Another stellar day in politics

ACCUSATIONS AND APOLOGIES

Note: This story discusses suicidal ideation.

Liberal backbencher Andrew Laming has issued an apology in parliament following a 9News report into allegations he engaged in digital harassment of two women in his Brisbane electorate, one of whom said he repeated false allegations that she misappropriated funds from her employer, local charity Night Ninjas, which led her to contemplating suicide.

Laming, who issued the apology after the news report prompted a meeting with Scott Morrison, is also accused of bullying a second woman, who claims he rang her school and asked for her timetable and, on another occasion, hid in bushes and took photos of her in the park, which she reported to police.

Elsewhere, Guardian Australia revealed that Brittany Higgins has made a formal complaint to the prime minister’s chief of staff, John Kunkel, to investigate whether the office had negatively backgrounded against her or her loved ones.

Morrison later confirmed an inquiry process was underway and, in an interview with A Current Affair’s Tracy Grimshaw, suggested Christian Porter and Linda Reynolds will play an “important role” in his cabinet when they come back from leave but likely take on new positions.

PS: After allegations of negative backgrounding were first aired by Network Ten journalist Peter Van Onselen in February, Morrison had been very careful not to give a direct answer to more than a dozen questions in parliament as to whether he had investigated them i.e. “I’ve no knowledge of [backgrounding] and I would never instruct that. I would never instruct such a thing”.

PPS: In state news, The Sydney Morning Herald reports that NSW detectives will today speak with suspended Nationals MP Michael Johnsen over allegations he raped a sex worker, which he denies, while his absence has plunged the Coalition into minority government.

1800 Respect: 1800 737 732; Lifeline: 13 11 14; ABC Everyday’s guide to self-care amid this news cycle.

SCHEME AGAINST SCHEME

According to a draft of proposed legislative changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme obtained by The Sydney Morning Herald, the Morrison government is considering “denying funding to Australians with acquired brain inquiries and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder” and slashing avenues of appeal for participants to save government costs.

The proposed overhaul would also concentrate more power in the hands of the minister, currently Stuart Robert, and dilute the influence of state and territory governments, which contribute almost half the annual funding.

News of the proposal comes after the ABC yesterday revealed how several corporations with clear conflicts of interest stand to benefit from the government’s controversial plan to require third-party eligibility testing for “independent assessments”.

Specifically, while companies are not allowed to carry out assessments in areas where they provide other NDIS services, groups that won contracts (i.e. “Allied Care Group”) have the same parent company as NDIS service providers (i.e. Zenitas Healthcare).

FRESH TALKS ON DJAB WURRUNG TREES?

Finally, after almost three years of Djab Wurrung people protesting the planned expansion of Victoria’s Western Highway and destruction of sacred trees, the Herald Sun ($) reports the Andrews government is looking to reset discussions amid concerns VicRoads began negotiating a $1 million Credit Trading Agreement with Martang — the area’s first Registered Aboriginal Party (RAP) — at the same time as it was seeking approval to build the upgrade.

VicRoads has informed the Supreme Court, in its latest legal stoush, that it intends to work on a new Cultural Heritage Management Plan and meet with the site’s current RAP, Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation. Which, as Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe explained at Crikey back in 2019, also faces accusations that it does not represent Djab Wurrung people.