I just received a government media release titled ‘siding with those who produce our food’ and really, I can’t think of a better way to wrap up the blog.
That’s it for the next five weeks. The parliament is officially on winter break and won’t return until 9 September. That is not to say that there won’t be news. Mike Pompeo is coming to town, ahead of Scott Morrison’s visit to the US next month, where he will be treated to a state dinner. The Liberal executive will be meeting tomorrow, where it will discuss how it has dealt with bullying complaints, and worst, in the past.
And there’s also the small matter of building a legislative agenda.
Labor’s review into what went wrong with the election is ongoing, with the final report to be handed down in October. But those talks and meetings are happening now, so stay tuned on that.
And the court of disputed returns will hear the petitions against the Kooyong and Chisholm elections – at least directions. The high court will be sitting for three of the next five weeks, which makes it a very strong chance you’ll hear something.
So we hope you will keep popping back and checking the site for all your usual political news.
A very, very big thank you to Mike Bowers, who you’ll find on Talking Pictures each Sunday, and cameo-ing on Pyjama Politics, Katharine Murphy, Paul Karp and Sarah Martin for all their work this last sitting, as well as the rest of the Guardian’s brains trust, who you don’t hear from, but stop me from setting my desk on fire each and every day.
As always, the biggest thank you goes to you all. I’ll miss you over the next month, but I hope you take a bit of time to cocoon yourselves. The new normal seems to be settling in and soon we are going to be at the end of the year, wondering how we got to 2020 quite so quickly. Stay warm, even those of you in the greatest nation of earth, Queensland, where I know the Ekka Westerlies are about to start blowing.
See you soon. In the mean time – take care of you.
Updated
From Mike Bowers’s eyeball to your eyeball.
Updated
The House has just adjourned and the Senate looks close.
The rush to the airport has begun.
After question time, Mathias Cormann gave a brief and un-illuminating statement about the Crown casino matter.
He said the government takes “allegations of illegal activity very seriously” which is why the attorney general has referred “allegations of corruption involving the Home Affairs Department and Crown casino to the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity”.
“I can also advise – the prime minister is not aware of any of his ministers breaching ministerial standards in relation to this matter.”
Greens senator Nick McKim said that Cormann had failed to answer the question of whether the prime minister has investigated the claims that two ministers lobbied Home Affairs to “grease the wheels” for Crown casino high-rollers.
“All we got was the insulting platitude that the PM is ‘not aware’,” he said.
Greens senator Larissa Waters also had a swing, but no Labor senators did the same.
Updated
Christian Porter has also responded to Labor’s calls to bring forward the federal integrity commission. His statement:
Hypocrisy and double standards are what we have come to expect from the Labor party.
But Mark Dreyfus sunk to new lows even for himself today when he accused the government of dragging its heels on the delivery of a Commonwealth Integrity Commission (CIC).
To set the record straight, the Coalition – unlike Labor – has actually been doing the hard work necessary to deliver a carefully considered and properly funded watchdog since we first committed to establishing a CIC in December last year.
Attorney general Christian Porter said a draft bill was already being finalised, which would form the basis of public consultation and the final Bill would be completed by the end of the year.
‘Our CIC will be properly designed and subject to a robust consultation phase,” Mr Porter said.
‘It has $106.7m of new money allocated to it in the current budget over the forward estimates, plus:
$40.7m in existing funding for the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity, which will work alongside the CIC.
‘In contrast, Labor has released what amounts to little more than a press release containing a vague set of design principles and a suggestion that $58.7 million would be enough to cover the costs. That is $89 million less than we have committed.
‘But what is most hypocritical is that Labor was willing to allow itself a full year to draft their CIC legislation, had they won the election.
‘Now all of a sudden they are attacking in the parliament their own reasonable time frame for properly developing and consulting on complex legislation in this important area of law.
‘The reason why this legislation cannot be rushed should be obvious to Mr Dreyfus given the many examples of injustices and damage done to personal and professional reputations when the necessary time and care was not taken to properly design state-based integrity commissions.
‘Labor might not care about hurting innocent people but the Morrison government does and we will not be lectured by hypocrites seeking to waste the parliament’s time to score cheap political points.
Updated
The Law Council is not overly impressed with the passage of the latest national security bill, given the concerns that have been raised over it. From its statement:
The Law Council has grave concerns Asio’s Questioning and Detention Warrant (QDW) powers have been extended for a further 12 months without clear justification.
These are some of the most far-reaching and extraordinary powers granted to any intelligence organisation in a western democracy and should be repealed. They give Asio the power to secretly and immediately detain persons whether or not they are suspected of terrorism-related activities.
While the Law Council understands and supports our national security agencies possessing the necessary powers required to prevent threats and keep the community safe, these must always be reasonable and proportionate in order to safeguard the rights of innocent Australians if such powers are mistakenly used or abused.
The QDW powers have never been exercised. It is not clear to the Law Council why these laws remain [afoot] when there are other wide-ranging powers that Asio and other agencies possess.
The Law Council is concerned these provisions may be unconstitutional and a breach of Australia’s international human rights obligations.
Updated
Anthony Albanese concludes his speech with:
We on this side of the House are united. We know exactly what the values of the Labor party are, we know what they stand for: a strong economy and jobs. We know we stand for social justice.
We know we stand for lifting people up, not leaving people behind. We know we stand for engagement on the environment. Australians don’t want that much and they don’t ask that much from the government, but they expect a bit of respect.
They expect that the government will actually have a plan. And a third-term government should have developed that plan into a coherent narrative. Yet what we see is more and more scare campaigns.
The fact is that Labor’s values are shared not just by people who have a common interest, who are united not just because we happen to be in parliament, and not just because we happen to be in the Labor party, but because it is our shared values that [brought us to the] Labor party, a party that has been in existence since 1891, a party that has proud origins and a proud history, a party that will continue to contribute to this nation’s history into the future.
So I say to the prime minister: you ask the question, consider it answered. We on this side of the House know exactly who side we are on. On that side of the House, they are so divided that they can’t even get an answer from a prime minister about senior members of the Liberal party and the National party appearing on the same platform with extreme rightwing ideologues in order to promote division in this country, allowing the sort of talk that will just divide us.
I will conclude with the prime minister’s question.
We know exactly who we are and we know whose side we are on. We are the Australian Labor party, and we are on the side of Australia’s national interests. It’s a pity that there is a government that isn’t, that is just on the side of its own selfish political interests, and [which] seeks to divide people, promote fear and engage in negative politics because they don’t have a positive agenda for the third term.
Updated
Albanese:
We on this side of the House to support a voice for First Nations people in our Constitution. Those opposite have roadblocks in their cabinet like the Minister for Home Affairs, who walked out on the apology. We on this side of the House understand that you can protect your borders without losing your humanity; those opposite have engaged in dehumanising people in our care for political gain. We on the side of the House appeal to hope; those on that side of the House rely upon fear. We want to shape the future in the interests of all Australians; those opposite are frightened of the present and terrified of the future.
Nowhere is that better characterised than in the NBN: we understand that fibre is the technology of the 21st century; those opposite rely on copper to go forward.
We on this side one genuine support for our farmers who are struggling in the drought, who need action on climate change, who need real funding; those opposite want legislation that gives them some money in the following financial year—$100 million rather than the $5 billion that they talk about.
We on this side of House are absolutely determined to bring the nation together.
We reject those who seek to divide us.
And the fact that in their No. 1 talking point, from the Prime Minister, to the Treasurer and to the Minister opposite, they talk about ‘Whose side are you on?’
Shows exactly what they are about. They don’t have a positive agenda, they rely upon negative politics and they seek to divide at every single opportunity.
Albanese continued:
We support those who are struggling and who need a helping hand. Those opposite say that people have never been better off, in spite of the reports just this week. We understand that free markets left alone, because they have no conscience, entrench existing relationships of power, both economic and social. Those opposite still support trickle-down economics. They say it will all be okay if government just gets out of the way. We understand that unions have a critical role in a democratic society. Those opposite just want to attack them. We understand the importance of holding business to account, which is why we supported the banking royal commission at the same time as they voted against it 26 times. We support building infrastructure; they support talking about building infrastructure. We respect public servants; they cut public servants. We respect the science of climate change; those opposite want equal time for climate sceptics to teach in the classroom. We regard education as being about creating opportunity; those opposite see it as just entrenching privilege.
We support Medicare being at the heart of the health system. Those opposite undermine it at every opportunity. We support increasing Newstart. Those opposite regard that as just ‘unfunded empathy’. We support addressing homelessness. They want more positive spin about homelessness, to talk about the 99 per cent who are in homes rather than the one per cent who are homeless. We support pensioners. Those opposite say that the pension is too generous. We support aged care that looks after our vulnerable older Australians. Those opposite want to get rid of regulation and just let the market rip. We support superannuation as being critical for our nation. Those opposite undermine it. We support a free media. Those opposite have engaged in cynical, politically motivated raids and intimidation against journalists.
Anthony Albanese:
Just a few weeks ago we all stood in this House and debated the passing of Bob Hawke, a great Australian who stood for all Australians. Bob Hawke’s prime ministership was characterised by an understanding that together we are stronger. He looked for common ground. Nothing could stand in more contrast with that than what we’ve seen from this government in its three-week self-indulgent vanity project, this victory lap where it has brought parliament back in July.
The fact is that the prime minister is in search of an agenda. In place of that, he’s chosen division. He characterises that himself when he stands in parliament and has the talking points for all the ministers about, ‘Whose side are you on?’
Billy Bragg, at the beginning of the year, said about international democratic politics at the moment, that: This is a time of dismissive demagogues promoting a know-nothing politics of swaggering arrogance driven by scorn and spite.
I’m reminded of that comment every time I see this prime minister — the hubris of a government overcome with arrogance, where no one is too right-wing or extreme to share a platform with.
This is the first time I’ve seen a prime minister stand in this parliament and refer to the statement of a senator, as this one did when asked his view about some of those opposite sharing a platform with Raheem Kassam and Matt Gaetz. The fact is that those opposite have a hide to ask, ‘Whose side are you on?’ But, in response, let me give them exactly which side Labor is on.
We’re on the side of unity, not division. We’re on the side of equality, not inequality. We’re on the side of political conviction, not political expediency. We understand that we need to promote what we are for, not just what we are against, unlike those opposite. We understand that we want an economy that works for people, not people who work for the economy. We understand aspiration, but we understand that that’s not just about individuals. That is about the better life that working Australians want for their family, neighbours, community and country.
Updated
I’ll bring you parts of Anthony Albanese’s speech when I get a chance to transcribe it. It is mostly off the cuff – the only piece of paper he has is a small piece of note paper with a few notes handwritten on it.
“We know exactly who we are, and we know exactly whose side we’re on. We are the Australian Labor party and we are on the side of the Australian national interest”.
The matter of public interest is now on, with Anthony Albanese leading. The official topic is:
“The failure of the government to represent the interests of all Australians.”
Most of the government, including Barnaby Joyce and his sacred sperm, have left the chamber.
Updated
The MPs give David Elder a standing ovation.
“See you in Queenstown, David,” someone from Labor says.
Tony Smith, in delivering a heartfelt thank you to David Elder, points out that he is only the 16th clerk since federation.
In that same time, we’ve had 36 prime ministers.
Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese are delivering their own statements of thanks.
Elder became the deputy clerk in 2010, and was elevated to the clerk position in 2014. (He’s been in parliament for 36 years, which Christian Porter says is about one-third of his life listening to Philip Ruddock’s valedictory speech).
Claressa Surtees, the current deputy clerk, will become the first female clerk, when parliament resumes.
Prime Minister @ScottMorrisonMP is currently moving a motion of appreciation for Clerk of the House, David Elder. Today is David's final day in the Chamber. pic.twitter.com/ArZqrmAK1P
— Australian House of Representatives (@AboutTheHouse) August 1, 2019
Updated
Ahh those Bob Katter declarations. pic.twitter.com/ZSA9OMm7ne
— Josh Taylor (@joshgnosis) August 1, 2019
The Morrison government is on the side of Australians. It is so on the side of Australians, Scott Morrison will yell at Labor for voting for one of its bills (that actually just happened), it is so on the side of Australians, it will give every Australian a pet kangaroo to ride to school in, and set up a World Series of Cricket that only involves Australian teams. It is so on the side of Australians, it will send a quokka out with every single birth certificate and force any country that wants us to go to war with them to accept Vegemite as its national food. It is so on the side of Australians, it is working on cloning Steve Irwin and keeping Hugh Jackman alive forever.
Meanwhile, here is Barnaby Joyce, being Barnaby Joyce
Here's Barnaby Joyce suggesting the NSW decriminalisation bill would render foetus' 'less than human', invoking his son. The MP behind the bill earlier today pushed back on false claims being made about it https://t.co/ogTAf7IN0o pic.twitter.com/gf9F1Ba0CC
— Josephine Tovey (@Jo_Tovey) August 1, 2019
The dixers have managed to piss off Michelle Grattan.
That’s how far they have fallen. Grattan is one of the most level headed and experienced among us. It’s like Beyoncé telling you to go get changed because you’re embarrassing her.
These dorothy dixers are childish and an insult to those who have to ask them. The backbenchers shd be treated with a bit more respect.
— Michelle Grattan (@michellegrattan) August 1, 2019
Updated
Mark Butler to Angus Taylor:
I refer to the minister’s statement that all disclosures have been made in accordance with the rules. I also refer to the minister’s obligation under ministerial standards to disclose private interests to the parliament and not to mislead this House. Why in this latest statement of member’s interests did the minister disclose Gufee’s interest in McLachlan pastoral company but not Jam Land?
Christian Porter tries to stop this one as well, with the help of his phone, so shout out to whoever sent him that message.
But Tony Smith allows it.
“Give him the answer, Scotty,” Anthony Albanese says, as Taylor approaches the dispatch box.
Taylor:
The answer is because I have declared my interests in accordance with the rules. Now, if Labor is proposing to change the rules, it would require many changes in disclosures, including on – from those opposite.
Updated
“choose to have more choices”?!?!
— Tim Watts MP (@TimWattsMP) August 1, 2019
Morrison government dixers #qt pic.twitter.com/07qD9kl9A6
The Morrison government is on the side of Australians who want to keep the lights on. It is so on the side of Australians who want to keep the lights on, it will follow you around with its phone torch on the moment the sun sets, even when it’s on 5%. It is so on the side of Australians who like light, it will fly around the world so fast, it will reverse the earth’s rotation and never allow the sun to set.
Updated
Mark Butler to Angus Taylor:
I refer to the minister’s previous answer in relation to his disclosure. Why in his latest statement of members’ interests did the minister disclose Gufee’s interest in McLachlan pastoral company but not Jam Land?
Christian Porter:
The second part is with respect to matters outside the portfolio responsibilities. It is an effort to link back a very, very straight answer, which is that the minister has disclosed interests in accordance with the rules, to try and create a linkage to matters not inside his responsibility. The minister’s answers he’s disclosed in accordance with the rules is to state that he discloses trusts and nominee companies in exactly the same way that all the members opposite do, that everyone else over here does, even the one I’m looking at right now, which is not the minister’s.
Tony Burke:
Mr Speaker, on your previous ruling, where you have said that we are allowed to refer and question a statement that has been made in the House, what we’ve done here is this question refers very specifically to a statement that the minister has made repeatedly in the House, concerning his disclosures. And then challenges it very specifically by referring to the exact disclosure he is referring to. Yes. Where one company has been included, and another company that the same Gufee invested in is not mentioned. There is no other way for us to test a statement made in the House other than to put forward evidence that we don’t believe it is true.
Tony Smith:
I will come there. Whilst you’re referring to the previous answer, the second part of the question is referring to his responsibilities as a member of the House of Representatives. Not as a minister.
Burke tries again, but Smith rules it out of order.
Updated
The Morrison government is on the side of women. It is so on your side it always has a tampon in its bag, just in case you need one. It is so on your side, it will hand you its last hairband, even the one on its wrist. It is so on your side, it will listen to your rant about Karen at work, without telling you how to solve problems you are perfectly capable of solving yourself. It is so on the side of women, it will never question the trashy reality TV you watch, and ask you to explain how you can still call yourself a feminist. The Morrison government is so on the side of women, it will legislate to ban the phrase ‘well, actually...’.
Mark Butler to Angus Taylor:
“I refer to the previous answer and a report dated May 11, which says, ‘He, Mr Taylor, acknowledged JRAT was not among the companies listed on his register of parliamentary interests, and goes on to say, and I quote, “It should have been.” Does the minister stand by his previous answer?
Taylor:
“I do. All my interests are declared in accordance with the rules.”
Updated
The government is on the side of Australians who made the quiet choice to support national security. It is so on your side it will come and slowly rub your back until you fall asleep. It is so on the side of quiet Australians, it will record all of your favourite shows in Amsr. It is so on the side of quiet Australians, it will not only keep a light on, it will sleep outside your door to make sure the monsters can’t get in.
Mark Butler to Angus Taylor:
I refer to the previous answers and his statement that he has disclosed interests in accordance with the rules. [ the minister confirm that he has never disclosed his interest in an entity called [I missed the name but it sounds like JRAT] to the parliament?
Taylor (after looking to see if the question is out of order)
All my interests are declared in accordance with the rules”
Butler tries to table a media report which says he didn’t declare this interest, but Smith says he’s not allowing things which are widely available.
“Well, he hasn’t seen it,” says Anthony Albanese
Updated
I can’t even come up with a joke for this one. The government is on the side of workers who want their workers’ entitlements and not militant unions.
This. Is. Terminal. Every single person involved in drafting these questions should seriously question how they got to this point in life.
Terri Butler to Angus Taylor:
I refer to the previous answers and his statement in this House that he has disclosed interests in accordance with the rules. Does he stand by that statement and has he disclosed any income or other benefit derived from consultancy fees to Eastern Australian Agriculture or Eastern Australia Irrigation or any of their associated entities?
Christian Porter says the second part of the question is too similar to the previous ruling Tony Smith made, in that it is not relevant to his responsibilities.
Tony Burke says that the question goes to actual answers Taylor has delivered.
Tony Smith says he thinks the second part is out of order, but the first part may be answered.
Taylor:
“All my interests are declared, in accordance to the rules.”
Labor is also asking about the CPAC speakers in Senate question time, this time targeting the minister representing the minister for women Anne Ruston.
Ruston tells the Senate she agrees with Mathias Cormann’s on Raheem Kussam’s comments about Nicola Sturgeon that they are “disgraceful” and “objectionable”.
Ruston then starts quoting Cormann’s letter claiming “the best way to defeat bad ideas, bad arguments and unacceptable views is through debate”.
That letter is the same one Scott Morrison tabled in the lower house:
Just confirming the comments of Mathias Cormann the PM tabled were the same letter we posted before #auspol pic.twitter.com/SdmhkuakZD
— Paul Karp (@Paul_Karp) August 1, 2019
Penny Wong interjects, arguing that Cormann knows “there is a difference between bad ideas and hate speech, this is about vilification”.
Updated
The government is on the side of Australians who choose to buy their own home. It is so on the side of Australians who choose to buy their own home, it will not only help you move, it will pack up your previous one as well. It is so on the side of Australians who choose their own home, it will do your bond clean for you, while you sip rose on your new deck. It is so on the side of Australians who choose to buy their own home, it will not only show up for your painting party, it will spend it’s nights setting up every piece of Ikea furniture you’ve just bought, and even bring their own allen key.
Terri Butler to Angus Taylor:
I refer to his previous answers. Did the minister or any of this associated entities or indirect interests receive any payments, income or benefit from the 18 immigration department water buybacks from eastern Australian agricultural?
Christian Porter says it is not in his portfolio, or matters he is responsible for.
Tony Burke says Labor is relying on previous answers Taylor has given.
“Too long that bow,” someone in the government benches yells.
Tony Smith now goes to precedent and rules it out of order.
Updated
The government is still on the side of Australians who voted for it.
(That is the actual breakdown of this new question template, which starts off ‘can the minister tell us how the government is on the side of Australians who chose [insert Coalition policy here])
The government is so on the side of Australians who voted for it, it will eat the meal you prepared for it, even though you can’t cook and it’s burnt and full of onion. It’s so on the side of Australians who voted for it, it will carry your child just to save you from the stretch marks. It is so on the side of people who voted for it, it will wait until you are all caught up with Game of Thrones before watching the finale.
Updated
Stephen Jones to Angus Taylor:
Why did he register – why did he register Eastern Australia Irrigation in the Cayman Islands?
Tony Smith rules it out of order, but Labor got its point across.
Updated
Tony Smith puts a stop to “Sir Tax-A-Lot”, after Josh Frydenberg once again tries to make fetch happen.
It is probably not helped by the fact that, once again, the treasurer has forgotten how microphones work.
Updated
The government is on the side of people who voted for them. It is so on the side of people who voted for them, it will pick up their kids from school, even though it’s not their carpool day. They are so on the side of people who voted for them, they will mow their lawn for them, pick up the dog poo without complaining, and stop all parties at 10pm.
I hope every single MP who has asked a question about how the government is on the side of ... is embarrassed.
You’re the government. You are actually meant to be on the side of Australia. THAT’S YOUR JOB.
Updated
Helen Haines gets her first question, after delivering her first speech earlier today. It’s to Paul Fletcher:
My question is to the minister representing the minister for families and social services: The Newstart allowance paid to more than 4,400 people in Indi is indexed to the CPI with inflation now 1.6%. Since 2000, the cost of essential goods and services has increased far greater than CPI. I, like many in this place, including a growing number from those on the government side, support an increase to the Newstart allowance. When will the government increase the Newstart allowance and will the government consider using a fairer index for future payments that better reflects the cost of essential goods and services?
Fletcher talks about the government’s job record. Haines tries to interrupt to say she asked about the CPI, but Tony Smith points out that was just one part of the question and the minister can answer how he likes.
Updated
Mark Butler to Angus Taylor:
Does the minister agree with the member for Longman that children should taught that climate change is not real?
That is related to these comments, as reported by AAP:
Terry Young won the Brisbane-based seat of Longman from Labor at the recent election.
The small business owner says the greatest gift of being human is free choice, arguing ‘indoctrination of any type robs our children of this gift’.
‘We want our children and grandchildren to hear the theories of evolution and creation, different religions, climate change advocates and climate change sceptics,’ he told parliament in his first speech.
‘What we don’t want for our kids is to be brainwashed with extreme left or right ideologies.
‘When I hear a school principal stand up at school in assembly and say: “If this government doesn’t do anything about climate change the world will end in 2030”, I get angry.’
Mr Young says children should not be indoctrinated by ‘fear-mongering’ over the climate.
‘We (conservatives) simply believe that we need to look after this magnificent planet because it’s the right thing to do, not because a scientist or extremist scared us into it,’ he said on Wednesday.
He claims conservatives simply ‘get on’ with protecting the planet while others just talk about it.
‘Actions speak louder than words,’ he said.
‘There are greater two-word phases than global warming, climate change or climate emergency – and those two-word phrases are environmental stewardship, personal responsibility and common sense.’
Taylor:
We heard from the member for Longman – a fabulous, fabulous first speech... ! First speech, this week. Now, climate change is real. And we are taking practical action to deliver emissions reduction, to deliver emissions reduction. We know we are on track to meet our 2030 targets. The Climate Solutions Package is doing exactly that for us. $3.5 billion committed to ensure we will meet our targets. We will do that whilst maintaining a strong economy, in contrast to those opposite.
“What a disgraceful smear,” the Coalition side yells.
Updated
The new member for Mallee inflicts Michael McCormack onto the chamber, with the phrase “Morrison-McCormack government” which I am pretty sure was banned last year, for obvious reasons.
McCormack attempts to tell you how much the Morrison-McCormack government is on your side, but as the political equivalent of parsnip, it’s all just a bit blah.
Updated
Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison:
My question is addressed to the Prime minister and follows my previous question: Is the prime minister comfortable with members of his government sharing a platform at a conference with Mr Matt Gates, who invited a Holocaust denier to the 2018 State of the the Union address by the President of the United States?
Morrison (after going through his papers for what looks like the letter Mathias Cormann tabled in the Senate):
I concur with the statements made by the leader of the government in the Senate, which I’m happy to table.”
“Who’s side are you on,” yells Ed Husic.
Updated
The government is on the side of Australians who back themselves. It is so on your side, it will buy you another round of drinks, even though it’s the day before pay day. It’s so on your side, it will get up off the couch to find the remote. It’s so on your side, it will stand in your bathroom and tell you you’re strong and beautiful as you get ready in the morning.
Updated
Question time begins
After a to and fro over who has to move the motion to have any other speeches on the Cowra breakout anniversary to the Federation Chamber (it’s the job of Christian Porter, but he’s still learning), we get to the questions.
Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison:
“Is the prime minister comfortable with the government’s decision to both permit Mr Raheem Kassam to enter Australia and allow government members to share a public platform with him, when Mr Kassam has made many extreme comments, including remarks about the Scottish first minister that I’m certain he would agree are both misogynistic and completely unacceptable?”
David Coleman gets the nod.
Coleman:
In relation to the question, of course, all the applications to enter Australia are dealt with under the provisions of the Migration Act. And all non-citizens must meet the character test. Of course, for people who may hold controversial views, any impact of those views must always be balanced against Australia’s well-established principles of freedom of speech, but I won’t be making any comments about specific applications or cases.
Albanese calls for a point of order, given the question was on whether or not Morrison was comfortable with the decision.
Morrison says nothing.
“So that’s a yes,” Albanese says across the table.
“... It doesn’t matter, we got our answer.”
Morrison checks his phone.
Updated
Linda Burney and Pat Dodson are leading Labor’s call for an inquiry into the abuse survivors’ redress scheme:
Labor is calling on the government to support a proposed joint select committee on the implementation of the national redress scheme.
The committee will examine, among other things, the government’s excruciatingly slow rollout of redress for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse.
Labor senator Patrick Dodson has tabled the notice of motion to establish the inquiry in the Senate today.
The scheme is projected to provide redress to 60,000 survivors. And yet, the latest data shows that only 4,100 applications have been made and only 229 redress payments have been made.
This is not acceptable. Survivors have already waited too long.
Updated
Barnaby Joyce denounces NSW push to decriminalise abortion
One minute before question time, MP Barnaby Joyce has made an explosive contribution to the debate in the NSW parliament about decriminalising abortion.
Joyce:
On the first of June, Vicky’s and my son Tom took his first breath. This was not the start of his life, the reality was he was part of this world for some time and was merely passing from one room to another.
Joyce said that Tom “was a person – long before he was born” and “had rights even though he was not conscious of them” which “no parliament can take away”.
The hour of birth is an arbitrary point in modern medicine ... it didn’t endow him with greater rights as a person ... To say he didn’t have the rights of other human life is to say he is sub-human. Historically that concept is not unusual.
Joyce appears to be using the rhetoric of anti-abortion philosophers who make an analogy between abortion and slavery, by arguing that he and Vicky have obligations to Tom as a person, not “merely a property right”.
Joyce then accuses the NSW parliament of seeking to declassify foetuses in the womb as humans, at which point he is shouted down by Labor and his time expires.
Updated
This will be the final Question Time in the Chamber for Clerk of the House David Elder. Auspic caught him just before he walked through the door. pic.twitter.com/og0Y5rEnTG
— Australian House of Representatives (@AboutTheHouse) August 1, 2019
Ahead of question time, both Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese are acknowledging the 75th anniversary of the Cowra breakout.
Barnaby Joyce was making an anti decrimalise abortion statement in the House ahead of question time, during the 90 second members’ statements.
As the time clicked over to 2pm, Labor began to yell at him to “sit down”.
The NSW Greens want the state’s Liberal government, led by premier Gladys Berejiklian, to review Crown Resorts’ licence to run a gargantuan gambling pit at Barangaroo in light of the rolling storm of allegations against the casino operator aired in the past few days.
Jamie Parker, the Greens spokesman on anti-corruption, said that “allegations of money laundering, links to organised crime and their handling of foreign visitors should raise issues with their licence here in NSW”.
“The government must show that they are willing and able to hold this corporation to account.
“It’s alarming that the NSW government was fast-tracking Crown’s Barangaroo casino licence at the same time as the AFP was investigating links between Crown tour operators and international organised crime.”
The party’s spokeswoman on liquor and gambling, Cate Faehrmann, said the $100m licensing fee Crown agreed to pay for the Barangaroo casino, together with a pledge to pay at least $1bn in gaming taxes over 15 years, “creates a fundamental conflict of interest and given the government’s track record of giving special treatment to gambling interests in NSW, it’s a cause for serious concern”.
Crown is also under pressure in Victoria, the home of its most important casino.
As the Guardian reported this morning, Crown has yet to satisfy the Victorian regulator it has met recommendations imposed on the Melbourne casino last year that were supposed to be in place a month ago.
In other Crown-related doings, lawyers for one of its directors, the former media buyer Harold Mitchell, were in court today for a brief hearing in a case where the corporate regulator is attempting to have him disqualified from the boardroom over his behaviour while a director of Tennis Australia.
Updated
We are on the downhill slide towards question time.
Who has Labor deemed (extreme Cornelia Frances voice) the Weakest Link today?
Updated
Mike Bowers then caught this lovely moment:
Updated
The first speeches are still rolling out:
Updated
The bill aimed at animal activists who have promoted or encouraged trespassing on farms is being debated in the House. It’s being called the vegan activist bill for short.
Labor wants to send it for review.
We’ll see …
Just a reminder that everything passes the House these days, because the government has the majority.
Updated
The parliament has been officially advised of the petitions lodged against Kooyong and Chisholm:
The Clerk of the House is tabling petitions presented to the High Court, sitting as the Court of Disputed Returns. These petitions relate to election results in the seats of Kooyong and Chisholm, and will be available on the Tabled Papers Register soon. https://t.co/h60ehsZzPO
— Australian House of Representatives (@AboutTheHouse) August 1, 2019
Updated
Labor is still pushing on Raheem Kassam. After Mathias Cormann’s letter was tabled in the Senate (you’ll find it a few posts below) Labor is saying he is going back on the comments he made yesterday:
The comments that Senator Keneally just quoted are disgraceful and highly objectionable and completely outrageous that, of course, I entirely abhor, and I’m sure anyone in this Senate chamber abhors.
I don’t think that that is a partisan position. Those are disgusting comments and I reject them. I reject them entirely and utterly. Now, having said that, I am not aware of this conference. I don’t have the information in relation to this conference.
I have already taken these matters on notice. I will just make a general point that, just because you are at an event somewhere, you’re not expected to agree with everything that everybody says that is at the same event. Let me tell you, all of us have been at events in our electorates where we’ve come across people who have made highly objectionable comments.
Andrew Giles:
These are not just ‘bad ideas’; these are detestable ideas which vilify members of the Australian community.
The third term Morrison government is willing to roll out the welcome mat for people who want to come to Australia to spread hatred, fear, division and discrimination.
It is clear Prime Minister Scott Morrison is comfortable with having his members of parliament take the stage with people who vilify other on the basis of their race, religion and sexuality.
Updated
As predicted, Labor voted with the government on the extension bill for Asio’s detention powers.
Labor had wanted to amend it to three months. The government wanted 12. Without the numbers, Labor voted for the government’s bill.
Again.
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Amendment (Sunsetting of Special Powers Relating to Terrorism Offences) Bill 2019 has passed the #Senate without amendmentshttps://t.co/gXjJ3IuYa4
— Australian Senate (@AuSenate) August 1, 2019
Julie Bishop has recorded a video message about her new appointment. You’ll find that, here.
Consultation has opened on the ACCC digital platform report.
Written submissions can be lodged on the Treasury website, and close on 24 October 2019.
Julie Bishop named as new ANU chancellor
Julie Bishop has found her post-political career.
Full ANU statement on new chancellor Julie Bishop #auspol pic.twitter.com/ZpedvzGCdD
— Paul Karp (@Paul_Karp) August 1, 2019
Updated
Mathias Cormann has to deliver a statement to the Senate on Crown, after the Greens were successful in this motion:
There will be a vote on this soon.
— Adam Bandt (@AdamBandt) July 31, 2019
With ALP & ON support, we could force the PM’s rep to front the Senate today & answer the allegations about Ministers lobbying on behalf of Crown.
🤞#Greens pic.twitter.com/Mo6Yrw6kZa
BREAKING: PM’s rep in the Senate (Matthias Cormann) must now front the Senate at approx 3:30pm today to answer the serious allegations against Ministers in connection with Crown.
— Adam Bandt (@AdamBandt) August 1, 2019
Thanks to Labor and xbench for supporting this important #Greens motion to hold gov to account.
For what it is worth, this is what Home Affairs told me about the visa processing when I asked in early July:
The government is not privatising the visa system or outsourcing responsibility for visa decision making. As set out in the tender documentation on the department’s website, the government will always retain responsibility and accountability for sovereign functions including immigration policy, visa decision making and security checks.
The procurement process remains under way, it would be inappropriate to comment further.
Updated
Big Stick is back, back, and is now being clumsily included in press releases.
From Angus Taylor:
In February this year the Australian government asked the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) to crack down on sneaky late payment fees charged by energy retailers to both electricity and gas customers who have failed to meet discount conditions.
Today, the AEMC is acting on our commitment to deliver better protections for vulnerable consumers through the release of a consultation paper on the government’s proposed rule to tackle these excessive penalties.
Retailers can offer large discounts off a customer’s bill, but these discounts are often only provided if the customer meets certain conditions, such as paying their bill on time or by direct debit. The amount charged when a consumer misses the bill due date can result in a high penalty which can significantly hurt the hip pocket.
This practice impacts a large number of Australians, with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission finding, on average, one in four customers did not meet the conditions of their discount. This was even higher for customers in financial hardship, with around 60% missing out on these discounts.
The rule proposed by this government would limit the conditional discount only to the retailer’s reasonable costs. Retailers would also be prevented from penalising customers twice, with both a late payment fee and withdrawal of a pay-on-time discount.
This proposed rule change builds on action already taken to protect customers and reduce power prices for families and small businesses, including:
· Implementing the Default Market Offer—or price cap—which places a limit on what retailers can charge their electricity standing offer customers;
· Introducing a reference price mechanism, which ensures consumers are able to compare electricity offers against a standard benchmark price; and
· Ensuring vulnerable customers who are experiencing financial hardship get the help they need to pay their power bills.
The government’s Big Stick legislation to prohibit energy market misconduct is also an important reform that aims to end customer ripoffs, hold the big energy companies to account, and drive competition in the market and lower prices for consumers.
The AEMC is seeking responses to the consultation paper by 19 September 2019, with the view to finalising a rule change determination by the end of February 2020.
For further information see: aemc.gov.au.
Updated
The motion requires the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee to inquire into:
(a) the privatisation of Australia’s visa and citizenship program, including:
(i) the integrity of Australia’s visa and citizenship system,
(ii) the commercial implications and increased costs to industry, with particular regard for the tourism and higher education sectors,
(iii) the implications to national security, data security and privacy, and
(iv) the risk to public sector employment – especially rural and regional employment – through service delivery model changes; and
(b) Centrelink’s Robodebt compliance and outsourced debt collection program, including:
(i) the integrity and impact of the automated debt collection processes,
(ii) the limitations and impact of Robodebt collection methods,
(iii) the identification of inaccurate debts – made without human oversight,
(iv) the impact to public sector employment – especially on the capacity and adequacy of staffing level, and
(v) the review and appeals process for debt notices; and
(c) the broader outsourcing of functions in the Human Services portfolio and at the National Disability Insurance Agency, including
(i) the processes for contracting and tendering under the outsourcing of services;
(ii) the impact of capped staffing numbers and the efficiency dividend at government departments/agencies.
(iii) the future planning and preparation for the outsourcing of departmental functions;
(iv) the impact outsourcing has on service provision; and
(v) the impact on current public sector employment and the risks to future public sector employment; and
(d) the outsourcing of security vetting services in the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency, including:
(i) the processes for contracting and tendering under the outsourcing of services;
(ii) the impact of capped staffing numbers and the efficiency dividend at government departments/agencies.
(iii) the future planning and preparation for the outsourcing of departmental functions;
(iv) the impact outsourcing has on service provision; and
(v) the impact on current public sector employment and the risks to future public sector employment;
(e) and related matters.
The Senate has voted 33 to 29 in favour of Kristina Keneally’s motion to establish an inquiry into the privatisation of the visa system, robodebt and other outsourcing of government services.
The Home Affairs Department put the visa privatisation process on ice before the election in case Labor came into government and killed it, as it threatened. But given the Coalition’s upset victory, the privatisation is going ahead.
Earlier on Thursday, the shadow minister for multicultural affairs, Andrew Giles, said:
“I’m deeply concerned by reports in today’s the Australian which confirms something that Labor has been very worried about for some time, and that is that the government will proceed with privatising Australia’s important visa services.
Even more concerning is the fact that one of the tenderers for this process, which is due to be determined in a couple of months, is Scott Briggs. Mr Briggs is a prominent activist in the Liberal party and someone whose business has been a significant Liberal party donor.
This process will result in the loss of some 2,000 jobs and will compound real issues in our visa system including visa fraud and issues of data security.”
Updated
The government services minister, Stuart Robert, has admitted Centrelink resumed welfare debt compliance in Townsville, claiming his department did so of its “own volition”.
The government has been under fire after Guardian Australia revealed that Centrelink staff were told to resume welfare debt compliance – which includes the robodebt debt scheme – in Townsville, which is still recovering from February’s floods.
Despite Labor producing a debt notice sent to a Townsville woman this month, Robert still maintains that debt “recovery” has not commenced.
“They commenced compliance work, though, on the 2nd of July. I was informed on 22 July the department of their own volition had commenced,” he told Sky News.
“It was my wife’s birthday. I remember it well. And immediately said, no, I don’t want compliance to continue either. So debt halt had gone right the way through from 1 February to today. It’s still in place, and I put a hold on any compliance work on 22 July as well.”
Updated
Stuart Robert sent this out on Tuesday:
Minister for Government Services, Stuart Robert, today said the former Leader of the Opposition, Bill Shorten’s claims of Centrelink debt notices for income compliance being issued to people in the Townsville region following the devastating floods are wrong.
There is currently no debt recovery for income compliance in the four affected post codes in the Townsville region.
‘The impact of natural disasters can be absolutely devastating for the families and communities impacted – not least those in Townsville during the floods this year,’ Mr Robert said.
‘The last thing people in the Townsville region need are false rumours of debt notices for income compliance being issued. I want to reassure people in the Townsville region that debt recovery for income compliance recovery has not recommenced and it will not be commencing in the foreseeable future.
‘During natural disaster events such as cyclones, bushfires or floods, it is routine practice for my department to temporarily suspend compliance activities within the affected area.
‘The Department of Human Services assists people facing difficult situations every day and consider any special circumstances. The department have very carefully considered how to best work with people identified as vulnerable and staff receive regular training to help them provide the best possible support.
‘When the department are informed about changes in people’s circumstances or current difficulties, they can tailor a solution for their situation. There is a network of social workers provide short-term counselling, support and information for people in a time of crisis.
‘I encourage anyone who wants more information or to talk through options to speak with the department.’
Updated
Mathias Cormann has defended the presence of two Liberal Party MPs – Craig Kelly and Amanda Stoker – at a conservative conference being held in Sydney next week.
On Tuesday night in the Senate, Labor’s Kristina Keneally questioned why the two MPs were appearing at the Australian Conservative Political Action Conference alongside Raheem Kassam, a former chief advisor to Nigel Farage and former editor-in-chief of Breitbart.
Describing it as a “talkfest of hate”, Keneally also called on the government to block Kassam’s visa over comments the former UK Independence party leadership candidate has previously made on Islam and women.
Cormann was questioned on their attendance by Labor yesterday, and in a letter to Senate president Scott Ryan today he has defended the MPs for attending the event.
“Their attendance at this conference does not imply agreement or endorsement with the views of any of the other speakers attending in any way.
“The government will always stand against divisive, inflammatory commentary which seeks to incite hatred or which seeks to vilify people.
“However, the way to defeat bad ideas, bad arguments and unacceptable views is through debate, especially with those we disagree with. It is not by limiting our conversations only to those who at all times we share all of our views.”
Coalition Senate Leader Mathias Cormann has written to Senate President Scott Ryan in response to questions about the CPAC conference yesterday #auspol pic.twitter.com/p67YFy5GOl
— Tom McIlroy (@TomMcIlroy) August 1, 2019
Updated
Sarah Hanson-Young has responded to David Littleproud’s announcement:
Minister Littleproud’s announcement of an inspector general highlights just how deep the rot in the Murray-Darling Basin runs. Basin communities, family farmers and the environment have suffered as a result of years of mismanagement and inaction.
The nation’s most important river system hangs in the balance – this new role must be able to look at past wrongs not just future misdeeds.
We await detail from the minister on exactly what powers an inspector general would have, what resources will be available to them and how much information the public will be made privy to.
Most of the $13 billion allocated for the plan has been spent and the river remains in crisis. Basin communities, farmers and Australian taxpayers deserve answers.
The government must also announce their plans for a federal Icac – and how an inspector general would work with them – for this announcement to have real credibility.
Updated
Plan for inspector general to oversee integrity matters across Murray-Darling Basin
An inspector general would be appointed to oversee integrity matters across the entire Murray-Darling Basin system under a proposal from the water resources minister, David Littleproud.
Littleproud will propose the new role when the basin states meet for ministerial council on Sunday.
The statutory role would monitor water recovery and efficiency measures across the basin, as well as compliance and suspected water theft.
Littleproud said the inspector general would have powers to investigate and collect evidence where appropriate.
The position wouldn’t replace the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, but it would hold the regulator to account, along with the federal and state governments, the minister said.
“The public needs to know the Basin plan is delivering the water it was intended to, and farmers need to know the plan is working as it should,” Littleproud said.
The role would be established by amending the Water Act and an interim inspector general may be appointed while the parliament considers the legislation.
The position would be established by 2020 with a budget of $8m and an office of about 10 staff, including the inspector general themselves, Littleproud said.
Sunday’s ministerial council is the first since the mass fish kills in Menindee during summer and also the first since renewed calls for an independent commission of inquiry into the management of water flows in the Murray-Darling Basin.
Updated
Meanwhile, Raheem Kassam, who doesn’t care at all about the possibility Australia could ban him from entering, seems to be spending a lot of time on Twitter talking about things he doesn’t understand.
For example – the Senate.
Bub, if you believed in democracy you’d campaign against things like that.
— Raheem Kassam (@RaheemKassam) August 1, 2019
But per your anti-free speech stance, we know you’re a fascist anyway.
You couldn’t win elections so you took an anti-democratic position!
You’re a fraud and a failure and I’m coming to Australia! 🎵
Or who Mathias Cormann is
Who?
— Raheem Kassam (@RaheemKassam) August 1, 2019
I mean, weird flex, but whatever bub
Updated
Today is a lot slower pace, compared with the rest of the week.
It’s got a very last-day-of-school vibe. If your school was full of broken zombies on midnight trains going anywhere.
Updated
I’ve had a chat to a few constitutional experts about whether parliament itself can resolve eligibility questions, in the context of news a constituent has challenged treasurer Josh Frydenberg in the court of disputed returns.
It’s a little known fact that section 47 of the constitution contains a power for the houses of parliament to determine eligibility and deal with disputed elections – but it is subject to the qualification “until parliament otherwise provides”.
Professor Tony Blackshield told Guardian Australia the houses of parliament “no longer have exclusive power” – because they have passed legislation allowing challenges to the court – “but they still do have the power”.
For example, in 1999 the House of Representatives declined to refer Warren Entsch to the high court over an alleged pecuniary interest, and instead resolved itself that he was eligible.
Professor Anne Twomey thinks it’s “a very hard question” to resolve. On one view parliament has decided to confer jurisdiction on the court, and limited its own jurisdiction. But on the other hand, Twomey points to some observations by three justices in Sue v Hill which suggest it could be possible that the court and parliament could come into conflict, offering contradictory views on the eligibility of a member or senator.
Twomey: “Even if the House did retain jurisdiction to decide the issue, there is also the convention of ‘sub judice’ in parliament. That is that the Houses should not debate things that are currently before the courts. It would hence be most inappropriate for a House to decide on a Member’s qualification or disqualification once proceedings have been initiated in the court of disputed returns. It would also show a lack of respect for the judicial process. Hence, I don’t think it likely that the House would do so.”
In any event – the government does not seem keen to try to resolve the issue in parliament.
Attorney general Christian Porter said:
“All Coalition candidates at the last election were subject to rigorous eligibility checks.
The government is confident in its members’ eligibility and does not need to move a motion on the floor of the House to resolve the issue.”
Updated
“People do know what my values are, I am a progressive, I want to shape change, to move the country forward. I am concerned that Australia is treading water at the moment,” Anthony Albanese says.
He says the nation is not making enough of its assets – in that it digs up its resources, but imports them back once it has been “value added to overseas with manufacturing” and that is something which needs to be addressed.
“What Labor has always been about is aspiration. I am a living example,” Albanese says.
“... When we talk about aspiration, I think they want something else as well, it is not just individualism.”
He says he thinks Australians want everyone to do better – “a broader concept than the current government, which seems to be all about individualism”.
“We believe the government has a role in lifting everyone up, not just leaving some people behind.”
Updated
Anthony Albanese is defending Labor’s decision to vote against setting up a parliamentary committee into the Crown allegations. He says it was because the law integrity commission would be more powerful.
The problem the crossbench has with that one though is that it doesn’t have the power to investigate parliamentarians.
Updated
Kieran Gilbert’s interview with Anthony Albanese is being shown on Sky right now.
Albanese is calling for the government to ban Raheem Kassam, and also says he will be meeting with Mike Pompeo when he visits this weekend.
Albanese says the “United States are very important allies”, despite some of Trump’s rhetoric.
On the latest terror laws the government wants (to keep terrorist offenders in prison beyond their court imposed sentence), Albanese says he hasn’t been briefed by the government as yet.
“This has been a government that hasn’t been great at consultation,” he says.
The legislation is headed to the joint parliamentary security and intelligence committee, which is government heavy, but bipartisan. The government broke from tradition with the temporary exclusion order bill and didn’t amend the legislation with all of the committee’s recommendations (Labor had done this once previously as well) so Albanese says he hopes the tradition will once again stand with any future bills.
Updated
This is the bill that Labor wants to amend to extend the powers for just three months, not 12 as the government does, because it says it is beyond time to review the laws and Peter Dutton has just not got around to it.
The #Senate is now debating the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Amendment (Sunsetting of Special Powers Relating to Terrorism Offences) Bill 2019https://t.co/gXjJ3IuYa4
— Australian Senate (@AuSenate) August 1, 2019
The security agencies haven’t actually used these powers. They want them amended so they can actually use them, which is forming the basis of Labor’s arguments.
Labor hasn’t said what it will do, if the government doesn’t accept the amendments, and if the crossbench doesn’t help them do it in the Senate. But we do know how these things on national security tend to go. (spoiler: Labor still votes for the bill)
Michael McCormack is coming up on Sky.
Might stare at the wall for a bit. It is bound to be just as illuminating.
The Greens gave notice yesterday that it would be putting forward its own Icac bill, in the Senate, where there is an actual prospect of success.
Labor, the Greens and the crossbench are all on the same side in the House. Centre Alliance is onboard and so is Jacqui Lambie. If One Nation comes on over, then yes, it will have a chance in the Senate.
In the House, the government has the numbers. But it will make a statement.
Updated
In news that will surprise no one who has a basic understanding of maths, Labor did not get its suspension motion up.
68 to 73.
Updated
Chris Bowen stopped by doors this morning and chatted about why Labor believes Raheem Kassam should be banned from entering Australia:
I think Penny Wong, Kristina Keneally, Pat Dodson have done a great job highlighting the fact, firstly: that Liberal National party figures are sharing the stage with purveyors of hate speech at this conference, I believe it’s next week. This says a lot about the lurch to the right of the modern Liberal National party that this is apparently OK to speak at such a conference. Many figures in the Liberal National party are very quick to call for visas to be denied.
I think Kristina Keneally and her colleagues have done a great job in highlighting that this is a serious matter, a serious matter which the minister for Home Affairs should be turning his attention to and the prime minister should be showing some leadership and saying this conference is not something Liberals or Nationals should be associated with.
Labor is not letting this go, pointing out that David Coleman cancelled Milo Yiannopoulos’s visa after a vile Facebook post he made following the Christchurch terror attack on Muslims.
Milo Yiannopoulos will not be allowed to enter Australia for his proposed tour this year.
Mr Yiannopoulos’ comments on social media regarding the Christchurch terror attack are appalling and foment hatred and division.
The terrorist attack in Christchurch was carried out on Muslims peacefully practicing their religion. It was an act of pure evil.
Australia stands with New Zealand and with Muslim communities the world over in condemning this inhuman act.
Given some of Kassam’s comments (which we won’t be amplifying here), Labor is asking ‘what’s the difference?’
Updated
Christian Porter says the government is getting around to the integrity commission, and is taking its time getting the legislation together.
AAP has reported on Karina Okotel, the Liberal party’s federal vice president, interviewed on RN this morning.
Liberal party members accusing colleagues of sexual assault must name them before the organisation takes action, the party’s federal vice president has declared.
Karina Okotel’s comments come after two women who worked for senior Liberal politicians made allegations of sexual assault against staffers within state and federal politics.
‘The alleged perpetrators need to be named,’ Ms Okotel told ABC radio National on Thursday.
‘If a complaint is to be made, if there’s to be any resolution around it, even an internal organisation needs to know who, what and when, where, in order to be able to take any kind of action.’
Updated
And in the Senate, the Crown saga is still very much on the agenda.
And over in the Senate, this has just been tabled pic.twitter.com/l00pYp9gGI
— Amy Remeikis (@AmyRemeikis) July 31, 2019
The Nine Network and newspapers had a very strong response to Crown’s statement’s today. If you haven’t already, you should check it out
Crown attempted to place full page ads in the @smh and @theage tomorrow. Rather than run them we have listed their allegations - and our responses. https://t.co/s2oznZq075
— Lisa Davies (@lisazdavies) July 31, 2019
Also not going away – Labor’s attempt to wedge the government on a federal integrity commission.
The crossbench have been leading the debate on this, but Labor committed to establishing one well before the election. That forced the Coalition to promise one, but their version would be kept behind closed doors, to avoid it being used for political gain.
Mark Dreyfus has opened the chamber’s proceedings with a call to suspend standing orders:
Labor is attempting to suspend standing orders to call for a federal ICAC pic.twitter.com/L2UUOx7MC6
— Amy Remeikis (@AmyRemeikis) July 31, 2019
Updated
The bells have just rung for the start of parliament.
Let the countdown begin.
Updated
This isn’t going away
PS Yesterday the Morrison Government’s Leader in the Senate @MathiasCormann described Mr Kassam’s comments about Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as “disgraceful and highly objectionable and completely outrageous comment that, of course, I entirely abhor” 👇 pic.twitter.com/psHLtkcl9Y
— Kristina Keneally (@KKeneally) July 31, 2019
This is interesting. David Littleproud is proposing a new inspector general be installed for the Murray-Darling basin, when the basin states meet this weekend.
From his office:
The new statutory position will have powers across the basin under The Water Act 2007.
The inspector general will hold the MDBA, commonwealth and all states to account, provide independent assurance to the community around the plan’s implementation and ensure the laws governing water use are followed. The inspector general will be able to refer issues to the Commonwealth Integrity Commission once it is established.
State and territory ministers will be asked this weekend to endorse the new position, which is due to be established by 2020.
The move follows the successful Northern Basin commissioner role filled by former AFP commissioner Mick Keelty, which has already brought greater confidence and accountability to communities in northern New South Wales and Queensland.
The inspector general will:
· Check on water recovery and delivery of water efficiency projects
· Monitor compliance and suspected water theft across the Basin; investigating and collecting evidence where appropriate
· provide annual reports to the minister for water resources, and tabled in parliament
· conduct community engagement on Basin Plan implementation and compliance matters
Updated
This is a fun response I just received from Home Affairs, almost a month after I put in the request about the Home Affairs strategic review and received this response:
Home Affairs review response: “A Home Affairs Portfolio Review was completed and the report has not been publicly released.”
Now Home Affairs, after releasing one page to the Senate, sent this to me:
Following on to your media enquiry on 8 July, please see below for a response to be attributed to the Department of Home Affairs:
On 10 July 2019, the Department provided a response to The Guardian advising that “A Home Affairs Portfolio Review was completed and the report has not been publicly released.”
This response incorrectly implied that a report was available, but not released.
The strategic review process was initiated following the creation of the Home Affairs Portfolio in December 2017
There was no single consolidated report prepared as part of the process.
The strategic review was initiated to identify opportunities and areas of collaboration across the Department and the agencies in the new Home Affairs Portfolio, created in December 2017.
This included harnessing the collective capabilities of those working in domestic security and law enforcement, and to develop options for greater efficiency and effectiveness.
Of the $7 million allocated, the Review work was largely undertaken internally, with almost $5 million expended on contractors and consultants, and other expenses.
The Home Affairs Portfolio brought together six agencies and departments and encompasses around 23,000 public servants and serving law enforcement officers
Its broad remit encompasses national security, federal law enforcement, transport security and critical infrastructure protection, trade and customs, emergency management, immigration, border security, cyber policy, countering terrorism and foreign interference, citizenship and multicultural services.
The review process provided valuable insights into effective methodologies for working together and delivered substantial and long-term benefits to the Portfolio.
It has also fed into strategic financial planning methodologies and analytic tools to support the Portfolio’s financial evaluation and input into the Government’s Portfolio Charging Review and Charging Survey, financial and analytic tools to support Portfolio budget development, financial and analytical models for evaluation of future investment proposals, cross agency workshops and business impact work on efficiencies.
Updated
Also, a thank you to Samantha Maiden, who pointed me to the answer of the burning question of the 46th parliament – what was the gift the new Liberal MP Gladys Liu couldn’t describe, so didn’t know how to declare? She raised it during MP Kindy, which had everyone immediately abuzz. Then this popped up in her declarations:
That gift Gladys Liu didn’t know how to explain in order to declare during MP Kindy? Seems we still have no idea what it is, and nether does anyone else pic.twitter.com/Geml1LbUtp
— Amy Remeikis (@AmyRemeikis) July 31, 2019
But ask and you shall receive:
2/4 The “mystery item” gift referred to by The Australian today is a small ornament, gifted in my capacity as the Member for Chisholm - this is not a contentious item as it was made out to be. pic.twitter.com/rUqwGqOcyO
— Gladys Liu (@GladysLiuMP) July 24, 2019
Updated
It's 'vastly more difficult' to advocate for Newstart increase now, Barnaby Joyce says
Barnaby Joyce delivered a late-night speech to the Federation chamber (where speeches go to die) which my colleague Josh Taylor has just passed on to me, which is interesting.
Barnaby said last night that after the uproar over his Newstart comments, it's "vastly more difficult" for him to be an advocate now. pic.twitter.com/CKnUZjl02E
— Josh Taylor (@joshgnosis) July 31, 2019
He blames the headline on the Courier-Mail article that kickstarted the whole conversation, but let’s look at some of his comments in that article.
It’s not that I’m not getting money, it’s just that it’s spread so thin. I’m just saying these circumstances have made me more vastly attuned … it’s just a great exercise in humility going from deputy prime minister to watching every dollar you get.
A politician [renting a duplex without a dishwasher] for 415 bucks a week, he’s not living high on the hog, is he? There is a reason for that and that’s basically what I can afford. You do become a lot more mindful.
So the big thrill of the day, to be honest, is a cup of coffee. We [he and Vikki] rarely, if ever, go out for dinner. You’re very mindful of what’s coming up in the next couple of weeks and try to make sure I don’t miss any payments.
There has to some purpose for everything. The purpose of this – I’m a lot more focused people who don’t have money.
He’s “watching every dollar he gets” after going from close to $500,000 to $250,000.
Again, it is not that he has changed his mind. Our politicians should do that and, as we saw in the marriage equality debate, it’s exceptionally important to bringing about change. But maybe, just maybe, it’s not about going from a huge six-figure salary to a lower six-figure salary, which includes $288 a day in travel allowance when you are in Canberra.
Maybe it should be about the fact you represent one of the poorest electorates in the country, and used to lead a party which represents the vast majority of poverty-stricken electorates. Maybe, just maybe, it isn’t actually about our politicians themselves, but the job they do.
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Labor's call to ban Raheem Kassam from Australia 'insanity', Donald Trump Jr says
Speaking of Kristina Keneally, the senator, along with colleagues Penny Wong and Pat Dodson, is leading the charge to have former Breitbart editor and apparent ping-pong enthusiast Raheem Kassam banned from entering Australia, for hate speech.
I mean, if you have the Fredo of America’s First Family on your side, then you must be fine, right?
Kassam is one of the headline speakers at a conservative conference headed to Australia next month, where Craig Kelly, Amanda Stoker and Tony Abbott will all talk on the need to fight for conservatives in this country, as if the conservatives have not been in power for 17 of the last 23 years.
He has said some pretty vile stuff in the past but, so far, the government has not said whether it will be responding in the same way it did to Milo Yiannopoulos and denying him a visa.
We have Big Tech constantly trying to silence conservatives and now one of the major political parties in Australia is trying to silence @RaheemKassam because of his conservative views. The insanity needs to stop! https://t.co/vtPEZcGl47
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) July 31, 2019
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Good morning
Welcome to the last sitting day for five weeks, with politicians heading on the parliament winter break at the close of business today. Parliament won’t be back until 9 September and then there are only five full sitting weeks (plus a separate House and Senate sitting) until the end of the year.
But before we get to that, we have to get through today.
First up, remember this story?
The home affairs department is keeping a multimillion-dollar strategic review into Peter Dutton’s super portfolio secret from the public.
The review was ordered just five months after the creation of the home affairs department in late 2017, which saw the former department of immigration and border protection expanded with agencies and responsibilities from within the attorney general’s department, as well as elements of regional development, social services and prime minister and cabinet.
Kristina Keneally asked the Senate to force the home affairs department to produce the review and, late yesterday, it did.
A whole one page. Keneally told the Senate on Wednesday night:
This is a $5m piece of paper. This is either the single most expensive piece of paper in the history of this chamber or a blatant rejection of the will of the Senate by a minister who is allergic to scrutiny. The community has the right to know how one of our largest government departments – and one that is so fundamental to our national security – is being administered.
Meanwhile, the government is pushing new legislation to keep “high-risk terrorist offenders” in prison, beyond any sentence they may be handed “if they pose an ongoing threat to public safety”.
There’s no information yet on who judges who is an ongoing threat, or what constitutes that ongoing threat. From Christian Porter’s office:
The changes were recommended by the Council of Australian Governments following a deadly 2017 terror attack in Victoria, which involved an offender who was on bail and had previously been charged with a terrorism offence.
The community was rightly outraged by Yacqub Khayre’s case and I believe the changes we are introducing today strike the right balance between protecting individual rights and freedoms, and protecting the community.
Plus, there is the ensuring integrity bill heading to the Senate. But that doesn’t have the numbers with the crossbench as yet, so it is doubtful it will go anywhere before the break.
You have Mike Bowers, Katharine Murphy, Paul Karp and me, who is at least at 15% capacity, so huzzah for that.
Also – happy horse birthday.
Ready?
Let’s get into it.
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