Well then, we might leave the blog here today, because everyone has gone to ground and there’s only so much waffle anyone should be expected to take.
Just a reminder, in case you missed it, that Labor voted (just) to support the TPP in their caucus meeting today. Expect that to have further waves as the weeks progress.
We still don’t know when the Wentworth byelection will be held – and the Liberal party still has no idea if it will be able to hold the seat, which was won by Malcolm Turnbull with 62% of the primary vote at the last election. So things are going great there.
And Roman Quaedvlieg has called on Peter Dutton to withdraw the “grooming” comments and reserved his right to explore the right of replies open to him.
All in all, “getting on with the job” seems to be going perfectly to plan.
Tomorrow, Kate Jenkins, the sex discrimination commissioner, will be addressing the National Press Club. Isn’t that fantastic timing?
Also – just a reminder, we still don’t have a race discrimination commissioner replacement.
We’ll be back early tomorrow – which is also the day of the annual Midwinter Ball, although it has to be said that no one seems particularly in the mood this year. Strange how non-stop batshit insanity robs a person of the will to party.
A massive thank you to Mike Bowers – he is STILL out and about, because the man is unstoppable and I would be lost without him, even if he has terrible opinions about biscuits. You can find some more of his work at @mikepbowers and @mpbowers. The Guardian brains’ trust is still toiling away as well and will be continuing for some time to come, to bring you the latest from the banking royal commission and the Scott Morrison interview. That’s on top of all the tidbits they chase up for me all day, so as always a massive thank you to them.
And to you, for following along and keeping us all company. Keep the comments coming – if it is pressing, you can catch me at @amyremeikis and you’ll find a morning wrap on the story of @pyjamapolitics.
Thank you again – have a lovely evening and log off for a bit to enjoy the real world and, of course, take care of you.
Updated
The full Grahame Morris apology:
John Howard's former chief of staff, Grahame Morris: To @billshortenmp and the women behind him I say sorry.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) September 11, 2018
MORE: https://t.co/ykweMevBOK #Speers #auspol pic.twitter.com/jLi1rb1OWo
Clive Palmer (and I can’t believe I have to type that name again) has just told Sky he is worth $3 billion and will spend $100 million on his party’s election campaign.
Scott Morrison has headed to the War Memorial for the Last Post ceremony, where he will also lay a wreath. He has pre-recorded his interview with 7.30, given the number of cameras in the hallway waiting for him to come out of the ABC parliament house studios.
The election campaign is off and running:
Australian political (in)stability 2013- pic.twitter.com/uPCFaCXULL
— Chris Bowen (@Bowenchris) September 11, 2018
And the whole statement, as reported by Samantha Maiden:
New statement from @quaedvliegs . Reserves right to pursue formal mechanism for right of reply to @PeterDutton_MP “smear” he “groomed” his 22 yo girlfriend pic.twitter.com/8Po612iFzP
— Samantha Maiden (@samanthamaiden) September 11, 2018
"Personal smears to the tenor of those made by Mr Dutton with respect to his parliamentary statement today that I ‘groomed a girl...’ are disgusting and offensive and I call on him to formally withdraw that comment" @quaedvliegs hits back at Home Affairs MInister @PeterDutton_MP
— Andrew Greene (@AndrewBGreene) September 11, 2018
Grahame Morris, looking the most contrite I have ever seen, is apologising for calling Labor’s women MPs “dregs”.
“Once a year I seem to have to come on and apologise – and I am sorry,” he says, after quite a detailed apology, where he says he was wrong to say what he did.
He is still against quotas and says he thinks mentoring is the way to get women into the Liberal party – and to get women “into safe seats, not just marginal seats”.
Updated
Well, that was quick
Who do you believe? pic.twitter.com/ybwTCZiIMk
— Construction Forestry Maritime Mining Energy Union (@CFMEU) September 11, 2018
Flag pin watch:
Question Time lapel pin flag watch-Teehan, PM Morrison, Hunt yes-and the non flag wearers-Fletcher, Dutton, Porter, McCormack, O’Dwyer Littleproud @AmyRemeikis @murpharoo @GuardianAus #politicslive https://t.co/apQosS7DdE pic.twitter.com/e8yw7rDcNa
— Mikearoo (@mpbowers) September 11, 2018
That’s quite a lot of CWA ladies who will never smile again.
For some context to what Roman Quaedvlieg meant when he was talking about Papua New Guinea you can read this story, but basically:
On 14 April shots were fired at and around the Manus Island detention centre.
An armed mob, including members of the Papua New Guinea defence forces, tried to storm the centre, causing detainees and staff to hide or flee.
The events that led to the violence have been hotly disputed, with accounts by the local police chief and the Australian immigration minister, Peter Dutton, directly contradicting each other.
Updated
QT as seen by Mike Bowers:
Ain’t merit grand
Updated
And some more from Roman Quaedvlieg:
While we’re on the subject of credibility...so I’m credible enough to throw in front of a pack of cameras to defuse the Operation Fortitude explosion, and to ask me to talk to Bolt to back in comments on PNG riots, but now that it doesn’t suit I’m supposedly not credible? Right.
— Roman Quaedvlieg (@quaedvliegs) September 11, 2018
The cashless welfare card will be rolled out in Queensland after legislation to expand the trial passed the Senate on Tuesday.
The 33-32 vote came after the government won the support of independent Tim Storer, who backed the expansion having won an amendment to force additional oversight of the trial at the two new sites in Bundaberg and Hervey Bay.
Storer had withheld his support following a damning audit office report that found the evaluation of existing trials in Ceduna and East Kimberley had been so “inadequate” it was unclear whether the cards had reduced social harm.
Labor and the Greens on Tuesday voted against the expansion of the card, which is also strongly opposed by major welfare groups and has drawn the ire of the Bundaberg mayor, former LNP stalwart Jack Dempsey. The local member, LNP MP Keith Pitt, is a strong supporter of the trial.
“The evidence from academics, experts and the auditor general is clear, the evidence isn’t there to justify continuing with the card, yet the government and some of the crossbench have gone ahead,” the Greens community services spokeswoman Rachel Siewert said in a statement.
Aimed at reducing alcohol, gambling and drug use, the cards quarantine 80% of a person’s welfare payments to a special debit card.
Storer’s amendment means the expansion must also be subject to an independent inquiry that consults with trial participants.
Updated
Question time ends in a bit of a mess.
I think we are all still reeling from that extraordinary answer Peter Dutton gave involving Roman Quaedvlieg.
Tanya Plibersek to Scott Morrison:
Yesterday during question time, that prime minister said the government whip would handle complaints about bullying within his government but today in an interview when asked if there is bullying that goes on, the prime minister responded that no, he doesn’t believe so. That may now have been no complaints or does the prime minister consider the bullying exposed by a quarter of the women in the Liberal party room did not occur?
Morrison:
I never take at face value the accusations made by those members. What I was asked about yesterday and what I responded to yesterday is that the welfare and pastoral care that is provided to members of the parliamentary party and the Liberal and National parties is dealt with by the party whips.
That is a normal process on this side of the chamber and on that side of the chamber. That is the process that is available to all members of this place and while I am absolutely interested in the welfare of all of the members of this parliament... I am even more committed and more interested in the welfare of the Australian people who are frankly more interested in other issues and what matters to them more than what goes on in this place.
We will be using the processes that have been in place for many years and my members understand my commitment to them when it comes to those issues. What surprised me as question time draws to a close is over the course of this day no questions on drought, no questions on the security of Australians, no questions, Mr Speaker, on how we can actually grow our economy and deliver the more essential services that Australians rely on. What we have had is all --what we have had is abuse. The biggest issue is stopping the au pair. Not stopping the bikies or the boats, what we are focused on is keeping Australia strong on this site, keeping Australians together.
Roman Quaedvlieg has responded:
Curious, stuttering, rambling comments.
— Roman Quaedvlieg (@quaedvliegs) September 11, 2018
What was that 2002 comment re mates in the QLD Police? I left the Qld Police in 2000.
Grooming? Are you serious? That has a legislative meaning. Is that what he meant?
Parliamentary privilege huh?
Bill Shorten to Scott Morrison:
Yesterday during question time he said the government [whip] would handle complaints about issues within his government. To day, it was reported the prime minister is taking up the issue. Does he stand by his answer yesterday, or is the prime minister taking personal responsibility to investigate bullying complaints about other Liberal MPs within his government?
Morrison:
“I take a keen interest in the welfare of every member of my team and I will continue to do so as I work with every member of my team to do something that is very important. The responsibility we have is to deliver an even stronger Australia, and Australia where we keep our economy strong so we can guarantee the essential services that Australians rely on. That the minister for veterans’ affairs was just referring to [in a dixer] Keep Australians safe is the second thing, whether it is the ADF, our national security agencies, keeping Australians safe online, keeping kids safe in school, all of these things we are doing to keep Australians safe.”
He is interrupted by Tony Burke who asks about relevance and Tony Smith agrees.
Morrison:
I was asked about the welfare of my members and what role I was playing in dealing with the welfare of my members and what I’m explaining is a very keen interest in the welfare and support I give to my members that they have a very important job that they have to do. My team is coming together but more importantly, we are bringing Australia together it is we don’t want to see one set of Australians pitted against another. What we are focused on is meeting the challenges of the future head-on at the united Australia.
Updated
Peter Dutton launches attack against former Border Force chief
Peter Dutton is asked another question by Shayne Neumann, this time about the Fairfax story reported this morning – turns it into an attack against his former Border Force chief, Roman Quaedvlieg.
This was made under parliamentary privilege.
Dutton:
Again, just to dig a little bit deeper, these attacks of a personal nature are only based on lies and information of an individual, which I will go into in a second. The officer you spoke of is a decorated and distinguished officer, over 20 years of service with the Queensland Police Service. He applied for a job with the Australian Border Force, there was no interference with that process, he went through the organisational requirements, and was employed by Australian Border Force, and did so completely on merit.
If you have a suggestion to the contrary, I would be happy to hear it. But I would be happy if you made the statements outside of this place. This smear is coming from the former Australian Border Force commissioner, a man who, as commissioner sacked from his position, a man who had groomed a girl 30 years younger than himself, discredited and disgraced, Mr Speaker, the reality is, this is important Mr Speaker, to understand the motivations of the set, as it turns out this executive officer, now a senior adviser, to the leader of the opposition.
So all of this muck that is being thrown ... he doesn’t turn up to [in person] to the Senate inquiry, so he puts out these fictitious bits of information he can’t back up. He has been proved already to be discredited. He is someone the Labor party should not rely on. And I think what has happened here is a lot has been promised to the Labor party, and it is clear to me that Roman Quaedvlieg is your Godwin Grech.
Updated
Peter Dutton was asked to table these folders, but said they contained confidential information.
Home Affairs minister Peter Dutton with his two special files during #qt @AmyRemeikis @GuardianAus @murpharoo #politicslive https://t.co/apQosS7DdE pic.twitter.com/zi6WKDp5Zk
— Mikearoo (@mpbowers) September 11, 2018
Kelly O’Dwyer updates the house on what the government is doing about family and domestic violence and becomes emotional discussing the deaths of a Western Australian family, for which the father of the three deceased children has been charged.
“Any attempt to describe the horror of this tragedy that ended the lives of three small children, the children’s mother and their grandmother is futile. It is incomprehensible. A man has been charged with these murders and the WA Police are continuing their investigation. Sadly, it marks the third terrible killing, a family killing, in Western Australia this year.
It is clear that family and domestic violence remains far too prevalent. In Western Australia alone, there have been 23 deaths from family and domestic violence, 19 of whom have been women and children. In Australia, we are rightfully proud of our gun laws introduced by the Howard government in 1996. They are a beacon to the world that there is no law that can eliminate all violence. As representatives of the people of Australia, together with our colleagues on the other height – other side of the chamber, the State and Territory parliaments around this nation, we must redouble our net – efforts to stop these tragedies and improved support for those people who are affected. The government has committed $350 million towards women’s and children’s safety. This includes $54 million in the most recent budget to services for women affected by violence and online safety initiatives.
Later this week, I will also be introducing legislation providing all Australians covered by the fair work act with the right to receive family and domestic violence leave, ensuring that up to 8 million workers have access to leave during their deepest time of need. Later today, the parliament will vote on a bill brought on by the attorney general which will improve the protection is offered through the family law system by preventing perpetrators of violence and abuse from directly cross examining their victims. On behalf of the parliament, I extend by sympathies to all of those who have been touched by this awful and tragic event.”
Updated
Shayne Neumann to Peter Dutton:
How many of the thousands of emails sent to the minister’s public email address are resolved by the minister in just a matter of hours?”
Dutton:
I can inform the member that there was a recent case that I dealt with and I won’t name the Labor member but there was a case dealt with recently where a lady was wanting to travel in relation to funeral arrangement and I acted very quickly in relation to that matter.
There are matters in which I’m advised by the department that there is the impending deportation whether it is of a person who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, whether it’s a child with autism, there are many countless cases I can point to where I have acted within a matter of hours.
This might be an anomaly to the shadow minister because, as I say, he doesn’t ask questions that he is not across his brief. The role of the immigration minister is to look at cases on their merit and to act accordingly. I have received, you wouldn’t believe, over 9,000 representations. I have used my ministerial intervention power on 4,816 visas. In those cases, I have received because it was on my list. There are two that wrote to me frequently. The most prolific on the other side is the shadow treasurer.
... The Labor party wants to go through these cases, I am happy to do it but I tell you now, I look at the merit of these individual cases and make a decision based on the facts before me. Ministerial intervention is not enlivened unless it is not to issue that these that the child who is sick or the parent who has overstayed. The obligatory parent has been told he or she needs to return back home. They present these cases to me genuinely. I don’t know that have personal connection with the individual involved. I don’t know whether, as is being alleged against the member for McMahon, whether the member was a financial donor to the Labor party, but I take on merit the cases that they put to me, Mr Speaker. I have no interest in relation to that matter, I have stated what this is about and be reassured of this fact, this has all of these personal attacks. Nothing at all to do with these is the people on tourist visas, it has everything to do with the Labor party trying to conjure up these dirty personal attacks if they hate the fact that we have been successful.
Updated
Peter Dutton then gets the opportunity to deliver his daily dose of ‘how safe are you?’
Answer: As safe as possible, but you can’t trust Labor.
Shayne Neumann to Peter Dutton:
In question time on March 27, asked whether he could categorically rule out any personal connection between himself and the intended employees, he answered yes, and I don’t know these people. How can the minister expect the parliament to believe he didn’t know the employer of the Italian au pair, when the email sent to the minister, titled ‘call required’, begins ‘Peter, long time between calls’.
Dutton:
You have had, since March, you had an opportunity yesterday, you got to question number eight, you asked me a question, whether I could table an email. You have been out there with your wet lettuce talking to journalists. Issuing angry press releases. And after all of that time, that is the best you could come up with.
Mr Speaker, this is the most incompetent shadow immigration minister in Australia’s history. And it comes as a surprise to many of my colleagues. He has refused time and time again to ask questions about border protection, about how we got the 8000 children out of detention.
Labor opened 17 detention centres. We closed them. I want the journalists in the gallery to have their pens poised because this will be as significant drop to them. The Labor Party and the Greens don’t like me because o fborder protection. I want that to be the scoop of the day, Mr Speaker. What is all of this fake outrage about issuing visas to tourists, kicking out bikies, why is he cancelling visas of paedophiles and the rest of it? They can carry on all they like. I will tell you this.All I will do is double down because I am not going to tolerate the personal attacks on me.
Tony Smith rules that his answer is not addressing the question following a point of order raised by Neumann.
Dutton:
I just went to the reasons why this fake debate is being conducted and I will make some more comments on that. Happy if they ask every question between now and the end of the week. I tabled the email yesterday because as I said, there is not one statement I have made that the Labor Party can point to that is factually incorrect. That is the reality. I work with that individual in 1998 and 99. I haven’t spoken to him in 20 years. There were 5500 police in the Queensland Police force when I left in July of 1999. He doesn’t have my personal mobile number, he doesn’t have my personal email address, he sent an email to my generic, publicly available email account. My staff came to me and said, ‘I have this email.’ My response was, ‘Who? Who is that?’ That was my response ... there is a lot more I am happy to say and if you want to ask the same question, because regrettably, I am out of time. Hopefully the next one will be better than the last.
Updated
Christopher Pyne is not wearing his sacred lapel pin of Australian-ness. That sound you hear is a Sherrin deflating.
Chris Bowen to Josh Frydenberg:
On Sunday he said the government was abandoning the national energy guarantee, ‘no-one is more disappointed as I am by that’. Can he confirm that this would see power bills rise by $300. Is it not really more disappointing that Australians will pay an extra $300 on their power bills because of a government even the prime minister refers to as the Muppet show.
Frydenberg:
#theministerdoesnotanswerthequestion
Just before that, Michael McCormack attempted the government’s latest attempt to make fetch happen – the union bred, fed and led line in a dixer, and well, it went about as well as you would expect.
Updated
Andrew Wilkie has the crossbench question and its to Scott Morrison:
The bureau of meteorology is centralising Tasmania forecasting on the mainland. Aviation forecasting in Melbourne and Brisbane, emergency services, the aircraft service...smaller aircraft operators haven’t been properly consulted. Nor has it been on the agenda of the regular meetings between industry and government.Another project, to base other forecasting on the mainland, is equally irrational. Putting lives at risk, and a hit to jobs. Prime minister, will you reverse this madness. We have already lost our airport federal police. Will you be the PM to accept that Tasmania is a state of the Commonwealth and should be treated equally?
Morrison (with a reminder the crossbench questions are given to the ministers in advance):
That is exactly what I believe. I can assure the member that there will be no loss of jobs at the bureau of meteorology in Tasmania. That position has already been made public to date. And I’m happy to restate that today. Also happy to advise the member that the bureau of meteorology has been the beneficiary as a rightly should of the government investment, not only to reinvest in the technology platforms which are in desperate need of investment, to ensure that not only the farmers and others can have the best of all possible weather information, this information, and how it is relate to them. It is technology critical for modern farming practices. And it is working into financial models and finance techniques to support agriculture around the country. And the work that continues to be done in Tasmania, additional work that goes to Tasmania, to focus more specifically on the skills needs, that will continue to follow. But this was an investment not just made in the bureau of meteorology, we made investments across a whole range of important research and construction in Australia. Supercomputers.
The Australian telescope national facility, the national imaging facility, the population health research network. I was asked about wasn’t that the decision of the total government. You may have noticed I was the treasurer. And delivered the budget. And was integrally involved. And you make a very good point. I’m happy to take the interjection. Because as prime minister of this government, I have stood with the member for Warringah when we stop the boats, I stood with the member for Wentworth as prime minister, as we balance the budget, now my team stands with me.
Updated
Tanya Plibersek to Scott Morrison:
Is the prime minister aware that when asked whether the conservatives would strike again [at the leadership] the Liberal senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells responded I would have to say at this point in time, we will see’. Then again, she said, ‘we will see how that honeymoon period goes’. Is that what the prime minister meant in his answer yesterday when he claims the curtain had come down on the Muppet show?’
Brace yourself. This answer is something else. And by something else, I mean it appears to be a bunch of Google SEO words cobbled together by the worst focus group of all time.
Morrison:
As a new prime minister, I understand I have a big job to do as I demonstrate to Australians my authenticity, my priorities and when it comes to these issues, I’m not troubled because every day I have lived my values in this place. I... know one thing, they are yet to decide about me. They have made up their mind about this fellow, Mr Speaker. They have made their mind up about the leader of the Labor party. Bred, fed and led the trade union movement that he has been a part of all of his working life before he came here. He leads a team of people who are similarly bred, fed and led by the union movement. How many over their have worked for officials? They are ashamed. Show me your hands! Show me! Why don’t you tell me! They are ashamed of their militant union background, Mr Speaker. They don’t want to be honest with the Australian people about what they really believe and so, Mr Speaker, what we see from this Leader of the Opposition who is someone Australians have worked out, they have worked him out over the last five years, they know he can’t be trusted because he believes in absolutely nothing but himself.”
Newsflash – political party started by unionists has union links.
This question also marks Morrison’s return to the loud noises brigade. He lasted a day and two questions – he gave it a good shot.
Updated
Josh Frydenberg gets his first dixer as treasurer and seems to prove that the Shouty McShouty mantle passes to the man (and it always is) in charge of the money.
‘Here are the budget books, and here is your box of loud noises.’
He is wearing the sacred lapel flag pin of Australian-ness, which is lucky, because every time a minister fails to spear their lapel threads with its gold sphere of truthiness, someone calls tomato sauce ketchup – and charges for it.
Updated
Bill Shorten to Scott Morrison:
Yesterday when asked why Malcolm Turnbull was not the prime minister in Australia, the new prime minister said how he got the job and spent the rest of the time saying how great the Turnbull government was. If Malcolm Turnbull was so great, as the prime minister claimed in question time yesterday, why is he no longer the prime minister of Australia?
Morrison:
“I have stepped up, Mr Speaker. I have stepped up and I am stepping up for all Australians. Mr Speaker, what I don’t understand is coming to this chamber today and the Leader of the Opposition hasn’t come in here and asked me about the drought, electricity prices, taxes, he hasn’t asked me about why we don’t want to support their policies which would see taxes increase, why we don’t want to support the Labor party’s policies which would put more pressure on small businesses and put burdening taxes on retirees, in the most despicable of all their taxes, a $5 billion tax slug on retirees, pensioners, small business owners.”
Etc, etc, etc.
Short version - we have no reason and we can not explain why this happened.
Updated
Scott Morrison continues the tradition he set yesterday when taking dixers, of using a bunch of populist platitudes, which you could imagine cross-stiched and hanging in your nana’s kitchen, as answers.
“Stronger and safer together” is the latest example.
The problem with this continued reminder of how great the government has been, is that it just reinforces there was no real reason to switch leaders. If the economy was so strong, borders so safe, taxes so low and only getting better, then why was Malcolm Turnbull dumped?
Updated
Question time begins
Bill Shorten to Scott Morrison: Why did the government get rid of Malcolm Turnbull?
Let’s see if Morrison has an answer yet.
Nope.
Morrison:
“I didn’t come to the leadership seeking to change it. There is someone else in this chamber who knows all about rolling leaders and putting knives in their back and that is the leader of the opposition.
“... I came to this position of leadership, not seeking it, not seeking it. In support of the previous prime minister. My colleagues chose me to lead the party, to take charge and ensure that Australia continues to build an even stronger Australia out of this government.”
Updated
As we slide into question time, do yourself a favour and waste a few minutes watching this:
I encourage everyone to watch this short fictional film produced by the @APS_Commission -- it only has 36 views so far, so in the interests of getting good value for taxpayer's money... https://t.co/KIT60AfFig
— Stephen Easton (@Stevie_Easton) September 11, 2018
Straight off the back of Grahame Morris – former chief of staff to John Howard – describing women in the Labor party as “dregs” on David Speers yesterday afternoon –
It takes just 13 seconds to see what the Liberal Party really thinks about women in politics #auspol pic.twitter.com/L9scPSfRB0
— Shorten Suite 👊 (@Shorten_Suite) September 11, 2018
Eric Abetz has done his part, by arguing against quotas because “all I say to you with respect is, have a look at the Labor party side of the parliament and you can see what quotas do and it ain’t a good look.”
Again, I am absolutely flabbergasted as to why there are not more women in the Liberal party.
Updated
The government has announced when it will deliver the national apology to survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse: 22 October.
There are only 800 places, with 400 going to organisations that support survivors, and the other 400 open to a ballot. The attorney general’s department released this statement:
The National Apology, to be delivered at Parliament House in Canberra, will acknowledge and apologise for the appalling abuse endured by vulnerable children, by the very people that were supposed to care for them, leaving immeasurable and lasting damage.
The National Apology will pay tribute to victims and survivors of institutional child sexual abuse, many of whom have so bravely shared their stories through the Royal Commission into Institutional Child Sexual Abuse, with the aim of ensuring the shameful practices are never repeated in the future.
To encourage attendance from across Australia, a national ballot process will be conducted to allocate seats in the Great Hall of Parliament House and provide travel assistance, where required. Victims, survivors and others personally affected by institutional child sexual abuse are encouraged to register their interest in attending the National Apology through the ballot process.
Approximately 400 places will be available through the ballot and another 400 will be made available directly to organisations that support survivors and others affected by institutional child sexual abuse.
Additional viewing areas at Parliament House will also be open to the community on the day and the event will be televised nationally.
The Prime Minister is writing to all Premiers and Chief Ministers encouraging them to hold their own viewing events to coincide with the National Apology, to allow for the participation of those who cannot be in Canberra.
To enter the ballot, an online form can be completed and submitted via the National Apology website www.nationalapologyconsultation.gov.au by midnight on Tuesday, 25th September 2018.
Those requiring assistance to complete the form or who wish to complete it over the phone, can call the National Apology Information Line on 1800 604 604 (open 7 days a week, 9am-5pm AEST, during the ballot process). Further information about the ballot process can be found at www.nationalapologyconsultation.gov.au
Prime Minister Scott Morrison will deliver a National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse @Aust_Parliament on Monday, October 22, 2018: https://t.co/eE3kZWsGx6 pic.twitter.com/wiBMTYyeY5
— AGD AU (@agdgovau) September 11, 2018
Updated
The Coalition party room has met and the new prime minister, Scott Morrison, gave a few mixed metaphors for how the government is faring.
Morrison acknowledged the government has “a big mountain to climb”, then switched to an extended anecdote about visiting a warehouse where Sir Peter Blake outfitted yachts that competed in successful America’s Cup campaigns. When Morrison commented it looked like a shoestring operation, Sir Blake responded “the only thing we do here are things that make the boat go faster”.
Morrison said all Coalition parliamentarians “share a job – to make our boat – the Liberal and National party boat – go faster”:
We may be tacking behind at present, but if we focus and do our jobs properly there will be a breeze to come and we will pass them.
There were also a few housekeeping matters, which included the whips speaking about the need to attend divisions and reiterating the prime minister’s comments about having a job to do and behaving “professionally”. It sounds like a reference with application to allegations of internal bullying, but we understand that wasn’t spelled out.
Updated
The “important” announcement Derryn Hinch thought he had – is a candidate for Wentworth.
Updated
Here are pictures of Lucy Gichuhi after the Senate resumed today, shortly after announcing she would not be naming names of those responsible for the bullying of MPs during the leadership spill, after all.
It might be worth pointing out, again, that the party is saying any of these issues will be dealt with through the whip’s office – which has not received any complaints.
And it might also be worth reminding everyone that Gichuhi has been handed the (unwinnable) fourth spot on the South Australian Liberals Senate ticket.
Updated
The Greens aren’t happy with Labor’s decision to support the TPP (or what is left of it).
Labor has betrayed Australian workers, and our sovereignty, by paving the way to locking our Nation to the dangerous TPP,” the Greens trade spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, said.
The Greens will be moving amendments to ensure workers’ rights, protect Australian jobs and prohibit ISDS provisions.
This is a trade agreement that gives corporations the power to sue governments for raising wages, protecting the environment or reducing the cost of life-saving medication.
It gives countries the ability to bring in temporary migrant workers with no need to first check if there are Australians ready, willing and able to do the job instead. This deal will result in Australia losing 39,000 jobs.
It’s a bad deal, devised in a backroom and designed for a boardroom. It is baffling that Labor would support this deal.
Updated
George Papadopoulos accuses Alexander Downer of lying to FBI
George Papadopoulos, the former Donald Trump aide who was jailed for two weeks for lying to the FBI – which was exposed after he had drinks with Alexander Downer, then our man in London – has had a bit to say about that drinking session.
It was over gin and tonics with Downer when Papadopoulos said Russia had damaging material on Hilary Clinton, a fact Downer then reported back through diplomatic channels. That really kicked off the Russia investigation and Papadopoulos was the first to be jailed.
Well, he’s not happy with Downer and is now accusing him of – well, read his thread:
Furthermore, to put things in context, even with my real contact in Egypt, it was only AFTER I introduced Trump-Sisi that the Egyptian Ambassador hosted me to congratulate me. On the other hand, Alexander Downer, wanted to meet under incredibly suspicious circumstances.
— George Papadopoulos (@GeorgePapa19) September 10, 2018
I found it so odd that Downer, who gained notoriety in Australia for wearing women's fish nets, invited me to "order" me to stop "bothering" his good friend David Cameron. And told me my views were hostile to British interests.
— George Papadopoulos (@GeorgePapa19) September 10, 2018
So basically, for those paying attention, we have a Clinton friend, connected to the MI6, and private intelligence organizations in London, probing me about my ties to the energy business offshore Israel. Nothing about the US-Australia relationship.
— George Papadopoulos (@GeorgePapa19) September 10, 2018
Yet I supposedly told THAT individual about emails. Something I have no recollection ever discussing.
— George Papadopoulos (@GeorgePapa19) September 10, 2018
The notion that Downer randomly reached out to me just to have a gin and tonic is laughable. Some organization or entity sent him to meet me. For the sake of our republic and the integrity of this investigation, I think it's time Downer is as exposed as Christoper Steele.
— George Papadopoulos (@GeorgePapa19) September 11, 2018
Would be a very very big problem if British intelligence was weopanized against an American citizen.
— George Papadopoulos (@GeorgePapa19) September 11, 2018
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And then:
. @AustralianLabor has been crying wolf on ISDS and labour market testing provisions of the TPP-11. They lack conviction and have undermined Australia's legal sovereignty and betrayed Australian workers. https://t.co/0iBRqzvJth
— Rex Patrick (@Senator_Patrick) September 11, 2018
And, from the PMO’s transcript, why Scott Morrison won’t dump Paris (although with no legislative roadmap, it’s not exactly a ringing endorsement)
Scott Morrison: I’m going to make decisions in the national interest.
Alan Jones: Yep, well if we rip up Paris …
Morrison:
I have to consider not just the issues here. Let me tell you what’s happening in the Pacific. In the Pacific, this is an issue which is incredibly important. In the Pacific, this issue dominates their thinking and agenda. Now, the Pacific is one of the most strategic areas of influence in our world today.
26 per cent, we will meet in a canter. It won’t have any impact on electricity prices. Angus Taylor will tell you the same thing. This doesn’t determine what’ll happen with electricity prices. What it will do, we will just meet it because of technology and business as usual.
So I’m not going to get distracted by those sort of litmus tests. What I’ll get focused on is getting people’s electricity prices down. Now I know some people can have a different view to me about Paris, but honestly, this has distracted people for a decade. It’s not the thing that I’m focusing my attention on. The 26 per cent was set four years ago, it’s been there all of that time and in that time we have created a million jobs. So we’ll get on with growing the economy, I’m just going to keep focusing on getting electricity prices down with the policies that I know will work.
That would be the same Pacific neighbours the home affairs minister made a joke about in September 2015, about time meaning nothing when “you’re about to have water lapping at your door” after a meeting ran late.
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Jason Clare's recommendation for Labor to support the TPP enabling legislation has passed caucus on the voices, despite at least a dozen speakers challenging the trade deal due to fears about labour mobility and deregulation. #auspol #ausunions @AmyRemeikis
— Paul Karp (@Paul_Karp) September 11, 2018
If there was any doubt of the new government slogan under Scott Morrison, here is some of what he had to say to Alan Jones this morning:
Well the first thing is to reassure Australians about what we believe. We have been very good at the what – a million jobs, all of the achievements we’ve had on funding, whether it’s for schools, disability schemes or all of this, we’ve been delivering as a government.
But the why, the why, people want to know. They want to be able to be assured that we believe passionately in the same things that the Australian people believe in. That’s a fair go for those who have a go. That you come to make a contribution, not take one. That the best form of welfare is a job. These are the things that we believe and that will drive our policies as a government.”
Sound familiar? If it doesn’t, it’s about to.
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Peter Dutton au pair Senate inquiry expected to be extended until September 19. Report was originally due today #auspol
— Tom McIlroy (@TomMcIlroy) September 11, 2018
Scott Morrison will appear on 7.30 this evening
Stepping out of politics for a moment – but Slater and Gordon have announced it is launching a class action lawsuit against bank-owned super funds, following the banking royal commission revelations:
Slater and Gordon will take on the banks on behalf of millions of Australians whose retirement savings may have been gouged by bank-owned super funds lining their pockets.
The Get Your Super Back campaign will involve a series of class actions with Commonwealth Bank-owned superannuation fund Colonial First State and AMP super likely to be the first targets.
The firm will allege the big bank-backed super funds failed to obtain for members competitive cash interest rates on cash option funds, and charged exorbitant fees, affecting millions of members who held part or all of their superannuation in bank owned funds.
The allegations arise from evidence to the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry.
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NSW Liberals and Nationals on Senate ticket collision course
Just further on what Wacka told Sky, the problem for the NSW Liberals is this.
There are two winnable spots on the NSW Senate ticket – which are guaranteed wins. Jim Molan is the only Liberal NSW senator who is up for election at the next poll. Under the agreement between the two parties, the Nationals are supposed to have spot number two.
But.
With Andrew Bragg withdrawing from the Wentworth race to “focus on Senate opportunities” – which is what he told the Daily Telegraph yesterday, that means Jim Molan has to be punted, in order for Bragg to get a winnable Liberal spot on the ticket.
The only way Molan’s Senate career lives on is if the Liberals take the top two spots – relegating the Nationals to three and below.
The Nats, already worried about representation in NSW, are not overly happy with that. Hence, Wacka’s call to arms on Sky a few minutes ago.
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Things are going great in both being united and all things merit:
The Nationals are reportedly threatening to run against the Liberal Party in the NSW Senate at the next election. @SenatorWacka: In my opinion if Nationals cannot get second on the ticket we should run as we have nothing to lose.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) September 11, 2018
MORE: https://t.co/ykweMevBOK #SkyLiveNow pic.twitter.com/8WUjeA6jqw
Derryn Hinch has put out a press release which includes the line “he thinks he has an important announcement” which is the sort of truth I think we need more of in politics.
And this is now Lucy Gichuhi’s pinned tweet.
The prime minister has taken it up, indeed.
We must live and work in a way that respects and enhances ALL freedoms of ALL Australians. Australia says NO to bullying and intimidation. #auspol
— Lucy Gichuhi (@senatorlucy) September 11, 2018
It looks like we don’t have to wait for that speech from Lucy Gichuhi anymore – because it doesn’t seem like she’ll be making one, at least based on this tweet
Regarding bullying in my political career: Yesterday I had a discussion with Prime Minister Scott Morrison. The Prime Minister has taken up the issue. #auspol
— Lucy Gichuhi (@senatorlucy) September 11, 2018
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Preselecting a woman in Wentworth, as Andrew Bragg suggested yesterday when pulling out of the race, is also about winning Wentworth.
The Australian has reported polling showing the primary vote in the blue-ribbon Liberal seat had fallen to 39%, from 62% when Malcolm Turnbull was the member – but could be lifted four points if a woman candidate was preselected.
Bragg has guaranteed himself a spot on the NSW Liberals Senate ticket (which might mean bye-bye Jim Molan?) with the move, but the Liberals are not a shoo-in to win the seat back – which would mean fare thee well Morrison government’s outright majority.
There is no word yet on the byelection date. One would assume the party would like it held while Turnbull is still away in New York, so as not to remind the voters of what they did.
Scott Morrison told Alan Jones this morning the decision was up to the local branch.
“We have not done as well in that area as I would’ve liked us to do but the party members are the ones who have to take on that responsibility.
“I’m a merit person and the party members will decide our candidate in Wentworth.”
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And the reaction from inside the room, as seen by Mike Bowers:
And now he has started smiling again, he just can’t stop.
Thrilled to be here
Three men. Four flags. A classic Australian story.
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Scott Morrison to the party room (while the cameras were allowed inside):
We have a big mountain to climb. We all know that. Bill Shorten thinks he’s already there. And the Australian people are coming quickly to the realisation of what a Shorten government would look like, and they recoil. They recoil. The events of the past few weeks have been very difficult for us all. That’s done. We all know that. And we have a mountain to climb together. All of us standing together.
It’s not about just what we’re against, which is a Shorten Labor government that will put up their taxes, that will put up their electricity prices, that will not provide the liberties and freedoms that Australians expect, as families, to get about their business.
The fair go for those who have a go. They won’t get that from the Labor party. But it’s not about only what we’re against, it’s about what we’re for.
And what we’re for is an even stronger Australia. Over the last five years, our government, the government we’ve all been part of, has been delivering strong economic management. It’s been keeping Australians safe. And it’s our job to ensure we bring all Australians together. That’s our plan. That’s my plan. So, let’s get on with it.
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Something about this seems familiar ... but I just can’t put my finger on it ...
Oh – that’s right. There it is.
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On a lighter note, Kate Ellis’s son Charlie expressed all the reverence for democracy you would expect from a 13-month-old in the chamber yesterday.
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Jobs and growth has moved on in of terms of government slogans – Scott Morrison is now GETTING ON WITH THE JOB.
So dumping Malcolm Turnbull has seen the government go from three-word slogans to five-word slogans.
Maybe Morrison might have an answer now for why the party changed leaders – it wanted more words.
For those wondering, Peter Dutton and Tony Abbott remained up the back of the party room, in what is known as “conservative corner”, underneath the former leaders’ photos.
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The Liberal Party room is holding its first (regularly scheduled) party room meeting since Malcolm Turnbull was turfed, and Scott Morrison has invited the cameras in to see the renewed leadership team getting on with the job.
Keith Pitt, who quit the ministry because Scott Morrison wouldn’t dump the Paris agreement, even though there is no legislation to enforce the Paris target, gave a speech overnight calling for the National Energy Market to be dismantled.
The National Energy Market, for those who have lives and don’t have to be across all this stuff, is basically an agreement between the eastern states and South Australia to move power around – a surge in demand in NSW in winter might see Queensland generators send power down south and vice-versa in the summer. WA and the NT aren’t involved, which is why the National Energy Guarantee (RIP) was never going to be truly national.
But here is Pitt’s take in a speech he made to the parliament just before it rose last night:
Look at the Queensland state government: they own every retailer in town north of Gympie. There is only one. It is owned by the Queensland state government. They own all of the poles and wires. They own 70 per cent of the generators. They are robbing $1.1 billion every single year from the pockets of electricity consumers in my home state, in my home town and in my electorate. They should be accountable and responsible for those decisions. They set the price. It is not the federal government.
So in this place we need for put aside our ideological views. We need to stand up for what is necessary to build a better country, and that is cheap energy. Intermittent wind and solar have their place, and there are lots of places where they will help and reduce the cost, particularly where there is an engagement, for example, with diesel generation, because that is a stored fuel. But we should take those opportunities where the physics and engineering say that it will drive down the price.
You cannot run this country on an intermittent supply through wind and solar. It doesn’t matter what you may or may not believe in terms of your ideals — this is purely engineering and physics, and we have to make decisions based around those things. As a government, we need to decide how to drive that, and if the states don’t want to get on board then we should dismantle the National Electricity Market.
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It’s a bit of a mystery why we don’t have more women in the parliament, said the 62-year-old man who has sat in parliament for 11 years and has had the power to help change his party from the inside.
"It is a bit of a mystery why we don't have more women in the parliament" says SA Liberal @RowanRamseyMP "Maybe it's something about the workplace that is making them reluctant? I'd certainly like to see more women in the parliamentary team." #auspol @SBSNews pic.twitter.com/O0DwPPtxiy
— Brett Mason (@BrettMasonNews) September 10, 2018
Given that Scott Morrison brought up religious freedom again this morning – along with the promise to do something about it, including possible legislation – it might be worth taking a look at this Courier Mail story from Sarah Vogler, which reports LNP MPs have been told they could be putting their preselection at risk if they vote for abortion reform.
Queensland is looking at removing abortion from its criminal code, but while Labor governs with a majority, its MPs have a conscience vote, which means support from the crossbench and potentially the LNP opposition will be necessary for the bill to pass.
The state LNP president, Gary Spence, who came to national prominence during the Liberal leadership spill after allegedly telling Queensland MPs to vote for Peter Dutton, has reportedly told MPs their preselection could be overturned by the State Council if they vote in favour of abortion reform.
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Everyone is still waiting to learn whether or not Lucy Gichuhi will follow through on “naming names” of those involved with the “bullying” of MPs during the Liberal leadership spill.
If it happens today (and we have no word either way on whether it is even happening at all) the adjournment debate in the Senate tonight would be the easiest way to do it.
Tony Pasin was asked on Sky about the claims and said there was “no issue raised to me directly about the behaviour of anyone else”.
“… but that behaviour needs to be brought to the attention of the whips, if it occurred in any event, and my understanding to date is none of those complaints have been made. If they are made, they will be taken seriously.”
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Shayne Neumann was asked as he rocked up to work this morning what Labor believes Scott Morrison should do, in light of the Peter Dutton allegations. He had this to say:
Well, he should ask Peter Dutton to explain himself. Peter Dutton seems to have misled parliament. This is a sackable and serious offence under our system of government and parliamentary democracy. It’s clear he had a relationship in relation to the serving police officer and these revelations today raise even more concerns about Peter Dutton’s conduct.
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Just on Paul Karp’s previous post, Alan Jones had to be told twice by Scott Morrison that Julia Banks was in parliament yesterday, after the broadcaster suggested she had made bullying claims and then not turned up to work. Morrison had to tell him Banks had changed seats, which is perhaps why Jones had not seen her in the broadcast.
Sigh.
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After Liberal MP Julia Banks decided to quit at the next election and Senator Lucy Gichuhi threatened to name alleged bullies, there’s been a lot of scrutiny of the Liberal party’s “woman problem”.
Former workplace relations minister Craig Laundy has suggested quotas would be a good “short-term intervention” to get parliamentary representation up to 50%.
Now all the blokes are getting asked about quotas.
The health minister, Greg Hunt, told ABC’s AM that bullying claims need to be “investigated fully and thoroughly” but said he hadn’t witnessed or heard of it himself.
On quotas:
I want to see more women in parliament for the Liberal party. I’ve supported people such as Nicolle Flint, Jane Hume, Sarah Henderson, Kate Ashmor – just selected, in what was the Melbourne Ports seat, for the coming election – and Katie Allen [the candidate for the Victorian seat of Prahran]. I want us to aim, because it’s a deep personal commitment, for a 50% goal, a 50% target. I think we can get there on merit.
So no quotas, more of the same, aspiration onwards and upwards to 50%.
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Scott Morrison started the day with a nice little tussle with Alan Jones over the Paris target, which he says Australia will “canter” in, despite having no roadmap of how to get there.
Morrison says Australia won’t be withdrawing from Paris, despite Jones’s bluster it was destroying the world, because the nation will meet it through business and technology changes. He promises Australia remaining in Paris won’t cause electricity prices to rise and reminds Jones the national energy guarantee, which would have legislated an emissions reduction target, has been torn up.
But he also reminds Jones that for our Pacific neighbours and allies, the impact of climate change is a really big fricking deal.
Morrison says he believes he can win the next election, but won’t be fighting it on Bill Shorten’s “climate ideology” terms. Jones laughs and says if he has said it once, he has said it a million times: “no one” can win with a 50% renewables target (except the Queensland state government did).
Everyone is very good friends again as Morrison promises to fight for religious freedoms and says he has the Philip Ruddock report and will have an answer in the next couple of months.
I imagine the timing of that response is made a little difficult because we don’t know when the Wentworth byelection will be held yet.
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Good morning
We start the day as we ended the one before – talking Peter Dutton.
The home affairs minister woke to new headlines in Fairfax, alleging he asked former Border Force chief Roman Quaedvlieg to help two former Queensland police officers get jobs in the agency.
Nick McKenzie and Richard Baker report:
One of the two policemen, Matt Stock, is a good friend of Mr Dutton’s, according to sources with knowledge of the events. The second man, John Lewis, is the son of corrupt former police commissioner Terry Lewis.
Mr Dutton raised Mr Lewis’ case with Mr Quaedvlieg in 2014 after the minister said he was lobbied by a member of a prominent Queensland family, the Vastas, who have deep ties to Coalition politics. Federal Liberal National Party MP Ross Vasta is part of the dynasty, and the Lewis and Vasta families have been close for decades.
This comes after a letter Quaedvlieg wrote to the Senate committee investigating the visa intervention Dutton made in the case of two au pairs, raising the possibility there may be a third one.
Paul Karp and Katharine Murphy wrote about that last night:
Peter Dutton is facing the claim he intervened to help a third European au pair, in fresh evidence from the former Border Force commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg to a Senate inquiry investigating the controversy.
In a submission published on Monday, Quaedvlieg clarified earlier evidence that he fielded a phone call from Dutton’s office in June 2015 by suggesting his memory related to a new unreported case between October 2015 and 2016.
While suggestion of a third case emerged as a fresh threat, Dutton attempted to fend off a call for a no-confidence motion based on his evidence to parliament he had no “personal connection” to employers involved in the first two au pair visa cases – in Brisbane in June 2015 and Adelaide in November 2015.
And that came after Dutton tabled the email his office received from a former Queensland police service colleague, to his publicly available email address, asking him for help after a visa was cancelled.
Dutton told parliament “to the best of my knowledge I have not socialised with, met with or had personal contact with the man involved”. The Russell Keag email begins with “Peter, long time between calls”, which Greens MP Adam Bandt said he believes was evidence the two knew each other.
“You can’t square that circle,” Bandt told ABC radio on Tuesday morning. “... He has some serious questions to answer.”
In the midst of all this, Scott Morrison will address the first, regularly scheduled, party-room meeting since becoming prime minister. Expect a lot of “getting on with the job” and don’t be surprised if “laser-like focus” also makes an appearance. We are on lapel flag pin watch, don’t worry.
Mike Bowers is up and walking the hallways. You can find him at @mpbowers and @mikepbowers, and the Guardian’s brain trust is already pounding the keyboards and hitting the phones.
You’ll find me at @amyremeikis and, when there is a bit of time, in the comments.
I am on coffee number three, so it is bound to be a great day. Ready?
Let’s get into it.
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