Domestic Politics
A regional infrastructure grants program headed by the Deputy Prime Minister awarded 94%, or 156 of the 166, grants awarded to "Coalition-held seats, or electorates the Coalition was targeting". [Sydney Morning Herald]
The Current Minister for Agriculture and deputy leader of the National Party, Bridget McKenzie, is embroiled in a scandal that dates back to her time as Minister of Sport. It was found that she approved $100 million in grants for community sporting facilities before the last election and that she was running a "parallel selection process to the merit-based one run by Sport Australia that focused on marginal electorates". She is guilty of "distribution bias” and of approving grants to organizations that she and other Coalition MPs are members or patrons of. [Sydney Morning Herald]
Leader of the federal Green party, Richard Di Natale, has stepped down from his position and will renounce his position in the Senate as well. He has led the party for 5 years after being elected to Parliament in 2010. The Greens will vote for a new leader on Tuesday. [Sydney Morning Herald]
Environment
As of Sunday evening, there are still 70 bushfires burning in New South Wales, with 30 still not contained. The Bureau of Meteorology warned of thunderstorms, saying that there is a potential of fires creating thunderstorm clouds and causing more "erratic fire behavior". There is however expected to be some cool weather in southern NSW this week; some rain is also forecasted in northern NSW. [Nine News]
A World Economic Forum survey on behavior and climate change shows that New Zealanders are no more likely to modify their behaviors due to climate change than citizens in any other country. However, they do score above the global average for recycling, reusing products, composting, and clothing choices. [Stuff.co.nz]
Health
On February 1, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that all travelers returning from mainland China from that date onwards would be barred from entering Australia unless they are citizens, permanent residents, or immediate family. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that New Zealand has implemented identical measures. [news.com.au]
300 Australians are being evacuated from Wuhan through a chartered Qantas airlines flight. [ABC]
Business
After banning visitors from China in the wake of the coronavirus epidemic, it is expected that New Zealand's tourism and education industries will forgo a combined $3.5 billion. Tourism and education to China generated roughly $3.5 billion, or 1% of New Zealand's GDP. Chinese tourists were forecasted to spend $2 billion in New Zealand in 2020. Chinese students make up one-third of total earnings from international student education, an industry that brings in around $4.8 billion annually. [Newsroom]
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