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Abbott expected to confirm Syrian airstrikes and a refugee package – politics live | Abbott expected to confirm Syrian airstrikes and a refugee package – politics live |
(35 minutes later) | |
1.04am BST01:04 | |
The Labor leader Bill Shorten is out and about this morning talking about the national disability insurance scheme with Labor’s families spokeswoman Jenny Macklin – who says the scheme needs to be rolled out pronto. | |
We don’t want any delays. The only thing that is holding it up is Tony Abbott. | |
Q: Where’s your NDIS policy and how will you fund it over the forward estimates? | |
Shorten hands that one to Macklin. | |
Labor made sure that the national disability insurance scheme was fully funded. Fully funded in the budget. We announce and put through the parliament, with the support of the then opposition, an increase in the Medicare levy and we made other substantial savings in the budget to make sure that the national disability insurance scheme is fully funded. Now even the current minister says now it is fully funded in the budget. | |
So let’s just put this rubbish to one side. It is rubbish and it is frightening to people with disability to hear people say that there is some question about the funding. There is no question. The money is in the budget. | |
12.54am BST00:54 | |
Former National leader Tim Fischer is in town at the moment lobbying on behalf of regional media organisations. Communications minister Malcolm Turnbull is keen to overhaul the existing regulations, but Tony Abbott is not keen to proceed with ownership deregulation unless there is an industry consensus. An industry consensus in the Australian media context is a contradiction in terms. | |
Tim Fischer is keen to persuade Abbott to press ahead regardless of opposition in some quarters of the industry. He’s told the ABC this morning: | |
Our local voices do matter, more than ever before. | |
12.36am BST00:36 | |
There’s an interesting read on The Conversation about the impact of Australia’s many political memoirs. Jane Messer from Macquarie University nominates the Latham Diaries as the standout. | |
Mark Latham’s Latham’s Diaries, originally published in 2005, eclipses all other political memoirs and autobiographies in my research for impact, in terms of readers recalling and engaging with its dissection of the Labor Party in the post-Keating years, the Australian political system more broadly, and its insistence that there ought to be serious debate about political philosophy. | |
Whatever one may think of Latham today, this memoir has contributed to debate and critiques of Australian democratic process in the new century. Natalie Mast recently argued on The Conversation that, ten years on from its publication, “the flaws in our political system that Latham highlighted continue to affect us”. | |
I’m interested in views from readers. Two I’ve enjoyed in recent times: Bob Carr’s Diary of a Foreign Minister, and Christopher Pyne’s Letter to my Children (even if that one is actually a letter to his father.) I also loved Michael Cooney’s book on working for Julia Gillard as her speechwriter. | |
What have you read? What have you enjoyed and why? | |
12.19am BST00:19 | 12.19am BST00:19 |
I couldn’t quite stretch to this yesterday but it was worth covering. Fortunately Gareth Hutchens from Fairfax Media could stretch to it. Yesterday the parliamentary budget office released a new analysis of how we are travelling in budgetary terms. The news isn’t marvellous. A decade of deficits. | I couldn’t quite stretch to this yesterday but it was worth covering. Fortunately Gareth Hutchens from Fairfax Media could stretch to it. Yesterday the parliamentary budget office released a new analysis of how we are travelling in budgetary terms. The news isn’t marvellous. A decade of deficits. |
The Abbott government has reduced its budget black hole by $30bn over the next decade after its deal with Labor to reintroduce fuel excise indexation. But Australia continues to face more than a decade of uninterrupted budget deficits, with $74bn worth of budget repair initiatives still sitting unlegislated — from three previous budgets. An updated assessment by the independent PBO shows the government is facing a cumulative $74bn budget shortfall between now and 2025-26 after failing to win support for controversial savings measures in the senate. | The Abbott government has reduced its budget black hole by $30bn over the next decade after its deal with Labor to reintroduce fuel excise indexation. But Australia continues to face more than a decade of uninterrupted budget deficits, with $74bn worth of budget repair initiatives still sitting unlegislated — from three previous budgets. An updated assessment by the independent PBO shows the government is facing a cumulative $74bn budget shortfall between now and 2025-26 after failing to win support for controversial savings measures in the senate. |
11.55pm BST23:55 | 11.55pm BST23:55 |
There is lots of discussion around this morning about the wisdom of prioritising various religious groups in any one-off humanitarian intake. My colleague Michael Safi has interviewed the grand mufti. | There is lots of discussion around this morning about the wisdom of prioritising various religious groups in any one-off humanitarian intake. My colleague Michael Safi has interviewed the grand mufti. |
Calls for Christians to be given priority among Syrian refugees are discriminatory and reinforce a sense Muslims “are always going to be vilified in the Australian community”, the country’s highest Sunni authority has said. | Calls for Christians to be given priority among Syrian refugees are discriminatory and reinforce a sense Muslims “are always going to be vilified in the Australian community”, the country’s highest Sunni authority has said. |
Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamed, Australia’s grand mufti, said choosing refugees based on religion or ethnicity was the very kind of sectarian thinking “that got Iraq and Syria into the problems they’re facing now”. | Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamed, Australia’s grand mufti, said choosing refugees based on religion or ethnicity was the very kind of sectarian thinking “that got Iraq and Syria into the problems they’re facing now”. |
“When it comes to catastrophes such as these we should be prioritising human beings rather than prioritising a certain religion,” he told Guardian Australia. | “When it comes to catastrophes such as these we should be prioritising human beings rather than prioritising a certain religion,” he told Guardian Australia. |
Labor’s immigration spokesman Richard Marles is in the Sky studio now. | Labor’s immigration spokesman Richard Marles is in the Sky studio now. |
Need ought to be the basis. | Need ought to be the basis. |
Need has to be the criteria. | Need has to be the criteria. |
11.49pm BST23:49 | 11.49pm BST23:49 |
Briggs also took the opportunity to chasten George Christensen for his crass populism. Anybody playing to xenophobia or to the current Australian insecurity about jobs isn’t helping, Briggs says. The unhelpfuls include Labor and the trade unions on the China FTA and Christensen on refugees pinching Aussie jobs. | Briggs also took the opportunity to chasten George Christensen for his crass populism. Anybody playing to xenophobia or to the current Australian insecurity about jobs isn’t helping, Briggs says. The unhelpfuls include Labor and the trade unions on the China FTA and Christensen on refugees pinching Aussie jobs. |
11.40pm BST23:40 | 11.40pm BST23:40 |
Assistant infrastructure minister Jamie Briggs is currently telling Sky News Australians will be pleasantly surprised that the government has such a comprehensive security plan and such a comprehensive humanitarian plan. | Assistant infrastructure minister Jamie Briggs is currently telling Sky News Australians will be pleasantly surprised that the government has such a comprehensive security plan and such a comprehensive humanitarian plan. |
Pleasantly surprised? | Pleasantly surprised? |
Err.. | Err.. |
It’s ok. We know what you mean, Jamie. | It’s ok. We know what you mean, Jamie. |
Updated at 11.41pm BST | Updated at 11.41pm BST |
11.37pm BST23:37 | 11.37pm BST23:37 |
Mike Bowers has been down to check out the rolling cast of characters talking to reporters at the doors of parliament house this morning. | Mike Bowers has been down to check out the rolling cast of characters talking to reporters at the doors of parliament house this morning. |
Terrific picture of the Phon, isn’t it? | Terrific picture of the Phon, isn’t it? |
11.28pm BST23:28 | 11.28pm BST23:28 |
Speaking of objections and objectionable, Labor senator Jenny McAllister has taken issue this morning with this tweet from the LNP’s George Christensen. | Speaking of objections and objectionable, Labor senator Jenny McAllister has taken issue this morning with this tweet from the LNP’s George Christensen. |
Labor refugee response is hypocritical. http://t.co/sVVh8a3vAr #auspol #SyrianRefugees #refugeescrisis #refugeecrisis pic.twitter.com/mHwFf4ZO2S | Labor refugee response is hypocritical. http://t.co/sVVh8a3vAr #auspol #SyrianRefugees #refugeescrisis #refugeecrisis pic.twitter.com/mHwFf4ZO2S |
It takes a great wit to build a segue between the China free trade agreement and the Syrian refugee crisis but Christensen is not a man to be defeated by tasks that seem beyond mere mortals. | It takes a great wit to build a segue between the China free trade agreement and the Syrian refugee crisis but Christensen is not a man to be defeated by tasks that seem beyond mere mortals. |
He ought to be a bit cautious, though. The backbencher might find himself stranded if his government unveils a generous resettlement package later on today. | He ought to be a bit cautious, though. The backbencher might find himself stranded if his government unveils a generous resettlement package later on today. |
11.20pm BST23:20 | 11.20pm BST23:20 |
This footage of a camerawoman tripping fleeing refugees is the talk of the interwebs this morning. It really is quite unbelievable. | This footage of a camerawoman tripping fleeing refugees is the talk of the interwebs this morning. It really is quite unbelievable. |
AFP is reporting the Hungarian TV camerawoman was fired Tuesday after the footage appeared. “The woman, later named as Petra Laszlo, can be seen tripping a man sprinting with a child in his arms, and kicking another running child in two separate incidents.” (Thanks to my colleague Greg Jericho, who shared the AFP report in Twitter.) | AFP is reporting the Hungarian TV camerawoman was fired Tuesday after the footage appeared. “The woman, later named as Petra Laszlo, can be seen tripping a man sprinting with a child in his arms, and kicking another running child in two separate incidents.” (Thanks to my colleague Greg Jericho, who shared the AFP report in Twitter.) |
11.13pm BST23:13 | 11.13pm BST23:13 |
Speaking of climate change, it was a surprise to learn on Tuesday evening that the head of the Climate Change Authority, Bernie Fraser, has resigned his post. The CCA is the independent body the Abbott government has tried (thus far unsuccessfully) to abolish as part of winding back Labor’s clean energy package. | Speaking of climate change, it was a surprise to learn on Tuesday evening that the head of the Climate Change Authority, Bernie Fraser, has resigned his post. The CCA is the independent body the Abbott government has tried (thus far unsuccessfully) to abolish as part of winding back Labor’s clean energy package. |
My colleague Daniel Hurst reminds us in his news story this morning Fraser was recently involved in a public dispute with the environment minister, Greg Hunt, over the government’s assertion that “Labor’s climate policy” would impose a “$600bn carbon bill”. | My colleague Daniel Hurst reminds us in his news story this morning Fraser was recently involved in a public dispute with the environment minister, Greg Hunt, over the government’s assertion that “Labor’s climate policy” would impose a “$600bn carbon bill”. |
In August, Fraser told Guardian Australia the claim was “weird” and “misleading” and he also raised concern about the adequacy of the Coalition’s goal of reducing emissions by between 26% and 28% of 2005 levels by 2030. | In August, Fraser told Guardian Australia the claim was “weird” and “misleading” and he also raised concern about the adequacy of the Coalition’s goal of reducing emissions by between 26% and 28% of 2005 levels by 2030. |
Michelle Grattan, political editor at The Conversation, connects the surprise resignation to poor relations with Hunt. | Michelle Grattan, political editor at The Conversation, connects the surprise resignation to poor relations with Hunt. |
It is believed Fraser – who is a former secretary of the treasury and former governor of the Reserve Bank – had found the minister very difficult to deal with. Hunt was seen as hostile to the authority. The tension with the minister apparently wore Fraser down. The government was angry that it could not abolish the authority because of the Senate, but was forced to retain it in negotiations with Clive Palmer. | It is believed Fraser – who is a former secretary of the treasury and former governor of the Reserve Bank – had found the minister very difficult to deal with. Hunt was seen as hostile to the authority. The tension with the minister apparently wore Fraser down. The government was angry that it could not abolish the authority because of the Senate, but was forced to retain it in negotiations with Clive Palmer. |
Hunt has thanked Fraser for his service. “He has had an outstanding career in public service, which I deeply respect and acknowledge,” the minister said in a statement. | Hunt has thanked Fraser for his service. “He has had an outstanding career in public service, which I deeply respect and acknowledge,” the minister said in a statement. |
11.05pm BST23:05 | 11.05pm BST23:05 |
After clearing today’s decisions, the prime minister is due to fly to Papua New Guinea to attend the Pacific Islands Forum, where climate change will be a hot button issue. | After clearing today’s decisions, the prime minister is due to fly to Papua New Guinea to attend the Pacific Islands Forum, where climate change will be a hot button issue. |
From Lisa Martin at the news wire service AAP. | From Lisa Martin at the news wire service AAP. |
Prime minister Tony Abbott is due to arrive on Wednesday night and Fiji’s prime minister has boycotted the event, sending his foreign minister instead. | Prime minister Tony Abbott is due to arrive on Wednesday night and Fiji’s prime minister has boycotted the event, sending his foreign minister instead. |
PNG prime minister Peter O’Neill said the forum was only as strong as its most vulnerable members and had a “collective obligation” to help smaller states like Kiribati, Tuvalu and Marshall Islands on the frontline of global warming. He said communities were living in fear of each high tide and storm front, while changes in ocean temperature and acidity hit fish stocks, and the frequency and intensity of cyclones has increased. “Our people should not have to change their way of life or abandon thousands of years of traditions because of the actions of larger countries and their carbon emissions,” O’Neill told the dinner. | PNG prime minister Peter O’Neill said the forum was only as strong as its most vulnerable members and had a “collective obligation” to help smaller states like Kiribati, Tuvalu and Marshall Islands on the frontline of global warming. He said communities were living in fear of each high tide and storm front, while changes in ocean temperature and acidity hit fish stocks, and the frequency and intensity of cyclones has increased. “Our people should not have to change their way of life or abandon thousands of years of traditions because of the actions of larger countries and their carbon emissions,” O’Neill told the dinner. |
He said millions of his own people were suffering from what could be PNG’s worst drought in 20 years and a looming food crisis, because of an El Nino weather system which was exacerbated by climate change. | He said millions of his own people were suffering from what could be PNG’s worst drought in 20 years and a looming food crisis, because of an El Nino weather system which was exacerbated by climate change. |
10.57pm BST22:57 | 10.57pm BST22:57 |
Readers with us yesterday will know that there is a push within the government to make sure the new refugee intake from Syria prioritises Christians – a group the senate leader Eric Abetz described yesterday as the most persecuted religion in the world. | Readers with us yesterday will know that there is a push within the government to make sure the new refugee intake from Syria prioritises Christians – a group the senate leader Eric Abetz described yesterday as the most persecuted religion in the world. |
Greens leader Richard Di Natale has been on the ABC this morning, arguing it is very dangerous territory for governments to determine a refugee intake on either racial or religious grounds. | Greens leader Richard Di Natale has been on the ABC this morning, arguing it is very dangerous territory for governments to determine a refugee intake on either racial or religious grounds. |
Di Natale has also put the Greens view that any military action should come to the parliament for debate, not simply be a decision by the cabinet. Issues of such gravity should be the subject of parliamentary debate. | Di Natale has also put the Greens view that any military action should come to the parliament for debate, not simply be a decision by the cabinet. Issues of such gravity should be the subject of parliamentary debate. |
10.45pm BST22:45 | 10.45pm BST22:45 |
Hello good people and welcome to Wednesday. Wednesday, of course, follows Tuesday evening, and Tuesday evening in Canberra saw locals rally for refugees. Mike Bowers was there and as a consequence we have lovely images to begin our daily conversation today. | Hello good people and welcome to Wednesday. Wednesday, of course, follows Tuesday evening, and Tuesday evening in Canberra saw locals rally for refugees. Mike Bowers was there and as a consequence we have lovely images to begin our daily conversation today. |
Cabinet this morning is expected to sign off on both military action in Syria, and a refugee package, after days of debate. | Cabinet this morning is expected to sign off on both military action in Syria, and a refugee package, after days of debate. |
Regular Politics Live readers will know that Labor earlier this week said the humanitarian package should be 10,000 refugees and $100m for the UNHCR. | Regular Politics Live readers will know that Labor earlier this week said the humanitarian package should be 10,000 refugees and $100m for the UNHCR. |
The immigration minister Peter Dutton has been in Geneva for talks with the UNHCR over the past 48 hours. He’s spoken to reporters this morning, and declined to pre-empt any announcement by the prime minister later today. | The immigration minister Peter Dutton has been in Geneva for talks with the UNHCR over the past 48 hours. He’s spoken to reporters this morning, and declined to pre-empt any announcement by the prime minister later today. |
But he says Australians will be proud of what their government is proposing. | But he says Australians will be proud of what their government is proposing. |
Dutton is sticking to the line that Australia is the most generous nation in the world on a per capita basis when it comes to refugees. (We really aren’t, but I suppose if you keep saying it often enough someone might believe you.) He’s pointed out that the humanitarian intake will increase from 13,750 to more than 18,000 by 2018-19. | Dutton is sticking to the line that Australia is the most generous nation in the world on a per capita basis when it comes to refugees. (We really aren’t, but I suppose if you keep saying it often enough someone might believe you.) He’s pointed out that the humanitarian intake will increase from 13,750 to more than 18,000 by 2018-19. |
Peter Dutton: | Peter Dutton: |
I think people will be impressed with Australia’s response. I think it will be a generous announcement, both in terms of the dollar amount and the number of places we’ll provide. I think people will be proud of what Australia is proposing. | I think people will be impressed with Australia’s response. I think it will be a generous announcement, both in terms of the dollar amount and the number of places we’ll provide. I think people will be proud of what Australia is proposing. |
We’ll have to wait and see whether the detail delivers on PDuddy 2.0’s upbeat characterisation. There are a couple of reports this morning that the government is looking at 10,000+. | We’ll have to wait and see whether the detail delivers on PDuddy 2.0’s upbeat characterisation. There are a couple of reports this morning that the government is looking at 10,000+. |
The Abbott government’s journal of record, the Daily Telegraph, is punting the government will “welcome a separate intake of potentially more than 10,000 stricken Syrian refugees because the Abbott government overwhelmingly believes it is the Australian way.” One might ask why the government didn’t seem to believe extra places was the Australian way as soon as last weekend – but then one would be bitchy – and it would be way too early in the morning for that sort of thing. Fingers crossed that basic human decency prevails. | The Abbott government’s journal of record, the Daily Telegraph, is punting the government will “welcome a separate intake of potentially more than 10,000 stricken Syrian refugees because the Abbott government overwhelmingly believes it is the Australian way.” One might ask why the government didn’t seem to believe extra places was the Australian way as soon as last weekend – but then one would be bitchy – and it would be way too early in the morning for that sort of thing. Fingers crossed that basic human decency prevails. |
Of course once the military action is confirmed there will be a whole debate around the wisdom of bombings as a course of action – a debate that’s already underway given the government has been telegraphing its intentions for weeks. | Of course once the military action is confirmed there will be a whole debate around the wisdom of bombings as a course of action – a debate that’s already underway given the government has been telegraphing its intentions for weeks. |
The Politics Live comments thread is wide open for your business and we are up and at ‘em on the twits. Mikearoo is @mpbowers and I’m @murpharoo | The Politics Live comments thread is wide open for your business and we are up and at ‘em on the twits. Mikearoo is @mpbowers and I’m @murpharoo |
Let’s get cracking. | Let’s get cracking. |
Updated at 10.58pm BST | Updated at 10.58pm BST |