Australia politics live: climate deadline looms as Nationals prepare demands; Victoria records 2,232 Covid cases, NSW 372

It was Labor class photo time

More information on the Common Grace scarf initiative can be found here

It’s almost time for question time – given the privileges committee issue, Scott Morrison most likely won’t be cut out of this one, but expect climate to play a fairly major role again as well

And here is part of Anthony Albanese’s speech acknowledging the national apology anniversary:

I want to acknowledge the survivors – those who have told their stories. Those who haven’t. Those who never could.

I want to acknowledge their families and loved ones.

And I want to acknowledge the advocacy groups who have been on their side.

I thank the prime minister for his words.

Each year, we gather together in this place to reflect on the apology that was delivered here in 2018, and crucially, why it was delivered.

And as we do, it is easy to fall into familiar metaphors of darkness and shadow. But that would be a mistake, because many of these violations were not hidden from view.

As the Royal Commission so unflinchingly told us, so many childhoods were violated brazenly in the full light of knowledge and awareness.

And the violators were often individuals and institutions that felt secure behind the shield of trust, confident that in the court of credibility, they once again had the upper hand over those they preyed upon.

They acted with impunity.

Betrayal was meted out in darkness and in light.

Trust was destroyed in darkness and in light.

And those children, who should have known nothing but love and safety, were left unbelieved and unheard in darkness and in light.

All around us were voices that we ignored. Voices that we didn’t believe. And in the end, voices that were never raised because there didn’t seem to be any point.

There is no greater silence than when we refuse to hear.

There has been a bit going on in the Senate this morning (it’s the last Senate sitting day for a bit, because next week it moves into estimates)

Labor, through Penny Wong was moved a motion pointing out that the government has not produced the modelling it is using for its net zero emissions by 2050 target. LNP senator Matt Canavan had moved a motion (passed on the voices) asking for the modelling to be presented to the Senate yesterday.

They were due at 10am. They have not shown up (not unusual).

The Senate supported the suspension of standing orders for Wong’s motion, but then the government filibustered to ensure there was no vote on Wong’s actual motion, asking for an explanation on why the documents had not been produced.

The government just wound down the clock and the Senate has moved on.

Here is some of what Scott Morrison said in his speech acknowledging tomorrow’s national apology to victims of institutional child sexual abuse:

Mr Speaker, three years ago tomorrow, this parliament – on behalf of all Australians – offered an unconditional apology to the victims and survivors of institutional child sexual abuse.

Our national apologies have always been days of reckoning.

Those days of reckoning have become importantly part of our national story.

The apology to the Stolen Generations – an apology for the racism, cruelties and injustices inflicted on our First Nations peoples.

The apology for forced adoptions – an apology for the shame and the stigma and the brutality that forcibly split parents from their children.

The apology to the forgotten Australians and former child migrants – an apology for the unconscionable cruelties experienced by children removed from their families and placed in institutional homes.

The apologies reflect our acknowledgement of our failures as a people.

As a liberal democratic people, we aren’t afraid of our history.

Nor do we recoil from engaging with terrible truths.

Truth was always at the heart of the apology to victims and survivors of institutional child sexual abuse.

And this is what the royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse, initiated by prime minister Gillard, was all about.

The Gold Coast Covid case is concerning Queensland authorities as the man (who had been in Melbourne) works as an Uber driver. Authorities are working with Uber to see if he worked in that time. He also hasn’t been using QR codes to check in anywhere since last month.

If you are on the Gold Coast and haven’t yet gone to get vaccinated, there is a blitz this weekend, which includes at schools.

Meanwhile back in the Senate: