Prime Minister Scott Morrison CANCELS the next sitting of Parliament over coronavirus fears as horror second wave grows in Melbourne
- Scott Morrison has requested the cancellation of the next sitting or Parliament
- The PM received medical advice from acting Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly
- There are 'significant risks' amid a second wave of coronavirus in Melbourne
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has requested the next sitting fortnight of the federal parliament be cancelled because of growing concerns about the spread of the coronavirus in parts of the country.
In a statement on Saturday, Mr Morrison says he has received medical advice from the acting Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly expressing concern at the risks posed by holding the planned sitting.
He has advised Mr Morrison that there are 'significant risks' associated with a meeting of parliament in the context of the increased community transmission of COVID-19 in Victoria and the trends in NSW.
'The entry of a high-risk group of individuals could jeopardise the health situation in the ACT and place residents at unnecessary risk of infection,' Professor Kelly told the prime minister.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has requested the next sitting fortnight of the federal parliament be cancelled because of growing concerns about the spread of the coronavirus in parts of the country
It comes as Melbourne battles a second wave of coronavirus infections. Pictured: People wear face masks in front of Flinders Street Station on Friday
'In addition, the health risk to Members and Senators and their staff from other jurisdictions is a material concern.'
Prof Kelly said despite proposed mitigation measures, these risks would be significantly higher in the context of a parliamentary sitting period because of the number of persons travelling from Victoria.
'The government cannot ignore the risk to parliamentarians, their staff, the staff within the parliament, and the broader community of the ACT that holding a parliamentary sitting would create,' Mr Morrison said.
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'I have written to the Speaker to request that the sitting fortnight commencing August 4th, 2020 not be held.'
He has also consulted with the leader of the opposition and the president of the Senate and provided them with a copy of the advice.
Parliament was due to sit from August 4 to 13 and would not meet again until the next planned sitting fortnight starting on August 24.
In a statement on Saturday, Mr Morrison says he has received medical advice from the acting Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly expressing concern at the risks posed by holding the planned sitting
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