Australia politics live: James Paterson says One Nation needs ‘increased scrutiny’; minimum wage rate set today

Key events

No need to close borders to Ebola, says health department

Luca Ittimani

Australia is screening overseas arrivals for Ebola and does not need to close its borders as the disease’s outbreak worsens in central Africa, the health department says

Canada has suspended immigration procedures for those travelling from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan and required anyone arriving from countries with Ebola cases to quarantine for three weeks. The US has also issued limits.

Australia has not brought in such measures. A spokesperson for the department of health said on Monday:

Australia has strong border health measures to screen for people who may be symptomatic with very serious communicable diseases like Ebola disease.

We do not need to close Australia’s borders to safely manage the current risk, which remains low for Australia.

We are aware of measures taken by some other countries, and we decide on the measures most appropriate for Australia based on Australia’s circumstances.

The spokesperson said the government had put up signs at Australian airports for arrivals from DRC or Uganda, with a QR code that provides information on symptoms and what to do if they develop. They said:

Anyone who has signs or symptoms on arrival will be identified by the existing screening measures.
The Department and the Australian Centre for Disease Control are monitoring the global situation and will work with border agencies to implement additional measures if the assessed risk changes.

Minimum wage increase to be announced today

Luca Ittimani

The Fair Work Commission will this morning hand down its decision on how far to raise minimum and award wages from July.

Business groups have called for increases of up to 3.9%. The peak small business body has called for a temporary wage freeze, with increases to come only in December.

One Nation’s Pauline Hanson has suggested there should be no increase at all this year.

The Albanese government has called for a “sustainable real wage increase”. It has declined to specify how big the increase should be, or even what inflation measure or what period of time it wants the Commission to consider.

The Reserve Bank expects headline inflation to hit 4.8% by the end of June and underlying inflation to hit 3.8%.

Trade unions are calling for a 6% increase for 3 million of Australia’s lowest paid workers, arguing pay should rise faster than inflation.

It’s not clear where the wage panel is leaning, though one of its members has implied a 6% increase would stoke inflation.

The decision will be announced from 10am.

One Nation ‘not our enemy but an opponent’, Liberal senator says

Nino Bucci

James Paterson, the shadow defence minister, says that One Nation’s “increased prominence” should bring “increased scrutiny”, brushing off suggestions from new party president Tony Abbott that the Liberals should not fight with parties to their political right.

Paterson told the ABC on Monday night:

One Nation are not our enemy but they are a political opponent, they are trying to take votes and seats off the Liberal Party.

Their increased prominence in the polls, brings increased legitimate scrutiny on their performance, on their policies, on their candidates, on their conduct.

Paterson went on to quote a story from The Australian, that reported One Nation leader Pauline Hanson missed 88% of senate estimates hearings in the past decade.

When asked directly by comments from Abbott that suggested the Liberals should not fight with One Nation, Paterson responded:

It’s up to the parliamentary party to chart our own course, and I’m very clear about our role in this.

It’s not really his role as party president, it’s an organisational role, his role is to rally the troops, to raise money, to get the campaign organisations fighting fit, I’m very pleased he’s put his hand up for that role, he’ll be outstanding in it.