And on that note, we are going to ground this plane – but we will be back tomorrow morning for more fun and games.
There are officially seven sitting days left. Medevac and ensuring integrity are still high on the government’s wish list, but, as always the crossbench is the key. It looks like the government has agreed to Pauline Hanson’s amendments for the union bill, but she is still holding out. Jacqui Lambie has a diary full of meetings when it comes to medevac. Keep a close eye on that one.
Tonight, the Indonesian free-trade agreement will also pass the parliament. You’ll know it’s gone through when you hear Kim Carr’s teeth grind.
Tomorrow, all of the party room meetings will be held. We’ll keep you up to date on that, and whatever else happens from now until the close of the blog tomorrow - partly because what else would we be doing than spending our short time on earth staring into the #auspol abyss, but also because you guys make it more than worth it.
A massive thank-you to Mike Bowers, Katharine Murphy, Paul Karp and Sarah Martin for dragging me through another day. Also, a shout out to ibuprofen for making question time as bearable as possible when vodka is not available.
But at the end of the day, at least none of us are the people who designed the new Parliament House coffee shop (replacing the coffee cart) to have the order window right next to the elevators, meaning it all has to be re-done and, after months of construction, still won’t be open until next year.
Onwards and upwards. And as always – take care of you.
Updated
Something to watch out for, tomorrow
Our 2019 Mapping #SocialCohesionReport launches tomorrow, 26 November. The report produced in partnership with @MonashUni researchers uses a comprehensive survey to gauge a nuanced understanding of shifts in public opinion on social cohesion and population issues.
— Scanlon Foundation (@Scanlon_Fdn) November 25, 2019
Sarah Hanson-Young:
When a man does the wrong thing he should apologise, and when he doesn’t he should be called out. And that’s what I did in this case - and I did it, not for me, but for every woman and girl across the country who has ever been told to stay silent, made to stay silent. Made to feel as if speaking out ... would cause more harm. It is absolutely important that every young girl knows they have the right to be treated with respect and treated equally ... in the classroom, the workplace, if she works in a shop, the front bar, or here in the nation’s parliament ...
I’m glad it’s over. This is a really important decision. What the judge has found is that Mr Leyonhjelm was motivated by malice, that he wanted to publicly shame me. I’ve been awarded damages, they will be donated to two really important women’s charities. [Plan International and the South Australian Working Women’s Centre]...
This is an important day for this parliament to put a line under this type of behaviour. It doesn’t matter if you work in a shop or a factory floor or the parliament. Every woman deserves to be treated with respect. If you see someone doing the wrong thing - stand with that woman and help call it out.”
Hanson-Young became emotional during the press conference - this has been a pretty drawn out and rough road for the senator, who has often spoken about the example she wants to set for her daughter in calling out behaviour like this.
Emotion never means weakness. Sometimes it is a necessary release.
I am shocked, SHOCKED* at this news
My Health Record failed to manage cybersecurity and privacy risks, audit finds https://t.co/TBcFWMrJVM
— Helen Davidson (@heldavidson) November 25, 2019
*Not shocked. At all.
The latest family law inquiry is under way – but a Greens motion has just passed the Senate calling on it to be halted until the government can guarantee women who give evidence will have protections.
That is because Pauline Hanson, the deputy chair, has already made her views known – asserting many women were “liars” in the court in order to get custody.
From Larissa Waters:
If the government persists in conducting the politicised family law inquiry, it is vital that more is done to keep women who participate safe from violence and harm.
The Greens have reached across party lines and the Australian Senate has agreed the inquiry should not proceed until the government can guarantee strong protections for witnesses.
This would include the ability for giving evidence in confidence or remotely, ensuring safe access to hearing venues, and strict media protocols. It would also mean support for survivors of violence, including funding specialist services to meet increased demand resulting from this inquiry.
This toxic inquiry is unsafe for women and children. The establishment of the inquiry has already unleashed a torrent of victim-shaming and blaming women.
The government should not be subjecting women who have experienced domestic violence and abuse to further trauma when the evidence is already available on the type of changes needed for improving the family court system.
The government has yet to implement the recommendations of the Australian Law Reform Commission review of the family law system or earlier inquiries. It should prioritise evidence-based strategies to make family law safer for victims and survivors of family violence, rather than allowing this compromised inquiry to go ahead.
Updated
Julie Collins had a bit to say about the half-a-billion-dollar aged care package announced by the government today (Scott Morrison says this is a start, with more to come in the budget).
Question: What do you make of the government’s excuse for not rolling out the packages quickly, saying that would lead to a pink batts-style disaster?
JC: The government has been there for six years. It has seen the home care package waitlist in the last two years blow out from 88,000 to 120,000 older Australians that are waiting. The government has had sitting on its desk, for more than a year, a report on the workforce that it commissioned. The government has been sitting on its hands. It’s had six years, four ministers and ripped billions of dollars out of aged care.
Question: Do you agree with the government that this is a more complicated scenario than just throwing more money at the system? That they do need to take the time to undertake potentially widespread reform to the system?
JC: The government has known about the home care waitlist for two and half years almost. It is not acceptable to say we need to wait when the royal commissioners’ number one urgent priority in its interim report was to fund more home care. When the royal commissioners said it was neglect not to fund more home care surely the royal commissioners who are doing the job the prime minister asked them to do are expecting the government to respond with more.
Updated
Sarah Hanson-Young has followed up with a statement:
I am pleased with the court’s decision today.
When men do the wrong thing, they should apologise. Most men do. But when they don’t, they should be called out.
Taking legal action was a hard decision to make, and one that could not have happened without the immense support from regular everyday Australians who want better treatment and respect for women in our workplaces, our homes and our community.
All I ever wanted was for Mr Leyonhjelm to apologise for his hurtful remarks and bad behaviour. He refused.
The court’s decision today has vindicated my decision to stand up and call it out.
Justice White found that the defences that Mr Leyonhjelm attempted failed. I was awarded substantial damages by the way of vindication, which I will donate to charity.
The Court accepted that aspects of Mr Leyonhjelm’s conduct warranted an order for aggravated damages. The court found that Mr Leyonhjelm was actuated by malice with the intention of publicly shaming me.
No woman deserves to be bullied and harassed in her workplace - not on the shop floor, in the office, in the factory or in the Parliament.
Not all women are able to stand up to the men that bully and harass them. As a member of parliament I am in a privileged position, and with privilege comes a responsibility to act for others.
This is why I will be donating the money raised from this case to two important organisations that fight for women and girls every day. Plan International and the Working Women’s Centre in South Australia; two organisations that work at the coalface of inequality and discrimination.
Calling out bad behaviour and holding those who harass and belittle women to account is essential for society if we are to achieve true equality.
I took this action because my daughter and her peers deserve to grow up in a society where women, young and old, married or single, rich or poor are treated with respect, free of discrimination, harassment and sexist slurs.
Our nation’s Parliament is an important and revered institution; it should set the standard of appropriate behaviour and model values of respect and equality for all.
Bullies must be taken on and held to account, no matter where they work or what privileges their title brings.
I would like to thank everyone who has donated to help this legal case happen. And to the many women, girls and decent men who have shared their stories of hurt, pain and hope with me, thank you for your support, trust and encouragement.
It is for every woman and girl who has been told to or made to stay silent in the face of harassment and disrespect that I have taken this legal action. Today’s ruling is a win for them.
Updated
When men do the wrong thing, they should apologise. Most men do. But when they don’t they should be called out.
— Sarah Hanson-Young💚 (@sarahinthesen8) November 25, 2019
It’s for every woman & girl who’s been told or made to stay silent in the face of harassment and disrespect that I took legal action. Today’s ruling is a win for them
How Mike Bowers saw question time:
Updated
Adam Bandt followed up on his question time query of Scott Morrison with this statement:
The Prime Minister’s refusal to apologise for his clearly misleading comments is insensitive and cruel.
Australia is not some 1.3% minnow as the Prime Minister suggests. The PM cannot keep denying the truth that Australia is the world’s third biggest exporter of pollution.
The action we take on the climate crisis matters.
Every day that Scott Morrison denies the destructive impact of Australia’s pollution is another day he fails in his first duty to keep the Australian public safe.”
Adam Bandt asks the PM if he will apologise to the victims of the bushfires for exporting record amounts of thermal coal. Scott Morrison says the idea that a higher emissions target would have prevented the recent bushfires is ‘an outright lie’. #QT #auspol pic.twitter.com/uzangE0M9u
— Guardian Australia (@GuardianAus) November 25, 2019
Updated
Barnaby Joyce was in the chamber today, so he has returned from wherever he tweeted this from:
On reflection of Communst China isn’t strange that on this tiny little incredibly vibrant dot of life in what, at this stage, is an otherwise lifeless universe we have countries whose objective is to reduce the life of those that live to the minimalism of autocracy.
— Barnaby Joyce (@Barnaby_Joyce) November 24, 2019
Sarah Hanson-Young will be holding a press conference on the court decision on her defamation case in the next 20 minutes.
Updated
Mike Bowers has not stopped, all day
And the results are in:
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has won her defamation case against former senator David Leyonhjelm. Awarded $120,000.
— Lane Sainty (@lanesainty) November 25, 2019
Updated
“The government does not apologise”: Stuart Robert responds to questions about robo-debt now that it has been suspended. Follow live: https://t.co/8kSF8CGBQ4 #qt #auspol pic.twitter.com/BVfti7Y86C
— Guardian Australia (@GuardianAus) November 25, 2019
Scott Morrison calls time.
Lucky. It is 25 November – the VERY SAME DAY The Mousetrap opened at the Ambassadors theatre in London. Theatres have trapdoors. You can throw yourself down trapdoors.
COINCIDENCE?
Probably not to Angus Taylor.
Updated
Tony Burke to Angus Taylor:
When parliament last sat the minister said in relation to his letter to the Sydney lord mayor: “The document was drawn directly from the city of Sydney’s website.” Does the minister now accept that he was misleading the parliament?
Taylor:
I have already dealt with this and I will table a copy of my statement from 25 October. Now Mr Speaker, Labor and their mates have an insatiable appetite for gossip and smear. Their hypocrisy knows no bounds. We won’t be lectured to on integrity by the party of ... and boxes full of cash.
I can advise the House that the manager of opposition business over there wrote to me on Friday about my statement. The very same day that Eddie Obeid was paroled. Now ...
Burke stands up for a point of order, but Taylor has decided he has finished his answer, because Tony Burke tells him he can’t talk about Labor.
Ladies and gentlemen – your Rhodes scholar.
Updated
Vince Connelly, whose main claim to fame so far is that he delivers each dixer like that kid that assumed every drama production lead role belonged to them because they saw Shakespeare in the Park that one time, gets up to inflict the HOW SAFE ARE YOU Peter Dutton special on the chamber.
He gets cheers for standing, which is only going to encourage him.
Oh – and you’re like totes safe.
BUT IMAGINE IF LABOR WAS IN POWER.
Updated
Chris Bowen to Greg Hunt:
Exactly a year ago today the minister promised, on 21 March, 2019, the flash glucose monitor will be sudsidised on the PBS scheme. It still hasn’t happened. Can the minister explain to Australia’s 120,000 type 1 diabetics why not?
Greg Hunt:
And I’m delighted to respond to the member for McMahon because as is frequently the case his supposition is false. We made the commitment that we would deliver flash glucose monitoring when the company met the terms and conditions of the available program.
In particular, let me read from the Department of Health.
‘The government also announced its intention to include the freestyle flash glucose monitoring ... subject to price negotiations with the product sponsor.
Negotiations with the product sponsor are ongoing and further information will be provided once negotiations are complete or as the department also issued flash glucose monitoring subsidised. Flash GSN will be included subject to price negotiations with the product sponsor.’
But, very interestingly, what we have done is what the previous government never did. What Labor never did. We have provided continuous glucose monitoring. Seven products, at an expected price of approximately $300 million, are now available. And significantly, as part of that, what that means is that for children and youths under 21 years of age we have flash continuous glow course monitoring which is available.
Seven different products. We have also made sure that for pregnant mothers this program is available and we have also made sure that for people over the age of 21 on concessional cards, they also have access to that program. And at the same time we were absolutely clear in setting out the terms and conditions. And the reason why we do that is because we have advice from the medical experts that those are the terms and conditions. And one of the things that has been the hallmark of this government is we have taken the advice of the medical experts.
He goes on, but Labor’s main argument here is that the measure was announced without any caveats – and now there are caveats.
Updated
The ASRC is also in parliament today. Its statement:
The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) has sent a delegation to Parliament, including CEO Kon Karapanagiotidis to appeal to Senators, especially Senator Lambie to vote against Minister Dutton’s full Migration Amendment (Repairing Medical Transfers) Bill 2019.
The ASRC has witnessed first hand the medical crisis and medical neglect of people held offshore, through visiting in 2017 and with our ongoing detention advocacy work over the past six years.
Since 2016, Australia’s human rights legal community in partnership with medical, refugee service and advocate communities have had to force the Coalition government to medically transfer critically sick children and their families and men and women to Australia to save their lives.
The passing of the Medevac laws, with joint agreement from The Labor, Greens and cross bench in February 2019 meant an efficient and medically led process for the medevac of sick people.
The power of the Medevac laws lie in the balance struck between doctors working to address medical need of offshore detention patients with preserving Ministerial veto of Medevac applications for specific reasons with evidence.
All without affording political interference in doctors work.
Medevac is working: The Minister has approved 86% of all doctors applications and no one has died in offshore processing from medical neglect since.
Updated
Labor has asked how big the “small cohort” of people who will have their robodebts reassessed is, with Senator Deb O’Neill noting staff have been told it might be up to 600,000.
The social services minister, Anne Ruston, replies that Services Australia is “in the process of identifying those impacted by this particular measure”:
There is no value whatsoever in pre-empting that process. And it’s important to note that income averaging does not occur in all debt determinations.
Ruston claims that those who get debts based solely on income averaging tend to be those who have “chosen not to engage” when Centrelink contacts them.
As we revealed in a feature at the weekend, Deanna Amato – one of the plaintiffs challenging the robodebt system – received repeated notices to an old address. So much for choosing not to engage with the system! Senator Jim Molan gets the next dixer, and is greeted with cries of “Heeeee’s back!” from the Labor benches.
Updated
Stuart Robert on robodebt: 'This government does not apologise'
Bill Shorten to Stuart Robert:
Given that the government has now suspended robodebt after three years of operation, is it because the Coalition government at the time of creating it either, a) didn’t seek legal advice, or b) had inaccurate legal advice or c) received legal advice but just didn’t think that Australians would notice the government unjustly enriching itself at the expense of the most vulnerable in Australian society?
Robert:
Let me say very categorically this government does not apologise for its efforts to protect the integrity of the welfare system.
We will not apologise ... for ... [what] we are lawfully required to do.
Now, just last week, we made a refinement to the income compliance project. Refinements that have been made over time. For example, on 15 June 2010 the then member for human services, the member for McMahon, said ‘It’s important the government explores different means of debt recovery to ensure those that have received more money than they are entitled to repay their debt.’ A press release outlining the tax project.
... The current income compliance program started 29 June 2011 and has continued from that day.
Refinements have been made to that program since that time.
The refinement that was made last week, the refinement that was made last week, has strengthened the program whereby debts raised ...
Income matching will require greater proof points. Just before the election the member for Maribyrnong made it very clear in his interview on 9 May that we want to make sure that people aren’t receiving welfare to which they’re not entitled and no one gets a leave pass on that. The member for Maribyrnong said that. And this government agrees 100 per cent. with the leader of the opposition – sorry, the former leader of the opposition.
That no one gets a leave pass. No one at all. We have an absolute legal responsibility to collect debts owed to the commonwealth. The refinement that has now been [applied means] debts raised solely on income averaging will have greater proof points applied to them.
Updated
It actually is.
OH in the newsroom regarding George Christensen's beard, which appears to have doubled in size since parliament last sat: "It's like that movie where Brad Pitt turns into a bear." 🤔 #qt
— Katina Curtis (@katinacurtis) November 25, 2019
Updated
George Christensen summons Michael McCormack to the despatch box.
McCormack, looking like the word oatmeal, somehow manages to make the carpet interesting.
Speaking of the Naif (see a few posts down)
Better. Mangoes. I mean ...
Matt Canavan claims that govt infrastructure package will result in "better mangoes" because of smoother "mango roads" in Northern Territory. #auspol #senateQT
— Paul Karp (@Paul_Karp) November 25, 2019
Updated
Tony Burke to Scott Morrison:
“How can 23 million breaches of the law be a matter for the board if you’re a bank, but legislation before the parliament right now does say that three breaches of paperwork can get you deregistered … if you’re a union. How can there be corporate equivalence if unions will get three chances and banks will get 23 million?”
Christian Porter gets the nod – and has seemingly forgotten how microphones work in the break since the House last sat:
Well, the premise of the question, Mr Speaker, is just absolutely and utterly incorrect, and the question carries an assertion that somehow a union or a branch of a union would be deregistered for non-serious matters.
Totally and absolutely wrong. When the opposition talk about paperwork, and when you look at what this bill is actually being targeted towards, assaulting police five times, assault by kicking five times, wilful trespass seven timings, resisting arrest five times, theft, attempted theft by deception and intent to coerce nine times. It’s paperwork. And that was just one bloke! That was just one guy. That was just John Setka. But it’s all paperwork. They’re like the black knight in Monty Python. The head gets chopped off, it’s a paper cut. It’s a wound.
Updated
Labor has asked a string of questions to Marise Payne about the estimates that Australians have lost $1.3bn from wage theft since 2009.
Payne runs through the government’s response – including a commitment to criminalise the most serious forms of deliberate or systemic underpayment; and consideration of a low-cost fast-track process in the Fair Work Commission to get compensation.
After every Labor question and mention of “wage theft”, Liberal senator Eric Abetz interjects with “like the ABC!” – in reference to $23m of estimated underpayment of casual staff.
Not quite sure what the takeaway here is ... if even the good folks at the ABC get it wrong, industrial law must be really difficult?
Updated
Josh Frydenberg takes the next lickspittle question on how Labor is to blame for the economy.
Labor was last in government six years ago, the next election isn’t for at least two and a half years – but you do you.
Updated
Adam Bandt has the crossbench question and it sends the whole house into meltdown:
Prime minister, if exporting pollution was an Olympic sport you’d be on the podium with a medal around your neck. We’re not some 1.3% minnow, we’re the world’s third-largest exporter of climate pollution. Will you apologise for misleading the public by saying nothing we could do would make a difference to the climate crisis and catastrophic bushfires – and given you are failing in the government’s first duty, which is to protect its people, will have you the courage to apologise to the victims of the bushfires by exporting record amounts of thermal coal?
Michael McCormack: “You’re a disgrace, when are you going to apologise ...”
Ed Husic: “That’s not very woke of you, Mike.”
McCormack doesn’t look like he gets it. Which is a timeless McCormack statement.
Scott Morrison:
The government believes, and is taking action to address climate change. And the government should, and the government is, Mr Speaker, by 2020, which is when the Kyoto targets were set for, we have the target that was set by the Labor party when they were in government and we will meet it.
And we won’t just meet it, we’ll beat it by 367 million tonnes. So, Mr Speaker, the Australian government is in that group of countries which is beating, beating the commitments that we have made to the world, and we will continue to do that, Mr Speaker, with the commitments we have retained for the Paris targets.
So, Mr Speaker, Australia is doing its bit when it comes to dealing with climate change.
What we won’t do is engage in the reckless targets supported by the Greens and the Labor party under this false promise, and I think dishonest promise, that the member has been spruiking both in this place and outside of this place, and that is to suggest that there is some trade-off.
That if the government had adopted economy wrecking, as the Business Council described it, emission reduction cuts that were put forward by the Labor party at the last election, then these fires would not have taken place.
That is an outright lie, Mr Speaker.
It is an untruth and misleading to those going through some of the most difficult times of their lives. They have misled them grievously. We will not do that.
Our government knows about the need to taking a stand on climate change and our record demonstrates we are meeting and beating our commitment.
What we won’t do, Mr Speaker, is engage in the reckless targets that have been put forward by the Greens and happily along with the Labor party, Mr Speaker, which will take people’s jobs – and we will not support those reckless deals.
Updated
Ged Kearney to Scott Morrison:
Why does the prime minister say the leadership of a bank is up to the board after it has broken the law 23 million times, when at the same time he wants to shut down entire unions for minor paperwork breaches?
Why does the prime minister have one rule for banks and another for working people?
The government benches go NUTS. (“One for the blooper reel,” one yells.)
Morrison:
The next time some union thug breaks someone’s arm ... at the emergency clinic will say it’s just paperwork, because it’s a paperwork breach, Mr Speaker.
For goodness sake, Mr Speaker. The banks will be pursued by the full force of the law. They’ll be pursued by investigative agencies such as Austrac, who have been given the resources and powers to get on with the job, and they will have the availability of the Banking Executive Accountability Regime to punt those who are responsible under the law – to be brought into this place, which can see bank executives sent to prison for up to 15 years.
Now, those opposite, the Labor party, are looking for any excuse to walk away from what they know is the right thing to do, to ensure that militant unionism has no place in this country.
Master builders have made it pretty clear – 30% increase in costs because of militant unionism in this country.
It just doesn’t break people’s arms, Mr Speaker, it breaks their businesses as well and breaks the jobs that are so important. We’re investing $100 billion in infrastructure investments in this country.
We’re expending more in rural communities on our federal road programs and our stimulus programs through local councils.
And we don’t want to see that money jeopardised and wasted.
That is apparently championed by those opposite because they will not do the right thing. They will not apply the same penalties to those in the corporate sector, Mr Speaker, to the union sector. They won’t do it, Mr Speaker, because all of them are here. ... they are beholden to this union movement and they are here to do their bidding, not the bidding of the Australian people.
Updated
While Scott Morrison takes the next dixer (honestly, just stab me and get it over with), Andrew Hastie and Tim Wilson are having quite the serious conversation on the backbenches.
It’s like a furrowed brow-off.
Updated
Julie Collins to Scott Morrison:
When 16,000 older Australians died in one year waiting to receive the home care package for which they’d already been approved, why did the prime minister announce only 10,000 new home care places today and why did the prime minister today put back only half of the $1.2 billion his own budget papers confirm he cut from aged care?
Morrison:
Under our government we’ve been increasing funding for aged care by $1 billion a year Mr Speaker.
I invite members of the opposition to engage with the government in response to the royal commission into aged care, which includes a response to those young Australians who find themselves in aged care facilities, to join with the government in progressing with the reforms that are necessary to address the matters raised in the royal commission.
This has been the practice of the Liberal and National parties.
I remember when the previous government was in office and we worked with the aged care minister at the time to take through some very difficult reforms, and I’d invite the opposition to engage with the government as we continue to address the issues in the royal commission that are necessary.
Mr Speaker, the royal commission has made it clear that the issues that we are addressing deal with a generation, a generation, of issues within the aged care system that go back over many governments, and I note the very sharp response from the Australian public ... which has been exhibited by some, not all, from the opposition.
When we came to government there were 60,000 in home places. There are 150,000 today, Mr Speaker, and since the 18-19 budget we have put 44,000 additional places into the home care system.
Now on top of that, as the minister was just explaining, it isn’t just a system of throwing more places into the system.
The system has to be able to absorb them with the training and the support to ensure that those places are delivered in a way that is safe and supportive of those Australians who need them.
And I hear the jeers from those opposite, Mr Speaker.
And I would caution them again. I invite them to work with the government to ensure that all Australians get ... the aged care that they need. That’s why we called the royal commission.
We’re prepared to address the issues that come out of the royal commission into aged care and I would invite the opposition to join with us in a bipartisan way to ensure that we can deliver the support that they need and deserve and not play partisan politics.
Updated
Darren Chester has wandered over to the crossbench for a conversation with Rebekha Sharkie.
Updated
Labor has asked what sort of institution is facing claims it committed 23m breaches of anti-money laundering provisions: a union or a bank.
Marise Payne replies that “it’s Westpac” – setting up Labor supplementaries asking why Scott Morrison has said the consequence of the alleged breaches is “a matter for the board” when unions face deregistration for three paperwork breaches under the Coalition’s Ensuring Integrity bill.
Payne replies that Morrison also said he was “absolutely appalled” by the alleged breaches, and it will be up to the courts to determine the result of civil penalty proceedings brought by Austrac.
“You’d expect it will be dealt with through the courts. As will the [penalties created by the] Ensuring Integrity bill.”
I’m not sure the answer really met the thrust of the Labor attack that there is a double standard at work here.
Updated
We move onto the first dixer, which was a recount of the aged care annoucement.
We also get this announcement:
Corporate regulator ASIC confirms it has commenced an investigation into Westpac after revelations from AUSTRAC of 23m anti money laundering breaches. ASIC is looking at possible breaches of legislation @abcnews @AUSTRAC @asicmedia #auspol
— Peter Ryan (@Peter_F_Ryan) November 25, 2019
Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison:
My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. Last week it was reported that an organisation had broken money laundering laws 23 million times. Was it a union...[or another organisation]
Morrison:
Thank you Mr Speaker. It was a bank. And that’s why, Mr Speaker, that’s why when I was treasurer I introduced what is known as the Banking Executive Accountability Regime, Mr Speaker.
That’s what I introduced, Mr Speaker.
I note... Asic are examining these matters but Mr Speaker when it comes to these matters under the BEAR the legislation I had introduced into this House which those opposite actually tried to oppose and prevent being passed in this place, they eventually voted for it, but they showed some hesitation.
...Under that, the civil penalty is a maximum of $210 million for large banks, $52.5 million for medium sized banks and $10.5 million for smaller banks. Individuals can be disqualification and their remuneration may be reduced.
They may also fall foul of over laws and the government increased civil penalties up to $1.05 million to up to $945,000 also with criminal penalties carrying 15 years imprisonment for individuals and to a greater of $9.5 million or three times the benefit gained or 10 per cent of the annual turnover for the companies.
I note the ensuring integrity bill, the penalty maybe up to $21,000 or two years imprisonment. I won’t cop it from those opposite coming in here and say - make these accusations.
I think banks should take account of their manifest failures and I think union thugs should also.
The government benches yell out their ‘hear, hears’ to which someone from Labor yells “executive thugs”
And at 2.33pm, we get to the questions.
Anthony Albanese finishes his indulgence motion on the bushfires, with this:
We know that the priority, the immediate priority, is of course, protecting life and protecting property.
And we also know that we are so grateful to the emergency service personnel and volunteers.
But the fire season is starting earlier and finishing later. Our emergency leaders agree that extreme weather events in Australia will only increase in their severity and their frequency.
And that’s why I have written to the prime minister constructively to say that we need to continue to examine our preparedness for natural disasters.
I have suggested calling a meeting of the Council of Australian Governments that is due to look at some practical measures, steps towards a new national strategy for disaster preparedness, ensuring national services and national parks services are appropriately funded at a state and federal level, extending the of Australia’s aerial firefighting centre and providing funding. Research into natural disaster response and mitigation. Attract, retain and appropriately reward volunteers and enable businesses to support their staff who choose a volunteer.
Updated
Labor has started its Senate question time attack on the aged care package – with Penny Wong asking why the government had unveiled just 10,000 home care packages when 16,000 people died waiting for a package in the last year and the shortfall is 120,000.
Aged care minister Richard Colbeck said while the government had taken action to address growing demand for home care packages it had concerns that a significant growth could create a circumstance like the home insulation program pink batts which was rolled out so quickly it “brought in shonky players”.
In response to supplementary questions, he acknowledged the government had asked people to be “patient”, which sets the Labor members off.
Murray Watt heckles “knock him off Johnno” – a reference to his theory that Jonathon Duniam, another Tasmanian Liberal, can (and should) replace Colbeck in the ministry.
The first dixer is also to Colbeck – just rehashing details of the $537m package announced on Monday.
Updated
Madeleine King’s phone just went off, causing the panicked OMG WHERE IS THE MUTE BUTTON search.
Practically every MP in this chamber then checked their phone to make sure it was on silent. Turns out this isn’t the centre of the universe and most people don’t understand 2pm is QT.
As someone whose phone has been on silent since 2008, I do not understand people with ringtones. Also - just text me. Who has time for a phone call? And don’t get me started on people who leave voicemail messages.
Thank you for listening to my Ted talk.
Labor has responded to the Morrison government’s aged care announcement:
The Aged Care Royal Commission’s scathing interim report set a serious challenge for real action on aged care but the Morrison Government has fallen at the first hurdle.
The 10,000 additional home care packages announced today is just a drop in the ocean. 16,000 older Australians died in just one year while waiting for home care.
There are 120,000 older Australians waiting for home care, with many waiting more than two years for the care they have been approved for.
There is absolutely no guarantee Scott Morrison’s miserly package will mean these older Australians receive care sooner.
Today’s announcement falls well short of what is required but it is true to form for the Prime Minister.
Scott Morrison was the man who ripped $1.2 billion from aged care in his first Budget.
As the number of older Australians waiting for home care grew from 88,000 to 120,000 the Prime Minister hasn’t provided the home care older Australians need.
The interim report of the Royal Commission described the unacceptable number of older Australians waiting for home care as ‘unsafe practice’ and ‘neglect’. The Government has failed these older Australians.
The question for the Prime Minister and his Government today is: will older Australians desperately waiting for care get their home package any sooner?
The Government has also been forced into an embarrassing back down on getting young people out of residential aged care just weeks after the Minister said they were doing ‘enough’.
The Liberals have been asleep at the wheel for six years, with four Ministers and billions ripped out while Australia’s aged care system has lurched from one crisis to another.
Older Australians deserve better.
Adam Bandt and the Greens want to amend how the government awards research grants:
The Greens will move in the House and the Senate to reverse the Liberal government’s recent politicisation of Australian Research Council grants by requiring the minister to publicly release all successful grant applications in a timely manner and without other government MPs or candidates involved.
The government recently changed the ARC rules so that grants could be announced by Coalition MPs – and only Coalition MPs – even when the successful grant was outside the government MP’s electorate.
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We move from condolence motions to an indulgence motion on the bushfires.
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Gladys Liu has a #shetoo badge pinned to her shirt today.
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We are in the chamber for question time. Which means it is time for Who is that MP?
It’s Craig Kelly.
In some ways, it is always Craig Kelly.
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Mike Bowers has been busy this morning:
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Goodness. It is almost question time.
The Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility still doesn’t have a CEO.
There is some sort of Northern Australia function on this week, so I guess we could get an announcement soonish. One would think. Murray Watt, though, is enjoying his time as current Naif watcher:
Despite current CEO Laurie Walker announcing she would not renew her contract nearly five months ago, Minister for Northern Australia Matt Canavan is yet to announce her replacement.
Given the scathing Auditor-General’s report on the NAIF’s lack of transparency and management of conflicts of interest, it is critical that the new CEO has the required experience and is truly independent of the Minister and the Government.
The $5 billion NAIF is already notorious for Coalition friendly appointments to its board, including a prominent LNP donor and a former CLP Deputy Chief Minister. Both have recently had their board positions renewed by Minister Canavan.
The failure to appoint a new CEO is just one example of Matt Canavan’s NAIF failures, which include:
- the NAIF releasing less than 1% of its funds, and not one cent in Queensland, four years after its creation;
- continuing to promote a failed NAIF loan to a Western Australian mining company;
- being forced to delay the NAIF’s largest loan to date; and
- announcing the NAIF’s fourth review in three years.
Minister Canavan must use this week’s Northern Australia statement to advise where the CEO search is up to, and when we can expect a new CEO to be appointed.
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And finally, on Wang Liqiang:
Question: Can you guarantee the safety of Mr Wang and his family while his asylum claim is processed?
Scott Morrison:
He’s in Australia. He’s in Australia. We have the rule of law in Australia. And as a result then you can expect the same protections to apply to anyone who is living in our country, whether on a visa or any other arrangement.
I’ve made it pretty clear that the director general of Asio has issued a statement on this matter about how it’s being handled, and that’s exactly how it should be handled.
So I can assure Australians that under our government the resources have never been stronger, the laws have never been tougher, and the government has never been more determined to keep Australians free and safe from foreign interference.
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Scott Morrison on the Donald Trump phone call (after he was asked if he brought up the China issue):
I don’t go into my private conversations with the president. What I can say –I thank you for the question about speaking to President Trump this morning. It was a great opportunity to say thank you to the president for the amazing work done to get Tim Weeks out and to get him on his way home.
We appreciate the tremendous case. We work with them on many such cases. He was interested to know how we were going in relation to the terrible bushfires in Australia.
He was very aware of that, and had been very impressed by the firefighting efforts of Australians, and [I] thanked him for the participation from our friends from the United States – as we do from all the other countries – who are helping us. We talked broadly about strategic issues in the region, like we always do, because we both have a keen interest in those. And so that was pretty much a good summary ...
(Reporters say he hasn’t answered the specific question)
Morrison:
I think I’ve answered the question in a way I was happy to do it.
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Chinese spy plot allegations 'deeply disturbing', Scott Morrison says
Question: You have spoken about the broad threats that Australia faces. Could you perhaps comment on the specifics of the allegation that China tried to infiltrate the political party you lead in order to corrupt … Australia’s democracy?
Scott Morrison:
I find the allegations deeply disturbing and troubling. And I refer you to the director general’s statement, which said that these matters were already under investigation, and those investigations are continuing.
I would caution anyone leaping to any conclusions about these matters. And that’s why we have these agencies. I’m not. But I do find the allegations troubling and disturbing.
Question: Will we consider asylum for Wang Liqiang regardless of any threats of retribution from our biggest trading partner?
Morrison:
Well, I think we have to separate the issues here. Asylum claims are assessed on the merits, run through the Department of Home Affairs.
That is the same case for this person, or anyone else who may make such a claim.
That claim would be assessed about what they would be – a reasonable fear of persecution in their home country.
If they were to make judgements along these lines, that would necessarily mean that any allegations they’ve made, true or untrue, it would simply go to the specific circumstances of that individual.
Now, I expect the department to make their decisions in the ordinary course of events, and they will do that. We will honour our obligations, as we always do, under the Refugee Convention.
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The prime minister then borrows a little more from the “we are the best in the world” political playbook we have seen lately:
What I am referring to is that the resources and the regime has been put in place to do its job, and any improvements, any additional matters that we would need to look at, on the basis of advice to address that, and the government would obviously – based on our record and form – we would do that.
So these laws and these resources – and these institutions – are world-class.
I mean, when I speak to other leaders, they look at our laws and they say, ‘We want more of what they are having’, when it comes to protecting their countries.
They want the integration we have between our agencies. They want the legal frameworks that we’ve had the courage to establish, and defend – and defend – in response to criticism of those laws.
So, I can assure Australians our government will never be lacking on the watch when it comes to protecting Australia’s legitimate interests in this area.
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Scott Morrison’s press conference moves on to China. He chooses his words very, very carefully here:
What Australia has done under our government is to strengthen the legal regime, to strengthen both the integrity and capacity of our intelligence and our law enforcement agencies, and to ensure the government is informed through the National Security Committee on the impacts of foreign interference like no government has ever been advised and informed before.
Significant investment, significant legal reform, significant resourcing, finding the best people in the world to do these jobs, and keep us equipped to keep Australians safe and to protect the Australia that we love – that’s the assurance I give Australians.
Is he surprised by how aggressive China has allegedly been?
Well, I will make a more general comment. I mean, a range of allegations have been made.
The director general of intelligence – of ASIO – has issued a statement, which says that these matters were already under examination and that will continue.
So I’m not going to draw any conclusions about that one way or the other, as is appropriate.
What I can say is Australia is not naive to the threats that it faces more broadly. And I mean more broadly. More broadly. And that’s why we strengthened the laws, why we increased the resources, that’s why we established the Department of Home Affairs, to bring together all of this in a single portfolio, to ensure Australia was in the best possible position to deal with any threats that come our way broadly. Or specifically.
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The public health association of Australia is also lobbying to keep medevac in place:
The Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) and Doctors for Refugees (D4R) have joined the voices of peak health organisations around Australia to urge the government not to repeal the Medevac legislation.
‘The law is working to save lives,’ said Dr Barri Phatarfod, President of Doctors for Refugees.
‘It does not impact on refugee determinations or any immigration decisions. It simply allows people to receive the care they need.’
Twelve people died in the offshore detention system before this law was introduced, with treatment delay being cited as a factor by the Queensland Coroner Terry Ryan last year.
Since the law was passed earlier this year there have been no deaths and instead an orderly system has seen the transfer of critically ill refugees to Australia to receive treatment.
‘The Medevac legislation provides a clear, formal process with the government’s establishment of an expert panel of clinicians with the power to review all decisions. The minister has the discretion to intervene at every step,’ Dr Phatarfod said.
Mr Terry Slevin, CEO of PHAA said, ‘Doctors should be the ones deciding health management, not politicians. Australians rightly have confidence in the judgement of our health professionals; we should let them get on with their job.’
The current arrangements reduce the risk of prolonged, unnecessary delays in providing urgent medical care.
‘We previously saw countless cases of delay causing real medical harm,” said Dr Phatarfod.
‘A young girl was in a coma from encephalitis, while a man waited weeks with ruptured abdominal organs before he was transferred for extensive surgery. No one wants to see more deaths.’
Mr Slevin said, ‘The Medevac law also eliminates the costly court cases which are initiated by the government when the doctors on-site recommended a patient’s urgent transfer. And every time the court found in favour of the patient. This is an unconscionable and ultimately futile misuse of our resources.’
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Stuart Robert on getting people under 45 out of aged care homes:
The targets we have agreed with the royal commission, which are their interim targets, is all those under 45 – about 170 Australians – out by 2022 and no new Australians going in, which means extensive work with ACAT as well as providers.
And then ensuring the rest or the bulk of other Australians are out by 2025, where it is their choice to do so, noting that under the NDIS participants have choice and control.
There will be circumstances where younger people may wish to stay. An example would be a middle-aged Australian, with disability, who wants to stay with Mum who’s in a nursing home, would be a good example of where they may exercise that choice and control to stay.
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Scott Morrison says there will be more coming in the budget – that this is just the “immediate” response:
I want to assure all Australians that we will deal with these issues as you would if you were standing in my shoes today. I know quite precisely the sorts of things that you are thinking about at the moment when it comes to the treatment of your loved ones in aged care.
My family is no different to yours in that respect. And so I have a very deep understanding of the difficult decisions that you’re having to make, the conversations you’re having to have with the partners, husbands, wives of those loved ones going into care, other siblings.
This is hard.
And you just want to be assured that they’re going to get the care [they need]. I want that as much for your family as I want it for mine. I want the response of our government to have the same level of deep care and responsibility.
Updated
Scott Morrison has begun his press conference:
One of my first acts as PM was to call a royal commission into the aged care sector. And also to look specifically at the issues of young Australians who find themselves in aged care facilities around the country.
I said at the time that I believed it would be a very uncomfortable exercise for all Australians as we listen to the stories and were shocked and disturbed at the treatment of our older Australians in their moments of greatest vulnerability.
I think there are few families around the country, my own included, who are not unfamiliar with the difficult decisions that are made about relatives and loved ones who are placed into aged care facilities, whether those residential facilities or they’re accessing in home care. It’s a very sensitive issue.
And rightly so for all Australians.
In commissioning the royal commission, my intent was to ensure that we could shine quite a bright light, that we could learn deeply from the experiences and the practices that the royal commission was able to identify, and to assist us and deal with an issue which is not new.
The royal commission’s interim report, as talked about settings and processes and issues that are not new, that go back over many administrations over a long period of time.
But it befalls to our government to be able to address the issues that are being identified out of the royal commission.
As we’ve had the interim response report from the royal commission, it is now tasked to provide an immediate response to that interim report, as I promised I would do before the end of the year.
Addressing the specific issues that they highlighted in that interim report. These responses together do go to those matters. But
I want to stress again that what we really need to establish above and beyond everything else is a culture of respect for older Australians. That this cultural change that has once again been highlighted I think by the interim report of the royal commission, it is something that goes to each and every Australian home.
We will do our part as part of making that shift in that culture and also to do the practical things that are necessary now.
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Meanwhile, doctors are hoping to convince Jacqui Lambie to let medevac remain:
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) urges the Senate to maintain the transparency and medical oversight provisions of the Medevac legislation when it considers this important issue in the coming days.
RACP President, Associate Professor Mark Lane, said: ‘The medevac legislation allows medical experts to make decisions about health care for seriously ill individuals and ensure that they receive the medical treatment that they need in a clinically appropriate timeframe.
‘The Independent Health Advice Panel (IHAP) has improved clinical oversight and ensured that medical decisions are being made by medical professionals. The independent oversight and greater accountability provided by this legislation has been critical in providing vital information to the Parliament and the Australian public.
‘We know that previous delays and failures to transfer ill asylum seekers resulted in preventable suffering. Medical decisions should be made by medical professionals. As doctors, we continue to put patients first and uphold the basic human right to healthcare,’ Associate Prof Lane said.
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The release continues:
As the commission moves forward, this is what the Morrison government imagines the response will look like:
Key reforms continue
The Royal Commission’s final report is due on 12 November 2020, however the Government’s rigorous oversight of the sector and reform program continues.
The Government has established a new independent aged care watchdog in the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, upgraded Aged Care Quality Standards and introduced regulations to minimise the use of restraints, and we are developing a Serious Incident Response Scheme.
The Government is also expanding the powers of the Commission, with the new Commissioner responsible for the approval of aged care providers, compliance and enforcement actions in relation to the care being provided, and the administration of the responsibilities of approved providers to report assaults.
While we undertake these reforms we will continue to deliver record funding for older Australians of $21.7 billion in 2019-20, growing to an estimated $25.4 billion in 2022-23, up from $13.3 billion in 2012-13.
There will be more work to do across aged care as we continue to listen and respond to the issues raised by the Royal Commission.
Like every Australian, we were appalled by the revelations of the Interim Report, however we will do everything we can to build an aged care system of the highest quality.
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The release continues:
Building on longer term reforms
These measures will complement the major reforms the Morrison Government has been undertaking to improve standards, oversight, funding and transparency in the care of older Australians.
In line with the long-term direction as identified by the Royal Commission, we will also progress further measures, including;
• providing simpler aged care assessments by creating a single assessment workforce and network; and
• establishing a single unified system for care of our elderly in the home.
We will unify the Home Care and Commonwealth Home Support Programs, in line with the Royal Commission’s direction to deliver a seamless system of care, tailoring services to the needs of the individual.
These changes will be guided by the final recommendations of the Royal Commission and will have the goal of improving care and ending the wait for home care packages.
Simplifying the system for consumers
The Government will streamline assessment by creating a single assessment workforce and a single network of assessment organisations that are able to undertake all aged care eligibility assessments.
This will help people to be connected to care sooner, reduce duplication and inefficiencies, and stop a revolving door of assessments where vulnerable older people get sent to multiple organisations depending on the programs for which they are eligible.
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The release continues:
Younger people in residential aged care
In March, the Government announced the Younger People in Residential Aged Care Action Plan. Since this time there has been a reduction in the number of younger people in residential aged care, including a decline in the number of younger people entering the aged-care system.
However, in response to the Royal Commission, the Government will strengthen the initial targets of the Younger People in Residential Aged Care Action Plan.
The new targets, apart from in exceptional circumstances, will seek to ensure there are;
• No people under the age of 65 entering residential aged care by 2022;
• No people under the age of 45 living in residential aged care by 2022; and
• No people under the age of 65 living in residential aged care by 2025.
The Government will invest $4.7 million to help remove young people from residential aged care and further support these goals by:
• establishing a Joint Agency Taskforce (JATF) between the Department of Social Services, Department of Health and National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to develop a new strategy that builds on the Action Plan and takes action to ensure these new targets are met;
• establishing a specialist team within the NDIA to prevent younger people with a disability who are eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme from entering aged care. The specialist team will grow to 80 complex support needs planners by end March 2020 to find suitable accommodation and match participants to vacancies;
• working with industry to identify all available Specialist Disability Accommodation and Supported Independent Living supports across the country to develop a database of existing and new housing options available now and in the future; and
• undertaking a detailed analysis of younger people currently living in aged care, as well as up to 2,000 young people at risk of entering aged care, to better inform new policies and pathways to find alternate accommodation.
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The release continues:
Increasing the number of Home Care packages
The additional 10,000 home care packages will be focused on the Royal Commission’s identified areas of need and is strongly weighted towards level 3 and level 4 packages, which provide a high level of care.
These packages will be rolled out from 1 December 2019.
Since the 2018-19 Budget, the Government has invested $2.7 billion in 44,000 new home care packages.
We have also more than doubled the number of home care packages available to a record 150,412 this financial year, up from 60,308 in 2012-13 under Labor.
Better medication management and dementia training
The Royal Commission has identified an over-reliance on chemical restraint in aged care, therefore from 1 January 2020, we will also establish stronger safeguards and restrictions for the prescribing of repeat prescriptions of risperidone.
Doctors will still be able to prescribe it but will be required to apply for additional approval if risperidone is to be prescribed beyond an initial 12 week period. These changes have been developed following recommendations from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, and in collaboration with doctor’s groups and the broader health sector.
Education resources for prescribers will also be developed to support the appropriate use of antipsychotics and benzodiazepines in residential aged care and targeted letters will be sent to high prescribers.
Funding for medication management programs will be increased by $25.5 million, including support for pharmacists to ensure more frequent medication reviews can occur.
The Royal Commission directed that restraint must only be used as a last resort, and amendments to regulations will make this clear.
The Government is also providing an additional $10 million over two years from 2019–20 to increase dementia training and support for aged care workers and health sector staff.
This will better equip them to manage behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, deliver best practice dementia care and comply with the new standards for reducing the use of physical and chemical restraints in aged care.
We have also responded immediately to the Royal Commission’s findings on antipsychotics in aged care facilities by declaring “Quality Use of Medicines and Medicines Safety” a National Health Priority.
Updated
Government announces $537m aged care package
OK – the press conference is being held on the government’s response to the aged care royal commission interim report:
From the release:
The Royal Commission’s interim report is clear - as a country, the Government, the Aged Care Sector and the entire Australian community, we can and must do better in providing improved support for our older Australians.
We will deliver a $537 million funding package to respond to the Interim Report, across the identified three priority areas, including;
• investing $496.3 million for an additional 10,000 home care packages;
• providing $25.5 million to improve medication management programs to reduce the use of medication as a chemical restraint on aged care residents and at home, and new restrictions and education for prescribers on the use of medication as a chemical restraint;
• delivering $10 million for additional dementia training and support for aged care workers and providers, including to reduce the use of chemical restraint; and
• investing $4.7 million to help meet new targets to remove younger people with disabilities from residential aged care.
Updated
Tanya Plibersek has delivered a speech at the Whitlam Institute:
I suppose the third lesson of the Whitlam legacy I would reflect on today is this: even when reforms have been carefully, painfully, won they can never be taken for granted. Today we have Medicare, not Medibank, because the Fraser government trashed it. Since then, we have seen Medicare under attack time and again by our opponents. 2013 was the last time the Australian government had a women’s budget statement. The gender pay gap remains stubbornly stuck at 14% and we have slid from 15 down to 39 on the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap list.
We must build on the achievements of our predecessors, but we can never take those earlier gains for granted. Medicare came from Medibank. Medibank came from the Curtin and Chifley governments’ healthcare reforms. We must always fight to both defend and extend the victories won in the past.
Gough himself described the purpose of the Whitlam Institute as: “to help the great and continuing work of building a more equal, open, tolerant and independent Australia.”
Gough did that.
I would like to think we can all play a role in achieving that goal – for the men and women of Australia.
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Scott Morrison has just called a press conference for 12.30.
It’s in the PM courtyard – the serious, serous press conference locale.
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More trade-related rumblings within Labor ahead of shadow cabinet deliberations tonight:
Regular politics watchers know trade has become a sensitive subject in Labor ranks. In this final sitting fortnight, the parliament will consider an amendment to the Customs Act changing the way which the product specific rules of origin of six of Australia’s free trade agreements are given effect domestically. In plain English, the change would limit scrutiny, making some regulations (including provisions covering dumping, where countries “dump” goods in other markets at super-cheap prices to try and expand market share) unable to be disallowed by the parliament.
Some Labor MPs have concerns about this proposal. Labor members of a Senate committee scrutinising it said in a recent report:
“In a democracy like Australia we should always be sceptical about any attempt to reduce parliamentary scrutiny.”
There was a discussion this morning in the relevant Labor caucus committee (some say lively, others say constructive), ahead of shadow cabinet consideration of this proposal tonight.
I’m told a number of MPs articulated the “we are worried about reducing parliamentary scrutiny” point. Unions are also touchy about it.
I hear there will be an attempt to resolve the impasse by Labor agreeing to pass the legislation but dealing with the substance of the internal complaints via an exchange of letters between the trade minister Simon Birmingham and the shadow trade minister Madeleine King, to the effect that any changes to dumping will always trigger a public inquiry by the JSCOT committee (the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties). This letter is apparently being drafted.
So this landing point could either be peace, or it could be peace in our time. It will be interesting to see if this conversation drifts over into the regular caucus meeting tomorrow.
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So we didn’t get any speeches in defence of Angus Taylor from the government, just a call to division.
I am told that is because they want this division wrapped up quickly, but there is also the matter of not wanting too many images.
Ayes 68
Noes 71
Christian Porter is back in the main chair – the motion has been denied, so we are off to a division.
Let the running of the government MPs begin.
Updated
“The minister has been devious or bumbling, or both,” says Mark Butler.
Butler says the $15m travel bill Angus Taylor erroneously attributed to the City of Sydney worked out to $28,000 per councillor, per week.
He says a Rhodes scholar could probably have done the maths.
For those who don’t know, Taylor is a former Rhodes scholar.
Tony Burke says that if the government doesn’t demand Angus Taylor come in and explain himself over where the figures came from, “there are no standards left”.
Mark Butler is now seconding the motion.
We are getting speeches on this because the government usually just shuts this stuff down during question time, because that is when people are actually listening. It is also why Labor is doing it a bit earlier – so that it can get a bit of a run with its comments.
But Labor does not have the numbers to suspend standing orders, so this won’t go anywhere – beyond Labor having it on the Hansard.
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Tony Burke:
For someone who we are told, and from time to time, gets reported, is one of the most talented members of the government - now that only tells us one of two things, it only tells us one of two things. Either that is true, and it says something pretty depressing about the government, or that information was given to the media by the same person who published the words ‘fantastic work, well done Angus.
“It’s A or B. It could be both, this is true.”
Tony Burke says the Angus Taylor issue is the “most clear cut example I have ever seen” of a member misleading the House.
“There are very few standards these days that ministers actually get held to – and the last one is the minister does not mislead the House,” Burke said in parliament.
He is basing this on Taylor’s claim that the document was drawn “directly” from the City of Sydney website which, based on metadata, showed had not altered the report since it was loaded in November 2018.
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Labor attempts to suspend standing orders over Angus Taylor
Tony Burke is attempting to move a motion to suspend standing orders over Angus Taylor:
That the House:
- notes that:
- on the evening of 23 October 2019, the Guardian reported the Minister for Emissions Reduction had used incorrect figures from the City of Sydney Annual Report 2017-18 in a letter to the Lord Mayor of Sydney;
- the next day, the Minister told the House: “The document was drawn directly from the City of Sydney’s website”;
- despite the Minister’s claim, all the evidence to date is that no such document ever existed on the website, the altered document has only ever been produced by the Minister’s office and the doctored figures have only ever been used by the Minister in his official Ministerial correspondence, including:
- City of Sydney metadata which shows the Annual Report on its website has not been altered since it was published on 27 November 2018;
- public archives which show the Annual Report published on the City of Sydney website contained the correct travel figures on 27 March, 20 April, 19 June and 24 October 2019;
- a Daily Telegraph report that “Mr Taylor’s office had sent The Daily Telegraph the altered document”; and
- the draft letter the Minister’s Department submitted to the Minister’s office contained no travel figures at all;
- deliberately misleading the Parliament is both a contempt of the Parliament and a breach of the Ministerial Standards; and
- therefore, calls on the Minister for Emissions Reduction to make a full and frank statement to the House before it rises tonight explaining how he has not deliberately misled the Parliament.
Expect more of this sort of trolling this week.
Westpac is pinged for $11bn of money laundering and possible financing of paedophiles. We cop massive fines - and under "Ensuring Integrity" laws face possible deregistration - for swearing on a building site or protesting unsafe workplaces. Perhaps it's time to rebrand ... pic.twitter.com/4bXNekUlYk
— CFMEU C&G Qld/NT (@CFMEUQNT) November 25, 2019
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The Australian Council of Trade Unions is in a full-court press urging the crossbench to block the ensuring integrity bill. At a press conference in Canberra, representatives from eight unions (but not the Construction Forestry Mining Maritime and Energy Union) explained the impact of penalties such as deregistration for breaches including unprotected industrial action.
The ACTU president, Michelle O’Neill, said it was not just the construction union in the frame, as campaigns including the nurses’ push for nurse-to-patient ratios could result in union deregistration.
She said:
The provisions in terms of deregistration are clear ... nurses, if they stopped work, and took industrial action in support of safer workplaces for nurses and for patients, then that is a breach that could lead to the whole union being shut down. To suggest that the amendments stop that is absolutely wrong ... Christian Porter and now Centre Alliance are trying to represent this bill as somehow being fair – there is nothing fair about unions being shut down for standing up for safety.
O’Neill said if the bill went through “unions will always stand up for justice and fairness” – suggesting the bill won’t be the end of all forms of unprotected industrial action. But she refused to be drawn about what the consequences would be of deregistering the CFMMEU and what the movement’s next steps would be.
She praised Jacqui Lambie and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation for continuing to engage on the bill.
Updated
One of the press gallery keepers of all knowledge has just let me know the camels are on their way as part of one man’s crusade to raise awareness of melanomas.
John Elliott has walked from Perth to Canberra with the camels.
Updated
Mike Bowers has just received a phone call saying there are camels being led across the Kings Avenue bridge looking as though they are on their way to parliament.
There’s three of them. No word on wise men, or any spotting of gold, frankincense or myrrh.
Just another week in parliament.
Updated
Peter Dutton has an update on the industry advisory group which will “help guide the development of Australia’s 2020 cyber security strategy”. Its first meeting was today:
The panel is chaired by Andrew Penn, CEO of Telstra; with Robert Mansfield, Chair of Vocus Group; Robyn Denholm, Chair of Tesla; Chris Deeble, Chief Executive of Northrop Grumman Australia and Darren Kane, Chief Security Officer NBN Co as members.
Updated
Just a few quick notes on the Trump call, via officials. Apparently the conversation was initiated by Scott Morrison, and the Australian PM conveyed his deep appreciation for the efforts of the administration in securing the release of Timothy Weeks, the professor held hostage by the Taliban.
The two leaders spoke about the bushfires, with Morrison thanking the US for sending firefighters.
Morrison also expressed support for Trump trying to end the trade dispute with China, and there was a discussion about Australian and US economies.
Updated
The Parliament House Christmas tree will be officially lit up in the marble foyer in about 15 minutes.
The beneficiaries of this year’s giving tree will be announced shortly afterwards.
Updated
Katharine Murphy tells me that Scott Morrison has just got off the phone to Donald Trump.
She’ll have some more on that for you in just a moment.
The ACTU and other unions are in town “imploring” crossbenchers to oppose the ensuring integrity bill.
As reported last week, Pauline Hanson is being coy about her vote – she is not locked in. Nor is Jacqui Lambie. The government needs at least one of those two to come over the line to pass it.
Updated
He’s baaaaccccckkkkkkk.
Jim Molan won the preselection battle to replace Arthur Sinodinos, after telling the committee he would vacate the spot at the next election.
Updated
Rex Patrick says the bill he wanted on security checks wouldn’t stop someone from being a MP but would mean the prime minister received security advice on the MPs in parliament, and could make decisions (on committees, ministries, access) from there.
The thing is, we don’t know if that already happens or not.
Here was James Paterson this morning, again talking to Sky (it’s been a busy morning) about why he doesn’t agree with the bill:
JP: I don’t agree with Rex’s proposed solution, although I agree with him we have a serious problem here. The problem with that solution is it would put our security agencies in a position of power over the federal parliament and over the ministry, and fundamentally undermine one of the core tenets of the Westminster system. The only criteria to being appointed to the cabinet is to be first elected to the parliament and second to be chosen by a prime minister. The idea that you would need a tick-off from a security agency is going down the J Edgar Hoover path and that’s not something that any Australian would be comfortable with.
Question: Can we be sure, can we be sure that there isn’t an agent of a foreign government in this place?
JP: Unless there’s evidence to suggest there is I think we can be confident that there isn’t. It would be, I don’t think we should make leaps to assume that there might be just because there’s been an attempt in this case.
Question: It’s not like you don’t have to comply with other checks on being in the executive or parliament. You have to declare about your citizenship and that can exclude you. Why isn’t this something that we should be able to investigate?
JP: That’s a constitutional requirement, which has been put there for a purpose many years ago. This would be introducing a new requirement that would be very unusual in our political system.
Question: You can’t be bankrupt either. And that’s something where you can be declared bankrupt by the ATO. That’s a non-government –
JP: Again, a constitutional requirement inserted for good reasons 100 years ago. This would be a brand new requirement for an arm of the executive government to have a say over the parliamentary wing of our democracy. I think that would be a retrograde step.
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Nek minnit.
"Do you really trust China? I don't." @PaulineHansonOz on allegations of a plot to infiltrate Australia's Parliament. @SBSNews #auspol pic.twitter.com/anHDf0vZ9F
— Pablo Viñales (@pablovinales) November 24, 2019
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Barnaby Joyce was on Sunrise this morning, talking about the Chinese story, and, well, he went places:
Well, obviously, we are seeing a very active China and, unfortunately I think, we are seeing a transition of the whole world from a Liberal rules-based place that we’ve had the benefit of for 100 or 200 or so years into one that an autocratic form of government presides and the strong will survive and the weak and naive will be crushed, and I think what we are seeing is – I don’t doubt it – that I know that the Chinese have in one way or another been trying to infiltrate our parliament, whether it be online and whether it’s by direct inducements to politicians – Sam Dastyari being noted as one.
And this is something that we’ve just got to accept and we’ve got to be strong, and we’ve got to be resolute, and we cannot be naive, and we’ve got to realise that this is the new world order we are living in. I believe Mr Zhao’s death should be investigated.
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Pauline Hanson has “no concerns” about any current member of parliament, in terms of their Chinese links. She told Sky News:
I thought we had been through all of that with Gladys Liu – you know, you can’t put a light on everyone just because of their ethnic background. Let her prove [herself] through her actions ... I am not going to ridicule her, I don’t know the truth. Let’s hope that we have the authorities that will further investigate that, if it needs further investigation, that we do know the truth, that we have not been infiltrated in our parliament.
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Comments should be opening again very soon.
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Pauline Hanson, whose “heart is with this country” is continuing to attack Bridget McKenzie over the dairy industry code of conduct.
Hanson is living her best life at the moment.
Pauline Hanson has just told Sky News she will be “taking her time” on the ensuring integrity bill.
“I am not going to be pushed or badgered or bullied or threatened by anyone - I don’t care whether it’s the government or the unions - I will make a decision that I think is right for the people of this country.
She has a few amendments of her own she wants to go through.
“I am not here to rubber stamp government legislation,” Hanson says.
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A decision is expected in the defamation case Sarah Hanson-Young brought against the former senator David Leyonhjelm this afternoon (about 3.30pm).
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Jacqui Lambie 'not supporting a repeal' of medevac, Rex Patrick says
Rex Patrick, talking to Sky News, had a little to say about Jacqui Lambie’s position on the medevac bill.
Centre Alliance have a loose coalition with Lambie, where they share information on bills they agree on (and then go their separate way on bills they don’t).
I have spoken to Jacqui, and she is not supporting a repeal of the legislation, she is considering amending the legislation. I don’t know the details of what she is proposing and I understand she is talking with the government, but it is my understanding that she is not seeking to repeal that bill.
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The bells are ringing – Jim Molan will be back in the Senate in a matter of minutes.
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Mathias Cormann was back on Sky just a few minutes ago, talking about balancing Australia’s relationship with China:
We have an important economic relationship with China. We have an important overall relationship with China.
Of course, we are interested and committed to having a constructive relationship, the best possible relationship.
But by the same token it has to be a relationship between sovereign nations and we will continue to call out any issues and deal with any issues as they arise.
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Rex Patrick is on Sky News talking about Gladys Liu. He makes it clear he is not making any allegations, but says he wants to know if the Chisholm MP has received funds from any Chinese organisations which are linked to the Chinese Communist party.
Tim Wilson was out and about early this morning, getting ahead of any Liu mention:
Obviously we are talking about the same electorate. But if anybody has any evidence to bring forward then they should do so. Otherwise to draw this specious allegation is actually outrageous, frankly, just simply because of someone’s ethnic heritage.
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Jacqui Lambie was grabbed at the Canberra airport as she arrived in the capital last night and asked about her plans for medevac.
She still hasn’t given any indication of where she is going, but she did say this (as reported by AAP):
Senator Lambie will meet with Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday to discuss amendments that could ease her concerns about dismantling the medevac regime.
The Senate crossbencher is also expected to meet with Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton.
“Anything that’s got to do with humanity is always really, really difficult to have to take a vote on, so that’s why I’m taking a little bit longer than I know that many people would have hoped,” Senator Lambie said on Sunday.
“Hopefully, over the next few days, between myself and Peter Dutton, we can get this sorted and certainly get a vote taken.”
Senator Lambie has indicated she wants to land a deal that amends the system, without giving the government the full repeal that it wants.
“I think what you’ll find with medevac is it may not look like it does today,” she said.
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The Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick has been running a bit of a crusade to have Australian politicians go through a security check before they are allowed to sit for parliament. His argument is that staffers and public servants have to go through checks before they are allowed to take up their jobs, but our MPs, who have access to a lot more information and well, access, do not.
That’s a lot to do with democracy – the Australian people elect people, so the only people who can remove them are either the Australian people, or the high court, if a MP falls foul of the constitution.
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A group of climate protesters have gathered outside Parliament House this morning.
Adam Bandt addressed the rally:
We are seeing bushfire seasons get longer which affects the ability to do things like preventative burnings. We are seeing water starting to run out and we have not invested in our firefighters and our firefighting capacity to come and match the looming climate catastrophe that is potentially around the corner this summer.
For what it is worth, Jeremy Clarkson, who has spent the best part of 30 years calling climate change a load of hooey, has recently come round – after he was forced to basically wade through part of the Mekong.
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While we are talking about an alleged Chinese plot to infiltrate the Australian parliament, there was an interesting story in the weekend Fin about Australia attempting to address China’s soft power in the region.
From the Tom McIlroy report:
Australia will loan Papua New Guinea $US300 million ($442 million) in direct budget assistance, designed to secure essential government services and rebuff financial overtures from China.
The Morrison government agreed to the loan request from PNG Prime Minister James Marape, offering immediate financial support linked to his plans for longer-term economic reforms in the struggling nation.
A deal was agreed on Friday, Minister for International Development and the Pacific Alex Hawke said.
Provided by Export Finance Australia through its national interest account, the loan will be structured to incur no cost to the Australian taxpayer or the federal budget bottom line.
There has been a lot of criticism and warnings about what the cut in Australia’s aid would mean long term for the Pacific region, in terms of China increasing its influence. It looks like the Morrison government is now working to address at least part of the issue. But without a lot of fanfare.
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Jim Chalmers also had a bit to say about the ensuring integrity bill this morning – given that the Westpac drama is still playing out.
Scott Morrison’s priorities are all wrong. He spends no time coming up with a plan for the economy and spends all of his time dividing Australians and trying to distract from the fact that since the parliament last sat unemployment’s gone up, wages growth has slowed, the retail sector is in real strife, the economy is floundering and a bank has been sprung with more bad behaviour that Scott Morrison has spent so much of his time over the last six years of this government trying to prevent from coming to light …
The government’s argument is that it’s their job to be firing union leaders. That’s the inconsistency that we’re pointing out here. In the last parliamentary sitting fortnight of the year they want to make this their primary focus. The government wants to crack down on a union which might get its paperwork wrong three times at the same time as we’ve got one of the big four banks engaged in 23m alleged breaches of the law. The government will always prioritise picking on workers and their unions over cracking down on the big banks.
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Mathias Cormann was on Sky News this morning and said it may be a little too early for the Australian government to be raising the Chinese spy plot claims with Beijing (although, of course that is happening):
Right now it’s important that we don’t get ahead of ourselves. Some allegations have been aired in the media.
We take them very seriously as a government and Asio indeed has confirmed through a statement by the director general that they’ve been made aware.
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Anthony Albanese stopped by the doors this morning. He wasn’t talking doors – instead he focused on the two bills the government hopes to pass this fortnight.
On medevac, Albanese questioned whether anything the government claimed would happen, did:
Have a look at what the government said would happen if Medevac was passed. Was that true? No is the answer. The fact is the legislation has operated smoothly. Where the minister has had objections, those objections have been upheld, by and large. And the truth is it hasn’t undermined border protection. What it’s done is just put in place a commonsense regime whereby people who need medical assistance have been able to get it.
Jacqui Lambie is the swing vote there.
And on ensuring integrity, Albanese says Labor is still working on making sure it doesn’t pass (that’s up to One Nation at this stage).
Well, look, we’ll look at all amendments. But we want to defeat this legislation because it’s bad legislation. It can’t be made better. There is, of course, a hypocrisy in the government, which has said that it would have the National Integrity Commission in place by this time now. And that hasn’t happened. So that on the one hand, they’ve been hopeless when it comes to the having a National Integrity Commission, it’s all too hard for them. But they are too busy pursuing unions. And I think there’s a fair point to be made about the hypocrisy in the government’s position.
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We’ve just had to close comments for a little bit, as we wait for the moderator changeover.
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Of course, the big concern for how the government deals with its relationship with Beijing, comes down to trade. The Fin reported last month that was now worth $117bn.
But the weekend’s allegations are going to throw a spanner in the works. We have seen it before, with thermal coal and wine – and we are likely to see it again. Australian coal has been delayed in Chinese ports, while Russia and Indonesia seem to have no problems getting their exports through.
Simon Birmingham was asked about that on ABC breakfast TV this morning as well:
Yes, there have been instances of delays in relation to thermal coal. We are around a point in time in the year where for the last two years we have seen some particular delays in relation to thermal coal and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see some again this year.
That is a pattern that relates more to domestic matters in China and restrictions they’re facing overall in terms of imports around this time of year.
OK, but really?
When we look at the pattern around the same time of year, each year, for if it happens again this year, the third year in a row then I think we can say that there are certain, we will call them uniquely market factors that are more government influence occurring and they are not directly targeting Australia in that case, but there are other concerns which we have raised in terms of the lack of processing in relation to applications by Australian beef abattoirs and processors, a lack of processing of their applications for new permits into China: that comes with at a time when we have seen record volumes and value of Australian meat and beef exports into China.
So it is not holding back the amount that’s going in, but there are administrative bugbears that we have raised directly with Chinese authorities and indeed in relation to our barley growers.
We continue to be frustrated by the fact that there is an anti-dumping investigation into Australian barley going into China which we think has no basis and which, whilst we respect China’s right to conduct the investigation, we urge for its conclusion as quickly as possible because it is very important, not just for our barley producers, but for Chinese businesses who rely upon Australian products.
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On the domestic front, there is also a little bit on.
The government is hoping to get medevac repealed and also get One Nation across the line for its “ensuring integrity” bill, which would put in place mechanisms to be able to de-register unions and union officials. Stay tuned on that one.
But Labor is also looking to continue its prosecution of Angus Taylor after the Guardian’s reporting on what has become known as the “doctored documents” saga.
You can read about that here.
There is of course, the Grasslands issue as well.I recommend this podcast.
Angus Taylor and a series of incredible coincidences – Full Story podcast https://t.co/NqfwaQ6pdV
— Guardian Australia (@GuardianAus) November 24, 2019
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Simon Birmingham was sent out by the Coalition to talk about it this morning. Here’s what he had to tell the ABC:
What we have sought to do as a government and again this is what Australians care about, is what we do as a government in response to the threats we face.
Our intelligence agencies have publicly revealed before that there is an unprecedented level of foreign interference and activity that they see.
Not just from one country, but indeed, a range of different actions and activities that we have to counter.
That’s why as a government over the years, we have provided those agencies with more resourcing.
We have brought new laws to the parliament to establish the type of protections and frameworks around foreign influence and interference that are necessary and that we have put in place greater protections in terms of certain areas of foreign investment as well.
So, it is critical to know that we’ve taken the steps necessary to date to provide the protection and I am confident that Australia’s democracy is as robust as ever, but also is vibrant and is driven very much by grassroots members of political organisations in Australia engaging in those political activities and we should also note that they come from all walks of life and that it is important on a day like today when we’re talking about these matters of people or other nations that we do welcome new Australians and their involvement in our democracy according to the established values of that democracy.
Birmingham was the Coalition’s main spokesman during the election campaign, and he has never really been able to relinquish that role. Under Malcolm Turnbull, the job belonged to Mathias Cormann. The finance minister does still get out and about a bit – but nowhere near as much as he used to.
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The Liberal MP who heads parliament’s intelligence and security committee, Andrew Hastie, was featured on the 60 Minutes program last night. He has previously warned of Chinese interference, and has been public about it.
He had this to say about the allegations:
[It is] like something out of a spy novel happening in Melbourne with impunity and very, very concerning.
This isn’t just cash in a bag, you know, given for favours. This is a state-sponsored attempt to infiltrate our parliament using an Australian citizen and basically run them as an agent of foreign influence in our democratic system. So this is really significant and Australians should be very, very concerned about this.”
Hastie was part of an Australian delegation which was meant to travel to China – it was cancelled before they even got to the airport. His stance on this issue has previously caused splits within the Liberal party room, with Mathias Cormann having chastened him, but I would think that today Hastie will have a few knowing looks to throw Cormann’s way.
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Honestly, it is all anyone wants to talk about today, and understandably. Richard Marles says Labor has requested a briefing on the allegations:
Well, obviously, these are very concerning allegations that have been made. The fact that we’ve now seen a very rare statement from Asio in the aftermath of that adds to the concern that, I think, we would all feel in relation to this. Anthony Albanese has sought a briefing from our agencies as soon as possible but it’s really important that we’re now hearing from the government, from the prime minister, from the relevant ministers about this matter as soon as possible.
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Good morning
Well. That was quite the weekend, wasn’t it?!
It is not hyperbole to say that those within Parliament House have been pretty well rocked by confirmation Australia’s spy agency is “actively investigating” claims China attempted to install a spy into the parliament.
The director general of security casually dropped this tweet late last night:
Here’s a statement I’ve just issued https://t.co/qXyg3Q39DB
— Mike Burgess (@MikePBurgess) November 24, 2019
And what did that statement say?
The reporting on Nine’s 60 Minutes contains allegations that Asio takes seriously.
As the director general of security, I am committed to protecting Australia’s democracy and sovereignty.
Australians can be reassured that Asio was previously aware of matters that have been reported today, and has been actively investigating them.
However, in accordance with long-standing practice, I will not comment on this particular operational matter, including any detail of the individuals involved. Given that the matter in question is subject to a coronial inquiry, and as not to prejudice our investigations, it would be inappropriate to comment further.
Hostile foreign intelligence activity continues to pose a real threat to our nation and its security.
Asio will continue to confront and counter foreign interference and espionage in Australia.
That is quite extraordinary. Not only did Asio feel the need to issue a statement on the Nine story, it also confirmed it has been aware of it, and is investigating it. For Australia’s notoriously secretive security agency, that is quite the step.
It all relates to this story from Nine newspapers and 60 Minutes:
Australian authorities are investigating claims that a Chinese espionage ring tried to install an agent for Beijing in a seat in federal parliament.
Sources with knowledge of the alleged plot believe the suspected Chinese intelligence group offered a million dollars to pay for the political campaign of Liberal party member and Melbourne luxury car dealer Bo “Nick” Zhao, 32, to run for an eastern suburbs seat. The plot appears to be part of an operation to place a Chinese agent in parliament.
Zhao was found dead in a Mount Waverley motel room in March. Local police have not been able to conclude how he died, making his death the subject of a coronial investigation.
Of course, that story came on top of the news that a man, who says he worked for Chinese intelligence, has defected to Australia. Wang Liqiang has applied for asylum in Australia after he admitted he had been personally involved with Chinese espionage activities, including political interference operations within the region. Beijing has denied his claims, and says he is a convicted fraudster. Our agencies are taking him seriously.
And with that backdrop, we start the final two weeks of parliament. Mike Bowers is out and about, and you’ll have the full Canberra contingent along for the ride as well. Plus the rest of the Guardian brains trust. There is not enough coffee in the world for me today, but you know, small potatoes.
Ready?
Let’s get into it.
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