On that note, we are going to, as Murph would say, land the plane and close the blog for the night.
We’ll be back early tomorrow morning, when all the parties meet to discuss policy, strategy, and, if you are the Nationals, how to stay together.
Llew O’Brien will have had his chat to the prime minister by then. He’ll be in joint party room, but not the Nationals party room. Which again, is not a punishment. It does rob him of the chance to do something about the leadership, which is the reason he left the party in the first place, but it doesn’t do anything else in terms of government numbers. It just reinforces how divided the Nats still are.
Although, I would pay good money to see Damian Drum’s reaction in the party room tomorrow. The man isn’t exactly known for being a wallflower.
Plus, Ken O’Dowd has probably done himself out of the deputy whip position, given he admitted on national television that he had voted against the party line, despite his job being to keep everyone toeing the party line.
I haven’t had this many giggles since my dad fell into a pond at my wedding while singing the Banana Boat Day-O song and lost his car keys.
Thank you to everyone who joined us today. We will be back early tomorrow. You can catch me on Twitter or Instagram in the meantime. Mike Bowers, Sarah Martin, Paul Karp and Katharine Murphy will all be back as well, along with the rest of the Guardian brains trust.
Thanks again – and take care of you.
Updated
So, in conclusion, the Nationals leader’s pick for the deputy speaker position was gazumped by a Labor troll, after the rogue Nats’ plan to fleece Michael McCormack, led by Barnaby Joyce, and put Ken O’Dowd in place of Damian Drum was scuttled.
What does it mean?
Nothing other than the man who has led the charge against McCormack, Llew O’Brien, gets a pay rise, and McCormack has once again, and quite publicly, had his authority over his party shot to pieces.
And that last bit is what is going to cost him long term.
Updated
“Shameful” Senator @JacquiLambie unleashes after the government refuses to table “The Gaetjens Report” into the coalition’s $100 million Community Sport Infrastructure Grant scheme #auspol @SBSNews pic.twitter.com/XPRuftlaYE
— Brett Mason (@BrettMasonNews) February 10, 2020
As sincere as a Kardashian therapy session:
Updated
“Sam, the first night at BED when you left, Rob...”
Updated
The Greens also have a production of documents order on this report – which also wants the emails between PMO and Bridget McKenzie.
That one is due to be ignored by Thursday.
Jacqui Lambie is very, very angry over Mathias Cormann’s use of cabinet-in-confidence to stop the tabling of the PM&C report in the Senate.
Lambie says this is why the public can’t trust politicians.
“Does he take us all for morons,” she says, adding that the prime minister doesn’t “have the guts” to table the report.
Just a reminder that Llew O’Brien’s salary boost for becoming deputy speaker is worth about three years of Newstart.
Updated
Apparently Labor’s Julian Hill almost missed casting his ballot because he was taking a photo of it to troll the government, and then forgot it under his iPad.
He found it, signalled the clerks, there was a discussion, and then it was counted.
Not that it mattered in the end – 75 to 67 is a comprehensive win.
Updated
Over in the Senate, which shockingly is the sane chamber lately, Mathias Cormann will have to front up to explain why the government won’t be complying with the Senate order to produce the Phil Gaetjen’s report into why the sports grant affair is hunky dory.
It was due on Thursday. It was not produced.
They’ll call it cabinet-in-confidence, so you won’t get it for 20 years, even though other reports into ministerial conduct have been released.
You like me, and I like it all
We like dancing and we look divine
You love bands when they’re playing hard
You want more and you want it fast
They put you down, they say I’m wrong
Updated
Ken O’Dowd is also the Nationals deputy whip.
Not sure he can hold on to that position, having just admitted he voted against the party line on national TV.
Ken O’Dowd logic:
Barnaby is considered in Queensland nearly a Queenslander. I know he was born in New South Wales but he has spent a lot of his life in Queensland. When I first met him he was a senator for Queensland. I still get him sometimes as a Queenslander.
Updated
I am still laughing.
Honestly. At this point, the Nationals couldn’t organise a piss-up in a brewery.
Updated
Looking at those numbers, it looks like, if we consider the crossbench voting with Labor, another five government MPs came over to the Labor vote.
75 would equal 64 Labor MPs, plus six in the crossbench, plus five government MPs.
So Ken O’Dowd is a yes. Barnaby Joyce is most likely a yes. Llew O’Brien is a yes.
Who are the other two?
Updated
Asked by Patricia Karvelas why some in the Nationals are so upset with Michael McCormack:
If it wasn’t for central Queensland and the seats around Flynn, we wouldn’t be in government today. I don’t think that has been recognised fully by the National party. We wanted more representation in ... with the Coalition. This is another step forward, as far as I’m concerned.
The new deputy leader of the Nationals is a Queenslander. Keith Pitt is now in the cabinet. There are only 21 Nats. I am not sure how much more Queensland representation they want, but hey – LET’S FIND OUT.
Updated
Llew O’Brien (thanks to a blog watcher for the transcription):
It is a tremendous privilege to be in this place. Every election we put ourselves forward to our constituents to serve them in the most honest and best way we can. I’m privileged to be here. As a country policeman, I find it incredible that I can walk into this place and take part in this. It’s an honour to serve the people of Wide Bay and it will be an honour to serve this House as deputy Speaker.
Updated
Ken O’Dowd tells Patricia Karvelas that Barnaby Joyce was going to nominate him for deputy speaker, despite the party room vote, but ahead of the vote this afternoon, O’Dowd told him not to, to help with party unity.
But then he voted against what the party wanted, because (extreme Billy Moore voice) QUEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNSSSSSSLLLLLLANNNNNDER
O’Dowd, who once said he would be willing to step up as deputy prime minister and leader of the Nats if he was called upon (narrator: he was never, and would never, be called upon. There aren’t enough evens to can’t for that to happen) says he thinks Barnaby Joyce should come back as leader of the Nationals, because he still thinks of him as a Queenslander as well.
Queensland – it is the greatest nation on earth.
(I can say that, because I grew up there and I am allowed.)
Updated
Ken O’Dowd is telling Patricia Karvelas he voted for Llew O’Brien over Michael McCormack’s pick.
Fortune favours the brave. He was brave enough to call the challenge last week. He followed up with divorcing the National party, which I thought was a pretty bold move. As I just said, fortune favours the brave. But I didn’t support him.
PK:
What did you say you did support him? So you did support him today. Yes. Why?
O’Dowd:
Barnaby has made a few points and I was bowled over by Damian and the party room this morning because I stood for the deputy speaker too. I was beaten in a fair ballot. That remains the same.
It was good to see that Llew O’Brien, who comes from Queensland, he is only a couple of doors away from where I live and I know he will do a good job.
It is good to have one of our own in that position. Happy for him and happy to Queensland. We can’t be all Victoria and NSW.
PK:
I want to get to the bottom of this. Damian Drum won the nomination but you didn’t vote for the person the Nationals wanted to be the deputy speaker?
O’Dowd:
It was the party room that wanted Damian as opposed to myself. Then Llew O’Brien was also a Queenslander, LNP, I am LNP, really take my hat off to Llew for making a stand. Fortune favours the brave. He was brave enough to make those steps. He made them. Fully realising the consequences of those steps. Look at that. Came out in front. Good on the underdog.
Updated
All the Labor MPs are shaking Llew O’Brien’s hand as they leave.
Michael McCormack had promised Damian Drum the role following the leadership spill.
It is always confirmed by a vote of the parliament, but once again, the Coalition underestimated Labor’s tactical abilities. They are just better at this sort of stuff, because they practice on each other through factional battles.
Also, Llew O’Brien just received a $42,000 payrise for quitting the Nationals party room AND got revenge against McCormack.
Not a bad day’s work.
Michael McCormack’s candidate for (deputy) speaker just got rolled in a house wide vote.
I actually can’t stop laughing. This may be his greatest gift to the parliament.
Updated
Llew O’Brien is on duty at 7pm tonight.
So guess he won’t be meeting with the prime minister tonight then.
Scott Morrison:
Can I congratulate the member. With two government members to choose from I’m pleased to see government members received the full confidence of all the member for the House.
The member and his experience that he brings to this House – I more than most have an understanding of what he brings to this House, as I do also understand what the member for Nichols brings to this House, Mr Speaker.
There is no shortage of government members in this House to make sure that we continue to deliver on the promises we made the Australian people, Mr Speaker. These government members will continue to make sure that a strong economy saves Australia, and a government that will continue to meet the needs of the Australian people will be delivered on each and every day that this government majority serves in this House.
Anthony Albanese:
No amount of marketing or spin can hide the humiliation for the government. I congratulate the member for Wide Bay on receiving such strong support from his colleagues in the House of Representatives.
I asked the question earlier today, the first question of Question Time, to the stability of the government. We have just seen the stability of the Coalition on all of you. On full view.
For everyone to see, government members running against each other, for a position of deputy speaker of the House of Representatives.
Albanese moves on to congratulate O’Brien.
Michael McCormack:
“I congratulate the member and I know he’ll do a good job ... that’s democracy.”
Updated
Tony Smith is attempting to work out if Llew O’Brien still counts as a member of the government.
He hasn’t read the O’Brien stories today.
I have clearly stated that I am still a member of the government, I do not sit as a National party member, I sit as a member of the LNP, which is what I put forward to the people of Wide Bay,” says O’Brien.
So there you go. It is official.
Michael McCormack looks like he has just read this blog.
Scott Morrison is congratulating McCormack.
“There is no shortage of government members in this House to ensure that we continue to deliver for the people of Australia,” Morrison says, pointing out that two government MPs were up for election.
Anthony Albanese says “no amount of marketing and spin can hide the humiliation from that vote” and then congratulates Llew O’Brien on his comprehensive win.
Updated
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
National party rebel Llew O'Brien elected deputy speaker
Llew O’Brien is the new deputy speaker.
Updated
Llew O'Brien wins deputy speaker election over National leaders' pick
The votes have been counted
Damian Drum: 67
Llew O’Brien: 75
Updated
George Christensen has put up a new statement on Facebook, in response to his “inner city Liberal” criticism earlier this morning.
I will always stand up for local workers, local businesses, local farmers and local industry, no matter if it’s the Greens, Labor or my own side trying to talk down our opportunity to prosper with new affordable and reliable clean coal-fired power.
Updated
This is presented with the caveat that there is a very, very low bar for excitement in this place.
Australian variety TV low
Everyone is filling out paper ballots with their votes. Jason Fallinski dropped a glass of water on Julian Leeser which caused a bit of a ruckus. And clerks forgot to collect one of the Labor ballots. Who said politics isn’t exciting?!
— Annelise Nielsen (@annelisenews) February 10, 2020
Sorry, as corrected by Paul Karp – if the crossbench votes with Labor, then you only need two from the government.
One would think that Llew O’Brien would vote for himself, so that would mean one more vote for O’Brien.
As seen by Mike Bowers:
Barnaby saw a Llew:
The crossbench saw one too:
Updated
It’s a secret ballot.
For Labor’s troll to work here (one Llew O’Brien has very enthusiastically picked up) the crossbench would have to vote with Labor, along with three government MPs.
Not impossible, but also not likely.
Still. Stranger things have happened in this place.
Llew O’Brien has accepted the nomination, formally.
This is almost as great as Parasite winning best picture.
Excellent news
This is the most positive news we've had in some time.
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) February 10, 2020
The recent rainfall has assisted firefighters to put over 30 fires out since Friday. Some of these blazes have been burning for weeks and even months.#NSWRFS #NSWFires pic.twitter.com/fNyuSE6nAx
The deputy speaker role comes with an additional 20% of the base wage, which is $211,250 a year.
That’s an extra $42,000 or so.
Updated
Tony Smith is dealing with practice issues – usually the nominees for deputy speaker have to accept the nomination. Llew O’Brien isn’t in the chamber, so Smith is trying to work out if he accepts Labor’s nomination.
The nominee doesn’t have to be present at the election, or inform the House of whether or not they accept the nomination – but Smith will ask if he makes it to the House for the vote.
Tony Burke is now trolling the government by nominating Llew O’Brien for the role.
Damian Drum will be the new deputy speaker.
It’s kinda cute that the parliament is pretending that this is a proper election and not something that was stitched up in the joint party room.
Updated
The folders were stacked – and now question time is over.
Anthony Albanese to Alan Tudge:
My question is addressed to the acting minister for immigration, and it goes to his last answer where he ignored the $165,000 donation from a private company, which seeks to, to quote him, “build and operate the visa system”. I say to the minister: If it looks like a privatisation and smells like a privatisation, why won’t the minister concede that this is privatisation of our visa system by a major donor and mate of the prime minister?
Christian Porter attempts to stop the question, but Tony Smith rules it in order:
Tudge:
I can only just reiterate that it is not a privatisation because the government will remain responsible for all of the key national security decisions, the risk assessment, the visa policy, the business rules and all of the key functions of government.
In that regard, this model, which we have been going through an expression of interest process through, is precisely the same as the Electronic Travel Authority, upon which, when Labor was in government for those six, long years, they ran and they were quite happy with that process under way. And 30% of all visas today go through the Electronic Visa Authority.
So, clearly, the Labor party did not have a great problem with that model when they were in government but now today they are seeking to politicise this system.
They didn’t make the decision to upgrade the visa processing system because they didn’t have the money to do so.
We’ve made the decision to do so, and we will go through it in a methodical, professional way, doing the things that governments should be doing.
Updated
Andrew Giles to Scott Morrison:
Does the Prime Minister plan to proceed with the privatisation of Australia’s visa system in light of revelations that his mate, Scott Briggs, spent last year leading a group trying to buy the visa group while spending $165,000 to the Liberal party?
Alan Tudge gets this one:
Let me point out that we are not privatising the visa system – far from it.
Rather, several years ago we decided that we needed to upgrade our visa processing capabilities ... because the visa processing capabilities are about 25 years old and unable to do some of the modern functionality which we would like.
Furthermore, given the growth in the visa applications, are projected by a further 35% over the next 10 years to 13 million visa applications each year, it is clearly timely to be examining whether or not to upgrade the visa processing system.
So we’ve actually been out to the market to see who would partner with the government to build the new capability. And under the model, that’s partners would build and operate the platform.
But this is the important piece ... the government would always retain the responsibility, as they do today, for all visa decision-making.
It would determine the business rules and how decisions are made. It would remain responsible for national security and other risk assessments, and it would be overall responsible, on an ongoing basis, for visa policy.
In this regard, this model is actually very similar to the model which we already have in place called the Electronic Travel Authority, upon which about 30% of all visas are processed, and that model itself was in place all throughout the Labor years, which did not change.
It was precisely that model whereby there was a partner which assists in the visa processing, but the government remains at all times responsible for the business rules, for the risk assessment, for the policy, and for all of the major decisions. Now, Mr Speaker, the process for selecting the partners here has not been completed yet. There is still a process which is under way, but I repeat that we do need to upgrade our visa processing systems at some stage soon, given the age of those systems and given how many visas we are getting every single year, and that’s just increasing.
Updated
Mark Butler to Scott Morrison:
Does the prime minister support providing $300 million of taxpayer funds to keep the Liddell power station open only for three more years, even though a leaked taskforce report says such an extension would not provide any guarantee of reliability, and defer private investment in new generation?
Angus Taylor gets the nod:
I’m awaiting the final report of the Liddell taskforce. I won’t pre-empt the outcome of that report. Once we received that report, once we have received it, we’ll consider its recommendation.
But we’ve been clear all the way along.
And as generators come to the end of their natural lives. We want to see life extension or like for like replacement.
This is all about replacement. This is all about adding in more supply to the electricity market whilst we ensure that the existing supply is managed very carefully.
And we are seeing results. We have now seen four consecutive quarters in reduction in retail electricity prices, for the first time in recorded history.
... As I was saying, four consecutive quarters of electricity price reductions in the CPI, 3.5% reduction.
We have also seen that in the last three months, Mr Speaker, compared to the same period last year, we’ve seen 35% reductions in wholesale electricity prices in the national electricity market, 35% reductions. Queensland, 30%. South Australia, 50%. Victoria 38%. Tasmania, 32%, and Queensland 4%, to an average of 35%.
And we will ensure, we will work with the energy companies to make sure this is passed through to electricity consumers because the big stick legislation ensures the substantial and sustained savings, and reductions in costs must be passed through to consumers, and we are achieving all of this while we meet and beat our Kyoto Paris targets.
And why are we seeing reductions in energy prices? Could it be that a buttload (the official measurement) of renewables have come onto the grid? Could it?
The answer, dear readers, is yes. It is.
Updated
Peter Dutton is back with just how safe are you, Australia: Indonesia cooperation edition.
You are as safe as the government can make you, kittens. Which is much, much safer than anyone could ever have made you, ever.
Updated
Lew O’Brien and Barnaby Joyce during #qt @AmyRemeikis @murpharoo #PoliticsLive pic.twitter.com/JKAlbYbfN8
— Mikearoo (@mpbowers) February 10, 2020
Morrison questioned about assistance for businesses affected by bushfires
Fiona Phillips to Scott Morrison:
A local business in my electorate, Rob’s Bait and Tackle, has lost 80% of their income for the year as a direct result of the fires. This small family business and many others are reluctant to pile on debt at a time when they have very little income. Will the government provide grants for businesses like this, instead of loans that increase their debt?
Morrison:
That is is a devastating loss of income for that business. I would be very pleased if you can pass on their details. I make them available to the head of the national bushfire recovery agency and see what measures, additional measures, they may not be able to be aware of, to assist them specifically to their circumstances.
A range of questions put forward by the opposition today that are seeking a change to the assessment for these grants. I note that’s what you’re suggesting. There should be a change.
I would invite the leader of the opposition to write to me and set out the changes to the grant guidelines that he is proposing, Mr Speaker.
And I will happily have those assessed by the Department of Finance and I’ll be able to advise the House about the outcome and we can assess the feasibility of the proposal they are making. I invite them to put that proposal in writing to us.
Either there is a new spirit of bipartisanship in the chamber, or the prime minister just asked the opposition to come up with policy for him.
Updated
Jim Chalmers to Scott Morrison:
Last Friday on the south coast of New South Wales, I was told about the collapse in tourism income over the peak earning period for small businesses. Has the prime minister received the same response that we heard firsthand, that his government’s marketing campaign is not cutting through?
Josh Frydenberg gets the nod:
I find it amusing coming from the shadow minister, a question about small business, when 62,000 closed their doors in their last year in office, Mr Speaker. 62,000 and over the last year, 75,000. [Labor’s final year in office was the global financial crisis].
Now the reality is that small businesses will have access to half a million dollars in working capital, Mr Speaker, as the prime minister said, two years interest free, and then the interest rate will be half the 10-year commonwealth bond rate, Mr Speaker.
Half the 10-year commonwealth bond rate. The reality is that small businesses have been damaged by the fires will get grants up to $50,000 and we’re working through the states. Primary industries.
... $76 million we have announced for tourism to help create jobs in the tourism sector and deal with what has been a [devastated] sector, by not only the ongoing drought, but these devastating bushfires.
We have announced a significant package of measures to small business, and over the last reported year, we have seen 75,000 small businesses created. Our focus is on helping the tourism sector get back on its feet.
Updated
It is really, really rare that Barnaby Joyce actually speaks for the nation
Timing is everything... #auspol @politicsabc pic.twitter.com/ybmprhkDyu
— Matthew Doran (@MattDoran91) February 10, 2020
Labor’s second set of questions is about the female facilities and water safety stream program, which gave $150m with no guidelines on eligibility.
Labor highlights that Scott Morrison had promised “further details” on the program which never materialised.
Sport minister Richard Colbeck first defends the OG sports rorts fund – the community sports infrastructure grant program – by noting it was oversubscribed.
Colbeck then moved on to female facilities and water safety – noting the health department is using standard CDG (capital development guidelines) “to deliver grants that were subject of election promises”. He said that Labor had committed $250m to sports facilities.
The general point is: there didn’t need to be any application process, because the government had already cherry-picked which projects were going to get money if they won.
Updated
Honestly, looking for sense in a Michael McCormack answer is as useless as searching for meaning in a Diplo song.
Michael McCormack appears to be malfunctioning in answer to a Terri Butler question about building dams.
He seems only able to say “getting on with the jobs” and “dams” and other words, which, if you squint, may approximate a sentence.
But there is a bit of Blu Tack on the roof, which suddenly seems exceptionally interesting.
White bread:
Those opposite, Mr Speaker, when they were in power, they just wanted to take water away from our irrigators.
We want to give them more water. We do that by capturing water when it falls. We had a lot of it just this weekend.
We want to make sure that when water falls, whether it’s in the north, wherever it is in the country, we can capture it, we can store it, we can harness it, we can harvest it for when it is dry.
And even, I’m sure, the Greens leader, the former ALP branch member, Mr Speaker, he’ll understand that too. He’ll understand that too.
There’s nobody more committed to building dams than, Mr Speaker, our regional members on this side of the house.
Because we understand the great economic capacity it will be for our nation, the great economic boost it will be for our regional areas, and we’ll get on with the job. We are getting on with the job.
Updated
Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison:
Last Thursday night, while visiting bushfire-affected communities on the south coast of New South Wales, I met a truck driver in Nelligen, who is losing income because of the fires but isn’t eligible for any assistance under the government’s recovery package.
Can the prime minister tell the house why thousands of workers who lost income because of the fires can’t get a helping hand from this government?
Morrison:
As the member would recall, when he was in a government managing disasters, that he would know there are many other payments, whether it’s in the welfare system, whether it is in the Newstart program, or many other measures available to provide income support for those who found themselves in difficulty. That’s the whole point of the safety net that has been built.
I tell you how you can keep a safety net in place. You keep it in place by ensuring you manage money well, you actually can bring a budget back into balance and do it without adding levies, as those opposite had to do when they were struck by disasters, Mr Speaker.
They had to go out and tax Australians more because they couldn’t manage money.
We are delivering $2 billion of additional support in initial and addition support through the national bushfire recovery agency. We’re working through the disaster recovery payment arrangements we put in place about the states and territories.
We’re doing that consistent with all the same guidelines and rules put in place by the previous government, and those rules and guidelines did serve their government well, and I believe they serve our government well.
Mr Speaker, I will take the interjection. Because he said I was just criticising those arrangements. I was not criticising those arrangements.
His own member who asked the question previously of me was criticising the very arrangements that the government is putting in place now.
Now, Mr Speaker, we will continue to work with the state and territory governments, we’ll continue to work with local councils, we’ll continue to work with businesses right across the country through local economic recovery plans now being put in place by the states with the commonwealth working with the former commissioner Colvin, who heads up the national bushfire recovery agency.
What we’ll stay focused on is rebuilding this economy in those areas that have been so devastated by the bushfires, that will happen with the rebuilding work we’re putting in place.
Listen carefully to those communities, whether it’s the orchardists out there in Batlow or those in the forestry industry, or the defence force we sent in who rebuilt the roof on Mogo zoo, and cleared out the Eden mill so they can get their operation back on track.
That’s what we’ll continue to do each and every day. We won’t play politics with bushfires in this place.
Updated
Michael McCormack is summoned to the despatch box, and says something about it being an eventful month, and then seems surprised that there is laughter in response.
Me too – it proves that there are still people in there listening to him.
He meant trade, but because he has the self awareness of a YouTube star making an apology, he apparently doesn’t get how a week out of a ridiculous leadership spill that continues to have ramifications for the government, “bit of an eventful week” is probably the closest he has come to having a personality.
Updated
Stephen Jones to Scott Morrison:
My question is to the prime minister. It’s also about business, because last Friday, while on the south coast of New South Wales, I was told about businesses which did not burn down but had taken a huge hit to income because of the bushfires. Why aren’t these businesses eligible for grants, only loans, that are going to push them further into debt?
Morrison:
I can update the House. In New South Wales 172 applications have been made for those small business grants. 46 have been paid out, worth over $600,000.
As the member may recall, because I advised of him this last week, through an answer to a question from another member, the grant applications are assessed by the New South Wales state government and managed by them.
They make the payments and we reimburse those payments and that has been the arrangement under this government, under the previous government. And when it comes to the guidelines they develop for assessing whether grants are provided in circumstances like this, we have not departed from the previous practice that we inherited, which was all about damage to those businesses.
That damage could include things like power being cut off, and things of that nature.
What we have done is, those businesses that may have only had – I don’t mean may, because it’s significant – those businesses which had a loss of income as a result of the loss of tourist trade, what we provided to them through this category D assistance is loans, zero interest, nothing to pay for two years, and then at concessional rates, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to those businesses should they seek to take those up.
They’re the same arrangements that have been put in place for previous disasters.
I think it’s important, because I was in Townsville on Friday, where we had floods a year ago.
And we’re still rebuilding from those floods. And I think it’s important that we provide the same assistance to those who are in north Queensland at that time, as we are today.
And we’re ensuring a consistency in our approach, and that was the consistency that had been established. And I see you shake your head. If you’re saying it should be different, why didn’t the Labor party change it when you were in government, we’re using your rules.
Oh golly gee, I don’t know Mr prime minister. Maybe it’s because disasters seem to have changed a bit in the past six years since the Coalition has been in power and we are seeing worse disasters more often? Maybe it’s something the actual government could look at changing?
Updated
Really excited to see how hazard reduction burns will help stop floods.
Right after we get onto all those arsonists who started them, and the Greens policies which didn’t let us burn the rain ahead of the monsoon season.
Updated
Really loving the re-writing of the climate narrative Scott Morrison is bringing into parliament lately. It is almost as if the summer has wounded him, and he’s now attempting to pretend that there is no question in his government climate change is causing impacts. Like Jim Molan didn’t just go on national TV and question it. Like Craig Kelly didn’t straight out deny it on international TV. Like the Nationals aren’t threatening to blow up the whole show over it. But then again, “climate action now” apparently means dams and hazard reduction burns and adding exclamation marks to things, so I guess the bar is very, very low these days.
Adam Bandt:
Australia is in record drought, catastrophic megafires have burnt our country, our capital cities have ranked amongst the world’s most polluted and now we’re facing a flood disaster. Do you now accept we’re facing a coal-fuelled climate emergency?
Morrison:
As I advised the House last week, the royal commission that the government will be moving forward on, once I receive feedback from the states and the territories, on the terms of reference for that royal commission, and at that time, I will then forward a copy of that to the opposition before announcing what we intend to do with that royal commission.
It starts from the premise that we’re dealing with longer, hotter, drier summers and we have always, and I have always acknowledged the link between the climate change and these broader weather climatic events. That’s not been in dispute by our government.
It’s not in dispute by our government. Those on the opposite [side]... they laugh and giggle and smirk, because they’re seeking to put forward a false conflict in this place.
Our government is taking action to reduce emissions and they have fallen by 12. 8%.
Mr Speaker, our government has put in place policies that has led to one of the highest levels of renewable investments this country has ever seen. Now they can deny the facts if they like, but they are the facts. What I’ve also said in response to this dreadful black summer that we have been experiencing is that taking action on climate change isn’t just about taking action on emissions.
It’s about taking action on climate resilience. It’s about taking action on climate adaptation. It’s about taking action on hazard reduction, which is a form of climate resilience. It’s about building dams like, Mr Speaker, the billions of dollars we’re investing in those projects through the national water grid. Building dams is climate action now. I note the leader of the Greens doesn’t agree with that. He’s entitled not to agree with that. But the science suggests it is. And our government will act on that.
You may want to ... select and choose those bits you want to listen to, make climate change about being anti-capitalism, that’s not what we think. We think that capitalism and technology is the way you ensure a brighter future for this world and this country.
Updated
In its first set of Senate questions, Labor targeted new Nationals deputy David Littleproud saying he doesn’t know if climate change is manmade (he has since recanted) and Liberal senator Jim Molan saying he has an open mind on the question.
The government leader in the Senate, Mathias Cormann, replied that the government is “committed to taking effective action on climate change”, then filibustered, leading Penny Wong and others to interject “WHAT CAUSES IT?”.
Eventually, on the third question “does the Morrison government accept climate changed is human-induced?”, Cormann gives a simple answer: “Yes.”
Updated
Chris Bowen to Scott Morrison:
Will the government agree to Labor’s proposal to extend Medicare rule incentives to bushfire-affected areas and work with states to provide counselling for kids in affected schools?
Morrison:
The member would be aware of the mental health package and the other support measures that have been directed to support students in schools in bushfire-affected areas.
And that has been part of the response of the government through the national bushfire recovery agency. I have also had very good discussions, with the New South Wales premier in particular, about the measures they are also developing and delivering in the bushfire-affected areas, and the same has been true of the programs put in place by the Victorian government and [I am] working with the Victorian premier.
… there are so many upsetting and devastating impacts of these recent fires, but the impact on the mental health and wellbeing of children, those who may not have lived in the bushfire-affected areas but have travelled to those areas and have seen things they have never seen before, and the trauma it could have caused is something very much in foremost in the minds of the government and the actions of the national bushfire recovery agency.
We have made commitments in that area and we’ll be assessing carefully about what else needs to be done.
Updated
Keith Pitt gets his first question as a minister from Terri Butler:
Does the minister support the development of a domestic nuclear power industry fuelled by Australian resources and cooled by our scarce water reserves?
Pitt starts by attempting to be clever, having prepared for this very question (Labor’s first press release on Pitt’s ascension was on this very topic and there have been many, many tweets) but the question is worded simply enough that he gets a “back on the topic please” ruling from the Speaker.
As the honourable member knows, there’s already a nuclear industry in Australia, it’s at Lucas Heights. We have a nuclear reactor in Australia producing very important medical technology for all Australians.
Those opposite should do their research. I was a supplementary member [of the committee]. I couldn’t even vote on the report ...
Cue Speaker warning.
Pitt:
Noted, Mr Speaker.
Tony Smith: That’s a ruling. You can note it, and act on it is the most important thing.
Pitt:
As I will. The opposition knows the government’s position. There’s a moratorium on nuclear energy in this country. I was a member of the backbench committee that made recommendations. The government will respond to the recommendations in due course.
Updated
In a dixer, Scott Morrison seems to say that the government can’t guarantee it will be organising any more flights out of coronavirus impacted areas:
There can be no guarantee the Australian government are in a position to operate further flights into these affected areas.
We said we would prioritise isolated and vulnerable Australians and that’s what we’ve done and we thank the Chinese government for their co-operation in assisting us to be able to assist the departure of those Australians from those areas.
Question time begins
Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison:
I ask, how can the prime minister claim to lead a stable government when, on the day set aside to pay respect to victims of the bushfires, the Nationals decided to have a leadership challenge, and today a National party member quit, threatening the government’s control of the House. When Australia needs stable government, why do we have a coalition of chaos?
Morrison:
The leader of the opposition does not represent the situation in the government at all. Not at all. Mr Speaker, our government ...
Here are all of our members, and the member for Wide Bay is up the top there, he’s doing a great job.
As all the members are representing all of their constituents, and I tell you what they’re doing, they’re doing what they promised the Australian people they would do, Mr Speaker.
They said, when they went to their electorates, they were part of a government that was going to keep the economy strong, keep Australians safe, and keep Australians together, Mr Speaker.
And what we’ve done since that election, we’ve been delivering on the commitments we took to the Australian people.
Delivering tax cuts, Mr Speaker, getting on with the job of delivering our climate solutions fund, getting on with the job of keeping Australians safe, and in the face of some of the biggest disasters we’ve seen, Mr Speaker, ensuring that the response, the establishment of the national bushfire recovery agency, the stand-up of the first compulsory call-out of the reserves in response to a bushfire crisis, Mr Speaker, the implementation of our packages to support drought-affected farmers, the stand-up of our arrangements in terms of counter-terrorism, and ensuring that we’re doing the right thing in terms of foreign interference and the impact, Mr Speaker, of foreign terrorist fighters.
Our government is keeping Australians safe and we’re respecting our veterans with the measures we announced last week, and we’re getting on with the job what if we promised the Australian people. $100 million in additional infrastructure investments, not only building the roads, but the rail connections this country needs, both now and into the future. We’re delivering on what we told the Australian people we would do.
What do we have from those opposite? Each way. They’re for tax cuts, they’re against tax cuts, they are for the drought fund, they’re against the drought fund.
Updated
The bells are ringing for the resumption of parliament.
[cont from previous post]
Veronica Koman, an Indonesian human rights lawyer and advocate for West Papua, currently living in exile in Australia, said it was incumbent on Australia, as a neighbour and friend of Indonesia, to raise the issue of West Papua with the visiting president.
She said 56 indigenous West Papuans and one Indonesian advocate were currently in prisons across Indonesia charged with treason and facing the potential of life imprisonment for protesting against Indonesian rule over Papua.
“These people were arrested when expressing their opinion during mass protests against racism and for an independence referendum in August and September 2019 and during commemoration of West Papua’s national day on 1 December,” Koman said.
“We demand their immediate and unconditional release.”
As many as 45,000 people are displaced from the Nduga regency of Papua following a joint military and police operation there, Koman said.
Father Santon Tekege, a priest in the diocese of Timika in West Papua, said the massive and continued military build-up across Nduga and other parts of Papua was “adding to the trauma of fear and anxiety” for West Papuans.
“Many indigenous Papuans are starving, many people are displaced in the forests, other community members have been raped or shot dead,” he told the Guardian.
The Indonesian government position on West Papua has been resolute for decades. It regards the province as an indivisible part of a unitary Indonesia state, and has consistently rebuffed demands from West Papuans for independence. The Australian government supports Jakarta’s position.
Widodo did not mention West Papua in his speech to the Australian parliament. However, a joint statement issued by Widodo and Australian prime minister Scott Morrison, “reaffirmed [the leaders’] commitment to the Lombok Treaty, signed in 2006, which outlines Indonesia and Australia’s respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
Updated
Greens urge Joko Widodo to uphold commitments made on West Papua
Indonesian president Joko Widodo has been urged to uphold a two-year-old promise to allow United Nations human rights officials free and unfettered access to the restive province of West Papua.
Greens leader Adam Bandt met with Widodo following his address to the House of Representatives Monday and told him: “Thank you for your speech, thanks for your comments on climate change, now please get something done on West Papua”.
Resource-rich but under-developed West Papua has been engaged in a campaign for independence from Indonesia since 1961. The issue flared to acute violence again last year, with mass protests – and widespread arrests – across the remote province, sparked by racist abuse of indigenous Papuan students in other parts of Indonesia.
A letter from Bandt, and Victorian senator Richard di Natale, presented to the Indonesian president, welcomed his commitment in February 2018 to allow UN human rights officials “immediate and unfettered access to Papua”.
“We call on you to implement that commitment … we also welcome your previous statements indicating that you would lift restrictions on access for foreign journalists and human rights monitors, and ask that you expedite this promise.
“We further urge you to order an independent and impartial investigation into all human rights violations related to last year’s protests in Papua, with the aim of bringing the perpetrators of such abuse to justice.”
Updated
If only his Australian tour next month included the national capital, we could have had a Canberra Bublé pic.twitter.com/JkFBODhOOD
— James Jeffrey (@James_Jeffrey) February 10, 2020
Every time someone says “XX is tearing the Nats apart” I just picture Tommy Wiseau screaming in The Room, and I have to say it makes a lot of things better.
Joko Widodo also compared Australia and Indonesia to the good guys in the Marvel universe, using a movie where the main character dies (for the common good) and the good guys only win because they manage to go back in time.
The collaboration of the Indonesian-Australia partnership, in the midst of the rising global uncertainties, can be illustrated by the movie ‘Avengers: Endgame’.
When the forces of good unite, the Avengers assemble and the common enemy can be defeated.
When Indonesia and Australia continue to collaborate and work together, then intolerance and protectionism and the fear of poverty and the threat of climate change can be overcome.
Updated
Sarah Martin has heard from Llew O’Brien’s office – the man of the hour will make a statement after 7pm, when he has spoken to the prime minister.
Updated
Just stepping outside of parliament for the moment. There are evacuation orders for some Sydney areas …
Just wondering if anyone has asked Peter Dutton yet whether arsonists also lit the floods?
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Question time won’t be until after 2.30pm.
The rest of the parliament has gone quiet while the Joko Widodo formalities play out, so now is a great time to get some lunch, or a mimosa or something.
Malcolm Turnbull was stopped in the marble foyer ahead of the reception for Joko Widodo, and was asked about the *latest* energy war in his former party room.
The cheapest form of new generation is a combination of renewables plus storage. And there is – literally, that is no longer a remotely contentious proposition.
And these people who are advocating that the government should fund coal-fired power are basically making a case for higher emissions and higher energy prices.
And that is nuts.
Updated
The 15th address from a foreign leader to the parliament (with senators as guests).
Updated
So nice to see we have moved on from all of this (that was obviously extreme sarcasm).
"Well I'm told it would take a thousand wind mills to produce a megawatt of power"
— Ketan Joshi (@KetanJ0) February 9, 2020
John Howard speaking w/ @LaTrioli, 2006 https://t.co/shR7Uq6li1
(One modern wind turbine today produces a max of ~3MW, and the biggest produces 12MW) pic.twitter.com/YmdOmxFCy5
Updated
Really enjoying Liberal National party MPs saying they want to see Llew O’Brien “stay in the team”.
HE HAS NOT LEFT THE TEAM. He is still an LNP MP. He remains a Morrison government backbencher.
He is just not going to sit in the Nationals party room. THAT IS IT.
Updated
Remember when the leadership spill which ended Malcolm Turnbull’s prime ministership was supposed to end all the energy fights in the Coalition?
Malcolm Turnbull says Coalition MPs advocating for coal fired power are making the case for higher power bills and emissions. "That is nuts," he says.
— Tom McIlroy (@TomMcIlroy) February 10, 2020
The hands have been shaken and the talks had – Joko Widodo has left the chamber.
This is interesting.
Joko Widodo:
I would like to propose a number of priority agendas as we head into the century of partnership.
First, we must continue to advocate the values of democracy and human rights.
Stop intolerance, stop xenophobia, stop radicalism and stop terrorism.
Identity politics is a trap to democracy. A threat to diversity and a threat to tolerance.
These threats will become more actual exploitation for short-term political interests, resulting in hatred, fear and even social conflict.
As democratic and diverse countries, we must work hard, side by side together, to defend the values of democracy, tolerance and diversity and to look at the clash of civilisation.
Second, Indonesia and Australia must enforce open, free and fair economic principles. Whilst protectionism is rising, we must continue to advocate economic openness and fairness. And the growing popularity of the approach we need to bolster, win-win. I very much believe an open and fair economic system will be beneficial for all.
Updated
Joko Widodo is pretty strong when it comes to explaining Australia’s relationship with Indonesia:
The people of Indonesia will always remember, will always remember, when Indonesia was struck by a tsunami in 2004 in Aceh. Australian soldiers sadly perished while assisting friends in Aceh. They are friends of Indonesia and they are heroes of humanity.
Joko Widodo addresses the Australian parliament
The Indonesian president is only the 15th world leader to be given this honour.
He opens with a G’day mate, which gets a laugh.
The representatives of Australia, the platoon of the Indonesian army engineers, along with personnel of the Indonesian national body for emergency management, have departed Indonesia to New South Wales.
They only have one purpose – to work hand in hand with the Australian people to overcome the bushfire crisis in Australia. And at the same time, teams from Indonesia and Australia are currently discussing possible cooperation for weather modification.
On 23 December 2019, I have reaffirmed to Prime Minister Morrison a clear message that Indonesia will always be with Australia during this difficult time.
Following the untimely passing of Prime Minister Morrison’s father, [I] had a briefing with the prime minister and his family.
True friends are people who stay with you during the good and bad times. A friend in need is a friend indeed.
Updated
Having a look at the chamber, Adam Bandt has one of the rock star seats behind the main table, right smack bang in front of the lectern where Joko Widodo is making his address.
The seat next to him is empty.
That seemed a little strange, so we have made some calls.
Under the protocol, the seat Bandt is sitting in is reserved for the Greens leader in the Senate, which would be Larissa Waters. So it looks like, as party leader, Bandt has taken that seat. OK
The empty chair though, next to his, is reserved for the Nationals leader in the Senate.
Which would be Bridget McKenzie.
McKenzie is in the chamber – she is sitting in the benches. I’ll leave it to you to decide why she has not taken her designated seat of honour.
I’ve just been reminded of why the parliament doesn’t do these addresses as a joint sitting of the parliament anymore – it’s because of Bob Brown.
In 2003, the then Greens senator interrupted then US president George W Bush as he spoke to the parliament, embarrassing then prime minister John Howard. Greens senator Kerry Nettle was also ejected from the chamber for interrupting.
It not only made international news, it also changed parliamentary practices. The House Procedure Committee recommended any future addresses should be carried out as House sittings, with senators invited as guests (which limits their ability to speak, because it makes it easier to boot them out).
The practice was adopted and now, senators can as guests, but joint sittings are out.
Updated
So quite a bit to unpack there.
Basically – trade and investment will grow. The countries are in lockstep on regional security and the South China Sea. There will be more discussions on visa changes between the two countries. And Australia wants to grow the relationship.
Updated
The statement continues:
Contributing to Indo-Pacific Stability and Prosperity
36. With a view to strengthening cooperation in the Indian Ocean, leaders welcomed the elevation of the Indonesia-Australia-India Strategic Dialogue to foreign ministers’ level, with the first meeting to be held as soon as practicable, and looked forward to working closely with India in strengthening the resilience of the Indian Ocean countries, including through the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
37. Leaders also agreed on the importance of working together in the South Pacific. They welcomed the first iteration of the Indonesia-South Pacific Forum held in March 2019 as well as the Pacific Exposition held in Auckland in July 2019; and looked forward to trilateral development cooperation with Pacific neighbours in areas of mutual interest to support the development and economic prosperity of the region.
38. Leaders agreed on the need to deepen our collaboration in support of Asean-led regional architecture. Australia commended Indonesia’s leadership of the Asean Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, and welcomed Indonesia’s plans to host the World Economic Forum on Asean and the Indo-Pacific 2020 in July, in which Australia looks forward to participating.
39. Leaders reaffirmed their commitment for Australia and Indonesia to work collaboratively toward the establishment of a co-deployment to a United Nations Peacekeeping Operation as a new chapter in our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They highlighted that the co-deployment would elevate our contribution to the implementation of the United Nations’ Action for Peacekeeping initiative and our already strong and mature defence cooperation, as it would be the first time Australia and Indonesia deploy together.
40. Leaders also emphasised their commitment to continue to work together at the UN to support the international rules-based order, acknowledging Indonesia’s term on the UN Security Council (2019-20) and both countries’ current membership of the UN Human Rights Council (Australia 2018-20; Indonesia 2020-22).
41. Leaders welcomed continued cooperation between Indonesia and Australia in the G20, including in advocating for action to give effect to the G20 commitment to end IUU fishing and in supporting the G20 initiative on preventing terrorist exploitation of the internet.
42. Leaders affirmed the continued importance of Apec in promoting sustainable development and free, and open trade. Leaders will advocate for an ambitious Apec post-2020 vision to follow the 1994 Bogor Goals under Malaysia’s Apec chairmanship in 2020.
43. Leaders recognised the importance of collaboration and cooperation in managing and responding to disaster risks and humanitarian crises in the Indo-Pacific region and will bolster these efforts through a new Indonesia-Australia Partnership in Disaster Risk Management, including to build capacity in disaster risk management at the sub-national level in Indonesia.
44. Building on decades of collaboration in the health sector, leaders agreed to explore new opportunities for bilateral and regional cooperation, including through a new Indonesia-Australia Health Security Partnership, which will operate in collaboration with Australia’s Indo-Pacific Centre for Health Security to help prevent, detect and respond to health emergencies, including infectious disease outbreaks in our region.
45. President Widodo expressed his sincere gratitude to the Australian Government for the warm welcome and the hospitalities accorded to him and the Indonesian delegation during the state visit, which reflects the bonds of long-standing friendship and solid foundation for the advancement of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Updated
The statement continues:
Maritime Cooperation
27. Leaders recognised the importance of maritime trade and the blue economy to Australia and Indonesia’s collective prosperity. They committed to developing maritime connectivity between markets in the region.
28. Leaders expressed serious concerns about developments in the South China Sea, including the continued militarisation of disputed features, and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, security, stability, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the region. They called for disputes to be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.
29. Leaders noted negotiations between Asean and China towards a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea and underlined the importance of any Code of Conduct: being consistent with international law, particularly UNCLOS; not prejudicing the interests and rights of third parties or other states; and supporting existing, inclusive regional architecture.
30. Leaders committed to deepen practical cooperation on maritime issues to support common interests in the maritime domain, including in the areas of improving maritime domain awareness, supporting understanding of and adherence to UNCLOS, combatting illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing and other activities under the Joint Declaration on Maritime Cooperation’s Plan of Action. Indonesia welcomes Australia’s interest in a partnership to develop maritime and fishing capacities in Indonesia’s outermost islands.
31. Leaders reaffirmed both countries’ active interest in ocean sustainability. Indonesia and Australia co-led the establishment of the Regional Plan of Action to Promote Responsible Fishing Practices including Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing in the Region (RPOA-IUU) and will continue to advance regional fisheries objectives through this important instrument.
32. Leaders welcomed the announcement of a cooperation arrangement with JCLEC that formalises the Maritime Training Faculty and will see an Australian Border Force official posted to JCLEC.
33. Leaders welcomed the cooperation between the Indonesian Directorate General of Sea Transportation (DGST) and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) that will result in the establishment of two significant maritime safety training facilities.
34. Leaders also welcomed the extension of the Arrangement between the Maritime Security Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (Bakamla) and the Department of Immigration and Border Protection as represented by the Australian Border Force (ABF) on Maritime Security Cooperation a further three years, the prospect of an Australian port visit by Bakamla, and acknowledged the tenth anniversary of desktop training cooperation between Bakamla and the ABF.
35. In acknowledgement of the serious and growing challenge of marine plastic waste, Leaders agreed to establish an Indonesia-Australia Systemic Innovation Lab on Marine Plastic Waste under the leadership of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the Agency for Marine and Fishery Research and Human Resources of the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fishery. This new initiative will strengthen our research collaboration to help identify new approaches in tackling marine plastic waste across our region.
Updated
The joint statement continues:
Securing Our and the Region’s Shared Interests
17. Leaders acknowledged the closeness of the two countries’ wide-ranging bilateral cooperation on justice, law and security. They welcomed the achievements of the Australia Indonesia Partnership for Justice II, aimed at supporting Indonesia’s law and justice institutions and civil society, and strengthening our overall security architecture.
18. Leaders acknowledged the need for an increased focus on countering violent extremism, and committed to work together to prevent radicalisation, challenge extremist propaganda, and maintain strong, cohesive, and multicultural and multi-faith societies.
19. Leaders highlighted the importance of bilateral strategic dialogue, including through the annual 2+2 meetings between foreign and defence ministers, held most recently in Bali in December 2019.
20. Leaders welcomed the ongoing Indonesia-Australia Ministerial Council on Law and Security, and the Indonesia-Australia Counter Terrorism Consultation as important forums for strengthening cooperation on the evolving threats of terrorism, transnational crime and cyber security.
21. Leaders highlighted the ongoing success of the sub-regional meeting established in 2017 and co-chaired by Indonesia and Australia as a regional mechanism to collectively respond to transnational security threats, particularly terrorism and foreign terrorist fighters.
22. Leaders emphasised the importance of an open, free and secure Internet to economic growth and innovation. Leaders welcomed the concrete program of bilateral activities underway, particularly cyber bootcamps for Indonesian officials, and regular training on cyber security, cyber policy and international law and norms. Leaders resolved to further deepen cooperation in areas of mutual interest and welcomed further initiatives supported by the Cyber Cooperation Program to strengthen cyber security skills, institutions and digital skills development through short-term fellowship opportunities. Leaders looked forward to the next Indonesia-Australia cyber policy dialogue taking place in 2020.
23. In the context of co-chairing the Bali Process, leaders acknowledged the two countries’ constructive bilateral cooperation to counter people smuggling and trafficking in persons in collaboration with regional partners. Leaders looked forward to the next Bali Process Ministerial Conference taking place in late 2020. Leaders welcomed progress on the Bali Process Government and Business Forum to engage the private sector in addressing trafficking in persons and related exploitation.
24. Leaders emphasised the importance of protecting the victims and witnesses of serious transnational crimes such as trafficking in persons and terrorism. Indonesia and Australia have committed to work together to strengthen domestic and regional capacity to effectively assist victims and witnesses.
25. Leaders acknowledged that the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC) will continue to be a centre of excellence for capacity building on law enforcement in combating transnational, serious and organised crime.
26. Leaders witnessed the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding on Transportation Security Cooperation, recognising the importance of the transport sector to the economic and social development of both countries.
Updated
The joint statement continues:
Connecting People
13. Leaders expressed their sincere sympathies to those affected by the bushfires in Australia, and the recent flooding in Jakarta. Australia welcomed the deployment of Indonesian military engineers to assist in the response to the bushfires. Leaders reflected on our countries’ long and proud history of supporting each other in times of need – from TNI’s assistance to Australia following Cyclone Tracy in 1974 to the ADF’s assistance following the Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami in 2018.
14. Leaders recognised that shared links in areas such as education and research collaboration help to create greater understanding between our communities and act as a springboard for an even broader partnership between our two countries. Leaders welcomed the continuation of programs such as Building Relationships through Intercultural Dialogue and Growing Engagement (BRIDGE), the New Colombo Plan, the Destination Australia Program, the Darmasiswa Scholarship, and the Indonesia Arts and Culture Scholarship, which enhance interactions among students and teachers from both countries.
15. Leaders welcomed the announcement that Monash University will open a campus in Indonesia – the first foreign university campus in Indonesia – which will greatly strengthen educational collaboration between the two countries.
16. Leaders welcomed the holding of the first Interfaith Dialogue in Bandung in March 2019, and committed to another Interfaith Dialogue in 2021.
Updated
It continues:
Enhanced Economic and Development Partnership
5. Leaders welcomed the imminent completion of their respective domestic processes for the ratification of the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA‑CEPA).
6. Australia and Indonesia committed to deepening our economic, trade and investment relationship, including taking forward initiatives this year to harvest early benefits from IA‑CEPA ratification. This will include full implementation of IA-CEPA and early work on an IA‑CEPA Economic Cooperation Program; an Australian Business Week delegation led by the Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, and a further visit by major Australian private sector investors; the establishment of a CEO Roundtable; the development of a Blueprint for Trade and Investment in Indonesia and assistance to Indonesian SME exporters.
7. A bilateral economic, trade and investment ministers’ meeting will be inaugurated, to drive this deepening of cooperation on bilateral and global economic issues. A senior economic officials’ meeting will also be established.
8. Leaders noted opportunities for increasing people-to-people links, including through IA‑CEPA’s skills package, and that Indonesian access to Australia’s work and holiday visa will increase from 1,000 to 4,100 upon IA-CEPA’s entry into force, and increase further to 5,000 in the sixth year of the agreement.
9. Leaders reaffirmed the benefits of open markets and inclusive regional economic integration. Leaders committed to working constructively together through the G20, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) and other regional and multilateral fora to support the multilateral trading system and take forward WTO reform. Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and will work together to finalise all outstanding negotiations ahead of signature in 2020, completing an agreement which builds on the Asean-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) and which complements IA-CEPA.
10. Through our longstanding economic partnership for development, leaders agreed to cooperate to encourage sustainable and inclusive economic growth and stability; address poverty and inequality; strengthen human capital, education and skills; promote women’s leadership and empowerment; and support disability inclusion.
11. Given how close eastern Indonesia and northern Australia are, leaders agreed to explore ways to further boost economic cooperation and connectivity, including through better transportation links.
12. Leaders highlighted opportunities for collaboration on the relocation of Indonesia’s capital city, a national development priority for Indonesia.
Updated
Scott Morrison and Joko Widodo release joint statement
Scott Morrison and Joko Widodo have released their joint statement, which outlines what has been agreed upon in their bilateral talks so far:
1. During President Joko Widodo’s state visit to Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and President Widodo met for the Indonesia-Australia annual leaders’ meeting and held a joint ministerial meeting with other Australian and Indonesian ministers in Canberra on 10 February 2020.
2. Leaders acknowledged the recent 70th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations between Australia and Indonesia, and agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation under the five pillars of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2018.
3. Leaders witnessed the signing of the Plan of Action for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership by foreign ministers, which outlines the practical cooperation between the two countries for 2020-2024.
4. Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the Lombok Treaty, signed in 2006, which outlines Indonesia and Australia’s respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as being the bedrock of our defence and security relationship.
Updated
The last time a leader from another nation addressed the Australian parliament, was in October 2016, when Singapore prime minister Lee Hsein Loong gave a speech.
Updated
Joko Widodo has been announced and he has taken his seat of honour, ready to make his address.
Indonesia's President Joko Widodo is addressing the Australian parliament in Canberra https://t.co/3DEkYGMy2D
— SBS News (@SBSNews) February 10, 2020
While we wait for the address to begin, Murph has taken a look at just how Scott Morrison uses the lack of trust in the political system to his advantage in the latest Full Story podcast.
Where creating confusion while disdaining guard rails is the strategy. I joined the Full Story team to unpack sports grants and alternative realities 👇 @lauramoates @milesage #auspol https://t.co/bOUDgzZ9U5
— Katharine Murphy (@murpharoo) February 9, 2020
Malcolm and Lucy Turnbull are in the gallery for Jokowi’s address.
Turnbull and Widodo were quite close as leaders – you may remember that Turnbull was sent to Indonesia by Scott Morrison to smooth things over after Morrison floated the idea of moving the Israeli embassy during the Wentworth byelection.
Updated
Joko Widodo’s address to parliament is about to begin.
The House is filling up. Senators have been invited as guests.
Question time will be pushed back until about 2.30 to accommodate the change in schedule.
Indonesia is central to our region and Australia’s future within it. Labor has always understood the importance of this relationship. Great to reaffirm that with President @jokowi today. pic.twitter.com/s7uc2qgQ3v
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) February 10, 2020
Updated
The assistant treasurer, Michael Sukkar, has lodged some regulations revealing details about the census, including that it will be held on 10 August, 2021 and there will be two new questions on defence force service and health conditions diagnosed by a doctor or nurse.
This appears to end a scuffle in the government over whether to include two new questions on gender and sexuality.
Last week Guardian Australia reported that health minister Greg Hunt had lobbied Sukkar to include the questions because they would”greatly inform the government’s knowledge about the LGBTI+ population cohort in Australia in the 2021 census”.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics had noted that two federal departments need the data to deliver services and it would have “strong value across all levels of government” but recommended sexual orientation not be added to the census due to possible backlash.
A spokesman for Sukkar told Guardian Australia:
“The government has accepted the recommendations of the Australian Bureau of Statistics regarding topics that should be included in the 2021 Census, which ensures the information collected reflects Australia’s priority information needs.”
Updated
Back to the Joko Widodo visit: Jokowi also addressed the media, saying the visit marked a “new beginning” for the two countries following the signing of the Indonesia-Australia comprehensive economic partnership agreement – the official name for the free trade agreement signed between the two countries.
“This means going forward, the economic relationship between the two countries will grow and bring more tangible benefits to the people,” he said.
He added that the two leaders had discussed opportunities for Australia in the areas of infrastructure and education investment in Indonesia, as well as strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
He spoke about the hope for “peace and stability” in the region, with the pair discussing the security situation in the South China Sea and climate change action, with particular reference to Pacific island nations.
Despite Indonesia being one of the most important democracies in the region, the media statement from Jokowi did not allow for journalists to ask any questions.
Updated
So, just to recap – Llew O’Brien has quit the National party but not the LNP. In Queensland, the Liberal-National coalition is formalised as one party. So NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
He will sit with the Coalition in the chamber, he will sit in the joint Coalition party room and he will vote with the government, because he is still a member of the government. He just won’t be going to National party room meetings anymore.
Which sounds like a win-win.
Much like when my maths teacher would make me sit outside the classroom for being “easily distracted and a distraction to others”.
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Barnaby Joyce released his text message to Scott Morrison to Sky News this morning, explaining just why he is throwing a tantrum over Michael McCormack’s cabinet picks:
“Sorry Scott but Michael picking only those who voted for him is foolish as it leaves little room for ownership to the team and as such makes things precarious”.
It’s worth noting that the last time there was a leadership tantrum in the Nationals, McCormack did include Joyce backers in the cabinet.
And this text message seems fine to release, but Joyce apparently can’t release his ‘text message’ reports he made to Morrison as the drought envoy. Those relating to government to policy need to stay secret, but texts about internal party waa-waa-crying-face sulks are apparently in the public interest.
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Anthony Albanese’s son Nathan is in parliament today – he will be the opposition leader’s guest at Joko Widodo’s address
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Australia and Indonesia to establish an energy dialogue, Morrison says
Scott Morrison was a little more expansive on what the chat between himself and Joko Widodo was about:
We have also agreed to establish an energy dialogue between Australia and Indonesia.
We have much to share, both in understanding of the challenges and as Indonesia is going through an accelerated development path, [about] how we can ensure that the fuel sources for the future are very much part of Indonesia’s development and Australia’s.
We will be working together on science, research, technology and sharing our view of the future energy sources for both of our countries, and we look forward to that partnership for energy in Australia and Indonesia, but also how that might broadly lead our region.
Monash University will establish its first foreign campus in Indonesia under this agreement, and that is an indication of how this is a two-way street.
Not only that, but the treasurer today reinforced the opportunity for Australian pension funds, superannuation funds, to be looking at the opportunities that exist in Indonesia, as they do in many other countries around the world, and we see that investment partnership is a key part of how the agreement will be realised.
On the issues of strategic security in our region, Indonesia is a leader and wonderful partner to Australia, whether it is on maritime cooperation or working together with international peacekeeping, which we will now be seeking to do.
This is just a further layer in what is already a very, very deep relationship, and when it comes to the South China Sea, we share our commitment to sovereignty, stability and respect for the rule of international law.
We have also discussed today ... challenges around counterterrorism, countering foreign fighters and influence.
These are issues in which we are sharing expertise under view of the world.
Finally, we have the opportunity to talk through issues of the coronavirus and the measures we are taking in concert and the information we are sharing to contain the impact of the coronavirus in Indonesia and Australia, and we will continue to work closely with our medical advisors and the other arrangements we have to ensure we can both effectively carry out our responsibilities to our peoples to keep the health and well-being of our peoples in the highest possible order.
As you can see, it’s been a very wide-ranging discussion.
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Zali Steggall and her crossbench colleagues have just held a press conference marking the introduction of her climate bill. Steggall is trying to nudge Liberals inclined to talk about the importance of climate action to do something about it. She wants a conscience vote, and she wants MPs to consider how they might “deliver safety and certainty for their electorates”.
Centre Alliance MP Rebekha Sharkie says a conscience vote creates an opportunity “for modern Liberals to stand and take some action”.
The Victorian independent Helen Haines says this bill represents an opportunity for parliamentarians to restore trust in politics, by projecting a capacity to work together. Steggall has not yet discussed the bill with Scott Morrison.
It’s not clear whether there will be support to bring it on in the parliament. Steggall makes it clear she wants to build support in the community to pressure MPs to move the bill forward.
She’s set up a website to accompany the bill and says if MPs decline the opportunity to be constructive “their electorates will be made very aware of their position”.
The bill includes a commitment to achieving net zero by 2050, specifies the need to have an adaptation plan, and establishes an independent climate commission.
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Scott Morrison is welcoming Joko Widodo to Canberra, in one of the committee rooms.
Widodo will address the House later this morning.
The bilateral talks are all about trade and security (when are they not?) but there is a bit of climate and energy thrown in for good measure.
Morrison:
We have discussed many issues as part of our growing partnership, our growing agenda, between our two nations.
The 100 day action plan for the implementation of the agreement will see it, as it comes into effect, ramped up and the momentum established at all levels.
[It will be] a mutually beneficial arrangement, one that sees the cooperation of our economies for the strong growth that it will see over the next decade and beyond. Indonesia will be one of the star economies of the world over the next 10 to 20 years and this arrangement, this mutually beneficial arrangement, will ensure that our economy is linked for this exciting period of growth in the years ahead.
Today we have agreed to include new elements as part of this implementation. We are pleased that our home affairs minister here in Australia will be engaging with his Indonesian counterpart to proceed to look at how we can simplify and streamline the issues of entry into Australia.
We also agree to reconsider and look at the issues of travel advice in Indonesia, particularly for those areas most frequented by Australian visitors. Indonesia is a very large country with a very large population, and we need to ensure that we have this flexibility that respects and understands that, and we thank the president and his ministers for raising these issues with us.
We have also agreed to establish an energy dialogue between Australia and Indonesia.
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Really, really looking forward to Pauline Hanson defining “traditional sex” in the Senate when she enters her latest WTAF piece of legislation:
From the “why is this happening” file –
The Prohibiting the Indoctrination of Children bill would counteract a wide range of issues described as indoctrination of young children: including skewed versions of history taught as fact, controversial sexual programs that teach gender fluidity and realignment to infants, unsubstantiated human-induced climate change, as well as the teachings of so-called “safe” underage sex, sexting, and non-traditional sex.
The bill recognises parents across Australia who have concerns about biased teachings, they don’t like the teaching of non-traditional and controversial views that don’t give the full picture; they want to protect and strengthen their children, and this bill does that.
Parents want a sensible curriculum that sets their children up for meaningful, employable futures, without the distraction of false or imbalanced ideology.
Under his eye, yadda, yadda, yadda.
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Matt Canavan says 'renewables are the dole bludgers of the energy system'
Matt Canavan has written an article for the Courier Mail, where he came up with this line:
Renewable energy can complement our energy needs but renewables do not run all the time making them unsuitable to support manufacturing jobs. Renewables are the dole bludgers of the energy system, they only turn up to work when they want to.
First of all – sigh.
Secondly, I guess that makes coal the franking credit recipients of the energy system – holding on, despite the death throes and the impacts to the rest of society.
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Good times:
Member or Dawson, George Christensen statement on 'clean coal-fired power' #auspol pic.twitter.com/HR7Q8jNLQN
— Political Alert (@political_alert) February 9, 2020
That “inner city Liberal” Christensen is talking about, is Trent Zimmerman, who made comments on Sky this morning that he didn’t believe investing in coal was a role for the government – that the market could decide.
That’s Labor’s position as well – even Joel Fitzgibbon manages to hold on to that one.
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The bells are ringing –parliament is about to begin
The government has said it will be releasing its 2050 emissions strategy ahead of the climate meeting in Glasgow (which they have to, in order to be able to trade with the EU, as the French foreign minister has already told us).
But the government is also still trying to calm down its party room, which has a section completely obsessed with coal.
It’s funding a $4m feasibility study into a north Queensland coal power station, because it’s trying to kick that fight down the road.
Mathias Cormann had a chat about that to the ABC this morning:
We always said that we would support a feasibility study like the one that’s been announced, and you know, obviously coal will continue to be an important part of our energy mix in the foreseeable future, and a high efficiency, low emissions coal-fired power station, obviously, can be an important part of helping us meet our emissions reduction targets.
But ultimately, a project like that will have to stack up commercially. It will have to stack up on its own right. And that is obviously a matter for after the feasibility study.
I mean, the whole range of industries, exporting industries, manufacturing exporting industries in Australia, do need access to reliable, affordable power, and obviously we want to ensure that that power is environmentally as efficient as possible.
And in that context, this feasibility study, hopefully, will be able to demonstrate that this project can stack up based on private sector investment. Australia produces about 6% of global coal, it has responsibility for about 6% of global coal production.
I think you’ll find that Australia will continue to be a significant producer, exporter and consumer of it.
And of course, Australian coal is environmentally much more efficient than the coal alternatives from other parts of the world. I mean, our coal, our black coal, is ... it obviously has lower moisture content, lower ash content, higher energy intensity.
And it is, obviously, in the interests of the environment for more Australian coal to be used and for it to displace coal from other sources, which is more polluting.
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Oxfam has welcomed Zali Steggall and the crossbench climate bill. From the group’s climate change advisor Simon Bradshaw:
This bill represents the minimum action necessary to bring Australia into line with comparable countries and to get us on the path to zero emissions as soon as possible. It is an important and practical step that deserves support from all sides of politics.
As parliament resumes after a horrendous summer of extreme weather and bushfires, we welcome this move by Ms Steggall, which is a response to community sentiment to ‘just get on with it’ when it comes to setting the framework required to address the climate crisis.
Importantly, by beginning a sequence of five-year emissions budgets, guided by independent advice, the bill requires a strengthening of Australia’s existing and woefully inadequate 2030 emissions reduction targets.
We recognise that this proposed law alone will not be enough to ensure Australia plays its part in limiting warming to 1.5°C and avoiding a future of ever more devastating climate disruption, and that it will need to be accompanied by determined efforts to shift Australia rapidly beyond coal and gas and to 100% clean exports by 2030. Nonetheless, it is an important foundation.
The climate crisis affects every one of us. Globally, it is the single greatest threat in the fight against hunger and poverty. Here in Australia, it is already taking an enormous toll on the lives and livelihoods of many Australians.
If Australia can break free from decades of policy paralysis and partisan battles over climate action, we can not only help ensure a safer future for Australians and people everywhere, but equally realise Australia’s huge potential to prosper in a zero-carbon world. It’s time for our leaders to act.
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Zali Steggall releases climate change bill
Zali Steggall has released the Climate Change (National Framework for Adaptation and Mitigation) bill 2020.
The crossbench are hoping to get a conscience vote on this. But for those wondering what it’s all about, here is the introduction to the bill.
This act establishes a framework for adaptation and mitigation in relation to climate change.
Decision-makers must consider seven guiding principles when performing functions or duties or exercising powers under this act or provisions of other prescribed acts.
The commission is required to prepare a national climate change risk assessment within a year of the commencement of this act and every five years after that.
In response to each national climate change risk assessment, the minister must prepare a national adaptation plan. The commission must evaluate the implementation of these plans annually.
This act sets a target of zero net accounting emissions by 2050.
The target can only be changed if there is a significant change in circumstances and the commission is satisfied the significant change justifies the change.
In order to meet the net zero target, the act also provides for the minister to set emissions budgets for emissions budget periods on advice from the commission.
The minister must also prepare emissions reduction plans for each emissions budget. The commission provides advice on these plans also.
This act establishes the commission and provides for a Parliamentary Joint Committee on climate Adaptation and Mitigation. Appointments to the commission must be approved by the committee.
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Just a reminder – this is not a very sad situation.
Literally nothing changes. Nothing. If Llew O’Brien is still a member of the LNP, he is still a member of the government. He is just not sitting in the Nationals party room, and is freed to slam Michael McCormack’s leadership even more.
Nationals MP @Barnaby_Joyce says he'll keep his conversations with Llew O'Brien to himself, but describes the situation is very sad.
— Jamie Travers (@JamieTravers) February 9, 2020
"A good fella and a good mate." 🧑🌾@SBSNews #auspol pic.twitter.com/7swdgJDk5s
And for the pedants out there, a clarification: Joko Widodo will not be addressing a joint sitting of the parliament – just the House. But senators are invited to watch as guests.
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Over in the Senate, and Labor wants to try and address some issues with the encryption laws – the ones Labor had passed, in the hopes that it could fix the legislation if it won the election.
We all know how that played out.
Today, Labor will try and have the recommendations the intelligence and security committee put forward, which the government did not implement.
From Kristina Keneally:
Today in the Senate, Labor will debate a private senator’s bill – Telecommunications Amendment (Repairing Assistance and Access) bill 2019. The bill implements the bipartisan recommendations of the parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security. The amendments in Labor’s bill were agreed to by Liberal PJCIS members and promised by the government some 14 months ago.
The Australian tech sector holds great potential for economic growth and job creation, but is being held back by the Morrison government’s failure to deliver these legislative changes.
Tech companies report that customers are less likely to seek out contracts with Australian companies because the encryption laws pose risks that they would be required by the government to introduce systemic weaknesses into their products and systems.
... Labor’s plans to improve the flawed encryption legislation have been supported by the Communications Alliance, StartupAus, the Australian Industry Group, BSA The Software Alliance, the Human Rights Law Centre, Digital Rights Watch, Electronic Frontiers Australia and the Australian Privacy Foundation.
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In bipartisanship news, Dave Sharma and Josh Burns will introduce a private members motion together, calling on Israel to extradite Malka Leifer.
Leifer is wanted on 74 charges related to child sexual abuse dating back to when she was principal of the Adass Isreal school in Melbourne.
Australia first requested Leifer be extradited in 2014.
From the joint release:
There have been 63 court hearings since that time, and the case still has not moved to the formal extradition phase, despite a psychiatric panel declaring Malka Leifer fit for extradition in January this year.
Leifer’s alleged victims, sisters Dassi Erlich, Nicole Meyer and Elly Sapper, have waited long enough for their former principal to face justice in Australia.
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Indonesian president Joko Widodo is (literally) in the House.
He’ll sign the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) with Scott Morrison and address the parliament later this morning.
Amnesty International has called on Morrison to raise the West Papuan situation with Widodo and Greens leader Adam Bandt and former leader Richard Di Natale will be wearing West Papuan lapel flags during the address.
West Papuan human rights advocate Ronny Kareni will also be Di Natale’s guest. Kareni “is a member of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua and is a longstanding campaigner for West Papuan human rights”.
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OK. Back on deck now (the rain, welcome as it is, led to a few logistical problems for me this morning, so apologies).
What does the Llew O’Brien drama mean?
Nothing really.
He remains in the LNP, and he’ll sit in the joint party room. He just won’t sit in the Nationals party room.
He is a pretty conservative guy, so there is no way on Lizzo’s green earth he won’t vote with the government 99% of the time. The government’s two-seat majority is not in doubt. He’ll just be free(er – he has never been a quiet one) to make a bit more noise.
A bit like Kevin Hogan after Malcolm Turnbull was rolled. Hogan stayed in the Nationals but sat on the crossbench in the chamber.
O’Brien remains in the LNP, so he is still a member of the government, but won’t sit in the Nationals party room.
It’s the clayton’s crossbench.
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Here is AAP on Llew O’Brien:
Nationals backbencher Llew O’Brien has quit the party following Barnaby Joyce’s failed leadership bid.
O’Brien told Scott Morrison of his decision on Sunday night.
He will remain in the Coalition party room.
“O’Brien joined the LNP at its inception and remains a member of the LNP. O’Brien will not make any statements until after he has met with the prime minister,” his spokeswoman told AAP on Monday.
The member for Wide Bay in Queensland was among Barnaby Joyce supporters who were last week threatening to cross the floor and block Coalition legislation after the failed leadership bid.
Senior government minister Mathias Cormann said O’Brien would still be a member of the Liberal National party.
“He continues to support the government – that is what he has made clear to the prime minister,” Cormann said.
O’Brien will give the government supply.
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Good morning
The Nationals just keep on keeping on, don’t they?
The Courier Mail reports Wide Bay (one of the safest Liberal National party seats in Queensland) MP Llew O’Brien quit the National party last night, after a “shouting match” with Michael McCormack.
You can read the whole story here in the Courier Mail.
O’Brien is the MP who brought on the leadership spill last week. Seems he is still not over it. His local paper reports he told Scott Morrison last night he was going to quit the National party – but Morrison has granted him permission to stay in the LNP. What that means I am not quite sure, but at this stage, O’Brien won’t be sitting in the National party room or the Liberal party room. And he’ll still give the government supply.
But he will be free to cross the floor on a whole heap of other issues, like ensuring integrity.
Meanwhile, it seems George Christensen is falling into line.
Exclusive: George Christensen rang the PM to say he never told Barnaby he’d cross the floor with him. He told me: “I advised the PM and Deputy PM that I had not told anyone I would be crossing the floor because of internal party matters (nor would I be doing that..” @SkyNewsAust https://t.co/lhP6KLM34B
— Sharri Markson (@SharriMarkson) February 9, 2020
But don’t think this is over. Not by a long shot. There are a group of National MPs who seem pretty determined to get their way and they don’t seem to mind what the consequences are. That’s not something that is going to just pass. In my experience, it’s something which festers.
Oh, and Indonesian president Joko Widodo is in town for a bilateral visit. He will address the parliament today, becoming only the second Indonesian leader to do so.
And Zali Steggall, Helen Haines, Rebekha Sharkie and Andrew Wilkie will be releasing a climate bill today. They want a bipartisan approach to preparing for climate change and are hoping to get a conscience vote on the issue.
Stay tuned for all of that and more as the day unfolds, with Mike Bowers, Katharine Murphy, Sarah Martin, Paul Karp and a one-coffee me at your service.
Ready?
Let’s get into it.
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