What we learned: Wednesday, 17 August
And with that, we will close the blog for the day. Here’s what happened today:
Opposition leader, Peter Dutton, said Scott Morrison made “the wrong call” by secretly swearing himself into five ministerial portfolios, but says the member for Cook has no reason to resign.
Morrison apologised to former home affairs minister Karen Andrews for secretly swearing himself in to her portfolio, after she revealed he hadn’t previously contacted her in the wake of the growing scandal.
Nationals leader in the Senate, Bridget McKenzie, said the former prime minister’s actions were a breach of the Coalition agreement, with Nationals leader David Littleproud also conceding it was “technically” a breach.
Once again, a host of political figures continued to criticise the former PM for his secret ministerial portfolio, including Chris Bowen, Michaelia Cash, David Littleproud and, of course, prime minister Anthony Albanese.
A constitutional expert has called the defence posed by governor general David Hurley, that he thought the appointments would be communicated, “bullshit”.
Australia’s jobless rate for July came in at 3.4%, the lowest since August 1974, according to the ABS.
Former prime minister John Howard has warned the voice to parliament may be “coercive” and criticised the PM for an apparent lack of detail.
Greens leader Adam Bandt called for two individual $5,000 payments for nurses and paramedics to deal with high levels of stress and burnout, and recognise their work during the pandemic.
The PM travelled to the Torres Strait to meet with First Nation leaders as he seeks to build momentum for an Indigenous voice to parliament.
This year’s NRL grand final will be played in Sydney, after a NSW-Queensland stoush over the showpiece event.
Seventy-nine Queensland police officers are being investigated regarding offensive Facebook posts which mocked domestic violence victims and implied police avoid responding to such incidents.
135 Covid-related deaths were recorded across the country today.
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Indonesian man jailed for role in Bali bombing to be released within days
A man accused of assembling the bombs used to carry out the Bali terrorist attack is reportedly due to be released from prison within days, after being granted an early release on Indonesia’s independence day.
The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that Umar Patek, who was sentenced to 20 years in jail in 2012 for his role in the 2002 Bali bombings in the Kuta district, will soon be able to walk free.
At his trial, he was accused of being the assembler of the explosives used that night, which ripped through the Sari Club and Paddy’s Irish Bar, killing 202 people including 88 Australians.
Patek was spared the death penalty after cooperating with authorities and apologising to victims’ families.
The remission of his sentence comes as Indonesia marks 77 years of independence from Dutch rule on Wednesday.
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Australian Anglican conservatives break away
Of the many must-reads on the site tonight, I must point you to Nino Bucci’s insightful read on the breakaway diocese in the Anglican church:
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