The past two weeks of Parliament are not consistent with the Morrison government’s strategy of winning an election based on its excellent management of the pandemic.
Victorians trapped in the midst of its fourth lockdown disaster are bracing for more pain after enduring a week of lies and blunders from their overbearing government.
4th Jun 2021 9:11 AM | Updated: 9:55 AM
A new purpose-built quarantine facility to be constructed in Victoria to house the highest-risk arrivals will expand the nation’s quarantine capacity, Scott Morrison says.
The federal government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Victorian government, agreeing to fund a $200 million construction of the facility, which will be located at either Mickleham or Avalon.
Speaking after meeting state and territory leaders at national cabinet on Friday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the commonwealth would fund the construction of the facility, while Victoria would cover its operating costs.
“That is a very welcome process that we have been through with the Victorian government. (It is) a very good proposal, one that I was very pleased with when I first saw it. I want to thank our officials, and the Victorian officials, working
Funding offer hands lockdown control back to the feds
The funding offer gives the Commonwealth an element of consistency and control over the states it has long been seeking.
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The states and the Commonwealth argued for months last year over a nationally accepted definition of a COVID-19 hotspot to bring some consistency to lockdowns.
That is, a nationally consistent trigger for implementing a lockdown, for what duration and over what geographical area.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud and Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the temporary COVID payment on Thursday.
Alex Ellinghausen
It all came to nothing and each state, motivated by their individual domestic political considerations and often conflicting medical advice, went their own way.
Victoria s snap-seven day lockdown is set to be extended for up to two weeks
Policymakers and health officials held late-night crisis talks on Tuesday
Victoria recorded six locally acquired cases on Wednesday from 51,033 tests
The rapidly-spreading outbreak has now climbed to 60 locally-acquired cases
Yet another vulnerable aged care facility is quarantined after being exposed
NSW issued an urgent alert that a Covid-positive case travelled across NSW