Parliament to go ahead but Victorian MPs pose 'significant risk' to ACT

Parliamentary sittings for this week and next have been cancelled due to community transmission in Victoria and increased cases in NSW but the major parties have been working together to ensure the next sessions can take place.

Acting chief medical officer Paul Kelly has written to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, outlining what measures would be needed for Victorian representatives to travel to the capital.

As well as quarantine, Victorian representatives would be required to be tested for coronavirus on the 12^th day of their quarantine and await clearance before leaving quarantine.

Professor Kelly said opening Parliament in the context of stage four lockdown in greater Melbourne and stage three in Victoria means they are in "unchartered waters" and members and senators from the state present "a significant risk to ACT residents, particularly those who work in Parliament House".

There is also a risk to other members and senators and their staff who could then bring the virus back to their own jurisdictions.

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Professor Kelly said he was also concerned about community transmission in Sydney.

Unlike exemptions that have been made for Victorian ministers, like Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, Professor Kelly said a "strict" period of quarantine was needed.

Professor Kelly said it was his preference that MPs quarantined in the ACT for two weeks, but it could also happen in Victoria if strict conditions were adhered to.

For the 14 day requirement to be met, the guidelines would need to be put in place by August 8 - this Saturday.

With 12 senators and 38 members of the House of Representatives, Victorians make up a large proportion of federal representatives but both chambers could make quorum without them.

Health Minister Greg Hunt says he plans to attend Parliament and will quarantine in Canberra, and many other MPs are making up their minds about what they will do.

Despite campaigning for Parliament to sit in person, Labor has called for the government to investigate adding a virtual element to parliamentary sittings due to the obligations on Victorians to attend.

"What Labor is putting forward is that there be a hybrid system whereby Victorian members, but others as well who are unable to travel to Canberra to sit in the national Parliament, are still able to participate by video link in terms of speaking to legislation, asking questions, answering questions," Labor leader Anthony Albanese said on Thursday.

Mr Albanese said he put the proposal to the Prime Minister on Thursday morning and said that was being considered.

Two weeks quarantine as well as two weeks to attend Parliament would not be possible for some MPs, Labor's manager of opposition business in the House Tony Burke said.

It would mean MPs' partners could be left alone to shoulder household and family responsibilities to allow them to quarantine, or that they are also forced to quarantine for two weeks.

"The reality of that means under these health orders, many people won't be able to attend the federal Parliament," Mr Burke said.

"And there has never been a time when the voice of Victoria is more important to hear in the federal Parliament."

Greens representatives, including the party's leader Adam Bandt, are considering their options and paying close attention to the possibility of virtually attending.

Mr Bandt said the party had been pushing for a virtual Parliament, or online options for MPs in lockdown, since April.

"For everyone else in the country, 2020 has been a year of workarounds and online meetings, and politicians shouldn't be exempt," he said in a statement.