“With due respect, there will be a spill, and I will be standing. The prime minister talks about the quiet Australians, our job is to represent the near invisible Australians,” Barnaby Joyce says.
“... We’ve got to make sure that we are not a shadow of another party, that we speak with our own voice.”
Looks like he was caught just outside the parliament for that one. So, once again – the spill is on. Joyce isn’t saying if he has the numbers, but he is not not saying that either.
This is new territory for the Nationals – they do not usually do their leadership spills this way. So stay tuned.
We’ll see you tomorrow, bright and early.
Updated
Barnaby Joyce says he will contest Nationals leadership
Wait – just a quick addendum – Barnaby Joyce is on Sky News.
He says he has told Michael McCormack he will be challenging tomorrow – he phoned him this afternoon to let him know.
The spill will be moved and seconded.
He says his pitch to his colleagues is the Nationals need to “survive and thrive” as a party.
“We are under threat from all sides,” he says.
On the numbers, Joyce won’t say what he thinks his chances are.
“But this is serious,” he says.
Updated
And on that note, we are going to wrap up the blog for this evening – don’t worry though, we will be back tomorrow morning bright and early, ready to cover whatever else this messy diva of a 2020 parliamentary year decides to throw at us.
Just a reminder – it is not even day one yet. That’s tomorrow. And yet we have two leadership spills on our hands. What a great start to the year of the rat.
So while we take a breath ahead of that – a very big thank you to Mike Bowers, who is still out there working, and to Katharine Murphy, Sarah Martin and Paul Karp and the rest of the Guardian brains trust for all they do and continue to do.
I’ll also be back bright and early tomorrow morning to cover all the insanity.
Thanks for joining us today. We hope to see you again. In the meantime – take care of you.
Updated
Who could second the spill?
Well, George Christensen is the obvious candidate.
Not that he would tell us. But he has been very quiet today.
David Littleproud has also been quiet, and it is not exactly a secret that he hasn’t had the easiest time of it under Michael McCormack’s leadership – he lost agriculture, and was effectively sidelined, until the bushfires happened.
Don’t rule out David Gillespie, who didn’t give what you would call a glowing recommendation of McCormack today. And Bridget McKenzie herself could be a dark horse.
Updated
Right, so I have confirmed Lucy Barbour’s report (not that she is ever wrong, but journalism rules are rules) and yes, there will be a spill called tomorrow. Llew O’Brien says he will call on the spill.
Allegedly, there is a seconder, but he won’t say who.
Which, if that stands up, means Michael McCormack’s position will be thrown open. Barnaby Joyce will be putting his hand up.
It is always, always the Queenslanders.
Nationals may spill leader's position
It was always going to be Llew. Someone still has to second it though.
And then the numbers get laid bare.
#BREAKING Nationals backbencher Llew O’Brien is expected to move a motion to spill the leadership of the National party. Party room meeting is tomorrow. @politicsabc #auspol @abcnews
— lucy barbour (@lucybarbour) February 3, 2020
Updated
Just reading over the chief Nationals whip Damian Drum’s interview with Patricia Karvelas again – really enjoying hearing a Coalition MP argue against merit. Given that, you know, it is allegedly the only thing taken into account in preselections and ministerial spots.
Updated
Flying into Canberra ... pic.twitter.com/msFTAIoAyd
— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) February 3, 2020
Streem, a media monitoring company, have taken a look at recognition of Greens MPs ahead of the party’s leadership vote tomorrow – Adam Bandt, the frontrunner for the job, is also the best-known MP.
Updated
Sports grants used to 'maximise the Coalition's performance' at the last election, Nationals MP says
And just in case it wasn’t clear the first two times, Damian Drum has a third go of explaining how the sports grants program was biased towards seats the Coalition wanted to win, while chatting to the ABC:
It might have been used, you may be right, it may have been used not so much marginal seats but trying to maximise the performance at the last election. If Bridget did that ... she’s probably guilty of making the same mistake, that every government has made ever since the federation has been enacted.
And, as I said in earlier interviews, I was in the Victorian government and the Victorian parliament for 14 years. We now know in Victoria, we have had Labor party who have been spending their money recklessly in only Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong, calling that regional investment.
Updated
Damian Drum once again admits the sports grants program was pork barrelling:
Firstly, I think Bridget has done a fantastic job. She has been criticised for her role as sports minister, fair enough, she has borne the brunt of using I suppose ministerial discretion to the maximum, she has been criticised fiercely for that …
Bridget has been seen to not have her ministerial details up to scratch. The fact she was a member of a shooting club, didn’t disclose that on time. Used to discretion probably too much. She has borne the brunt and taken the cost of all of that, she has paid a very heavy price.
A very smart hard-working and tenacious minister has paid the ultimate price*. She will go to the backbench for doing that. I think, you would acknowledge, that worse things have happened that have been swept under carpets.
* Let’s just calm our farms here. She hasn’t died in service of her country. She’s been sent to the backbench for a bit.
Updated
And then we get some more on that, after Patricia Karvelas asks Damian Drum to expand:
Because a bureaucrat doesn’t understand the communities.
A bureaucrat doesn’t understand one particular project may have an enormous amount of community in-kind support, a minister who has been there on site would understand that.
I have been in this position as sports minister for the state of Victoria; I’ve seen the differences from projects to other projects. We may have a project that is from a very high, affluent community up against, that might rank well in terms of usage and patronage and cash they have available to contribute but they may not be as worthy as a smaller community with tremendous support.
It will have all these volunteers and club members put their own hard work into it and hard-earned money into a project. It’s only a minister that can have that wideness of knowledge.
Updated
Damian Drum:
We want a government that has ministers that lead their departments. We don’t want to have a government where a department, faceless bureaucrats, lead the ministers.
Damian Drum says no one will call a spill for the Nationals leadership tomorrow because he knows that Michael McCormack has “very strong support”.
But he hasn’t made “a single phone call”.
He just knows.
Updated
The Coalition has gotten itself in a spot of bother by politicising grant schemes. So it was a bit of a surprise to see Alan Tudge, the population minister, just tweet out a promo for a multicultural grants scheme with the Liberal party’s logo plastered all over it.
That would, of course, be a grant scheme funded by commonwealth money, not the Liberal party’s money.
More young Australians will have the opportunity to learn another language under the Morrison Government’s $10m community languages grants program. The second stream of funding is now open to applications. More here 👉 https://t.co/nGFxBd70Sx pic.twitter.com/4IrephUgy2
— Alan Tudge (@AlanTudgeMP) February 3, 2020
Thankfully, keen-eyed Twitter users have taken him to task.
So I presume this is Liberal Party money n'est-ce pas? Not, like, Federal Government money? If not, get your logo off this at once and put the Federal Government logo in its place, or have you learnt nothing from #sportsrorts? #AuspolSoCorrupt
— Grumpy Old Lady (@Diane_in_SA) February 3, 2020
Updated
Damian Drum will be on Afternoon Briefing on the ABC this afternoon.
Drum, for those who are asking, is a longtime Nationals MP who has a habit of loudly talking about the way things should be. He’s also the party whip.
Updated
The prime minister and opposition leader are both headed to the War Memorial for the traditional Last Post ceremony before parliament begins.
Tomorrow morning they will both head to church. Tuesday will be entirely dedicated to the bushfires, so we won’t have parliament, parliament, until Wednesday.
Updated
Michelle Landry on why we are talking about Michael McCormack being replaced (AGAIN) to the ABC:
Politics is a very volatile business and people always want positions of leadership. That’s what it’s about, it’s about other people wanting positions of leadership.
If there’s a spill tomorrow – and I don’t believe there will be –it’s up to the party room to decide who they want as their leader.
At this stage the only position that is open is for the deputy leader and I believe that’s how it should remain.
And what (other than developing a personality) could McCormack do to calm down the agitators?
Look, I think they probably want him to be out in the media spotlight more. Michael is certainly out there quite a bit but I think that he probably needs to talk to the agitators, to see what they actually expect of him.
Probably just that he does his job, but I am not a Nationals MP, so what do I know.
Updated
I spoke to the Australian Medical Association, Equality Australia and the Australian Human Rights Commission last week about the second draft of the religious discrimination bill. Many of their concerns aired about the first bill remain, and in some respects the new bill is worse.
Today the Australian Industry Group has reiterated its concerns. According to the chief executive, Innes Willox: “Significant aspects of the bill are problematic for Australian employers and workplaces.”
He said:
The second exposure draft ... would still impose unreasonable restrictions on businesses and would give employees a very wide ability to argue that they should not have to comply with reasonable company policies.
Businesses’ main concern is the statement of religious belief provisions in subsection 8(3) – the so-called Israel Folau clause that bans employers from setting codes of conduct that would restrict employees’ religious speech unless it is necessary “to avoid unjustifiable financial hardship”.
Willox warned the provision would likely:
- “Unfairly restrict the legitimate and necessary operating policies and procedures of businesses, including in circumstances where such policies are needed to manage obligations under current employment laws”;
- “Reduce tolerance for religious diversity in workplaces by protecting a broad range of statements of belief about religion and/or other religions, including statements that cause offence”; and
- “Lead to increased workplace grievances that are unable to be resolved by employers, but which nonetheless impact an employer’s business”.
Employers want the provision removed, or a new defence for complying with existing laws (such as workplace health and safety laws requiring a safe workplace).
Updated
Michelle Landry is now on the ABC. We are really ticking the Nationals off today (still haven’t heard from David Littleproud though – probably because he’s busy making phone calls).
Landry is asked whether she believes there will be a spill tomorrow for the leadership position.
Look, not from what I’m hearing. I don’t believe so. I believe that the only position that is vacant is the deputy position.
Asked if she will vote for a spill, if it comes up – she says no.
I would vote against it. I believe that Michael McCormack is doing a very good job. I mean, every leader is different in how they do things. And Michael certainly is out there working his butt off right across this country and I think we’re just focused on that deputy position andI don’t believe there should be a spill tomorrow.
Updated
Darren Chester’s whole quote after being asked whether Michael McCormack’s position is safe:
Absolutely. There is no vacancy and this is not how the National party does business anyway.
The trigger against the National party leadership is the election. We had an election, we did very well, we held on to all our lower house seats. Michael continued in the leadership role and he has my strong support and I think he has the overwhelming support of the party room.
We don’t – we don’t – do it this way we have trigger events being elections, we don’t try to roll people halfway through a term.
He is doing a very difficult job very very well. I know he doesn’t get a lot of credit for it but from from the colleagues I speak to they comfortable with the fact that worked his guts out for regional Australia and we back him, we support him, and we can get back to the issues that matter in regional Australia
Updated
And here are his portraits of Bridget McKenzie.
Updated
Mike Bowers has been very busy today.
Updated
Adelaide’s InDaily has written up an interesting story on the factional fallout from Cory Bernardi’s resignation from the Senate – he had won the seat as a Liberal, so it reverted back to the party when he quit, even though he was an independent. (Thanks to Sarah Martin for the tip.)
The state Liberals’ conservative faction could be set to formally splinter amid rancour from the weekend’s “epic defeat” for the party’s hard Right, which saw moderate-backed MLC Andrew McLachlan snatch an emphatic win in the race for Cory Bernardi’s vacated senate seat ...
“But the bloodletting is set to continue, spilling over into the forthcoming contest for the SA Liberals’ state Upper House ticket, with nominations to close on Wednesday this week.
The senate race opened deep divisions within the party, with one senior source declaring the result an “epic defeat for the hard Right”, who “massively overreached” in their push to install Morry Bailes as their candidate.
The defeat was made more bitter coming just months after the Right effectively won control of the state party, winning every vice-presidential position at last year’s Liberal AGM – with Bailes at the top of the ticket.
You can read more here.
(Side note: InDaily is setting up in Queensland and the reporter roster looks excellent, so keep an eye out for that.)
Updated
“One person’s pork barrel is another person’s legitimate project,” says Darren Chester, who saw a roller derby application, which was rated as 98% eligible for a grant by Sports Australia, miss out under the grants issued by Bridget McKenzie, in his own electorate.
Michael McCormack 'absolutely' safe, Darren Chester says
Darren Chester also says that Micheal McCormack is “absolutely” safe as the Nationals leader.
Chester says it is a “myth” that McCormack isn’t advocating strongly enough for the party.
Updated
Darren Chester says he won’t be going for the deputy leadership.
Which all but sews it up for David Littleproud.
Now we have Darren Chester popping up on Sky News.
If you’re a Nat who hasn’t appeared on TV today, you’re doing it wrong.
Come on, guys. You only get these spills once, twice, maybe five times a year. Take your shot, peeps.
Updated
Damian Drum thinks that all the Nationals problems have been driven by the media – Barnaby Joyce included.
I think this one has been largely driven by media. I think Barnaby Joyce, you know, his problem was largely driven by media.
But that’s OK. We all understand the rules.
And when the media has fixated on a particular minister … all’s fair in love and war.
Updated
On whether or not Damian Drum thinks it is OK, given that he just said it happens and both sides do it, the Victorian MP says:
It’s a really tough one. And it’s not right. It’s not right that we have government bias in spending.
But it’s such a hardened part of the political landscape. It’s a bit rich for you to all of a sudden, to just pick this one grand scheme, this one grant program and effectively go after Bridget the way you did.
I understand why. And I understand there was a scathing report.
I just find it a little bit hypocritical, when we forget about everything else ... The media seem to think it’s OK for the Labor party to, you know, just squirrel money into the projects in its electorates, and thinks it’s not OK for the Coalition to do the same, or [give] a fraction, an absolute fraction of those pennies.
Updated
'I don't think bias in government spending is anything new', Nationals MP says
Damian Drum goes on to say that he doesn’t see a problem with how the grants were awarded either, and gives us an actual honest answer on what the program was about.
I don’t think bias in government spending is anything new.
So where has been the media’s frenzy on the state Labor party in Victoria, just with its incredible bias towards its own seats? ...
So why do you all of a sudden pick one area of government spending and go crazy about it – the three weeks – when it goes on every day, in every state jurisdiction, for ever and eternity? So why do you pick this one? ...
All I am saying is this is a standard practice of government. And it’s been going on for [as long as] I’ve been parliament, for 20 years, [in] state and federal parliaments – and it makes you sick when you see a Labor party just refuse to spend money in regional Australia, but you put up with it and you know it, you know, it’s so, so true.
And so much a part of everyday politics. The Labor party in Victoria refused to spend money in the regions unless they have members in those seats. So you put up with it and it goes the other way, a little bit the other way, and the media go crazy.
Updated
Damian Drum also doesn’t believe Bridget McKenzie did anything wrong.
In fact, she thinks she resigned because of the media.
I think you guys had a bit more to do with that than Bridget being a member of a shooting club. There was an unbelievable frenzy by the media to go after Bridget.
On the point that the auditor general criticised the program:
The most important aspect about all of this is that the minimum ministers must be accountable for their decisions, not bureaucrats, not departmental people.
And in this case, not Sport Australia. It’s up to the minister to make the final decisions. She made those decisions, she’s accountable for them. And she should be held to account for all the decisions that were made. Did she do anything wrong? In my opinion, not really.
(The auditor general has questioned whether or not McKenzie did have the legal authority to make those decisions.)
Updated
Damian Drum on Barnaby Joyce running for the National party leadership:
Well, I don’t think Barnaby would do that, if he doesn’t have the numbers and I don’t think he has the numbers, so I don’t think it will happen. That’s as straight up and as long as I can be.
I think there’s so much support in the room for Michael [McCormack]. I think that that position just will … that won’t be an issue.
The National party has a fantastic role to play within regional Australia and we need to replace Bridget now. Find the best deputy. You know, put the best people in cabinet and make sure that the Liberals, and regional Australia, know who’s out there supporting regional Australia.
Is Joyce a destabilising presence?
I don’t think so. I mean, I love Barnaby. I think he’s such an amazing asset for the Nationals, and such an amazing asset for regional Australia. So, you know, he has aspirations for the top job.[But] the top job’s not available at the moment, because we’ve got a fantastic leader in that position at the moment.
So it’s a little bit like watching Mum and Dad have a fight. So you’d rather not go for one, but that’s the way it is.
Updated
Thanks to our friends at SBS, we have just listened to that whole interview Damian Drum gave at the airport and oh boy.
I’ll bring you some excerpts as soon as I finish transcribing/retrieving my eyeballs from where they have rolled down the hallway.
Updated
Excuse the small break in posts there – I was having slight internet problems.
Back on deck now.
Updated
Speaking to Sky News, the constitutional expert Anne Twomey says it is a “complete mystery how the commonwealth has come to this conclusion” in regards to there being a broad executive power to direct a corporate entity (in this case, Sports Australia).
Updated
Labor requests auditor general 'take thorough look' at infrastructure grants program
Catherine King has released a statement on her request to the auditor general.
She says she asked for the audit after Channel Nine reported that 156 of 166 projects which received grants under round three of the building better regions infrastructure fund were Coalition seats or Coalition-targeted seats.
Michael McCormack’s cash splash saw $185 million funnelled into projects to support Coalition MPs or candidates at the election out of a possible $197 million.
Coalition seats or Coalition targets received 94 percent of projects and 94 percent of funds.
Only 10 projects were awarded to five safe Labor or Independent seats, worth $12 million.
23 eligible regional and outer-urban seats held by the Labor Party at the election missed out completely. 13 eligible Coalition seats and one eligible Independent seat failed to secure a project …
I have asked the auditor general to take a thorough look at what clearly appears to be another Morrison government rort. The auditor general indicated he will consider an audit as a part of his 2020-21 work plan.
Updated
Labor wants the auditor general to take a look at another Coalition grants program.
There isn’t a publicly funded grants program Scott Morrison won’t use for his own political purposes.
— Catherine King MP (@CatherineKingMP) February 3, 2020
94% of projects comprising 94% of funds went to Coalition seats or Coalition targets.
I’ve asked the Auditor-General to take a thorough look.#auspol https://t.co/Cw4aV8pS63
Updated
Can’t decide if they are investigating Angus Taylor yet or not, but can make jokes about the Super Bowl half-time show:
Currently investigating...@JLo and @shakira’s anti-aging secrets #HalftimeShow #SuperBowlLIV 🔎🏈
— AFP (@AusFedPolice) February 3, 2020
I can answer this one for them – it’s not in their jurisdiction.
Updated
For the record, it is still very unclear over whether or not Bridget McKenzie had the legal authority to make the decisions she did. We’ve been told that it has been fine – but in reports and advice no one is allowed to see in full.
You may remember that Christian Porter once tried to give the solicitor general’s legal advice to the parliament without tabling it – he said the legal advice was the medevac bill was unconstitutional. Tony Smith made him table it and the whole advice found that, yes, there was an element of the bill which was unconstitutional (because it originated in the Senate, the pay for the independent health panel wasn’t allowed) but that there was an easy fix. Just take out the bit about renumeration. Which was done.
Which is why a lot of people want to see the whole report and the whole advice. It’s like if I read out the parts of my report cards which said how much potential I had, without reading the next part about being easily distracted and a distraction to others.
Updated
Bridget McKenzie leaves after this exchange:
Q: Do you think there are others in the government who need to take responsibility for their role in this scheme?
McKenzie: I’m the minister responsible. That’s what the Westminster system is all about. I had ministerial discretion. It was used appropriately.
Q: The prime minister wasn’t involved?
McKenzie: We have 684 programs funded across the country delivering great results.
Updated
Bridget McKenzie says she is 'very proud' of sports grants program
Bridget McKenzie on her resignation:
I took that step because I accept that my failure to declare my membership to certain sports shooting clubs in a timely manner constituted a breach of the ministerial standards and that is something I take very, very seriously.
I do not accept that those memberships were a conflict of interest, I received no personal benefit, they did not inform my decision making at all.
I am very proud of a program by this government to fund 684 local sports clubs around the country to get Australians more active, and it was a good thing.
The Prime Minister and Cabinet’s report confirms that ministerial discretion was exercised in an appropriate manner, that there was no political bias in my decision making.
It’s been an immense honour and privilege to have served the Australian people as a National party minister in two Coalition governments.
To have been part of a leadership team that delivered a surprising and iconic victory last May, and an immense honour to be our nation’s very first female agriculture minister.
A lot of unfinished work there and I hope I won’t be the last. Nearly a decade ago I came into the Senate to serve the needs and interests of rural and regional Australians, to champion them, in parliament, and to make a difference to their life. I plan to continue to do that.
Updated
And she’s out. Bridget McKenzie walks away after three or so questions.
On the issue of Barnaby Joyce, Bridget McKenzie says she won’t talk to the media about any potential spill of the leadership.
Updated
Bridget McKenzie is now speaking.
She says she accepts that her failure to declare her membership to “certain” sporting clubs in a timely matter was something she should have done, and she therefore resigned.
But she does not accept that there was a conflict of interest.
On the sports grant program, she says it was “a good thing” because clubs were funded.
McKenzie calls the Coalition’s win last May “surprising and iconic”.
Beyoncé is iconic. Winning an election – less so.
Updated
Because 2020 has seemingly decided that it wants to rival 2019 for bizarre and unnecessary actions, Joe Hockey is topless on Instagram, giving an update on the Iowa caucus from an Australian beach.
Updated
And then ...
I have consistently supported Greens members having a democratic say in our party leadership and called for co-leaders.
— Mehreen Faruqi (@MehreenFaruqi) February 3, 2020
Selecting our new leader is a great opportunity to democratically involve members in the process. The party should be doing just that for this ballot.
Updated
I can confirm I will not be contesting the Leadership. Adam is the right person to lead us. https://t.co/SurPyNrg95
— Nick McKim (@NickMcKim) February 3, 2020
Adam Bandt confirms he will be standing for the Greens leadership.
I will be standing for Greens Leader.
— Adam Bandt (@AdamBandt) February 3, 2020
Thank you Richard for your leadership and service to Aust.
I look forward to talking with my colleagues about how we share leadership across the House & Senate as we fight the climate emergency and inequality with a Green New Deal.
Updated
Marise Payne says the government has been able to assist 243 Australians who were in Wuhan, where the coronavirus is believed to have originated.
Bridget McKenzie will now make a statement at 12.30.
Because you know, the Nationals had just moved off the national media stage, so why not.
Marise Payne, the foreign minister, will hold a press conference at 12.15.
She will be updating on the coronavirus situation.
Updated
A spokesperson tells me Clive Palmer's $8.2 million debt to Google in mid-2019 was "paid in full as per Google's terms and conditions". Other parties owed Google/Facebook, but for **much** less $$ https://t.co/1lFHmteiwD pic.twitter.com/0ZNbgrxGBV
— Ariel Bogle (@arielbogle) February 3, 2020
There are rumours of a co-leader scenario for the Greens moving forward (I mean, hey – the Brisbane Lions did it) but we will all find out by tomorrow.
Co-Leaders - Mehreen in the Senate & Bandt in the Reps.
— Andrew Bartlett (@AndrewBartlett) February 3, 2020
(I also feel it’s hard for the party to convince people it’s serious about making major inroads into the Reps if they don’t have a Leader there)
Updated
Richard Di Natale:
I’ve been in this gig 10 years, I’ve seen half a dozen prime ministers come and go, I’ve seen political chaos and turmoil all around us.
We had our challenges but we have been the most stable and enduring political force in our parliament and we are growing.
We are going from strength to strength and I feel very confident in my future for the Greens.
It’s going to be a decision to the party room. It’s probably worth me letting you know. We have a party meeting in 24 hours so we expect there will be a ballot on who nominates tomorrow morning.
As for me, look, [I won’t] hang around the parliament [like a bad smell]. I can’t believe we have some of these jokers hanging around causing problems for future leaders the best thing you can do once you’ve made a decision to resign is to leave your phone number with the person who follows you and let them know you are always there, should they need your advice but only if they want your advice.
So I’m going to resign as a senator, once my replacement is chosen, and I expect that will happen at some point towards the middle of the year.
Updated
Richard Di Natale is saying thank you to his party’s supporters but that it is time for him to move on.
Adam Bandt is expected to put up his hand for the Greens leadership later today #auspol
— Katharine Murphy (@murpharoo) February 3, 2020
Updated
For some reason, that will most likely never become clear, Malcolm Roberts is hosting a movie premiere in Parliament House at the end of the month:
Senator Malcolm Roberts invites you to the AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE of Dark Waters
Date: Wed 26 Feb 2020
Time: 7.30pm
Location: APH Theatre
Dark Waters is based on this article.
Updated
Well if Damian Drum doesn’t think Bridget McKenzie did anything wrong, obviously everything is completely hunky dory and what are we even doing here?
Mr Drum blames the media for targeting Bridget McKenzie - “did she do anything wrong? In my opinion,no”
— Trudy McIntosh (@TrudyMcIntosh) February 3, 2020
The Australian Conservation Foundation has done some number crunching on the AEC disclosures and found:
The fossil fuel industry directly donated more than $85.7m to Australian political parties in the 2018-19 financial year, highlighting the need for serious reform of the political donations system.
The political party returns for 2018-19, released today, reveal:
- The biggest fossil fuel donor was Clive Palmer’s Mineralogy, which donated $83,681,442 to Palmer’s United Australia party.
- The biggest donor to the major parties was the gas company Woodside, which donated $135,400 to Labor and 147,940 to the Liberal-National Coalition.
- The fossil fuel industry in total donated $85,719,747 to Australian political parties. Excluding donations to the United Australia party, fossil fuel industry donations totalled $1,894,024.
- The top three fossil fuel industry donors, excluding Clive Palmer-linked companies, were Woodside, Adani (through Adani Mining and the Carmichael Rail Network Trust) and the gas industry lobby group Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA). These donated a total of $692,299.
Which party was the big fossil fuel winner?
- The Coalition received the most from fossil fuel industries, receiving a total of $1,147,376.
- Labor received $725,448 in donations from fossil fuel industries.
- Woodside was the largest fossil fuel donor to the Liberal party, donating $137,750.
- Woodside was the largest fossil fuel donor to Labor, donating $135,400.
- Adani (through Adani Mining and the Carmichael Rail Network Trust) was the biggest donor to the Nationals, donating $121,800.
Updated
And Labor won’t be dropping the sports grants saga either. On whether the Phil Gaetjens report should be released, Anthony Albanese says:
Of course they should release the Gaetjens report. Once again this government pretends it has precedents that it just ignores. Whether it is a precedent about notifying who’s actually running the country as acting prime minister, whether it’s a precedent that they had two positions on yesterday morning in an hour over whether people would have to pay for the flight from Wuhan, or whether it be this precedent. It’s very clear that there needs to be the report released.
Because it’s just a farce. The existing provisions for grants mean that when there is a change and ministerial intervention, they have to notify the reasons to the Department of Finance.
They have to go through various procedures of transparency that are there now that have been ignored. Phil Gaetjens, if he doesn’t know that, then I don’t know how he has got the job as the head of Prime Minister and Cabinet. It’s quite farcical, this whole exercise.
Updated
Anthony Albanese held a press conference in the midst of all that. He had a few things to say about Barnaby Joyce’s hope of political reincarnation:
Look, this is a Coalition that’s in chaos. They have no plan for the economy. They had no plan to deal with the bushfire crisis. They have a plan just about themselves. And that’s what the sports rorts saga showed. All about themselves, not about the national interest. And the idea that they are contemplating bringing Barnaby Joyce back as the deputy prime minister just shows how low they have sunk.
They have a choice between various people who’ve been discredited in the past but then again, you’ve had Stuart Robert brought back, you’ve had Sussan Ley brought back and, of course, Bridget McKenzie, I’m sure has been given a nod and a wink.
If she goes quietly, she’ll be brought back sometime in the future.
So, it’s quite bizarre that Barnaby Joyce could be considered to be a future deputy prime minister as well as one who’s a past deputy prime minister.
Can I say that, as a former deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce’s presence there has devalued the currency. And I don’t want to see that happen again.
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And Richard Di Natale’s statement:
It has been a privilege and an honour to lead the Australian Greens in the federal parliament for the past four years, fighting every day for the values that millions of Australians care so deeply about.
But leading a political party is a tough, demanding job so after nearly a decade as a senator – half that time as leader – I have decided to step aside as parliamentary leader of the Australian Greens.
Before I became one of them, I thought that politicians who said they want to ‘spend more time with their family’ were guilty of using one of the biggest cliches in politics. As it turns out, in some cases it’s true. My boys are nine and 11 years old and they have only ever known their dad as a busy, tired and sometimes grumpy politician. As they grow up quickly to become young men, I want to spend more time by their side than a relentless political schedule allows.
Looking back on the last decade in parliament, there are so many things I am proud of. The carbon price we negotiated in 2010 with the Gillard government, which showed what can be accomplished when political parties work together for a common goal; the much-needed royal commissions into the banking and disability sectors; and, of course, the historic vote to achieve marriage equality.
As for what comes next for the Greens, I have great confidence in the intelligence, compassion and courage of every one of my parliamentary colleagues. But the success of our party and cause has never and will never depend upon one person. Our party will succeed because we are part of a much broader community movement, a movement that is growing stronger each day.
I don’t know what comes next for me but I intend to continue to make a positive contribution to the issues about which I have been so passionate for my entire adult life: Green politics, climate change, health, issues affecting First Nations people and tackling inequality.
So many Australians are making it clear that they want urgent climate action and, as a Greens MP, I am proud to have represented them in our parliament. I will be ending my time as leader filled with optimism about the future, buoyed by the millions of young people who I marched alongside during the student climate strike in Melbourne last year.
The future of progressive politics is in the parliament and in the streets, and I am filled with confidence about the direction that each is heading.
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Richard Di Natale will hold his media conference at 11.45am in Canberra.
Here is who is attending:
Greens senator for Victoria Dr Richard Di Natale
Greens member for Melbourne Adam Bandt MP
Greens senator for Queensland Larissa Waters
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So the 2020 parliamentary year hasn’t officially started yet and we have two minor parties spilling leadership positions.
I mean, it’s been a while since we had a leadership battle, so why not have two?
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Richard Di Natale told his colleagues this morning in a surprise meeting (to more than just his colleagues) but he will stay in the Senate until his replacement is determined – and that could be months.
But the Greens leadership positions are all open.
Greens Leader @RichardDiNatale "This morning I took the incredibly difficult decision to step down as Parliamentary Leader of The Australian Greens." https://t.co/hO688c6Sw6 #auspol
— Political Alert (@political_alert) February 3, 2020
For the record, it was the SMH and Age reporter Judith Ireland who first reported that this morning.
Breaking: Richard Di Natale has resigned as Greens leader @smh @theage
— Judith Ireland (@CanberraCamper) February 3, 2020
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On the Phil Gaetjens report, which found there was no problem with the administration of the sports grants (in contradiction to the independent auditor report), David Gillespie tells Sky:
The inner workings of the PMO generally remain in PMO and I probably won’t ever see that report, but the prime minister has spoken about it.
And that’s the outcome … I think it’s important that PMO has the confidence that its discussions, deliberations, remain with them as long as … and they will release what they want to release.
But it is with regards to the [report], they will release what they want to release.
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Richard Di Natale resigns as Greens leader
We have confirmed it – but are working on getting more details for you.
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The health minister, Greg Hunt, lobbied his cabinet colleague Michael Sukkar to include gender and sexuality questions in the census – despite the assistant treasurer’s intervention to have the politically sensitive questions dumped from the census test.
In a letter to the Victorian equality minister, Martin Foley, earlier in January, Hunt revealed he had written to the assistant treasurer in support of the inclusion of questions that would “greatly inform the government’s knowledge about the LGBTI+ population cohort in Australia in the 2021 census”.
Hunt’s support for the questions is significant as it is the first sign of division at the cabinet level as to whether to ask Australians their gender and sexuality in the upcoming census.
Gender and sexuality questions were among eight potential new topics identified by consultation in 2018 and were set to be included in a census test late last year. In October Guardian Australia revealed that the Australian Bureau of Statistics had dumped the questions from the test after intervention from the assistant treasurer’s office, prompting a backlash from stakeholders including the LGBTI Health Alliance.
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Would David Gillespie support a spill motion for the leader’s position?
He tells Tom Connell, who he has just spent 10 minutes talking to, on air, about internal party matters, that he can’t talk about internal party matters.
Look, if you don’t talk about anything like that – that is quite inappropriate to be talking about anything, internal party stuff. Anything that I do in the party room stays in the party room. I am sure you would love to get a comment, but I won’t be able to comment.
Connell asks if he supports Michael McCormack.
Look, at the moment, Tom, that isn’t the conversation. The conversation is the deputy leadership position and I’ll be having plenty of conversations with my colleagues, but that will remain private.
Well, Gillespie has said he believes he is the man to get the Nationals more broadly on the national consciousness and so far he is managing quite well, but maybe not for the reasons he thinks.
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Asked flat out by Sky’s Tom Connell if he is saying that Michael McCormack hasn’t been doing a very good job, David Gillespie says:
Well look, the media space is very well known, my thoughts on this. You don’t need to be Sherlock Holmes to work out what I am saying. It is common that I have said that in the past …
At the moment, that isn’t what my conversations are at the moment. My conversations with my colleagues are about whether they would support me for the leadership role and I will continue to that.
Who would be a better leader of the National party?
That is hypothetical at the moment. Michael is our leader and the deputy leadership position is up for decision and that is what I am focusing on.
Would he support a spill of the leadership?
That is hypothetical, at the moment, Tom.
Yes it is, Dr Gillespie. It’s all hypothetical. Including your own bid for deputy leader.
But Barnaby Joyce isn’t on his agenda, he says. His agenda is solely the deputy leader. Who, you know, has to serve under a leader. And so far he has said the current leader isn’t exactly doing a bang-up job. So hypothetically, if Gillespie were the deputy leader, who would be his choice for leader?
I’d serve under any leader ... I would serve under anyone. And at the moment our leader is Michael McCormack, that is what is in front of me. And one of the strengths I bring to the role is I get on with everyone in the party room. I get on with our Liberal colleagues, who are the senior partners in our Coalition. I have a track record of being able to work with the bureaucracy and the media, which is a good compendium of skills, if you want someone in your leadership to get out there and argue the case.
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David Gillespie to Tom Connell on Sky News a little earlier:
Well, we’re all making calls and having discussions amongst ourselves which will remain private but I can say, Tom, that regional Australia is crying out for more transparent vocal representatives in the leadership role and that’s what I am very happy to do …
I have some, 18 months ago, I did speak to my leader about upping the ante in the media space and this is my opportunity to help. If I do get the nod of my colleagues I’ll try and get a much more vocal presence, not just in the building, but in the conversation around the nation.
Connell asks whether McCormack promised to be more vocal.
Gillespie:
Well, yeah, he made the commitment to do that, but the opportunity for me to step up is now, and that’s why I put my hand up.
So did McCormack fail, in Gillespie’s view, asks Connell?
Well, look, other people have been very prominent in the media, as you know.
And Michael does a lot of media in the bush. But when you’re in the leadership ... I’d still like him to do more in the national space.
People in my area want to see their leaders out about. We have been through the biggest bush crisis that we should see for generations with the bushfires. We’ve got the drought, and we have had ministers out there. But I would have taken a slightly different tack and if I was in a leadership position, being able to be a bit more prominent.
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On 30 June Clive Palmer's United Australia Party owed $8.2m to Google Australia. #auspol pic.twitter.com/1fx1JsQiT2
— Paul Karp (@Paul_Karp) February 2, 2020
David Gillespie, who is speaking to Sky purely about internal party matters – his desire for the Nationals deputy leadership – says he is not going to talk about internal party stuff when it comes to Michael McCormack’s leadership.
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David Gillespie is making his pitch for the deputy leadership of the Nationals by saying he has not been impressed by the Nationals leadership lately – and that he even had a chat to Michael McCormack about it. But he won’t say whether or not he thinks McCormack should go.
“At the moment our leader is Michael McCormack,” he tells Sky. “That is what is front of me. And one of my strengths is I get on with everyone in the party room.”
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David Gillespie is on Sky talking about why he is the best option for the Nationals deputy leadership.
The biggest scandal though, is his shirt (blue, yellow and red checked) and tie (green, yellow crosses (?)) combo.
The first sitting week of 2020 begins tomorrow, with a sitting day dedicated to a motion of condolence in relation to the recent bushfires. Read the latest edition of This Week in the House here: https://t.co/G55C5gP3A8
— Australian House of Representatives (@AboutTheHouse) February 2, 2020
Liberals received $4.1m donation from company linked to philanthropist Isaac Wakil
The Australian Electoral Commission’s donations disclosures reveal that the Liberal party received a $4.1m donation before the 2019 election, one of the largest donations in political history, dwarfing the former leader Malcolm Turnbull’s $1.75m gift before the 2016 election.
The donation was made in multiple instalments by Sugolena Pty Ltd, a company linked to the philanthropist Isaac Wakil, who made his fortune in the clothing industry and invested heavily in property around the Sydney suburb of Pyrmont.
Together with his wife, Susan, Wakil owned a property portfolio worth $200m which the couple began to sell off in 2014 to fund their charitable foundation. Susan Wakil died in 2018.
The couple’s philanthropy has included a $35m donation to the University of Sydney and $20m to the Art Gallery of New South Wales’ planned Sydney Modern wing – both the largest donations in those organisations’ history.
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Just on the “Bridget McKenzie was a great servant of regional Australia” line Michael McCormack trotted out: a reminder that the Gippsland Ranges Roller Derby – which sits in Darren Chester’s Nationals seat and scored a 98% eligibility rating for a grant from Sports Australia – missed out on its $44,909 funding request, while much lower-rated applications, in more marginal seats, were granted funds.
Why am I annoyed at that? Because the Nationals represent some of the poorest electorates in this country and money for a community project, which we know helps to band people together and keep spirits high, was diverted for purely political reasons.
Giving those clubs the money they missed out on, in another grants funding round (as has been widely hinted at by the prime minister) does not solve the problem.
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AAP has an update on the Qantas plane arriving in Wuhan to evacuate Australians:
The volunteer Qantas crew manning the Boeing 747 that will fly stranded Australians out of the Chinese city of Wuhan are ready “to get this done”, the airline’s CEO says.
More than 200 citizens and permanent residents will soon be airlifted from the epicentre of the coronavirus to the RAAF Learmonth base in Exmouth in northern Western Australia, before being taken to Christmas Island in smaller aircraft where they will be quarantined.
The Qantas plane carrying four pilots and 14 cabin crew is now on the ground in Wuhan in Hubei province in central China, after arriving early Monday morning AEDT, and is being refuelled.
“I spoke to the crew last night and through FaceTime video and they were all very keen to get this done and get the Aussies out,” Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said.
“We put in a whole series of protections for these volunteers to make sure that they are protected. The flight is on the ground in Wuhan at the moment.”
The 244 passengers will go through health checks before boarding and will wear surgical masks.
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We have people working on the disclosures to give you a more comprehensive idea – but just to confirm what we all knew – Clive Palmer’s Mineralogy company spent $89m in the last financial year.
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Anthony Albanese will be shooting the breeze at 10.30am.
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Bob Katter to step aside as Katter's Australian party leader
Bob Katter is officially handing over the leadership of his party to his son, the Queensland Katter’s Australian party MP Robbie Katter.
The media alert says the “outgoing KAP Leader and federal member for Kennedy” will speak to the media about midday.
No word on his plans for his seat – but he can’t just hand that over to his son – that’s a byelection.
Katter (the senior) had been considering his future at the last election but decided to go around one more time. The plan – whether Robbie wants it or not – is that Katter (the junior) take his place eventually – Robbie Katter has been in the Queensland parliament since the Newman government, and has been keeping the party together, so don’t be surprised if you see him wandering the halls of Canberra after the next election.
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The Australian Electoral Commission has published the donations data for the last financial year.
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For the record, one of the country’s leading constitutional experts, Anne Twomey, also has questions about what legal authority Bridget McKenzie had to make the decisions she did:
So to what extent do ministers have discretion and what are the limits on it? Ministers have discretion in directing their departments, but do not have the same ministerial discretion in directing corporate entities such as Sport Australia.
If we were being charitable to senator McKenzie (and every other minister spouting about ministerial discretion) we could say that she was confused and really thought the same rules applied to making these sporting grants as would normally apply in relation to a departmental grant program.
Perhaps somehow she was not informed that she had only limited legal powers in relation to the Sport Australia, despite it pointing this out.
But even if this was so, she must still have known and believed she was subject to the following constraints.
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And Michael McCormack says he “will believe” the report that Scott Morrison’s former chief of staff and now prime minister and cabinet departmental head (a non-political position, as opposed to chief of staff, which is a political position) handed down on the sports grants, which found that everything was just tickety-boo, hunky dory.
So not surprisingly, McCormack chooses to believe the report which found that there was no problem with the sports grants program (and which has been hidden away as confidential in-cabinet for 20 years) as opposed to the independent audit (released in full) which put question marks over it.
I will believe the PM&C report.
You will always have people who look at things in a different light.
I believe the PM&C report that has been handed down, I believe there was no bias there and what I would like to see is the sports grants have ongoing rounds of funding because then those electorates that missed out, those sporting clubs and organisations which missed out, might have better luck next time.
I know that right throughout Australia there are a lot of sports clubs which, yes, put in countless hours to ensure that their reports, their applications, were all as they should be and I have to say that every single project that was funded, round one, two and three were eligible to Sport Australia and eligible according to the department and the minister.
That is what she was faced with. Every single application was eligible and she [Bridget McKenzie] based her decision on that.
As I have said before, I am eligible to be Australian of the Year, but I won’t be, because there are many more worthy people ahead of me. I’m also eligible to be prime minister. That seems an easier bar to aim for.
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'There is no vacancy for the leadership of the National party'
Oh and no one in the National party has called Michael McCormack to say there would be a spill, so he says he is fine. But he then gives a grocery list of his “achievements” anyway, despite everything being totally fine.
The fact is there is no vacancy for the leader of the National party. We have a vacancy for the deputy of the National party. We will have a meeting and decide this decision then.
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Back to the loaf of white bread serving as our deputy prime minister, speaking about his former deputy:
She had ministerial discretion. That is important to note. I know Australians when they send members of parliament and senators to this place and when they become ministers, people in the public, particularly regional Australians, want those ministers to make decisions for it on their behalf.
They don’t want the government and ministers to outsource everything to the departments, to the bureaucracy and that is so important and critical to remember this ministers have to have overall discretion for these sort of things …
[There is] critical need in regional Australia, particularly in the sports program, for such things as women’s change rooms, women’s netball courts and the like. Shower facilities. Women have to get dressed in cars and behind trees and that sort of thing to play the sport they will.
With the growing demand for women’s sport, this has become so critically important, Bridget McKenzie saw the need to ensure that women didn’t have to put up without any facility at all or with very sloppy facilities and she made sure that she addressed that need. I thank her for the role that she’s played in that regard and I thank her for her service in the past, currently and going forward to the National party and to regional Australians in particular.
She’s been a great servant of the National party, but moreover, a great servant to regional Australians and that is what National party members of parliament do.
We represent regional Australians. We want regional Australians to know that they are our focus, not ourselves, not the Canberra bubble.
The people in regional Australia are hurting through the bushfires, the ongoing drought. We are there to serve them.
We are there to put their needs and wants and expectations first and foremost. I thank Bridget McKenzie for her service to this nation and I look forward to serving with her and the National party in the future.
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Peter Dutton decided to stop by doors this morning (when ministers deliberately enter the parliament by the doors media can access, so they can deliver whatever lines they need to).
He was asked about the Nationals and Michael McCormack:
Question: Would you be urging the Nationals against spilling both leadership positions?
Dutton:
I don’t urge other parties except for the Labor party – I offer them free advice and regularly – but not to other parties.
Q: Is Michael McCormack doing a good job?
Dutton:
Yes he is. Thanks very much.
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Michael McCormack is holding a press conference.
Allegedly about the Qantas Wuhan flight and the drought – before moving on to Bridget McKenzie.
But it really is a plea to his colleagues not to knock him off.
It’s going about as well as you would think it is.
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David Gillespie has also put his hand up for deputy position in the Nationals party room. He says you need someone who can talk to the media – like him – in the role.
That makes almost half a dozen or so in the 21-strong party room who are now going for the job.
David Littleproud
Darren Chester
Gillespie
Keith Pitt (as a maybe)
Damian Drum
On the question of Michael McCormack’s position, Gillespie wouldn’t confirm that there have been talks about bringing Barnaby Joyce back (but there have).
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I’ve checked in with the Australian federal police this morning – the force has still not decided whether or not to take up an investigation into the doctored document affair, after the NSW police referred the matter to it on 20 December.
So Angus Taylor is NOT being investigated by the AFP – it has a referral for an investigation and is deciding what to do with that referral.
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Labor’s deputy leader, Richard Marles, says the opposition still wants to set up a Senate inquiry into the awarding of sports grants.
He told the ABC:
Ultimately, we will do everything that we can in terms of working with the crossbench in order to achieve that. We need to know what is going on here. There is more than the question of Bridget McKenzie being in a gun club.
We have got a whole program with $100m, which is very clear was being distributed on the basis, not of merit, not on where the best buck could be spent in terms of community sport, but on the basis of electoral politics.
Spreadsheets which set out the margin neutrality of seats being the basis [of which] which people are getting their grants. We have got emails from the prime minister’s office. We need to understand exactly how much up to his neck in it the prime minister is in. There is a lot more which needs to come forward here.
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Oh, and it’s Groundhog Day. For reals.
(in the northern hemisphere)
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Also worth noting, as the #SportsRort scandal rolls on – there is still no timeline for any sort of federal Icac.
The government missed its own deadline late last year, and now says it’ll come when it comes.
Which, if it’s anything like the Care Bear my mother promised me when I was a child, will be about two decades from now.
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Barnaby Joyce decided that this morning was the best time to go public with his (never-abandoned) return-to-the-leadership hopes.
He told the Seven network that, if called upon by his colleagues, he would rise to the occasion.
If there is a spill then I will put my hand up.
I will leave that up to my colleagues. They can make the call.
That has made Labor’s Joel Fitzgibbon the happiest coal-supporting man in parliament – and revealed his new favourite word.
Barnaby Joyce just told us that the National party is dysfunctional and indeed hopeless. My concern is that a dysfunctional government just got a whole lot more dysfunctional.
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Good morning
Welcome back to Politics Live – although I don’t think any of us feel like we had a summer break.
The bushfire emergency, hazardous air quality (not to mention Scott Morrison’s earliest response to it all), the ongoing drought, the storms, refusal to budge on climate policy, and then the coronavirus all meant most of us spent the summer in a state of alert. It’s exhausting and it’s not over.
Also not over: the #SportsRort affair, despite how much the prime minister might want to draw a line under it.
Bridget McKenzie may be gone (for now) from the Nationals leadership team and from cabinet (but not from the Senate) but she was given one of the most glowing fall-on-your-sword farewells I have ever heard. And her resignation doesn’t do anything to answer the questions the auditor general’s report raised in the first place. Those questions were allegedly settled by the report on the matter by Morrison’s departmental head (and former chief of staff) Phil Gaetjens – but we aren’t allowed to see that for 20 years or so. So don’t you worry about that, chickens.
Meanwhile, Barnaby Joyce has decided now is as good as time as any to shoot his shot – he’s told anyone who will listen, including the public, that if Michael McCormack’s leadership position is thrown open tomorrow, when the Nats will decide on a new deputy leader, he’ll be throwing his ever-present hat into the ring.
Under the Nationals rules, just one person can call for a spill. Which means that Joyce can call on the spill himself if he so chooses.
The numbers in the Nationals party room have not shifted since Joyce was forced to step down. Which is to say, no one has the numbers. McCormack isn’t exactly what you would call a popular leader but there is no one else who can claim to be, either. So the 21-strong party room is split on ... no one.
Fun times for the country, given that under the Coalition agreement, the leader of the Nats is also the deputy prime minister. And acting prime minister if, you know, the PM decides to take off to Hawaii or something for a short break.
We’ll bring you all the day’s events as they come to hand. Parliament doesn’t actually sit until tomorrow but we all know the real action in this place is in the hallways anyway.
You have Mike Bowers who HAS NOT STOPPED this summer, as well as Katharine Murphy, Sarah Martin and Paul Karp. And you have what is left of me, which, with only one coffee this morning, is about four brain cells and 10 fingers. Six of which work. (The lavender oil is burning overtime this morning.)
Ready?
Let’s get into it.
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