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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Gabrielle Chan

Labor will introduce private member's bill on marriage equality – as it happened

Penny Wong, Bill Shorten, Tanya Plibersek
Labor’s Senate leader Penny Wong, party leader Bill Shorten and deputy leader Tanya Plibersek at the opening of parliament on Tuesday. Photograph: Mike Bowers for the Guardian

Night-time politics

Rightio. I have to chuff off now because I have to string whole sentences together for The Drum very shortly.

  • What happened here today? The 45th parliament was opened by the governor general, Peter Cosgrove. He outlined – in a speech traditionally prepared by the prime minister’s office – the Turnbull government agenda for the next three years. It was a policy list from the last election.
  • Labor has confirmed it will introduce a marriage equality bill, which may come to parliament in the next few days or may not – depending on strategic reasons.
  • The omnibus bill was the subject of chest-beating by both sides. Labor has yet to give a final decision on whether to support the $6.1bn in savings as it was only handed over in the last 24 hours and it is 650 pages.
  • Labor has asked Turnbull to join with them and reaffirm the parliament’s commitment to non-discrimination in immigration and Indigenous affairs. With an eye to Cory Bernardi’s push to change 18c of the Racial Discrimination Act and Pauline Hanson’s policies on Islam, Labor is trying to draw Turnbull out on equality. John Howard and Kim Beazley agreed on this motion in 1996.
  • As to the Cory motion, Bernardi has given notice of it but it probably won’t come up for debate until next year. It seeks to remove “offend” and “insult’ from section 18c.

Thanks for your company and thanks to the brains trust of Katharine Murphy, Paul Karp and Gareth Hutchens. Mike Bowers, take a bow.

Welcome to the new parliament and see you on the morrow.

Updated

Obviously regarding that last post on marriage equality, Labor is not going to telegraph their strategy.

OK, so Labor is giving notice of a marriage equality bill. It could come on through a suspension of standing orders in the next two days or it could be delivered in an orderly fashion – during private member’s time.

Updated

There it is.

Reports that Labor will bring on a bill for marriage equality.

We are seeking clarification of this news from Bill Shorten’s office. We were expecting this news but were not sure on the timing. This would have to be a private bill.

Herewith, the Xenophones – the new Senate band getting back together.

Updated

Nats cosy up to Pauline Hanson.

The member for Dawson, George Christensen, sits next to One Nation senator Pauline Hanson with the resources minister, Matt Canavan, on the right
The member for Dawson, George Christensen, sits next to One Nation senator Pauline Hanson with the resources minister, Matt Canavan, on the right. Photograph: Mike Bowers for the Guardian

Updated

Consider the parliament open.

Members of the house and the senate watch the Sir Peter Cosgrove as he opens the 45th Parliament.
Members of the house and the senate watch the Sir Peter Cosgrove as he opens the 45th Parliament. Photograph: Mike Bowers for the Guardian

Now Malcolm Turnbull, Bill Shorten and Barnaby Joyce are giving their shadow lists of whips etc to the house.

So that’s it for Peter Cosgrove. We have had a 19-gun salute and the MPs are wandering back into the lower house chamber.

After the 2016 proroguing of parliament, Cosgrove got a bit of stick for not shaking Tanya Plibersek’s hand. He focused on the leaders and, even though she was standing next to him, he seems to not see her.

This time he stood square in front Plibersek this time and she went the full hug. Hopefully we will have pictures for you shortly.

(This post has been corrected. In my head the so-called snub was the last opening. But it was actually at the proroguing just before the election. It seemed like a lifetime ago. Thanks for the heads up. You know who you are.)

Updated

Cosgrove also commits the government to delivering the NDIS by 2020, maintaining domestic violence as a national priority and redress for survivors of institutional child abuse following the conclusion of the royal commission.

He also notes the prime minister and leader of opposition have committed to work together on Indigenous recognition in the consitution.

Cosgrove concludes “my government is committed to three years of strong, stable economic leadership and to a term of reform and delivery”.

Though you come from and respect many different viewpoints, I urge you to work together to provide Australia with economic security, national security and strong and sustainable support for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in our society. I know you will serve the Australian people diligently and constructively.

Updated

On climate change:

As we sustainably use Australia’s natural resources to the best advantage, my government will meet our international environment, climate change and energy obligations. Climate change will continue to be a critical area of policy attention for my government. Australia will meet its 2020 emissions reduction targets and the government will review Australia’s climate change framework next year to ensure it remains effective in achieving the 2030 target.

Katharine Murphy reports at this stage, Malcolm Turnbull gave the almost imperceptible nod.

Updated

Sir Peter is going around the world and back so bear with me. He mentions the Australian Building and Construction Commission and industrial relations.

Then he moves on to Medicare:

Medicare is fundamental to the health care of Australians. In light of my government’s commitment, every element of Medicare currently delivered by government will continue to be delivered by government.

Labor MPs laugh at this while Penny Wong just smirked.

Cosgrove said the government would provide “record” education spending this term, redesign the VET fee scheme and early childhood and childcare.

Peter Cosgrove commits the government to infrastructure through the Smart Cities policy, as well as the NBN, which he says is on target for the rollout. He says a $200m regional jobs package will increase opportunities in rural areas. He mentions the national Landcare program, investment in the Murray-Darling basin and the solar communities program.

Updated

Cosgrove commits the government to trade agreements with Indonesia, the European Union and makes mention of ministerial talks between Australia and the UK post-Brexit. The government also wants to ratify the trans-Pacific partnership agreement.

Updated

Counter-terrorism gets a mention from Cosgrove.

A revised counter-terrorism legislation amendment bill will be introduced into parliament as soon as possible. It will allow, among other things, for control orders to be issued for persons as young as 14 years old. The government has accepted all recommendations on this bill from the parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security ... Cybersecurity will no longer be a second -order issue but a core element of our national security framework and priorities.

Updated

National security features in the speech, with mention of wartime anniversaries and defence spending as well as the global strategic conditions.

Today we live in a world of great volatility, in a strategic environment as complex as any before it. The highest responsibility of any Australian parliament is to protect Australians, to keep them safe, to provide the peaceful conditions in which they can live and prosper. Strong defence capability remains vital to Australia’s national interests.

There is a nod to the pressure on the bank royal commissions in Cosgrove’s speech.

Consumer protection is a key element of my government’s agenda for the financial services sector. With the focus on lifting the professional standards of financial advisers, changes to life insurance remuneration structures, the review of the external dispute resolution framework, bolstering the powers and tools available to ASIC and improving consumer credit protection.

Cosgrove outlines the government’s company tax cuts and bracket creep measures.

My government is committed to its program of ensuring that all taxpayers, businesses and individuals pay the right amount of tax. Middle income Australians are bearing a growing tax burden.

The Turnbull agenda is contained in the GG’s speech.

Economic:

It is prudent that this parliament prepares for any significant shocks from the global economy by strengthening our economic resilience. Failure to prepare will leave our economy and our living standards vulnerable. The government is committed to maintaining strong fiscal discipline, strengthening the balance sheet and supporting policies that encourage jobs, growth and investment.

Peter Cosgrove is speaking to the members and senators. First a word on responsibilities.

You come to this place with the honour of being elected by the people to serve as their voice, to represent their interests in the great debates that will shape our nation’s destiny. Electorates across the country have vested in you their trust to deal sensibly, responsible and diligently with a multitude of policy choices important not only to how Australians live today but to what sort of society we bequeath to future generations. In this 45th parliament, my government will work constructively and cooperatively with each member and senator to secure the future of all Australians, their families and their communities. This will be a government that delivers.

Updated

Murpharoo also reports: Derryn Hinch is up the back, behind David Leyonhjelm and Bob Day. The Xenophones (it could be a new band?) are behind Jacqui Lambie, looking like three animated budgies. George Christensen has just eased his ample frame in next to Pauline Hanson. They look delighted with each other. There goes Matt Canavan.

Katharine Murphy reports that the resources minister, Matt Canavan, and Pauline Hanson are having a great chat as they wait for the members.

Updated

ADMIT THE USHER OF THE BLACK ROD!

There go the members ... up to the Senate.

Updated

Peter Cosgrove is in the Senate president’s chair. The Black Rod has headed down to get the members.

Updated

So the House of Reps is waiting for the Usher of the Black Rod. The Speaker, Tony Smith, suggests it could be 10 or 15 minutes so he will allow the conviviality to continue. He also notes with a smirk that only his microphone is on. Talk among yourselves.

Tell us a story, yells an MP.

Updated

Arthur Sinodinos has issued a statement.

I’m just going to wait till they get to the Senate. Sigh.

Updated

Back in Canberra, senators are now heading down to the members hall to present the president Stephen Parry to the governor general.

Updated

As we await the governor general’s speech, the New South Wales premier, Mike Baird, is speaking to the media following the Icac findings on Operation Spicer.

Baird has issued a statement:

The conduct revealed in today’s report by the Icac is completely unacceptable and constitutes a betrayal of public trust by both sides of politics. The government has zero tolerance for corruption.

The report justifies the tough actions we took between May and August 2014 when a number of former Liberal MPs permanently left the parliamentary Liberal party.

In September 2015, following the high court’s decision in Cuneen, the government amended the Icac Act to implement all of the recommendations of the Gleeson / McClintock panel, including in relation to breaches of electoral laws.

These amendments expanded the Icac’s jurisdiction so that it can now investigate, and make findings of fact about, any alleged breach of the electoral and campaign finance laws, even if the breach would not amount to corrupt conduct.

The September 2015 amendments explicitly preserved the actions taken in Operations Spicer and Credo, and provided that any possible breaches of the electoral and lobbying laws already under investigation by Icac could be continued.

In addition, since 2014, the government has taken a range of measures to improve accountability in relation to election and campaign finance laws.

This included the establishment of a new electoral commission, providing it with a clear mandate to bring proceedings for breaches of electoral laws.

In May 2014, the government appointed a panel of experts, led by Dr Kerry Schott, to consider and report on options for the long-term reform of election funding laws.

In response to the expert panel’s interim report, the government amended the Election Funding, Expenditure and Disclosures Amendment Act, which: increased some of the penalties for breaching election funding laws; introduced a general anti-circumvention offence provision directed at those who seek to evade election funding laws; and extended the limitation period for prosecuting offences against election funding laws from three to 10 years.

Given his actions have effectively backed in the Icac, I would love to know whether he backs a federal Icac. No such questions have been asked yet.

Updated

Here we go. A little pomp. A little ceremony.

#cory

The pomp and ceremony has begun again. The GG, Sir Peter Cosgrove, has just arrived in the parliamentary forecourt. He is inspecting the guard and the trombones are playing. He will give a speech but beware, it is the PM’s office that writes the speech. So you will hear the Turnbull government’s agenda coming out of the GG’s mouth. It’s quite odd.

Updated

Love this pic. #hugs

Newly sworn in NT Labor senator Malarndirri McCarthy hugs the opposition leader in the Senate, Penny Wong
Newly sworn in NT Labor senator Malarndirri McCarthy hugs the opposition leader in the Senate, Penny Wong. Photograph: Mike Bowers for the Guardian

Updated

Apologies people. I have just had a long conversation with an actual person in the building. So that was fruitful. More later.

Greens leader Richard Di Natale has been pushing Labor on the $1.3bn cut to Arena and the clean energy supplements which cuts welfare payments by $4.40 a week.

What the Turnbull government is proposing through its budget measures is to balance budget on the back of the poor, to slash from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, (Arena) and those are backward measures. I say to Bill Shorten, don’t get drawn into this idea that the only way to balance the budget is to take money out of the pockets of the poorest and most vulnerable people in our society.

Negotiations begin.

The immigration minister, Peter Dutton, talks to Pauline Hanson and the trade minister, Steve Ciobo, talks to SA senator Bob Day
The immigration minister, Peter Dutton, talks to Pauline Hanson and the trade minister, Steve Ciobo, talks to SA senator Bob Day. Photograph: Mike Bowers for the Guardian

Updated

Moments in time.

Malcolm Turnbull and the opposition leader, Bill Shorten, walk into the Senate, watched by new crossbencher Derryn Hinch
Malcolm Turnbull and the opposition leader, Bill Shorten, walk into the Senate, watched by new crossbencher Derryn Hinch. Photograph: Mike Bowers for the Guardian

Updated

Doing the numbers.

Cory Bernadi in the Senate chamber during the opening of parliament
Cory Bernadi in the Senate chamber during the opening of parliament. Photograph: Mike Bowers for the Guardian

Updated

A reader called Steven asked how the parliament decides where the crossbenchers sit.

So just to be clear on Bernardi’s 18C bill, it is a private senators’ bill, on which he has given notice. It will go into the Senate and then a vote is not expected until next year – given only six weeks left of sitting and lots of crossbenchers.

Updated

The Labor frontbencher Andrew Leigh has been asked about the omnibus bill of savings measures. Leigh says Labor won’t commit to supporting it until they go through it with a fine tooth comb.

It makes a fine doorstopper but it’s not something you would expect Labor to have a response in 24 hours ... We’ve been absolutely clear the position we will take after the election is the position we took before the election.

The government says all the measures in the bill were supported by Labor. Labor says yeah, nah. Not all of them.

Updated

Lunchtime politics

So let’s do a stocktake:

  • The members and senators have been sworn in after an ecumenical church service and a welcome to country ceremony.
  • The speaker, Tony Smith, and president, Stephen Parry, have been reappointed.
  • Bill Shorten has asked Malcolm Turnbull to join him to reaffirm the parliament’s commitment to equal rights and non-discriminatory policies, including on immigration. It would also reaffirm a commitment to the reconciliation process with Indigenous people.
  • The Liberal senator Cory Bernardi is collecting support to put a private member’s bill to remove the words “offend” and “insult” from section 18c of the Racial Discrimination Act.
  • The governor general will speak to the parliament at 2.30-ish.

Updated

Shorten’s motion is pretty close to one which John Howard and Kim Beazley passed in 1996, coincidentally the same year that Pauline Hanson was voted in the first time around.

Bill Shorten's challenge to Malcolm Turnbull on Pauline Hanson and Cory Bernardi

As Liberal dissident Cory Bernardi collects signatures to change the racial discrimination act and Pauline Hanson urges a royal commission into Islam, Bill Shorten has asked the prime minister to join him in affirming the parliament will never condone racism or extremist politics.

As John Howard did with Kim Beazley in 1996, I urge you to join with me in supporting this resolution. However, if you wish to move this important motion, I would be prepared to stand aside and second the motion.

The motion says:

That this house:

  1. Reaffirms its commitment to the right of all Australians to enjoy equal rights and be treated with equal respect regardless of race, colour, creed or origin;
  2. Reaffirms its commitment to maintaining an immigration policy wholly non-discriminatory on grounds of race, colour, creed or origin;
  3. Reaffirms its commitment to the process of reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, in the context of redressing their profound social and economic disadvatange;
  4. Reaffirms its commitment to maintaining Australia as a culturally diverse, tolerant and open society, united by an overriding commitment to our nation and its democractic institutions and values; and
  5. Denounces racial intolerance in any form as incompatible with the kind of society we are and want to be.

Updated

Speaker Tony Smith: behave yourself and don't demoralise the public

Tony Smith briefly thanks the chamber and warns MPs not to “demoralise the public”.

When I was elected just over a year ago, I pledged to do all I could to deliver a better parliament to be as fair as I could in exercising my duties and responsibilities. To strongly defend the contest of ideas and ideals, a contest that should be vigorous and at times will be willing. I also said it didn’t need to be as loud or rude and so some occasions it is and that does demoralise the public, we all know that. In this 45th parliament, can I say at the outset, I welcome the kind words but it is my job never to be satisfied. I will be doing everything I can to improve standards further.

The Labor deputy, Tanya Plibersek, makes a reference to Bronwyn Bishop in her congratulations.

Congratulations to you on your reappointment in the role that all of us respect and admire so much. You have been a wonderful Speaker, perhaps benefiting by comparison with your predecessor.

Bishop, of course, is no longer in the parliament, having been overthrown in the Liberal preselection by Jason Falinski.

Updated

Bill Shorten has congratulated the Speaker, references the increased numbers of Labor MPs and tells the chamber he has written to the PM calling for a reaffirmation of equal rights.

I am pleased that the Labor party takes up more room than we did before. I am also pleased, now that there are more women in the chamber, the member for Barton becomes the first Indigenous woman to sit in the House of Representatives and the member for Cowan, the first Muslim woman [Anne Aly]. I am proud to say Labor has more women members and senators than any time in the history off Federation, improving the mix of experience and backgrounds and faiths in this house can only help make our parliament a more representative and more inclusive place. On that positive note, I inform members I have written to the PM seeking his support for a motion, reaffirming this house’s commitment to the right of all Australians to enjoy equal rights and be treated with equal respect regardless of race, colour, creed or origin, consistent with the Speaker’s values.

Updated

Tony Smith is “dragged” to the Speaker’s chair to take his place. Malcolm Turnbull welcomes him back, suggesting he has conducted his role with elegance and intellect.

Updated

Part of the crossbench in the Senate, with Nationals senator Matthew Canavan bottom right
Part of the crossbench in the Senate, with Nationals senator Matthew Canavan bottom right. Photograph: Mike Bowers for the Guardian

Updated

Liberal MP for Robertson Lucy Wicks seconds Smith’s nomination.

Here comes the speaker. Liberal MP Michael Sukkar nominates former speaker Tony Smith for the job. He will be the only nomination. Smith is the member for Casey in Victoria. He was a former staffer for Peter Costello and in the last parliament, was considered a fair and balanced speaker. That was felt across the chamber, in Labor ranks as well as Liberal.

Updated

Senator Stephen Parry has just been returned as Senate president. As a Tassie Liberal, he is only slightly less extinct than the Tassie tiger.

He tells the Senate he intends to be “fair minded”.

Parry has three messages:

  1. Let’s show the public our best face
  2. Remember with the committee systems we can only do so much. (This speaks of the heavy workload of the last lot of Senate committees.)
  3. I am here as a friend and confidant. Just call me.

George Brandis, leader of the government in the Senate, praises Parry and makes the prediction he will rise to be a “great president”.

Updated

The ABC reports on Operation Spicer, the ICAC finding that:

  • Joe Tripodi engaged in serious corrupt conduct by “misusing his position as a member of parliament to improperly provide an advantage to [developer] Buildev” and should be prosecuted for misconduct in public office;
  • the director of public prosecutions (DPP) should consider charges against former NSW energy minister Chris Hartcher for an offence of larceny; and
  • the DPP should also consider charges against former Charlestown Liberal MP Andrew Cornwell and his wife, Samantha Brookes, for giving false or misleading evidence.

Updated

Day 1 bipartisanship.

Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition leader Bill Shorten at the opening of parliament.
Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition leader Bill Shorten at the opening of parliament. Photograph: Mike Bowers for the Guardian

While the members are swearing (in), check out Paul Karp’s story, with Christopher Pyne suggesting the Coalition will consult Labor on the wording of the plebiscite.

The Coalition could consult with Labor to reach a more favourable wording of the same-sex marriage plebiscite question to win opposition support for the popular vote, Christopher Pyne has suggested.

Australian Marriage Equality’s chairman, Alex Greenwich, has welcomed the idea, suggesting a fair plebiscite question could help address Labor’s concerns.

Bless the twitter accounts of the house and senate.

The first mob of senators are being sworn in. In the house, a similar ceremony is just getting under way for members.

Thanks to readers.

French tells the parliament that Cosgrove will tell members after they have been sworn in why he could not be there.

The members and senators are taking their seats in the senate.

Hang on a minute, Cosgrove has appointed chief justice of the High Court Robert French to do the honours, opening the parliament.

Thanks to Sarah.

The house of reps members are heading over to the Senate for the speech by the governor general, Sir Peter Cosgrove. Bill Shorten and Malcolm Turnbull are walking together.

Updated

Liberal senator Chris Back is one of the backbenchers backing Cory Bernardi’s private bill to reform section 18c of the Racial Discrimination Act. The bill would remove “insult” and “offend” from the section.

Let me be very clear, words like intimidate, vilify should be remaining in the legislation. Nobody should humiliate, nobody should intimidate, nobody should vilify without being called to account. When it comes to insult, when it comes to offend, you can say anything to me. You could say to me ‘I hate the West Coast Eagles’ and I might be offended or insulted by that but you have the right to say that. And to the insult, or the offence, is it from you or from me? So let me be very clear on where I stand. Intimidate, humiliate, vilify must remain in the legislation but offend and insult are things, as I said to one of my Labor colleagues in the 44th parliament, I said it’s something you and I do to each other across the chamber all the time. And there is no case for offend and insult to be in the legislation. It must be removed.

The West Coast Eagles example may be the best example of how a lot of people who are supporting the reform do not get racial discrimination and its effects. IMO.

Updated

Part of Labor national secretary George Wright’s statement.

Earlier today I let staff at the ALP national secretariat know that I have decided to step down as ALP secretary.

It has been an enormous honour and privilege to serve as national secretary of the great Australian Labor party for the past five-and-a-half years.

My decision to step down from this role is not one I have come to lightly and have discussed extensively with my family and Labor leader Bill Shorten.

But, after two federal election campaigns, two ALP national conferences and numerous byelections it is time for me to spend more time with my family in my home town of Melbourne and seek new challenges and opportunities.

Updated

Smokin’ hot camera work.

Malcolm Turnbull and the deputy PM, Barnaby Joyce, at a smoking ceremony in the opening of the 45th parliament
Malcolm Turnbull and the deputy PM, Barnaby Joyce, at a smoking ceremony in the opening of the 45th parliament. Photograph: Mike Bowers for the Guardian

Updated

Sky News’ David Speers is reporting Labor’s national secretary, George Wright, is standing down.

Updated

Scott Morrison: 18c doesn't help me get one more person in a job

Q: I know the government said it’s not government policy but isn’t there a point where internal demands for change on this warrant a rethink from the government?

Scott Morrison:

When I was asked about 18C a while ago, it doesn’t help me pay back one cent of debt, it doesn’t help me reduce the deficit, it doesn’t help me get one more person in a job, it doesn’t help me get welfare under control or improve the tax system. These are things I’m focused on.

Morrison on bank royal commission: Bill Shorten is playing with fire

Scott Morrison has been asked about Labor’s plans to move a motion for a royal commission into the banks.

All that Bill Shorten is doing is undermining not only domestic confidence in our banking and financial system but he raises questions in the national community and the international community. They’re asking what’s wrong with Australia’s banking and financial system? Is there some weakness in the system? Now that is playing with fire and he should, frankly, not be so reckless and he should support the practical measures the government is implementing.

Updated

The treasurer, Scott Morrison, has been doorstopped in parliament regarding the omnibus bill.

As the Labor party has to stop making excuses. We’re simply asking the Labor party to support measures they’ve already agreed to. How do I know they agreed to them? They put every dollar of the savings that’s in that omnibus bill in their forward estimates at the election. Every single measure that’s in that bill, as confirmed by the Parliamentary Budget Office, was contained in their costings before the election.

Q: They say they never supported the cuts to welfare for psychiatric patients?

Why did they put them in their forward estimates then? The estimates for that measure were included in their deficit at the election. What they were trying to do is sneak the savings in there, in the election campaign, and not mention it and hoping everyone would forget about it on the other side of the election.

Updated

Do you have empirical evidence? I have a graph.

One Nation senator elect Malcolm Roberts after the church service.
One Nation senator elect Malcolm Roberts after the church service. Photograph: Mike Bowers for the Guardian

Conservative writer and thinker Gray Connolly makes a pertinent point on 18C.

She’s back.

Pauline Hanson back in Canberra.
Pauline Hanson back in Canberra. Photograph: Mike Bowers for the Guardian

Meanwhile, Ray Hadley on 2GB is losing his stuff at Scott Morrison regarding the sitting times. He accuses politicians of not working hard enough. Morrison is dead batting it, suggesting parliamentary sittings are a bit like when Himself is on air. That is, you don’t work just when you are on air Ray. Hadley does not seem to know that when parliament is not sitting, politicians still work outside those hours.

Bill Shorten addresses the ecumenical service.

Bill Shorten earlier at the church service.
Bill Shorten earlier at the church service. Photograph: Mike Bowers for the Guardian

Meanwhile our parliamentarians have moved to the forecourt for a smoking ceremony. The leaders, Turnbull, Shorten and Joyce, have been daubed with paint and had a bit of a hair blowback. The look on Barnaby’s face was priceless. Hope Bowers got that one.

Updated

Cory's army is now up to 20 senators

Morning everyone, sorry to burst in. How great is it to have Politics Live back? To some breaking news. For the last week or so, I’ve been watching developments inside the Coalition on the Racial Discrimination Act closely. In a story I published last night, I noted the Liberal senator Cory Bernardi had been seen stalking the corridors yesterday collecting signatures for his private member’s bill, which aims to remove the words “insult” and “offend” from the RDA.
His effort seems to be progressing well. The bush mail inside the Coalition informs me he’s signed up every backbencher in the upper house in the Liberal and National parties with the exception of Jane Hume, a new Liberal from Victoria. The bill now could have support from as many as 20 senators, if we throw in the crossbench. That’s obviously a sizeable minority of senators, a minority that will be pretty hard for the prime minister to ignore, which is presumably why Malcolm Turnbull has recently switched his line from no, we are not overhauling the RDA, to we are not overhauling the RDA “yet.” Bernardi won’t confirm he has 20 but he’s told me he’s “heartened by the level of support I’ve received”.

Back to you Gabrielle Chan.

Updated

Bill Shorten thanked Tina Brown and the Wedgetails for the welcome to country.

Australians most certainly want this 45th parliament to be capable of rising above self-seeking, narrow sectional interests. To be capable of raising the standard of living and opportunity for all Australians. For a country built on the fair go, the stubborn presence of inequality in our prosperous society is a national wrong. A challenge to all of us in the 45th parliament. A challenge for us to use our parliament more intelligently, to elevate politics, to make this an even more pluralist, more democratic, more representative place. To include more people who are too often left out, ignored, dispossessed or forgotten.

Updated

Turnbull again:

It is our responsibility to ensure the practices of this place work to forge a common way, a shared way, with those of our nation’s first peoples. Among Neville Bonner’s long and illustrious line of people making their mark on this place, we welcome new Indigenous voices. Three new Indigenous members join the Member for Hasluck, Ken Wyatt and Senator Jacqui Lambie in carrying forward the hope of Australians who have brought them here to Australia. The Senate has Patrick Dodson and Malarndirri McCarthy, and Linda Burney has made history as the first Indigenous woman elected to the House of representatives. They join Tina Brown’s ancestors, leaders who have used this land as a meeting place for thousands of years, who would welcome surrounding clans here for ceremonies and celebrations, for marriages, to discuss matters of cultural and economic importance and to trade. This ritual is reflected here today.

Malcolm Turnbull is getting quite emotional, talking about Neville Bonner, the first Indigenous MP.

For the first time, Neville Bonner’s voice echoed across the Senate chamber and he said, ‘It is with deep and mixed emotions that I participate in the debates of this parliament for the first time. For thousands of years my people have loved this country. They have appreciated its beauty and its capacity to provide for human needs. Throughout that long period, my race developed many traditions and the awareness of those traditions and the long and illustrious line of people who have upheld them in the interests of freedom and democracy makes me humble.’ Today, as newly elected and re-elected representatives, it is our turn to feel the humility of which Neville Bonner spoke.

Updated

Thanks to Anna Henderson of the ABC for the clip of a person bailing up Shorten outside the church.

Tina Brown gives the welcome to Ngunawal country.

The parliamentarians are now gathering in the great hall of the parliament for the welcome to country. A large reminder that the constitutional recognition is yet unresolved.

Back to marriage equality. Nick Xenophon has been speaking to the ABC. He and his three members will not support the plebiscite legislation. But he still thinks there will be bills for a free vote coming to parliament.

The end game is that there will be bills coming up in the parliament. This will still be a prominent issue all the way up to the next election, if it isn’t passed in this parliament. I expect this to loom even larger according to an opinion poll that came out as a significant issue for many Australians. Then I would like to think that if we don’t get there in this term we will certainly get there in the following parliament in terms of the parliament deciding. That’s what we are paid for, we are paid to make decisions and this is a decision that can and should be made by the parliament.

Updated

Orders of the day

  • 9.00 am
  • Welcome to country ceremony
  • (Members to assemble in the Great Hall at 8.45 am)
  • 10.30 am
  • Announcement of proclamation calling the parliament together
  • Procession to Senate chamber for opening of the parliament
  • Return to House for swearing in of members
  • Election of Speaker
  • 12.15 pm
  • House suspends
  • 2.40 pm
  • House resumes
  • Presentation of Speaker to the governor-general in members’ hall
  • Return to House
  • 3.05 pm
  • Procession to Senate chamber for governor-general’s speech and return to House at conclusion
  • Formal business
  • Ministerial and party leadership arrangements
  • Presentation of formal bill
  • Governor-general’s speech reported and formation of address-in-reply committee
  • 4.00 pm
  • House suspends
  • 5.00 pm
  • House resumes
  • Election of deputy Speaker and second deputy Speaker
  • Government and other business
  • Adjournment (no debate)

Updated

There are so many moving parts in this day and most of them will happen inside the parliament. But there is one thing happening outside the parliament on this very first day. That is the report by the Independent Commission Against Corruption into Liberal party donations. Geoff Winestock of the Financial Review has a preview of it this morn.

A report into corrupt Liberal party campaign donations during the time Senator Arthur Sinodinos was honorary NSW party treasurer will be released on Tuesday, just as the federal parliament takes its seats.

Legal challenges have delayed for almost two years the release of the controversial report by the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption into a web of schemes that allowed the state Liberal party to get around a NSW ban on accepting donations from property developers.

ICAC has the power to make formal findings of corruption and ask the director of public prosecutions to consider bringing criminal charges. It has been reported that ICAC will not make findings against Senator Sinodinos.

A separate audit by the NSW Electoral Commission however has already found that the Liberals had “channelled” and “disguised” prohibited donations, including $690,000 through a federally registered body called the Free Enterprise Foundation. Donors included Westfield and Walker Corporation.

Sinodinos, now Malcolm Turnbull’s cabinet secretary and very trusted adviser, has repeatedly denied any knowledge of funds. His most frequent answers in the hearing were “I can’t recall”.

Updated

Bill Shorten has just been bailed up by a man outside the church service complaining about his language regarding those opposing marriage equality.

As the church bells chimed over the top of them, Shorten replied:

People of faith can be opposed to marriage equality, says Shorten.

It’s not about faith, it’s just a point of view ...

Yes sorry, if you’ve got more to say I will listen to you, says Shorten.

Thank you.

People of faith can be opposed to marriage equality but some people who object to marriage equality do have homophobic attitudes, says Shorten.

Of course.

Updated

Lord give me strength.

Malcolm Turnbull finds a moment of reflection.
Malcolm Turnbull finds a moment of reflection. Photograph: Mike Bowers for the Guardian

The brilliant Mr Bowers.

The choirboys, run to paradise.

The attorney general, George Brandis, and Kevin Andrews
The attorney general, George Brandis, and Kevin Andrews. Photograph: Mike Bowers for the Guardian

Updated

Church cabinet.

Malcolm Turnbull and Julie Bishop consider the metaphysical ahead of parliament.
Malcolm Turnbull and Julie Bishop consider the metaphysical ahead of parliament. Photograph: Mike Bowers for the Guardian

I love #politicslive readers.

George Brandis: get out of the way of the plebiscite bill

Marriage equality is looking increasingly shaky in this parliament even though – as per the last poll – people want it resolved. Those watching yesterday will know that Nick Xenophon said he would block the plebiscite legislation because it was just an expensive opinion poll.

Labor opposes the plebiscite but has yet failed to say categorically whether it will vote against the legislation.

George Brandis was on Lateline last night and warned Labor to get outta the way. Brandis is a supporter of marriage equality.

It’s instructive that after the shadow cabinet meeting this morning, the Labor party, although critical of the plebiscite process, in fact stopped short of saying that it would vote against the plebiscite legislation, which the government is determined to proceed with. I very much hope that the Labor party gets out of the way on this and Bill Shorten doesn’t succumb to the temptation to play politics with the issue because, I can tell you that people in the gay community in particular with whom I have been speaking are sick to death of being treated as pawns in some kind of political game.

This last point is very true. Except both sides have a history of playing games on this. Remember the plebiscite itself was originally introduced by Tony Abbott as a delaying tactic. Until it won over some for entirely different reasons – such as making a grand public statement or providing cover for conservatives to vote yes.

Updated

Newspoll: 50-50 but Malcolm Turnbull's net satisfaction drops below Bill Shorten

Here is Phil Hudson on the key points:

The Newspoll, taken over the weekend exclusively for Th ­Australian, reveals satisfaction with the prime minister’s performance has fallen to 34%, his lowest level since he toppled Tony Abbott almost a year ago and down six points since the last measure on the eve of the July 2 election. Dissatisfaction with Mr Turnbull has reached its highest point of 52%, up five points since the election.

For the first time Mr Turnbull’s net satisfaction rating — now at minus 18 points — is worse than the same measure for Bill Shorten, who scored minus 14 points. The opposition leader’s satisfaction rating was 36% while his dissatisfaction rating was 50%, largely unchanged.

The interesting point for me is the top priorities for those polled:

  1. reducing debt and deficit
  2. marriage equality and border control running equal second.

Way down the list, reports Hudson, is restoring the Australian Building and Construction Commission – the issue on which the double dissolution was called(!).

Updated

Good morning and glad to see you looking so well,

Sound the trumpets! Ring the bells! Here we are back in the 45th parliament. We have lost some friends and gained some new ones. There are 39 newbies turning up for their first day. We have a politically and religiously ecumenical service to start attended by Malcolm Turnbull, Bill Shorten and Barnaby Joyce, followed by the swearing in.

The governor general Sir Peter Cosgrove will make a speech, Speaker Tony Smith will be ceremonially dragged to his chair and then the formal business will be underway.

The real business, of course, is already well underway. Yesterday was dominated by two very long party room meetings. The Coalition and Labor have pretty well got all their committee positions sorted and already, outliers are organising their various sorties to cut across the more organised agendas. Think 18c, think marriage equality.

The Coalition’s business is the budget omnibus bill, now fully briefed out to the Coalition backbenchers, Labor and some senators. This was the bill that raps all the government’s budget savings into one, including the measures that Labor included in its pre-election savings. Murpharoo has fleshed it out here.

Post-election, Labor has resisted agreeing to the bill until they saw the fine print. Labor’s manager of opposition business, Tony Burke, this morning has said, well lucky we did! One more measure has been added and the final savings total has changed.

The government has lied about the contents of this bill ... the bill that has now emerged is different to what the government has said it would be.

I shall have the Newspoll results for you in a moment. Shorter version – parties remain neck and neck, Turnbull’s support continues to drop.

So let’s get on with it. The most exciting news for me is Mike Bowers is back in town. He is chasing the pollies at a nearby church and will follow them throughout the day. Talk to us in the thread below or on the Twits @gabriellechan and @mpbowers.

Strap yourself in people. The water is choppy.

Updated

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