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The West Australian’s AM briefing: McGowan rules out border framework, music legend dies and a travel plea

The West Australian
The top five must-read stories from The West Australian this morning.
Camera IconThe top five must-read stories from The West Australian this morning.

WA Premier Mark McGowan has ruled out signing up to a national framework for domestic borders, saying it is ‘way too early’.

“We will continue to make sure we use our independence and good judgment to protect the people of this State,” he said.

Australian music industry icon Michael Gudinski passed away unexpectedly on Monday night, leaving his friends, family and the industry in shock.

The West Australian’s Editor-in-Chief Anthony De Ceglie explains why the stories contained in the aged care report constitute one of the darker moments in our nation’s human rights history.

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Matthias Cormann is down to the final two candidates in the OECD race and the Business Council of Australia has warned Australia could lose another $170 billion without a clear plan to permanently ease pandemic restrictions and restart international travel.

Here are the top five must-read stories from The West Australian this morning.

Mark McGowan says it’s ‘way too early’ to open WA

With the national vaccine rollout now in progress, Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce is leading the charge for a more co-ordinated approach to domestic borders.

He has already won the backing of three State premiers — Victoria’s Daniel Andrews, NSW’s Gladys Berejiklian and South Australia’s Steven Marshall — but Mr McGowan said he would not sign up to the measure.

Mark McGowan has ruled out agreeing to a national framework for interstate borders, claiming it was “way too early” and setting up a heated showdown at National Cabinet on Friday.

Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan says it is ‘too early’ for WA to sign up to a national border framework.
Camera IconWestern Australian Premier Mark McGowan says it is ‘too early’ for WA to sign up to a national border framework. Credit: Matt Jelonek/Getty Images

Read the full story here.

Australian music industry in shock as Michael Gudinski passes away aged 68

Australian music industry icon Michael Gudinski passed away unexpectedly on Monday night.

Gudinski, 68, was last seen in public on January 30 at the Sounds Better Together concert in Mallacoota where he introduced Kylie Minogue, and attended the Australian Open in February.

Made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2006, Gudinski is survived by wife Sue and children Matt and Kate and two grandchildren.

His death comes as a major shock as Gudinski had enjoyed one of the busiest years of his career, despite his touring business taking a major blow after COVID shut down the live music industry.

Read the full story here.

Australian music promoter Michael Gudinski has died, aged 68.
Camera IconAustralian music promoter Michael Gudinski has died, aged 68. Credit: Sharon Smith/WA News

EDITORIAL: Shocking aged-care report a sad chapter in Australian history

Squalor, sexual abuse, neglect, humiliation and starvation.

Standards of “care” so appalling that residents long for death. The wilful degradation of people who have lived and loved and who feel pain and anguish but are unable to defend themselves. Levels of cruelty and betrayal that are sickening and harrowing to read.

Though clearly moved by what he read in the report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s description of the findings as “shocking” and “sad and confronting” are polite understatements.

The stories contained in the report constitute one of the darker moments in our nation’s human rights history.

Read the full story here.

Joyce Savage.
Camera IconJoyce Savage. Credit: Supplied

Mathias Cormann makes it to final two candidates in OECD race

By the end of the month Western Australia could have another thing to be proud of.

Not only are we the State propping up the national economy with vast resources exports and the best record worldwide for a COVID-free stint but Mathias Cormann, the former senator and longstanding finance minister, could soon be the secretary-general of peak economic body the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The race is not over yet but today, Cormann is down to the final two as he heads into a last run at the finish line.

Read the full story here.

Mathias Cormann illustration.
Camera IconMathias Cormann illustration. Credit: Don Lindsay/Don Lindsay

Plea to restart travel as vaccination numbers grow

Australia could lose another $170 billion without a clear plan to permanently ease pandemic restrictions and restart international travel, the Business Council of Australia has warned.

On the back of last month’s rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine in Australia, the council has today released a report urging the National Cabinet to take steps to open the country “safely, quickly and permanently”.

The report calls for all borders to be re-opened once 6.8 million people are vaccinated, which would signal the end of phase 1b of the rollout, expected in late August or early September.

At this point, all capacity restrictions on venues should also be lifted, the council argues.

Read the full story here.

The Business Council of Australia wants certainty on a staged reopening of domestic and international borders in line with the number of people being vaccinated against COVID-19.
Camera IconThe Business Council of Australia wants certainty on a staged reopening of domestic and international borders in line with the number of people being vaccinated against COVID-19. Credit: Danella Bevis/The West Australian

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