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Clive Palmer alleges Mal Brough approached him to 'destroy' Peter Slipper – as it happened Clive Palmer alleges Mal Brough approached him to 'destroy' Peter Slipper – as it happened
(5 days later)
7.05am GMT7.05am GMT
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Night time politicsNight time politics
Thanks to my top brains trust, aka Guardian bureau and to Mike Bowers who bursted a boiler, both playing and covering soccer and a thousand other jobs around the house. And thanks to senator Nigel Scullion for Singapore chilli crab.Thanks to my top brains trust, aka Guardian bureau and to Mike Bowers who bursted a boiler, both playing and covering soccer and a thousand other jobs around the house. And thanks to senator Nigel Scullion for Singapore chilli crab.
See you on the morrow.See you on the morrow.
Night night.Night night.
Thirsty work #QT @GuardianAus @gabriellechan #politicslive pic.twitter.com/8BCfHDgl8UThirsty work #QT @GuardianAus @gabriellechan #politicslive pic.twitter.com/8BCfHDgl8U
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at 7.08am GMTat 7.08am GMT
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I want to track back to George Mega’s book because I promised the prime minister’s comments, which were interesting in the context of global terrorism and the pressure on Muslim communities. To recap, Australia’s Second Chance suggests that Australia has been most economically successful when it opened its doors, first in the 1800s and then in the post WWII era. Diversity is the key.I want to track back to George Mega’s book because I promised the prime minister’s comments, which were interesting in the context of global terrorism and the pressure on Muslim communities. To recap, Australia’s Second Chance suggests that Australia has been most economically successful when it opened its doors, first in the 1800s and then in the post WWII era. Diversity is the key.
Openness to the world is one of the big themes in this book.Openness to the world is one of the big themes in this book.
Malcolm Turnbull described the book as a “modern understanding of Australian exceptionalism” which asks the question, how did we become the most successful multicultural country in the world?Malcolm Turnbull described the book as a “modern understanding of Australian exceptionalism” which asks the question, how did we become the most successful multicultural country in the world?
It was originally, back in colonial days, illegal. And I quote - it was illegal to provoke animosity between her majesty’s subjects of different religious persuasions. Of course that is reflected to some degree in the constitution which decrees that there will be no established religion. We created one of the most egalitarian societies in the world, the first country to provide both full voting rights for men and women and the secret ballot, of course excluding Indigenous people, to our great shame until it was corrected many years later.It was originally, back in colonial days, illegal. And I quote - it was illegal to provoke animosity between her majesty’s subjects of different religious persuasions. Of course that is reflected to some degree in the constitution which decrees that there will be no established religion. We created one of the most egalitarian societies in the world, the first country to provide both full voting rights for men and women and the secret ballot, of course excluding Indigenous people, to our great shame until it was corrected many years later.
Turnbull said in governing, Australia got the balance right between the capitalism of the US and the nanny state of Europe.Turnbull said in governing, Australia got the balance right between the capitalism of the US and the nanny state of Europe.
He noted that while opposition to the immigration program was quite high in 1961 election, Robert Menzies stuck to his guns. As a result, by 1964 public opinion shifted and support for migration program became strong.He noted that while opposition to the immigration program was quite high in 1961 election, Robert Menzies stuck to his guns. As a result, by 1964 public opinion shifted and support for migration program became strong.
(It was an interesting message on leadership and bringing the population along rather than chasing the polls.)(It was an interesting message on leadership and bringing the population along rather than chasing the polls.)
That openness and multiculturalism based on mutual respect is what has defined most successful societies in the world.That openness and multiculturalism based on mutual respect is what has defined most successful societies in the world.
Turnbull said, given George’s Greek heritage, one only needed to look at the great Hellenic cities.Turnbull said, given George’s Greek heritage, one only needed to look at the great Hellenic cities.
When was Istanbul or Constantinople at its greatest? When it was it’s most diverse.When was Istanbul or Constantinople at its greatest? When it was it’s most diverse.
When was Alexandria at its most successful? When it was its most diverse.When was Alexandria at its most successful? When it was its most diverse.
When was Smyrna at its greatest? When it was most open and diverse?When was Smyrna at its greatest? When it was most open and diverse?
Diversity is our strength, our greatest asset as the publisher said is not the rocks under the ground but it’s the people that walk on top.Diversity is our strength, our greatest asset as the publisher said is not the rocks under the ground but it’s the people that walk on top.
Multicultural Australia is a remarkable achievement and we should treasure it and hold it dear.Multicultural Australia is a remarkable achievement and we should treasure it and hold it dear.
6.22am GMT6.22am GMT
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It was an honour to receive the inaugural freedom award for support of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/UtNrQIjCBFIt was an honour to receive the inaugural freedom award for support of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/UtNrQIjCBF
6.20am GMT6.20am GMT
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Labor/Greens/Crossbench force senate inquiry into leasing of Darwin port and FirbLabor/Greens/Crossbench force senate inquiry into leasing of Darwin port and Firb
Senate Economics References Committee inquire into the following matters and report by 4 February 2016:Senate Economics References Committee inquire into the following matters and report by 4 February 2016:
(1) An examination of the foreign investment review framework, including powers and processes of the Foreign Investment Review Board, in relation to Australian assets of strategic or national significance being subject to lease or purchase by foreign owned interests, and whether there ought to be any legislative or regulatory changes to that framework to ensure Australia’s national interest is being adequately considered.(1) An examination of the foreign investment review framework, including powers and processes of the Foreign Investment Review Board, in relation to Australian assets of strategic or national significance being subject to lease or purchase by foreign owned interests, and whether there ought to be any legislative or regulatory changes to that framework to ensure Australia’s national interest is being adequately considered.
(2) In particular, the Committee should inquire into:(2) In particular, the Committee should inquire into:
a. the decision by the Northern Territory Government to grant a 99 year lease over the Port of Darwin to Landbridge Group;a. the decision by the Northern Territory Government to grant a 99 year lease over the Port of Darwin to Landbridge Group;
b. the planned lease by the New South Wales Government of TransGrid; andb. the planned lease by the New South Wales Government of TransGrid; and
c. the decision by the Treasurer to block the sale of S. Kidman and Co on national interest grounds.c. the decision by the Treasurer to block the sale of S. Kidman and Co on national interest grounds.
(3) Any other related matters.(3) Any other related matters.
6.17am GMT6.17am GMT
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White collar crime: being hit by a wet lettuce.White collar crime: being hit by a wet lettuce.
Senator Peter Whish-Wilson is an ex-banker and the Greens finance spokesman.Senator Peter Whish-Wilson is an ex-banker and the Greens finance spokesman.
He quoted ASIC chairman Greg Medcraft, who has previously said:He quoted ASIC chairman Greg Medcraft, who has previously said:
We have to lift the fear and smother the greed. White-collar criminals are scared of going to jail. I had 10 years on Wall Street and going to jail is the thing that scares them most…When they come up to the 18th floor and they put people in handcuffs and wheel them off they don’t come back. It sends a message.We have to lift the fear and smother the greed. White-collar criminals are scared of going to jail. I had 10 years on Wall Street and going to jail is the thing that scares them most…When they come up to the 18th floor and they put people in handcuffs and wheel them off they don’t come back. It sends a message.
Whish-Wilson says the American penalties for white collar crime are double the potential jail-term available as compared to Australia in cases of fraud, insider trading and market manipulation.Whish-Wilson says the American penalties for white collar crime are double the potential jail-term available as compared to Australia in cases of fraud, insider trading and market manipulation.
The current system of white-collar crime penalties in Australia are not providing the deterrence we need to stop the ongoing financial scandals. The financial system inquiry head, David Murray has said, ‘the penalty regime in ASIC is like being hit by a lettuce leaf.The current system of white-collar crime penalties in Australia are not providing the deterrence we need to stop the ongoing financial scandals. The financial system inquiry head, David Murray has said, ‘the penalty regime in ASIC is like being hit by a lettuce leaf.
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I have always wanted to do a specky above the PM.I have always wanted to do a specky above the PM.
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Greens win inquiry into white collar crimeGreens win inquiry into white collar crime
The senate has approved a motion by Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson for the economics references commitee to look at white collar crime.The senate has approved a motion by Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson for the economics references commitee to look at white collar crime.
These are the terms of reference:These are the terms of reference:
Economics References Committee to report by 27 July 2016.Economics References Committee to report by 27 July 2016.
The inconsistencies and inadequacies of current criminal, civil and administrative penalties for corporate and financial misconduct or white-collar crime, with particular reference to:The inconsistencies and inadequacies of current criminal, civil and administrative penalties for corporate and financial misconduct or white-collar crime, with particular reference to:
(a) evidentiary standards across various acts and instruments;(a) evidentiary standards across various acts and instruments;
(b) the use and duration of custodial sentences;(b) the use and duration of custodial sentences;
(c) the use and duration of banning orders;(c) the use and duration of banning orders;
(d) the value of fine and other monetary penalties, particularly in proportion to the amount of wrongful gains;(d) the value of fine and other monetary penalties, particularly in proportion to the amount of wrongful gains;
(e) the availability and use of mechanisms to recover wrongful gains;(e) the availability and use of mechanisms to recover wrongful gains;
(f) penalties used in other countries, particularly members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD]; and(f) penalties used in other countries, particularly members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD]; and
(g) any other relevant matters.(g) any other relevant matters.
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at 5.49am GMTat 5.49am GMT
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Just picking myself up after the Clive intervention. The house is doing a suspension debate on “terrorist attacks around the world”.Just picking myself up after the Clive intervention. The house is doing a suspension debate on “terrorist attacks around the world”.
5.17am GMT5.17am GMT
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In 2013, Mal Brough denied similar allegations that he asked Clive Palmer to fund a case by James Ashby to “destroy” Peter Slipper.In 2013, Mal Brough denied similar allegations that he asked Clive Palmer to fund a case by James Ashby to “destroy” Peter Slipper.
Brough did not deny the meeting took place.Brough did not deny the meeting took place.
5.07am GMT5.07am GMT
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Clive Palmer and Mal Brough: the specific allegationsClive Palmer and Mal Brough: the specific allegations
In April 2012, Palmer has alleged in parliament that he met with Mal Brough at his resort. Former treasurer Joe Hockey was staying at the resort at his own cost and Palmer said Hockey played no role in the discussion with Brough about Slipper.In April 2012, Palmer has alleged in parliament that he met with Mal Brough at his resort. Former treasurer Joe Hockey was staying at the resort at his own cost and Palmer said Hockey played no role in the discussion with Brough about Slipper.
In a meeting between the two of them, Palmer alleges Brough requested Palmer fund the legal costs of James Ashby, and while no figure was mentioned, “I understood the costs would be at least $200,000”.In a meeting between the two of them, Palmer alleges Brough requested Palmer fund the legal costs of James Ashby, and while no figure was mentioned, “I understood the costs would be at least $200,000”.
The Member for Fisher stated to me that we needed to destroy Peter Slipper and he had all the evidence to put Peter Slipper away for a very long time. I was not told what the evidence was nor how the honourable member acquired it.The Member for Fisher stated to me that we needed to destroy Peter Slipper and he had all the evidence to put Peter Slipper away for a very long time. I was not told what the evidence was nor how the honourable member acquired it.
I refused the request from the Member for Fisher. I did not think it was appropriate then and I don’t think it is now that a person funds another persons legal action designed to cause a third party’s demise for political reasons.I refused the request from the Member for Fisher. I did not think it was appropriate then and I don’t think it is now that a person funds another persons legal action designed to cause a third party’s demise for political reasons.
It’s especially not appropriate for a citizen seeking election to this house or selection in the ministry, canvassing for money and support to seek to damage individual’s reputation by commencing court actions for what can only be an improper purpose, as the judge found in this case.It’s especially not appropriate for a citizen seeking election to this house or selection in the ministry, canvassing for money and support to seek to damage individual’s reputation by commencing court actions for what can only be an improper purpose, as the judge found in this case.
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at 5.17am GMTat 5.17am GMT
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Woah. Clive Palmer is speaking on the MP1.Woah. Clive Palmer is speaking on the MP1.
Palmer is going to the allegations that Mal Brough asked for money to fund a campaign against Peter Slipper. (This we knew.) Palmer thought it in the range of $200,000.Palmer is going to the allegations that Mal Brough asked for money to fund a campaign against Peter Slipper. (This we knew.) Palmer thought it in the range of $200,000.
Palmer alleges Brough said they needed to destroy Peter Slipper. (This we have not heard before.)Palmer alleges Brough said they needed to destroy Peter Slipper. (This we have not heard before.)
Palmer alleges while Joe Hockey was staying at his resort at the time, he knew nothing of Brough’s financial request.Palmer alleges while Joe Hockey was staying at his resort at the time, he knew nothing of Brough’s financial request.
UpdatedUpdated
at 4.37am GMTat 4.37am GMT
4.30am GMT4.30am GMT
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Assistant minister for the PM, Alan Tudge, is going to formerly disgraced Labor MPs, Eddie Obeid and Craig Thomson and the former president of the Labor party Michael Williamson.Assistant minister for the PM, Alan Tudge, is going to formerly disgraced Labor MPs, Eddie Obeid and Craig Thomson and the former president of the Labor party Michael Williamson.
Then to Bill Shorten, the “knifing of two prime ministers” and Cleanevent.Then to Bill Shorten, the “knifing of two prime ministers” and Cleanevent.
Jeez, Tudge is even going to Mark Latham.Jeez, Tudge is even going to Mark Latham.
He has yet to mention Mal Brough.He has yet to mention Mal Brough.
4.23am GMT4.23am GMT
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Mark Dreyfus is warming to the argument.Mark Dreyfus is warming to the argument.
I ask the members of this house, when can they last remember when a home of a minister in the Australian government was raided by the federal police in the execution of a warrant?I ask the members of this house, when can they last remember when a home of a minister in the Australian government was raided by the federal police in the execution of a warrant?
The prime minister has nothing to say about it, says Dreyfus, it’s about his judgement.The prime minister has nothing to say about it, says Dreyfus, it’s about his judgement.
4.20am GMT4.20am GMT
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Mark Dreyfus is peppering the parliament with the details and history of the downfall of former speaker Peter Slipper and member for Fischer.Mark Dreyfus is peppering the parliament with the details and history of the downfall of former speaker Peter Slipper and member for Fischer.
Dreyfus says the AFP are considering laying charges against Mal Brough and yet Turnbull appointed him as the minister in charge of integrity.Dreyfus says the AFP are considering laying charges against Mal Brough and yet Turnbull appointed him as the minister in charge of integrity.
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Matter of public importance on integrity. Read Mal Brough.Matter of public importance on integrity. Read Mal Brough.
Mark Dreyfus moves a matter of public importance the importance on integrity in government. (i.e. Mal Brough)Mark Dreyfus moves a matter of public importance the importance on integrity in government. (i.e. Mal Brough)
Dreyfus says “this is a manifestly untrustworthy government” and he says while the leadership has changed,Dreyfus says “this is a manifestly untrustworthy government” and he says while the leadership has changed,
This government still stinks.This government still stinks.
4.12am GMT4.12am GMT
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Constituency question!! Dixer to Hunt: I’ve been holding a number of community forums in my electorate and many are very keen to know if Australia will meet and in fact beat its 2020 emissions reduction target ahead of the Paris conference and how the emissions reduction fund will contribute to this effort.Constituency question!! Dixer to Hunt: I’ve been holding a number of community forums in my electorate and many are very keen to know if Australia will meet and in fact beat its 2020 emissions reduction target ahead of the Paris conference and how the emissions reduction fund will contribute to this effort.
Suspiciously like a regular Dixer.Suspiciously like a regular Dixer.
4.09am GMT4.09am GMT
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This time Mark Dreyfus asks Turnbull how Mal Brough can retain the ministerial responsibility for integrity in government given the Ashby matter.This time Mark Dreyfus asks Turnbull how Mal Brough can retain the ministerial responsibility for integrity in government given the Ashby matter.
The honourable member would know as a queen’s counsel that there is no new information about this matter since he asked me the same question yesterday and so, therefore, I refer him to the answer I gave him yesterday.The honourable member would know as a queen’s counsel that there is no new information about this matter since he asked me the same question yesterday and so, therefore, I refer him to the answer I gave him yesterday.
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Mal Brough under pressure on James AshbyMal Brough under pressure on James Ashby
Then Mark Dreyfus asks special minister of state Mal Brough about his role in bringing down Peter Slipper.Then Mark Dreyfus asks special minister of state Mal Brough about his role in bringing down Peter Slipper.
Dreyfus quoted a passage of an AFP search warrant on Brough regarding a request to James Ashby to get data on Peter Slipper.Dreyfus quoted a passage of an AFP search warrant on Brough regarding a request to James Ashby to get data on Peter Slipper.
Brough again refers Dreyfus to his previous statements.Brough again refers Dreyfus to his previous statements.
Dreyfus tries again.Dreyfus tries again.
How does the Minister respond to the following words contained in an AFP search warrant: between 23 March and 13 April 2012 Malcolm Thomas Brough counselled and procured James Ashby being a Commonwealth officer to disclose extracts from the speaker of the house of representatives’s official diary and provide those extracts to third parties without authority contrary to section 70 of the Crimes Act 1914?How does the Minister respond to the following words contained in an AFP search warrant: between 23 March and 13 April 2012 Malcolm Thomas Brough counselled and procured James Ashby being a Commonwealth officer to disclose extracts from the speaker of the house of representatives’s official diary and provide those extracts to third parties without authority contrary to section 70 of the Crimes Act 1914?
Brough refuses to answer.Brough refuses to answer.
3.58am GMT3.58am GMT
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A Dixer to Christopher Pyne on commercialisation of research.A Dixer to Christopher Pyne on commercialisation of research.
3.55am GMT3.55am GMT
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Labor’s Jason Clare to Turnbull: Under the PM’s stewardship, the cost of his second rate version of the NBN has already nearly doubled to $56bn and the time for rolling it out has more than doubled to 2020. Can the PM guarantee that all of the technologies that make up the second rate network including HFC won’t blow out anymore or will another cost blow-out be more proof that this PM is all talk and no delivery?Labor’s Jason Clare to Turnbull: Under the PM’s stewardship, the cost of his second rate version of the NBN has already nearly doubled to $56bn and the time for rolling it out has more than doubled to 2020. Can the PM guarantee that all of the technologies that make up the second rate network including HFC won’t blow out anymore or will another cost blow-out be more proof that this PM is all talk and no delivery?
Turnbull warms to one of his favourite topics but does not guarantee against any cost blowouts.Turnbull warms to one of his favourite topics but does not guarantee against any cost blowouts.
Now, most bad projects get worse but this one is getting better because we changed the management, we changed the board, we gave them the flexibility to get on with the job and it will be completed for $30bn less and between 6 and 8 years sooner.Now, most bad projects get worse but this one is getting better because we changed the management, we changed the board, we gave them the flexibility to get on with the job and it will be completed for $30bn less and between 6 and 8 years sooner.
3.51am GMT
03:51
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A Dixer to Hunt: With another Green Army project winding up successfully in my electorate of Hume, could the minister outline how the government is supporting a range of initiatives to combat global warming in local communities?
Hunt says there is now 508 Green Army projects around the country and he is ahead of schedule.
3.46am GMT
03:46
Labor to Turnbull: Is it correct that today’s updated greenhouse gas data confirms that after dropping by 8% during the last Labor government, Australia’s carbon pollution levels are projected to increase under his government’s direct action policy between now and 2020?
Turnbull flicks to Hunt. Howls from Labor. Turnbull shrugs.
They predicted that Australia’s emissions would grow between 2012 and 2020 to $634 million. They predicted that our domestic emissions would grow. So how were they going to close the gap?
3.42am GMT
03:42
A Dixer to agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce: Will the minister inform the house how innovation and technology is transforming Australian agriculture?
Joyce says:
3.38am GMT
03:38
There was a question to Christopher Pyne: Will the minister update the house on thechallenges facing innovators and entrepreneurs across all sectors of Australia’s economy.
Now one to Greg Hunt: Will Australia’s annual carbon emissions in 2020 be higher or lower than this year?
I am delighted to take this question because what we have just released today is a categorical definitive statement from the department of the environment that our emissions in 2020 will see us achieve and beat our minus 5% target.
3.30am GMT
03:30
Crossing the floor.
3.27am GMT
03:27
A Dixer on the Harper Review to Scott Morrison.
3.27am GMT
03:27
Clive Palmer asks Malcolm Turnbull: Chinese Government companies control ports of Newcastle and Darwin, they’re seeking to control the Cape Preston in the Pilbara and the port of Melbourne. Newcastle charges have gone up 43%. If the Chinese government controls ports they control our economy, they decide what’s exported and manipulate prices and port charges. We can’t buy ports in China . Should our port controlled with the Chinese Communist Party and will the Australian government exercise its power to retain these ports for our national security?
Turnbull has a bit of fun at Palmer’s expense, noting Palmer’s formerly close relationship with Chinese business (which goes to his court case). Sadly, many love affairs come to an end, says Turnbull.
Number one, our foreign investment framework is administered inAustralia’s national interest. Full stop.
He says the Northern Territory government undertook the lease arrangement for Darwin port in close consultation with the commonwealth.
3.22am GMT
03:22
Joel Fitzgibbon asks Turnbull: modelling by OzVeg shows GST on fresh food would lose to a 5% reduction in vegetable production. So, PM, when will you front up to a conversation with Australia’s producers and growers and your plan to hit fresh food with a 15% GST?
Scott Morrison says Labor wants to raise taxes itself, including the tobacco excise and quotes Lisa Chester acknowledging the cigarette increase would hit those on low incomes.
3.19am GMT
03:19
A Dixer from Philip Ruddock to Julie Bishop: will you update the house on Australia’s commitment to international efforts to end violence against women and girls?
Bishop says the government is announcing additional support to the UN trust fund to stop violence against women and girls.
For women and girls beyond our border, their circumstances can be dire,victims of forced marriage, acid burning, female genital mutilation, human trafficking, sexual violence and other abuses and some of the most horrific violence against women is being perpetrated by the terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria where sexual violence is being used as a weapon of war and as a source of revenue.
In fact Daesh or ISIL is encouraging the subjugation of women and girls. They can be bought and sold at slave auctions and ISIL has written a lengthy manual on slavery...which says that sexual assault is spiritually beneficial.
3.16am GMT
03:16
Because the Coalition is slow to its feet, Labor wins a second question. Lisa Chester to Malcolm Turnbull: Modelling reported in The Weekly ‘Times’ shows that if the GST was broadened it would lead to a drop in consumer spending and a drop in real wages across the country. Can the PM explain exactly how broadening the GST will increase jobs and grow the Australian economy?
Turnbull answers thus:
She is really asking the question - if the GST were increased and there were no other measures, would it hurt or undercut the disposable income of people on lower incomes? Of course it would. That is why the object of any changes to the tax system that are affected under our government will be to ensure that the tax system enables, incentivises more jobs and more growth so more people in Bendigo can get a job.
3.12am GMT
03:12
Labor to Turnbull: A hairdressing apprentice earning only $22,000 a year has already lost $1,000 this year and will loose $2,700 over the next two years because of the PM’s cut to the tools for your trade payment. Why is the PM making it even harder for this apprentice to get ahead with a 15% GST?
Turnbull says there is no such proposal.
3.10am GMT
03:10
Social services minister Christian Porter gets a Dixer on the domestic violence research released earlier today. He says the report will help us commission $30m worth of an awareness campaign,
because it goes to the very long-term issue about a very strange masculine permissiveness towards violence. When that violence is permitted at low levels, it grows unhappily into high levels.
3.07am GMT
03:07
First question from Shorten to Turnbull: On average inAustralia every week, one woman is killed by their partner or ex-partner. This is a national crisis. Will the PM join with me to support legislating for five days paid domestic violence leave into the national employment standards?
Turnbull relates the case of Dr Anne O’Neill whose estranged husband broke into her home, shot her and killed her two children before turning the gun on himself. Anne was the only survivor and she spoke to the media event on domestic violence yesterday.
And yet she says that the most common question she was asked after that tragedy was, ‘What did you do to make him do that?’
Turnbull says he will consider it and the Productivity Commission is also considering as part of the review of the Fair Work laws.
It is a complicated issue, as indeed the member for Sydney acknowledged earlier in the year. It’s important that individual businesses are able to deal with this in a way that is - that works both for themselves and their female employees but we will certainly take it on board.
3.01am GMT
03:01
Lunch time politics
2.55am GMT
02:55
The George Clooney of Gippsland.
Darren Chester, National MP, assistant minister for defence and supporter of marriage equality, was recently dubbed the George Clooney of Gippsland by a local radio station. Rob Harris of the Herald Sun did the story and when Mike Bowers caught Chester at the Nationals end of year BBQ, Harris is the one lunging out of the camera.
2.47am GMT
02:47
Dfat officers walk a mile in her shoes.
2.44am GMT
02:44
This man can cook Singapore chilli crab. That is all you need to know.
2.39am GMT
02:39
Lenore Taylor asked Greg Hunt, why if Australia is on track to meet our targets, we should not go for deeper targets, or is it about overshooting the 2020 target so we can carry over emissions for 2030?
The rules for the post-2020 period haven’t been set yet but what I’d say is this. Firstly, all that the planet knows is if we actually achieve and beat our targets, the overall load of CO2 will be reduced.
Secondly, it then allows us - as you say -to consider, once we know the rules for the post-2020 period, the way in which we can carry over, as has happened, any additional surplus which we might have. And between now and 2030, there is, in my mind, no doubt that we will all be asked to come back, probably in 2020, probably in 2025 and then again in 2030, to review, to update the stocktake and reset more ambitious targets.
So I think that is a yes. It would be handy to keep the emissions targets low in order to bank some savings so as not to make it too hard.
1.46am GMT
01:46
Meanwhile on the shipping news:
Abetz notes Australia is girt by sea in speech on shipping bill
1.45am GMT
01:45
Greg Hunt says he is confident of agreement in Paris on targets.
While Australia accounts for less than 1.3% of global emissions, we are committed to playing our part in efforts to reduce those emissions and I am confident, as I say, that we will reach an agreement in Paris that will set the world on the path towards keeping global temperatures to below the 2-degree rise.
1.41am GMT
01:41
Greg Hunt: Climate change is not a matter of belief. It is a matter of science.
Hunt has begun by combining the Paris attacks with the challenge of climate change.
The three great modern challenges of security, economic opportunity and climate change will be more closely aligned than perhaps ever before and my own deepest hope and belief is that the world will achieve an agreement on climate change in Paris which has elude us thus far.
Against that background, today I’d like to discuss three fundamental directions.
First,the government’s vision for and progress in addressing climate change and protecting the environment.
Second, our goals for the talks in Paris and our international contribution, including our targets.
Thirdly, our domestic policies to reduce our emissions and to meet those targets. Climate change is not a matter of belief. It is a matter of science.
1.38am GMT
01:38
Greg Hunt is speaking at the press club right now.
The environment minister released the national accounts for emmissions via the Fin today. Lenore Taylor has written here, how Australia is meeting goals via accounting rules.
Australia has already met its 2020 greenhouse emissions reduction target, an outcome the government claims enhances its credibility ahead of the Paris climate summit next week, but analysts and climate campaigners say is proof the target was always far too low.
Having foreshadowed for weeks that revised greenhouse projections would mean Australia had already met its 2020 target, the environment minister, Greg Hunt, has confirmed the official figures, showing Australia is 28m tonnes of greenhouse abatement ahead of what it needs to reach the target of a 5% reduction by 2020 based on 2000 levels....
But
Australia is meeting its minimum goal via accounting rules – most forecasts show its emissions will rise by 2020. The latest analysis by research firm RepuTex shows Australia’s actual emissions will rise 4% by 2020 compared with 2000 levels, and 6% compared with today.
1.32am GMT
01:32
Both Julie Bishop and Tanya Plibersek launched a University of Melbourne program to promote women in politics through mentorship.
1.24am GMT
01:24
The brief interlude in the blog occurred because I snuck out to attend the launch by the PM of George Megalogenis’ book Australia’s Second Chance.
I declare an interest here - George is a close friend and long time colleague.
The thesis of his book is that early in white settlement, Australia became a rich nation because it was a diverse people - though he has plenty here regarding the treatment of the Indigenous people. When the nation closed its doors with the white Australia policy and tariff policy, income dropped accordingly and did not rise again until the post-WWII era, when we opened our doors again. It is way more detailed than that and I do urge you (disclaimer accepted) to have a read because in his usual style, he has unearthed a lot of source material to back his thesis.
At the launch, the Mega message was “don’t blow it” again. The subtext: particularly in the current climate.
I will bring you a bit of Turnbull too shortly. In the meantime, here is three generations of the Megalogenis family. Diversity at work.
PM @TurnbullMalcolm does a selfie with @GMegalogenis at the launch of #AustraliasSecondChance @gabriellechan pic.twitter.com/i8zETZW3bT
1.13am GMT
01:13
The shipping legislation mentioned early is now in the senate. Labor’s Stephen Conroy is talking about Bill Milby, the cruise ship operator.
Conroy notes that former prime minister Tony Abbott called Milby a liar, even though it subsequently emerged from senate evidence that Milby’s story of advice from the department turned out to be true. Conroy is not mincing his words in the senate.
This is how this lot operate...this bill’s a turkey and it should be defeated.
1.05am GMT
01:05
And the freedom award goes to...Tony Abbott.
The receives the inaugural Freedom Award was awarded to the former PM by the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations.
12.18am GMT
00:18
Brick with Eyes 1. Bowers 0.
Senator Lazarus 1 Photographers 0 @mpbowers @cochl pic.twitter.com/yFz3vpsn3l
12.11am GMT
00:11
Here is the shipping news. There has been shipping legislation on the senate plan for two days now that keeps slipping down the list.
Under Warren Truss’s legislation, workers on non-Australian flagged vessels will only be subject to Australian wages and conditions if the ships trade in Australia for more than 183 days, roughly six months of the yearly permits. It will also streamline requirements to a single shipping licence for boats operating between domestic ports.
You may remember that an Australian cruise ship operator was advised one option to stay competitive under the new rules would be to sack his Australian staff and get a cheaper foreign crew.
The shipping legislation amendment is looking increasingly in danger from the senate crossbenchers. The only reading of the constant postponement must mean that there is some negotiations because it will not pass.
Anthony Albanese, former infrastructure minister, has used the opportunity of two other shipping bills to criticise the legislation.
Anthony Albanese says Labor will support both bills currently in the lower house (which relate to Australian ships). But he said it was all a moot point because if the shipping legislation amendment passes, there will be no Australian ships.
It’s against that background that today we contemplate the legislation before us, which seeks to reduce red tape costs for Australian flagged vessels.
Labor will support this legislation because it makes sense. But if those opposite get their way, the whole exercise will be completely academic. There just won’t be any Australian flagged major trading vessels.
11.39pm GMT
23:39
11.36pm GMT
23:36
The early morning event was The Big Issue’s Parliamentary Street Soccer Cup. It was organised to raise awareness of The Big Issue’s federally-funded Community Street Soccer Program, which supports homeless, marginalised and disadvantaged people around the country.
These photos were from the Pollies Vs Press Gallery.
I will bring you the score shortly but Bowers reports the press gallery were comprehensively beaten. It didn’t help that Alex Ellinghausen scored an own goal.
11.26pm GMT
23:26
Now Mike Bowers work is backing up so let’s move on to some Christmas cheer.
The Canberra Choral Society, led by Tobias Cole, performed for the parliament last night. Lurking in the back row singing her heart out was society member Laura Tingle, our colleague from the Fin. Can sing. Can write.
Parliamentarians came creeping out of their offices like mice, joining the carols, despite early protestations. I still can’t get Ding Dong Merrily On High out of my head.
Here is the speaker Tony Smith and the president Stephen Parry.
Updated
at 11.27pm GMT
11.09pm GMT
23:09
Malcolm Turnbull outlines the complexity of the Syrian situation, the players and the need for a Syrian solution.
A number of them have got differing agendas...differing objectives which in some cases overlap and in some cases are at odds with each other.
This is why this is a very, very complex theatre, both in terms of the various elements within Syria and then the various external players and I have only mentioned a few of them. It’s highly complex and it underlines the need for there to be a political settlement.
11.04pm GMT
23:04
Malcolm Turnbull is asked about the prospect of Russia and the United states coordinating their military action. He says there is an agreement between those two countries but the problem was this was between Turkey and Russia.
It is essential for all of the parties in that increasingly complex conflict to have a high degree of awareness of where each other’s military assets are being deployed but you talked about Russia and the United States. There is an MoU between the coalition and the Russians in terms of the operation of their military aircraft over Syria and to avoid incidents, collisions, incidents like the one we’ve just seen, plainly. But this that we’ve seen here did not involve the United States. This was an incident between Turkey and Russia.
11.00pm GMT
23:00
Turnbull is asked about the Russian jet. He makes the same points as Julie Bishop. That restraint is required. That facts are needed.
Q: How significant it that a NATO power has shot down a Russian plane?
Well, that will depend,frankly, on the reaction of the parties and that is why restraint is so important.
10.56pm GMT
22:56
Shalailah Medhora has asked the prime minister and Christian Porter about the funding issue between state and federal governments covered in this excellent piece by Jess Hill.
Q: There’s still uncertainty around the national partnership agreement on homelessness which has led states and service providers to cut back on the amount of women’s shelters and expanding on the services provided. Will you commit to funding this beyond 2017 when it expires and to increase the amount of funding it gets currently at 2014 levels?
Turnbull flicks the question to Porter, former WA treasurer.
I also have the benefit of being a state treasurer who was turning up to those meetings with the former Labor government saying, ‘Will you renew that partnership?’ It was this government that renewed it. The idea that there is uncertainty attached to the point of renewal of partnerships is a difficulty that arises in every single federal-state partnership so all governments make their decision closer to the point in time of renewal, that is sometimes a clunky system but I think what needs to be noted is it was this government that made that decision and yes, there is a very important link in to domestic violence issues.
10.43pm GMT
22:43
Malcolm Turnbull is releasing the research into attitudes on domestic violence. The prime minister read some of the quotes.
Let me read you some of the quotes from some of theyoung people that took part in this research. This is from afemale between the age of 10and 14 years. ‘It wasn’t that bad. It’s not like he punched her. If there was an injury then it would be bad.’ Or a male between 15 and 17 year stalking about a perpetrator of violence against a woman, against a girl, ‘Oh, he’s just having a bad day’.
Social services minister Christian Porter is going to the nub of the report. He says it shows three things.
10.35pm GMT
22:35
Monkey pod club: Is there a secret handshake?
I can no longer ignore the monkey pod club. It may be just about as delicious as the chocolate cake that Tony Abbott shared.
James Massola of Fairfax wrote the story of the gathering of disaffected conservatives, flapping their clipped wings around a monkey pod wooden table. The MPs are ex-Abbott ministers and backbenchers who did not get a gig in the Turnbull show.
Membership reportedly includes: Andrew Nikolic, Natasha Griggs, Michael Sukkar, Angus Taylor, Zed Seselja, Luke Howarth, Ian Goodenough, Craig Kelly and Karen McNamara.
While it has its genesis in a long-standing social gathering for conservatives since the Rudd government, it has obviously been imbued with extra energy since Abbott’s demise.
Andrew Probyn reports this morning the former PM was obviously thankful for the collegial hug because he brought along a chocolate cake, baked – he said - by none other than his former chief of staff and now landlady, Peta Credlin.
Ladeez, bring a plate.
It has been reported before that Abbott stays with Credlin and her husband, former Liberal Party federal director Brian Loughnane, at their Canberra flat during sitting weeks.
Credlin was, of course, notorious in her control of events around her prime minister. It would appear she is still looking after him.
Updated
at 10.37pm GMT
10.21pm GMT
22:21
Julie Bishop: facts still unclear on Russian plane
You would have seen the overnight news that Turkey shot down a Russian fighter plane. The details are not entirely clear. Turkey and Russia are at odds over which airspace the plane was flying in.
To say the event ratchets up the tension in the region...well, understatement.
Bishop says she is calling for an investigation waiting for the facts, but she doesn’t envisage Australian planes would find themselves in a similar situation.
At this point the facts are still unclear and we urge restraint while an investigation cared out. At this stage, we should all be calling for an investigation as to how this occurred. It does underscore the complexity of the situation in Syria and Iraq of Australia as part of the coalition has an agreement with Russia in relation to the US of air space. Russia and the coalition, led by the United States, have such an agreement. I don’t envisage there being a situation where Australian planes would find themselves in this situation.
9.52pm GMT
21:52
Updated
at 9.53pm GMT
9.44pm GMT
21:44
Shorten: The conversation at the dinner table just stops
Bill Shorten just gave an incredibly moving speech which went straight to the heart of the tension felt inside many households across the country, which was so well demonstrated in Sarah Ferguson’s documentary Hitting Home last night.
The conversation at the dinner table just stops. It’s the start of yet another night’s Russian roulette. What will be the mood. Will it be a good night? Or will it be a bad night? He’s drunk. Maybe he is not happy with his job. Whatever the reason. Whatever the resentment, it will be the wife that gets the blame and is the focus of the anger. He could growl, he could yell. Perhaps he might just fall asleep at the table in front of his dinner or in front of the TV. He could stir. He could smoulder. He’s wakeful. There will be thousands of families who will be tiptoeing around this person. They will placate him. They will turn down the music while they are doing their homework. They will cajole. Children will become adults and diplomats, merely to assuage the anger. They are always on tiptoes. They’re waiting for that eruption. There are tens of thousands of Australian children who are acquired bat-like hearing, that imperceptible tremor that the anger’s started. And as survivors know and as children know, it doesn’t always end in physical violence, but it can be the threat. The anxiety. The fear. Children growing up long before they should. That’s what today’s about for me.
9.20pm GMT
21:20
Malcolm Turnbull is speaking now.
He referred to the study mentioned in earlier posts and says of its findings that show a tendency to blame the victim:
If little boys see their fathers disrespecting their mothers, they will grow up to disrespect their partners. If they see their mothers respected they will respect their sisters. All of us as men, as fathers and grandfathers, as leaders, as teachers, as commanders in the armed forces, as secretaries in the public service, as members of Parliament, all of us men are role models and all of us in our own way can affect and must affect this cultural change.
Turnbull says the culture has to change.
All members and senators here are totally committed to this cultural change, I know that. One of the first actions of my government was to announce the funding of $100 million for a woman’s safety package and Ken [Lay] referred to that earlier, to address the immediate needs of women to fear for their lives.
PM Malcolm Turnbull launches White Ribbon Day at Parliament House @WhiteRibbonAust #stopfamilyviolence pic.twitter.com/9g5ehd0gZe
9.11pm GMT
21:11
Grace has a point.
@gabriellechan nothing matters more than immediately restoring funding to Womens Refuges, the rest is empty platitudes #WhiteRibbonDay
9.09pm GMT
21:09
Tri-partisan support to eliminate violence against women @terrimbutler @SHendersonMP @WhiteRibbonAust #TakeAStand pic.twitter.com/kYoc97eF7o
9.08pm GMT
21:08
The Labor plan involves five days of paid work leave for domestic violence victims, including for casual workers, who are often women.
If such leave were legislated inside national employment standards, it would be a basic employment right.
Bill Shorten acknowledged many companies already provide such leave. They include Telstra, NAB, Virgin Australia, IKEA and Blundstone Boots.
9.02pm GMT
21:02
Shalailah Medhora
Social services minister, Christian Porter, has been on ABC Radio this morning, talking about the findings of a study into violence against women. The research will form the basis of a $30m state and Commonwealth-funded ad campaign aimed at changing attitudes.
The campaign is months rather than years away.
When asked about Labor’s proposal to offer five days of domestic violence leave in national employment standards, Porter did not dismiss it straight away.
“All policy ideas should be welcomed in this space,” he said, adding that the policy will need to be given “very considered thought” because of the complexity of the issue.
8.52pm GMT
20:52
Blame the victim: study to be released this morning in parliament
Daniel Hurst reports on a study to be released today on attitudes to domestic violence.
A study has revealed high levels of victim blaming when Australians are told about cases of girls and young women experiencing disrespectful and aggressive behaviour from their male peers.
The report, to be released by the Turnbull government on Wednesday, said while there was strong community support for ending extreme violence against women, the attitudes that perpetuated the problem were “firmly entrenched” among many adults and children in Australia.
The worrying thing was the tendency to blame the victim.
“Despite this, when asked their perception on why the behaviour had occurred, the response from the majority of influencers (male and female) was to automatically question the role of the female before rebuking the behaviour described,” the report said.
Boys and young men were “fast to externalise the behaviour by blaming others, particularly the female” – a phenomenon researchers said was already present among boys as young as 10. One boy aged in the 15 to 17 category told researchers: “Perhaps the girl is not giving him attention.”
8.48pm GMT
20:48
Malcolm Turnbull: Not all disrespect of women ends up in violence against women, but all violence against women begins with disrespecting women.
8.43pm GMT
20:43
With @larissawaters, @NickMcKim, @SenatorSiewert & @RichardDiNatale marking #WhiteRibbonDay in Parl. #ISwear pic.twitter.com/VWCpSkmYs5
8.35pm GMT
20:35
Good morning friends, Canberrans and country women,
Today Australians will attend marches all around the country for white ribbon day. In the parliament, the prime minister, the opposition leader and other MPs will attend an annual breakfast to speak against domestic violence. According to the Counting Dead Women project by Destroy The Joint, there have been 78 women killed by men this year. Last year there were 84 women killed. Surely, that awful record will not be broken.
Last night, Victorian Liberal MP Sarah Henderson broke down as she described the murder of her friend Monique by her partner.
Three days ago, Monique was murdered by her American partner in the US. It was a deliberate, calculated murder/suicide. Monique had decided to leave the relationship and return to Australia—but she never made it home.
I do not want to speak about the detail other than to say Monique’s parents Faye and Frank who both live in Corangamite—and her beloved children Sam and Zara—are devastated and shattered beyond words. This is a crime which always happens to someone else; but Monique’s death has shown me that this is a crime that can touch every single family. Our family is devastated by this news—and our hearts go out to Sam, Zara, Faye, Frank, Tony, Jeremy, Sally, Paula, Johnnie and the rest of Monique’s family and friends.
We have to break this cycle of violence, which in many cases is being fuelled by drugs, alcohol, rage, revenge—and perverse attitudes by men who think it is okay to hurt a woman. We all have a responsibility to educate young people—and Our Watch survey found that one in four young men believe controlling and violent behaviour is a sign of male strength.
I say to all Australians: tomorrow wear your white ribbon, take the pledge and please stand up and speak out against family violence. Monique, you were a beautiful and gentle soul. Rest in peace.
The PM will speak at 8am, Shorten straight up after. I’m @gabriellechan and he is @mpbowers and we will have all that and more today on #politicslive.