What we learned: Friday 19 August
And with that, we will close the blog for the day. Here’s what happened today:
Former prime minister Scott Morrison went on a meme spree last night, sharing and engaging with various jokes on his secret ministerial portfolios, adding that he was “feeling amused.”
The prime minister Anthony Albanese said the issues were not a “laughing matter”, joining another day of former and current parliamentarians sharing their thoughts on the matter, including Amanda Vanstone, Malcolm Turnbull, Angus Taylor and Sussan Ley.
Chris Bowen, the federal climate and energy minister, told the EV summit in Canberra that the previous government’s policy failures have made electric vehicles unaffordable for Australians.
Queensland police deputy commissioner Paul Taylor announced his resignation over lewd comments allegedly made at a police leadership conference in April.
Northern Territory police found missing five-year-old Grace Hughes in good health.
New South Wales Labor upper house MP Walt Secord announced he won’t contest the next state election after previously standing down from the party’s shadow cabinet amid allegations he bullied staff.
A group of Victorian coronavirus quarantine staff threw their colleague a farewell gathering during lockdown, prompting their employer to report them to police.
Australia will provide an additional $25m to help Sri Lanka meet urgent food and healthcare needs, as the country struggles with its worst economic crisis in 70 years.
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Wonderful to hear from women from across the Torres Strait at the leadership forum this morning on Horn Island. pic.twitter.com/pwqWPVIddj
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) August 19, 2022
And as always, Amanda Meade’s Weekly Beast is a must-read, this week covering the media scramble around Scott Morrison’s secret ministerial portfolios:
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