What we learned: Tuesday, 16 August
And with that, we will close the blog for the day. Here’s what happened today:
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, announced that former PM Scott Morrison had appointed himself to five additional ministries, including Treasury and home affairs. The PM is expecting legal advice on the matter by Monday.
Morrison issued a lengthy statement on his Facebook page, apologising to colleagues, and saying he “had not recollected these arrangements” until today and added that the appointments were in the “national interest”.
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, called for “cooler heads to prevail” and did not call for Morrison to resign.
Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg was reportedly never informed by Morrison that the former PM had himself sworn in as treasurer.
Past and present MPs criticised Morrison for the move, including Zali Steggall, Bridget McKenzie, Karen Andrews, Pauline Hanson, Bridget Archer, and Malcolm Turnbull.
The NSW premier, Dominic Perrottet, said the recruitment process that gave John Barilaro a NY trade job was ‘flawed from the outset’, and announced changes to the Government Sector Employment Act.
Indigenous people will be able to give evidence about injustices committed against them in Queensland as part of the plans to sign a treaty with the state’s First Nations people.
A petition signed by more than 65,000 Victorians to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14 was been handed to crossbench MP Fiona Patten.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued an alert saying there is a 70% chance of a La Niña being declared later this year.
Victorians who have tested positive to Covid will be able to vote over the phone in the November election.
Across the country today, 73 people died from Covid.
Updated
Our democracy is precious. Our system relies on checks and balances, and the former government deliberately undermined those checks and balances. The Australian people deserve accountability and transparency, not secrecy. pic.twitter.com/fG8Y3Jcp3v
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) August 16, 2022
SA confirms second case of monkeypox
South Australia has recorded its second case of monkeypox, SA Health have confirmed.
The man, who recently returned from overseas, is currently isolating at home, with two close contacts identified and receiving advice, SA Health said in a statement.
There is no risk to public health.
SA Health continues to test people with illnesses compatible with MPX as needed.
Updated
