State and territory borders are expected to be fiercely debated at National Cabinet today, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison pushing for a full reopening by Christmas. Follow live.
not expected to agree on the management of borders
This week's confirmation of the steepest contraction in GDP has seen some in the Federal Government ramp up calls for borders to be reopened. Such a standard would see consistency applied at state borders when determining the medical risk a person from a given area poses.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'A tall order': NSW says it may never meet Queensland's threshold to reopen the borderThe divisive issue of border closures will dominate Friday's national cabinet meeting, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison pushing for border restrictions to be eased in time for Christmas.
Read more »
Morrison to urge state leaders to sort out border health restrictionsScott Morrison will push state and territory leaders to urgently fix border restrictions when national cabinet meets on Friday.
Read more »
Morrison at the mercy of defiant states ahead of National Cabinet | Sky News AustraliaScott Morrison will go into today's national cabinet meeting with his hands tied behind his back as Western Australia and Queensland continue their renegade run on borders.\n\nThe Prime Minister will continue his push for a 'nationally consistent' approach to Australia's coronavirus response, seeking unity on borders and a national definition on a COVID-19 hotspot.\n\nMr Morrison expressed his frustration during Question Time in parliament yesterday, saying 'Australia was meant to be open'.\n\n'Australia was not meant to be closed. Australia was meant to be open. Australians want to see Australia become open,' he said.\n\n'Australia must become whole again... that's what success looks like.\n\n'We need to come together, we need to ensure we are clear with Australians we will seek to make Australia whole again by Christmas this year.'\n\nWestern Australia and Queensland's Premiers have remained adamant they will not move away from hard borders despite being propped up fiscally by the federal government.\n\n'We're not going to agree to bring down the borders. That doesn't work for WA. I've made that clear to the Prime Minister,' WA Premier Mark McGowan said. \n\nImage: News Corp Australia\n\n
Read more »
Border closure rules pose 'a serious threat to federation' | Sky News AustraliaSky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell says the stance the premiers of Queensland and Western Australian have taken on border closures is “the most serious threat to federation since the start of the pandemic.”\n\nPrime Minister Scott Morrison will be pushing for a nation-wide definition on a COVID-19 hotspot at this Friday’s National Cabinet meeting.\n\nThe push to define COVID-19 hotspots comes as part of the Morrison government’s border closure agenda to encourage states and territories to open interstate bounderies and ease restrictions in regional areas that have very few of no COVID-19 cases.\n\n“With the words of the Queensland and WA premiers today saying we are not moving on hard borders, even before this national cabinet discussion on a hotspot definition tomorrow, the whole hotspot scheme seems pretty doomed,” Mr Clennell told Sky News host Andrew Bolt.\n\n“The intransigence here, of these states, Queensland and WA, and both of them are facing state elections and both of them have popular policies, is starting to become a serious concern for Scott Morrison.\n\n“How is he going to get them to change their minds?\n\n“It doesn’t appear he can.'\n\nImage: News Corp Australia\n
Read more »
National Cabinet 'facing Friday test' over COVID hotspot definition | Sky News AustraliaIf no definition of a COVID-19 'hotspot' is decided on Friday, 'you would have to say the National Cabinet has failed' according to Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell. \n\nIt comes as Prime Minister Scott Morrison is pushing for a nation-wide definition on a COVID-19 hotspot at this Friday’s National Cabinet meeting.\n\n'Senior federal sources have told me that the definition being discussed today by the AHPPC – the chief health officers committee - will be calculated based on a density of cases over time in a defined region,' Mr Clennell told Sky News. \n\n'Under this, it has been put to me, someone could travel between Brisbane and Perth without quarantine but Sydney to Brisbane travel would be in doubt; it would depend on the 'rolling average' of cases,' he said. \n\nMr Clennell said 'no matter the definition, it looks like it will not have much point'. \n\nHe said WA Premier Mark McGowan 'a short time ago, essentially said he's going to keep the hard border in place no matter what'. \n\n'It is a test for Scott Morrison and the states tomorrow as to whether they can come up with this hotspot definition tomorrow. If they cannot, you would have to say the National Cabinet has failed,' Mr Clennell said. \n\n\n\n
Read more »
Qld borders: Prediction Queensland will reopen after October 31Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has set a pretty tough target for the NSW government to meet in order for the Sunshine State to reopen their border.
Read more »