This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2015/aug/18/tony-abbott-under-pressure-on-leadership-dyson-heydon-canning-politics-live
The article has changed 21 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Tony Abbott faces party room amid pressure over Dyson Heydon, same-sex marriage and Canning – politics live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 12.11pm AEST03:11 | |
| Thanks to Twitter corro Matt Hatter for this reconstruction of the party room meeting. | |
| @gabriellechan Hello. It would seem that the effluxion really hit the fan in the Coalition party room this morning. pic.twitter.com/QKUw05hIF0 | |
| 12.07pm AEST03:07 | |
| I overlooked a very interesting story from Laura Tingle in the Fin Review on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and the federal government’s attempt to slow down the rollout. | |
| Divisions have emerged within federal cabinet’s powerful expenditure review committee about the national disability insurance scheme amid a renewed push to try to slow down its rollout, only weeks before Canberra is due to sign deals with the states on the multi-billion dollar scheme. | |
| This year’s budget papers put the cost of the NDIS at $37 billion over the next four years, of which the federal government is to fund $18.9 billion, making the nascent scheme a constant source of angst within the cash-strapped government. | |
| However, any change to the scheduled rollout would raise howls of protest from the politically sensitive disability community, causing new political problems for the embattled Abbott government and embarrassing the newly re-elected NSW Premier Mike Baird. | |
| All of which will leave Baird pretty cranky, given he has been pushing the prime minister’s tax reform agenda (on GST). As Laura notes, Baird made a big deal of the NDIS rollout in his recent election campaign. | |
| The federal and NSW governments have completed discussions about the scheme’s funding agreement. State officials are mystified why the federal government has not yet signed it, given an August deadline for the deal. | |
| Senior sources insist the NSW deal will proceed as planned. Sources argue the Abbott government “owes Baird big time” and could not afford to back out of the agreement at this late point. | |
| Updated at 12.11pm AEST | |
| 11.56am AEST02:56 | |
| Meanwhile Liberal MP Craig Laundy has posted on Facebook. | |
| 6 police cars, 6 fire trucks and 1 Hazmat unit… | |
| The emergency response today when my staff found a suspicious package in our PO Box was tremendous. | |
| It has since been discovered that it was a stupid stunt by GetUp. I’m all for organisations making contact with me, but to send any undeclared substance through the mail to the office of a Member of Parliament will inevitably cause alarm and divert important police and emergency services from their critical work. | |
| Thank you to Burwood LAC - NSW Police Force for their outstanding effort in undertaking a professional response to a grossly irresponsible act. | |
| We are thinking it must have been a bit of glitter from GetUp on the marriage equality debate but we are checking. | |
| Laundy then tweeted: | |
| To clarify the envelope was unopened but it clearly had a powder-like substance inside. The police dealt with the matter accordingly. | |
| 11.49am AEST02:49 | |
| Laura Jayes of Sky has also tweeted: | |
| .@TonyAbbottMHR told #partyroom things "were a bit scrappy" and said problems started with cabinet ministers. (more) | |
| 11.45am AEST02:45 | |
| Ministers read riot act | |
| .@TonyAbbottMHR told #partyroom ministers had been "read the riot act" and if they go "off script" there would be "consequences"@SkyNewsAust | |
| For script, see 11:38 post. | |
| 11.43am AEST02:43 | 11.43am AEST02:43 |
| The party room must nearly be over as the PM is due to attend a Vietnam Veterans Day Commemoration Ceremony 2015 in less than 10 minutes. | The party room must nearly be over as the PM is due to attend a Vietnam Veterans Day Commemoration Ceremony 2015 in less than 10 minutes. |
| 11.38am AEST02:38 | 11.38am AEST02:38 |
| Predictive speeches: what the PM might say to the Coalition party room | Predictive speeches: what the PM might say to the Coalition party room |
| While we await the party room briefing, the Guardian brains trust has had a stab at what the prime minister might say. | While we await the party room briefing, the Guardian brains trust has had a stab at what the prime minister might say. |
| This is not a leak. This is entirely fictitious: | This is not a leak. This is entirely fictitious: |
| The prime minister addressed the party room meeting this morning. He acknowledged the difficult issues facing the nation at the moment but said he and every member had to remain focussed on the core task of jobs, growth and community safety. | The prime minister addressed the party room meeting this morning. He acknowledged the difficult issues facing the nation at the moment but said he and every member had to remain focussed on the core task of jobs, growth and community safety. |
| He said there has been strong community support for his proposal to take same-sex marriage to a people’s vote rather than a politicians’ pick and he will have more to say on that in the next few weeks. | He said there has been strong community support for his proposal to take same-sex marriage to a people’s vote rather than a politicians’ pick and he will have more to say on that in the next few weeks. |
| He told MPs if the Labor party thinks that smearing the reputation of an eminent former high court judge like Dyson Heydon is going to get around addressing the very damning issues raised by the TURC, they are wrong. | He told MPs if the Labor party thinks that smearing the reputation of an eminent former high court judge like Dyson Heydon is going to get around addressing the very damning issues raised by the TURC, they are wrong. |
| Yesterday Labor proved they have learned nothing from the union scandals and are determined to protect their union masters when they voted against laws which would have simply required union officials to face the same penalties as company directors. | Yesterday Labor proved they have learned nothing from the union scandals and are determined to protect their union masters when they voted against laws which would have simply required union officials to face the same penalties as company directors. |
| He said obviously the Canning by-election is very important but the Coalition has an excellent candidate in the form of former SAS soldier Andrew Hastie. | He said obviously the Canning by-election is very important but the Coalition has an excellent candidate in the form of former SAS soldier Andrew Hastie. |
| But he said he was very proud of the respectful way that the party room conducted the same sex marriage debate. It is an issue on which decent people can disagree, within the community, political parties and families. | But he said he was very proud of the respectful way that the party room conducted the same sex marriage debate. It is an issue on which decent people can disagree, within the community, political parties and families. |
| The important thing is we are letting the people have a say on this important social matter rather than the politicians, etc, etc. | The important thing is we are letting the people have a say on this important social matter rather than the politicians, etc, etc. |
| No other agenda items. | No other agenda items. |
| Updated at 11.41am AEST | Updated at 11.41am AEST |
| 11.15am AEST02:15 | 11.15am AEST02:15 |
| I did promise to come back to the word of the day: | I did promise to come back to the word of the day: |
| Effluxion. | Effluxion. |
| Here is a selection of the cleaner entries from our comments thread: | Here is a selection of the cleaner entries from our comments thread: |
| AlmostAlwaysWrong: | AlmostAlwaysWrong: |
| The Prime Minister and his Cabinet and Federal Government in all has been completely effluxed for some time now. I think they have effluxed around long enough and it is time for the Governor General to at least call a meeting of the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader to see if they can unflux it. | The Prime Minister and his Cabinet and Federal Government in all has been completely effluxed for some time now. I think they have effluxed around long enough and it is time for the Governor General to at least call a meeting of the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader to see if they can unflux it. |
| Millthorpe: | Millthorpe: |
| Abbott seems to be suffering from effluxion: the running out of ideas and the endless repeating of slogans that are empty vessels. Effluxiastic, Effluxer, Effluxes, Effluxer. | Abbott seems to be suffering from effluxion: the running out of ideas and the endless repeating of slogans that are empty vessels. Effluxiastic, Effluxer, Effluxes, Effluxer. |
| Mprimrose re Dyson Heydon: | Mprimrose re Dyson Heydon: |
| Why........... was there not an effluxion of horror at the faint possibility that the perception of bias might be about to occur. | Why........... was there not an effluxion of horror at the faint possibility that the perception of bias might be about to occur. |
| Caligulablushed: | Caligulablushed: |
| The tenancy ended with effluxion of effluent. | The tenancy ended with effluxion of effluent. |
| Pedroknows: | Pedroknows: |
| Life without [government] ... That would be an effluxury | Life without [government] ... That would be an effluxury |
| JanDobson: | JanDobson: |
| Given the high regard in which our parliamentarians are held, I can’t help noticing the relationship between Effluxion and Effluent. | Given the high regard in which our parliamentarians are held, I can’t help noticing the relationship between Effluxion and Effluent. |
| Monkeywrench1: | Monkeywrench1: |
| I think the best interests of this country would be served by the effluxion of this Government. | I think the best interests of this country would be served by the effluxion of this Government. |
| And my personal favourite from JeremiahBullfrog: | And my personal favourite from JeremiahBullfrog: |
| Effluxion? I used to go there all the time, but then they changed chefs ... | Effluxion? I used to go there all the time, but then they changed chefs ... |
| Followed by JackFalstaff: | Followed by JackFalstaff: |
| I hear Heston Blumenthal is experimenting with an effluxion of grilled onion, spiced celeriac and frog spawn. | I hear Heston Blumenthal is experimenting with an effluxion of grilled onion, spiced celeriac and frog spawn. |
| Updated at 11.24am AEST | Updated at 11.24am AEST |
| 10.59am AEST01:59 | 10.59am AEST01:59 |
| Daniel Hurst | Daniel Hurst |
| Daniel Hurst reports from the Labor party room: | Daniel Hurst reports from the Labor party room: |
| Bill Shorten addressed his party room this morning and got out early, presumably ready to give as much clear air to the Coalition party room as possible. | Bill Shorten addressed his party room this morning and got out early, presumably ready to give as much clear air to the Coalition party room as possible. |
| He told his members: | He told his members: |
| This government is paralysed by Tony Abbott’s captain’s picks ... they will be wondering whether it’s time to give up on the captain’s pick and instead pick a new captain. | This government is paralysed by Tony Abbott’s captain’s picks ... they will be wondering whether it’s time to give up on the captain’s pick and instead pick a new captain. |
| His main message was: We’re united, they’re a rabble. Sound familiar? | His main message was: We’re united, they’re a rabble. Sound familiar? |
| He riffed on Abbott’s recent comments regarding “two great years of government”, contrasting with broken promises. | He riffed on Abbott’s recent comments regarding “two great years of government”, contrasting with broken promises. |
| He framed the Canning byelection as a plebiscite on Abbott’s leadership and dampened down expectations of a Labor win. Difficult seat, etc, etc. | He framed the Canning byelection as a plebiscite on Abbott’s leadership and dampened down expectations of a Labor win. Difficult seat, etc, etc. |
| Shorten also maintained his line against a plebiscite or referendum. | Shorten also maintained his line against a plebiscite or referendum. |
| The government wants to plunge this nation into a divisive debate, to conduct a taxpayer funded opinion poll to tell us all what we already know. | The government wants to plunge this nation into a divisive debate, to conduct a taxpayer funded opinion poll to tell us all what we already know. |
| Updated at 11.23am AEST | Updated at 11.23am AEST |
| 10.45am AEST01:45 | 10.45am AEST01:45 |
| In the past year, the Abbott government have been running with a line about the magnificence of the Hawke/Keating governments by contrast with the current Labor leadership. The story goes that given their economic reforms, they were a more responsible Labor crowd and they were aided by a responsible Coalition opposition. | In the past year, the Abbott government have been running with a line about the magnificence of the Hawke/Keating governments by contrast with the current Labor leadership. The story goes that given their economic reforms, they were a more responsible Labor crowd and they were aided by a responsible Coalition opposition. |
| In the Fin yesterday, John Howard continued this line of argument. | In the Fin yesterday, John Howard continued this line of argument. |
| My two Labor predecessors as prime minister deserve praise for the economic reforms they achieved. So does the opposition of the period because it gave bipartisan support to so many of those reforms. | My two Labor predecessors as prime minister deserve praise for the economic reforms they achieved. So does the opposition of the period because it gave bipartisan support to so many of those reforms. |
| Paul Keating was having none of it this “creeping orthodoxy” this morning. | Paul Keating was having none of it this “creeping orthodoxy” this morning. |
| Nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is the economy was radically changed; by cheek and by jowl as part of a comprehensive philosophic policy. This was achieved by 13 years of hard slog. And attempts now at rewriting history, that this was all, in some way, facilitated by the opposition, is simply a piece of gratuitous aggrandisement. | Nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is the economy was radically changed; by cheek and by jowl as part of a comprehensive philosophic policy. This was achieved by 13 years of hard slog. And attempts now at rewriting history, that this was all, in some way, facilitated by the opposition, is simply a piece of gratuitous aggrandisement. |
| Their respective opinion pieces are well worth a read for a bit of modern history. | Their respective opinion pieces are well worth a read for a bit of modern history. |
| 10.28am AEST01:28 | 10.28am AEST01:28 |
| We may have to shout Nick Xenophon a master class with Bowers. | We may have to shout Nick Xenophon a master class with Bowers. |
| @RJSalmond @Nick_Xenophon some of Nicks work-framing getting better, exposures need some work @gabriellechan pic.twitter.com/xuAtKcn60t | @RJSalmond @Nick_Xenophon some of Nicks work-framing getting better, exposures need some work @gabriellechan pic.twitter.com/xuAtKcn60t |
| 10.27am AEST01:27 | 10.27am AEST01:27 |
| Following on from cabinet’s Reverse Duck, James Massola at Fairfax reports that the only agreement last night was there would be no change to the Marriage Act in this term of parliament. | Following on from cabinet’s Reverse Duck, James Massola at Fairfax reports that the only agreement last night was there would be no change to the Marriage Act in this term of parliament. |
| The small-l liberals are increasingly flexing their muscles. Christopher Pyne, who began his parliamentary career on the wet side, dried off during the Howard years and under Abbott, has created a role for himself as chief spear carrier. | The small-l liberals are increasingly flexing their muscles. Christopher Pyne, who began his parliamentary career on the wet side, dried off during the Howard years and under Abbott, has created a role for himself as chief spear carrier. |
| But in latter days, Pyne appears to be reverting to his earlier dampish incarnation, appearing as he did yesterday on the frontbench with Malcolm T for the marriage equality bill. | But in latter days, Pyne appears to be reverting to his earlier dampish incarnation, appearing as he did yesterday on the frontbench with Malcolm T for the marriage equality bill. |
| This is James: | This is James: |
| Moderates view the push for a referendum as a ploy by conservatives that would effectively ensure the legalisation of same-sex marriage would not occur. | Moderates view the push for a referendum as a ploy by conservatives that would effectively ensure the legalisation of same-sex marriage would not occur. |
| During an at-times tense cabinet discussion, Mr Abbott and leader of the House Christopher Pyne faced off over whether last Tuesday’s extraordinary six-hour party room meeting had, in fact, agreed to either a plebiscite or referendum. | During an at-times tense cabinet discussion, Mr Abbott and leader of the House Christopher Pyne faced off over whether last Tuesday’s extraordinary six-hour party room meeting had, in fact, agreed to either a plebiscite or referendum. |
| “Almost everyone spoke on a people’s vote,” one cabinet minister said, adding that “there was no possibility of a referendum.” | “Almost everyone spoke on a people’s vote,” one cabinet minister said, adding that “there was no possibility of a referendum.” |
| Perhaps Pyne is in a more reflective mood, after the launch of his book, A Letter to my Children, which is described as: | Perhaps Pyne is in a more reflective mood, after the launch of his book, A Letter to my Children, which is described as: |
| Christopher Pyne’s honest account of how a belief in the power of public service led him to pursue a career in politics, driven by the ambition of leaving a legacy for the next generation. | Christopher Pyne’s honest account of how a belief in the power of public service led him to pursue a career in politics, driven by the ambition of leaving a legacy for the next generation. |
| Updated at 10.48am AEST | Updated at 10.48am AEST |
| 10.04am AEST01:04 | 10.04am AEST01:04 |
| A captain picks a captain. | A captain picks a captain. |
| Or just a captain’s pick. | Or just a captain’s pick. |
| The magic of Michael Peter Bowers. | The magic of Michael Peter Bowers. |
| Updated at 10.46am AEST | Updated at 10.46am AEST |
| 9.54am AEST00:54 | 9.54am AEST00:54 |
| We have a year to turn the ship around | We have a year to turn the ship around |
| Assistant treasurer Josh Frydenberg has addressed the L word. Leadership. And the E word. Election. He was asked whether he had been “sounded out” by leadership aspirants and/or their representatives. | Assistant treasurer Josh Frydenberg has addressed the L word. Leadership. And the E word. Election. He was asked whether he had been “sounded out” by leadership aspirants and/or their representatives. |
| I certainly haven’t and I’m a very strong supporter of the PM. Look, we’ve been behind in the polls before and if you go back to 2001 when John Howard was trailing Kim Beazley, 2004 when again he was trailing Mark Latham, by greater amounts than we are behind today in the polls, and with a year still to go to the next election, sure, we need to get the debate back to growth and jobs. But we can turn the ship around and I think Tony Abbott will retain the prime ministership and lead us to victory at the next election. | I certainly haven’t and I’m a very strong supporter of the PM. Look, we’ve been behind in the polls before and if you go back to 2001 when John Howard was trailing Kim Beazley, 2004 when again he was trailing Mark Latham, by greater amounts than we are behind today in the polls, and with a year still to go to the next election, sure, we need to get the debate back to growth and jobs. But we can turn the ship around and I think Tony Abbott will retain the prime ministership and lead us to victory at the next election. |
| Given the fair work (registered organisations) bill was voted down for a second time, it is worth reprising the rules of double dissolutions – notwithstanding the government’s bad polling numbers. | Given the fair work (registered organisations) bill was voted down for a second time, it is worth reprising the rules of double dissolutions – notwithstanding the government’s bad polling numbers. |
| The registered orgs bill could form a trigger and indeed there was some talk earlier in the year that it was a live option. But talk in the halls this morning – not to mention from Frydenberg – appear to have ruled that out. | The registered orgs bill could form a trigger and indeed there was some talk earlier in the year that it was a live option. But talk in the halls this morning – not to mention from Frydenberg – appear to have ruled that out. |
| (Sings … Those were the days, my friends, we thought they’d never end.) | (Sings … Those were the days, my friends, we thought they’d never end.) |
| Here is the relevant section in the constitution. | Here is the relevant section in the constitution. |
| Section 57 of the Australian constitution provides that: | Section 57 of the Australian constitution provides that: |
| If the House of Representatives passes any proposed law, and the Senate rejects or fails to pass it, or passes it with amendments to which the House of Representatives will not agree, and if after an interval of three months the House of Representatives, in the same or the next session, again passes the proposed law with or without any amendments which have been made, suggested, or agreed to by the Senate, and the Senate rejects or fails to pass it, or passes it with amendments to which the House of Representatives will not agree, the governor general may dissolve the Senate and the House of Representatives simultaneously. But such dissolution shall not take place within six months before the date of the expiry of the House of Representatives by effluxion of time. | If the House of Representatives passes any proposed law, and the Senate rejects or fails to pass it, or passes it with amendments to which the House of Representatives will not agree, and if after an interval of three months the House of Representatives, in the same or the next session, again passes the proposed law with or without any amendments which have been made, suggested, or agreed to by the Senate, and the Senate rejects or fails to pass it, or passes it with amendments to which the House of Representatives will not agree, the governor general may dissolve the Senate and the House of Representatives simultaneously. But such dissolution shall not take place within six months before the date of the expiry of the House of Representatives by effluxion of time. |
| Effluxion is the word of the day. | Effluxion is the word of the day. |
| Your best uses will be included in the blog. | Your best uses will be included in the blog. |
| Updated at 10.45am AEST | Updated at 10.45am AEST |
| 9.25am AEST00:25 | 9.25am AEST00:25 |
| Word from cabinet is that marriage equality was discussed but we are just firming up exactly how that rolled. | Word from cabinet is that marriage equality was discussed but we are just firming up exactly how that rolled. |
| It was a short agenda though, as Lenore reported last night. It would appear cabinet is doing a reverse duck. You know how they say ducks stay calm on the surface, while paddling madly underneath. The Abbott government is thrashing madly on the surface, with nothing happening underneath. | It was a short agenda though, as Lenore reported last night. It would appear cabinet is doing a reverse duck. You know how they say ducks stay calm on the surface, while paddling madly underneath. The Abbott government is thrashing madly on the surface, with nothing happening underneath. |
| Federal cabinet met on Monday night without a single formal cabinet submission to consider. | Federal cabinet met on Monday night without a single formal cabinet submission to consider. |
| Amid concerns about the bypassing or breakdown of normal cabinet processes and growing mistrust within the Abbott government, the formal business before cabinet on Monday night comprised a minute relating to infrastructure, a letter on a social services issue, a general political discussion and reports from the chairs of backbench committees. | Amid concerns about the bypassing or breakdown of normal cabinet processes and growing mistrust within the Abbott government, the formal business before cabinet on Monday night comprised a minute relating to infrastructure, a letter on a social services issue, a general political discussion and reports from the chairs of backbench committees. |
| Quack. | Quack. |
| 9.11am AEST00:11 | 9.11am AEST00:11 |
| Brough in the rough. | Brough in the rough. |
| 8.56am AEST23:56 | 8.56am AEST23:56 |
| Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. | Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. |
| Nick Xenophon has a habit of stealing Mike Bowers’ cameras and taking random photos. He is the troublemaker on the Senate doors. | Nick Xenophon has a habit of stealing Mike Bowers’ cameras and taking random photos. He is the troublemaker on the Senate doors. |
| Updated at 9.31am AEST | Updated at 9.31am AEST |
| 8.50am AEST23:50 | 8.50am AEST23:50 |
| This being Tuesday, we have party room meetings, which means parliament does not sit until midday. | This being Tuesday, we have party room meetings, which means parliament does not sit until midday. |
| I did hear the prime minister had a meeting with a wallaby but my invite must have got lost in the mail. | I did hear the prime minister had a meeting with a wallaby but my invite must have got lost in the mail. |
| We might see some pictures shortly. | We might see some pictures shortly. |
| 8.44am AEST23:44 | 8.44am AEST23:44 |
| Before I go further, take a look at analysis by Lenore Taylor, which points out the inherent contradictions in the defence of Dyson Heydon. | Before I go further, take a look at analysis by Lenore Taylor, which points out the inherent contradictions in the defence of Dyson Heydon. |
| The government’s defence of Dyson Heydon hinges on the argument that the law lecture the royal commissioner agreed to give was not a fundraiser because it wasn’t going to raise very much money – even though the invitation did solicit donations for the New South Wales Liberals’ election campaign and provide details of the relevant commonwealth electoral disclosure laws. | The government’s defence of Dyson Heydon hinges on the argument that the law lecture the royal commissioner agreed to give was not a fundraiser because it wasn’t going to raise very much money – even though the invitation did solicit donations for the New South Wales Liberals’ election campaign and provide details of the relevant commonwealth electoral disclosure laws. |
| Apparently not-very-successful fundraisers don’t count as fundraisers. | Apparently not-very-successful fundraisers don’t count as fundraisers. |
| Heydon’s own explanation hinges on his insistence he never knew it was a fundraiser, “overlooked” the fact that it was a Liberal party event and didn’t read the invitation that clearly showed it was both. | Heydon’s own explanation hinges on his insistence he never knew it was a fundraiser, “overlooked” the fact that it was a Liberal party event and didn’t read the invitation that clearly showed it was both. |
| The eminent jurist apparently expects more leeway in terms of not reading things and not remembering things than he would be likely to afford one of his witnesses. | The eminent jurist apparently expects more leeway in terms of not reading things and not remembering things than he would be likely to afford one of his witnesses. |
| Neither of these somewhat contradictory explanations overcomes the fact that Heydon did agree to give a lecture to a Liberal party event after his appointment as royal commissioner and that this raises the perception of bias. | Neither of these somewhat contradictory explanations overcomes the fact that Heydon did agree to give a lecture to a Liberal party event after his appointment as royal commissioner and that this raises the perception of bias. |
| 8.35am AEST23:35 | 8.35am AEST23:35 |
| Good morning: how do you feel, have you shifted? | Good morning: how do you feel, have you shifted? |
| Good morning blogans one and all, | Good morning blogans one and all, |
| Mike Bowers have been haunting the grounds of parliament this morning and came across the hardworking maintenance staff offering a little advice for members. | Mike Bowers have been haunting the grounds of parliament this morning and came across the hardworking maintenance staff offering a little advice for members. |
| There are slippery surfaces all around this place at the moment, especially for one prime minister. He apparently survived cabinet last night without any blow ups over the marriage equality bill. Thus far. | There are slippery surfaces all around this place at the moment, especially for one prime minister. He apparently survived cabinet last night without any blow ups over the marriage equality bill. Thus far. |
| But then, Tony Abbott went to bed considering a Newspoll released late in the evening in The Australian, which showed the Canning byelection would be a close-run thing. The swing looks like 10% in the electorate of the late Don Randall, who worked up a margin of nearly 12%. | But then, Tony Abbott went to bed considering a Newspoll released late in the evening in The Australian, which showed the Canning byelection would be a close-run thing. The swing looks like 10% in the electorate of the late Don Randall, who worked up a margin of nearly 12%. |
| The poll also looked at marriage equality via a referendum/plebiscite versus a vote in the parliament. The Australian article reads: | The poll also looked at marriage equality via a referendum/plebiscite versus a vote in the parliament. The Australian article reads: |
| The poll found the issue of same-sex marriage could provide a surprise boost for Mr Abbott, with 78 per cent of Canning voters, including 79 per cent of Liberal supporters and 72 per cent of Labor supporters, believing the issue should be decided by his idea of a “people’s vote” via a referendum or plebiscite. | The poll found the issue of same-sex marriage could provide a surprise boost for Mr Abbott, with 78 per cent of Canning voters, including 79 per cent of Liberal supporters and 72 per cent of Labor supporters, believing the issue should be decided by his idea of a “people’s vote” via a referendum or plebiscite. |
| Only 20 per cent preferred a vote by politicians in parliament as advocated by Bill Shorten, including 18 per cent of Liberal supporters and 26 per cent of Labor supporters. | Only 20 per cent preferred a vote by politicians in parliament as advocated by Bill Shorten, including 18 per cent of Liberal supporters and 26 per cent of Labor supporters. |
| It did not appear to poll on the basic question of support for marriage equality. | It did not appear to poll on the basic question of support for marriage equality. |
| Of course, the danger of byelections is that voters feel at liberty to kick the incumbents, knowing the outcome won’t change the government. But will it change the leader? | Of course, the danger of byelections is that voters feel at liberty to kick the incumbents, knowing the outcome won’t change the government. But will it change the leader? |
| Having gone to bed with the Newspoll, the Coalition woke with leadership grumblings. Phil Coorey in the Fin reports that unnamed supporters of Scott Morrison and Malcolm Turnbull have been indulging in general, kick-the-dirt type conversations on the present difficulties: | Having gone to bed with the Newspoll, the Coalition woke with leadership grumblings. Phil Coorey in the Fin reports that unnamed supporters of Scott Morrison and Malcolm Turnbull have been indulging in general, kick-the-dirt type conversations on the present difficulties: |
| Sources have told The Australian Financial Review that “footsoldiers” for both Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison, who are on opposite sides of the same-sex marriage debate, have been taking informal soundings in recent days, targeting colleagues who voted for Mr Abbott in the February leadership spill. | Sources have told The Australian Financial Review that “footsoldiers” for both Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison, who are on opposite sides of the same-sex marriage debate, have been taking informal soundings in recent days, targeting colleagues who voted for Mr Abbott in the February leadership spill. |
| “They’re seeing if there’s shift in the mood since the last spill,” one MP said. | “They’re seeing if there’s shift in the mood since the last spill,” one MP said. |
| “It’s like ‘it’s not good at the moment, how do you feel, have you shifted?’.” | “It’s like ‘it’s not good at the moment, how do you feel, have you shifted?’.” |
| We all know how Dyson Heydon must feel, given the royal commissioner is awaiting a decision from the ACTU as to whether they will urge his disqualification. The funny thing about this is that Dyson Heydon will consider whether Dyson Heydon should step aside. | We all know how Dyson Heydon must feel, given the royal commissioner is awaiting a decision from the ACTU as to whether they will urge his disqualification. The funny thing about this is that Dyson Heydon will consider whether Dyson Heydon should step aside. |
| Dave Oliver, the head of the ACTU, refused to say whether the union would argue for Heydon’s disqualification because he has to speak to affiliates. I suspect he is hoping the government will do the job. | Dave Oliver, the head of the ACTU, refused to say whether the union would argue for Heydon’s disqualification because he has to speak to affiliates. I suspect he is hoping the government will do the job. |
| He says the Australian Building and Construction Commission bill and the Fair Work (registered organisations) bill (which have both been voted down in the Senate in the past 24 hours) were part of the wider campaign. That campaign included the royal commission, and was designed to nail the union movement. Self-evidently. | He says the Australian Building and Construction Commission bill and the Fair Work (registered organisations) bill (which have both been voted down in the Senate in the past 24 hours) were part of the wider campaign. That campaign included the royal commission, and was designed to nail the union movement. Self-evidently. |
| He says the “unfounded [Turc] allegations being made by some members of parliament” were used to push these bills.” (Though there have been arrests as a result of the commission.) | He says the “unfounded [Turc] allegations being made by some members of parliament” were used to push these bills.” (Though there have been arrests as a result of the commission.) |
| Oliver told the ABC the whole campaign was part of a push to blunt the union movement ahead of the next election. He said it comes back to 2007, when the Work Choices campaign “tipped out a government”. | Oliver told the ABC the whole campaign was part of a push to blunt the union movement ahead of the next election. He said it comes back to 2007, when the Work Choices campaign “tipped out a government”. |
| They will do what they can to make sure our movement can’t do that again ... This government is trying to diminish the capacity of workers to organise to fight for their rights at work. | They will do what they can to make sure our movement can’t do that again ... This government is trying to diminish the capacity of workers to organise to fight for their rights at work. |
| The other thing to note is the registered organisations bill could be used as a double-dissolution trigger, as it has been voted down before. I will come back to that point. | The other thing to note is the registered organisations bill could be used as a double-dissolution trigger, as it has been voted down before. I will come back to that point. |
| Before this turns into War and Peace, I best get on with it. That @mpbowers will have more of his cracking photos and speak to us on the Twits @gabriellechan or below in the thread. | Before this turns into War and Peace, I best get on with it. That @mpbowers will have more of his cracking photos and speak to us on the Twits @gabriellechan or below in the thread. |
| Updated at 9.29am AEST | Updated at 9.29am AEST |