From 1h agoKey events23m agoRussian embassy lease to be cancelled, Albanese says1h ago’It is utterly untrue and an utter abuse of parliamentary privilege’1h agoVan ‘shattered’ by Thorpe’s allegations2h agoGood morning3h agoWelcomeFilters BETAKey events (5)David Van (10)Lidia Thorpe (7)Senate (6)Anthony Albanese (5)Australia (5)16m ago19.14 EDT
And that was it. That was the first press conference the prime minister has held this sitting week (and for some time with the press gallery) and it wasn’t exactly a long one.
Updated at 19.25 EDT17m ago19.13 EDT
Russia’s lease to be extinguished
He then bats away a question on the voice and the polling showing a downturn in support but does answer a question on the proximity of China’s embassy to Parliament House:
Look, we – we’re dealing with this very specifically and it’s based upon very specific advice as well about the nature of the construction that’s proposed for – for this site, about the location of this site, and about the capability that would present in terms of potential interference with activity that occurs in this Parliament House. That is why we are taking this action.
We’re doing it very quickly, once the decision was made on 31 May, I convened a national security committee meeting. We took advice as to the best way in which we could extinguish this lease. This legislation, this morning, is based upon the very clear advice that we received. We’re introducing it as soon as we can and we’re also passing it as soon as we can as well.
Our advice is that this will basically extinguish, when you see the legislation that Clare will introduce in a matter of minutes now, you’ll see it extinguishes various Australian law so that it won’t apply, but it also, of course, is up to the Russian government. We will await what response occurs, but we have anticipated that as well. We don’t expect that Russia’s in a position to talk about international law given their rejection of it so consistently and so brazenly with their invasion of Ukraine and the atrocities that have occurred that are occurring on an ongoing basis.
Updated at 19.24 EDT18m ago19.12 EDT
Russia’s embassy in Griffith to remain, PM says
On why Russia is still allowed a diplomatic presence in Canberra (there is an existing embassy in Griffith, about 10 minutes away from Parliament House), Anthony Albanese says:
Well, Russia does have a diplomatic presence here and that will continue at its existing premises in Griffith. Just as Australia has a diplomatic presence in Moscow. This is not about changing that, this is about the specific risk presented by this site and that is why we are taking this action.
Updated at 19.23 EDT19m ago19.11 EDT
Government ‘unwavering’ on Aukus, PM says
Anthony Albanese refused to answer a question on the reported compensation payment to Brittany Higgins, saying:
We’re dealing with this issue today. It’s actually a serious issue.
He then took a question on…
2023-06-14 18:19:50
Original from www.theguardian.com
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