Australia news live: governor general says Morrison’s appointment to other portfolios followed ‘normal process’

Morrison’s appointment to other portfolios followed ‘normal process’: governor general

Government House has confirmed that governor general David Hurley appointed former prime minister Scott Morrison to administer other portfolios, after advice from the then-Coalition government.

A spokesman for Hurley said such appointments do not require a swearing-in ceremony, and said that publicising such ministerial appointments is solely a matter for the government. He said:

The governor general, following normal process and acting on the advice of the government of the day, appointed former prime minister Morrison to administer portfolios other than the department of the prime minister and cabinet. The appointments were made consistently with section 64 of the constitution.

It is not uncommon for ministers to be appointed to administer departments other than their portfolio responsibility. These appointments do not require a swearing-in ceremony – the governor general signs an administrative instrument on the advice of the prime minister.

Questions around appointments of this nature are a matter for the government of the day and the department of the prime minister and cabinet. Similarly, the decision whether to publicise appointments to administer additional portfolios is a matter for the government of the day.

Read the original story here:

Updated at 23.27 EDT

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Here’s an extraordinary story from the ABC about Marley. As a toddler he began to choke and vomit when eating. Later, he started wheezing, and was diagnosed with asthma.

Years later, doctors finally worked it out. Marley had a plastic flower stuck in his throat!

Worse than the old pea up the nose, surely.

Morrison declines to comment on secret ministry swearing-ins

Sky News has reported that former prime minister Scott Morrison has declined to comment on the explosive revelations that he had himself secretly sworn into various ministry portfolios during his time in office, claiming “I haven’t engaged in any day to day politics” since losing the May election.

Current PM Anthony Albanese has accused Morrison of “tinpot” behaviour and running a “shadow government”.

Morrison told Sky “I haven’t seen what he [Albanese] has said.”

Guardian Australia has contacted Morrison’s office via email several times today for comment. Reached by phone, a staff member at Morrison’s electorate office in Cronulla couldn’t confirm whether the former PM would make a statement or response today, and instead suggested we send another email.

Updated at 00.29 EDT

In case you were wondering, from AAP’s New Zealand correspondent, Ben McKay:

London Symphony Orchestra in town

The London Symphony Orchestra will play a series of concerts in Australia, AAP reports – only the fourth trip in its 120-year history!

The LSO will play two concerts each in Brisbane and Melbourne and five at the Sydney Opera House.

This year is conductor Sir Simon Rattle’s last season, and he will be accompanied by 114 musicians. According to AAP:

The program features John Adams’ Harmonielehre, Claude Debussy’s La Mer and Maurice Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloé Suite No.2.

A second program features Gustav Mahler’s epic Symphony No.7, a third will showcase Sun Poem by British composer Daniel Kidane, with extra shows at the Opera House to feature a complete performance of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No.7.

The London Symphony Orchestra is among the world’s best, and has recorded soundtracks including Star Wars, Indiana Jones and The Shape of Water.

Tickets go on sale later in August.

Updated at 00.30 EDT

National Covid summary: 27 deaths reported

Here are the latest coronavirus numbers from around Australia today, as the country records at least 27 deaths from Covid-19:

ACT

NSW

Northern Territory

Queensland

South Australia

Tasmania

Victoria

Western Australia

Weekend auction clearance rates rise above 60%

Recent weaker-than-feared increases in inflation at home and abroad (at least, in the US) may be showing up in property markets.

One weekend, of course, doesn’t make a revival, but the past week’s auction clearance rates nudged above 60% in capital cities for the first time in 10 weeks, according to CoreLogic.

The average clearance rate rose for a third week in a row to 61.5% according to preliminary data – which will likely be trimmed a couple of percentage points once the numbers settle.

One thing to note is that the number of auctions continues to be lower than this time a year ago, including by almost a third (29.6%) in Melbourne. The initial clearance rate there was 65.5%, the best since early May when the Reserve Bank began lifting its cash rate.

Sydney bucked the trend a bit, with about 12% more auctions than a year ago, CoreLogic said. The number of homes going under the hammer was up 29% on the previous week but the clearance rate remained around the 60% mark, at least on the initial snapshot.

The RBA, of course, will have a big say in whether the property market stabilises or trends lower as borrowing costs rise. As of Friday, investors were still rating the chance of another 50 basis point increase in the cash rate – to 2.35% – as a three-in-four prospect.

Meanwhile, another sign that cost of living pressures are easing is coming from oil prices. The latest weekly readout from the Australian Institute of Petroleum charts continuing falls in average prices.

Travelling in Melbourne over the weekend, it was possible to buy fuel at around 155 cents per litre, while some service stations were charging about 195 cents. Despite suspicions, though, the average mark-up is, well, back to average levels.

Come the early hours of 29 September the federal government’s excise holiday will end, and 22.1 cents per litre will be added back on.

You can bet the average between wholesale and retail prices will widen in the run-up to that date as motorists flock to fill up – assuming treasurer Jim Chalmers doesn’t extend the excise cut.

Updated at 00.30 EDT

Morrison’s appointment to other portfolios followed ‘normal process’: governor general

Government House has confirmed that governor general David Hurley appointed former prime minister Scott Morrison to administer other portfolios, after advice from the then-Coalition government.

A spokesman for Hurley said such appointments do not require a swearing-in ceremony, and said that publicising such ministerial appointments is solely a matter for the government. He said:

The governor general, following normal process and acting on the advice of the government of the day, appointed former prime minister Morrison to administer portfolios other than the department of the prime minister and cabinet. The appointments were made consistently with section 64 of the constitution.

It is not uncommon for ministers to be appointed to administer departments other than their portfolio responsibility. These appointments do not require a swearing-in ceremony – the governor general signs an administrative instrument on the advice of the prime minister.

Questions around appointments of this nature are a matter for the government of the day and the department of the prime minister and cabinet. Similarly, the decision whether to publicise appointments to administer additional portfolios is a matter for the government of the day.

Read the original story here:

Updated at 23.27 EDT

The governor general was “following normal process” in appointing former prime minister Scott Morrison to a range of portfolios, according to a statement sent to News.com.au’s Samantha Maiden.

Oh, and:

The decision whether to publicise appointments to administer additional portfolios is a matter for the government of the day.

Updated at 23.04 EDT

If you haven’t read that Ben Doherty piece on those left behind in Afghanistan yet, please do – then follow it up with this piece on what should be done now, by Sitarah Mohammadi and Sajjad Askary:

Updated at 23.12 EDT

Western Australia records two new Covid deaths

Two people with Covid have died in Western Australia overnight, with the state recording 1,605 new cases, 303 people in hospital, and nine in ICU.

South Australia records four new Covid deaths

Four people with Covid have died in South Australia overnight, with the state recording 1,194 new cases, 274 people in hospital, and 12 in ICU.

Updated at 22.34 EDT