Outrage as Australians Discover Former Prime Minister Secretly Gave Himself Five Additional Ministries

THE GUARDIAN: Incumbent prime minister says he ‘cannot conceive of the mindset’ that enabled Scott Morrison to appoint himself to additional positions while PM

Scott Morrison secretly appointed himself to five additional ministries while Australia’s prime minister, in what his successor has labelled an “unprecedented trashing of the Westminster system”.

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said on Tuesday he was waiting on legal advice over any possible ramifications of the secret appointments and was “open to reforms and suggestions” so the situation did not reoccur.

Morrison now faces calls to resign from parliament over the revelations, including from one of his former ministers. Karen Andrews, a former minister for home affairs, which is one of the departments to which Morrison appointed himself, said: “This is totally unacceptable, for a prime minister to behave in this manner undermines everything that a federal government constitutionally should stand for.” » | Amy Remeikis in Canberra | Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Scott Morrison was sworn in to several portfolios other than prime minister. How can this be done?: Only the governor general can appoint ministers, but there are ways a minister can take on the powers of another »

Canberra, la capitale de l'Australie, à son tour confinée

FIGARO / LIVE : Un confinement de sept jours de Canberra, la capitale australienne a été décrété jeudi par les autorités après la découverte d'un cas de coronavirus. Environ 400.000 habitants de cette ville, où siège le gouvernement, seront confinés à compter de jeudi, et rejoindront ainsi les millions d'Australiens du sud-est de l'immense île continent déjà contraints de demeurer chez eux. Avec une vidéo en anglais » | Publié : jeudi 12 août 2021 ; mis à jour : vendredi 13 août 2021

North Korea Warns Australia of Possible Nuclear Strike If It 'Blindly Toes US Line'

THE GUARDIAN: Foreign ministry spokesman quoted as saying Julie Bishop’s comments can never be pardoned and Pyongyang is acting only in self-defence

North Korea has bluntly warned Australia of a possible nuclear strike if Canberra persists in “blindly and zealously toeing the US line”.

North Korea’s state new agency (KCNA) quoted a foreign ministry spokesman castigating Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop, after she said the rogue nation would be subject to further Australian sanctions and for “spouting a string of rubbish against the DPRK over its entirely just steps for self-defence”.

“If Australia persists in following the US moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK and remains a shock brigade of the US master, this will be a suicidal act of coming within the range of the nuclear strike of the strategic force of the DPRK,” the report said.

“The Australian foreign minister had better think twice about the consequences to be entailed by her reckless tongue-lashing before flattering the US.” » | Australian Associated Press | Sunday, April 23, 2017

Pauline Hanson: 2016 Maiden Speech (Full)

ACT [Australian Capital Territory] Parliament Passes Religious Vilification Laws

THE CANBERRA TIMES: Vilification on the grounds of religion is now illegal and in serious cases could result in a criminal conviction with a fine of up to $7500, under laws passed by the ACT parliament on Thursday.

Both Labor and Liberal supported the move put by the Greens Shane Rattenbury, who said the display of hatred, intolerance and offensive behaviour towards Muslims was one of the biggest intolerance issues in Australia today. » | Kirsten Lawson | Thursday, August 4, 2016

Australia Elections: New Politicians Headed for Canberra

Australian voters are still waiting to find out the overall result of their national election after voting on Saturday. But what’s clear is that a record number of independent candidates and representatives from very small parties have been elected. Al Jazeera’s Andrew Thomas takes a look at the eclectic group of politicians Australians are sending to Canberra.

Queen Begins Her 16th, and Possibly Last, Visit to Australia

THE AUSTRALIAN: THE Queen has embarked on what may be her last tour of Australia.

Travelling with the Duke of Edinburgh, she touched down at Canberra's RAAF Fairbairn base tonight in a British Airways jet to be welcomed by hundreds of wellwishers, many holding flowers or waving flags.

The Queen emerged from the plane wearing a teal-coloured coat and hat to be greeted by Governor-General Quentin Bryce and Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

A military band played God Save the Queen and a 21-gun salute rang out before the 85-year-old monarch inspected the ceremonial royal guard made up of army, navy and air force personnel.

The Queen first visited Australia in 1954. Some expect that the 2011 tour will be her last. » | JAMIE WALKER | The Australian | Wednesday, October 19, 2011

THE AUSTRALIAN: New polling shows support for the monarchy in Australia is at its highest level since 1991: AUSTRALIANS are continuing to shun a republic and move back to the monarchy, research shows. » | CHRISTIAN KERR | The Australian | Wednesday, October 19, 2011

THE AUSTRALIAN: The Queen’s Visit: October 19–29, 2011 »


THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Queen and Britain are now part of Australia’s past: The booming country’s economic and cultural ties are moving towards Asia and the US. » | Oscar Humphries | Tuesday, October 18, 2011

LE FIGARO: Arrivée d'Elizabeth II en Australie : La reine Elizabeth II d'Angleterre a été saluée aujourd'hui par 21 coups de canon et des centaines d'écoliers agitant des drapeaux, à son arrivée à Canberra, pour sa seizième et probablement dernière visite en Australie, dont elle est la chef d'Etat. » | AFP | mercredi 19 octobre 2011

NET TRIBUNE: Königin Elizabeth II. in Australien herzlich empfangen » | dapd | Mittwoch 19. Oktober 2011

Obama’s Got More Flabbing to Do. This Time Down Under: Obama to Address Federal Parliament
Photo: The Sydney Morning Herald
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: US President Barack Obama will address a joint sitting of Federal Parliament on March 23 when he makes his first presidential visit to Australia.

Leader of the House Anthony Albanese said Mr Obama's speech to the joint sitting would be the only business that day. However, Parliament would sit the previous day.

He said this visit would generate a great deal of interest.

"We will be honoured by his presence in Canberra on that day," he said. >>> AAP | Thursday, March 04, 2010

Gay Unions Made Legal in Australian Territory
THE TELEGRAPH: The Australian Capital Territory has become the first region in Australia to legalise civil partnership ceremonies for same-sex couples.

Under the new laws, gay couples will be able to hold a legally recognised civil union ceremony in front of friends and family in the territory, which is home to the capital Canberra and the nation's parliament.

The region's legislators approved the bill, which moved by the local Greens party.

Andrew Barr, an ACT minister who is in a gay relationship, wept as he spoke in support of the bill.

"Love, trust and intimacy and commitment are found at the heart of all good relationships," Mr Barr later told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

"I'm proud that this parliament will send that signal that my relationship with Anthony is equal to any other." >>> Bonnie Malkin in Sydney | Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Greens to Push New Bill for Gay Marriage
THE CANBERRA TIMES: The Greens will table a same-sex marriage Bill at the Legislative Assembly this week.

Greens Attorney-General spokesman Shane Rattenbury said the Bill would establish the right for same-sex couples to have a legally recognised ceremony under the ACTs civil union legislation.

''This legislation is an important step in ensuring equality and respect for same sex couples in the ACT,'' Mr Rattenbury said.

''This legislation will mean that same sex couples, if they wish, can stand before family and friends and make their declaration of love for one another, just as any other couple can.''

But under Section 35(2) of the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 the Governor-General has the power to disallow any enactment made by the Legislative Assembly within six months of its passing.

This power has been used once to repeal the Civil Unions Act (2006) that allowed same-sex marriage.

At the Labor national conference there was a debate about same sex-marriage and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd reiterated his opposition to it.

Mr Rattenbury said Mr Rudd's views would not stop the Greens. ''Whilst the threat of Federal veto hangs over this legislation, we must not allow that to get in the way of doing what is right for the people of the ACT ... it's about respect, it's about equality for all couples. I know there have been battles about this before but times have changed and we need to press on. It's the right thing to do.'' [Source: The Canberra Times] Eva Kretowicz | Monday, August 24, 2009

MP Pay Row Sparks Questions in Australia
THE INDEPENDENT: A row over political expenses in Britain spurred questions in Australia today, as a tabloid newspaper carried details of private homes purchased with taxpayer backing by members of parliament.

Leftist Prime Minister Kevin Rudd extended a pay freeze for politicians to judges and senior bureaucrats at the same time that the mass-selling Daily Telegraph newspaper said MPs were claiming travel expenses for living in their own Canberra homes.

"Up you for their rent," said the Sydney-based newspaper's headline, in a crude inference taxpayers were being saddled with living costs by their representative politicians.

The headline was placed against photographs of homes and apartments in the national capital, where Australian politicians regularly jet in from far-flung electorates to attend parliament.

Britain's House of Commons speaker stepped down yesterday in the wake of an expenses scandal that has damaged the reputation of parliament amid revelations taxpayer funds were used to claim everything from manure to chandeliers and porn films.

Australian MPs, using entitlements approved by parliament, were claiming travel allowances while living in private homes purchased for use during parliamentary sitting weeks over 4-5 months of the year, the Telegraph said. >>> Reuters | Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Govt to Slash Immigration Intake
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: CANBERRA – Cuts to the nation's skilled migration intake will help protect local jobs, Immigration Minister Chris Evans says.

The federal government will slash the skilled migration program by 14 per cent, or 18,500 jobs, over the next three years.

The cuts will be coupled with deletions to the critical skills list, which specifies which jobs are open to migrants.

All building and manufacturing trades will be removed, forcing companies to find bricklayers, plumbers, welders and carpenters domestically.

Employers can bring in foreign workers only if they cannot source the labour locally.

Mr Evans says the government wants to ensure migrant workers are not competing with Australians for jobs during the economic downturn. >>> ©2009 AAP | Monday, March 16, 2009

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