Three MPs test positive for COVID-19 as outbreak hits Parliament House

At least three federal MPs are in isolation after contracting COVID-19.

A general view of Parliament House in Canberra, Thursday, August 12, 2021. The Federal Parliament has been closed to the public and functioning with building access limited to essential business. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING

A general view of Parliament House in Canberra, Thursday, August 12, 2021. Source: AAP

Three federal MPs have reportedly contracted COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.

One of these politicians is Nationals MP Kevin Hogan, who confirmed he's tested positive for the virus.

"I woke up Tuesday morning with a slight tickle in my throat," Mr Hogan tweeted on Wednesday.

"I immediately had a RAT test, which tested positive."
The federal member for Page said he's received a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and is currently isolating with mild symptoms.

Assistant Minister for Road Safety Scott Bucholz confirmed he tested positive for the virus on Wednesday after receiving a PCR test.

"I'm now doing what millions of other Aussies have had to do, I am isolating, and following ACT guidelines," he told SBS News.

Mr Buchholz said he's vaccinated and is currently experiencing mild cold-like symptoms.
Queensland Labor MP Annika Wells confirmed on social media that she has also contracted COVID-19.

“This morning, in Canberra for Parliament, I took a rapid antigen test and tested positive for COVID," she wrote on Twitter.

"I am double vaxxed with booster and will follow the ACT Health directions.

"Stay safe out there everybody.”
News.com.au broke the news of the infections on Wednesday, reporting parliamentarians have now been ordered to take PCR tests.

Several MPs have previously tested positive for COVID-19, including Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and Defence Minister Peter Dutton.


Share
2 min read

Published

Updated

By Eden Gillespie
Source: SBS News


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world
Three MPs test positive for COVID-19 as outbreak hits Parliament House | SBS News