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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2015/aug/17/tony-abbott-faces-worsening-polls-and-same-sex-marriage-bill-parliament-live
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| Version 19 | Version 20 |
|---|---|
| Warren Entsch 'lives in hope' his marriage equality bill will succeed eventually – as it happened | Warren Entsch 'lives in hope' his marriage equality bill will succeed eventually – as it happened |
| (30 days later) | |
| 8.58am BST | 8.58am BST |
| 08:58 | 08:58 |
| Night time politics summary | Night time politics summary |
| This is what we know now - that we did not know this morning. | This is what we know now - that we did not know this morning. |
| Tony Abbott’s hand-picked trade union royal commissioner Dyson Heydon could be forced to consider his own disqualification by the end of this week. This is because the ACTU and the Labor party are currently poring over emails between the organisers of a Liberal party fundraising event and Heydon’s office - released by the latter. After legal wrangling, Heydon agreed to give the unions until Thursday to consider whether to urge his disqualification. If the ACTU decides to urge disqualification, Heydon will hear the arguments on Friday morning. | Tony Abbott’s hand-picked trade union royal commissioner Dyson Heydon could be forced to consider his own disqualification by the end of this week. This is because the ACTU and the Labor party are currently poring over emails between the organisers of a Liberal party fundraising event and Heydon’s office - released by the latter. After legal wrangling, Heydon agreed to give the unions until Thursday to consider whether to urge his disqualification. If the ACTU decides to urge disqualification, Heydon will hear the arguments on Friday morning. |
| As that drama was unfolding at the TURC in Sydney, Abbott had to repeatedly defend Heydon in question time. Again and again, Abbott told us there was nothing to see here, using two arguments. The first, that the royal commission into trade unions was necessary. (Which does not go to the issue at hand.) The second, that somehow discussing Heydon was a type of sub judice. Straws and the act of clutching came to mind. The timing of the Thursday deadline ensures that Abbott will continue to take questions on Heydon all this week. | As that drama was unfolding at the TURC in Sydney, Abbott had to repeatedly defend Heydon in question time. Again and again, Abbott told us there was nothing to see here, using two arguments. The first, that the royal commission into trade unions was necessary. (Which does not go to the issue at hand.) The second, that somehow discussing Heydon was a type of sub judice. Straws and the act of clutching came to mind. The timing of the Thursday deadline ensures that Abbott will continue to take questions on Heydon all this week. |
| The Australian Building and Construction Bill was voted down in the senate this afternoon. The Fair Work (registered organisations) bill is currently being debated. If the fair work bill goes down, it could provide the government with a double dissolution trigger. | The Australian Building and Construction Bill was voted down in the senate this afternoon. The Fair Work (registered organisations) bill is currently being debated. If the fair work bill goes down, it could provide the government with a double dissolution trigger. |
| Tony Abbott revisited the Adani Carmichael coalmine federal court decision, suggesting that the current use of the courts by environmental vigilantes was “not fair”. He said he was not criticising the courts, but said environmental groups were “gaming” the system. | Tony Abbott revisited the Adani Carmichael coalmine federal court decision, suggesting that the current use of the courts by environmental vigilantes was “not fair”. He said he was not criticising the courts, but said environmental groups were “gaming” the system. |
| As I post, Cabinet is meeting and I would put money on some discussion of marriage equality and the idea of a plebiscite or referendum. It seems like such a long time ago but this morning, Warren Entsch finally took his marriage equality bill to parliament. There was no debate. There was no vote. But at least he got to speak, surrounded by cross party co-sponsors. (Check out Mike Bowers lovely photos earlier in the blog.) Now the bill languishes until the government decides what to do about the people’s vote. | As I post, Cabinet is meeting and I would put money on some discussion of marriage equality and the idea of a plebiscite or referendum. It seems like such a long time ago but this morning, Warren Entsch finally took his marriage equality bill to parliament. There was no debate. There was no vote. But at least he got to speak, surrounded by cross party co-sponsors. (Check out Mike Bowers lovely photos earlier in the blog.) Now the bill languishes until the government decides what to do about the people’s vote. |
| And, there was the obligatory security photo op. This theme is crossing into the territory of the axe-the-tax-high-viz-vest pictures of Abbott as opposition leader. Herewith, a reconstruction of a drug and alcohol test used to detect ice and other substances, captured by Lukas Coch of AAP. | And, there was the obligatory security photo op. This theme is crossing into the territory of the axe-the-tax-high-viz-vest pictures of Abbott as opposition leader. Herewith, a reconstruction of a drug and alcohol test used to detect ice and other substances, captured by Lukas Coch of AAP. |
| Thanks to the brains trust today, Shalailah Medhora, Daniel Hurst, Lenore Taylor and the Eddie Everywhere, Michael Bowers, whose photos made my day. | Thanks to the brains trust today, Shalailah Medhora, Daniel Hurst, Lenore Taylor and the Eddie Everywhere, Michael Bowers, whose photos made my day. |
| Good night from me. | Good night from me. |
| And good night from him. | And good night from him. |
| 7.52am BST | 7.52am BST |
| 07:52 | 07:52 |
| The Liberal senator Cory Bernardi says there are fewer more vehement opponents to same-sex marriage than himself. | The Liberal senator Cory Bernardi says there are fewer more vehement opponents to same-sex marriage than himself. |
| We won’t be arguing with that. | We won’t be arguing with that. |
| Jacqui Lambie says: | Jacqui Lambie says: |
| It is clear Mr Abbott is one of the worst prime ministers Australia has ever had. | It is clear Mr Abbott is one of the worst prime ministers Australia has ever had. |
| Which is becoming a default position for Lambie. She wants a plebiscite at the next election. | Which is becoming a default position for Lambie. She wants a plebiscite at the next election. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.16am BST | at 8.16am BST |
| 7.48am BST | 7.48am BST |
| 07:48 | 07:48 |
| Speaking to his marriage equality bill, the government MP Warren Entsch has told Sky he was disappointed that the issue of a conscience vote went to the joint party room but he ultimately thought it was a good thing. | Speaking to his marriage equality bill, the government MP Warren Entsch has told Sky he was disappointed that the issue of a conscience vote went to the joint party room but he ultimately thought it was a good thing. |
| And he has not given up hope of his bill succeeding, either in the next parliament or before. | And he has not given up hope of his bill succeeding, either in the next parliament or before. |
| I am hoping it will come back before that. You live in hope. | I am hoping it will come back before that. You live in hope. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.16am BST | at 8.16am BST |
| 7.32am BST | 7.32am BST |
| 07:32 | 07:32 |
| ACTU given until Thursday to consider whether to urge disqualification of Heydon | ACTU given until Thursday to consider whether to urge disqualification of Heydon |
| Dyson Heydon has directed the ACTU to file written submissions to the commission if it wants to disqualify him as commissioner by 2pm on Thursday. If it decides to “go down that path” then Heydon will consider the matter on Friday. | Dyson Heydon has directed the ACTU to file written submissions to the commission if it wants to disqualify him as commissioner by 2pm on Thursday. If it decides to “go down that path” then Heydon will consider the matter on Friday. |
| Which leaves the matter running for the rest of the parliamentary sitting week. | Which leaves the matter running for the rest of the parliamentary sitting week. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.16am BST | at 8.16am BST |
| 7.21am BST | 7.21am BST |
| 07:21 | 07:21 |
| The trade union royal commission is due back any moment now. At 4pm, Robert Newlinds SC, acting for the ACTU, was to return and inform the commissioner of how he wished to proceed, given Newlinds was given documents relating to the Liberal party fundraiser. No sign as yet. | The trade union royal commission is due back any moment now. At 4pm, Robert Newlinds SC, acting for the ACTU, was to return and inform the commissioner of how he wished to proceed, given Newlinds was given documents relating to the Liberal party fundraiser. No sign as yet. |
| I will keep one ear on that commission and one ear on the Senate. | I will keep one ear on that commission and one ear on the Senate. |
| LGBTI Greens spokeswoman Janet Rice is speaking in favour of marriage equality and a government marriage equality advocate, Dean Smith, is in the president’s chair. | LGBTI Greens spokeswoman Janet Rice is speaking in favour of marriage equality and a government marriage equality advocate, Dean Smith, is in the president’s chair. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.15am BST | at 8.15am BST |
| 7.13am BST | 7.13am BST |
| 07:13 | 07:13 |
| The Senate is debating a matter of public importance on marriage equality. Liberal senator David Fawcett is talking about how the government stopped the boats. | The Senate is debating a matter of public importance on marriage equality. Liberal senator David Fawcett is talking about how the government stopped the boats. |
| I think I missed the segue. | I think I missed the segue. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.16am BST | at 7.16am BST |
| 6.54am BST | 6.54am BST |
| 06:54 | 06:54 |
| And with a quick wink, QT was over... | And with a quick wink, QT was over... |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.14am BST | at 8.14am BST |
| 6.52am BST | 6.52am BST |
| 06:52 | 06:52 |
| While the aforementioned ABCC bill has not been voted down before, the next bill before the Senate – the fair work (registered organisations) legislation – could make for a double-dissolution trigger. The registered organisations bill is being brought to Senate for debate a second time today. | While the aforementioned ABCC bill has not been voted down before, the next bill before the Senate – the fair work (registered organisations) legislation – could make for a double-dissolution trigger. The registered organisations bill is being brought to Senate for debate a second time today. |
| Lenore Taylor reported in March that the idea of using the registered organisations bill as a double-dissolution trigger was raised in the leadership group. | Lenore Taylor reported in March that the idea of using the registered organisations bill as a double-dissolution trigger was raised in the leadership group. |
| The fair work bill establishes a registered organisations commission to monitor the conduct of unions and business groups. | The fair work bill establishes a registered organisations commission to monitor the conduct of unions and business groups. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.14am BST | at 8.14am BST |
| 6.31am BST | 6.31am BST |
| 06:31 | 06:31 |
| Australian Building and Construction Commission goes down | Australian Building and Construction Commission goes down |
| The bill to re-establish the Australian Building and Construction commissioner and the Australian Building and Construction Commission has been voted down in the Senate. | The bill to re-establish the Australian Building and Construction commissioner and the Australian Building and Construction Commission has been voted down in the Senate. |
| The numbers were 33-all as Dio Wang abstained. Ricky Muir, Jacqui Lambie and Glenn Lazarus voted against the government legislation and John Madigan, Nick Xenophon, David Leyonhjelm and Bob Day voted with the government. The division is here. | The numbers were 33-all as Dio Wang abstained. Ricky Muir, Jacqui Lambie and Glenn Lazarus voted against the government legislation and John Madigan, Nick Xenophon, David Leyonhjelm and Bob Day voted with the government. The division is here. |
| When the numbers are even, the bill fails. | When the numbers are even, the bill fails. |
| The employment minister, Eric Abetz, says he will “re-engage” with the crossbenchers. | The employment minister, Eric Abetz, says he will “re-engage” with the crossbenchers. |
| No objective observer can deny there is an endemic problem of industrial unlawfulness in this industry given the litany of court judgments and fines against the CFMEU for repeated and unrepentant breaches of the law. | No objective observer can deny there is an endemic problem of industrial unlawfulness in this industry given the litany of court judgments and fines against the CFMEU for repeated and unrepentant breaches of the law. |
| The opposition employment spokesman, Brendan O’Connor, described the ABCC as “excessive, undemocratic and unwarranted in terms of regulating civil laws”. | The opposition employment spokesman, Brendan O’Connor, described the ABCC as “excessive, undemocratic and unwarranted in terms of regulating civil laws”. |
| Any allegation of serious crime that happens in the workplace by an employer, by an employee, or their representatives should be investigated by crime-fighting agencies: the police or the Australian Crime Commission, with coercive powers. | Any allegation of serious crime that happens in the workplace by an employer, by an employee, or their representatives should be investigated by crime-fighting agencies: the police or the Australian Crime Commission, with coercive powers. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.43am BST | at 6.43am BST |
| 6.08am BST | 6.08am BST |
| 06:08 | 06:08 |
| Next comes a Labor attempt to get the level of Dyson Heydon’s salary on the royal commission. The Speaker sits them down and we are back to the war against ice, with the justice minister, Michael Keenan. | Next comes a Labor attempt to get the level of Dyson Heydon’s salary on the royal commission. The Speaker sits them down and we are back to the war against ice, with the justice minister, Michael Keenan. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.41am BST | at 6.41am BST |
| 6.05am BST | 6.05am BST |
| 06:05 | 06:05 |
| Kevin Andrews, the defence minister and minister assisting Dan Tehan, is given a Dixer regarding the future of service ship building in Australia. | Kevin Andrews, the defence minister and minister assisting Dan Tehan, is given a Dixer regarding the future of service ship building in Australia. |
| 6.00am BST | 6.00am BST |
| 06:00 | 06:00 |
| Grrrr ... question time brings out the mongrel in all of us | Grrrr ... question time brings out the mongrel in all of us |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.41am BST | at 6.41am BST |
| 5.56am BST | 5.56am BST |
| 05:56 | 05:56 |
| Tony Burke asks Tony Abbott again about Dyson Heydon. Abbott has quoted the well-known lawyer Julian Burnside defending Heydon’s reputation. Burke says the full Burnside comment suggested “an honourable person caught in that position” would step aside. | Tony Burke asks Tony Abbott again about Dyson Heydon. Abbott has quoted the well-known lawyer Julian Burnside defending Heydon’s reputation. Burke says the full Burnside comment suggested “an honourable person caught in that position” would step aside. |
| Abbott again defends Heydon and the need for the royal commission into trade unions. | Abbott again defends Heydon and the need for the royal commission into trade unions. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.40am BST | at 6.40am BST |