What happened on Monday 23 May, 2022
With that, we’ll finish our live coverage of the day’s news. Here’s a summary of the key developments:
- Anthony Albanese was sworn in as Australia’s 31st prime minister in Canberra on Monday morning, before boarding a flight to Tokyo for a Quad leaders meeting. While onboard the flight, he spoke with UK prime minister Boris Johnson.
- Barnaby Joyce has signalled the Nationals may abandon their support for net zero emissions after the Coalition’s election defeat, revealing he will consult his colleagues on whether to change course.
- New Zealand will continue to push the conversation on Australia’s “problematic” deportation policy with the incoming government under Albanese, prime minister Jacinda Ardern has said.
- Queenslanders will have access to free flu jabs across the state as the government seeks to curb rising cases.
- Former Liberal MPs Josh Frydenberg and Dave Sharma formally conceded to their teal independent challengers on Monday, however vote counting in some marginal seats is yet to indicate a clear winner.
Thanks for following along, we’ll be back to do it all again tomorrow.
Albanese speaks with UK PM Johnson
The new prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has just spoken with the UK’s prime minister, Boris Johnson, while on board a plane to Tokyo.
An Australian government spokesperson said the pair had a 25-minute call, describing it as a “frank and very positive” discussion about the strong relationship between the two countries.
The spokesperson said the new government’s determination to act on climate change and support for Aukus were both discussed in the call.
Whistleblowers have alleged Meta may have breached Australia’s foreign interference laws by deliberately blocking Australian government Facebook pages and websites as a negotiating tactic during the debate over the news media bargaining legislation.
US-based legal organisation Whistleblower Aid filed a disclosure with the US Department of Justice and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in early May on behalf of former Facebook employees alleging that Facebook had deliberately over-blocked pages as a means of negotiating a better outcome in the negotiations over legislation to force Meta to pay Australian media companies for news content.
In February 2021, Australian news sites, along with non-news sites including charities and government pages such as health department and emergency services pages, were blocked from access and people were unable to access or share content from those pages as Meta stepped up its opposition to the news media bargaining legislation.
Meta has strongly denied the allegations, insisting the block of non-news sites was accidental.
Read more:
Notification of resignation of the Hon Scott Morrison MP as Prime Minister #ausvotes pic.twitter.com/wQYChnxpXb
— Political Alert (@political_alert) May 23, 2022
As we noted here earlier today, the markets response to the election of an Albanese Labor government was expected to be “muted”... and so it was.
Actually stocks could hardly have been more inert. For the day, the ASX200 benchmark ended up just 0.05%, or 3.3 points, to 7148.9.
The Australian dollar perked up a bit, rising half a US cent to nudge above 71 US cents.
On the homefront, literally, the property market had a relatively quiet week with auction activity down more than 40% on the previous week as the election discouraged sales.
Still, of the 2879 tracked auctions, the combined capitals’ preliminary clearance rate slipped to its lowest level so far this year, to 62.9%, CoreLogic said, citing preliminary figures. This ratio will likely sink further as numbers filter in later this week.
Melbourne and Sydney typically dominate auction sales, with the clearance rate of the former at 61.9% and the latter, 61.7%. Again, these numbers usually shrink further. (Canberra, where the political focus has shifted, was steady at 76% - presumably there will be extra comings and goings in the next little while).
Economists, meanwhile, are watching China closely for signs about whether the world’s second biggest economy (and easily Australia’s biggest trade partner) can avert a second big Covid contraction. That country’s central bank has lately cut its lending rate again to stem the slowdown because the prospects are dimming.
Australia's biggest trade partner China is not doing so well at all lately, as it battles to stamp out Covid. pic.twitter.com/FYgn3pRZPj
— Peter Hannam (@p_hannam) May 23, 2022
Economists are always on the hunt for indicators that reveal what’s really going on. (Chinese stats tend to be published very soon after a period ends and are rarely revised.) ANZ, for instance, has this neat chart of excavator sales that give an early warning of construction activity. That helps iron ore price forecasts (which the incoming government will hope stay high).
@ANZ_Research digs up this interesting chart about China... pic.twitter.com/v1P9Kukvn6
— Peter Hannam (@p_hannam) May 23, 2022
Meanwhile, we’re seeing a lot of things getting more expensive. High lithium prices might be good for miners in Australia...but they might not be great for those hoping electric vehicles are going to come down in price in a hurry.
Might be hard to keep a lid on battery prices given this run-up in prices. (h/t @ANZ_Research ) pic.twitter.com/TGVr4HC4P8
— Peter Hannam (@p_hannam) May 23, 2022
Updated
Second person in NSW dies of Japanese encephalitis
New South Wales health authorities have announced a man in his 60s from the Cowra area who was diagnosed with Japanese encephalitis virus in early March, died at Albury Base Hospital on Friday.
In a statement, NSW Health said “to date a total of 13 NSW residents have been infected with JE and two have died”. “While evidence shows mosquito numbers have declined, it remains important that people throughout the state continue to take steps to avoid mosquito bites.”
NSW Health said:
People considered higher risk for exposure include workers in piggeries, animal transport, veterinarians and students working with pigs, laboratory workers handling Japanese encephalitis, entomologists and others engaging in animal and mosquito trapping for surveillance. NSW Health encourages people in these groups to talk to their GP about getting a JE vaccine.
The JE virus is spread by mosquitoes and can infect animals and humans. The virus cannot be transmitted between humans, and it cannot be caught by eating pork or other pig products.
There is no specific treatment for JE, which can cause severe neurological illness with headache, convulsions and reduced consciousness in some cases.”
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has conceded Labor lost the federal seat of Griffith to a “more structured” Greens campaign which served as a warning for all politicians to be “in touch” with the issues in their communities.
Max Chandler-Mather won the inner-city Brisbane seat of Griffith from Terri Butler on the back of what he described in his victory speech on Saturday night at the “best campaign team in Australian political history”.
A small army of Greens door knocked for more than a year in the lead up to the election, picking up on issues such as anger at increased aircraft noise and providing services such as cleaning homes inundated in the February floods.
“I think Terri Butler worked very hard but, obviously in this case, there was a more structured, probably, maybe, more structured campaign,” the premier said at a press conference on Monday.
Elizabeth Watson-Brown also won nearby Ryan from the LNP and fellow Green Stephen Bates is narrowly ahead of Labor’s Madonna Jarrett in the seat of Brisbane, which was also held by the LNP in a night the party described as a tectonic shift in Australian politics.
With 65.9% of ballots counted in Griffith, Chandler-Mather won a swing of 12.5% of the primary vote, with a -2.4% swing against Butler placing her third.
Palaszczuk said the wave of teal independents and Greens had sent a message that the public was “sick and tired of the adversarial nature that comes from the two major parties” and that there was “a mood out there for governments to listen”.
“I just think people need to be really aware of the issues that are in their local community,” she said. “They are the people who will get elected.”
Monique Ryan says 'work begins anew' after Josh Frydenberg concedes
Monique Ryan has thanked Josh Frydenberg for his service and wished him good luck, after he conceded she had won his former seat of Kooyong at Saturday’s election.
Frydenberg, the former treasurer, conceded he wouldn’t win the seat on Monday afternoon. Ryan said he called her to give congratulations.
In a statement, Ryan said:
I thanked Mr Frydenberg for his 12 years of service to the people of Kooyong and for his time in parliament and in the government. I wish him well in all his future endeavours.
Now, the work begins anew. Our team is preparing for the next step, helping ready me for entering parliament and immediately beginning work on our community’s priorities: real and urgent action on climate change, a strong federal integrity commission, and equality, respect, and safety for women.
Ryan thanked her campaign team - “2,000 volunteers, 3,000 donors, 4,000 yard signs, 55,000 doors knocked, and thousands of supporters” - saying her win was “as much for them as it is for me”.
She said:
Throughout the campaign, it’s been important that we bring the whole community with us so that the entire electorate’s values can be represented in Canberra. The work of ‘chopping wood and carrying water’ hasn’t stopped. It’s only just begun.
Updated
Liberal MP Paul Fletcher, who retained his northern Sydney seat of Bradfield despite a teal independent challenge that claimed his party colleagues in neighbouring seats, has hit out at post election “analysis coming from people who are not friends of the Liberal party” about his party’s internal affairs.
Fletcher also defended former prime minister Scott Morrison for not seriously campaigning in the seats that ultimately fell to teal independents, and rejected the idea it was negligent of the party not to replace Morrison as leader before the election due to his unpopularity.
Speaking to ABC TV’s afternoon briefing, Fletcher said his party needed to understand that voters who voted strongly for teal independents, such as in his seat, were “sending a very clear message” about their desire for strong climate policies.
However Fletcher suggested his policies were equal to that of his independent challenger, Nicolette Boele, and that instead, the Liberals need to “better communicate our commitment to net zero by 2050” as opposed to change policy.
He added:
I think there is also a clear message there about having a strong focus as a Liberal party on measures to ensure that women have equality of opportunity, equality of outcome in the workforce and many other aspects of life. Integrity commission, of course, we have a very detailed plan for an integrity commission. It has been criticised but I make the point, we have nearly 350 pages of legislation.”
Fletcher also appeared to criticise the independent movement for being “able to run without much detail on what they are proposing to do” and claimed they were “held to a lower standard than political parties”.
“There is a bit of a vibe around at the moment that it is great to have more and more independents. You know, the stability that our two-party system has delivered over many decades is in my view a good thing. You can tend to take these things for granted until suddenly you don’t have them,” he said.
Fletcher refused to comment on Liberal party leadership speculation, and suggested “there is a lot of analysis coming from people who are not friends of the Liberal party and who are choosing this opportunity to try and get their spin into it”.
Updated
Before jetting off to the Quad summit, Anthony Albanese confirmed Australia’s parliament will meet before the end of July, and he has already asked for work to begin on an anti-corruption commission.
We’ve taken a look at that and seven other top priorities for the new prime minister and his Labor government.
The Western Australia premier, Mark McGowan, on suggestions Peter Dutton will succeed Scott Morrison as leader of the federal Liberal party:
McGowan on Dutton today: “He’s an extremist. And I don’t think he fits with modern Australia at all. And he doesn’t seem to listen. He’s extremely conservative... I actually don’t think he’s that smart. I’ve seen him present on things. I don’t really think there’s much there.” pic.twitter.com/vd04SDV0os
— Chelsea Morning (@Chels_E_Morning) May 23, 2022
Updated
ACT records 622 Covid cases, no deaths
The ACT has provided its daily Covid update.
There have been 622 Covid cases recorded in the past 24 hours and no further deaths.
There are 91 people being treated in hospital with the virus including four people requiring ICU and two on ventilators.
ACT COVID-19 Update – 23 May 2022
— ACT Health (@ACTHealth) May 23, 2022
💉 COVID-19 vaccinations
◾ Aged 5-11 years (1 dose): 80.6%
◾ Aged 5-11 years (2 doses): 67.4%
◾ Aged 5+ years (2 doses): 97.2%
◾ Aged 16+ years (3 doses): 76.2% pic.twitter.com/g0X6iyioAM
NT records 153 new Covid cases, no deaths
The Northern Territory government has provided its daily Covid update.
There have been 153 new cases of Covid in the territory overnight and no further deaths. It brings active cases to 1,743.
There were 81 cases recorded in the Top End region, 23 in Central Australia, three in East Arnhem, 11 in the Big Rivers region, nine in the Barkly region and 26 are under investigation.
There are currently 17 patients in hospital including three requiring oxygen and one in intensive care.
Updated
With that, I will pass you on to the capable hands of Elias Visontay who will keep you company for the rest of the day.
ACT Senate hopeful and former rugby player, David Pocock, was just doorstopped as he came out of an interview in the Sky studios.
Three minutes after questioning him about what he would do on a number of subjects should his Senate bid prove successful, the progressive independent was asked the very important question of whether he would lace up his boots for the weekly politicians versus gallery members touch football match.
After saying he “hadn’t laced on the boots in quite a while” he seemed to leave the door open to an appearance on the Senate oval.
Roughing up journalists might seem more appealing after he’s been subjected to a few more press conferences.
Updated
Labor’s finance spokesperson and interim minister for women, Katy Gallagher, has spoken to reporters at Parliament House.
Gallagher was asked about the deputy Senate leadership, because Kristina Keneally’s unsuccessful move to contest a lower house seat leaves Labor with a gender balance problem: in the lower house, it is led by two men (Anthony Albanese and Richard Marles) and some argue another woman is needed to act as Penny Wong’s deputy in the Senate.
Gallagher said:
All of those are decisions for the caucus … Obviously gender equality is a big issue and Labor has had a very proud record, and Anthony has shown a lot of leadership on that. These are matters of the caucus to consider … at its first meeting.
The message we’re sending, and there was definitely a strong female vote on the weekend reflected in the candidates that have won seats and taken seats particularly from the government, the title of minister for women was reflected in the interim ministry today.
This is an area where you will see a big difference between the new government and the previous government – that’s how serious the prime minister is about it and making sure we send a strong message around the fact women are respected and will take their rightful place in parliament.
Ultimately, those are matters for Labor internally in our caucus processes.
It’s not a simple issue for Labor. Gallagher is from the left faction and if she took the post, three of the four leadership positions would be held by the left. The right’s Don Farrell is the most senior but is not a woman.
Updated
SA records no deaths, 3,127 Covid cases
South Australia has provided today’s daily Covid update.
There have been 3,127 new cases overnight and no further deaths.
There are 238 people being treated in hospital with the virus including 10 in ICU and none requiring ventilation.
South Australian COVID-19 update 23/05/22.
— SA Health (@SAHealth) May 23, 2022
For more information, go to https://t.co/XkVcAmeZ6V or contact the South Australia COVID-19 Information Line on 1800 253 787. pic.twitter.com/o8uGpF9Ykr
The Antipoverty Centre says it will continue to criticise Labor’s policy on welfare recipients as long as they continue hold the same positions as the Coalition on refusing to raise the jobseeker payment.
Kristin O’Connell, an Antipoverty Centre spokesperson and disability support pension recipient, called on the government to act on the commitment they made to welfare recipients – abolishing compulsory income control programs, including the cashless debit card and basics card, without delay:
No child born today in similar circumstances to Albanese will have the opportunities he did.
No more excuses. Poverty is a political choice. We need enough money to live more than you need a budget surplus and you have the power to make sure no one is forced to live in poverty.
Jay Coonan, an Antipoverty Centre spokesperson and jobseeker recipient, said a new government must mean a “new agenda”.
Albanese must be true to the comments in his victory speech – he must ensure ending poverty is at the heart of his government’s plan.
The language of austerity being peddled by incoming ministers must be abandoned, along with their commitment to further starve the poorest while lining the pockets of the wealthiest.
Jeremy Poxon, an Abolish Work for the Dole campaign spokesperson and jobseeker recipient, said the Labor party had a “clear mandate” to end “exploitation that the community, which elected them, no longer finds tolerable”.
Updated
⚠️ #Minor to Major Flood Warning issued for the Culgoa, Birrie, Bokhara and Narran Rivers. See https://t.co/AdztI2rqg1 for details and updates; follow advice from @NSWSES. #NSWFloods pic.twitter.com/v6XNaXlq68
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) May 23, 2022
The Western Australia premier, Mark McGowan, has launched a blistering attack on members of the federal press gallery who followed Anthony Albanese’s election campaign, accusing them of “lies” and “intimidating and bullying” the new prime minister at press conferences.
McGowan, who joined Albanese for several media events in Perth during the six-week campaign, claimed he’d been left “shocked and appalled” by the behaviour of some in the Canberra-based media press pack, who attracted ongoing criticism from Labor supporters and some veteran journalists for combative questioning and interjections.
“Screaming and interrupting, and rude, and insulting, intimidating and bullying,” McGowan said at his own press conference in Perth on Monday:
The sort of thing in a workplace, you’d get sacked for. They need to reflect on their behaviour. I’ve never seen anything like it.
Here is @MarkMcGowanMP slamming the behaviour of the press pack towards @AlboMP during the campaign. 👇🏽 pic.twitter.com/8X6UWsYmcR
— Guy Garconnette (@GarconAU) May 23, 2022
McGowan joined Albanese for one particularly robust media opportunity at a factory in Perth on the last weekend of the campaign, where the Labor leader came under repeated and loud questioning over his party’s election costings.
Journalists who felt Albanese was avoiding questions constantly interjected, demanding he answer more directly, before the then opposition leader ended the press conference after only a handful of questions.
Several reporters followed Albanese out of the area as he walked off, voicing further questions. McGowan, left standing at the podium, called the media behaviour “madness”.
On Monday, he reflected further on that encounter:
Anthony’s trying to answer a question and they’re basically talking over him and being rude, and then muttering and being insulting.
He hit out at subsequent reporting that Albanese had “fled” the press conference, calling it “lies”.
Updated
Frydenberg has now formally conceded the loss of his seat of Kooyong to independent challenger Monique Ryan.
“Today I rang Dr Monique Ryan to congratulate her on the election result in Kooyong and wished her well for the term ahead,” Frydenberg said in a statement, posted to Twitter on Monday afternoon.
“I now look forward to spending more time with my beautiful family,” he said.
Frydenberg, formerly tipped as a future Liberal leader, had resisted making a formal concession until today, noting it was still “mathematically” possible for him to retain Kooyong on the back of postal votes still to be counted.
“Every day I have given the job my all,” he said.
Ryan tweeted she had “just received a call from Mr Frydenberg” and that she would “be making a media statement shortly”.
Updated
Somehow fitting that @SkyNewsAust is interviewing @pocockdavid about climate action when this news flashes on the screen… pic.twitter.com/rXFsRRvdDY
— Peter Hannam (@p_hannam) May 23, 2022
Updated
Josh Frydenberg concedes Kooyong to independent Monique Ryan
Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg has conceded Kooyong to independent candidate Monique Ryan.
Josh Frydenberg has conceded Kooyong
— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) May 23, 2022
in a video message: "I now look forward to spending more time with my beautiful family" https://t.co/yFstSeN26s
Today, I contacted Dr Monique Ryan to congratulate her on the election result in Kooyong.
— Josh Frydenberg (@JoshFrydenberg) May 23, 2022
It’s been an incredible privilege to have served as the local member for the last 12 years.
Kooyong, thank you. pic.twitter.com/T6aMK53Zl5
Ryan will make a media statement shortly.
I've just received a call from Mr Frydenberg.
— Dr Monique Ryan (@Mon4Kooyong) May 23, 2022
I'll be making a media statement shortly.
Updated
Here is a really interesting chart from data reporter Nick Evershed, on the declining vote towards major parties. As the chart shows, this is a long running trend.
The chart shows the percentage of primary votes going to Labor and the Coalition in every election since 1949, with the most recent count from the 2022 election added at the end.
This shows the 2022 election result, with voters looking elsewhere besides the two major parties, is just the latest in a long-running trend:
In 1951, almost 98% of votes went to the two major parties. In the election just held, this number is currently down to an all-time low of 68.5%. This might change slightly as further results are counted, but it’s unlikely to shift too much.
Thanks to Ben Raue for the historical data for this chart, and you read more about the declining major party vote on his blog here.
Updated
At this stage it’s looking like a majority government for Labor following the swearing in of Anthony Albanese as Australia’s 31st prime minister.
The AEC shows Labor now with 76 seats - this could change back as counting continues - but looking like there will be a majority government for Anthony Albanese#auspol @SBSNews
— Krishani Dhanji (@KrishaniDhanji) May 23, 2022
The 2022 election was held and Hon Anthony Albanese MP has been sworn in as the 31st Prime Minister of Australia.
— Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (@pmc_gov_au) May 23, 2022
https://t.co/bruvDDYRvN pic.twitter.com/jLK9RLJQZA
Meanwhile, the Nationals are tearing themselves apart over climate change.
Barnaby Joyce has signalled the party may abandon their support for net zero emissions after the Coalition’s election defeat, revealing he will consult his colleagues on whether to change course.
Our reporter Daniel Hurst has the story:
Updated
In “Greensland”, the premier hopes we will have “more dialogue in our media outlets” on climate change following the public’s rejection of the former federal government.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk upon being asked if she will adopt more ambituous carbon emissions targets with the election of a federal Labor government.
— @MartySilk (@MartySilkHack) May 23, 2022
"We have a clear target and we'll continue to focus on it." #auspol #qldpol
Queensland Premier .@AnnastaciaMP on the future of climate change policy #auspol
— @MartySilk (@MartySilkHack) May 23, 2022
"Unfortunately, the former federal government did not embrace what the community was talking about, thinking and saying, and hopefully now we will have more dialogue in our media outlets as well."
Updated
Tasmania records one Covid death and 723 new cases
Tasmania’s premier and health minister, Jeremy Rockliff, has provided the state’s daily Covid update.
There have been 723 new cases overnight and, sadly, one death – a woman in her 80s from the state’s north. Active cases are now sitting at 5,952.
There are 51 people in hospital with Covid including 26 being treated for the virus and one in ICU.
Rockliff:
I extend my sincere condolences to the woman’s family, friends, and loved ones in this extremely difficult and sad time.
We are continuing to see day-to-day fluctuations in case numbers, but overall, cases are trending downwards across the last seven days compared to the peak seen earlier this month.
Our hospitalisations remain among the lowest in the nation, and we expect to see the number of people in hospital for Covid decline over the next few weeks.
Updated
And he’s off.
Today I am heading to Japan for the Quad Leaders’ Summit along with Foreign Minister @SenatorWong.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) May 23, 2022
I am honoured to represent Australia at this important forum.
I look forward to meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida, US President Biden and Indian Prime Minister Modi. pic.twitter.com/7X1AsPNeFS
New figures show a remarkable number of Australians cast their vote using the hastily-expanded phone voting system due to Covid.
Data from the Australian Electoral Commission shows 74,255 voters who were Covid-19 positive used the phone voting system, along with 2,794 blind or low vision Australians and 65 citizens working in Antarctica.
The total of 77,114 phone votes dwarfs that of the 2019 election, when just 2,000 votes were taken by the phone service.
It’s a remarkable feat for the AEC. Early on in the election campaign, it had warned of the potential for “teething” issues and significant delays using the phone service, given its expanded use for Covid positive cases.
Those warnings came before the AEC made a second, last-minute expansion to phone voting after a furore about the cut-off date for eligibility, which threatened to disenfranchise significant numbers of voters.
Many voters reported on Saturday a seamless experience using the phone voting service, despite the added demand.
Updated
Queensland will offer residents free influenza vaccinations, ahead of predictions of a “significantly bad” flu season.
The premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, says the state has about 4,000 influenza cases, including 10 people in intensive care. She said cost-of-living pressures might prevent people from paying for a vaccination:
@AnnastaciaMP announces FREE flu shots for Qlders from tomorrow as cases of Influenza A skyrocket . 1,848 cases to 4,282 in the last week @7NewsBrisbane pic.twitter.com/2e3NrUW3s7
— Marlina Whop (@MarlinaWhop) May 23, 2022
We don’t want to see people ending up in our hospitals.
The health minister, Yvette D’ath, said the state expects cases to double in the next two to three weeks – up to about 500 hospital admissions.
“And that won’t be the peak,” D’ath said.
New: Queensland government to give free flu vaccines in GPs and pharmacies to all residents amid a growing outbreak of influenza A Cases doubling every week and more than 4k so far this year @brisbanetimes pic.twitter.com/wkY6Rl2Clk
— Matt Dennien (@mattdennien) May 23, 2022
Updated
National Covid-19 summary
Here are the latest coronavirus case numbers from around Australia on Monday, as the country records at least 11 deaths from Covid-19:
ACT
- Deaths: 0
- Cases: 622
- In hospital: 91 (with 4 people in ICU)
NSW
- Deaths: 5
- Cases: 7,178
- In hospital: 1,236 (with 35 people in ICU)
Northern Territory
- Deaths: 0
- Cases: 153
- In hospital: 17 (with 1 person in ICU)
Queensland
- Deaths: 0
- Cases: 3,534
- In hospital: 401 (with 17 people in ICU)
South Australia
- Deaths: 0
- Cases: 3,127
- In hospital: 238 (with 10 people in ICU)
Tasmania
- Deaths: 1
- Cases: 723
- In hospital: 51 (with 1 person in ICU)
Victoria
- Deaths: 5
- Cases: 8,971
- In hospital: 555 (with 29 people in ICU)
Western Australia
- Deaths: 0
- Cases: 10,013
- In hospital: 323 (with 9 people in ICU)
Updated
An indication of the cost of living – wholesale power prices – are continuing to rise.
Wholesale power prices in the National Electricity Market have continued to rise. pic.twitter.com/DjH0GGPdHX
— Peter Hannam (@p_hannam) May 23, 2022
Updated
Western Australia records no Covid deaths, 10,013 new cases
WA Health has provided the state’s daily Covid update.
There have been 10,013 new cases detected to 8pm last night, bringing active cases to 87,103, and no deaths recorded.
Updated
Many thanks to Cait Kelly for keeping us informed this morning. I’ll be with you for the next little while.
And with that, I am going to hand you over to Caitlin Cassidy – who will walk you through the lunchtime news.
Thank you for spending the morning with me.
Updated
From AAP:
There is hope the Tamil family taken from their home in Biloela four years ago will return for daughter Tharnicaa’s fifth birthday in just under three weeks.
The incoming federal treasurer, Jim Chalmers, wants the family to return to the central Queensland town “as soon as possible” and is expecting to be briefed on the matter this week.
“As a Queenslander born and bred, sometimes we get unnecessarily caricatured about our approach to some of these sorts of issues,” Chalmers told ABC radio Brisbane on Monday.
“But Biloela is a big hearted, warm, welcoming town and the sooner we can get that beautiful family home to Bilo, the better.”
Updated
From AAP:
Lightweight single-use plastic bags will be banned in New South Wales next week with a swathe of other disposable items to follow suit in a bid to stop billions of bits of plastic litter entering the environment over the next 20 years.
The state environment minister, James Griffin, said the ban, which comes into force on 1 June, is the first step in a plan to rid the state of many single-use plastic items and packaging which make up 60% of all litter in NSW.
“I think all of us can see the impact plastic pollution is having on our environment,” Griffin said on Monday.
The ban on lightweight single-use bags will be followed by a ban on more problematic plastics, such as cutlery and plates from November.
“Single-use plastic is used by many of us for just a few convenient minutes, but it remains in our environment for many years, eventually breaking into microplastics,” Griffin said.
Stopping the supply of plastic would help prevent it becoming litter or going into landfill, he said.
“I encourage everyone to choose to go plastic-free as often as they can.”
Updated
Lismore residents are being warned they could be hit with more floods as rain continues in northern New South Wales.
The region has already endured repeated severe flooding in recent months and the Bureau of Meteorology is warning more could be on the way after rain over the weekend.
From AAP:
Western Australia should have strong representation in Anthony Albanese’s cabinet after the state’s overwhelming support for Labor at the federal election, the premier, Mark McGowan, says.
Labor picked up four seats in WA with double-digit swings across a number of electorates.
McGowan said it would be good for WA to have more MPs on the government side in the new parliament and that should also be reflected in the ministry.
“I do think they need to have strong representation from Western Australia,” the premier told reporters on Monday.
“There’s lots of ambition and there’s lots of talented people and not everyone who wants a role can get it. That’s the reality.”
“I just urge them to have strong representation from WA.”
McGowan said he believed the Coalition government’s stoush with WA over border closures at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic was a “big factor” in the election result in the west.
In particular, he singled out the commonwealth’s decision to intervene in support of mining magnate Clive Palmer’s court challenge of the border rules.
“It was a terrible decision. It was bad for health, it was bad for the economy and it was stupid,” the premier said.
Updated
The Queensland Liberal National party senator James McGrath sent a post-election email to his supporters calling members of Labor and the Greens “window lickers” and comparing the party’s election showing to a cowpat.
One party member described the missive as “bizarre”, amid concerns from a dwindling number of progressive liberals that the LNP won’t recognise the imperative to pivot to respond to a historically poor vote in Brisbane’s inner-city and suburbs.
McGrath said he was “gutted” for departing MPs Trevor Evans and Julian Simmonds, who suffered primary vote swings of more than 10% in their inner-Brisbane seats.
McGrath wrote:
I’m not going to slice up some kiwi fruit with passionfruit onto a cowpat and tell you it is a chocolate pavlova.
Last night was bad. While Labor had a primary swing against them, we lost.
But no-one likes a whiner.
Please join with me and your fellow members and supporters as we rebuild. Let’s take the time to think and plan and work.
The dream that is Australia is too important to leave to the window-lickers in the Labor Party and the Greens.
Bandt is asked if the Greens will get rid of negative gearing:
Our plan is for the government to start building affordable houses that people can buy into for $300,000, or rent for 25% of their income.
But yes, we do need to have a look at those unfair handouts that are going to property moguls. The position that we took to the election and that we’ll continue to push for is this – mum and dad investors who have got one investment home, that’s fair enough.
But for people who have got five, six or seven homes, why is the government then giving them a handout? But the government shouldn’t be using public money to make homes for people who have already got five and six and seven more expensive for people who haven’t got one.
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Bandt is asked what his non-negotiables will be in the coming parliament.
We’re going to have to wait and see what the parliament finally looks like. We’ve got the biggest crossbench in the House of Representatives that it’s ever seen, and the Greens are in the balance of power in the Senate. But we’ve got some very clear priorities.
We have to tackle the climate crisis. And that starts with coal and gas. We have to have a plan for coal and gas. We can’t open up new coal and gas mines. You can’t put the fire out while you’re pouring petrol on it.
So we’ve been very clear that in this parliament, we have to come up with a plan for coal and gas, but that supports the coal and gas workers and communities as we transition. That is critical.
Bandt says the party also wants to deal with rising inequality.
But we’ve got to look at the question of housing. Young people can’t afford to buy a home, and even renting is out of reach for many.
We’ve got to do something about it. We’ve got a very wealthy country, but people are living in poverty. People can’t afford to put a roof over their head. And many people can’t even go to the dentist because they can’t afford to pay for it.
We are at real risk of going down the road of becoming a US-style society. That’s why I’m so pleased that there’s been a change of government.
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Adam Bandt says Greens support will be critical for new government
Adam Bandt has been speaking in Brisbane. He says he congratulated the new PM this morning.
The reality is – whether Labor gets over the line with a slim majority, or whether they’re in minority, it doesn’t change the basic fact that the two-party system as we know is over. Labor’s vote went down this election. The Liberal vote went down. It was the Greens vote that went up.
And we now have a situation where, across the country, roughly one third votes for the Coalition, roughly one third voted for Labor and a third of people this this country want someone else.
So there’s now an obligation on all of us to work together, and whether Labor’s got a minority or a very small majority doesn’t change the fact that the Greens are now the most powerful third party in the Parliament.
He says the Greens support will be critical to getting things done.
Our support in the Senate is going to be critical to getting things done. And we want to have an open and cooperative relationship with the new government, because there’s so many issues that we’re confronting and we’re going to have to work through a lot over the next few years and the Greens are up for that.
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New South Wales environment minister, James Griffin, has refused to say if he voted for controversial Liberal candidate for Warringah, Katherine Deves, at the weekend, noting there should have been a “full and thorough preselection” in the seat.
Speaking at a cafe in Randwick ahead of the state’s plastic bag ban, Griffin said the federal Liberal party needed to listen to communities.
He said:
I think a full and thorough preselection should have occurred in Warringah and that would have arrived at a good outcome in terms of the candidate that we had there. The [national] result speaks for itself.
They need to do some reflection and understand that they’ve got to appreciate and their policies have to reflect the broad concerns of people in our society.
You’ve got to be a good hardworking local member and you also have to have policies that reflect the wishes and concerns of your local communities.
Asked if he was concerned about challenges from progressive independents at next year’s state election, he said good local members would be rewarded at the ballot box.
Having had the privilege to represent the beautiful seat of Manly for the past five years, I think it goes to the heart of: if you understand and appreciate what your community wants and you reflect their concerns and you’re a good local MP, then they will respond in turn when it comes to election time.
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One other campaign to keep an eye on is the fight over the future of AGL, Australia’s biggest electricity generator, with a 15 June deadline.
That’s when shareholders will get to vote on a plan by climate activist and billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes to block the company’s plan to demerge into separate generator and retailing companies.
Cannon-Brookes needs a vote of 25% to foil the demerger, and controls more than 11%, making him the biggest single shareholder. In his view, the defeat of the Morrison government works in his favour.
“This was an election won and lost on climate. Australians want action and are asking for a stronger stance, as did AGL shareholders who voted for a Paris Agreement aligned future last year,” Cannon-Brookes says in a statement.
“The AGL Board should pay attention to its shareholders and the mood of the country. A demerger plan that is not aligned to Paris targets is not going to fly.”
The result “suggests Australia has its sights set on a brighter future and the opportunities that decarbonisation will bring. AGL should not be left behind”, he said.
AGL’s shares were recently unchanged for the day at $8.63.
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Queensland records 3,534 new Covid cases and no deaths
Queensland has recorded no Covid deaths overnight but 3,534 new cases.
There are 401 people in hospital and of those 17 are in ICU.
Today we have recorded 3,534 new COVID-19 cases.
— Queensland Health (@qldhealth) May 23, 2022
We have reported 0 deaths in the past 24 hours.
Full details➡️ https://t.co/MyDwPPzP2F pic.twitter.com/RuiCeCzJkM
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Melbourne to host world swimming championships
The world swimming championships will be held in Melbourne later this year, after the event was originally scheduled to take place in Kazan, Russia.
The Victorian government this morning confirmed the switch of venue to the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, with the meet to run from 13 to 18 December.
Around 60,000 swimming fans are expected to attend the event, which will feature the likes of homegrown swimmers Ariarne Titmus, Emily Seebohm and Mitch Larkin, along with international stars such as Caeleb Dressel, Daiya Seto and Sarah Sjöström. Melbourne will also host the Fina Congress immediately following the conclusion of the competition in the pool.
The Victorian government said its packed calendar of major sporting events in 2019 delivered a $2.5bn annual economic boost to the state “Hosting the Fina World Swimming Championships shows Melbourne is one of the world’s great sporting cities,” minister for tourism, sport and major events Martin Pakula said.
We continue to invest in securing high calibre events because they attract visitors to Melbourne and support local jobs.
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Liberal MP Angie Bell, who was re-elected in the Queensland seat of Moncrieff, has warned against the Coalition shifting to the right.
In a statement, Bell said:
Australia has spoken. For the Liberal-National Coalition, it is a time to listen. Recent political commentary following the election has suggested the party shift further to the right of the political spectrum to maintain its base. I disagree.
Now is the time for political realignment to the middle ground where there is a medium for all Australians to prosper, grow and live harmoniously together.
Australians want cemented policy on climate change that is robust and actionable. They want trust restored in their democratic systems, equality and inclusion for women and equitable solutions for all Australians to live without fear of discrimination regardless of their faith, sexual orientation, race, and gender identity.
The Coalition allows a broad spectrum of individual views. That is what we celebrate. However, it is based on the fundamental core values of personal accountability, smaller government and putting control back into the hands of Australians.
I firmly believe Australians prefer our approach to economic management, strong stance on national security and protecting Australia’s interests. Unlike the last election, this time it wasn’t enough. Voters moved away from both major parties to seek more change.
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Let’s jump back to Wentworth quickly where Dave Sharma has just conceded his seat to teal independent Allegra Spender.
In a statement, Sharma said:
Whilst there are still some 40,000 votes still to be counted, and some time until an official result is declared, I expect the current lead will not change markedly.
He said it had been a privilege to serve in Wentworth and he thanked the constituents.
I believe we have achieved much together in these past three years. Supporting our local businesses and communities through the pandemic. Helping with upgrades to social infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, roads, parks, playgrounds and cycleways. Expanding funding to domestic violence, mental health and homelessness services. Supporting our local clubs and sporting groups to be stronger.
At a national level, I am glad to have played a part in Australia adopting a net-zero emissions target by 2050, facilitating the historic and critical AUKUS arrangement, supporting the ratification of free trade agreements, and helping shape our policy responses to China’s growing assertiveness in our region.
He said he put himself forward because he believed in making a better future for Australia.
Australia today faces a more challenging global outlook than we have seen for several generations, and in the face of such challenges the quality of our political and national leadership will matter greatly. Myopia and complacency in our national political discourse are luxuries we can no longer afford.
I congratulate the incoming Labor government on their election.
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Former Liberal PM Malcolm Turnbull has warmly congratulated the new PM on Twitter.
Congratulations @AlboMP as you are sworn in as Australia’s 31st PM. It is a great honour and responsibility to lead our nation and you will do so in uncertain times. You are a good man and in the toughest times character is what counts. Lucy and I wish you all the very best.
— Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) May 23, 2022
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Jumping back to the Albanese presser – Guardian Australia’s Katharine Murphy asked the PM who would be made head of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet:
Stephanie Foster is the acting head of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, as of yesterday. I will be making an announcement at an appropriate time after we go through the formal procedures, which are in place, for the appointment of a secretary of Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
As mentioned in Daniel Hurst’s explainer from yesterday, Albanese has previously expressed no confidence in Philip Gaetjens, the current secretary of the PM&C, and and there has been speculation that Gaetjens might quit before he is pushed.
The new PM was also asked about China:
The relationship with China will remain a difficult one. I said that before the election. That has not changed. It is China that has changed, not Australia, and Australia should always stand up for our values and we will in a government that I lead.
That having been said ... Can I make the point though, that what we should do is put Australia’s national interests first and not attempt to play politics with national security issues.
What I will do as the prime minister, and my foreign minister, Senator Wong will do, is put Australia’s national interests first, put Australia’s values first – and now, on that note, speaking of overseas, we have a plane to catch.
And with that, they are off to Tokyo!
Updated
Dave Sharma concedes Wentworth
We are just jumping away quickly to Dave Sharma, who has conceded his seat of Wentworth. I will bring you more on this in a minute.
Media release below 👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/VdLQfCZdUS
— Dave Sharma (@DaveSharma) May 23, 2022
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Albanese is asked when he wants parliament to resume and if he is feeling ready:
I am ready. I have been ready for some time.
I have had discussions with the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet about a timetable. I read in one paper this morning that the Liberal party might have its caucus meeting if parliament sits next week.
I can confirm that parliament won’t be sitting until the writs are returned, which won’t be certainly next week. We will sit at some stage before the end of July. We will wait – it may well be much earlier than that. We will await the advice of [the Department of] Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Updated
Albanese says crossbench have confirmed they will guarantee supply
Albanese is now taking questions. He is asked first up if he has had discussions with the crossbench:
I am hopeful that we will receive a majority of members of the House of Representatives. At this stage that looks most likely, but counting continues – but my expectation is that we have a majority in the Labor caucus.
I have received and have had discussions with the existing members of the crossbench and received confirmation from Rebekha Sharkie, Bob Katter, Andrew Wilkie, Helen Haines and Zali Steggall that they would not support any no-confidence motions against the government and that they would also secure supply.
It is important that we respect the outcome of the election on Saturday ... I have stuck to what I said before the election, as have they. They will consider legislation on its merits. I expect that to be the case.
I will treat them with respect.
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Albanese says Australians have “conflict fatigue”.
I think that is one of the messages that came through on Saturday. People do have conflict fatigue. They want to work with people and I will work with people, whether it’s the crossbenchers or the opposition, to try to, wherever possible, get agreement.
It is the way that I ran the Labor party from the day that I became Labor leader, not opposition Leader. I do believe that we can do politics better and I hope to do so.
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Albanese says they “won’t be sacking public servants” and have already started working on a National Anti-Corruption Commission.
I will bring together an employment summit, and I thank those people in the business community and in the trade union movement for the discussions that we have had already about the way that that can be progressed.
We will be advancing the need to have constitutional recognition of First Nations people, including a voice to parliament that is enshrined in that constitution.
I look forward to leading a government that makes Australians proud. A government that doesn’t seek to divide, that doesn’t seek to have wedges, but seeks to bring people together for our common interest and our common purpose.
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Albanese says he will be back on Wednesday.
We will return on Wednesday and set about implementing our agenda ... that’s received the endorsement of the Australian people.
Our national reconstruction fund. Our powering Australia plan to deal with the opportunities that come with acting on climate change.
Our full implementation of the Respect@Work report recommendations. Affordable childcare, fixing the aged care crisis, strengthening Medicare.
I said on Saturday that the how was just as important as the what and indeed it is. I want to bring people together and I want to change the way that politics is conducted in this country.
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Albanese says the caucus will meet on Tuesday.
We will then have a swearing-in of the full ministry next Wednesday morning and then I will convene the first meeting of the new ministry.
We just had an informal meeting of this group. We will have a meeting of the ministry next Wednesday, along with meetings of the appropriate cabinet committees, including the NSC and the ERC. Those arrangements, I met with the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet yesterday and I thank them for their professionalism.
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Anthony Albanese gives first press conference as prime minister
Anthony Albanese is speaking in Canberra:
I am incredibly honoured and humbled to have been sworn in as Australia’s 31st prime minister. Australians have voted for change. My government intends to implement that change in an orderly way.
This morning, we had sworn in the interim ministry that you see before you here in order to enable myself and Senator Wong to visit Tokyo for the Quad leaders meeting.
In Tokyo, we will also have important bilateral meetings with President Biden, Prime Minister Kishida and Prime Minister Modi. I received a phone call last night and had a very fruitful and positive conversation renewing my acquaintance with President Biden.
Albanese says the US is Australia’s most important partner along with the region:
The meetings that we will have, not just with the United States, but importantly with our hosts in Japan and India are going to be very important, in a good way, to send a message to the world that there’s a new government in Australia. And it’s a government that represents a change, in terms of the way that we deal with the world on issues like climate change but also a continuity in the way that we have respect for democracy and the way that we value our friendships and long-time alliances.
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We are expecting Anthony Albanese to address the media in around five minutes.
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Joyce is asked how the Coalition can chart a path that brings together National voters and Liberal voters:
The Nationals did not lose seats. We actually picked up a Senator. And even in seats that were at risk, we held them. And in seats that we stood, we got within an inch of winning them of Lingiari and Hunter.
So the Nationals don’t have a problem. When the Liberals lost 19 seats, we held all of our seats and picked up a Senate seat. So you know, I’ll let the Liberals have a discussion about Liberal party issues. The Nationals have done an incredibly good job when the tide was running strong against us.
Barnaby Joyce did not give a clear answer on whether the Nationals’ policy, as of today, was to support net zero emissions by 2050. He said he would consult his Nationals MPs and senators in the coming fortnight.
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Joyce is asked if he will finally admit the Coalition has a woman problem, given they lost so many female voters:
I think that there’s another side to that. We look at the people who have lost their seats, three openly gay guys, one Aboriginal, one person of Asian descent.
I don’t know what was ... Whether the teals removed them or were part of the process of assisting Labor to remove them. The fruits of that labour was ashes in our mouths if we were trying to keep a moderate section within the Liberal party. I don’t ... Maybe people will reflect on that later on.
That was the decision the electors made, and in some of the seats, I must say, I ... The decision was made and I respect that. But, in essence, where you vote out the treasurer of Australia – that’s such an incredible asset to have in your electorate, especially when it comes to tax policy, especially if the tax policy is for people who – good luck and God bless them – are very wealthy.
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Joyce is asked if he thinks the Nats should take a more proactive stance on climate change, given the results of the election.
We also had a big lift. Remember, the way that the vote now goes is basically one third for the major parties, one third for the Coalition, one third for the Labor Party and one third for everything else.
There’s also a big lift in other parties such as One Nation. So we have to be aware of that. Politics is nuanced. In different area, there are different issues and that is another thing that the Nationals always understand. In different areas, different issues.
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Joyce is asked why the Nats did well, while the Liberals did so poorly.
I’m not going to talk on behalf of the Liberal party because that is for them and I’m going to give them the space and the dignity and the respect for them to have their own discussions.
What the Nationals did all the way through, and you heard me say it over and over again – we need to become as strong as possible as quickly as possible. And then we clearly set down a path of how we intend to do that by investing money where we make money.
Joyce said the Nats set out a policy plan for regional Australia, which helped them win votes.
We said what we were going to do. We said it early. We set out a plan and we worked incredibly hard on the ground to make sure that the people who we serve – we’re not their boss, but who we serve, understand that.
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Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has been speaking in Canberra:
Although it’s a disappointment that the Coalition lost the election, the Nationals won every seat that they formerly held. Got within one step of two others, being Lingiari and Hunter.
And even with three retirements and open seats, we won back those seats. And, of course, we picked up another Senator. So after July 1, our party room will be bigger than it was before.
Joyce congratulates the Labor party – briefly – and promises the Nats will “hold the government to account”.
We also note that the Labor party has the lowest vote than they’ve ever had since about 1910.
Their primary vote was lower than what Mr Shorten received at the previous election, and they said that they would never be a Labor-Green Government. They said that. They don’t have the numbers. Now is the time to see ... they, as we speak, they do not have the 76 seats required.
This is going to be very interesting into how they work in the Senate and how they work in the lower house to stand by that warrant that they gave to the Australian people, and especially the people in places such as the Hunter and Lingiari.
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Uluru Statement from the Heart high priority, says Burney
From AAP:
Labor’s Linda Burney, the party’s incoming Indigenous affairs minister, said while there was an enormous amount of work to apply the statement, said implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart would be as high a priority for the new Labor government as the apology to the Stolen Generation.
The statement, handed down five years ago, called for a constitutionally enshrined voice to parliament, a Makarrata Commission overseeing treaty agreement making, as well as a national truth telling process.
“It will change the face of the this country, it will grow us up, it is just an amazing opportunity of nation building,” she told ABC Radio on Monday.
“The most important thing is that we move with people.”
Burney said despite fear campaigns from some, the voice would not be a third chamber of parliament.
“I truly believe that the Australian people are up for this conversation.”
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Key event
Labor appears on track to govern in its own right, as vote counting continues following the federal election.
At 10am on Monday, official figures from the Australian Electoral Commission had Labor on 75 seats in the House of Representatives – one short of a majority.
The Liberal-National coalition was holding 58 seats.
Ten independents were on track for victory, joined on the crossbench by Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie from the Centre Alliance and veteran Kennedy MP Bob Katter.
The AEC listed six seats where the two-candidate preferred vote was unavailable: Griffith, Macnamara, Maranoa, Melbourne, Richmond and Sydney.
Three seats were formally listed as “close”: Sturt, Gilmore and Menzies.
Labor picked up 52.4% of the two-party preferred vote.
Updated
Labor’s incoming government faces a number of economic problems from rising inflation to slowing economic growth, but economists and ratings agencies say those potential storms can be weathered and markets will take it in their stride.
Some say the “base” won’t let us do more on climate or gender equity but let’s be clear: traditional Liberals watch more ABC than Sky After Dark, writes treasurer of NSW, Matt Kean.
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NSW and Victoria record five Covid deaths each
NSW has recorded five Covid deaths and 7,178 new cases in the last 24 hours. There are 1,236 people in hospital with the virus and of those, 35 are in ICU.
COVID-19 update – Monday 23 May 2022
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) May 22, 2022
In the 24-hour reporting period to 4pm yesterday:
- 96.4% of people aged 16+ have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
- 94.9% of people aged 16+ have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine pic.twitter.com/IrLa9ETkAP
In Victoria, there has been also been five deaths recorded in the last 24 hours.
There have been 8,971 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours and there are 555 people in hospital with the virus. Of those, 29 are in ICU and 8 are ventilated.
We thank everyone who got vaccinated and tested yesterday.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) May 22, 2022
Our thoughts are with those in hospital, and the families of people who have lost their lives.
More data soon: https://t.co/OCCFTAtS1P#COVID19Vic #COVID19VicData pic.twitter.com/8Izaat7udV
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Anthony Albanese joked “is my tie straight?” for photographers as he posed for his first official photograph with his ministry, moments after being sworn in as prime minister at Government House.
In front of his partner Jodie Haydon, son Nathan and a select group of staff, the Labor leader because Australia’s 31st PM.
Labor staff milled around the drawing room of Government House, black suits and fresh haircuts against the white walls of the austere building. A line of black Comcars snaked down the drive, as Albanese’s senior team – his “gang of four” interim ministry of Richard Marles, Penny Wong, Jim Chalmers and Katy Gallagher – popped out with their families in tow.
A snap-snapping of camera lenses from the ropeline of photographers restrained behind a velvet cord on the edge of the room, as the incoming ministers entered: Marles, to be acting PM during Albanese’s visit to Tokyo for the Quad meeting, in a pink tie; Chalmers, the proud Queenslander, in a red tie and clutching a large red Bible.
A slight stumble over Albanese’s name from the MC of the event – “Anthony Albany”, before quickly correcting himself – as the incoming PM entered the room, beaming as he shook hands with the governor general, David Hurley.
“Congratulations,” Hurley whispered to each minister as they signed their official paperwork.
An interim ministry of five: PM Albanese, Marles as minister for employment, Wong as minister for foreign affairs, Chalmers as treasurer, and Gallagher as minister for finance, women and attorney general.
Walking out for an official photo on the front steps of Government House, Albanese hugged his ministers in a tight embrace.
“Hey Mike, is my tie straight?” Albanese joked, as a line of photographers snapped their portrait.
To a photographer kneeling on the ground for a shot from below, Albanese quipped: “We want you to go high, not low.
“I’ve lost 20 kilos but still,” he said, gesturing to his stomach.
Updated
From AAP:
Care sector leaders want the incoming Albanese government to do more to bolster the fight against Covid-19.
Provider Catholic Health Australia says its facilities need support in meeting the extra costs of preventing virus infections, which are not reimbursed by the commonwealth unless there is an outbreak.
“Our members congratulate Anthony Albanese on his election and thank the coalition government and Scott Morrison for their public service,” chief executive, Pat Garcia, says.
“There is always a long list of pressing issues that confront any incoming government but delivering quality compassionate care to our elderly must be right at the top.”
The Australian Aged Care Collaboration wants the new prime minister to nominate reform of the Covid-ravaged sector as a priority for his first 100 days in office.
The peak collective says its concerns should also feature in any crossbench negotiations in coming days and weeks.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has also moved to enlist Labor’s support for the role community chemists have played in the pandemic response.
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From AAP:
Tasmanian Liberal Bridget Archer could put her hand up as deputy leader to keep the party from moving further to the right, amid talk Peter Dutton may run for leader.
Archer, who appears to have retained her ultra marginal seat of Bass at the federal election, said she backed traditional “Liberal values”.
Asked if she would consider running for the deputy leader spot, Archer said “I feel like that would be fairly presumptuous”.
Asked again, given the risk that the party could move further to the right, she said “potentially”.
“I’ve seen some early commentary around some idea that the party should move further to the right and I will certainly resist all efforts for that to occur,” she told ABC radio on Monday.
“We need to bring the party back to the centre.”
But Archer said she would “wait until the dust settles” from the election when it came to backing Dutton.
Updated
Anthony Albanese says:
That concludes the presentation of the interim ministry.
And with that, his government kicks off.
They are moving towards the moment of this swearing-in where the new cabinet is photographed on the steps of Government House.
It will obviously be a lot smaller than normal – as the government has four ministers right now. There will be another ceremony when we know the complete makeup of the parliament.
Updated
Penny Wong, Richard Marles, Jim Chalmers and Katy Gallagher sworn in as ministers
Senator Penny Wong has been sworn in as minister for foreign affairs and Richard Marles has been sworn in as minister for employment and deputy prime minister.
Jim Chalmers has been sworn in as treasurer and Senator Katy Gallagher has become minister for finance, minister for women and attorney general.
Updated
Albanese is now presenting the first members of his new ministry.
Today is a little bit unusual in the fact that it is not the whole Albanese ministry that is being sworn in - instead it is a select group of people, as Albanese needs to fly to Tokyo today to attend a very important meeting of the Quad.
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Anthony Albanese sworn in as prime minister
I, Anthony Norman Albanese, do solemnly and sincerely affirm and declare that I will well and truly serve the commonwealth of Australia, her land and her people in the office of prime minister.
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Paul Singer, the governor general’s official secretary, has just introduced Linda Hurley.
Everyone sings the national anthem.
Updated
Albanese has arrived at Government House and Penny Wong, Katy Gallagher and Richard Marles are taking their seats, ready to be sworn in.
The ceremony will officially start in five minutes.
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Anthony Albanese to be sworn in at 9am this morning
Labor leader Anthony Albanese is now arriving at Government House in Canberra and will be sworn in as Australia’s 31st prime minister at 9am.
He will be sworn in alongside deputy prime minister Richard Marles, incoming foreign minister Penny Wong, new treasurer Jim Chalmers and new finance minister Katy Gallagher.
Labor is inching in front in 78 seats, which would give it a majority in the House of Reps.
Leaving his house at around 7am, Albanese told reporters:
It’s a big day in my life. But a big day for the country, when we change the government. I want to lead a government that has the same sentiment of optimism and hope that I think defines the Australian people. I want to be positive.
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Le says she is very different from the teal independents – she funded her own campaign.
My electorate here has a different need to the electorates that the teal independents are representing. But I have no doubt, you know, there would be some other issues that we will, you know, have some conversation over.
She says her community is ready for change and parties need to realise they can’t take formerly safe seats for granted.
I have to thank the many culturally diverse communities out here who backed me and, being of Vietnamese refugee background, particularly the Vietnamese Australian community out here who really came out in force as you know they’re one of the largest populations here in Fowler to support me.
But I think that, you know, our community here is ready for change and this will send a message to the major parties that they need to look at candidates that actually are connected – connected – to the community that they are asked to represent.
Updated
Fowler local independent Dai Le is speaking on the ABC. Le fought off Labor’s Kristina Keneally, who was parachuted into the formally safe seat.
A day ago, yesterday, I sat in my lounge room and just, you know, was thinking back to the moment when my family escaped communist Vietnam on a rickety boat in the ocean. I didn’t know whether we would live or die, and so – I just can’t believe it. Look, it’s surreal.
Le says Labor voters were “insulted” by the party sending Keneally to run in the seat.
A lot of voters were so angry with the fact that the Labor party was arrogant enough to think that they can parachute somebody from the northern beaches to come and represent the south-west, one of the most socially disadvantaged communities here in south-west Sydney, in Fairfield and the Liverpool area, to represent us.
She has no roots here. She’s not connected to this area. So how can we trust that she can deliver for us? She’s never lived through the challenges that we have lived through.
Updated
Ardern and Albanese to talk deportations
From AAP:
New Zealand is eyeing an improved relationship with Australia after the election of Anthony Albanese.
Jacinda Ardern says she will use soon-to-be-arranged talks with the new Labor PM to progress New Zealand’s biggest issue with its most important relationship: deportations.
Labor’s rise to power in Australia means the centre-left is in government on both sides of the Tasman.
The alignment is rare, occurring for just one year in the past 32 – in 2008, the first year of Kevin Rudd’s government and the last of Helen Clark’s.
Already Ms Ardern and Mr Albanese have chatted twice; once as the incoming PM went to give his victory speech, and again on Sunday.
In breakfast television and radio interviews on Monday, Ms Ardern said their focus was on international issues.
“The prime minister-elect is heading to a Quad meeting. I’m off to the United States,” she said.
“We talked about the ability to meet sometime soon so that we can talk face-to-face about those issues.”
The pair could meet formally as soon as next month, when the Pacific Islands Forum is expected to be held in Fiji.
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Less than an hour away ...
The Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), will conduct a swearing-in ceremony at Government House, Canberra at 9:00am #ausvotes
— Political Alert (@political_alert) May 22, 2022
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When the Coalition lost government on Saturday night, Sky’s Paul Murray admitted he was “overly emotional” and needed to sleep on the result before analysing what went wrong.
Stuart Robert says Dutton would make 'excellent' Liberal leader
From AAP:
Peter Dutton would make an “excellent” Liberal leader in the wake of the federal Coalition’s election defeat, an outgoing minister says.
But fellow Queensland MP Stuart Robert rejected suggestions Mr Dutton, the former defence minister, could take the Liberal party further to the right.
“The key thing for the Liberal-Nationals parties is to represent aspiration,” he told Nine Network on Monday.
“We have always been a sensible centre-right party and that is where which we should stay.
“Peter Dutton would make an excellent leader in terms of bringing everyone together.”
Mr Robert also addressed the Liberal party’s “woman problem” in the wake of an almost all-female slate of independents winning their seats and knocking off mainly moderate Liberal MPs.
“Everything is on the table ... to ensure that we can properly represent every single part of Australia,” he said.
Ex-prime minister Scott Morrison will formally step down from the Liberal leadership when the top job is spilled at the next party room meeting.
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And lastly, Ryan is asked what her view will be if Peter Dutton wins leadership of the Liberal party:
From my point of view, I’m a sort of centrist politician and I have been elected in that way by the people of Kooyong.
Taking the Liberal party further to the right I don’t think would resonate well in Kooyong. And I think members of other electorates around Australia would have that concern as well.
And so I think a challenge for Mr Dutton would be to, you know – and I don’t want to speak for him as the potential Liberal leader – but to consider the extent to which his government’s, the Morrison government’s, move to the right was really an unproductive thing for them in the last election.
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Ryan is asked about what she makes of female voters abandoning the Coalition:
I think that the population of Australia expects better from its government.
This is a government that hasn’t held women safe in its own workplace. It’s a government that has seen an increase in homelessness from women over 50.
It’s a government which has failed to take action on the gender pay gap and superannuation.
It’s a government that hasn’t provided accessible childcare for many families. This is what the people are dissatisfied with.
These are all issues that will be addressed by myself and other independents and hopefully by other members of the crossbench and the government in the three years to come.
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Ryan said the Labor party’s climate change target is just not good enough, and she hopes the party will work with her and the other teals to deliver the meaningful policy to curb the crisis:
The Labor party’s 2030 target is manifestly inadequate, and that’s a sentiment that’s been expressed by myself, by the other independents, and by the Greens.
I think that the value of our contribution in parliament is that we are going to hold the Labor party to account and that we’re gonna pull the government to the table and get it to advance on its current stated position.
I think we can do that whether or not we hold the balance of power. I hope that the Albanese government would be happy to talk about the things that matter to our electorates.
And as I said, the most important of those is climate change, and that’s the thing that we’ll be talking about to them in the next weeks and months as the government kicks off.
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Ryan said the one key issue in the electorate was climate change:
It was very clear that climate change is the single most important issue to the people of Kooyong. It’s really interesting that the demographics of Kooyong have changed in the last 10 or 15years.
There are more young people, and for them, climate change is number one, two and three on the agenda in terms of things that worry them and that is likely to affect their future.
But that’s also true for older people as well, people of my generation and people who are older, is that we’re really concerned that the government has failed to take effective action on climate change, and really has not had a cohesive policy on that for at least one or two electoral cycles.
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'Pretty clear' Monique Ryan has won Kooyong, teal independent says
Teal independent Monique Ryan is on the ABC now. She says it’s clear she has won Kooyong.
It does seem pretty clear on the numbers we’ve seen so far that the treasurer [Josh Frydenberg] has lost the seat of Kooyong and that I have won it.
Ryan said it was the community who won her the seat:
I put together a campaign that was based on community. More than 2,000 people came to the campaign, and we knocked together on more than 55,000 doors. Every knockable door in Kooyong. We listened to what people wanted, we listened to their values and their desires, and we put together a platform that reflected those.
I think that Mr Frydenberg didn’t appreciate the extent to which there was disaffection within the community of Kooyong with many aspects of the government’s actions in the last three years.
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Michael McCormack has suggested that Barnaby Joyce’s unpopularity in the inner city contributed to the Coalition government’s downfall in climate-conscious electorates, write Paul Karp and Daniel Hurst:
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And finally, he was asked if he would not take on the role as ‘the blocker’ in the next parliament:
Look, if you look back at the 2010 power-sharing parliament, did any side get everything they wanted? Probably not. But [the] Greens worked with independents, worked with the Labor party to get some real action on things like getting dental into Medicare for kids. And we got action on climate.
And ... we want to take this approach this parliament as well. We really want to see some action on the big issues the country is facing on the big climate issues, on housing affordability – so, we’re willing to have any of those discussions in good faith.
Primarily, though, the ball will be in the government’s court as to what approach they want to take to this parliament and whether they’re prepared to accept what the Australian people have said, which is they want third voices at the table.
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Bandt was also asked what the party’s priority was for the next parliament – no prizes for guessing what he answered:
The principles that we’ll be taking to it are very clearly that we’ve gotta tackle climate action, and that’s gotta start with this question of coal and gas.
One of the reasons that I think we saw alot of people switch to the Greens for the first time this election is that our approach was that we need to have a plan that deals with coal and gas but that looks after the communities.
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Election results 'a mandate for climate action', Bandt says
Greens leader Adam Bandt was just on the ABC – he said they are still watching the counting in Richmond in NSW and Macnamara in Vic to see if they pick up two more lower house seats.
We’re going to need to see the postal votes that come in over the next few days, but they’re still on the cards for us. We see this very clearly as a mandate for climate action and tackling inequality.
Bandt was asked how aggressive they would be in pushing Labor on its climate target, which is to reduce emissions by 43% from the 2005 levels.
The approach that we’ll take, especially if it turns out that Labor’s unable to secure a majority to form government and they need to have discussions, our approach will be one of approaching it with, I guess, strong principles but open minds.
The second thing I’d say is, look, Liberal and Labor’s vote went backwards this election. Labor may get over the line with the majority or may not, but their vote went backwards, and the Greens and independents said, “We need to take action on coal and gas,” which are the main causes of the climate crisis, and people agreed. We’ve just lived through three years of droughts and fires and floods, and people want action.
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Good morning
Morning everyone - it’s going to be a big start to the week, with a new government.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese will be sworn in as Australia’s 31st prime minister today, after claiming victory on Saturday night.
The makeup of the parliament is still unclear but Labor is inching in front in 78 seats, which would give it a majority in the House of Reps – so we will keep a close eye on those numbers throughout the day, though it is likely to take a couple of days.
Leaving his house around 7am, Albanese told reporters:
It’s a big day in my life. But a big day for the country, when we change the government. I want to lead a government that has the same sentiment of optimism and hope that I think defines the Australian people. I want to be positive.
I want to channel the opportunity that we have to shape change so that we bring people with us on the journey of change. I want to bring the country together, and the new government starts today.
He will be sworn in with deputy prime minister Richard Marles, incoming foreign minister Penny Wong, new treasurer Jim Chalmers and new finance minister Katy Gallagher.
Afterwards Albanese and Wong will fly to Japan later today to meet with the leaders of the Quad – the United States, India and Japan.
The prime minister-elect issued a statement on Sunday night, saying he would use the meeting to talk about his government’s ambitions to tackle climate change and pursue a stronger foreign policy focus on the region.
NSW Liberal treasurer Matt Kean has told the ABC the election loss was an “unmitigated disaster” and that the party needs to “get its act together”.
It comes as Peter Dutton is emerging as the most likely to take the leadership spot, with Josh Frydenberg not ready to concede defeat in his inner-city Melbourne seat of Kooyong.
Supporters of a Tamil asylum seeker family have said they hope to see them return to Biloela in central Queensland in just a few weeks, after years of living in immigration detention.
They’re currently living in community detention in Perth and the Labor party promised that, if it won the election, they’d would be able to go home.
And experts at the UN World Health Assembly are meeting in Geneva to discuss monkeypox, a rare viral infection that has now spread to at least a dozen countries, including Australia.
Two cases have been confirmed in travellers who have returned to the country – one in New South Wales, the other in Victoria. The smallpox-related disease has only been seen previously among people with links to Central and West Africa.
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