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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Mostafa Rachwani and Lisa Cox (earlier)

Ruston will ‘take the universal out of universal healthcare’, Labor says – as it happened

Scott Morrison Anne Ruston Coalition Greg Hunt
Anne Ruston
Prime minister Scott Morrison has nominated Anne Ruston to replace Greg Hunt as health minister should the Coalition be re-elected. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

What we learned: Sunday 17 April

With that, we will wrap up the blog for the evening.

Here’s what happened today:

  • Scott Morrison confirmed he would appoint Anne Ruston as health and aged care minister if the Coalition government is re-elected on 21 May.
  • Marise Payne said she does not share the views expressed by Katherine Deves about transgender and gender diverse people.
  • Payne also said Australia will continue to offer Solomon Islands security assistance, even if the country signs its proposed agreement with China.
  • The minister for superannuation and financial services, Jane Hume, said it is “admirable” that the controversial Liberal candidate for Warringah, Katherine Deves, remains committed to “the cause”.
  • NSW Ambulance confirmed that an incident has taken place near Batemans Bay, with one man in critical condition, having been found in cardiac arrest.
  • NSW reported 9,725 new cases and six deaths, Victoria recorded 8,153 new cases and two deaths, Queensland reported 4,850 new cases, the NT reported 340 new cases, Tasmania reported 1,212 new cases and one death, Western Australia recorded 5,112 new cases and eight deaths, seven of which were historical, and South Australia has reported 2,675 new cases.

Thanks for reading.

Tony Brown dead aged 86

AAP is reporting that former NSW and Australia five-eighth Tony Brown has died, aged 86.

A star at Newtown in the 1950s and 1960s while spending six years as the club’s captain, Brown played nine matches for NSW and 10 for the Kangaroos.

But it is at Penrith where he is most fondly remembered, named as the club’s first captain when they entered first grade in 1967.

Released by the Bluebags in 1964, he joined the Panthers’ second-division team and rose with the club to the top flight.

The No.6 then had a hand in the club’s first ever try, before being injured in his third first-grade team for the club. He later became captain-coach of the club’s reserve grade side.

The Panthers confirmed on Sunday he had died after a battle with illness on Friday.

Updated

On the earlier incident near Batemans Bay, NSW police have confirmed that there were reports of swimmers in distress, with 10 people brought to shore by surf lifesavers and members of the public.

They said the reports of distress came from Surf Beach, close to Batemans Bay, and confirmed one person is still in critical condition, while three others have been taken to hospital.

It is still unclear what happened, but we will bring you further details as they come.

Updated

The Country Fire Authority (CFA) is urging people to avoid private burn-offs today, due to the windy weather conditions across Victoria.

The CFA says firefighters have already responded to more than 50 grass and scrub fires today, with at least a dozen of those being escaped private burn-offs.

CFA state duty officer Peter Baker said people should not be burning off in these conditions:

Burn-offs can escape quickly and become difficult to control in the current strong winds Victoria is experiencing.

Several parts of the state are still very dry with high fuel loads. When a grass fire starts, it can travel faster than you can run.

People are unnecessarily putting their own lives at risk and their loved ones at risk.

We are also asking community members to check any private burns from the past couple of days to ensure they are fully extinguished.

Updated

It appears Labor is going to be using the appointment of Anne Ruston as future-potential health minister as a point of attack:

Man in critical condition after incident in water at Batemans Bay

NSW Ambulance has just confirmed to the Guardian that an incident has taken place near Batemans Bay, with one man in critical condition, having been found in cardiac arrest.

Three others have also been taken to Batemans Bay Hospital, although their condition is still unknown.

A call was made to authorities at around 2pm, with suggestions a number of people were struggling in the water. Ambulance crews and a rescue helicopter were dispatched to treat the four patients.

The man who suffered a cardiac arrest is believed to be in his 40s, with details on the rest of the patients still unknown.

Updated

So at the press conference earlier today, future-potential health minister Anne Ruston was asked about transgender kids in sport, a question that has caused division in the Liberal party recently.

Here is what she had to say:

Of course we want to see all Australian children be able to participate in sports. We want to make sure all Australians have healthy lifestyles because we know that is not just good for their physical health but their mental health.

I think, going forward, I would be very keen to make sure – through all avenues, whether it be through the education system but, most particularly, through grassroots communities – that we are giving opportunities for all Australians to be able to participate in sport.

And that is really important for younger Australians.

Updated

NT reports 340 new Covid cases

The Northern Territory has recorded 340 new cases overnight, with 26 people in hospital with the virus, and six requiring oxygen.

Updated

So earlier today, current and soon to be former health minister Greg Hunt was on the Today show, and was asked what he plans to do after leaving politics:

Obviously, I believe deeply in the leadership of Scott Morrison and the team.

I’ll take a bit of a break, Pilates, possibly a tattoo [said with a laugh], but above all else the real purpose is to be a dad. That’s what I’m looking forward to.

And some focus on mental health for people, in terms of working in that space on a philanthropic side. But the rest of my life, I’ve got plenty of time to sort that.

But to be a dad, and today’s a great day to reflect on this. I haven’t been a proper dad, and so that’s the real purpose and that’s my goal.

Greg Hunt speaks during Question Time in March.
Greg Hunt speaks during Question Time in March. He says his post-politics purpose ‘is to be a dad’. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Updated

Queensland records 4,850 new Covid cases

Queensland is reporting 4,850 new cases overnight:

Updated

Good afternoon, and another quick thanks to Lisa Cox for her brilliant work today, I am Mostafa Rachwani and I will be taking you through the rest of the day’s news.

And with that presser wrapping up, I am going to hand the blog back to Mostafa Rachwani who will take you through the rest of this Easter Sunday afternoon.

Thanks for joining me this morning.

Turning to the reported payment of more than half a million dollars to Alan Tudge’s former adviser Rachelle Miller, Morrison says the process is confidential and has been put in place by the department of finance.

I think that is the way these matters should be handled and I intend to honour the process that has been established independently by public officials about how sensitive matters of this nature should be handled and so I intend to stick to the process.

I am glad you raise this because if there was any matter that was in the assessment by the Department of Finance that involved the conduct of any minister whatsoever in the granting of that payment then that matter would have to be raised with me by the Department of Finance through the secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Now, I can assure you absolutely that no such reference has been made to me, so to imply that would be false.

Updated

Morrison is asked about comments he made about a push by Tasmanian senator Claire Chandler to allow sporting groups to exclude transgender people from single-sex sports.

He’s asked to clarify his position after he said he supported a bill from Chandler but that it was not government policy.

Morrison says at no stage has he suggested there would be a government bill.

I was asked a question. I think I was down in Tasmania – whether I supported Claire’s bill, and I said, “Yes I do.” And I do.

Claire’s bill – sensitive matters like this have been brought by members and members are able to have a conscience vote on these matters. We are in the middle of an election campaign. There is no opportunity for us to have these discussions in the party room but this has always been my instincts on these matters that there are many different views on this.

There are many, many different views on this. A private members bill, I mean, we have had – particularly on medical issues in the past, private member’s bill have come forward and the parliament have been able to consider those matters and vote on those matters.

So, I am not seeking to find any of my members of parliament on these issues as a party position. I was asked what my position was. I told you what my position was. I was open about it, I was very plain about it, and I think that was the appropriate thing to do.

Updated

Ruston is asked about historical comments she made about Medicare being unsustainable:

I think the comments you were referring to were back in 2014 and as we are standing here today, having come through a pandemic with an extraordinarily strong economy, one of the strongest in the world with 4% unemployment, I think we have demonstrated that as a government during our term of government but it is a strong economy that affords the supports that Australians rely on.

She adds:

We have laid out a budget coming forward to show Australians what we are proposing to do going forward and part of it is making sure that we have a strong healthcare system which is able to support Australians and I think that our policies around healthcare stand.

Our government has been clear that we are not cutting Medicare. Our track record in terms of increased spending across all elements of our healthcare system stand for themselves.

Updated

Anne Ruston says it is a “great honour” to be named the future health minister if the Coalition wins the election.

She’s been speaking at a media conference in Sydney with the prime minister Scott Morrison.

Morrison says he has seen a “great empathy” from Ruston in portfolios of great need.

He defends his government’s record on health spending, responding to Labor’s attacks that Ruston would support cuts to Medicare:

If people want to understand what are the consequences of a government that can’t manage money, like the Labor party ... what are the consequences of that?

Well the consequences are not being able to put pharmaceuticals on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme.

Updated

South Australia has recorded 2,675 new Covid-19 cases. There were no Covid-19 deaths in the state in the past 24 hours. There are 225 Covid-19 patients in hospital, including 12 in intensive care.

Hello again. Here’s some more, via AAP, from the opposition leader, Anthony Albanese, on the appointment of Anne Ruston as health minister if the Coalition is re-elected.

He says the appointment of Ruston to the health portfolio vacated by Greg Hunt is another sign that Australians should expect cuts to Medicare.

The Labor leader noted Scott Morrison had chosen to make this major announcement on a day when it was agreed that it would not be a day of usual campaigning because of Easter.

“Anne Ruston has made it very clear that she wants to take the universal out of universal health care,” Albanese told reporters after attending a church services in Cairns with shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers.

“She has made it very clear that, if we have an election of the Morrison government, we will see more cuts to Medicare, more cuts to Medicare over the next three years.”

Ruston, which is currently the social services minister, would replace Hunt, who is retiring from politics, should the Coalition win the May 21 election.

Liberal frontbencher Jane Hume threw her support behind the decision.

“I am so pleased for her. She is a highly qualified and highly experienced member of our cabinet,” she told Sky News’ Sunday Agenda program.

“She has dealt with the portfolio in social services as very successful minister there, dealing with what’s important to millions of peoples lives. So I think she will be a terrific appointment.”

Updated

And with that, I will hand the blog back over to Lisa Cox.

The PM has made a stop at Westmead children’s hospital today:

Updated

PM confirms Anne Ruston as health and aged care minister if re-elected

Scott Morrison has confirmed he would appoint Anne Ruston as health and aged care minister if the Coalition government is re-elected on 21 May.

The incumbent, Greg Hunt, is leaving politics at the election. It’s important to keep in mind Ruston is not now the health minister – Hunt remains in the post for now, and it is something that would happen only if the Coalition is returned.

Here is what Morrison said in a statement issued a short time ago:

Anne’s experience as a senior Minister managing a complex portfolio touching millions of lives makes her the right pick to help guide Australia’s health system out of the pandemic. Anne has been an important part of my Expenditure Review Committee and a strong advocate for women’s safety and health including working closely on recent initiatives to tackle endometriosis. I know she’ll bring that ability to understand complex issues, and her compassion to the health portfolio.

Minister for Families Anne Ruston at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Wednesday, April 7, 2021. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING
Anne Ruston says she ‘will continue to prioritise medicines, mental health and medical research’ in the role of health minister should the Coalition be elected. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

In the same statement, Ruston said it was an honour to be named as the Coalition’s next minister for health and aged care if re-elected:

Healthcare has been a part of my life ever since I was born, as my mum was a nurse in our regional town, which also gave me great insight into the vital role country hospitals play in the lives of their communities. I look forward to the opportunity to deliver our Government’s commitment to a healthier Australia and will continue to prioritise medicines, mental health and medical research.

Earlier, Hunt was asked on Seven’s Weekend Sunrise whether it appeared to be arrogant to be naming a health minister ahead of the election. Hunt disagreed. He said it was “sensible because it’s understandable that people would wish to know who is my successor, who would be managing health in a new government”.

He said Labor should also say who would be defence minister in an Albanese government. On Nine’s Weekend Today, Hunt gently pointed out that his time is not up yet, and that he’ll remain in position until the election. He said he expected “five weeks of intense work between now and then on health”.

Updated

Labor says it will match the government’s announcement regarding access to flash glucose monitoring and continuous glucose monitoring devices for adults who currently miss out.

Labor’s health spokesperson, Mark Butler, said Australia had “a proud history of bipartisan support for new diabetes technologies”, and an incoming Albanese Labor government would match the commitment made by the Coalition earlier today:

This means that every Australian with Type 1 diabetes will get access to a potentially life-saving continuous glucose monitoring device. ...

Whatever the election result, Australians with Type 1 diabetes will get better support.

This is a testament to the campaign work of the thousands of Australians who are living with Type 1 diabetes and their families.

Here’s how the health minister, Greg Hunt, described the announcement on Nine’s Weekend Today program earlier today:

Continuous glucose monitoring, which allows patients to monitor their glucose levels and therefore their ability to deal with diabetes, will be made available and subsidised by the Government for all 130,000 type one diabetics. It will save individuals up to $5,000 a year but above all else, it’s about peace of mind and health treatment, available from the first of July. And it’s an immensely important investment in healthcare. So we currently cover children under 21, pregnant women and what are called concession card holders, people on lower incomes or in relevant categories. Now, we’ll cover everybody and that’s about saving lives and protecting lives and giving people better quality of life.

Updated

Good afternoon, and a quick thanks to Lisa Cox for her expert blogging this morning.

I’m going to take a short break. My excellent colleague Mostafa Rachwani will take you through the next little while.

The Greens are pledging free NBN access for 1m households with a healthcare card, including carers, students, low-income families and the unemployed.

The party says the policy would mean all healthcare card holders would be able to access high speed internet, at home, for free.

Costing by the Parliamentary Budget Office has priced the policy at $800m a year.

The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, says Australia’s digital divide is increasing “at a time when more people are having to rely on the internet to work, study, socialise, shop, and pay their bills”:

During the last two years of lockdowns, some families had to park outside the local library to access free internet so their kids could do their school work. That’s unacceptable.

The pandemic has shown just how important the internet is. It’s critical connective infrastructure, and everyone deserves to be able to access it.

Updated

WA reports eight Covid deaths and 5,112 new cases

Western Australia is reporting 5,112 new Covid-19 cases to 8pm last night.

The state has recorded eight deaths, one of which occurred in the past 24 hours. The other seven deaths occurred in the days dating back to 19 March but were reported to WA Health on Saturday.

The deaths were two men in their 50s, a man in his 60s, a man in his 80s, a woman in her 60s, a woman in her 70s and two women in their 80s.

There are 220 people with Covid-19 in hospital in the state, seven in intensive care.

Updated

Tomorrow is the last day to get on the electoral roll or update your enrolment.

A NSW police dog has bitten a man that was the subject of a search after he was reported missing on Friday night.

The 27-year-old man suffered severe injuries to his leg after an officer attached to the dog unit located him near Bushells Ridge.

Police say there was a “violent struggle” during which the dog bit the man, with the attached officer also sustaining minor injuries to his face.

“An officer attached to the dog unit located the man in bushland about 10pm and during a violent struggle the police dog has bitten the man, causing severe injuries to his legs.”

“The officer rendered first aid before further police attended to assist, locating the officer and 27-year-old man in dense bushland.”

“The injured man was treated by NSW ambulance paramedics and taken to John Hunter hospital under police guard. He is reported to be in a critical condition.”

The 27-year-old who was bitten by the dog had been seen running in the southbound lanes of the M1 on Saturday night.

He was struck by the mirror of a Ford Ranger utility vehicle as the driver swerved to avoid him, with the driver stopping and calling police soon after.

A critical incident team from Brisbane Water Police District investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

That investigation will be subject to an independent review.

Updated

via AAP:

A new Darwin port industrial hub spruiked by the deputy prime minister could have severe impacts on human health, a Northern Territory government environmental report says.

The nationals leader, Barnaby Joyce, on Tuesday announced $1.5bn to transform Middle Arm Peninsula into a world-leading gas, hydrogen and minerals processing and export precinct.

The proposed NT-led development also includes a petrochemicals plant for plastic, pesticide and fertiliser production.

The nationally significant infrastructure project is set to create 20,000 jobs and turbocharge the regional economy, the NT government says.

Barnaby Joyce, Jacinta Price and Damien Ryan
The Nationals leader, Barnaby Joyce, and Country Liberal party candidates Jacinta Price and Damien Ryan at Stokes Hill Wharf in Darwin. Photograph: Aaron Bunch/AAP

But an NT risk assessment released the same day says the hub could have “significant adverse impacts” on community health.

The report also found air quality in the area may be significantly impacted.

The Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct is about 3km southwest of Palmerston and 13km southeast of Darwin, which have a combined population of about 160,000.

Soil and water quality could also suffer if erosion, leaks, discharge of wastewater or spills of hazardous materials occur.

Threatened species and sensitive vegetation might be adversely affected when the site, which is about the size of 750 AFL ovals, is cleared.

The potential threats were identified in a risk assessment the NT government was required to submit under the environmental approvals process.

More below:

Updated

Ruston will 'take the universal out of universal healthcare': Albanese

The opposition leader Anthony Albanese has been speaking to media in Cairns where he attended an Easter church service.

He spoke about the appointment of Anne Ruston as the future health minister if the Coalition is reelected:

I do know that the prime minister had said that this was not going to be a day of usual campaigning. And that he has chosen, the government has chosen, to make a very significant announcement today of the appointment of a new health minister, should the government be re-elected.

Now, Anne Ruston has made it very clear that she wants to take the universal out of universal healthcare. She has made it very clear that, if we have [an] election of the Morrison government, we will see more cuts to Medicare, more cuts to Medicare over the next three years.

Labor’s treasury spokesman, Jim Chalmers, says it should “send a shiver down the spine of every Australian who relies on affordable healthcare”.

Anthony Albanese
Australian Opposition leader Anthony Albanese leaves after attending the Easter Sunday mass at St. Monica’s in Cairns. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Updated

Tasmania records one Covid death and 1,212 new cases

Tasmania has recorded one Covid-19 death and 1,212 new cases. It takes the number of Covid-19 deaths in the state since the start of the pandemic to 43.

There are 47 patients in hospital, including one person in intensive care.

Updated

The ABC reports about concerns about the growing outbreak of yellow crazy ants in Townsville. Yellow crazy ants are a highly invasive species that affect people and wildlife.

Updated

via AAP:

Unfortunately eastern Australia’s big wet has brought funnel-web spiders out in force.

Apparently they don’t like their burrows being flushed through, while excessive rain also tends to send them in search of the opposite sex.

Worry not, though. While there were 13 fatal funnel-web bites in Australia prior to the development of an antivenom for clinical use by the medical researcher Dr Struan Sutherland in 1981, there have been none since.

Moreover, the staff at Australian Reptile Park, north of Sydney, are determined to keep it that way.

In fact, head keeper Jake Meney has just beaten his own record for extracting venom from funnel-webs, which is then used to make lifesaving antivenom.

He was able to milk an average 0.35mg per spider, or .03mg better than his previous best.

Although minuscule, the difference is enough to kill a room full of adult humans. It’s also why park management likes to think of Meney as their friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man.

He and his team work tirelessly to capture every drop possible, says the park’s director, Tim Faulkner.

“We rely heavily on the public handing in funnel-web spiders and would not be able to help save lives if it weren’t for their generous donations,” he said.

Updated

Now to the subject of a national integrity commission, Butler says Labor will “clean up the rorts”:

We are very clear, we want to clean up the rorts. Three-and-a-half years after the promise from the prime minister, hundreds of millions of dollars spent as if it’s Liberal party funds – taxpayer money – it’s clearly enough. The only way to end those rorts is by changing the government, because the government itself has walked away from this.

People have said that it is not a big deal, but that’s not the feedback we get. Australians are sick of the rorts, sick of their money being spent as if it’s Liberal party money and we are committed to making sure there is a tough cop on the beat that will clean up the rorts, that can act independently – not on the approval of the government of the day – that can undertake retrospective investigations and have investigations when they think [they] are in the public interest.

Updated

Butler says, if elected, Labor will have the 50 clinics up and running in the next financial year, commencing 1 July 2023:

This policy has been fully costed, been informed by work of the Parliamentary Budget Office, but the key consultation about the cost has been with general practices who understand what additional funding they need to make this model work.

A lot of GP organisations have been trying to do this, but they’ve found that the existing Medicare funding arrangements, which are really modelled around standard general practice, simply don’t make the model viable. I’ve worked with them very closely.

Updated

Labor’s health spokesman Mark Butler is next up on Insiders. Host David Speers asks about concerns the Australian Medical Association has expressed that Labor’s proposal for government subsidised clinics will create “unfair” competition with other GP practices.

Butler says:

We are very confident that this practice will make it easier for people to see doctors, particularly where those families are spending hours and hours lining up in hospital emergency departments and also, by extension, take real pressure off our hospitals

He adds:

This will be a competitive process overseen by the department. We will identify particular regions where we know there is huge pressure on hospital departments, and GP practices who want to take their practice to the next level will be able to apply for the additional funding that we know is necessary to make these services viable.

Updated

Marise Payne stopped short of echoing US president Joe Biden in directly accusing Russia of genocide in Ukraine. The Australian government has, however, previously accused Russia of war crimes.

The foreign minister told the ABC that Australia largely operated in line with declarations made by courts in relation to the declaration of genocide.

That’s the approach that we have consistently taken and why we are so strongly supporting the work of the International Criminal Court, including through the reference in early March to the International Criminal Court of these appalling events in Ukraine by Russia.

That enabled investigations to begin at that time. That enables the preservation of evidence and the taking of evidence and statements in the context of the investigations of the court.

We are also providing two officials to work with the court in their investigations, and I think that there is room for us to also provide support potentially through the Australian Federal Police and they their significant experience in a number of these issues, particularly related to MH17.

Updated

Security cooperation with Solomon Islands to continue even if China agreement signed

The foreign minister, Marise Payne, says Australia will continue to offer Solomon Islands security assistance, even if the country signs its proposed agreement with China.

A leaked draft from last month raised the possibility China could “make ship visits to, carry out logistical replenishment in, and have stopover and transition in Solomon Islands”, while Chinese forces could also be used “to protect the safety of Chinese personnel and major projects in Solomon Islands”.

The prime minister of Solomon Islands, Manasseh Sogavare, has sought to allay concerns, saying his country has no intention of allowing a Chinese naval base. But Sogavare has also said it is “very insulting to be branded as unfit to manage our sovereign affairs”.

Speaking to the ABC’s Insiders program this morning, Payne said she regarded those assurances as “important”.

She said Australia already had a bilateral security treaty with Solomon Islands and had provided assistance together with New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea to support them in dealing with the unrest. She said Australia believed that “the Pacific family is best placed” to respond to security issues in the Pacific region (framing that excludes China as being geographically further away).

Asked whether that security cooperation would continue if Solomon Islands signed this agreement with China, Payne said:

Yes, that is absolutely my view and it is the view of Pacific partners, but there is also a concern that there has been a lack of transparency in relation to this agreement and that it is something that should be discussed in a broader Pacific Island Forum context itself, Australia would support that discussion. Other countries have called for it as well.

Manasseh Sogavare and Zed Seselja
The Solomon Islands PM, Manasseh Sogavare and the Australian minister for international development and the Pacific, Zed Seselja, early last week. Photograph: Department Of Foreign Affairs And Trade Australia/Reuters

Updated

On the subject of a federal integrity commission, Payne says the Coalition has a “detailed piece of legislation”:

It has been broadly consulted, over 300 pages in detail. It provides our framework for a commonwealth integrity commission. It has been tabled in the parliament. It is there for all to see. What we have from the Opposition is a two-page summary and that’s all they’ve had for three years.

Updated

Payne has now been asked about the reported payment of more than $500,000 to Alan Tudge’s former adviser Rachelle Miller. She’s asked if the government can be transparent about the reason for the half-a-million-dollar payout.

Payne says:

I don’t know and I have no awareness of the details of these matters and it is not appropriate for me to have knowledge of these matters As I understand, through the Comcare process, it is a matter that is handled between individuals and the department itself. It is not something that involves ministers at all.

Updated

Marise Payne says Katherine Deves' future a matter for 'the organisation in NSW'

Marise Payne has told the ABC’s Insiders she does not share the views expressed by Katherine Deves about transgender and gender diverse people that have prompted calls for her to be dropped as the candidate for Warringah.

She tells host David Speers:

I don’t share Ms Deves’ comments that she has made, but importantly she has apologised and withdrawn those views and as the prime minister said yesterday, in public life, we do have to be very careful about the way we express our opinions.

But she won’t be drawn on whether Deves should be dropped as as candidate. After avoiding answering the question several times, Payne says:

It is a matter for the organisation in New South Wales. I need to get on with my job, that’s what I’m doing. I don’t agree with the remarks she made, I’ve made that explicitly clear.

Updated

Victoria has recorded two deaths and 8,153 new Covid cases

Victoria has reported on Sunday two new Covid-related deaths and 8,153 new cases. There are 401 people being treated in hospital in the state.

Updated

Marise Payne will be up on the ABC’s Insiders shortly. I hope you’re enjoying some chocolate and a hot cross bun in the meantime.

NSW reports six deaths and 9,725 new cases

NSW has reported another six Covid-19 deaths. There are 1,527 patients with Covid-19 in hospital, 64 of those in intensive care. The state recorded 9,725 cases in the past 24 hours.

Updated

In the Sky News interview, Jane Hume was also asked about Scott Morrison’s looming announcement that Anne Ruston would become health minister if the Coalition was re-elected.

Hume said she would leave the official announcement to the prime minister later today, but proceeded to welcome it:

I am so pleased for her. She is a highly qualified, highly experienced member of our cabinet.

She’s dealt with a portfolio in social services as a very successful minister there dealing with what’s important to millions of people’s lives. So I think she’ll be a terrific appointment to the health portfolio, which is so important at a time like this.

Where we’re still in the midst of a global pandemic, it’s really important to know that there are steady hands at the wheel of such an important portfolio.

Updated

Jane Hume supports 'admirable' Liberal candidate Katherine Deves

The minister for superannuation and financial services, Jane Hume, has said it is “admirable” that the controversial Liberal candidate for Warringah, Katherine Deves, remains committed to “the cause”.

Scott Morrison has been facing a mutiny over Deves’ candidacy, with intensifying calls for her to be dumped because of “hurtful and divisive” comments about transgender people.

A string of news stories this week have revealed inflammatory comments on various social media platforms including one where Deves equated anti-trans activism to standing up against the Holocaust during a YouTube panel.

Deves cofounded the Save Women’s Sport organisation, which campaigns to restrict trans women from playing in female sporting competitions.

Hume, in an interview on Sky News this morning, brushed off calls for Deves to be disendorsed. Hume said Deves “is going to be an excellent candidate for Warringah”.

Hume said Deves had “very strongly held opinions on an issue that’s important to lots of Australians and that’s fairness and equality in women’s sports” although “the language she used was inappropriate”.

Hume said:

She has done the right thing by withdrawing those remarks, by admitting that that was inappropriate language that could be offensive to some people. She is a very passionate woman. She is very committed to ensuring that women and girls can compete in sport on an equal and fair basis.

And I think that that’s something that a lot of Australians would agree with. The comments that she made on social media have gone, they have been withdrawn, she agrees that they were wrong. But her commitment to the cause remains and I think that that is admirable.

At this point it’s worth reminding readers that Australia’s Sex Discrimination Act already says it is legal “to discriminate on the ground of sex, gender identity or intersex status by excluding persons from participation in any competitive sporting activity in which the strength, stamina or physique of competitors is relevant”.

The NSW treasurer, Matt Kean, has called for Deves to be disendorsed, saying:

This is not the 1950s. This is not an intolerant society. These kinds of horrendous views are not OK, and I’m sure the voters of Warringah agree.

Updated

Here’s a lovely story in The Advertiser, which reports the Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has taken the weekend off from campaigning to marry Ben Oquist, the executive director of Canberra think tank the Australia Institute.

Congratulations to the happy couple!

Updated

via AAP:

The Morrison government would reintroduce parts of its scrapped industrial relations bill to parliament if re-elected.

The government last year dumped its omnibus bill after failing to secure votes on parts of the legislation.

Provisions to criminalise wage theft and changes to enterprise bargaining were scrapped, as were award simplification and the ability to lock work sites into eight-year pay agreements for major projects.

But prime minister Scott Morrison has flagged the bill will be reintroduced to parliament if the Coalition wins the federal election on May 21.

“[It will ensure] that we can go forward and pursue those legislative changes that we wanted to pursue,” he told reporters in Melbourne on Saturday.

“Remember, they were the product of getting unions together, employers together, over countless numbers of hours to ensure that we can come up with practical things that would make the industrial relations system work better. And the Labor party rejected it.”

It came after Labor promised to legislate a federal anti-corruption commission by the end of the year if they win government.

Updated

My colleagues Josh Butler and Sarah Martin report this morning that the Australian Electoral Commission and Facebook have voiced alarm at a bubbling campaign from minor party candidates raising baseless claims about election fraud or ballots being altered, warning of “dangerous” voter integrity misinformation being imported from the United States.

The AEC said it has successfully applied to Facebook to take action against misinformation in the lead-up to the election, with at least five posts removed and two pages being taken down entirely.

Read the full story here:

Good morning, Lisa Cox here to take you through the morning.

We’re expecting Scott Morrison will name Anne Ruston as the future health minister if the Coalition is re-elected on May 21.

Ruston, whose appointment was foreshadowed last week, would replace Greg Hunt who intends to retire from politics.

Sit back as we take you through Easter Sunday on the campaign trail.

Updated

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