Morning mail: alleged rapist returned to parliament, 'pastel QAnon', vaccine tracker
Thursday: Man accused of raping Brittany Higgins attended private function at parliament in 2019. Plus: wellness advocates find common ground with QAnon
Greetings. The federal Coalition continues to face scrutiny over its handling of rape allegations, Facebook has admitted it over-enforced its Australian news ban, Michael McGowan examines QAnon's stealthy infiltration of the wellness industry, and the International Olympic Committee has named Brisbane the preferred partner" to host the 2032 Olympic Games. These are your Thursday lead stories.
The man who allegedly raped Brittany Higgins was allowed to return to parliament as a lobbyist, a former colleague has claimed. Liberal party ministers have repeatedly denied the man was subsequently issued a Parliament House access pass but a former co-worker confirmed he had attended a small private event commemorating the 250th anniversary of Captain Cook's Endeavour voyage. Scott Morrison has also fielded questions over inappropriate behaviour allegations against an adviser to the dissident former Liberal MP Craig Kelly, telling parliament on Wednesday that he has held the view for many years" that the staffer, Frank Zumbo, should have been sacked. Kelly quit the government this week, leaving the Coalition a one-seat majority in the House of Representatives.
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