<p>After it was revealed that Scott Morrison secretly held key ministerial roles during the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese accused his predecessor of "tin-pot activity".</p>

<p>Promising a rapid investigation, Albanese described Morrison's actions as "extraordinary and unprecedented".</p>

<p>While addressing a press conference, Albanese said "This is a sort of tin-pot activity that we would ridicule if it was in a non-democratic country. Scott Morrison was running a shadow government."</p>

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<p>By duplicating some portfolios Morrison made himself a co-minister without telling the cabinet members he had already appointed to those positions.</p>

<p>Raising questions about whether more stringent democratic safeguards are needed, the scandal has shone a light on the opaque nature of decision-making inside Australia's government.</p>

<p>Ending nearly a decade of centre-right rule in the country Morrison's conservative coalition lost power in the May elections.</p>

<p>The Australian newspaper reported that Morrison was appointed health minister along with Greg Hunt to avoid concentrating power in one person when biosecurity emergency powers were adopted to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.</p>

<p>Saying it undermined the tradition of Westminster parliamentary democracy, former Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull condemned the secrecy around the extra ministerial roles.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>Watch WION's live TV here:</strong></p>

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After it was revealed that Scott Morrison secretly held key ministerial roles during the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese accused his predecessor of "tin-pot activity".

After it was revealed that Scott Morrison secretly held key ministerial roles during the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese accused his predecessor of "tin-pot activity". Promising a rapid investigation, Albanese described Morrison's actions as "extraordinary and unprecedented". While addressing a press conference, Albanese said "This is a sort of tin-pot activity that we would ridicule if it was in a non-democratic country. Scott Morrison was running a shadow government." × By duplicating some portfolios Morrison made himself a co-minister without telling the cabinet members he had already appointed to those positions. Raising questions about whether more stringent democratic safeguards are needed, the scandal has shone a light on the opaque nature of decision-making inside Australia's government. Ending nearly a decade of centre-right rule in the country Morrison's conservative coalition lost power in the May elections. The Australian newspaper reported that Morrison was appointed health minister along with Greg Hunt to avoid concentrating power in one person when biosecurity emergency powers were adopted to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. Saying it undermined the tradition of Westminster parliamentary democracy, former Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull condemned the secrecy around the extra ministerial roles. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: ×

Australian PM Anthony Albanese accuses Morrison of 'tin-pot activity' for secretly holding ministry roles

<p>Australia said on Monday it had detected cases of the new fast-spreading coronavirus strain identified in the United Kingdom.</p>

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<p>Two travellers from the United Kingdom to&nbsp;Australia's New South Wales state were found carrying the mutated variant of the virus that Britain has said could be up to 70 per cent&nbsp;more infectious. Both are in hotel quarantine, and the recent spike in infections in Sydney is not linked to this, authorities said.</p>

<p>However,&nbsp;Australia's Health Minister Greg Hunt said&nbsp;there are no plans to follow other countries in halting flights from the UK.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/covid-20-twitter-abuzz-with-conspiracy-theories-after-discovery-of-new-strain-of-coronavirus-351388" hreflang="en">COVID-20? Twitter abuzz with conspiracy theories after discovery of new strain of coronavirus</a></strong></p>

<p>Chase told journalists on Monday that Australia's lodging isolate framework, under which global appearances enter required 14-day observed isolate at committed inns, implied Australia would not be doing likewise.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Something in Europe is that they have not received a comparable [hotel quarantine] framework," Hunt said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Australian health authorities said a virus strain in northeastern Sydney matched a traveller from the United States, but how it got from the airport to the community was puzzling.</p>

<p><strong>Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/countries-that-have-blocked-travel-from-uk-after-the-emergence-of-new-strain-of-coronavirus-351376" hreflang="en">Countries that have blocked travel from UK after the emergence of new strain of coronavirus</a></strong></p>

<p>Much is unknown about the strain, but experts said current vaccines should still be effective against it.</p>

<p>Countries around the world have begun banning flights and travellers from Britain as London said Sunday the spread of a more-infectious new coronavirus strain was now "out of control”, stoking fears among many that a resurgence in the peak-level cases could be seen in parts of the world if the new variant of COVID-19 isn’t stopped.</p>

<p>Earlier, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned that the new strain of the coronavirus is “out of control” and suggested parts of England will be stuck in the new, highest tier of restrictions until a vaccine is rolled out.</p>

<p>Emerging scientific evidence suggests the new variant, which Hancock said has also appeared in Australia and continental Europe,&nbsp;can spread significantly more quickly than previous strains in circulation and is behind the surge in infections in recent days.</p>

<p>The government had initially announced an easing of restrictions to allow families to meet over Christmas, but changed its plans after it was presented last week with dire analysis of the new strain that is running rampant across southeast England.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Britain has been badly hit by the pandemic, with more than 67,000 deaths of those testing positive for the virus.</p>


Australia said on Monday it had detected cases of the new fast-spreading coronavirus strain identified in the United Kingdom. Two travellers from the United Kingdom to Australia's New South Wales state were found carrying the mutated variant of the virus that Britain has said could be up to 70 per cent more infectious.

Australia said on Monday it had detected cases of the new fast-spreading coronavirus strain identified in the United Kingdom. Two travellers from the United Kingdom to Australia's New South Wales state were found carrying the mutated variant of the virus that Britain has said could be up to 70 per cent more infectious. Both are in hotel quarantine, and the recent spike in infections in Sydney is not linked to this, authorities said. However, Australia's Health Minister Greg Hunt said there are no plans to follow other countries in halting flights from the UK. Also read: COVID-20? Twitter abuzz with conspiracy theories after discovery of new strain of coronavirus Chase told journalists on Monday that Australia's lodging isolate framework, under which global appearances enter required 14-day observed isolate at committed inns, implied Australia would not be doing likewise. "Something in Europe is that they have not received a comparable [hotel quarantine] framework," Hunt said. Australian health authorities said a virus strain in northeastern Sydney matched a traveller from the United States, but how it got from the airport to the community was puzzling. Also see: Countries that have blocked travel from UK after the emergence of new strain of coronavirus Much is unknown about the strain, but experts said current vaccines should still be effective against it. Countries around the world have begun banning flights and travellers from Britain as London said Sunday the spread of a more-infectious new coronavirus strain was now "out of control”, stoking fears among many that a resurgence in the peak-level cases could be seen in parts of the world if the new variant of COVID-19 isn’t stopped. Earlier, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned that the new strain of the coronavirus is “out of control” and suggested parts of England will be stuck in the new, highest tier of restrictions until a vaccine is rolled out. Emerging scientific evidence suggests the new variant, which Hancock said has also appeared in Australia and continental Europe, can spread significantly more quickly than previous strains in circulation and is behind the surge in infections in recent days. The government had initially announced an easing of restrictions to allow families to meet over Christmas, but changed its plans after it was presented last week with dire analysis of the new strain that is running rampant across southeast England. Britain has been badly hit by the pandemic, with more than 67,000 deaths of those testing positive for the virus.

After UK, Australia detects new fast-spreading coronavirus strain

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Australian PM Anthony Albanese accuses Morrison of 'tin-pot activity' for secretly holding ministry roles

After UK, Australia detects new fast-spreading coronavirus strain