Night time politics: what happened here tonight
- The short answer is after two full sitting days and one ceremonial day, the Coalition lost control of the lower house for about three hours.
- The Coalition lost a series of votes as Labor tried to bring on a bank royal commission. It had already won the vote in the senate and then tested a number of times. It remains unclear at the tactics employed but essentially a number of Coalition MPs were caught outside the chamber - indeed outside the house. In the end, they were saved by the Speaker’s vote which stopped the substantive motion but allowed further debate. This allowed time for Coalition MPs to find their way back to parliament/chamber and prevail. The motion will come on again in the next sitting week, being September 12.
- Labor’s Lisa Singh won a senate motion calling on the government to reveal any investigations to follow up abuse allegations contained in the Nauru files, leaked in the Guardian.
- The Coalition also unveiled new policies to allow Australian Defence Forces to target terrorist support operations overseas - in line with international law.
- Labor senator Patrick Dodson gave an stirring first speech.
- Jacqui Lambie warned the government to back off in the senate from rushing bills through when new senators were finding their feet. The Greens also objected to rushing the omnibus bills through for early report in committees.
That’s it for me. Thanks to Paul Karp, Gareth Hutchens, Katharine Murphy and the wonderful Mike Bowers.
Behind you!
Whip it good.
I am reliably informed that Labor pulled a “swifty”, with some members pretending to leave the house.
As the Coalition had seen Labor members leaving, when the vote was called, some government MPs thought it was the adjournment bell and three Coalition MPs missed the vote. One was out walking without a mobile phone.
Whip it good.
Government wins the next vote. These are all procedurals.
Now voting that the motion be made an order of the day for the next sitting.
The next sitting week is September 12.
Government wins the adjournment debate. Labor’s Tony Burke is pushing Speaker Smith big time.
A picture tells you more than I can.
PM Malcolm Turnbull and Christopher Pyne after the govt. lost 2 divisions in the house @gabriellechan @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/Lw6RNxdcJm
— Mikearoo (@mpbowers) September 1, 2016
Is there a small dark room somewhere?
Without windows?
Christopher Pyne moves to adjourn the debate.
The house is voting now.
Chris Bowen:
We all represent people who have been victims of bank scandals.
Bowen calls on Turnbull to change his mind, saying people will respect him if he changes his mind.
Calm down everyone.
*whistles*
Updated
Ah here is Chris Bowen. Speak of the devil.
Bowen rebutts the Coalition attack on Labor for not doing anything in office about bank complaints. He says Labor brought in the Future of Financial Advice (Fofa) laws which tightened the laws around financial planning. And the Coalition tried to get rid of them.
Bowen says Asic is not enough to bring to light scandals. He pays tribute to Fairfax journalist Adele Ferguson and says most of the scandals were brought to light from people outside of the regulatory system. That’s why a royal commission is needed.
Do the right thing and call a royal commission.
Updated
This is the sort of thing going on here:
Mr Morrison, 5:43:13 PM. Mr Joyce, 5:44:17 PM. Point of order, Mr Albanese. 5:50:16 PM. Point of order, Mr Albanese. 5:50:38 PM. Mr Joyce, 5:51:11 PM. Point of order, Mr Albanese. 5:54:24 PM. Point of order, Mr Pyne. 5:54:37 PM. Mr Shorten, 5:56:47 PM. Ms O’Dwyer, 6:00:42 PM. Mr Katter, 6:10:18 PM. Mr McCormack, 6:20:53 PM. Point of order, Mr Burke. 6:30:47 PM.
The minister for small business Michael McCormack makes a pointed remark about whether Labor’s shadow treasurer Chris Bowen will speak. Bowen has been careful to stay a little distant from the bank royal commission – given he would have to deal with them in government. Shorten has been doing the shouty stuff while Bowen has been much quieter and calmer.
Updated
Bob Katter is speaking now, saying the deputy prime minister and agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce should know better than to oppose an examination of the banks, given what is happening to farmers in Australia.
Remember Katter seconded the Labor motion on Wednesday morning.
Kelly O’Dwyer, finance services minister, is making the government’s points. That is, the Coalition recognises that there has been malfeasance in the banks but the government needs to do something about it. The government has increased funding to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (Asic), implemented the Ramsey Review to look at regulations, established an inquiry under the small business ombudsman Kate Carnell and are investigating a tribunal.
Bill Shorten is up now. As Peta Credlin said earlier this week, he is not going to let his foot off the throat of the government.
This is the party that represents the seedy end of financial planning ... we may succeed tonight or we may not but we will never give up.
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You did what?
PM Malcolm Turnbull talks to Peter Dutton after the govt. lost 2 divisions in the house @gabriellechan @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/O9abylijsR
— Mikearoo (@mpbowers) September 1, 2016
Joyce appears to be filibustering – extending debate – perhaps to get more people back to parliament to vote.
I’m told Malcolm Turnbull is having a serious conversation with Peter Dutton on the floor of the chamber.
Anthony Albanese wants the question to be put. He wants to do the vote.
Updated
Barnaby Joyce, deputy PM, is taking up the call.
To be clear, the lower house now needs to debate Labor’s motion calling for the PM to establish a royal commission.
The Senate passed this motion earlier in the day.
The Labor party tested it on the floor of the lower house yesterday. It failed.
Labor tested it again today – an hour ago. It failed.
They tested the numbers again when the vote came for adjournment. Parliament was due to adjourn at 4.30pm.
Labor successfully blocked the adjournment because some of the Coalition MPs must have got a little relaxed.
One of them was Peter Dutton. He walked back into the chamber after Labor had won two votes.
Then, when the vote was tied at 71-71, the Speaker had to cast his vote.
By tradition, he cast it to allow debate to proceed.
Joyce is cranky.
Updated
Speaker - by tradition - must vote to allow further debate!
Scott Morrison roars into the microphone.
A stunt!
The vote was 71-71.
Speaker said by practice, he needed to vote to allow debate.
This is what Labor wanted - more debate on a bank royal commission. The Coalition has no choice but debate.
(This post has been amended.)
Updated
Vote is tied!
Speaker must exercise casting vote!
Who was missing? Peter Dutton just walked back into the chamber
It seems Dutton might have been one of the lost Coalition votes, missing in action.
Labor won vote to put the bank motion – the second win on the lower house floor
So now they are voting on the bank motion itself – the one that the Senate passed earlier. That is, that the PM should establish a royal commission into the finance industry.
Updated
Labor has just won a vote on the floor of the lower house.
Labor stopped everyone from leaving by refusing to vote for the adjournment. They are trying to move the bank royal commission motion again.
There goes the planes, trains and automobiles ...
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Pat Dodson said he will be working to:
- make sure fewer Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are locked up in prisons,
- help develop Northern Australia, in partnership with regional communities, industries and Aboriginal people
- build consensus on changing the constitutional framework recognising the need for meaningful discussion on treaty
- ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians and their organisations are empowered.
Our laws have at times been based on ingrained paternalism and racial superiority, denying our shared humanity. Such mindsets justified repeated acts of greed that grabbed the lands of our people without negotiation, settlement or compensation. And at times, great human cost with many lives being taken or cut short.
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Pat Dodson is giving his first speech. He began in his traditional language.
Dodson is a Yawuru man from Broome in Western Australia.
He said he grew up with three tenets from his people.
- Strong community where people matter
- Strong place, a good country, balanced use of resources
- Healthy spirit for families and community
Updated
Fellow taxpayers will be pleased to know Bronwyn Bishop paid back the $5,227.27 for the chopper. That is the first factoid from the entitlements list.
Updated
And it must be Thursday afternoon in a sitting week because the pollies entitlements have just been released. Spending, overseas study trips, etc etc.
Dive in. The water is fine.
Coalition wins the numbers test in the house
Labor and the Greens lost that attempt to bring another vote. I think they were hoping a few Coalition members might have slipped home early as it is half an hour before adjournment. The fact is no one is allowed to slip home in a finely balanced house.
The vote went down 71-73. That means the House does not consider the Senate stance on the banks royal commission.
Updated
Labor and the Greens test numbers again on bank royal commission in House
The House is voting over whether to consider a message from the Senate. This is a quaint term but what it actually means is, can the House consider a motion that has already passed in the Senate?
That motion is the banks royal commission motion, which passed the Senate earlier today.
Updated
For the wonks (like me), Nick Xenophon has just won the last spot on the economic references committee over David Leyonhjelm. The committees will meet privately and elect the chair and deputy chair of both legislation committee and references.
Updated
Butter wouldn’t melt.
Updated
Nick Xenophon wants a spot on the economic references committee. So does David Leyonhjelm. There is only one crossbencher spot.
Back in the Senate, the ballots are taking place for committee positions.
There are legislative committees and there are references committees. Positions are divided up but I hear there is some hot competition among the crossbenchers. Obviously crossbenchers who have a seat on the committees get a smidgeon more influence in inquiries and the subsequent reports. The votes are being counted now. Literally tipped on the table and counted.
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A mob of Nats.
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Updated
Does the member truly suggest ...
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Testing the breeze.
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Psssst ...
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There is a government question on the Moreton Bay rail link.
Then Labor to Steve Ciobo, tourism minister: I refer to reports of a fall in the number of backpackers coming to Australia. What connection is there between the fall in the number of backpackers and the government’s backpacker tax?
Ciobo says the government is currently reviewing the backpacker tax changes, which were implemented because of the “unfortunate circumstances that were left to us by the previous Labor government”.
The backpacker tax was a surprise inclusion in the 2015 budget estimated to raise $540m.
Currently, backpackers are able to access the $18,200 tax-free threshold, the low-income tax offset and the lower tax rate of 19% for income above the tax-free threshold up to $37,000.
As a result of the proposed changes, holidaymakers will be treated as non-residents and taxed at 32.5% from their first dollar.
The review was open for submissions for only two weeks. There will be a decision shortly, according to people who know these things.
Updated
Shorten to Turnbull: I refer to the PM’s ironclad superannuation policies that will see a $500,000 lifetime non-concessional contribution cap applying from 1 July 2007. As your new changes to super apply to investment decisions made 10 years ago in good faith under previous laws, how is this change not retrospective?
Tunrbull says there is no retrospectivity in the proposed changes to the non-concessional cap.
Updated
Sarah Hanson-Young raises possibility of supporting plebiscite
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has given an interview with Sky News in which she raised the possibility of passing the plebiscite-enabling legislation if there is no alternative to legislate gay marriage, in contrast to the Greens policy to block it.
Hanson-Young said the parliament should try to pass private member’s bills and it would be “bad form” if the government didn’t allow them to be voted on.
I think we have to do all that before we say it’s plebiscite or nothing ... Nothing isn’t an option. It’s not an option.”
Hanson-Young said the Greens allow conscience votes so crossing the floor was hypothetically possible.
That’s not what is going on here, what is going on here is that we have to come up with a way forward.
She said the Greens position is “very clear – we won’t be supporting the plebiscite, particularly the way it being described at the moment”.
Hanson-Young said the question was what Labor would do and raised the prospect that some Labor MPs may want a conscience vote on the plebiscite itself.
Updated
There is a government question on the NBN.
Then Chris Bowen asks Scott Morrison, how does it feel worse at your job than Joe Hockey?
Politics can be cruel.
Labor to Scott Morrison: Last week, in a speech to the Sydney Institute, the finance minister said there would be $6.5bn in savings in the omnibus bill. Yesterday during question time the treasurer said it was $6.1bn. But by later that afternoon he had lost another $107m. What will the number be next week and isn’t this omnibus shambles more evidence that the bumbling treasurer is completely incompetent?
Morrison:
Those opposite, while they like to dwell on these matters, they may wish to reflect on their own contributions to these issues and what they have done in going to the last election is they said that they thought the best plan for Australia was to increase the deficit by $16. 5bn, they told the Australian people. It turns out it was $16. 6bn.
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Government MP to Peter Dutton: Will the minister update the house on the important role border protection plays in securing our great nation. Why is it important to always put our national interest first?
Dutton uses it to call for Bill Shorten to sack Sam Dastyari.
Labor’s Tony Burke wants to table photos of Dastyari’s donor with Liberal figures including Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull, as well as a list of donations he has made to the Liberal party.
The government refuses.
The donor is Minshen Zhu, who runs Top Education Institute, a Chinese private higher education provider based in Sydney. He also has close links to the Chinese government.
This story has long tentacles and it really could go anywhere.
Updated
Labor to Malcolm Turnbull: Senator Pauline Hanson and the member for Warringah met yesterday. After the meeting Senator Hanson stated, “Tony and I had a frank discussion about various bills coming up. He gave his considered opinion with regards to them. Given the meeting goes directly to the government’s agenda, has the member for Warringah conveyed a report of the outcomes of the meeting to the PM?”
Again there is argy bargy about whether the question is in order. Christopher Pyne argues the PM can’t be responsible for private conversations. Speaker agrees and Labor loses the question.
Updated
Government MP to Christopher Pyne: Will the minister inform the house why a sovereign defence industry capability is vital to Australia’s national security and international interests? Is he aware of any other approach?
This is a chance to question Labor senator Sam Dastyari’s donation story and its effect on security.
There is a question to the foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop, about the counter-terrorism legislation.
Then Labor to Malcolm Turnbull: When the member for Warringah met Senator Hanson yesterday to discuss the government’s agenda, was the member for Warringah commissioned by the PM to conduct the negotiations? Or was he acting of his own initiative?
There is a bit of argy bargy on whether the question is in order but the Speaker allows it.
Turnbull says the answer is no.
Ooooooooooh, comes the cry from the Labor benches.
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Turnbull: we know there was poor (bank) advice, we are doing something about it
Tanya Plibersek to Malcolm Turnbull: Victims of bank rip-offs support a royal commission. The Senate has voted to establish a royal commission and even members of the PM’s own backbench are threatening to cross the floor to support a royal commission. When will the PM stop running a protection racket for the banks, stop insulting and lecturing victims, telling them what they want and finally establish a royal commission?
Turnbull is warming to this task.
Does she really imagine that the banks with all of their resources, with all of their lawyers, will not be equal to a royal commission? Does she really imagine that Michelle from Newcastle and Jenny and Dwyane will be able to afford the legal representation to make their claims in a royal commission? A royal commission will be a forum for the legal profession.
And then:
We know there was poor advice, sometimes the advice was conflicted. Sometimes banks were careless or reckless. Sometimes they acted wrongfully knowingly in giving that bad advice. But we know all of that. What we are doing is setting in place the measures to ensure it doesn’t happen again. What we are doing is setting in place the structures that will ensure Dwayne and Jenny and Michelle will be able to resolve their differences with the banks, notwithstanding they don’t have the armies of lawyers and barristers to defend themselves and press their case.
Updated
Pardon me. I missed NXT’s Rebekha Sharkie’s first question to Malcolm Turnbull. The people of Mayo were made a series of funding commitments by the government during the recent election campaign. Such as $14m for road infrastructure, $3. 7m for the Mt Barker sports hub, $500,000 for the Victor Harbour RSL and a mobile phone tower on Kangaroo Island. Will the PM confirm that all of the election commitments made to Mayo will be honoured during this term of the Parliament?
Turnbull:
The government will deliver on all of its local election commitments, including to the people of Mayo.
Updated
Government question to Barnaby Joyce: Will the minister update the house on how the government is growing the economy by securing export markets for the a goal sector and is the minister aware of any alternate policies?
Labor to Scott Morrison: Dwayne and Jenny live in Warringah. They were advised by a finance broker to borrow $500,000 against the value of their home and put it into dodgy investments. Dwayne and Jenny have spent the past seven years struggling to stay afloat and fighting to save their one remaining asset, the family home. Will the PM explain to Dwayne andJenny why he refuses to listen to victims like them calling for a royal commission?
Morrison asks for their contact details and then says:
I noticed in the member’s question that she referred to Dwayne and Jenny having been dealing with this for seven years. This government has been in power for three years. Three years. Not seven years.
He makes the point that, when in government, Labor said Australia had the best banks in the world and had world’s best practice.
Now I don’t know what comfort that was to Jenny and Dwayne but clearly there was nothing being done by those opposite when sitting on these benches.
Updated
Government MP to Scott Morrison: Will the treasurer outline to the house why we must arrest debt and reduce deficits by taking responsible fiscal decisions to balance the budget. Is the treasurer aware of any alternative views?
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Labor pursues Nigel Scullion in the Senate
In Senate question time, senator Penny Wong has been grilling the Indigenous affairs minister, Nigel Scullion, about when he first became aware of abuse at the Don Dale.
She has probed an apparent discrepancy between Scullion initially saying he was not aware of abuses then revealing that he had received a question time brief about Northern Territory inquiries into Don Dale.
Scullion said he first became aware of the mistreatment of youth at Don Dale through media reports but did not say when.
To account for the discrepancy, he said:
I was making a statement in the context of the difference between what had seen the night before on Four Corners, and everything else that had been on the public record and in fact in both the reports provided to the Northern Territory government.
Scullion said the graphic Four Corners story was in “stark contrast” to the reports.
I wish we’d all known what was really happening, not just what was reported in the media and to the Northern Territory government, and I’m sure I share that with many others.
Stephen Conroy then needled Scullion for going to dinner instead of watching Four Corners but Scullion says he caught up on iView.
Updated
Bill Shorten to Malcolm Turnbull: Today the Senate stood up and called on the PM to establish a royal commission to clean up the banking and financial sector. Early this morning I met with victims who have suffered hardship and distress as a result of widespread rorts and rip-offs in banking. Victims including Michelle, spoke of during the last question, who specifically want the PM to establish a royal commission. Will the PM now explain why those victims who have tried all the mechanisms outlined by the PM are wrong to demand a royal commission.
Malcolm Turnbull:
We are getting on with the job of ensuring there are better mechanisms for Michelle to resolve the challenges she has with the financial services industry, with the banks, with planners, ensuring there is better regulation, better supervision, better means of mediation and resolving small claims. That’s why Prof Ramsey is undertaking his review of the various small claims ombudsman agencies with a view to bringing them together to a more effective tribunal that can achieve the better outcomes for people like Michelle.
Updated
Government MP to Turnbull: Will the PM outline to the House why a responsible and disciplined approach to managing the nation’s budget is vital to the economic security of Australians now and into the future.
Turnbull puts the case for the government’s savings measures.
An obstructionist parliament will risk a further deterioration in the budget position and a slower return to balance. Now, like John Howard and Peter Costello before us, we must maintain a disciplined approach to budget repair.
General laughter.
Part of the government’s problems, ie superannuation reforms, are due to changes made by that government.
Updated
Labor to Turnbull: Earlier today I met Michelle, a single mother with three children who lives in Newcastle. Michelle was talked into a mortgage she couldn’t afford by a dodgy financial adviser. For the last five years Michelle has worked three jobs around the clock to make her mortgage repayments and keep her head above water. Will the PM explain to Michelle and the house why he continues to deny her a royal commission?
Malcolm Turnbull answers:
I can well understand the concern and distress that her constituent has had having been given poor advice by this financial adviser. But I have to say to the honourable member that I imagine what her constituent seeks is compensation, recompense, justice, some form of compensation for the losses she incurred and is best that the Labor party can do is offer her a royal commission! What is that going to do? Will that pay her back? No! Nothing! Nothing! The Labor party has embarked on a populist campaign that does nothing to support the honourable member’s constituent ... I don’t know what measures she’s sought to undertake but the one place where she will achieve no compensation at all is in a royal commission.
Updated
Question time begins. In the Senate, Labor’s Penny Wong is going after Nigel Scullion, the Indigenous affairs minister, on when he knew about the Don Dale detention centre allegations.
The house is doing a statement on indulgence regarding the Olympics. It will be interesting to see if they go after the same issue – Don Dale – in the house.
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Senate demands Coalition reveal any investigations into Nauru files
The government has lost a second vote on the Nauru files 35-33. As a result the Senate has demanded that the Coalition government reveal whether allegations of abuse contained in the files leaked to the Guardian have been investigated. The Senate also called for the appointment of an independent children’s advocate.
Senator Lisa Singh moved a motion that:
The Senate notes (a) (i) a large cache of documents has been made public regarding the treatment of asylum seekers including children on Nauru, and
(ii) these documents contain concerning reports of alleged abuse; and
(b) call upon the Australian government:
(i) to reveal whether these serious and disturbing allegations of abuse have been investigated and the outcomes of those investigations, and
(ii) to appoint an Independent children’s advocate backed by adequate resources and statutory powers to ensure the rights and interests of children are protected.
Like the motion calling for a banking royal commission, the Senate has no powers to compel the government to do so.
Updated
Lunch-time politics, slightly after lunch-time
- The Senate has called on the prime minister to establish a royal commission into the finance industry in a Labor motion supported by the Greens and the crossbenchers. But the motion has no force over the government.
- The prime minister has announced laws will change to allow the Australian defence force to target combat support staff of terrorist organisations like Islamic State. The government is also introducing legislation to lower the age limit on control orders and post-sentence preventative detention.
- Senators have traded blows over senate business as the government tried to rush legislation through. Jacqui Lambie has warned Liberal senator Mitch Fifield not to “shove folders” down her throat. And she called on the government to show some bloody respect for the new senators who are struggling with the process.
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The attorney general, George Brandis, called on the Labor senator Sam Dastyari to explain his decision to take money from a Chinese businessman with links to the Chinese government to pay some $1600 in overspent travel bills. He also demanded he explain why his positions on China are different to the Labor party’s positions.
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Mike Kelly, the new Labor member for Eden Monaro, is making his first speech – well this time around. He lost that seat in 2013 and won it back, breaking its run as the bellwether seat. A former army lawyer, Kelly said during the intervening period he worked for Bill Shorten as a defence advisor. He echoed Shorten’s response to the counter terrorism measures announced by Malcolm Turnbull earlier today.
He also said he worked closely with Tony Abbott’s office on national security – including with his former chief of staff Peta Credlin. He praised her as a strong, intelligent woman and noted that perhaps that’s why some in the Coalition had a problem with her.
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Paul Karp’s story on the new counter-terrorism laws is up now. For a full rundown, see here.
The Australian government has announced it will increase the intensity of attacks on Islamic State – also known as Daesh – by changing the law to allow targeting of its combat support forces, not just those actively engaged in hostilities.
Labor offered in-principle support for the changes, which will allow strikes on logistics and support members of Isis without the legal risk of prosecution under Australian law.
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Just to be clear, the successful motion passed in the Senate calling on the PM to establish a banking royal commission has no force. It is effectively a statement from the Senate that a majority of senators want a bank royal commission but it has no power compel the executive government, led by one Malcolm Turnbull, to establish a royal commission.
Even if such a motion passed both houses (it failed in the lower house yesterday) it would not bind the government to establish a royal commission.
Just to be clear.
Updated
Senate calls on the prime minister to establish a banking royal commission
Labor has just successfully moved the following motion:
(a) the Senate notes that:
(i) confidence and trust in the financial services industry has been shaken by ongoing revelations of scandals, which have resulted in tens of thousands of Australians being ripped off, including:
(A) retirees who have had their retirement savings gutted,
(B) families who have been rorted out of hundreds of thousands of dollars,
(C) small business owners who have lost everything, and
(D) life insurance policy holders who have been denied justice;
(ii) it is clear from the breadth and scope of the allegations that the problems in this industry go beyond any one bank or type of financial institution,
(iii) the Australian Labor Party, the Australian Greens, crossbench, Liberal and Nationals parliamentarians have supported a thorough investigation of the culture and practices within the financial services industry through a Royal Commission, which is the only forum with the coercive powers and broad jurisdiction necessary to properly perform this investigation, and
(iv) Australia has one of the strongest banking systems in the world, but Australians must have confidence in their banks and financial institutions, making it necessary to sweep away doubt and uncover and deal with unethical behaviour that compromises that confidence;
(b) the Senate calls on the prime minister to request his excellency the governor general of the commonwealth of Australia issue letters patent to establish a royal commission to inquire into misconduct in the banking and financial services industry, including their agents and managed investment schemes; and
(c) this resolution be communicated to the House of Representatives for concurrence.
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The Senate is on to Labor’s bank royal commission motion. In the blink of an eye, it has just passed. So while the government prevailed in the lower house yesterday, Labor won on the banks motion in the Senate. I’ll have the words to you shortly.
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Bob Hawke launches the Albanese biography by Karen Middleton in Parl House @gabriellechan @GuardianAus #politicslive pic.twitter.com/aYnmWbXP7O
— Mikearoo (@mpbowers) September 1, 2016
Jacqui Lambie: don't go shoving this folder down my throat either
There is currently a bun fight in the Senate over sending government legislation to committees. We have the media reform bill, the fair work (Country Fire Authority) bill and the budget omnibus bill all going to committees for scrutiny.
Jacqui Lambie has just given Mitch Fifield a free character assessment. He is running the government’s agenda in the Senate today and has tried to rush bills through without giving new senators time to get the process.
She told him that the Coalition was trying the same old tricks, trying to shove bills down everyone’s throats even though crossbenchers did not have the staff or resources to scrutinise the bills.
And don’t go shoving this folder down my throat either ... Show some bloody integrity and some bloody respect.
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From Gareth:
George Brandis has just demanded, in the Senate, that Labor senator Sam Dastyari properly explain his decision to allow a company with links to the Chinese government to pay a $1600 bill incurred by his office.
Brandis said Dastyari had recently taken public positions on foreign policy matters regarding China, which were “starkly at variance” with Labor’s official position.
He wondered if Dastyari’s close relationship with Chinese interests had anything to do with it.
“Did Senator Dastyari’s links with China influence him in presenting what he himself called ‘The Chinese View’ in a speech in the senate?” Brandis said.
“Senator Dastyari’s acceptance of personal benefits from an entity or entities with links to the Chinese state and the carefully opaque way in which the payments have been described in the register of senators’ interests raises the inevitable question of whether Senator Dastyari, whether advertently or unwittingly, has allowed himself to be compromised.
“This is a very serious matter.
“It is much more serious than, for instance, the allegations which were made against the member for Fadden, Mr Robert, which caused him to lose his position in the ministry.
“Senator Dastyari is an extremely influential matter in the alternative government of Australia. If he has been compromised, that is a very grave matter.
“It is incumbent upon Senator Dastyari now to provide to the Senate a full explanation of the affair, a full account of the nature of his dealings with these two Chinese companies, and in particular a full explanation as to why it was that they were paying personal debts of Senator Dastyari’s.
“It is for Mr Shorten to insist that Senator Dastyari do so.”
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Clan Albo.
Short hand: Albo pays homage to Hawkie.
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The attorney general, George Brandis, is using the Senate to prosecute a case against Labor senator Sam Dastyari, calling on him to answer questions regarding a “donation” by a company with links to the Chinese government of some $1600. Dastyari disclosed the amount. Brandis is listing all of Dastyari’s positions on China that are “at variance” with Labor. Gareth Hutchens will have more on this in a minute.
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The Oz reported this morning that “media executives” left Canberra last night with the impression that Labor was considering blocking elements of the media bill. I have a call in to Labor’s communications shadow, Michelle Rowland, to check.
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We are getting bills at a clip here. Minister Paul Fletcher is introducing the media reforms to the lower house. The changes were announced in March this year.
The bill would:
- remove the “reach rule”, which prevents a person controlling commercial television licences that collectively reach more than 75% of the population.
- remove the law that prevents a person from controlling more than two out of three regulated forms of media, such as radio, television and newspapers.
- But does not touch anti-siphoning laws, which reserve premium events for free-to-air television.
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By way of a reminder for all of us, this is the tax plan via Gareth Hutchens:
The Coalition will cut the corporate tax rate from 30% to 25% by 2026-27 and the tax rate for small businesses from 28.5% to 25% by 2026-27. Workers earning more than $80,000 – the top 25% of income earners – will get a tax cut as the government moves the threshold for the 37% tax rate up to $87,000. The cut is worth about $315 a year for most higher-income families.
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The treasurer, Scott Morrison, is introducing the company tax cut bill to the house now. He says it will create – jobs and growth. *drink* This was the central plank of the Coalition’s election policy. It is highly likely it will receive a hair cut in the Senate, given most of the crossbenchers cannot abide a tax cut for larger companies.
I will get some details in a minute.
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Still on national security, Bill Shorten questioned whether national security agencies were sharing information and taking a coordinated approach. He raises the case of Man Haron Monis who carried out the Lindt cafe siege in Martin Place.
He was never formally identified as a national security threat in the way in which he emerged. As the PM has referred to, it’s more important than ever that our national security agencies are working together, are well connected and are sharing all relevant information including from nontraditional sources ... We do need to ask ourselves, are the current levels of coordination and cooperation strong enough and fast enough in the age of cyber attacks? We need to ensure that the right information is getting to the right people at the right time.
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Shorten on Iraq: winning the battle demands building the infrastructure of peace
Bill Shorten:
I do believe that our Australian troops are doing valuable, important work assisting the people and the government of Iraq, not just our air support, repelling advances and claiming ground from the well-armed enemy but from training and construction, building a more capable Iraqi army.
Of course winning the battle against Daesh demands that we build the infrastructure of peace, not just holding elections but upholding the rule of law. Ensuring schools are open and accessible and a future free from violence is seen not just as desirable but achievable. But let us not kid ourselves. The progress which has been recorded is real. But the strong threat still remains.
Bill Shorten:
It must be recognised that Daesh has the capacity to evolve. They are hierarchical in their leadership, they are a State-like organisation without a State to administer and they are committed to promoting war-like and terrorist activities wherever they can.
Currently, we’re able to target the vehicles and the positions, able to go after those Mad Max style vehicles which the terrorists use in Iraq. Of course we have been able to target infrastructure and headquarter positions.
Always our ADF operates proportionate with international laws, the Geneva convention and other such protocols. But as I said, it has become clear to our Defence Forces that there may be an ambiguity between international law and our domestic laws.
It is important that we understand that when we’re dealing with Daesh that the factories where they make these equipments, where they cache their supplies, where they get the fuel trucks and the logistical element, it is important that we deal with this issue to make sure that our ADF, by some quirk of domestic law anomaly, should not be subjected to our legal repercussions merely because we didn’t deal with the issue and update our laws just as the ADF are dealing with an updated, difficult environment.
Bill Shorten has been briefed on these measures an hour ago. He says he will continue to cooperate on national security – as Labor did in the last parliament – but goes on to add some careful clauses to this support. The parliament must continue to be used as a forum for discussing this stuff. (Don’t hide it behind closed doors)
But:
The loss of innocent lives to terrorism has become an all too familiar story on the evening news.
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OK, on to Bill Shorten now, who basically says he supports the principle but Labor would have to look at any draft legislation.
Our CDF has made it clear that they want to make sure that when we ask our young men and women and our professional [Australian Defence Force] to carry out the missions which Australia deems to be important in our national interest and the interests of the people of Iraq, that we don’t set them up to head into a legal minefield.
(I have amended this quote, which I misheard.)
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Turnbull: division begets division, we are stronger when we stand together
Malcolm Turnbull finishes by talking about the government’s defence white paper and supporting veterans when they return home. But he says he wanted to focus on Daesh because it presents the most immediate security threat.
It is why we must give our agencies the powers they need. To detect. To disrupt. To arrest. And to target.
Safety and security at home will always be the government’s first priority.
Success requires strong laws, modern powers and, importantly, it requires social unity. I believe security and freedom are not mutually exclusive; they are mutually reinforcing.
We cannot be effective if we are creating division, whether by fomenting distrust within the Muslim community or inciting fear of Muslims in broader society. Division begets division. It makes violence more likely, not less.
The aim of extremists, including those committing violence through a warped and nihilistic interpretation of religion, is to divide us and to turn our citizens against each other – but we will not let them win.
We are stronger when we stand together. We will defeat division and weakness with unity and strength.
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The Coalition government will also introduce legislation to strengthen penalties for trafficking illegal firearms, which Turnbull says is “a crime that fuels the violence associated with terrorism and poses a threat to the safety and security of all Australians”.
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Malcolm Turnbull has outlined the counter-terrorism and national security measures implemented so far and goes on to say the Coalition will two more measures, previously announced.
The first is the post-sentence detention measure to “ to enable a continuing period of detention for high-risk terrorist offenders”. The second is the bill that lowers the age for control order to 14.
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Turnbull: We must not link all Muslims with terrorism crimes
The prime minister:
We won’t hesitate to label Islamist extremism when we see it.
At the same time there is nothing to be gained by rashly fixing labels and pre-empting the findings of complex investigations.
We all work hard to preserve the mutual respect that makes us one of the most liberal and diverse multicultural countries in the world.
We must not link all Muslims with the crimes of a terrorist minority – that is precisely what the extremists want us to do. I am committed to continue working closely with Australia’s Muslim communities, as I am with all communities. And I’m pleased to report that my agency heads say we are making considerable headway. But there is work to be done. Other established terrorist groups with longstanding grievances against the West have not disappeared. And there has also been a resurgence in far-right extremism directed against Muslims.
Turnbull: 200 people in Australia under investigation for providing terrorist support
Malcolm Turnbull, still speaking in the House.
The perpetrators who carried out the three recent attacks here at home – the Martin Place siege, Endeavour Hills stabbing and the murder of Curtis Cheng – are all dead.
But there are still people outside our country, and some within it, who hate the freedoms that we enjoy and would seek to threaten them and undermine them with violence.
Around 200 people in Australia are being investigated for providing support to individuals and groups in the Syria/Iraq conflict.
So we must not only attack the disease at its source in the Middle East but redouble our efforts at home.
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PM: it is quite possible next mass casualty attack on Australians will be in south-east Asia
Malcolm Turnbull:
It is quite possible that the next mass casualty attack on Australian victims will be somewhere in south-east Asia, where Daesh propaganda has galvanised existing networks of extremists and attracted new recruits.
Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Bangladesh have suffered terrorist attacks over the past year. Many are expecting further attacks.
And I know many of these governments are concerned about the implications of returning terrorist fighters, just as we are alert to the risks posed by returning fighters in Australia.
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Government to change laws to 'target and kill a broader range of Daesh combatants'
Malcolm Turnbull:
In January this year, as we were on our way to visiting our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, the chief of the defence force advised me of a legal anomaly which meant we were not empowering the ADF, in particular our air force, to be as effective as they could be.
Under international law, all members of an organised armed group such as Daesh can be targeted with lethal force, subject, of course, to the ordinary rules of international humanitarian law.
This is a reasonable and conventional approach adopted by the armed forces of our key allies across the world.
But there is a legal argument that Australia’s domestic law is more restrictive than international law. This legal risk posed a major challenge to the effectiveness of our operations. It meant that the ADF’s targeting base in Iraq and Syria was restricted, and we could not operate as freely as our coalition partners.
So I can announce that the government has reviewed its policy on targeting enemy combatants and earlier this year made an important decision to ensure our forces are empowered to act against Daesh in Iraq and Syria – to the maximum extent allowed by international law.
And we will move quickly to introduce the necessary amendments to the Commonwealth criminal code that will bring our domestic laws into line with international norms.
This means that ADF personnel will be supported by our domestic laws. They will be able to target Daesh at its core – joining with our coalition partners to target and kill a broader range of Daesh combatants – which is consistent with international law.
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Malcolm Turnbull:
To defeat them, so must we adapt. We cannot take winning the peace and stability for granted.
The US and its allies are a formidable war-fighting machine but we have had mixed success in helping to reestablish political order.
This is why I have been so resolute that the right soldiers on the right ground are crucial to giving the Middle East stability and the best opportunity to succeed.
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Turnbull:
Thanks to the efforts of the Iraqi armed forces and their Coalition partners, including the ADF, Daesh has lost close to half of the territory it held in Iraq and up to 20% of its territory in Syria. We estimate its numbers of fighters have been cut by about a third. This is no small achievement – and it’s due in part to Australia’s military contribution.
The terrorist group’s monthly income has fallen by an estimated 30% since the middle of last year. In June, Daesh suffered its highest net territorial losses in over a year, including key ground near the Turkish border and the last city it controlled in Iraq’s Anbar Province, Fallujah. Iraqi forces raised the Iraqi flag over Fallujah on 17 June and Iraqi military leaders announced the city’s full liberation on 26 June.
This progress is critically important because it demolishes Daesh’s myth of invincibility and inevitable victory. Far from sweeping across Europe to stable their horses in the Vatican, Daesh is now on the defensive, losing territory, resources and lives. Would-be recruits can now see that travelling to Syria and Iraq to fight with Daesh is joining a losing side. They can see it will result in almost certain death on the battlefield. Only yesterday there were reports that Daesh’s chief propagandist, Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, was killed in in Syria.
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Malcolm Turnbull in the House:
In those two years our law enforcement and security agencies have successfully disrupted a further 10 terrorist attacks. Nine of these featured individuals with some form of allegiance to Daesh. In this period, 47 people have been charged as a result of 18 counter-terrorism operations around Australia. That’s over half of all terrorism related charges since 2001.
In order to defeat this despotic and barbaric movement we are working closely with our friends and allies to destroy it at its core: its so-called “caliphate” in Syria and Iraq.
Daesh framed its rapid territorial expansion to create the false illusion of inexorable conquest, while its declaration of a caliphate helped it to generate delusions of religious legitimacy and historical grandeur.
To promote Australia’s safety our first objective must be to expel Daesh from its occupied territories and destroy its pretensions of statehood.
This is why a 400-member Australian defence force air task group is conducting airstrikes over Daesh strongholds in Iraq and Syria, and a similar number of ADF personnel are training and assisting Iraqi ground forces.
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Malcolm Turnbull is speaking now. He says the government’s concern is with keeping the community safe. He is listing the terrorist attacks in recent times, noting the deaths number thousands “mostly Muslims”.
Daesh and terrorist groups are not the only threat we face....but Daesh is presently the most immediate security challenge that directly affects us all.
The human headline.
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Malcolm Turnbull is making a statement at 9.30am on counter-terrorism; that is, the changes that Binskin flagged.
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Parliament is about to begin at 9.30am.
Chief of defence force signals legal changes in counter terrorism laws
The chief of the defence forces, Air Chief Marshall Mark Binskin, has given a public statement regarding the counter-terrorism measures that will be announced later today.
He says targeting Daesh or Isis including is becoming more difficult due to the difference in international and domestic laws.
Domestic law restricts the ability for us to target elements of Daesh that would otherwise be lawful under international law. And the limitation here is that under domestic law, we can only target those Daesh forces that are taking a direct and active part in hostilities. It doesn’t allow us to target those important supporting elements that are key to their fighting ability, for example their logistics and support organisations.
As a result:
Government has today announced that it’s provided the full authority needed to target all members of organised armed groups such as Daesh in accordance with international law.
This is important to me because it allows us to target combat and support elements of Daesh but it’s also important to me because it removes the ambiguity that my people operate under, including through legislative change, which government will talk about more in the next couple of days.
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Bills, bills, bills. Not Shorten, legislation. The company tax cuts bill is there but also is the four week wait for unemployment benefits. This is the list on the parliamentary program for today.
- Registration of Deaths Abroad Amendment Bill
- Industry Research and Development Amendment (Innovation and Science Australia) Bill
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Treasury Laws Amendment (Enterprise Tax Plan) Bill
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Treasury Laws Amendment (Income Tax Relief) Bill
- International Tax Agreements Amendment Bill
- Corporations Amendment (Auditor Registration) Bill
- Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Media Reform) Bill
- Statute Law Revision (Spring 2016) Bill
- Statute Update Bill
- Competition and Consumer Amendment (Country of Origin) Bill
- Social Services Legislation Amendment (Budget Repair) Bill
- Social Services Legislation Amendment (Family Payments Structural Reform and Participation Measures) Bill
- Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Jobs for Families Child Care Package) Bill
- Migration Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Bill
- Migration Amendment (Character Cancellation Consequential Provisions) Bill
There are a lot more photos but Mike Bowers has the full gallery here.
Julie and David.
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Albo and Carmel.
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Jacqui and (mystery date) Derryn.
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Bill and Chloe.
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Good morning blogans,
Welcome to Thursday on politics live. Deficits are the key today, sleep deficits that is. As you will see with Mike Bowers’ picture gallery, the press ball went to the wee hours last night. This is normally a midwinter event but, with the eight-week campaign, it became an almost spring ball.
So with the coffee carts and the cafe packed to maximum capacity, we had best get on with the day. There is a lot around this morning. The government has 16 more bills coming to the parliament, including the company tax cuts. The Coalition agenda is dominated by budget measures but there were red faces all round late yesterday after Labor discovered a $107m counting error in the omnibus bill. The resulting mathematical haircut takes the value of the savings bill below $6bn.
Labor is meeting with victims of shonky financial advisors to press the case for the bank royal commission. Labor’s point is that the small business ombudsman’s inquiry is not broad enough. Phil Coorey at the Fin reports the ombudsman Kate Carnell will be looking at 23 specific cases that were concerning Coalition bank critics. While this approach obviously stops those critics from crossing the floor, you do wonder about the rest of the victims who have not managed to make contact with a Coalition backbencher.
Bob Hawke is in the house! The former PM will be launching Anthony Albanese’s biography by journalist Karen Middleton at 11am. I will bring pics and hopefully a bit of colour from that event.
And at 9am, the current prime minister will be making a statement to the house regarding counter terrorism. I can’t tell you anymore because ... actually, I don’t know anymore than that.
There’s lots more besides. Stick around and chat in the thread. I’m on the Twits @gabriellechan and he is @mpbowers. I’m on my second litre of water, the sun is shining, the birds are singing and its the last sitting day of the parliament. What’s not to love?
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