Australia is now on its way out of hibernation, with Friday's national cabinet agreeing to a "roadmap" with three steps to achieve what Scott Morrison calls a "COVID-safe economy" in July.
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Morrison warns it will be a rocky road, including virus outbreaks and human mistakes.
"Not everything will go to plan," he said. "But we cannot allow our fear of going backwards from stopping us from going forwards."
Coincidentally, as the economy starts to be reactivated, Parliament will meet next week for what's being billed as a "normal" sitting - though that's a relative term these days.
The two recent one-day meetings were entirely devoted to passing COVID-19 rescue measures; the tone was sombre, partisanship minimal. This will be a three-day sitting (Tuesday to Thursday); announcing it last month, Scott Morrison described it as a "trial week", aimed at "having the Parliament meet again on a regular basis".
Next week will still be a socially distanced Parliament. Only 75-77 MPs will be permitted in the House of Representatives chamber at any one time, about half the full complement.
While there'll be more House members in Canberra, a system of revolving "pairs" will keep the chamber number COVID-acceptable. The Senate will be slimmed down as well.
There'll also be socially distanced party meetings (that could be automatic in the aggro ranks of the Nationals). In recent weeks the Coalition has been having "tele-townhalls", with its members hearing briefings from the leadership and able to ask questions.
![Expect a return to some partisanship when Parliament resumes - but not too much. Picture: Shutterstock Expect a return to some partisanship when Parliament resumes - but not too much. Picture: Shutterstock](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/tPntrWhUbGLyDWYCTv46rt/3466df18-7f6a-4fd7-a4b8-1242c1293d05.jpg/r0_0_4500_2540_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
For Labor, the tactical judgment to be made will be how much to politically distance from the government.
One Labor source predicts we'll see a "transition" week. "People say politics will have to return at some point. But people are still in the 'can it be co-operative' phase," he says.
It's a fine line. In these times, the public want their politicians to work together, to avoid unseemly brawling. The high degree of bipartisanship over COVID-19 measures has likely been a factor in the rise in trust in government reflected in surveys, the most recent from the Australian National University on Thursday.
Nevertheless, Labor can't afford to just be head-nodders, even in relation to pandemic measures, such as the COVIDSafe app.
The main legislation will be for the app, which the opposition supports while having questions.
The Senate committee inquiring into the government's response to the pandemic this week heard evidence about the app's technical issues.
The government is also refusing to give a target for downloads. After suggestions a 40 per cent download rate was needed for effectiveness (though it was never clear what it was 40 per cent of), the government now says there's no "target". Nevertheless, more information about the efficacy of various rates of download is needed.
The legislation for the app has been released, and contains strong privacy protections. But already there's pressure from some employers to be able to force workers to download it.
That is prohibited, and the government must make it very clear that leaning on employees to do so will not be tolerated. Otherwise people will lose confidence in what has the promise of being a useful tool.
COVID-19 is giving Albanese the opportunity - the cover, if you like - to complete the pivot to the more fiscally conservative position he began to spell out in the aftermath of last year's defeat.
Parliamentary question times next week are expected to be somewhat more combative than during the one-day sittings, but not like the shouty pre-COVID days.
Against the background of the shambles on the conservative side this week, with the carrying-on by the NSW state National John Barilaro and the Liberal Andrew Constance, Anthony Albanese must decide how to pitch Labor's use of the House to prosecute the Eden-Monaro byelection - for which Speaker Tony Smith may announce a date next week.
The infighting on the other side provides tempting material but Labor might be wise to keep to on-the-ground issues, in particular the ins and outs of the bushfire recovery.
It can leave it to the media to highlight the shenanigans. Certainly eyes will be on the demeanour of the Nationals, to see whether Barilaro's attack on McCormack has reignited tensions in the federal party.
The fire recovery issue is potent in Eden-Monaro. Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has flagged an announcement in the next few days (which the government says was in the pipeline before the byelection loomed). He will also make a statement to Parliament.
The government's legislative program, apart from the app, will comprise non-controversial "rats and mice" bills. Divisive matters like the "Ensuring Integrity" anti-union legislation won't be there.
Apart from the privacy legislation and bushfires, the main item on the government's agenda will be the Treasurer's Tuesday economic report to Parliament, including the effect of easing restrictions.
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On the opposition side, Albanese will begin setting up a major debate with the government when he delivers his fifth "vision statement", outlining ideas for the post-COVID world.
In his speech, delivered to caucus on Monday, he'll make it clear this will be a world where a Labor government could not fund the sort of generous spending to which it was committed at the last election.
COVID-19 is giving Albanese the opportunity - the cover, if you like - to complete the pivot to the more fiscally conservative position he began to spell out in the aftermath of last year's defeat.
He is also planning to have the party come up with a broad suite of policy ideas by the October budget. The government wants to make that budget policy-heavy; Albanese is anxious to be able to pack a punch in his reply.
The public's attention next week, however, is likely to be less on the doings in Canberra and more on what's happening on the ground.
While the national cabinet set parameters for lifting restrictions, how the process unfolds will differ between states and territories, according to their virus situation and the attitudes of their leaders. Their decisions will be variously greeted with jubilation, criticism and controversy as life cranks up again - but not fast enough for some.
- Michelle Grattan is a press gallery journalist and former editor of The Canberra Times. She is a professorial fellow at the University of Canberra and writes for The Conversation.