Add Category
Updated
Cleaners in full protective gear have been spotted disinfecting parts of the Commonwealth Parliament Offices in Sydney where Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton attended a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Key points:
- Scott Morrison has been told he does not need to self-isolated as he was not in contact with Peter Dutton within 24 hours of him showing symptoms
- The Opposition's Chris Bowen has asked if that is consistent with the advice given to the wider public
- Mr Bowen suggests the "fumigation" of the Commonwealth Parliament Offices suggests wider precautions should be taken by the Cabinet
Mr Dutton has tested positive for coronavirus and been admitted to hospital.
He said this morning he felt "fine", but was tested after waking up with a temperature and a sore throat on Friday.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the chief medical officer had advised him that he did not need to self-isolate or be tested because he was not in contact with Mr Dutton in the 24 hours before he showed symptoms.
Mr Dutton attended a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday in Sydney.
"[Queensland Health's] advice to me is that they're concerned with people I've had close contact with since the morning of [Wednesday] the 11th," Mr Dutton told Sydney radio station 2GB.
"There's some speculation about my visit to the White House etc, but all of the medical advice says that there's no issue in relation to that period, or even Cabinet earlier in the week, and that's very clear."
Mr Dutton confirmed on Melbourne radio that Australian authorities had been in touch with the White House to relay information about his diagnosis, given he met US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka and US Attorney-General Bill Barr over a week ago.
Chief medical officer Brendan Murphy said it was "extremely unlikely" Mr Dutton would have infected his Cabinet colleagues.
"He would have to be very unusually infectious three days before he became symptomatic," Professor Murphy said.
"We have not seen anybody like that in Australia, you can't rule out anything but in our public health rules we are pretty clear that we think it is very unlikely."
The ABC has confirmed Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers who serve as part of Mr Dutton's personal protective detail are undergoing testing for coronavirus.
"The AFP has notified all members who may have had recent contact with the Minister," a spokesperson said.
"Appropriate protocols are being followed for all people possibly impacted, including self-isolation and testing where appropriate.
Your questions on coronavirus answered:
"No persons have returned positive results to date."
Opposition health spokesman Chris Bowen said the advice for the general public was that anyone who came into "close contact" with a coronavirus case should self-isolate for 14 days, and he has questioned why the Government was taking a different approach.
"They should follow the public advice unless they've explained to the Australian people today why they're not, or the public advice has changed," he said.
"These things can't all be right."
Mr Bowen said the cleaning in the building was symptomatic of the urgent need for the Government to explain what steps it was taking.
He called for an explanation from Mr Morrison.
"There is, it appears, some fumigation going on this building," he said.
"If that is regarded as necessary, it seems to me to be at odds with the rather blase attitude that the Prime Minister and the Cabinet don't need to be tested, don't need to be self-isolated, can just go about their business."
After Cabinet met on Tuesday, the Federal Government's National Security Committee came together on Thursday. It is comprised of the most senior members of the Prime Minister's ministry.
Mr Dutton did not attend the meeting in person, using video link to take part.
Mr Bowen also confirmed that his frontbench colleague Tanya Plibersek was tested for coronavirus after attending a conference with someone who had since been diagnosed with the illness, but the test was negative.
Health Minister Greg Hunt hit out at his counterpart, accusing him of politicising the virus situation.
"Very concerned Chris Bowen, despite regular briefings with the Chief Medical Officer, is now ignoring the medical advice," he tweeted.
"The guidelines on self-isolation have always been public & are used by the public health authorities who set the rules for testing on sound medical evidence.
"Chris Bowen is playing a dangerous game in giving phoney medical opinions and ignoring the most experienced medical advice in the land."
What the experts are saying about coronavirus:
Topics: infectious-diseases-other, respiratory-diseases, sydney-2000, australia
First posted