Tag: Scott Morrison

Australian PM’s WeChat Account Hijacked and Rebranded

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s official WeChat account has been hijacked and rebranded as a lifestyle page—leading one senator to accuse the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of “foreign interference” during an election year. According to the Daily Telegraph, the agency running the prime minister’s WeChat account reported problems with posting content on the channel in…


Australian Federal Police Launch Investigation Into RATs Price Gouging

The Australian Federal Police has launched an investigation into rapid antigen test (RAT) price gouging and has warned that individuals and businesses selling COVID-19 tests for more than 20 percent of the original retail purchase rate will face five years’ imprisonment or a $66,000 fine. AFP Assistant Commissioner Crime Command Nigel Ryan said there would be…


A Serbian View on the Djokovic Debacle

Commentary It is a sad day when the future of tennis depends on an arbitrary decision of members of the political class. But this is precisely what happened in Australia when the Federal Court dismissed Novak Djokovic’s appeal against the cancellation of his visa by the Immigration Minister Alex Hawke. Djokovic’s gracious behaviour following the…


Australia Offers Visa Fee Refund to Entice Students, Backpackers Back Down Under

The Australian federal government has announced a series of measures to lure over 170,000 student and working holiday visa holders back into the country to fill labour shortages. Offshore student and working holiday visa holders, as well as new applicants, will have their visa application fees refunded upon arrival. All student visa holders who arrive within the…


Claims That Govt Redirected RAT Tests Are ‘Categorically Untrue’: PM

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has described allegations that the Commonwealth was requisitioning rapid antigen tests (RATs) as “categorically untrue,” saying the government “would never do that” and that the tests are being prioritised for vulnerable Australians. The prime minister’s comments come after suppliers Werko, Star Hygiene, and HiCraft accused the federal government of diverting…


Australian MP Says Opposition Want Him Silenced for Challenging ‘Pandemic Orthodoxy’

Australian MP George Christensen has hit out at the Labor Party after its deputy opposition leader called for him to be punished for his views on mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations. “Labor are now calling for my removal from parliament for daring to challenge the pandemic orthodoxy,” Christensen wrote on Facebook on Thursday. “Think about it: they…


‘Strong Case’ for Surveillance Testing Regime for Teachers: Aussie PM

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said the Commonwealth would support the states and territories if they pursue a COVID-19 surveillance testing regime for school teachers, but not so much for students. “I think there is a very strong case about surveillance testing for teachers,” Morrison told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday. “Just like we…


Australian Unions Warn of Strikes as COVID-19 Workplace Safety Concerns Go Unaddressed

Australian Council of Trade Union (ACTU) has said that they may take industrial action across the country if the businesses and the federal government do not make COVIDsafe working conditions a priority. The ACTU released a statement following a meeting with Australian work unions on Jan. 17 saying that the unions would do everything they…


Australia’s National Cabinet Agrees to Expand Close Contact Isolation Rule Exemption List

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced, following the national cabinet meeting, that close contact isolation rules changes will be expanded to help ease supply chain issues and keep the economy running. The earlier changes that allowed food and grocery workers identified as close contacts to return to work with a negative test result for COVID-19…


Australian Authorities Had Grounds to Deny Djokovic, but Bumbled the Process

Commentary As predicted, the fallout from the Novak Djokovic debacle is already haunting the federal government. Ellen Ransley, in an article published by News.com.au, reported on Jan. 11 that several politicians urged the prime minister to clean up the Djokovic visa mess. It argued that the reputation of the government and the Australian Open had…