Updated, 12.41
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LISA Chesters has elaborated on her comments over concerns about potential delays to important bills.
The Bendigo MP said this morning that she accepted the need to close parliament for two weeks but was concerned about several COVID help packages parliament needs to deliberate on.
Ms Chesters said it is a reminder that life is not back to normal in follow-up comments as her party absorbs news parliament will be postponed.
The Labor opposition is regrouping to work out its next steps, she said.
"The federal treasurer is due to release an economic update on Thursday," Ms Chesters said.
"Hopefully, the government will also outline their plans for JobKeeper and JobSeeker."
Ms Chesters reiterated Labor's concerns about a "hard snap back" that would come with the end of the scheme.
Prime minister Scott Morrison has previously said the government was considering modifications to the scheme to help those most in need and keep the expensive schemes viable.
Earlier
BENDIGO member Lisa Chesters is disappointed that parliament's next sitting fortnight has been cancelled but says there may have been no other option.
"There would have been a constitutional crisis if Victorian MPs and senators were banned from parliament," she said.
"The parliament cannot sit without the speaker. The speaker, Tony Smith, is a Victorian."
All states and territories are stopping Victorians passing across their borders.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison this morning cancelled two weeks of parliamentary sittings from August 4 as health authorities battle to stop the spread of COVID-19 from Victoria and New South Wales.
More news:
Australia's Acting chief medical officer Paul Kelly has warned that there is "significant risk" in parliament meeting as coronavirus spreads in Victoria and New South Wales.
"The entry of a high-risk group of individuals could jeopardise the health situation in the ACT and place residents at unnecessary risk of infection," he told prime minister Scott Morrison.
"The health risk to Members and Senators and their staff from other jurisdictions is a material concern."
Professor Kelly said even if mitigation measures were in place the risks would be too high.
Mr Morrison said in a statement this morning that the government could not ignore the risks to parliamentarians, their staff and the broader community.
"In addition, it is not feasible nor desirable to hold a sitting of Parliament that would exclude parliamentarians from a single state," he said.
"Our commonwealth parliament should have representatives from all members of our federation and it is the duty of Parliamentarians to attend parliament, if it is scheduled."
Mr Morrison said he had consulted the opposition leader, speaker of the lower house and president of the upper house.
Ms Chesters is concerned about what the delay will mean for COVID-19 support bills including critical payments like JobKeeper and JobSeeker.
"I'm also concerned that the federal government may use the postponement of parliament to delay further economic stimulus measures like a community and sports infrastructure maintenance program that is vital to our regions," she said.
Mr Morrison has asked for the lower house to next convene in the fortnight starting on August 24.
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