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Australia

Katherine Deves believes confrontation by protesters in Sydney was ‘knock-on effect’ from Federal Election campaign

Katherine Deves believes confrontation by protesters in Sydney was 'knock-on effect' from Federal Election campaign

Katherine Deves has slammed activists for their “disgusting conduct” after they confronted the former Liberal candidate during a night out at a Sydney pub.

Scott Morrison’s famous captain’s pick for the New South Wales seat of Warringah claimed she was verbally assaulted by a group of young men and women and then chased out of The Grand Hotel during a pub crawl with Young Liberals on Friday night.

A two-minute video shared to social media appeared to show a group chanting loudly inside the Hamilton St pub before the person filming is knocked to the ground.

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Ms Deves, who was not seen in the clip, told Sky News Australia she was invited by the Young Liberals – a centre-right youth movement of the Liberal Party – for a night out before they were allegedly confronted by the group.

“I showed up at the venue. They changed the location at the last minute for safety reasons,” she told The Outsiders program on Sunday.

“I only just walked in the door. I saw a lot of familiar faces.

“I was really excited to see these young people and catch up with what was going on with their lives as they assisted me in my campaign.

“And someone said, ‘the socialists are here’. I’m here thinking to myself, ‘what does that mean?'”

“All of a sudden, we realized the room had been invaded by a group of young men and women who started protesting and using arguably defamatory slurs against me, shouting at the top of their voices, shoving people.”

Ms Deves then claimed a “trans woman friend of mine” who assisted in her campaign in May was shoved and another person filming was pushed down the stairs.

She was able to leave the venue quickly with a campaign director and his friend but told how she was followed outside where other protesters had gathered.

“… But there are even more protesters on the street who proceeded to scream slurs and defamatory accusations at me and then chase me into a cab,” the 44-year-old said.

“The poor cab driver was saying ‘what’s going on here’ and we were just like ‘mate, just drive, just drive’ and we managed to get out of there.”

The mother-of-three believes the confrontation is the result of a “knock-on effect” from the Federal Election campaign where she made national headlines.

Ms Deves came under scrutiny when historic social media comments surfaced where she described transgender children as “surgically mutilated and sterilized” as well as her strong stance against trans athletes from competing in women’s sport.

An apology about the trans children comments was issued before it was walked back and she doubled down on the remarks just under two weeks before polling.

“This is sort of a knock-on effect from what happened in the election where many things I had said were completely decontextualised, they were sensationalised by certain elements of the media and cast the arguments I was trying to make, in a very bad light ,” she said.

“I think these young people were reacting to that.”

She flagged it was an “attack on freedom of speech and freedom of belief.”

Ms Deves insisted she would have welcomed a conversation with the activists but their actions were “disgusting conduct” that could have left people hurt.

“And if those young people had shown up and actually wanted to have a conversation with me, I would have happily discussed with them, and everyone would be entitled to agree to disagree,” the ex-Liberal candidate added.

“But to conduct with themselves in such a way, where they were clearly there to intimidate, harass and silent (me), I thought it was disgusting conduct.”

Ms Deves then suggested the activists behaved that way was “because they don’t like the fact of what I’m saying is actually right” and pointed to the recent closure of a gender identity clinic for children in the United Kingdom.

The National Health Service (NHS) will shut down the Tavistock center after complaints were raised by whistleblowers, patients and families in recent years.

Doctors had also reported concerns that some patients were being referred to a gender transitioning pathway too early.

“The fact that the people who are my detractors, they don’t want to have a conversation, they never wanted to have the conversation because what they’re trying to say doesn’t stand up to scrutiny,” she argued to The Outsiders hosts.

“I mean, some of the issues for which I was vilified, I’ve now been vindicated on, whether it’s the sports issue and also with respect to children being medicalised.”

“The Tavistock clinic in the UK, that was closed down on Friday, they have been discredited, they have been disgraced, they have absolutely been shut down.

“Those medicalised pathways I was trying to raise awareness of are now not being offered to children in the UK because there are so many concerns.”

“I think my detractors really want to shut me up because they don’t like the fact of what I’m saying is actually right and the arguments have merit because it completely undermines their political agenda.”

NSW Police told SkyNews.com.au it had not received any reports related to the incident.

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US

Manchin touts inflation reduction bill, says ‘I’m not getting involved’ in upcoming elections

Manchin touts inflation reduction bill, says 'I'm not getting involved' in upcoming elections

Sen. Joe Manchin in the US Capitol on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Sen. Joe Manchin, DW.Va., and his staff told Democratic leadership on Thursday that he’s not willing to support better climate and tax provisions in a sweeping Biden agenda bill, according to a Democrat briefed on the conversations.

Tom-Williams | Cq-roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images

Senator Joe Manchin, DW.V., made the morning talk show rounds on Sunday to talk about the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, a revival of President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better economic bill that collapsed earlier this year.

The inflation bill, which Democrats are attempting to pass through reconciliation, aims to reform the tax code, cut health-care costs and fight climate change. It will invest more than $400 billion over a decade by closing tax loopholes, mostly on the largest and richest American corporations. It would also reduce the deficit by $300 billion in the same decade-long timeframe.

“This is all about fighting inflation,” Manchin told Jonathan Karl on Sunday’s “This Week” on ABC.

Manchin insisted that the bill isn’t a spending bill, but instead is focusing on investing money.

“We’ve taken $3.5 trillion of spending down to $400 billion of investing without raising any taxes whatsoever, we closed some loopholes, didn’t raise any taxes,” he added.

He further explained the closing of tax loopholes, which will raise taxes on certain American companies. Any tax increase could jeopardize full Democratic support of the legislation, which it needs to pass through reconciliation – Senator Kyrsten Sinema, DA.Z., may not support this provision.

“The only thing we have done is basically say that every corporation of a billion dollars of value or greater in America should pay at least 15% of minimum corporate tax,” he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

“That’s not a tax increase it’s closing a loophole,” he said.

Manchin also noted that a deal between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, and he was struck in private to avoid drama.

“We’ve been negotiating off and on very quietly because I didn’t know if it would ever come to fruition,” he said. “I didn’t want to go through the drama that eight months ago we went through for so long.”

Manchin added that he’s struck an agreement with Democratic leaders to support the bill in exchange for taking on permitting reform later.

“If I don’t fulfill my commitment promise that I will vote and support this bill with all my heart, there are consequences, and there are consequences on both sides,” he said on “Meet the Press.”

Manchin also noted that the bill will especially target energy prices in the US by upping production and using clean energy effectively.

“Inflation is the greatest challenge we have in our country right now,” he said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “If you want to get gasoline prices down, produce more and produce it in America.”

manchin dodges election talk

During his Sunday interviews, Manchin repeatedly evaded answering questions about who he supports in upcoming elections – the 2022 midterms and the 2024 presidential election.

“I’m not getting involved in any election right now,” he said on “State of the Union.”

He reiterated that he would work with anyone that voters elect and specifically wouldn’t answer if he wants Democrats to keep control of Congress come November.

“Whatever the voters choose,” he said on “Meet the Press.” “Whoever you send me that’s your representative and I respect them.”

When specifically asked if he’d support Biden in reelection, he focused on Biden’s current presidency.

“Whoever is my president, that’s my president, and Joe Biden is my president right now,” he said on “This Week.”

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Categories
US

PACT Act: VA secretary says Republican-backed amendments to burn pits legislation would lead to ‘rationing of care for vets’

PACT Act: VA secretary says Republican-backed amendments to burn pits legislation would lead to 'rationing of care for vets'



CNN
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Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough on Sunday pushed back against Senate Republicans blocking passage of the administration-backed PACT Act, warning that if the chamber passes GOP senators’ proposed amendment to the legislation aimed at providing care for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits, “we may have to ration care for veterans.”

McDonough told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union” that a proposed amendment from Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Pat Toomey would put “a year-on-year cap” on what the VA can spend to care for veterans suffering from exposure to burn pits and sunsets the fund after 10 years, telling Tapper, “I can’t, in good conscience, do that, because the outcome of that will be rationing of care for vets, which is something I just can’t sign on.”

“This has been the No. 1 priority for President Biden,” McDonough said, touting executive action steps the Biden administration has already taken to remove the burden of proof for veterans seeking care for toxic exposure. “I guess what I’d say is, these folks have waited long enough. Let’s just get it done, and also let’s not be for a proposal that places artificial caps on year by year, and then functionally, at the end of those 10 years, makes this fund go away. Let’s not sign up to that, because at the end of the day, the risk of that is going to be rationing of care to veterans.”

On Saturday, McDonough visited people demonstrating at the Capitol in support of the legislation, delivering pizzas to the group, who pledged they would stay overnight. President Joe Biden, who remains in isolation at the White House after testing positive again for Covid-19 on Saturday, told the group via a FaceTime call, “I’ll tell you what, as long as I have a breath in me, I ‘m going to fight to get this done – as long as I have a breath in me.”

Earlier on “State of the Union,” Toomey had defended his decision to lead a group of Republican senators in delaying passage of the bill.

The Pennsylvania Republican accused Democrats of attempting to “sneak in something completely unrelated that they know could never pass on their own” while reiterating that he and his fellow Republicans are “not opposed” to the core provisions of the bill.

“[Democrats] know they’ll unleash their allies in the media and maybe a pseudo-celebrity to make up false accusations to try to get us to just swallow what shouldn’t be there,” Toomey said in an apparent reference to comedian Jon Stewart, a longtime advocate for victims of toxic burn pit exposure who has been vocal since the procedural vote failed.

Toomey’s opposition to the bill centers on the accounting categorization of certain spending in the bill, which he said would “allow our Democratic colleagues to go on an unrelated $400 billion spending spree.” He said he wants a vote on his amendment to change the spending categorization before he agrees to allow the bill to come to a vote.

“We are spending way too much money to use – to hide behind a veterans bill, the opportunity to go on an unrelated $400 billion spending spree is wrong,” Toomey said. “And we shouldn’t allow it.”

When pressed on the text of the legislation that indicates the allocated money has to be spent on health care for veterans who were injured from toxic burn pit exposure, Toomey dismissed that interpretation of the bill.

“This is why they do this sort of thing,” said Toomey, who is not running for reelection this year. “Because it gets very deep in the weeds and very confusing for people very quickly. It’s not really about veteran spending. It’s about what category of government bookkeeping they put the veteran spending in.”

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US

Manchin declines to say if he wants Dems to retain control

Manchin declines to say if he wants Dems to retain control

WASHINGTON (AP) — West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, one of the Democrats’ most conservative and contrarian members, declined on Sunday to say whether he wants Democrats to retain control of Congress after the November elections.

The senator told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that will be determined by the choices of voters in individual states, rather than his own preferences. He added that people “are sick and tired of politics” and want their representatives in Washington to put country over party.

“I’ve always taken the approach, whoever you send me, that’s your representative and I respect them and I respect the state for the people they send and I give it my best to work with them and do the best for my country,” Manchin said.

Manchin faces reelection in 2024 in a state where Donald Trump prevailed in every county in the past two presidential races, winning more than two-thirds of West Virginia’s voters. But in distancing himself from fellow Democrats, Manchin also tried to decry the rise of partisanship.

“We’re not working for any party. We’re not working for any political idealism,” he said, bemoaning “bickering over political outcomes and who’s going to be in charge of what” at a time of global tensions, war and economic uncertainty fueled by rising inflation.

Manchin was booked to appear on five news shows, the culmination of a high-profile week in which his commitment to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y., revived a package of White House priorities on climate, health care, taxes and deficit reduction. The West Virginia senator torpedoed a larger plan last December and previously lowered expectations about a substantial agreement being reached.

The surprise deal, while more modest than earlier versions, seems to have helped transform Manchin from pariah to partner.

On “Fox News Sunday,” he defended the 15% minimum tax on corporations with $1 billion or more of earnings as closing “loopholes,” rather than an outright tax increase.

Manchin said the plan, the “Inflation Reduction Act,” would help with manufacturing jobs, reduce deficits by $300 billion, lower prescription drug prices and accelerate the permitting process for energy production. These are the kinds of priorities that Republicans have supported in the past, Manchin said.

“We’re doing everything you’ve asked,” Manchin said. “I would hope, and in normal times, this would be a bipartisan bill, but I understand the toxic atmosphere we’re in.”

The Senate is divided 50-50, with Vice President Kamala Harris the tiebreaking vote, giving the Democrats control of the chamber. In the House, Democrats have a 220-211 edge, with four vacancies. But in midterm elections, voters often reject the party that holds the White House, and this year, President Joe Biden’s unpopularity and rising inflation are creating strong headwinds for Democrats.

Manchin demurred when asked on NBC whether he hoped Democrats would keep their majorities in Congress.

“I think people are sick and tired of politics, I really do. I think they’re sick and tired of Democrats and Republicans fighting and feuding and holding pieces of hostage legislation because they didn’t get what they wanted,” he said, adding, “I’m not going to predict what’s going to happen. ”

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Categories
US

Joe Manchin says Republicans in ‘normal times’ would be supporting energy, health care bill

Joe Manchin says Republicans in 'normal times' would be supporting energy, health care bill

“I think it’s a great piece of legislation and on normal times, my Republican colleagues would be for something such as this. We’ve basically paid down debt, (which) is what they want. We’ve accelerated permitting, which is what they want. And we’ve increased production of energy, which is what they want. We’ve done things that we should be doing together,” Manchin, who represents West Virginia, told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union.”

“Well, we found that they were wrong. And people can be wrong, but how in the world can it be inflammatory?” Manchin Told Tapper. “How can it add flames to inflation fires right now if you’re paying down debt?”

He added: “We’re doing everything we can to make sure we attack the problem. And these are solutions to the problems we have. So I know the ones playing politics with it.”

When Manchin and Schumer, a New York Democrat, announced the deal last week, it represented a breakthrough after more than a year of negotiations that have collapsed time and again.

Though many details have not been disclosed, the measure would invest $369 billion into energy and climate change programs, with the goal of reducing carbon emissions by 40% by 2030, according to a one-page fact sheet. It would also address the permitting of energy infrastructure, which could ease the path for a shale gas pipeline in West Virginia.

Manchin on Sunday was asked about getting a fellow moderate Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s support for the legislation.

“Sen. Sinema is my dear friend. We work very close together on so many things, and she has so much in this piece of legislation. She’s formed quite a bit of and worked on it very hard. And with that, she’s brought down drug prices, she’s been very instrumental in letting Medicare go ahead and negotiate for lower drug prices,” Manchin said of the Arizona senator.

He added: “I think that basically when she looks at the bill and sees the whole spectrum of what we’re doing … hopefully she will be positive about it, but she’ll make her decision and I respect that.”

Manchin also said he hopes the legislation passes before the August recess, which is what Democratic leadership is hoping for.

The senator’s support is notable given his stance earlier this month that he “unequivocally” wouldn’t support the climate or tax provisions of the Democratic economic package, which appeared to torpedo any hope Democrats had of passing legislation to fight climate change in the near future . But he told Tapper on Sunday that he “never did walk away” from negotiations with Schumer.

“I never did walk away, but we reorganized the bill, if you will,” he said. “What we had before that, there were things in there that I considered and thought could be considered to be inflammatory. … Inflation is the greatest challenge we have in our country right now — around in my state and around the country. So that’s what we’re fighting.”

Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania slammed the deal in a separate appearance later on “State of the Union,” arguing that it would negatively impact the US economy at a critical time.

“We haven’t seen any text, we don’t even know what it looks like. So this is a disaster. This is going to make our recession worse. It’s going to make inflation worse. It’s not gonna do any good. I am really surprised that Joe agreed to this,” he told Tapper.

This story has been updated to include additional information from the interview.

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Australia

Pay rise: Teachers, nurses, police officers, cleaners and public servants offered six per cent wage rise over two years

Pay rise: Teachers, nurses, police officers, cleaners and public servants offered six per cent wage rise over two years

Western Australian teachers, nurses, police officers, cleaners and public servants have been offered a six per cent wage rise over the next two years as a buffer to rising inflation.

The Western Australia government has increased its pay offer for 150,000 workers to three per cent annually for the next two years, along with an additional $2,500 cost of living payment.

Premier Mark McGowan said the move was in response to peaking inflation and would cost the budget an extra $634 million over the next four years.

“Given the current economic climate we’ve listened and reviewed our wages policy,” he wrote on social media on Sunday.

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US

Pelosi confirms trip to Asia, but no mention of Taiwan

Pelosi confirms trip to Asia, but no mention of Taiwan

BEIJNG (AP) — The speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, confirmed Sunday she will visit four Asian countries this week but made no mention of a possible stop in Taiwan that has fueled tension with Beijing, which claims the island democracy as its own territory.

Pelosi said in a statement she is leading a congressional delegation to Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan to discuss trade, the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, security and “democratic governance.”

Pelosi has yet to confirm news reports that she might visit Taiwan. Chinese President Xi Jinping warned against meddling in Beijing’s dealings with the island in a phone call Thursday with his American counterpart, Joe Biden.

Beijing sees official American contact with Taiwan as encouragement to make its decades-old de facto independence permanent, a step US leaders say they don’t support. Pelosi, head of one of three branches of the US government, would be the highest-ranking elected American official to visit Taiwan since then-Speaker Newt Gingrich in 1997.

The Biden administration didn’t explicitly urge Pelosi to avoid Taiwan but tried to assure Beijing there was no reason to “come to blows” and that if such a visit occurred, it would signal no change in US policy.

“Under the strong leadership of President Biden, America is firmly committed to smart, strategic engagement in the region, understanding that a free and flourishing Indo-Pacific is crucial to prosperity in our nation and around the globe,” Pelosi’s statement said.

Taiwan and China split in 1949 after the communists won a civil war on the mainland. Both sides say they are one country but disagree over which government is entitled to national leadership. They have no official relations but are linked by billions of dollars of trade and investment.

The United States switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, but maintains informal relations with the island. Washington is obliged by federal law to see that Taiwan has the means to defend itself.

Washington’s “One China policy” says it takes no position on the status of the two sides but wants their dispute resolved peacefully. Beijing promotes an alternative “One China principle” that says they are one country and the Communist Party is its leader.

Members of Congress publicly backed Pelosi’s interest in visiting Taiwan despite Chinese opposition. They want to avoid being seen as yielding to Beijing.

Beijing has given no details of how it might react if Pelosi goes to Taiwan, but the Ministry of Defense warned last week the military would take “strong measures to thwart any external interference.” The foreign ministry said, “those who play with fire will perish by it.”

The ruling party’s military wing, the People’s Liberation Army, has flown growing numbers of fighter planes and bombers around Taiwan to intimidate the island.

“The Air Force’s multi-type fighter jets fly around the treasured island of the motherland, tempering and enhancing the ability to maintain national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” military spokesman Col. Shen Jinke said on Sunday, referring to Taiwan.

Pelosi said her delegation includes US Reps. Gregory Meeks, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Mark Takano, chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs; Suzan DelBene, vice chair of the House Ways and Means Committee; Raja Krishnamoorthi, a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and chair of the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Andy Kim, a member of the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees.

A visit to Taiwan would be a career capstone for Pelosi, who increasingly uses her position in Congress as a US emissary on the global stage. She has long challenged China on human rights and wanted to visit Taiwan earlier this year.

In 1991, as a new member of Congress, Pelosi irked Chinese authorities by unfurling a banner on Tiananmen Square in central Beijing commemorating those killed when the Communist Party crushed pro-democracy protests two years earlier.

“It’s important for us to show support for Taiwan,” Pelosi, a Democrat from California, told reporters this month.

But she had made clear she was not advocating US policy changes.

“None of us has ever said we’re for independence, when it comes to Taiwan,” she said. “That’s up to Taiwan to decide.”

On Friday, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby tried to tamp down concerns.

“There’s no reason for it to come to that, to come to blows,” Kirby said at the White House. “There’s no reason for that because there’s been no change in American policy with respect to One China.”

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Mascaro reported from Washington.

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Categories
Australia

Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan announces more pay for 150,000 public sector workers

Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan announces more pay for 150,000 public sector workers

Teachers, nurses, police officers, cleaners and public servants in Western Australia have been offered a six per cent pay rise as a buffer to rising inflation.

The WA government has increased its wage offer for 150,000 public sector workers to three per cent annually over the next two years, up from 2.75 per cent, along with an additional $2500 sign-on bonus.

Premier Mark McGowan said the move was in response to cost-of-living pressures and would cost the state budget an extra $634 million over the next four years.

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“This is designed to ensure that there is fairness across the board and the public sector … is properly rewarded in the environment that we are in,” he told reporters on Sunday.

The changes will immediately flow through to workforces that have already accepted the state government’s previous offer, including teachers and public hospital doctors.

Lower paid workers will get a bigger proportional pay increase through the sign-on bonus, with a patient care assistant who earns just over $55,000 a year set to effectively get a 7.5 per cent wage rise over the first year.

Perth’s consumer price index jumped 1.7 per cent in the June quarter, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data released last week, pushing its annual inflation rate well above the national average to 7.4 per cent.

The McGowan government banked a $5.7 billion surplus in this year’s state budget, which included a one-off $400 electricity credit for every household.

But the premier said the new policy was his final offer, stressing the government cannot afford to match wage increases in the cashed-up private sector.

“We’re never going to be able to compete with the mining industry, no industry can,” he said.

“But a public sector job is a secure job. It’s a good job. It’s one that we want to properly reward and properly ensure that everyone gets a decent pay increase.”

Health workers and other WA public servants were lobbying for a pay rise above 2.75 per cent, with some holding stop-work meetings outside Perth hospitals in recent weeks.

Mr McGowan is hopeful the improved offer will be enough to stop any strike action, saying it’s more generous than those put forward to public sector workers in NSW and Victoria.

“We have provided something that no other state has, which is the across the board sign-on bonus,” he said.

“Other states have done it for certain parts of the workforce but not the entire workforce. We want to make sure the entire workforce is recognised, particularly because over COVID everyone put their shoulder to the wheel.”

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Categories
Australia

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s COVID-19 response criticised, urged to mandate mask wearing

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's COVID-19 response criticised, urged to mandate mask wearing

Former Australian Medical Association president Dr Kerryn Phelps has called on Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to enforce a mask mandate.

It comes as the state recorded 4,655 new infections on Sunday, with 762 people in hospitals – 28 of those are in ICU.

Queensland has a massive 53,100 active infections.

The one-time independent MP for the Sydney seat of Wentworth replied to a tweet from Ms Palaszczuk who urged anyone over the age of 30 to book in for their fourth COVID-19 vaccination.

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“If you have downtime this weekend, book that booster shot,” the Premier wrote.

“Everyone over the age of 30 is eligible for a fourth vaccination. Getting a booster is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from COVID-19.”

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ATAGI) updated its recommendation for people aged 50 to 64 years to get a fourth COVID-19 vaccine, while people aged 30 to 49 years may choose to have a fourth shot if they wish to.

ATAGI reiterated that people who had already been eligible for the fourth dose, including those aged 65 years and over, remain at “high risk of severe disease and death” from COVID-19.

But Dr Phelps warned that vaccination alone is not enough to control the pandemic.

“Whatever advice you are receiving @AnnastaciaMP, vaccination alone will not control this #covid19 pandemic,” she wrote on Sunday.

“People will continue to get reinfected without other measures.

“The healthcare system around the country is struggling: hospital staff, paramedics, GPs.

“Please mandate masks.”

It’s not the first time Dr Phelps has weighed in on the need for stronger rules.

Earlier this month she called out Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for not wearing an N95 face mask when receiving his fourth jab.

It is not against the rules to enter a New South Wales pharmacy without a mask.

“Where are the N95 masks @AlboMP?” she tweeted.

Dr Chris Moy, Vice President of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) said the Prime Minister should stop with the “contradictory messaging” and start to be more transparent about the emerging COVID-19 cases and hospitalisations.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly launched an impassioned plea for Australians to “take action” and wear face masks amid a surge in COVID-19 cases this winter – but stopped short of advising the Albanese Government to mandate the measure.

Dr Kelly appeared on Sky News Australia where he warned COVID-19 cases are expected to peak in August as the country endures a third Omicron wave.

“In terms of a mandate, that’s really a decision for government and that’s something they need to consider,” he said on July 20.

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