on Sunday, Dr Sophie Scamps threw her support behind John Alexander’s call for an independent body to make long-term decisions about infrastructure funding:

If elected as the Independent MP for Mackellar I will push for this reform, also supported by Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe, as taxpayers and all hard-working Australians deserve much better.

Alexander, who is about to retire after 11 years in parliament, has attacked both major parties for being too focused on the short-term and using infrastructure projects to buy votes.

Scamps echoed these criticisms, saying the “short-termism” had resulted in “taxpayer money funding rorts like Scott Morrison’s commuter car park scheme instead of projects which are in the national interest”:

Too often, politicians in major parties only support common sense reforms when they leave office. If we want to see change, such as an independent infrastructure body and a national anti-corruption body established, we need more independents in Parliament.

Updated

Man drowns on Sydney's northern beaches

New South Wales police say a man has died after being pulled from the water on Sydney’s northern beaches today.

Emergency services were called to Palm Beach just after midday after reports a man had been pulled from the water unconscious.

Members of the public told officers they had found a surf ski floating in the water and reported it to volunteer Surf Life Savers.

After a search of the water, lifesavers found the man and brought him to shore where they performed CPR, but he died at the scene.

Authorities have yet to identify the man, who is believed to be in his 50s.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Sydney’s Palm Beach
Sydney’s Palm Beach. Photograph: aerial-photos.com/Alamy

Updated

SA records 3,815 new Covid cases, with no deaths

South Australia has reported 3,815 new Covid-19 cases overnight, with no deaths, 158 people in hospital, six in ICU and two on ventilation.

Updated

Taylor Hawkins had various substances in his system when he died, Colombian authorities say

The death of Taylor Hawkins, the drummer of US rock band Foo Fighters, is being investigated by Colombian authorities after he died at a hotel in Bogotá, Reuters reports.

The band announced late on Friday that Hawkins, 50, had died, but did not give a cause of death.

In a report late on Saturday, Colombia’s attorney general said an initial analysis including toxicological tests had found 10 types of substances, including THC found in marijuana, tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines and opioids.

It did not give a cause of death or say what volume of substances had been found in the analysis. It said it would continue with its investigation:

The National Institute of Legal Medicine continues the medical studies to get full clarification of the events that led to the death of Taylor Hawkins.

An ambulance was sent to the hotel after an emergency call reported a man experiencing chest pains, Bogotá’s health department said. Hawkins did not respond to CPR and was declared dead, it added.

The group had been set to perform at the Estereo Picnic festival near the Colombian capital. Festival organisers said the group was cancelling the rest of its South American tour. The band said in a tweet:

The Foo Fighters family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins. His musical spirit and infectious laughter will live on with all of us forever.

The US embassy in Bogotá said it was not in a position to comment on Hawkins’ death because of privacy issues.

Fans of the Foo Fighters have left candles and flowers outside Casa Medina hotel in Bogotá after the death of Taylor Hawkins
Fans of the Foo Fighters have left candles and flowers outside Casa Medina hotel in Bogotá after the death of Taylor Hawkins. Photograph: Mauricio Dueñas Castañeda/EPA

Updated

Thanks Nino. It’s good to be back, lunched and ready to rock. Speaking of, I really should check the legals on sharing music videos through the blog as a soundtrack.

It is my pleasure to hand you back to a suitably replenished Royce Kurmelovs for some afternoon delight. Enjoy!

Here is the full story on Labor senator Kim Carr bowing out of politics.

This piece by Jordyn Beazley is an interesting read about the shortage of EVs in Australia:

Updated

South-east Queensland braces for severe weather

South-east Queensland is again bracing for severe weather as a slow-moving and potentially dangerous system moves across the state, AAP reports.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a warning for more heavy rainfall and life-threatening flash floods.

A severe warning for the Sunshine Coast to the border extends to the Darling Downs, predicting thunderstorms and heavy downpours.

The coastal trough over south-east Queensland is expected to deepen, creating intense storm cells throughout today and tomorrow.

Six-hourly rainfall totals between 80mm and 140mm are possible, reaching up to 180mm over coastal areas and ranges.

The bureau says:

Intense rainfall leading to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding is possible with thunderstorms with six-hourly rainfall totals up to 250mm.

The warning comes as the clean-up continues after deadly floods triggered by the state’s wettest February in 130 years.

Weeks after the deluge, the Brisbane River has reopened to recreational boating after some 2,000 tonnes of debris were removed from the river.

CityCat ferry services remain suspended and are not expected to resume until April, according to Brisbane city council.

Updated

The Bureau of Meteorology is urging people to watch out for more flooding in the NSW northern rivers region.

Updated

WA records 7,197 new Covid cases and four deaths

Western Australia has reported 7,197 new Covid-19 cases to 8pm yesterday.

One death was recorded yesterday and three earlier deaths from other previous days were reported.

A man in his 80s died yesterday, with the other deaths a man in his 90s and women in their 60s and 80s.

There are 215 people with Covid-19 in hospital in WA, with 10 in ICU.

The full update is here.

Updated

Labor leader Anthony Albanese has paid tribute to Senator Kim Carr, who announced his retirement earlier today.

Albanese described Carr as a “tireless advocate for the cause of Labor” and a “passionate and resolute campaigner”.

Updated

Thanks to Royce for his unwavering commitment to blog excellence so far today. Let’s see what the afternoon brings us.

Updated

I’ll be taking a little break now, so I’ll be handing over to my colleague, the distinguished Nino Bucci, to take the helm for the next hour.

Updated

In a preview of the upcoming federal election, Scott Morrison is now talking about “choices” and working hard to cast Labor as big spenders with a leader who is “wishy-washy”.

The presser has wrapped up now.

Updated

Stuart Robert spends a bit of time promoting the governments credentials on boosting training and apprenticeships before the presser is opened to questions. I’m having trouble hearing the specific questions, but Scott Morrison is defending his government’s actions during the pandemic, saying they “saved the economy”:

Throughout the course of this pandemic, we have had to put in place the biggest economic support an Australian government has ever had to do to frankly save the economy.

He also throws a few barbs Labor’s way, claiming it “can’t stop spending” and describing its policy pitch as “Albonomics”.

Makes you wonder how long they’ve been workshopping those attack phrases.

Updated

Scott Morrison is speaking about the extra $365m for trade apprenticeships his government has announced, before zeroing in on the cost-of-living pressures that Labor has been talking about this morning:

The budget is all about ensuring that we deal with those immediate cost of living pressures which Australians are feeling all around the country because of ... fuel prices.

He then hands over to employment minister Stuart Robert who says:

The Morrison government is the best friend tradies have ever had.

Updated

Prime minister Scott Morrison is speaking in Perth now and spruiking his government’s economic credentials, his handling of the pandemic and the importance of Western Australia to the national economy:

We always understood that dealing with a pandemic was about saving lives. Yes, definitely saved over 40,000 lives. It was also about saving livelihoods.

Updated

Qantas to fly directly from Melbourne to Dallas from December

Travellers will be able to fly directly from Melbourne to the Texas city of Dallas for the first time from December.

The announcement of the route comes after the federal government confirmed on Friday it would scrap the inbound Covid testing requirement for overseas travellers from next month.

The Victorian government announced the new Qantas route on Sunday. Qantas will fly its Boeing 787 Dreamliner between the two cities four times a week – the first time a fight will directly connect Texas with Victoria.

Trade minister Martin Pakula said the new route would be a “great boom” for Victoria’s tourism sector:

To have for the first time, a direct flight between Melbourne and Texas is something we are very, very excited about.

Qantas will also double its Los Angeles to Melbourne service from four to eight flights a week, starting immediately.

Qantas will fly a Boeing 787 Dreamliner between Melbourne and Dallas four times a week
Qantas will fly a Boeing 787 Dreamliner between Melbourne and Dallas four times a week. Photograph: Bayne Stanley/Zuma Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock

Updated

Queensland reports 7,738 new Covid cases and one death

Queensland has recorded 7,738 new Covid-19 cases overnight with one death. There are 284 people with Covid in hospital and 13 in ICU.

Updated

A man in Adelaide’s northern suburbs was taken to hospital with a gunshot wound in his leg this morning.

Police patrols responded to reports of a disturbance at a home in Elizabeth Grove along Main North Road at 8am today when they found the man.

Paramedics treated him at the scene before he was taken to the Royal Adelaide hospital.

His injuries are not considered life threatening and northern district detectives are investigating.

Updated

Free public transport in Sydney for 12 days over Easter

Sydney commuters will be entitled to free public transport for 12 consecutive days across the Easter holidays, as the state government attempts to revitalise the CBD and make amends for last month’s 24-hour train shutdown.

The fare-free period will run from 14 April to 26 April, including the Anzac Day public holiday. The announcement comes after a long-running dispute between the NSW government and the state’s rail union over pay and workplace conditions that resulted in the state government ordering the shutdown of the city’s trains last month.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union had threatened to take weekly industrial action to force the government to offer fare-free Fridays to commuters until the end of June. NSW transport minister David Elliott said during the week that the government had reached an agreement with the union.

On Sunday Elliott said he hoped the deal would “set aside” the RTBU’s threat of further industrial action.

He said the deal had a dual purpose of compensating for the train shutdown and encouraging people to travel into the city:

We need to stimulate economic activity and Business Sydney were advocating in favour of these fare free days as a means to get people into the city, into Parramatta.

A closed Central station on 21 February
A closed Central station on 21 February. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP

Updated

The Bureau of Meteorology is warning of heavy rain and thunderstorms in central Queensland:

Updated

Labor’s Katy Gallagher says ‘mean girls’ label ‘diminishes women’

Labor senator Katy Gallagher has been speaking to Sky News and was asked about the “mean girls” label she and other Labor senators have been tagged with after the death of Kimberley Kitching.

Gallagher said she had no “disagreements, harsh words, difficult arguments” with Kitching beyond what was normal in politics:

I hadn’t heard that term before it was published in the paper so I can’t answer that really, it wasn’t a term I heard Kimberly used, it certainly wasn’t a term she used directly to me.

I think it’s an unfortunate term in the sense it does diminish women. And as I said, I can’t really answer more than that.

I don’t think I did anything that would deserve that name, but I don’t think any person deserves that name on any side of the political chamber.

Gallagher repeatedly refused to be drawn into a discussion about whether the late senator was bullied:

We’ve chosen not to respond to those [allegations in the media] not because we can’t defend ourselves but because the person who is involved is no long here. And I don’t know it is respectful to go into that detail when someone is not in a position to respond.

Updated

Good news from the ACT, which reports 799 new cases of Covid-19 overnight, with three people in ICU overnight and no deaths.

Updated

In 2020, more than 30,000 Australians moved to Queensland, largely from Victoria and New South Wales, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

In the 12 months to last September, ABS data shows Queensland’s population growing by almost 57,800 people, accounting for 84% of regional growth. This is in a period that Victoria’s population fell by more than 32,700 people.

Now there’s speculation these changing demographics could alter the course of next election – when it is finally called.

Updated

The NSW Labor opposition has outlined a plan for the state to rebuild and recover from the devastating floods that have left about 1,500 people in emergency accommodation and damaged or destroyed about 95,000 homes, AAP reports.

The federal and New South Wales governments were too slow to act in the immediate response and have been too slow in their support, NSW Labor has said in a statement today.

The plan calls for a number of measures to assist flood-impacted communities including waiving government fees and payroll tax, urgently requesting the federal government re-implement jobkeeper and a northern rivers-focused tourism and spending campaign.

The opposition also proposes the government make it easier for people to rebuild by getting rid of stamp duty, increasing existing structural repairs-to-homes grants and considering buy-back schemes for homes in high-risk areas.

Labor has additionally suggested one-off payments to branches of the SES to boost their equipment and capabilities and to help them update their lists of flood-prone contacts.

Updated

Jim Chalmers takes a swipe at the “colour-coded” spreadsheets used by the Coalition to allocate funding to Liberal sits but is then challenged by David Speers to name specific Coalition seats where Labor is committing funding to.

He responds by pointing to Labor policies like the installation of community batteries that will benefit Coalition seats:

The difference is, David, we’re looking for maximum community benefit and economic benefit while the government’s looking for maximum political benefit.

Federal shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers
Federal shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

Updated

Jim Chalmers says if elected Labor would look for cuts in the “billions of dollars being wasted on contractors and consultants in the public service”.

He also attacks the government for its “rorts and waste”:

Clearly there are lots of discretionary funds where ministers have been receiving funding for political purposes rather than for an economic dividend. So I think Australians should expect that we will look to trim the budget in areas where the government’s waste has been so egregious.

Updated

Labor shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers is on ABC’s Insiders now, where he’s hammering the government about cost-of-living pressures. He says the Coalition has a “deliberate design feature” in their policies to “undermine wages growing”.

On practical issues, Chalmers says Labor supports a pay rise for aged care workers:

It makes no sense to us, David – aged care workers are some of the most important workers in our country, in our communities.

Updated

NSW records one Covid death and 17,450 new cases

New South Wales has reported 17,450 new Covid-19 cases overnight, with one person dead, 1,171 hospitalisations and 47 people in ICU.

Updated

Victoria records five Covid deaths and 7,466 new cases

Victoria has reported 7,466 new Covid-19 cases overnight with five deaths, 260 people hospitalised, 19 in ICU and four on ventilation.

Updated

That’s ... a lot of water.

Updated

Victorian senator Kim Carr announces he is leaving politics

Labor’s Kim Carr has announced he will be stepping down from politics after nearly three decades in the federal Senate.

Here’s his full statement:

Updated

A man understood to be an Iranian national aged in his late 30s has died in the Villawood detention centre in Sydney, AAP reports.

The death was confirmed by Australia Border Force, which said the matter had been referred for investigation, including by the coroner. A spokesperson said:

We express our condolences to the man’s family and friends. As this matter will be subject to ongoing investigation, it would not be appropriate to comment further.

The man’s age and nationality were provided by the Refugee Action Coalition, which had been told he had not left his room for the past two weeks and was found dead about 1pm yesterday.

He had been detained in Villawood for two years, it said.

Updated

Good morning

And happy Sunday to those tuning into the live blog. I am Royce Kurmelovs and I’ll be taking you through all the events for the rest of this weekend.

As we set up for today here are the top stories from overnight and what we are expecting from today:

  • We are expecting a statement from Kim Carr about his future today after the Age reported the Labor senator will be stepping down.
  • Transport authorities have announced that commuters will be able to ride for free on the greater Sydney transport network for 12 days over Easter, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
  • Scott Morrison has defended his decision not to meet China’s new ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, saying to do so would have been “weakness”.
  • There is tension within the federal Coalition after deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce was forced to intervene to stop veteran’s affairs minister Andrew Gee from making a very public resignation.
  • We’re two days out from Tuesday’s budget, the last before the federal election, so you can expect the usual menu of leaks, chatter and veiled demands as MPs jostle for their electorates.

We’re going to get going in a moment. As things can get pretty hectic here, if you see something happening out there in Australia that you think should be on here in the live blog, my Twitter DMs are open at @RoyceRk2.

With that, let’s get started ...

Updated

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