Australia politics live news: PM says Pacific leaders under ‘enormous pressure and influence’; at least 29 Covid deaths

China doesn’t ‘play by same rules’, PM warns of China’s influence in Pacific region; Labor’s frontbench to replace Albanese in physical campaign; WA premier Mark McGowan tests positive for Covid; Morrison attacks NSW independent commission against corruption for ‘sickening’ treatment of Gladys Berejiklian; NSW records 13 Covid deaths, Victoria records 16 — live updates

Queensland government to ease Covid isolation rules for close contactsAlbanese tests positive to Covid but vows to continue election fightFactcheck: the Coalition says Labor always ‘takes China’s side’, but are the parties’ positions so different?More than 50,000 older Australians died while waiting for approved home care since 2017, data showsGuardian Australia’s full federal election coverageGet our free news app; get our morning email briefing

Speaking to ABC Brisbane this morning, (he truly has been everywhere this morning) Scott Morrison was asked his thoughts on the ABC:

We continue to fund the ABC, we continue to keep up the pace on ensuring that it is a competent and professional broadcaster and particularly to support the work that the ABC does in regional areas.

I think the recent floods once again highlighted, I think the ABC at its best, and that’s when it’s providing important information in the middle of natural disasters and things of that nature.

At the start of this week [December 2021], the prime minister told reporters: “Gladys was put in a position of actually having to stand down and there was no findings of anything.”

Fact: Berejiklan resigned as premier in September, voluntarily.

Continue reading…

Read More

Law (Australia) | The Guardian