Night time politics
- The senate will continue debating the asylum seeker bill into the night with no definitive word yet on which way Ricky Muir will vote. Reports abound that he is supporting the government but nothing is confirmed. Clive Palmer has backflipped on the bill to declare his support.
- The government has made Al-Raqqa in Syria a declared zone, meaning Australians will have to justify any travel to the area or potentially face a 10 year jail sentence on return.
- MPs thought it was their last day today but the lower house is due to resume at 8am tomorrow. It will have to rubber stamp the asylum seeker bill if it passes the senate.
- And that is the last moving part of the parliament this year.
- Tony Abbott is appearing on 7.30 Report tonight before his traditional media Christmas drinks. It also happens to be the Walkley Awards in Sydney, which is a happy coincidence for the PMO.
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Thanks for your company on behalf of Mike Bowers, Katharine Murphy and myself and thanks to Daniel Hurst and Shalailah Medhora for their help.
- Goodnight.
Christopher Pyne has just explained the lower house will rise now as the senate is expected to continue debating the asylum seeker bill into the night. The senate will adjourn at 11pm and then return in the morning.
The lower house will resume at 8am and will be on standby to pass the bill when it returns from the senate.
Milne: asylum seeker bill is a crime against humanity
Christine Milne asks her fellow senators how they can go off on the Christmas break, preaching do unto others as you would have them do unto you. People will visit church for Christmas, sit around with their families and yet deny asylum seekers basic human rights.
Willfully passing this legislation means you are signing up for crimes against humanity.
I promised to bring you a little bit of Bill Shorten’s government report card from earlier today. It was, as Mike Bowers would say, #peakzinger for Bill. He introduced the matter for public importance as the under-achievement of the PM. Then he went through the performance of ministers.
Possibly the minister for foreign affairs, gets the top banana – easily the best performed woman in the Abbott cabinet. She’s going so well that the PMO decided to make her take excess baggage to Lima – the minister for Trade.
Joe Hockey—what a year he has had! Two great publications—he launched a budget and he launched his book. It is hard to know which one his colleagues like more.
Then of course we have had his John Farnham style tour—trying to one more time sell his rotten budget. Then we will never forget the gig he had with Jacquie Lambie—that did not end so well.
And of course Joe Hockey has memorably given us the arguments that the strong economic performance need.
‘A GP tax? That’s just a couple of beers’— that line worked! ‘Pensioners have never had it so good’—I would not go there again, Joe! And don’t worry about the petrol tax because ‘poor people don’t drive cars’.
And in the other house there are some contributors. Senator Brandis made two noteworthy contributions. The first was ‘the right to be a bigot’.
And then there interview on metadata, which was the most awkward of television since the 70-second staring competition the prime minister had with Mark Riley.
And then of course we had ‘old charm offensive’ himself, Senator Abetz—more offence than charm—bobbing up on the project. That must have been a set up. I have heard the expression first time guest, but it was a first-time viewer. And he gave us some 1950s medical science.
And then there was the minister for the environment—whose title is sheer irony.
He has defended the Antarctic walrus, the Tasmanian tiger and any other animal he finds on Wikipedia! We had of course the minister for immigration, who was working relentlessly on operations self-promotion.
Shaun Micallef is going to have a field day.
Reform has no finishing line, Madam Speaker.
Chris Bowen is now giving his 18 minute response to the treasurer’s statement.
Chris Bowen gives Hockey a metaphorical hug, mentions his family and kids and suggests Hockey’s wife Melissa is the economic brains of the outfit. Likewise thanks staff, treasury etc etc.
Joe Hockey is giving a Christmas message to the parliament. He thanks his colleagues for their support:
I know it’s hard.
(A nod to the barnacles.)
He also wishes Chris Bowen and his family well and names his kids. And then thanks his staff who worked hard on the G20.
Hockey also thanks his wife and children for their forbearance.
I am the patron of the men who bat above their weight. In my case that that’s a lot.
Joe Hockey reminded the parliament that he said last year living standards could decline.
The drop in national income recorded in yesterday’s national accounts highlights that this risk is real. All of the government’s actions are being taken with these risks in mind....Reform has no finishing line.
Joe Hockey tells the senate to grow up and pass the budget.
Blanket opposition and mindless resistance is nothing to boast about if you truly care about Australia’s future.
Hockey’s message is so far rattling off the Asian free trade agreements signed this year, “cleaning up the NBN”, building infrastructure worth eight Snowy Mountains schemes and selling off Medibank Private.
We are on to the economic headwinds, that is the drop in government revenue that was not a drop in government revenue prior to coming to government.
Joe Hockey is making his statement to the house on prosperity and growth.
Without economic reform, the economy will drift.
Without economic reform, the economy will be more exposed to global volatility.
Without economic reform, our future prosperity is not assured.
Independent senator John Madigan asked a question on a similar issue in question time today.
Kim Carr makes the obvious point that Scott Morrison could remove children from detention tonight. He does not need the bill to do it. Using kids to make a political point is “obscene”.
The government does not blush at this.
It will be interesting to see if Labor seeks to draw out this debate after Pyne’s advice to give it up, given all the positions are known knowns. It would mean the house would have to stay in town. By senate leader Penny Wong’s tenure with president Parry earlier, she is not giving up without a fight. Mike Bowers captured Warrior Wong here.
#BrickSenate #WarriorWong gets very very very cranky with the president @gabriellechan @murpharoo @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/p2o9DSMjYP
— Mike Bowers (@mpbowers) December 4, 2014
Kim Carr is outlining Labor’s position on the asylum seeker bill. Labor does not like temporary protection visas because they leave refugees in limbo. (They cannot get permanent residency.) The full details of the bill are here, via Daniel Hurst.
Bless Mike Bowers. He caught senators Xenophon and Heffernan voting on that procedure to bring on the asylum seeker bill.
#BrickSenate #BrickXenophon sits next to #BrickHeffernan during #division. @murpharoo @gabriellechan @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/dkpfRWy0bR
— Mike Bowers (@mpbowers) December 4, 2014
Parry is telling everyone to listen to proceedings and get over themselves. We are descending into a dog fight in fog, as Barnaby would say.
Labor is trying to block the vote. #BrickBrandis is objecting to Labor’s Kim Carr, who is yelling loudly.
(Brandis) has accused of abusing the clerk and it is totally false...You coward!
Brandis, in his inimitable way, says he saw Carr “rounding” on the clerk.
President Stephen Parry says:
things are getting a bit tense.
Carr and Brandis have to withdraw their respective slurs.
In the senate, which has caught my eye, the government is voting to bring back the asylum seeker bill, which means they must have the numbers. Sky News is reporting Ricky Muir is in the government camp. That is, he is voting to support Scott Morrison’s bill.
You will get it back at recess Feeney.
Tanya Plibersek is sharing a personal story about finding a rotting sandwich in her son’s school bag. In the process of finding this stinking, warm, decaying mess, she also found his school report. Somehow, she segues to the Abbott government.
Can there ever be enough banana photos?
Daniel Hurst reports on the listing of Al-Raqqa, revealed in parliament by foreign minister Julie Bishop. Here he is:
Julie Bishop said Al-Raqqa province was the “de facto capital” of Islamic State (Isis), from which its operations were largely directed. It would be an offence for an Australian citizen or resident to enter or remain in the area without a legitimate purpose.
Tough new counter-terrorism laws passed both houses of the Australian parliament in October with bipartisan support. One of the most controversial elements was the provision allowing the foreign affairs minister to declare an area in a foreign country if satisfied that a listed terrorist organisation was engaging in hostile activity there.
The laws contained exceptions for people who travelled to the area solely for one or more legitimate purposes listed in legislation, such as making a bona fide visit to a family member, providing humanitarian aid, or working as a professional journalist.
Bishop said Isis was “engaging in significant hostile activities in Al-Raqqa, including the murder of opponents, the rape and enslavement of women, and the intimidation and subjugation of the civilian population to their brutal control”.
Australians who do not have a legitimate reason for travel to the province could face a 10 year jail term.
Who knew there were brick bananas? From one of our regular readers, Jane Cattermole.
@mpbowers @gabriellechan @murpharoo @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/N6IhzifdzE
— Jane Cattermole (@janecat60) December 4, 2014
Are we there yet?
One last matter of public importance, before the house rises. Bill Shorten is giving a very entertaining speech, reprising the year’s events and reminding all and sundry that it has been a difficult year for the Abbott government.
It is, in the old-fashioned Australian technical sense, a piss-take. Or rather a more refined person might call it a roast.
Leader of the house, Christopher Pyne informs on the sitting hours, given it is the last day.
The senate has yet to debate legislation which will have to return to the lower house. Pyne is advising senators against prolonging debate, given everyone has made their positions clear.
Just make your point and get on with it, says Pyne, not in so many words. He can’t rule out the senate sitting all night as that is up to them but if they do, Pyne will resume the house in the morning. He will not insist on members staying through the night but they will come back if necessary after a sleep.
Finally Labor’s Mark Dreyfus is thrown out and speaker Bishop breathes a sigh of relief when question time is over.
This question time is getting very close to simply being farce, says the speaker.
No props!
Yes we have no bananas.
Nick Champion is evicted from the house for waving bananas around during #QT @gabriellechan @murpharoo @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/9KFDElf6vp
— Mike Bowers (@mpbowers) December 4, 2014
A Labor question for Tony Abbott on a cabinet reshuffle and the futures of David Johnston and Arthur Sinodinos.
Tony Abbott says he has full confidence in Johnston and he is hoping Arfur can return following the Icac investigation.
If there is one thing this government is proud of, it is that this has been a year of delivery by this government from the Australian people.
Christopher Pyne is now outlining the regional development funding review by the Audit Commission.
(The report) said (former) minister (Catherine King) made 34 decisions that diverged from the recommendations of the panel or more than 80%.
Anthony Albanese gets up to make a point of order during Hockey’s answer, in which the treasurer quotes Mark Latham.
I would have thought you got to draw the line somewhere, the Latham diaries is just too far.
Albo gets punted. There are now six Labor MPs turfed, including Champion, O’Connor, Fitzgibbon, Butler and King.
Joe Hockey gets up to answer a government question. Hockey is talking about books for Christmas. He has a go at his favourite target, former treasurer Wayne Swan about his book before moving to Bill Shorten. This is going to the “rorting of taxpayers’ money”, in the former regional development Australia fund.
After Abbott quoted journalist Paul Kelly, Hockey is quoting former Rudd advisor Bruce Hawker on Shorten.
Labor’s fascinated in the Little Book of Lies.
They are waving the booklets and speaker Bishop is getting cranky.
A paper plane has been thrown from the public gallery.
A question to Scott Morrison on what to do with the 30,000 asylum seekers who arrived under the Labor government.
Since the introduction of turn backs there has not been one death.
Morrison says the SHEV immigration bill gives 25,000 people on bridging visas working rights while they wait for these claims to be processed.
Updated
Barnaby Joyce is up on a drought question.
The member for Wakefield (Nick Champion) holds up a bunch of bananas, in reference to Julie Bishop.
The member for Wakefield and his bananas will leave... you know who eats bananas, don’t you.
Labor asks Abbott: the prime minister broke his promise to Australians by introducing $100,000 degrees. Does the prime minister now regret his year of unfairness, chaos and broken promises?
This is a complete fantasy, a complete fabrication, an absolute complete and utter fabrication, being pedalled by the member who asked the question.
(Amanda Rishworth.)
Then it is onto a dissertation about the Labor leadership battles in the last government.
The treasurer is making his statement to the house just after 4pm.
Labor’s Tanya Plibersek supports the declaration of the province and then asks the PM:
Why did the prime minister break his promise to Australians and cut $6,000 from families (through combined budget measures)?
Well, I haven’t done any such thing, says Abbott.
Al-Raqqa in Syria a declared zone
Julie Bishop has declared a province of Al-Raqqa in Syria a declared zone.
This now makes it an offence under Australian law to enter or remain in the province of Al Raqqa without a legitimate person. Anyone who enters or remains faces a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment.
Independent Cathy McGowan asks Malcolm Turnbull about long term satellite service in rural and regional Australia.
Turnbull says the satellite will be launched in the latter part of next year.
Customers will be able to purchase plans from late2015 to early 2016. The speeds will be 25 megabits per second down, 5 megabits per second up.
(It is always a shock to get a clear answer, isn’t it?)
David Johnston has told the senate he won’t comment on whether staff had been sacked in his office, as an investigation is underway, but says he requires “the highest level of probity and secure information” in his office.
Which would dump the aforementioned staff well and truly in it, I would suggest.
Tony Burke has another go.
Why did the prime minister break election promises and then introduce a GP tax?
We are absolutely upfront about the need to make Medicare sustainable, says Abbott.
Pyne objects to the question and Burke suggests given the speaker has allowed rhetorical flourish by the treasurer, Labor should be allowed. Speaker Bishop says the ruling relates to just questions, not answers. Which is handy when you are in government.
The question of what is considered to be acceptable language is determined by me in this case, says the speaker.
Tony Burke is having another go at getting the word “lie” in the question.
Why did the Prime Minister lie to Australians and then introduce a GP tax?
A question to Hockey on budget.
Labor is now objecting to unfair treatment by speaker Bishop. It goes nowhere.
Tony Burke’s Christmas gift for Christopher Pyne is a Lego avatar. Here are the house managers sitting together.
Labor’s Catherine King just asked a question about the prime minister’s “lie” as government members yell “RORT” at her in reference to the Audit Commissions report on regional grants.
Given the word “lie” is unparliamentary, speaker Bishop throws out King. Labor objects and Bishop sits them down. They lose the question and the government gets a Dixer.
At the risk of confusing everyone, mostly myself, back in the senate David Johnston is suggesting he has never once accepted a plane upgrade. Therefore, he is pure.
Doug Cameron asks if his “taxpayer funded fine dining tour” was an attempt to become a food and wine critic when he’s eventually “shuffled out of the cabinet”.
Shorten asks Abbott: Does he honestly believe that he would be in the lodge today if the night before the last election he had been straight with the Australian people?
Abbott uses the budget black hole defence. We thought it was $18bn. It turned out to be $30bn, says the PM.
Updated
Up in the senate, Labor is going defence minister David Johnston over his expensive entertainment habits. The basic argument is a comparison between $190 bottles of wine with soldiers’ pay.
Johnston says he rejects the question and goes to Labor’s record.
Labor’s Doug Cameron takes a point of order, saying the question goes to:
the use of power for privilege.
First question to the PM is about “unprecedented” budget unfairness. Labor waves the booklet of lies and speaker Bishop calls them immature.
Tony Abbott’s answer is about stopping boats, building infrastructure, ending the tax, etc. The opposition leader is all about “trashing Australia to help himself”.
We are delivering, says Abbott.
Is there a female version of Eddie Everywhere? I’ll take suggestions.
Bananas Bishop has sent a message to Australian travellers on the sensible limits on consular assistance. In other words, you may have to pay.
It is such a clear message that she wrote that it was a clear message.
The Government is sending a clear message to individuals who have unreasonable or unrealistic demands: consular assistance is not a right and if you deliberately or wilfully abuse it, you cannot expect more than the absolute minimum level of assistance and advice. Introducing cost recovery for consular services is not the Government’s preferred approach because the vast majority of travelers do the right thing. However, some will only change their behaviour if presented with a negative consequence.
Stick that in your suitcase, travellers.
Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth but wait until question time.
Which is in less than 10 minutes.
Christopher Pyne inspects his mini-me, with Tony Burke and Wyatt Roy.
Scott Morrison has agreed to a condition from Leyonhjelm to send the Lib Dem policy for review by the Productivity Commission. He wants no cap on permanent residents but a fee. Not sure how that would work...
He also likes the idea of asylum seekers working, presumably while their cases are being sorted.
Working is something I find desirable for these people.
Of course, after the Commission considers the policy, it can be put in the round file.
Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm is talking to Lyndal Curtis about the SHEV asylum seeker bill.
The senator is still talking to Scott Morrison about support for the bill. He is inclined to support but wants the refugee intake increased and is considering some kind of judicial process for determining refugees.
A country road.
Things always get unpredictable when Bill Heffernan arrives.
I’m told be behaved.
So Bill Shorten has left that press conference, at which 14 Labor MPs were standing around their leader like a Christmas choir, holding a booklet entitled “The Little Book of Lies”, with Tony Abbott’s beaming face on the cover.
Shorten is asked about Clive Palmer’s backflip on the SHEV immigration bill. Shorten’s take is that Morrison and Palmer have different understandings of the same bill. Or that Cliev has been snowed.
Whilst Clive Palmer and Scott Morrison may be in the same bed they’ve got different dreams.
I don’t even want to think about that.
Bill Shorten is having fun with the Julie Bishop banana smoothie, see Murph’s earlier post.
We’ve got the situation where Julie Bishop wants the prime minister’s job. Andrew Robb’s job is to watch Julie Bishop. Joe Hockey doesn’t want even want his own job. David Johnston can’t do his job and Scott Morrison, well, he wants to do everyone’s job.
There is a question on whether Labor will be happy with pushing out the surplus as a result of budget measures stuck in the senate.
Labor’s Chris Bowen dubbs Hockey the “master of disaster” and calls on the government to change its policy given it has been rejected by the senate.
Plan B is required.
What will you do about the blowout in health and education, as identified by the Commission of Audit? Remember that?
Bill Shorten says he does not accept there is a Medicare crisis, and anyway, even if there is, why is the government proposing the co-payment goes into the $20bn medical research fund.
Shorten is asked about when Labor will reveal some of his own policies. Shorten takes issue with the question, rejecting the assumption that Labor has opposed everything. We have worked with the government on national security.
Good argggfternoon fellow tragics. Bill Shorten is up now talking about the Abbott government and:
another chapter of the book of lies.
Jenny Macklin is talking about social security legislation that will cut pensions, having promised not to do so before the last election. This is the indexation changes announced in the May budget, which Macklin says will cost pensiners $80 a week.
Well Blogans, Bloganistas – I am very sad to leave you, but leave you I must. We are executing a shift change now because I must join my colleagues in Sydney for the Walkley Awards.
The co-owner of this blog, the lovely Gabrielle Chan will take PL home now for the rest of the afternoon. Make her very welcome.
Happy Christmas everyone and thnak you for the support. We love our readers dearly. To all, a good night.
Perhaps #BrickBrandis will answer a question?
#BrickSenate AG #BrickBrandis give a " till you drop" press conference in the blue room @murpharoo @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/MJJvWKhb3l
— Mike Bowers (@mpbowers) December 4, 2014
Given the real attorney-general fled the scene this morning without answering a single question, #BrickBrandis is making an appearance now in the Blue Room.
The manager of opposition business, Tony Burke, uses his valedictory to give a shout out to Mike Bowers and #BrickSenate. He says Mike is currently building a #BrickHouse. (No comment.) Burke says he gathers that MPs are permitted to cast themselves if they supply their own Lego. (Sadly, Tony, no – you must deal with our castings I’m afraid. Stay tuned.) He submits his avatar as Han Solo. (No.) He submits a figure or Christopher Pyne: a policeman with a changeable face. Happy Pyne and Grumpy Pyne. Today it’s set to Grumpy Pyne.
Pyne thanks the prime minister for his indulgence.
It is a great privilege to be a Cabinet minister and on our side of politics, you only get that privilege if the prime minister gives it to you.
Down in the House, it’s the education minister Christopher Pyne, with his valedictory. He’s thanking colleagues for their enthusiasm for parliamentary business. He’s thanking Labor for being a vibrant opposition. Without a vibrant opposition, governments can get sloppy, Pyne notes.
Just so everyone knows what’s going on ...
That’s Gavin Marshall, in the Senate president’s chair. This is about extending the sitting. It’s that kind of day.
The most reliable readers in the world, Politics Live readers.
@murpharoo hope @mpbowers enjoys his new assignment #gulag #DontMessWithMurpharoo #CoffeeIsSacred pic.twitter.com/rEAE1mYsQy
— EverRob (@BarondeBoef) December 4, 2014
Take that Bowers. Flat skum.
Joyce has moved on now to the House, where he is giving his valedictory covering the year to date. He just compared parliament to a spaceship.
The Senate is currently asking itself whether or not it should sit longer. My advice: GO HOME.
No, there’s the line.
Barnaby Joyce:
I think we have achieved very well.
The year of achievement? Or dogs in a fog.
You decide.
Best line since 'Life is like a box of chocolates'?
This has to be in contention for the line of the year.
Barnaby Joyce, on the government’s performance.
The first year of a government is like a dog fight in a fog where it’s loud, it’s noisy, it’s furious and the targets are shadowy.
So far, Bill Hefferan is on his best behaviour. Joyce is telling reporters he intends to stand behind the family farm.
We will stand behind the family farm, we believe in farming families, they’re the cornerstone of Australian agriculture.
I’m happy to take questions ..
(Agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce, who is making a drought assistance announcement).
Woot.
.. except from Bill Heffernan.
The Liberal senator Bill Heffernan is hovering at the back of the room.
Perhaps the day is going to get stranger.
Sorry @murpharoo this is all I managed to get of George #photoFail he was just too dam quick for me @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/vPFpWh2gSw
— Mike Bowers (@mpbowers) December 4, 2014
Let’s do highlights from ‘the adults are back in charge’, today Thursday.
- This morning the government made it known that the focal point of today was to be an economic statement which, as far as I know, has not yet been scheduled in the House of Representatives.
- The attorney-general George Brandis has decided an appointment as serious as a new judge on the High Court of Australia does not warrant pausing to take a question from journalists.
- Clive Palmer, despite signalling yesterday Scott Morrison’s migration legislation was going to hit the fence, has decided today Scott Morrison’s legislation is not going to hit the fence – and then ended this announcement by advising reporters to stick it.
- Tony Abbott’s valedictory message to parliament couldn’t attract anymore than one Cabinet minister to witness it.
Did I miss anything here?
You've got to stick it. Stick it good.
With apologies to Devo.
Clive's parting shot "stick it" with a thumbs up-a mixed message-Merry Xmas to you too Clive @murpharoo @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/N5xnb1nZyF
— Mike Bowers (@mpbowers) December 4, 2014
Stick it: an epidemic
Cliev’s “stick it” invocation to the parliamentary press gallery in Canberra is really taking off.
Updated
In the Brandis press release, Justice Nettle is Geoffrey Arthur Akeroyd Nettle.
Come back George! Come back!
The appointee by the by is Geoffrey Nettle, formerly of the Victorian Supreme Court.
What the ..
Because things weren’t quite weird enough today, the attorney-general George Brandis has just announced a new justice for the High Court and then turned on his heels and walked out of the Blue Room.
He did not take a single question.
I mentioned earlier we needed an APB on Chistopher Pyne.
The prime minister noted Pyne’s absence during his valedictory – but look, he scampered in at the last minute.
Pyne is making a statement to parliament on schools. Perhaps that’s why the treasurer can’t get a landing slot for his economic statement.
Julie stows bananas
The foreign minister Julie Bishop is doing her best to clean up this morning’s banana smoothie. She’s in Melbourne, and naturally she’s asked about this morning’s story about her bollocking the prime minister for sending trade minister and climate science irrationalist Andrew Robb to Lima to chaperone her for climate change talks.
Julie has put down the fruit. She tells reporters that it was an efficient use of our time to have two ministers at the Lima conference. This shows how seriously we are taking the climate change conference, Bishop says, with a smile that would stop traffic.
Clive's Christmas message to reporters: Stick It.
The press conference descended into predictable farce when reporters started asking about Palmer’s court case. Palmer turned away from the reporter asking the question.
Then when another reporter pressed on Dio Wang and education reform, Palmer departed with this retort.
Stick it.
Palmer is swatting away questions about whether his Senator, Dio Wang, is keen to work with the government on higher education reform.
Palmer says Senator Wang certainly wants education reform but not Christopher Pyne’s education package.
Q: On higher education, if Dio Wang believes reform is necessary, will you allow him to vote accordingly is?
Palmer:
He doesn’t believe it’s necessary.
Q: He says the system is unsustainable.
It depends on what you’re talking about. If you are talking about Christopher Pyne’s bill, he doesn’t believe it’s necessary.
Q: Is it your understanding that this bill will be before the Senate by the end of this week?
Palmer:
I think it will be there now probably.
(He could be right. The division bells are ringing.)
The price of a Clive flip
Palmer says he got a couple of extra concessions out of the government in this final dash.
He says:
- People on special enterprise visas (SHEVs) will get family reunion rights, and ..
- There will be no cap on the number of visas.
Now the spotlight turns to Ricky Muir. If Ricky’s on board, then it’s happy Christmas Scott Morrison.
Palmer is telling reporters he believes Muir will support the legislation.
Q: Have you had any discussions with Ricky Muir on this bill?
I have had some discussions with him. I am pretty sure he will support the bill.
Updated
It's official: Clive flips
Clive Palmer is confirming that he will back the migration legislation despite telling the government yesterday he was inclined not to.
Mind your whiplash.
Just for the record – I mentioned earlier on Bill Shorten’s effort in the valedictory to bamboozle the prime minister with .. empathy.
Here’s the excerpt.
Madam Speaker, earlier this year I lost my mother, a wonderful woman who taught me and my twin brother so much. The prime minister sent me a very kind message of condolence. In one of those unscripted moments in public life, Prince William was ahead of the prime minister, Princess Kate behind, prime minister in between – my wife was talking to Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge was talking to Madam Speaker – and there was the prime minister and I within handshake range as we did.
I thanked him for his thoughtful words and his message about my mother. I said that every so often, just when I’m at the point of complete frustration with the prime minister, he does something nice to surprise me. I think the Prime Minister was sufficiently surprised at this comment but he paused and said “Don’t worry, I’m sure I’ll find a way to frustrate you soon”.
Prime minister, thank you for your generosity. Please send my very best to your remarkable wife Margie and your clever and capable daughters. I’m sure as you savour a shandy or two this summer, pondering your year of achievement, you will miss us, but don’t worry, we’ll be back, we’ll be here, ready for the political battle in the year ahead whatever it may bring.
Everything today is more or less – the economic statement does not yet have a landing slot in the House of Representatives, it has not been scheduled definitively.
We still expect it before Question Time. Perhaps we need to put out an APB for Christopher Pyne.
I should also note in passing, the new Labor government in Victoria is being sworn in as we speak.
Sorry I should have mentioned – noon more or less is the timing on Joe Hockey’s economic statement.
Updated
More news reports starting to emerge that Morrison is more likely to get a victory today than not. Looks like we are all getting the same mail.
I'm hearing govt close to securing numbers for TPV bill with PUP and Muir. @SkyNewsAust
— David Speers (@David_Speers) December 3, 2014
That’s quite funny.
Hey Shaun @madashelltv. You should have got into the merchandising before Bill did. pic.twitter.com/TENYHmkVus
— Julie Owens (@JulieOwensMP) December 3, 2014
We’ll continue to make inquiries about the migration bill. It’s looking more like victory for Morrison than defeat at this point, but that guidance is far from definitive just yet. Too many moving parts. Clive Palmer is due to address reporters in about an hour.
Sorry to fixate on small things, but one Cabinet colleague behind the prime minister for his valedictory? One?
Is there an offsite going on somewhere?
Shorten does his best nice to the prime minister, paying tribute to his personal generosity in big moments, sending best regards to the Abbott family. Nice is the best revenge in politics, professional fighters can deal with combat, it’s much harder to respond to empathy and kindness. It cuts across the front you need to preserve yourself in a brutal line of work. It disarms and disorients. It should be noted the prime minister squirmed appropriately during the Shorten tribute.
Updated
Oh, no, one Cabinet minister – apologies – Barnaby Joyce was in the chamber.
Updated
Shorten, haw haw.
To members of the press gallery, we all benefit from your hindsight.
Now it’s Bill Shorten’s turn. Abbott’s delivery was somewhat funereal. Shorten is positively bubbly.
Where is the Cabinet? Calling all Cabinet ministers ... your leader is speaking.
The prime minister says the two priorities of government are national security and economic security. He notes Labor has provided considerable bipartisanship on security.
We are into the thank you’s. Colleagues (who, as I’ve mentioned, are curiously absent in the chamber). Cleaners. Madam Speaker. Parliamentary staff.
His chief of staff, Peta Credlin.
The fiercest political warrior I’ve ever worked with.
Abbott’s cheersquad behind him looks a little sparse as he notes the G20 in Brisbane was a fragrant moment for this country.
(Fragrant?)
Valedictories in the House
It being the last sitting day of 2014 (probs) the prime minister is currently giving his summation of 2014 to the chamber.
Tony Abbott is using this speech to run through his shopping list of government achievements.
On the budget deadlock, he says this:
The budget is being addressed. I can’t say it is fully addressed, but a good start has been made.
I don’t think anyone could question our clarity of purpose and our strength of character.
Not looking good for refugees
Deep background word out of the Senate is Morrison has persuaded the PUPs to back the migration legislation. I’m not certain that’s the case yet, but that’s the word.
All things liable to change without notice.
I’ll keep you posted.
It’s wonderful to see how engaged Politics Live readers have been in our #BrickSenate nonsense over this final sitting fortnight. Tim Senior via Twitter suggests we should branch out of bricks and into little fluffy toys.
Here in the #SylvanianSenate is (L-R) Clive Palmer, Jacqui Lambie and Fiona Nash. @murpharoo @mpbowers pic.twitter.com/IPZg1Wq57A
— Tim Senior (@timsenior) December 3, 2014
Step back. Captain Cronulla, coming through.
Scott Morrison: I'm not on Oprah's couch
Morrison is on Sky News now, being asked about reshuffles, given the defence minister has had an appalling few weeks. The immigration minister is regarded by backbenchers as a chap on the move and by ministerial colleagues as a chap who needs his vaulting ambition contained within hard portfolio boundaries.
Morrison is often tipped as Johnston’s replacement in defence when Tony Abbott finally shuffles his creaky deck chairs. The immigration minister isn’t buying in.
Those decisions aren’t made by the minister for border protection. It has nothing to do with me.
Sky reporter Kieran Gilbert pushes Morrison on Julie Bishop stamping her foot and Johnston’s office being in clear meltdown. What to do, what to do, Gilbert wonders?
Morrison:
Kieran, you are not Oprah and I’m not on Oprah’s couch.
Theme music suggestions very welcome.
Here at Politics Live, hydration comes with a side of abuse.
Well @mpbowers this is war pic.twitter.com/yz9kiMTQbo
— Katharine Murphy (@murpharoo) December 3, 2014
However it ends, it’s going to be a long day. Best stay hydrated.
Another minister with a very big day today is the immigration minister Scott Morrison.
Morrison wants to get a highly contentious migration proposal through the Senate, and has been attempting to woo the Palmer United Party with a promise of an increase in the humanitarian intake if they do the nasty stuff.
It’s not clear whether it will be thumbs up or whether the government is going to take another legislative bath this week. If it’s to be no, Morrison was making it clear on the radio this morning that the sweeteners on the table now would be off the table. No increase in the humanitarian intake.
Radio National Breakfast host Fran Kelly asked Morrison whether kids would remain detained on Christmas Island.
Morrison:
Of course they will because we revert to the policy which currently stands.
Morning Joe.
The treasurer Joe Hockey (and we hear, the prime minister) plan to address the chamber shortly on the economy. All week the Abbott’s government’s economic messaging has veered between everything is hunky dory and everything is on the brink of ruination. Today we are more in the ruination camp: give us our structural reform agenda or the Senate gets it.
Hockey has already been on the radio.
There is a risk we could face a fall in living standards if we can’t implement our economic action plan.
Beyond that, Hockey is once again playing up ending industry assistance to Australian car manufacturers as a positive for the economy. A large number of car workers will lose their jobs over the next couple of years courtesy of that decision early in the life of the Abbott government, and they are losing jobs in a weak economy.
I’m no fan of business welfare. Cutting industry assistance is good for the budget, sure – but I fail to see how adding to the joblessness queue is good for the economy.
It really isn’t. And why the treasurer thinks this is a positive political message right now when the government is fighting major political bushfires in South Australia completely escapes me.
And if business welfare is bad for the economy by definition, should we junk all of it? Tax concessions for business? And the biggest most absurd boondoggle of all, the government’s Direct Action scheme?
Updated
Good morning folks and welcome to what I’m going to continue to insist is the last parliamentary sitting day for 2014 – even though it may well not be. Coming into parliament this morning I passed two exhausted looking Senators who clearly would much rather be going home tonight than grinding through an extended sitting. But parliament will consider its fate today when it considers a motion about whether to sit on to deal with unfinished business, or whether to scatter for Christmas and a surf.
This morning’s news cycle ain’t pretty for the government. David Wroe has a story in Fairfax suggesting the defence minister David Johnston’s office is in meltdown. Wroe says two staff members were “shown the door as the Defence Department launched an investigation into a damaging leak of the minister’s expense receipts.” The News Corp tabloids had a story the day before detailing Johnston’s somewhat generous hospitality spending. Strangely, that first story didn’t get a great run even though it’s classic tabloid fodder. Wonder why?
Moving on. In the Australian Financial Review, Phil Coorey reports that foreign minister Julie Bishop stamped her foot to Tony Abbott after learning she would be chaperoned by her junior minister Andrew Robb at climate talks in Peru to make sure she didn’t actually agree to anything to would assist the cause of containing emissions. “Julie went bananas at the PM,” said one source.
Lots of potassium in bananas. Good for strength and stamina. Speaking of which, let’s sprint into the day. The news cycle is already running full tilt. Lots of issues on the go – including a ministerial statement on the economy once the House sits.
The Politics Live comments thread is open for your business and so are we on the Twits – @murpharoo @mpbowers
