What a day! What a week! What a year!
Apply which ever is necessary.
We are going to leave it here today, but don’t despair, we will be back on Monday.
As a special treat, you’ll also be able to tune in with Gabrielle Chan, Anne Davies and Katharine Murphy for coverage of the Wentworth byelection, with Chan back on the blog for a special guest appearance, as I have a prior engagement.
Monday will also bring the national apology for the survivors of childhood institutional abuse. It is bound to be a powerful and emotional moment, so I hope you will join us, as we say sorry to those forced into horrific situations, through no fault of their own.
Thank you for joining us this week. Thank you to the Guardian’s brains trust, and those who turn this into something that makes sense (I hope). Goodness knows the parliament could do with that at times!
But your company makes it all worthwhile. Have a wonderful weekend and remember – take care of you.
One of two Senate committees examining the My Health Record has delivered a report calling on the government to extend the opt-out period for a further 12 months and to legislate that the records “cannot be accessed for employment or insurance purposes”.
It also wants the My Health Record law strengthened so that data cannot be used for commercial purposes.
The community affairs references committee has a Labor-Greens majority, which explains why it has gone further in calling for safeguards than the legislation committee, which simply recommended that the Senate pass the government’s bill to ensure police cannot access records without a warrant and other refinements.
Last Friday Labor health spokeswoman Catherine King reiterated that Labor supports the electronic health record but called for “a range of deficiencies” to be addressed before it is rolled out to all Australians (who have not opted out).
King announced Labor’s intention to push amendments to ensure private health insurers “can never access My Health Records, including de-identified data”, to protect employees’ right to privacy and strengthen safeguards in domestic violence situations.
Updated
We’ve seen “strong” be recycled – are we now going for a redo of “the things that matter?”
The last person who used this slogan was Alexander Downer. It didn't go well. Remember he joked that the Coalition's domestic violence policy was "The Things That Batter" .
— Sue Dunlevy (@Sue_Dunlevy) October 18, 2018
Updated
K, last one, I promise.
But surely the lapel flag pins of Australian truthiness, meat pies, whatever football code is more politically palatable to you and surf brand caps would be enough to pop the Canberra bubble?
But wait – Gareth Hutchens comes through with an early Labor contender for ultimate man spread power stance – head to about the 46 minute mark of this Kim Beazley classic.
The Torys in the UK may have their power stance, but it seems the Scott Morrison video has confirmed that our conservatives have their own unique take – the ultimate man spread.
Updated
MathiasCormann liked this tweet: https://t.co/7r3LONUEel
— Auspolwatch (@auspolwatch) October 18, 2018
Darren Chester tells Sky that Barnaby Joyce had his chance as leader, repeating that there is no vacancy and Michael McCormack is doing “a damn good job”.
I really look forward to creating a giant mess and then telling people that’s just bubble stuff, and I’m getting on with it.
Public nuisance? Bubble stuff. I’m just getting on with it.
One tweet on #kidsoffnauru - I understand we need a credible policy against people smugglers who are self interested economic actors but there is no upside to doing this to children no matter how they came over. Bring them here. We don't imprison minors, why are we doing this?
— Alex Turnbull (@alexbhturnbull) October 18, 2018
Cool. Cool, cool, cool
Here’s Nationals MP David Gillespie claiming extra preschool can leave kids with a lower IQ 🧐 pic.twitter.com/tNMwoxxTxs
— Alice Workman (@workmanalice) October 18, 2018
Amanda Meade has the Michelle Guthrie story:
The former ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie has filed an adverse action against the broadcaster at the Fair Work Commission after being sensationally sacked by the board last month.
Sources close to Guthrie confirmed she had begun the legal process for adverse action this week but no further details were available. Applications made to the commission are private.
Guthrie’s argument is that the ABC board had no grounds to apply the termination clause in her $900k contract which still had two-and-a-half years to run.
Updated
This is giving me massive Troy McClure vibes. I am not sure that was the intention, but ... well, see for yourself.
The things that matter. pic.twitter.com/OoKGJ0Zwx4
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) October 18, 2018
Updated
Darren Chester pays tribute to the athletes and participants in the upcoming Invictus Games in Sydney.
Bill Shorten follows up and adds this proposal:
Previously the Australian sports medal was awarded to people who contributed to sporting success ... it’s been discontinued.
I offer Labor’s support in reviving the medal, to write to the governor general and revive it. Given the wonderful spotlight that Invictus puts on veterans and disability and the nation’s sport, I think it would be a modest recognition for the team, administrators.
Scott Morrison accepts Labor’s proposal:
For all of those who will be participating, we wish you all the best and in the spirit of bipartisanship in this place on such an important matter, we’d be very happy to take on the recommendation of the leader of the opposition.
And then he calls time on the questions.
Updated
Bill Shorten really misses Malcolm Turnbull.
I guess it’s true what they say – that you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone?
Shorten:
Can the prime minister confirm that this week his government has voted for a white supremacist slogan, damaged relations with Indonesia, leaked secret ASIO advice, insulted every country in the Pacific, had an environment minister who’s misled parliament twice and undermined the deputy prime minister with open warfare breaking out in the National party?
If this is what a Morrison government really looks like, why isn’t Malcolm Turnbull still the prime minister of Australia?
Morrison:
Here is a list of all the things we have done in the last two months. He’s trying to rev up his backbench, including with fist pumps and looking at them and while Luke Howarth seems to be miming a golf swing, the ‘yeahs’ aren’t as loud as they should be.
Also, someone should remind Michael McCormack he is always on camera when someone is at the dispatch box.
Morrison finishes with:
I’ve got no idea what this leader of the opposition, what this ... bubble-obsessed leader of the opposition is interested in.
Really just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it?
Updated
Chris Bowen to Scott Morrison:
The government has had three prime ministers, three deputy prime ministers with a fourth on its way and three treasurers. How could it claim a vote for the Liberals on Saturday is a vote for stability when this unfit and unstable government has already fallen to pieces?
Morrison:
Take note, 1.15m jobs. There’s a start. Five% unemployment rate. Down from the last election, down from when you were treasurer and you left the books in a fiscal mess.
He continues, listing the government’s achievements, and ends with a plug for Dave Sharma.
Who is only campaigning because the Liberal party dumped Malcolm Turnbull as leader.
And around the merry-go-round we go.
Updated
From its story:
Former ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie has lodged an adverse action against the public broadcaster in the Fair Work Commission after being sacked halfway through her five-year term.
Sources have confirmed Ms Guthrie has launched proceedings in the Fair Work Commission and has engaged leading law firm Johnson Winter & Slattery.
Updated
I guess he owes this to the party too?
Malcolm Turnbull been asked to help smooth the path of the FTA with the Indonesian President.
— Barrie Cassidy (@barriecassidy) October 18, 2018
Luke Gosling to Melissa Price:
The government has cut 39% of public services or the public service in greater Darwin. Now on the eve of cyclone season the government plans to move forecasting from our local Bureau of Meteorology office to other parts of the country. Will the minister rule out further public service cuts in the Northern Territory and will she guarantee that there will be no loss of forecasting capability to the Bureau of Meteorology in the Northern Territory?
Price (reading from a piece of paper):
It’s lovely to talk about another part of my very large, important portfolio. Any suggestions that the Bureau of Meteorology is reducing its commitment to any state or territory are absolutely false.
The bureau has reassured the Australian community on numerous occasions over the last month that it is committed to maintaining its presence in all states and territories.
The claims made by the Community and Public Sector Union that the bureau is cutting services are completely false. Advances in technology mean that the bureau’s routine forecasting can largely be done from a few specialised locations using less resources.
This will allow the bureau to increase its capacity of its states and territory staff to work on the more important services like spending more money working with emergency services on the ground during cyclones and bushfires, which I’m sure the member for Solomon would welcome.
Updated
Katharine Murphy, who is in the chamber, has let me know that Ed Husic called out to Christopher Pyne:
“Always fixing.”
Get onto the burns unit IMMEDIATELY.
Updated
Joel Fitzgibbon to...Barnaby Joyce:
My question is to the member for New England. Under standing order 99. I refer to the member’s motion on the notice paper relating to the drought and the importance of providing strong leadership for rural and regional Australians. And I ask the member, when will the motion finally be put to a vote?”
Christopher Pyne tries to stop it:
Mr Speaker, I seek your guidance, but there are very clear guidelines around questions to private members about committees and business of the House. Not about when a motion may or may not be debated in the parliament, but there are rules around how many submissions they’ve received, how many meetings they might have had and I’m not sure that question is in order.
Tony Burke counters:
Standing order 99 makes clear that these questions [can be asked] of honourable members be made to chairs of committees as the leader of the House just referred but also to people who have motions on the notice paper. The motion on the notice paper is motion number 36 on the notice paper and I’d also refer you to page 550 of the practice which says ‘That the procedure with respect to these motions which is different to where you’re dealing with questions to a committee, the rule is that the procedure committee has indicated its support for such questions being considered. That’s exactly what this question does, no more no less.
Pyne tries again:
As much as I was actually a former chairman of the procedure committee, as much as I respect the procedure committee...the evidence presented by the manager of opposition business, that because the procedure committee would welcome something doesn’t mean that it is actually part of the standing orders and I would point out to you that the timing of the debates in the parliament about legislation are matters for the parliamentary business committee which I happen to chair as the leader of the House and therefore it’s not within the responsibilities of the member for New England when a motion may or may not be debated.
But Tony Smith rules in favour of the question and allows it and Labor cheers.
Barnaby Joyce looks like all his Christmases have come at once and with it, 2016.
Well, thank you very much. I thank the honourable member for his question. I must say that I’m completely overwhelmed. I know that you find me endearing, I know you miss me, I know you want me back. I know I’m the only reason you ever get a question.
...But due to a whole range of other legislation that we need to get through, such as the small business tax cuts, I know they’re vitally important, so much that we have to get through, and I know we are looking to $272m which we caught and fought for, for the national regional growth fund and I know there are people who want to know where the money will be spent because of so much good this coalition government is doing and there is so much in front of us I’m sure we’ll get to the motion and when we do I’ll get back to you personally.
Ask me another question, God knows I’ve got a bit of spare time up here.
Updated
While question time is going on, this has dropped into our inboxes – which is in relation to Chris Knaus’s story, which you will find here.
The Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit is holding a public hearing tomorrow for the Committee’s inquiry into the publication of Auditor-General Report No.6 (2018-19), Army’s Protected Mobility Vehicle – Light.
During the course of the audit, the Attorney-General issued a certificate under section 37 of the Auditor-General Act 1997 (the Act) preventing the publication of certain material in the final audit report. The Committee will consider the matters relating to the issuing of the certificate and the publication of the report.
Committee Chair Senator Dean Smith said the public hearing will hear from the Attorney-General’s Department, the Department of Defence, and the Australian National Audit Office.
“As this is the first time an Attorney-General has considered whether to issue a certificate under section 37 (1)(b) of the Act, the Committee will be interested in hearing how the certification process was managed,” Senator Smith said.
The JCPAA is Parliament’s joint public administration committee. It scrutinises the governance, performance and accountability of Commonwealth agencies, and has the power to inquire into all expenditure of Commonwealth money.
The Committee examines all reports of the Auditor-General tabled in the Parliament and can inquire into any items, matters or circumstances connected with these reports.
Further information about these inquiries can be accessed via the Committee’s website.
Public hearing: 10.00am to 12.00pm, Friday 19 October 2018, Committee Room 1R3, Parliament House, Canberra
Witnesses: Attorney-General’s Department, Department of Defence, and the Australian National Audit Office
The public hearings will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live. The hearing programs are available from the Committee website.”
Updated
We return to the Melissa Price torture hour.
Cathy O’Toole to Melissa Price:
Yesterday the minister claimed that administration costs under the reef grant were capped at 5%. Can the minister confirm that under the agreement between the government and the small private Brisbane-based foundation in fact allows more than $80m to be spent on administration. Why is this government spending more than $80m on administration instead of on the reef?
Price: (who also has this answer written down as well)
The question in particular was, ‘I refer to the government’s almost half a billion-dollar grant to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. How much of that money could be spent on administration and scaling activities?” I thought the member was asking about the $440m. Was able to be able to spent on Administration and scaling up activities, which is 5%, which is correct.”
She then tries to move into money the reef has handed out, but Tony Burke stands up and Price returns to the question before he utters ‘point of order’.
Price:
OK so, the total amount of the grant that may be spent on the foundation’s administration work, which I thought was the question associated with the grant is $22.5m or 5%. In addition, the foundation may use an amount of interest that it earns on the grant towards administration costs but this is capped.
The maximum amount that the foundation may use for administration including the interest component is a total of$44.3m. So given the scale of the grant, I think this administration spend is reasonable. The agreement also allows for the foundation to enter into subcontracts and schedule 10 of the agreement, but I wasn’t asked that, so let’s be specific.”
Price finishes with another of the government’s attempts to make fetch happen – ‘they don’t know what you [Labor] stands for’, but on the back of a ‘clarification’ it falls more flat than usual.
Updated
Bridget McKenzie has spoken – in the Senate, during its quesiton time.
McKenzie:
“And even in recent times, deputy leaders have waited patiently for the current leader of the National party to retire before they proceed to leadership because they aspire to ensure that rural and regional Australia, that the leader of the National Party, whoever that may be, is able to continue the strong commitment and delivery for regional Australia”.
WHO IS THE LEADER OF THE NATIONALS? WHICH ONE IS IT? WHO IS THE LEADER OF THE NATIONALS?
Updated
Mark Butler to Melissa Price.
Yesterday during question time the minister categorically denied telling the former president of Kiribati, ‘I know why you’re here it’s for the cash.” For the Pacific it’s always about the cash. I have my cheque book here, how much do you want?’ But multiple sources have since confirmed that is exactly what the minister said. Given it’s been 24 hours since the minister misled this house, will the minister now comply with the ministerial standards and correct the record?”
She has a prepared answer to this question. No surprise there.
Price:
As I said in the house yesterday, that on Tuesday evening when I was out with my staff, that I stumbled across Senator Dodson and a group of [people]. It wasn’t organised. Wasn’t organised. I’m a pretty friendly person. I consider Senator Dodson a friend so I went over and said, ‘Hi, how are you going?’
He said to come and meet my guests which I did do and I was introduced to the former president of the former president of the republic of Kiribati to whom we had a pleasant light-hearted conversation.
I don’t recall the complete conversation but I do know when I looked at the letter from Senator Dodson which describes the conversation, I know that is not the conversation. I received this letter at 1.50 yesterday, so my first opportunity to speak with the ex-president was to call him directly after question time.
What I said to him is I don’t agree with the words that were reflected in the letter. But if – if – I have caused any concern then I’m very sorry about that. And he accepted my apology.
Further, I agree with President Tong’s comments this morning in the media when he said, ‘Let’s put this behind us and let’s move on.”
We agree with that because this government greatly values our relationship with our Pacific nation neighbours.
Updated
Andrew Wilkie has today’s crossbench question.
My question is for the prime minister. You and the minister for home affairs misled the parliament when it was claimed there were about 65 medical personal on Nauru and children are taken off the island on their advice. There’s only about half of them and all medical advice is overturned. Almost all children evacuated were because of federal court orders and the threat of legal action. Will you correct the record or will you continue to pedal lies of children suffering in Nauru. The community expects politicians to lie but not lie about children’s lives.
Tony Smith asks for the word “lie” to be withdrawn.
“The word lie cannot be used. There’s a long history of that. That needs to be withdrawn. No, I’m not going to have members on either side argue with black and white history. I mean, there was a former member of the Gillard government was asked by the Speaker to withdraw that term and certainly withdrew that term, and came up with other terms and there are other terms but I’m not going to give an education on the terms you can use, OK? I mean, seriously.”
Wilkie refuses to withdraw the word:
The truth matters. Everything in my question is truthful and I won’t withdraw it.”
Smith moves to the next question.
Updated
Tony Burke tries again. Tony Smith does not change his position.
“A decent bloke would [withdraw]” comes from the Labor benches.
“Not fit to be prime minister.”
“What a joke”.
Updated
Tony Burke attempts to make the prime minister withdraw the comments.
“Some months ago you made a ruling where in response to a question from our side you said that even though technically the tone and language was not viewed as unparliamentary you wanted to have a particular standard of debate in this parliament. An accusation of anti-Semitism is extraordinary, and there is a reason why the reaction you just saw from the opposition occurred. I ask that the prime minister withdraw.
Tony Smith:
Before I address this matter I’m going to agree with the manager of opposition business that I did ask for the tenor of language to improve for the temperature to lower, and I think it’s fair to say this week there’s been a degradation, and I’d say from both sides. I’m not sure the manager of opposition business wants me to go into all of the 90-second statements and statements that have been made with respect to the Senate motion that’s been a hot topic.
But I think it would be very remiss and very – disingenuous of me and the manager of opposition business to ignore that. Where members of the government have been compared to the Ku Klux Klan and I took no action. I took no action. It is tough language but it is a matter for the prime minister. I want the language on both sides to improve. The prime minister has concluded his answer.
Updated
Scott Morrison accuses Labor of acting in 'antisemitic way'
Tanya Plibersek to Scott Morrison:
“I refer to his previous answer, who does the prime minister blame for the leak of the Whatsapp exchange between our foreign minister and the Indonesian foreign minister.
Isn’t this proof that the prime minister put votes in a by-election ahead of the national interest in the most cynically-timed foreign policy decision in living memory. How is the prime minister fit to lead the nation when he act it’s in such a desperate and reckless way?”
Christopher Pyne attempts to have the question disallowed, but Tony Smith allows it.
Morrison:
What I can tell the house, that Minister Payne and her Indonesian counterpart had a constructive discussion on 16 October regarding Australia’s announcement. I continue to remain in contact with President Widodo.
Minister Payne emphasised there had been no change to Australia’s commitment to the Middle East peace process and to a durable and resilient two-state solution that allowed Israel and a future Palestine state to exist side by side within internationally recognised borders.
We are aware of Indonesia’s views on the Middle East peace process and they are entitled to their views on those and we will discuss those views with them as I am anticipating doing as we go through the summit season. I can discuss the views that I have articulated on behalf of our government which is a position which is held by our government by our members, by our cabinet, by our National Security Committee. That is our view when it comes to the state of Israel. That is our view when it comes to the Iran nuclear deal.
He then moves into an attack on Labor’s position which includes this:
I don’t know what the Labor party’s view is because when I read what the member for Melbourne Port says when he was asked in just May of this year, ‘Do you think the embassy should be moved to Jerusalem?’ The member for Melbourne Ports says, ‘It’s where the Israeli capital is ... it’s where all the ministries have, provided it doesn’t ...
That’s the view of the member for Melbourne Ports. I suspect the member for Wills has a very similar view. I know the member for Sydney ... [referred to Israel as a rogue state]
... That’s what I know. I know the New South Wales Labor party with their good mates who banned the NSW Jewish border deputies from attending.
The Labor union multicultural action committee, so we have a NSW Labor party a which is behaving in an antisemitic way, Mr Speaker.
And they want to pretend to the Australian people that they’re supporters of Israel?”
The house erupts.
Updated
Michael McCormack is giving his best Michael McCormack impression.
Not even Ken O’Dowd, who asked the dixer, appears to be listening. He is however, seemingly laughing at a comment from a colleague.
Tanya Plibersek to Scott Morrison:
I refer to Whatsapp messages between the foreign minister and her Indonesian counterpart leaked to the media. Will the Australian Federal Police be asked to investigate this leak also? What does the prime minister expect our neighbours and allies to make of a government that’s gone from leaking against itself to now leaking sensitive and classified information against Australia’s national interest?
Morrison:
There is no evidence to suggest that any such material has been distributed by anyone in the government whatsoever.”
So is he saying it was Indonesia then?
Updated
Scott Morrison takes the first dixer and begins talking about the Canberra bubble, which is the latest Morrison-ism he is attempting to make happen.
Michael McCormack is sitting right behind him and doing his best to pretend that EVERYTHING IS FINE.
Bill Shorten to Scott Morrison:
Is the prime minister concerned about an Asio bulletin circulated on 15 October regarding the proposal to move Australia’s embassy to Jerusalem that the prime minister announced on 16 October which was marked ‘Secret: Australian eyes only’. Is he concerned about it being leaked from the government from within the government and why did the prime minister fail to initiate a full cabinet process to fully consider the serious implications of his proposal?”
Morrison:
I’m advised by the director-general of security and the head of Asio that at this time there is no evidence of planned violence in response to the government’s announcement.
No evidence of that, Mr Speaker. Asio as a matter of routine provides this advice to commonwealth and state governments on security matters as it should.
The director general has advised me that he has spoken with the federal police commissioner as we formally refer the matter to the AFP for investigation. The government does not comment on the contents of security advice and intelligence matters.
And I want to repeat and reassure Australians that Asio has no evidence at this time of any planned violence in response to the government’s announcement on 16 October.
And the matter was fully discussed by cabinet.
Updated
Question time begins
And it opens with the congratulations for a South Australian couple, Esther and Ronald Collings, who will celebrate their 80th wedding anniversary tomorrow.
You read that right. 80th.
There must be something wonderful in the water at Goolwa…
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) October 18, 2018
Mr and Mrs Collings are an inspiration to every married couple in our country.
On behalf of the Government and the country, I want to wish them a happy anniversary tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/sdRrgCqpS5
Updated
So after calling Fraser Anning’s maiden speech “solid gold”, Bob Katter now says it is “regrettable” Anning referred to Muslims in that speech.
This is after Anning tried and failed to get a motion up calling for a plebiscite on stopping all non-white immigration. No one even supported it for a seconding.
Katter says KAP is an “anti-racist party”.
Guess he’s realised just how many immigrants have settled in north Queensland, who probably aren’t picking up what his senator has been putting down.
Bob Katter tells @SkyNewsAust he doesn't rule out dumping Fraser Anning from his party. Says he has raised concerns with the president of the KAP #auspol
— Anthony Galloway (@Gallo_Ways) October 18, 2018
Penny Wong has responded to Katharine Murphy’s story:
Today’s reports of leaked Asio advice relating to the government’s proposal to move the Australian embassy in Israel to Jerusalem show the extent of Scott Morrison’s selfish recklessness.
Mr Morrison has already been widely criticised for Tuesday’s announcement, viewed as a cynical and desperate attempt to buy votes in the Wentworth byelection.
In addition, the decision has been made without properly consulting our neighbour and important trading partner, Indonesia.
The leak today of a secret Asio bulletin on the subject of the announcement is highly concerning. Documents such as these are heavily protected, and should never be used as tools for political gain or internal party warfare.
Today’s leak of a highly classified document adds to the Coalition’s week of chaos. A week in which:
- The government “accidentally” voted in favour of a motion containing a white supremacist slogan;
- The environment minister insulted a former president of a Pacific nation and misled the House;
- The Nationals are tearing themselves apart over yet another leadership spill.
It is vital that our security agencies, and highly classified documents, do not become a victim of this mess. Scott Morrison should immediately initiate an investigation into how this leak took place.
It is truly time for this divided, unstable and illegitimate government to come to an end.
Updated
Goodness me, it is almost time for question time.
The cupth overflowth
But this is the part of the speech I found most interesting:
Our Stem education though, on a more serious note, in science, technology engineering and maths, we did used to lead the world in this area.
It’s been about 12 years now that we’ve been slipping back into the middle of the pack. It’s something we need to continue to do things about.
But not just governments, all of us. I want to ask you something: do you think intermediate level maths should be a prerequisite for studying engineering at uni? You’d think so. I would think so. But do you know in this country, more than 40% of unis will let you into engineering degrees without it? Only 14% of universities require at least intermediate level maths for entry into a Bachelor of Science and only 13% for entry into a Bachelor of Commerce.
I think that sort of says: “No, don’t worry, you’ll be right, just Google it.” Well that’s – I don’t Google the budget, I can tell you that. Now, some may disagree.
[Laughter]
But I’ll disagree with you, mine adds up. There has been some positive change, notably from the University of Sydney, where they’re working to raise that bar again and good on you to the University of Sydney.
It’s just a start, there’s a way to go and as vice-chancellors come to see me, asking me their usual questions – I don’t have to give you a guess about what it is, though it does relate to budgets – I’m going to ask them what are your prerequisites for science and engineering courses when it comes to maths?
Is it any wonder that there’s been a sharp decline in the number of year 12 students choosing advanced maths subjects, when that’s the message they’re getting?
Why would you bother putting yourself through all that mental challenge of difficult subjects, getting B’s and C’s instead of A’s, when all the signs point to it not being necessary?
Universities and schools need to send that message about maths and science to young people.
It’s particularly important for female students, who according to the statistics, are currently much less likely to participate in the more advanced maths and science subjects.
As a father of two daughters, I can only encourage them to take a different view. I encourage my daughters and everyone else’s daughters to consider these areas for them.
So, we do need to change that. We do need to reassert the importance of science and maths because that is essential if we’re to have the pipeline of students that we require.
Updated
There has been a bit of chatter on social media about Scott Morrison’s speech at the Prime Minister’s Science Awards overnight, where he mentioned James Cook. The PMO has released the transcript:
You know, the person who most fascinated me about science was Captain Cook. Now, you might go: “Why Captain Cook?” Well, yes he was an amazing navigator and his voyages and discoveries are legendary, but when you read Cook’s journals and you read about him, you discover that he was actually a scientist. And that’s what he should be remembered for more than anything else; an inquiring mind, a mind that wanted to understand, a mind that wanted to pass on that knowledge, a mind that wanted to explore the boundaries. I don’t know if you know this, but James T Kirk from Star Trek was actually –
[Laughter]
I’m not kidding, Gene Roddenberry confirmed this – was modelled on James Cook. To go where no one had been before, that’s what you do. As scientist you go where we haven’t been before, you dare to imagine the things that others haven’t.
I have no doubt that as you do that, you think it might be there, you suspect it might be. You turn it into a theory, then you follow the rulebook, but it all begins with something you believe. Something you think is possible. And if you look at all the great minds over time, those in Australia, those down through the generations around the world, that is that I think has always really encapsured, the great magic of science, if you like. It starts with belief, it starts with passion.
The people in this room are pressing forward in ways that are making our country stronger. Making our society stronger. You’re keeping people healthier, stronger, safer. You’re making an extraordinary difference to the daily lives not only of Australians but people all around the world.
Updated
I often give examples to my uni students of how the PR state has infiltrated govt. I love the parenthesis of bills now https://t.co/Xer3nQNApy
— Greg Jericho (@GrogsGamut) October 18, 2018
Keith Pitt is on Sky talking about how “Michael McCormack is the elected leader, he was duly elected, he remains the leader”, and no one has spoken to him about any leadership challenges from within the party.
It is definitely helping to hose everything down by talking about how there is nothing to see here.
Updated
Somewhere, over the rainbow ...
No truth in the myth and rumour of a potential leadership change. We are getting on with the job of representing the interests of #regional Australia. https://t.co/DnpyU8qgwj
— Michelle Landry MP (@mlandryMP) October 17, 2018
.@mlandryMP: I’m sure at some stage in his career @Barnaby_Joyce will be the leader of @The_Nationals again. But @M_McCormackMP is our leader now and he has the support of the party room.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) October 17, 2018
MORE: https://t.co/AoRKeYO3ZW #amagenda pic.twitter.com/VjwFXBRvI3
Updated
Fraser Anning’s motion to postpone was soundly and utterly defeated.
So then he tried to bring on the motion, but he didn’t get a seconder.
No seconder = no motion.
The end.
Looks like Fraser Anning is attempting to follow in One Nation’s footsteps and wedge the government into backing a motion.
But it’s a little late.
He wants to ban non-white immigration, which is standard Anning fare (just remember that Katter’s Australian party has never run in enough seats to get the standard Senate quota) but he’s attempting to postpone his motion.
In a particularly rare move for this parliament, Labor, the Greens and the government are working together to deny this, so they can kill the motion off quickly.
Updated
John Howard speaks about the need for stability.
I mean, it’s almost like the Liberal party has forgotten why Wentworth is going to this byelection:
Now, OK, I accept that some people are unhappy about certain things, I have been in politics long enough to know that, but in the end you’ve got to make a choice. If this seat falls to an independent, it will rob the Liberal government of its overall majority in parliament.
It will bring more instability and if we want stability, the way to get stability is to make sure Dave Sharma becomes the member for Wentworth and then reelect the Coalition government whenever the general election comes around.
Whatever our feelings about the past may be, we have to throw forward. And Dave Sharma represents the future for the people of Wentworth.
That past was less than seven weeks ago, FYI.
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Just for clarity’s sake, the Nationals make up 22 people in the parliament.
Twenty-two.
And just for interest’s sake – has anyone heard from Bridget McKenzie, the deputy leader?
John Howard urges stability
John Howard is in Wentworth.
Can the “normal Liberal voters” please stand up:
I want to say to any Liberal – normal Liberal voters in Wentworth who may be a bit grumpy at the present time, who may feel a little bit disillusioned – you cannot risk a protest vote in the comfort that no matter if you vote against the Liberal party, enough other people will vote for the Liberal party it won’t matter.
If enough people do that, if enough people decide to register a protest vote, then the seat could go to an independent and that will rob the Morrison government of its working majority. It will make the remaining months of this term of office very difficult and it will feed the view in the community that a Labor government is more likely at the next election. And I don’t think those normal Liberal voters in Wentworth want a Labor government.
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The ABS has released September’s unemployment rate.
Unemployment dropped by 0.3% to 5% – on the seasonal adjustment rate.
We can’t tell you what the trend rate is just yet, because the ABS site is down.
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Malcolm Turnbull’s twitter account has just unliked the “Where’s Malcolm in Wentworth” tweet.
Just here to help.
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Darren Chester says nothing to see here
Darren Chester is absolutely, totally, 100% sure that Michael McCormack will lead the Nationals to the next election.
That’s how well things are going.
The point I just made is that Michael McCormack will lead the National party to the next election. I think we will do well and I think we will win. I think Michael McCormack in many ways is like a John Anderson or Mark Vaile.
He’s a strong, steady leader and he can give the team opportunities in their own portfolios. And I think that Michael McCormack has been doing a damn good job. In your question, there is no vacancy.
Michael McCormack has been doing a very good job and he will continue to that.
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Asio warns Israel shift has security consequences
Katharine Murphy has this exclusive story on an Asio bulletin detailing what could happen if Australia shifted its policy in relation to moving the Israel embassy:
Australia’s spy agency warned government ministers that Scott Morrison’s proposed shift in Middle East policy relocating its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem may “provoke protest, unrest and possibly some violence in Gaza and the West Bank”.
Guardian Australia has obtained an Asio bulletin, marked secret, AUSTEO, circulated on 15 October – the day before Morrison’s announcement – that notes the putative shift will “attract international attention”.
“We expect any announcement on the possible relocation of the Australian embassy to Jerusalem or consideration of voting against Palestinians in the United Nations may provoke protest, unrest and possibly some violence in Gaza and the West Bank,” the bulletin says.
It warns it is possible Australian interests may be the target of protest activity following any public announcement by the government, and notes “attacks and violent protests” have occurred previously at times of heightened political tension.
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Scott Morrison had this to say about Malcolm Turnbull’s lack of involvement in the Wentworth campaign this morning (after Tony Abbott said Turnbull “owed it” to the party to publicly endorse Dave Sharma on Monday):
Well Malcolm, I think, made it pretty clear. I mean, Dave Sharma was Malcolm’s handpicked candidate, as everybody knows. I think he was the best candidate in the field and the preselectors endorsed that position, at the end of the day. Malcolm decided that he was leaving public life, he tweeted in favour of Dave, I know he supports Dave, but he decided to no longer be playing a role in national politics here in Australia and I respect that decision.
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This seems an ... odd choice of tweet for Malcolm Turnbull to like:
TurnbullMalcolm liked this tweet: https://t.co/pB8tBNURDs
— Auspolwatch (@auspolwatch) October 18, 2018
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I think we can expect that issue to be solved rather quickly now, don’t you?
Agriculture visa back on the agenda
The agriculture visa, which was alive, then dead, and now seems to be in some sort of zombie state, is undergoing some reanimation in all this Nationals leadership muck.
The National Farmers’ Federation, which has not exactly been backwards in coming forwards about what it needs, and how the government has, well, sort of messed this process up, released this statement a few moments ago:
Prime minister, Scott Morrison has again confirmed his government’s commitment to a visa to specifically address the crippling labour shortages facing Australia’s farm sector.
Prime Minister Morrison made the announcement at the National Farmers’ Federation congress in Canberra today.
The announcement was welcomed by NFF president Fiona Simson.
“The NFF is delighted by the prime minister’s recommitment,” Ms Simson said.
“Mr Morrison today gave agriculture the confidence it was seeking, that an agricultural visa would become a reality.
“Right now farmers across the country are struggling to find the pickers and packers needed to harvest and prepare their summer crop for market.
“The inability to source adequate labour is an indisputable constraint on our vision for agriculture to achieve a farmgate output value of $100bn by 2030.”
The prime minister also reiterated his commitment, and that of deputy prime minister, Michael McCormack, to working to see that more Australians take up roles in agriculture.
“Of course, the PM is also committed to putting Aussies first. The NFF agrees wholeheartedly,” Ms Simson said. “Aussies must be given priority access to Aussie jobs.
“We implore farmers to answer the PM’s call, and register their vacancies with the newly established National Harvest Labour Information Service, so that Australians can fill these positions, where they’re ready, willing and able.
“But when and where this doesn’t happen, then other solutions have to be created. Today the PM again demonstrated that his government understands this.
“Whatever the solution: a dedicated agricultural visa, a regional visa or changes to existing programs to make them fit-for-purpose for farmers, the NFF is not fixed on a name or structure. We are only interested in ensuring our farmers’ labour woes are solved.”
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Speaking of Wentworth, an email which was sent out with false information about Kerryn Phelps has been roundly condemned.
The ABC has the story here, while the Daily Telegraph mentioned the email in its story on Monday.
But it really gained traction last night when the ABC’s story concentrated on it:
I condemn the dirty tricks fake email targeting @drkerrynphelps There is no place for this sort of behaviour in our democracy. Prof Kerryn Phelps is an out standing Australian and we should all be grateful someone of her calibre is willing to run for office #Wentwothvotes
— Tim Murray (@Timpmurray) October 17, 2018
I am disgusted and appalled at the despicable email circulated against fellow Wentworth candidate Kerryn Phelps. I condemn it for its smears and dishonesty. And I condemn it for its stigmatisation of people living with HIV.
— Dave Sharma (@DaveSharma) October 17, 2018
Absolutely deplorable. An indication that #HIV stigma is alive and well. Even if @drkerrynphelps was living with HIV, which she’s not, she’d still make a worthy candidate. People Living with HIV deserve better than this. The only thing killing us is ignorance. https://t.co/UZhLFRoF46
— Nic Holas (@nicheholas) October 17, 2018
Absolutely deplorable, indeed.
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And if you missed it, Christopher Knaus has this cracker of a story – which details quite the alarming precedent:
The Coalition’s decision to protect a global arms manufacturer’s commercial interests by suppressing criticism of a $1.3bn military deal risks setting a dangerous precedent that limits independent scrutiny of government, the auditor general has warned.
Late last year, the French multinational defence contractor, Thales, was staring down the barrel of an as-yet unpublished auditor general’s report, which made serious criticisms of its deal to provide Australia with 1,100 locally built Hawkei light protected vehicles.
Thales sought to thwart the report’s release, asking the federal attorney general, Christian Porter, to intervene in January, while simultaneously launching legal action against the auditor general in the federal court.
Thales wanted Porter to use his powers to suppress sensitive information from the report because its release was contrary to the public interest and would “unfairly prejudice the commercial interests” of the company.
Those powers, typically considered a last resort, have never been used in such a way before.
Oh, and things seem to be going great in the Tasmanian state parliament as well:
Outrageous new rules for media working in Tasmania’s Parliament. #auspol https://t.co/qKWWgJMvTz pic.twitter.com/U7plA8JXJi
— Eryk Bagshaw (@ErykBagshaw) October 17, 2018
So this week we have had:
- Pressure building to find a solution for those in our offshore detention centres.
- “An administrative error” that led to the government voting in support of a white supremacist slogan, before Mathias Cormann threw himself under a political bus to walk it back.
- The “proposed discussion” of Australia moving its embassy in Israel, causing all sorts of diplomatic waves, in a week before a byelection in a seat with a large Jewish population.
- The environment minister accused of misleading the parliament over administration fees for the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, after she was handed a piece of paper from the prime minister while answering the question, and then denying she told the former president of Kiribati, “I know why you are here, it’s for the cash. For the Pacific, it’s always about the cash. I have my cheque book here, how much do you want?” This despite witnesses coming forward to say it happened.
- The Nationals leadership thrown into disarray, just seven weeks after the Liberals switched leaders, for reasons no one can actually explain.
I guess in this day and age, seven weeks of largely business as usual for a prime minister is a good run.
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Then there is also the “proposed discussion” about moving the Australian embassy from Tel Aviv in Israel to Jerusalem, just a few days out from the Wentworth byelection
Mark Riley, from Seven News, had this story overnight:
Explosive messages sent by the Indonesian Foreign Minister to @MarisePayne show the country's fury over the Israel Embassy move. @Riley7News #auspol #7News pic.twitter.com/ZsuSmauJP7
— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) October 17, 2018
— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) October 17, 2018
Penny Wong had some thoughts on the story:
The revelations overnight of the WhatsApp messages between the Foreign Minister of Indonesia and Senator Payne tell us the price Australia is paying for the reckless, ill-considered, rushed decision that Scott Morrison made when it comes to moving Australia’s embassy in Israel. This is an example of the price you pay when you put politics before good government.
Scott Morrison is a man who time and time again we have seen puts politics before good government, puts the Liberal Party before the nation and puts his personal political interests before those of Australians.
Do you remember when Scott Morrison told us he wore a little lapel badge with a flag on it to remind himself whose side he was on? Well he should have looked at it before he made this decision. He should have looked at it before he made a decision which didn’t go to Cabinet, which is against long-standing advice from departments, which risks Australia’s relationships with our friends and neighbours, which put politics before good government and put the Liberal Party before the nation.”
Both major parties have shifted to the point where they both recognise they need to do something, and very, very soon, as community attitudes change to the point where indefinite detention is sitting quite uncomfortably with a lot of people.
But the sticking point is over this lifetime ban. Labor says to accept the NZ offer to take 150 refugees, without the lifetime ban on visiting Australia, to end the deadlock. The Coalition says that if Labor really cared it would pass the lifetime ban to get things moving.
But it is not as simple as that. The NZ government is not overly enthused about creating a “second-tier citizenship” to suit Australia’s politics, as the trans-Tasman agreement means those with NZ citizenship have freedom of movement in Australia (and vice versa).
There has been some talk of a lifetime ban on residency, rather than on visiting, but it hasn’t gained traction as yet.
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Amnesty is also increasing its advocacy on the topic.
“The Australian chief medical officer has reportedly been deported, which will only compound the dire health situation for people on Nauru, including the more than 80 children who have suffered for over five years,” Dr Graham Thom, Amnesty International Australia’s refugee coordinator said in a statement.
“Continuity of care is crucial for such a large number of refugees, including children with such complex health needs, but that’s clearly impossible in such a volatile situation.
“These children desperately need our help. Prime minister [Scott] Morrison cannot stall any longer with his calls for so-called ‘back-door’ legislation, especially as the New Zealand government reiterated its concern only yesterday that such legislation would create ‘second-class citizens’.
“PM Scott Morrison has the power to bring these children and their families to safety in Australia today, and avert a possible catastrophe, such as the death of a child.”
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First it was the doctors, now the lawyers have called for asylum seeker children and their families to be removed from Nauru “as a matter of urgency”.
“When you have the leading medical bodies in Australia saying unequivocally that the physical and mental health of children is deteriorating dangerously as a result of detention then urgent attention is required,” Morry Bailes, president of the Law Council of Australia said in a statement.
“Removing asylum seeker children from the Nauru is not just medically necessary, it is also consistent with Australia’s obligations under domestic and international law.
“The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child requires that in all actions concerning children, the best interests of the child be the primary consideration.
“Indefinite detention of children for the purpose of determining their immigration status will never comply with this Convention.
“Australia must acknowledge its responsibility for the health and safety of those asylum seekers that have been transferred to other countries for offshore processing and assessment.”
Melissa Price 'misleading parliament' still on agenda
A note on David Littleproud, given that he is being spoken about as a potential leader of the Nationals.
As far as I know, he is being touted as a future leader of the party – but he is smart enough to know, not yet.
Littleproud has ruled out accepting the leadership, or the deputy leadership if it was offered to him, or going for either position.
#BREAKING: Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has told Sky News he will not run for the leadership of the Nationals. He has also claimed there is 'no chance' of a Nationals leadership contest. pic.twitter.com/EFwDHjYpNI
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) October 17, 2018
He’s a new MP, in his first term. And he’s young, and ambitious, but with enough smarts to know that taking any sort of leadership role right now is accepting, well, a hospital pass.
Part of the problem within the Nats has been there are those who have thought Littleproud was making moves for the leadership. Which shows that some in the Nats are as good as reading the tea leaves as they are at injecting folksy homilies into every day speech – not very.
And while eyes were turned Littleproud’s way, they weren’t looking at Barnaby Joyce. We’ve still got a while on this one to play out.
As one MP just said to me “what the hell is going on?”
Which, in this place, is now a timeless statement.
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Let’s not forget how we left yesterday – with Melissa Price being accused of misleading parliament, by Labor, over her question time performance.
For those who need a refresher, here’s an excerpt from Katharine Murphy’s story:
The environment minister, Melissa Price, has been accused of misleading the House over gauche remarks witnesses insist she made to the former president of Kiribati during a chance encounter in a Canberra restaurant.
One witness, the Labor senator Patrick Dodson, wrote to the minister on Wednesday declaring he was “appalled” by her remarks to the visiting Pacific official Anote Tong on Tuesday night.
Dodson says he introduced Price to Tong at the restaurant and she then said: “I know why you are here, it’s for the cash. For the Pacific, it’s always about the cash. I have my cheque book here, how much do you want?”
Dodson’s account is backed by another witness, Phil Glendenning, the director of the Edmund Rice Centre and president of the Refugee Council of Australia. He told Guardian Australia the Labor senator’s account of the incident was “150% correct”.
Labor has not forgotten, despite the Nationals leadership circus.
Mark Butler spoke about it this morning:
Melissa Price has resisted any opportunity to correct the record, to apologise to President Tong and to withdraw what she clearly said the night before last to this esteemed individual.
Yesterday there was a motion in the parliament calling on her to come to the parliament and do so. It was a tied vote, 71 all, only there because Melissa Price voted against coming into the parliament to correct the record on this.
Now this morning is her last opportunity when the parliament opens at 9.30 to seek the indulgence of the Speaker to correct the record, withdraw this outrageous slur on the Pacific and on Mr Tong particularly, and apologise for the insult to the region. This is her last opportunity to do so.
As far as I know, there has been no correction, as yet, but we’ll stay on it.
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Darren Chester, who was intrinsic to Michael McCormack becoming leader back in February, is also denying there are any issues:
.@DarrenChesterMP on the Nationals’ leadership: There is no vacancy in the leadership of the National Party. @M_McCormackMP was elected unanimously to the role earlier this year.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) October 17, 2018
MORE: https://t.co/AoRKeYO3ZW #SkyLiveNow pic.twitter.com/Y3dQMAmKwM
Scott Morrison would also like you to know that everything is fine.
They are matters for the National party. What I do know is that the coalition between the Nationals and the Liberals has never been stronger. Michael McCormack – I continue to work with him enthusiastically, passionately and announcing what I have this morning – it wasn’t an announcement, our position has never changed. We have been working towards an agriculture visa and we have a plan for how to get there. And so Michael McCormack has been critical to that process and I continue to enjoy working with him and I think he does a fantastic job.
It’s all just the Canberra bubble, says Morrison.
The Canberra bubble is always the Canberra bubble. And I’m not distracted by it. Never am. I know, I know the [press] gallery does get distracted by these things. I don’t.
Because I’m here today to talk to farmers who are getting through drought. I’m here today with farmers who are looking to how they’re going to manage the harvest. I’m here today to talk about the trade partnership, which is opening up half a billion new customers for our agricultural sector, delivering $15bn to our economy.
We’re working on getting electricity prices down. We’ve cut taxes, legislated – legislated – for businesses under $50m to get them to 25%. That’s what I’m focused on. You guys can focus on the politics all you like. I’m focused on what the Australian people are focused on.
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So while McCormack is throwing shade on Joyce’s record, Joyce’s supporters have come out to throw shade on McCormack’s record.
Or do you think the timing of Queensland Nat and Joyce supporter Llew O’Brien calling for a royal commission into retail over the $1 milk fiasco is just coincidental?
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On Sky News earlier, Michael McCormack appeared to throw some shade on Barnaby Joyce’s record as leader.
McCormack said he had been listening to farmers about their concerns about finding farm labour and he’d acted quickly, whereas during Joyce’s tenure as Nationals leader the backpacker controversy had been allowed to linger.
“I can recall just a couple of years ago when the backpacker situation arose it was left until the last minute, unfortunately we had to have an extra sitting of parliament to determine the fact that we would get the workers,” he said.
“The fact is it’s mid October and we’ve got the [agriculture visa] arrangements in place. If farmers have workforce needs I urge them again, Harvest Trail, go to the website.”
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Stepping away from the Nats for a moment – overnight, the Queensland parliament voted to remove abortion from the state’s criminal code.
It’s been a long time coming. And before you all start with the Joh jokes, maybe take a look at your own state first – Queensland was not exactly Robinson Crusoe in this.
A shift in public attitudes finally allowed the parliament to do it. And three LNP MPs, despite the threat to their preselections, crossed the floor with their conscience vote to make sure it happened. That was Tim Nicholls, Steve Minnikin and Jann Stuckey. All three have acknowledged the potential political cost of their actions, but felt it was the right thing to do.
Just as Ian Macdonald, who is no fan of marriage equality, voted yes, because he considers himself a true Liberal, and his community wanted him to.
So there you go. There are still some Liberals left in Queensland.
Seriously, Michael McCormack says – it is all just fine and dandy.
Nobody has expressed any dissatisfaction about what I’m doing. They have asked for more regional projects, more infrastructure. I know they will concentrate on making sure that they continue to do as I am the very best job that they’ve been sent here to Canberra to do.
In fact, the last person to take the fine and dandy approach was Malcolm Turnbull, so obviously, there is nothing to see here.
And here is what McCormack said about the “no leadership spill” just before he took over the leadership from Barnaby Joyce in February:
“Of course I support Barnaby Joyce, he’s our leader, he’s been a very good leader.”
You may have also picked up the Schrödinger’s cat defence in McCormack’s words. There is nothing to see here, and no one is talking about it, but everyone has rung me to tell me I am doing a great job.
So it is both not on and on.
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Here is Michael McCormack’s best version of THIS IS FINE:
Well, Barnaby Joyce has said that he’s not canvassing it, and I believe him. Whether or not others are, well, that’s a matter for them. The fact is I have the majority support in the National party and the fact is I have to say not one National party member has come to me and said they’re dissatisfied with anything.
They come to me in a conga line asking for infrastructure projects, making sure they want roads to get their people home sooner and safer and I’m supporting those efforts, those bids. Delighted we’re announcing the Regional Growth Fund announcements and making sure those regional areas – Liberal, National, indeed Labor – are looked after with the sorts of infrastructure that people who live in regional Australia expect and deserve.
And why EVERYTHING IS FINE?
Because I know I’ve got the majority of the support of the party room. Not one member has come to me and said they’re dissatisfied with anything. I know I have got the support of the party room. I know that as these stories have arisen, particularly in the last 24 hours, the number of colleagues who have texted me, who phoned me, who visited my office and said, ‘Look, you’re doing a great job, just continue what you’re doing.’
Updated
The parliament email system for some MPs is down. And yes, I have heard all the Stuart Roberts data jokes in the world, don’t you worry about that.
Good morning
Well it has been a whole seven weeks, so some leadership tensions are well overdue.
This time, it is the Nationals who have decided it is on.
Those who have been following along would know that Barnaby Joyce decided a little bit ago that he had spent enough time in the no-go zone and had begun, well, being Barnaby again.
That happened around the same time the Nationals investigation into sexual harassment allegations came back “inconclusive”.
Since then, Joyce has thrown himself back into the public sphere, giving his opinions on government policy, setting up regular interviews and basically taking back the big hat.
Then you have Michael McCormack, who is actually the Nationals leader.
He has struggled to make a name for himself since taking over the leadership in February this year. He’s not a hindrance to the Nationals in their re-election prospects. But he is not a help either. He just is. And with a bunch of Nats getting nervous about their prospects at the next election, they are getting antsy.
McCormack, I am told, and have been told, does not have “cut through”. Joyce, for all his divisiveness, has cut through.
McCormack has four or five votes he can count on. Then there are all those in the middle who have been burned by Joyce, but want to win their seats. They could go either way.
But nothing will happen before the Wentworth byelection, because who would want to have their fingerprints anywhere near that, if things go wrong?
For what it’s worth, Scott Morrison is falling back on the “nothing to see here” line he seems to think works. He says this is a “Canberra bubble” issue, that journalists might be interested in, but he’s not distracted by it. Which would make more sense if he wasn’t in this exact same place two months ago telling us exactly the same thing about the Liberals leadership tension, and we all know how that turned out. *cough*
Oh, and then there is the whole Joyce interview yesterday afternoon, where he said “if it was offered to me I would take it” thing.
But nothing to see here. Lols.
We’ll bring you all the day’s events, and more, as they play out. And they will. Little by little and then, suddenly, all at once. Because that seems to be the way this place works these days.
Mike Bowers is still off campus, so it’s just me and my typey typey today. You do have the Guardian’s brains trust on deck though, so not all is lost. I’ll do my best to have a look through the comments, but if you have an urgent thought, hit me up at @amyremeikis on twitter.
You know the coffee is hooked directly into my veins this morning.
Ready?
Let’s get into it.
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