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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2016/feb/08/malcolm-turnbull-backs-away-from-a-gst-increase-politics-live
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| Version 17 | Version 18 |
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| Turnbull seeks advice on whether Stuart Robert breached ministerial standards – politics live | Turnbull seeks advice on whether Stuart Robert breached ministerial standards – politics live |
| (8 days later) | |
| 6.41am GMT | 6.41am GMT |
| 06:41 | 06:41 |
| Good night and good luck | Good night and good luck |
| I think that will do us for today. Over the course of the afternoon I’ve been reading up a bit on Paul Marks (Stuart Robert’s friend), who (as my colleague Daniel Hurst reports, donated $340,000 to the Liberal party in 2014-15.) What an interesting character he is. | I think that will do us for today. Over the course of the afternoon I’ve been reading up a bit on Paul Marks (Stuart Robert’s friend), who (as my colleague Daniel Hurst reports, donated $340,000 to the Liberal party in 2014-15.) What an interesting character he is. |
| Let’s part with a summary. | Let’s part with a summary. |
| I’ll be back for Tuesday. I do hope you’ll join us then. | I’ll be back for Tuesday. I do hope you’ll join us then. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.43am GMT | at 6.43am GMT |
| 6.10am GMT | 6.10am GMT |
| 06:10 | 06:10 |
| Ben Doherty | Ben Doherty |
| Estimates has also looked at the situation on Christmas Island, where the death of Iranian refugee Fazel Chegeni - re-detained under controversial circumstances and over the serious and repeated concerns of several senior public servants - sparked a riot in the centre. | Estimates has also looked at the situation on Christmas Island, where the death of Iranian refugee Fazel Chegeni - re-detained under controversial circumstances and over the serious and repeated concerns of several senior public servants - sparked a riot in the centre. |
| Chegeni, who had been tortured in prison in Iran and had, doctors say, “exhausted his capacity to cope” in detention, escaped from the Christmas Island detention overnight on Friday, November 6. His body was found in bushland two days later. | Chegeni, who had been tortured in prison in Iran and had, doctors say, “exhausted his capacity to cope” in detention, escaped from the Christmas Island detention overnight on Friday, November 6. His body was found in bushland two days later. |
| Following his death, a riot in the centre caused about $10m damage.Australian Border Force Commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg refused to tell estimates how it was that Fazel Chegeni escaped from the Christmas Island detention centre.He would say only that “human fault” was part of the failure that allowed Chegeni to escape. “No-one” he pointed out, has managed to escape from the island. | Following his death, a riot in the centre caused about $10m damage.Australian Border Force Commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg refused to tell estimates how it was that Fazel Chegeni escaped from the Christmas Island detention centre.He would say only that “human fault” was part of the failure that allowed Chegeni to escape. “No-one” he pointed out, has managed to escape from the island. |
| 5.55am GMT | 5.55am GMT |
| 05:55 | 05:55 |
| Ben Doherty | Ben Doherty |
| Estimates is looking again at conditions on Nauru: a quick update. | Estimates is looking again at conditions on Nauru: a quick update. |
| Since October (the last estimates hearing) there have been zero reported cases of sexual assaults or harassment within the detention centre itself. In the community on Nauru, there have been four alleged cases of sexual assault or harassment, committed against three women and one man. There has also been one allegation of sexual assault/harassment committed against a child. | Since October (the last estimates hearing) there have been zero reported cases of sexual assaults or harassment within the detention centre itself. In the community on Nauru, there have been four alleged cases of sexual assault or harassment, committed against three women and one man. There has also been one allegation of sexual assault/harassment committed against a child. |
| 5.49am GMT | 5.49am GMT |
| 05:49 | 05:49 |
| A couple of happy snaps from the prime minister’s office this afternoon, greeting the new human rights envoy. | A couple of happy snaps from the prime minister’s office this afternoon, greeting the new human rights envoy. |
| It is twinkly fabulous how politics looks after its own, isn’t it? | It is twinkly fabulous how politics looks after its own, isn’t it? |
| Yes, that was sarcasm. | Yes, that was sarcasm. |
| 5.12am GMT | 5.12am GMT |
| 05:12 | 05:12 |
| Ruddock has told reporters he will commence his new duties more or less immediately, but he won’t claim his salary for the new role until he quits politics. The constitution forbids it. | Ruddock has told reporters he will commence his new duties more or less immediately, but he won’t claim his salary for the new role until he quits politics. The constitution forbids it. |
| 4.56am GMT | 4.56am GMT |
| 04:56 | 04:56 |
| No regrets. Just thought I’d repeat that. | No regrets. Just thought I’d repeat that. |
| 4.53am GMT | 4.53am GMT |
| 04:53 | 04:53 |
| Ruddock is currently citing his various career highlights. Sky News host David Speers points out the list doesn’t seem to include the contribution he is probably most famous for, the Pacific Solution in the Howard era. Any regrets about that, Speers wonders? No regrets, Ruddock says. | Ruddock is currently citing his various career highlights. Sky News host David Speers points out the list doesn’t seem to include the contribution he is probably most famous for, the Pacific Solution in the Howard era. Any regrets about that, Speers wonders? No regrets, Ruddock says. |
| 4.47am GMT | 4.47am GMT |
| 04:47 | 04:47 |
| From Ruddock’s own statement. | From Ruddock’s own statement. |
| The role will, of necessity, require periods of travel abroad from now until the time of the next federal election. In order for me to devote myself to this task fully I cannot be active in a national political campaign and give effective time to my own re-election. For these reasons I have come to the view that I should not seek re-endorsement for the seat of Berowra. I am humbled to have enjoyed such strong support for my involvement in federal politics for over 42 years. | The role will, of necessity, require periods of travel abroad from now until the time of the next federal election. In order for me to devote myself to this task fully I cannot be active in a national political campaign and give effective time to my own re-election. For these reasons I have come to the view that I should not seek re-endorsement for the seat of Berowra. I am humbled to have enjoyed such strong support for my involvement in federal politics for over 42 years. |
| He’s on Sky News now, speaking about his passion for human rights. | He’s on Sky News now, speaking about his passion for human rights. |
| Q: This had nothing to do with your preselection being at risk? | Q: This had nothing to do with your preselection being at risk? |
| Philip Ruddock: | Philip Ruddock: |
| No. | No. |
| 4.44am GMT | 4.44am GMT |
| 04:44 | 04:44 |
| Ruddock, human rights warrior, not recontesting | Ruddock, human rights warrior, not recontesting |
| Finally now a minute to tell you that the government has appointed Philip Ruddock – the long serving Liberal MP – as special envoy for Human Rights. Doubtless the internet has been exploding about this development for at least an hour, which is when I first saw the reports Ruddock was moving on out. | Finally now a minute to tell you that the government has appointed Philip Ruddock – the long serving Liberal MP – as special envoy for Human Rights. Doubtless the internet has been exploding about this development for at least an hour, which is when I first saw the reports Ruddock was moving on out. |
| Sorry. One woman, one brain, two ears, two hands. | Sorry. One woman, one brain, two ears, two hands. |
| The foreign minister, Julie Bishop: | The foreign minister, Julie Bishop: |
| Australia has a strong record of promoting and protecting human rights, at home and around the world. As a distinguished member of the Australian parliament for over four decades, the current chair of the parliamentary joint committee on human rights, and a longstanding member of Amnesty International, Mr Ruddock is well-qualified to advocate and represent Australia’s human rights views and record. | Australia has a strong record of promoting and protecting human rights, at home and around the world. As a distinguished member of the Australian parliament for over four decades, the current chair of the parliamentary joint committee on human rights, and a longstanding member of Amnesty International, Mr Ruddock is well-qualified to advocate and represent Australia’s human rights views and record. |
| As Special Envoy, Mr Ruddock will focus on advancing Australia’s human rights priorities of good governance, freedom of expression, gender equality, the rights of indigenous peoples, and national human rights institutions. Mr Ruddock will actively in promote Australia’s candidacy for membership of the Human Rights Council (HRC) for the 2018-20 term. He will represent Australia at international human rights events and advocate our HRC candidacy in selected countries. | As Special Envoy, Mr Ruddock will focus on advancing Australia’s human rights priorities of good governance, freedom of expression, gender equality, the rights of indigenous peoples, and national human rights institutions. Mr Ruddock will actively in promote Australia’s candidacy for membership of the Human Rights Council (HRC) for the 2018-20 term. He will represent Australia at international human rights events and advocate our HRC candidacy in selected countries. |
| Mr Ruddock’s role will be consistent with the practice of past governments in approving Special Envoys to support our international campaigns, for example the United Nations Security Council bid. | Mr Ruddock’s role will be consistent with the practice of past governments in approving Special Envoys to support our international campaigns, for example the United Nations Security Council bid. |
| He will also promote our broader human rights agenda, including global abolition of the death penalty, for which he has worked tirelessly over many years. | He will also promote our broader human rights agenda, including global abolition of the death penalty, for which he has worked tirelessly over many years. |
| Mr Ruddock will be Australia’s first Special Envoy for Human Rights, reflecting the Government’s commitment to further strengthening Australia’s contribution to advancing human rights. | Mr Ruddock will be Australia’s first Special Envoy for Human Rights, reflecting the Government’s commitment to further strengthening Australia’s contribution to advancing human rights. |
| (In our office, we can’t help wondering – is this the job George Brandis attempted to offer Gillian Triggs in all the unpleasantness .. remember that?) | (In our office, we can’t help wondering – is this the job George Brandis attempted to offer Gillian Triggs in all the unpleasantness .. remember that?) |
| 4.36am GMT | 4.36am GMT |
| 04:36 | 04:36 |
| Given it’s been a crowded day, let’s step through the Stuart Robert story carefully. | Given it’s been a crowded day, let’s step through the Stuart Robert story carefully. |
| What we know: | What we know: |
| What this all means: | What this all means: |
| Obviously we all need to be very careful not to prejudge this issue before key facts are known. I won’t be prejudging in advance of evidence and explanation. | Obviously we all need to be very careful not to prejudge this issue before key facts are known. I won’t be prejudging in advance of evidence and explanation. |
| But it does draw attention to a problem I bang on about very frequently in the Australian political system: the close relationship between parliamentarians and political donors. I’ve got a first principles question: what on earth was a minister doing on “holidays” in China with a key political donor and appearing at a corporate function? Seriously, what gives? | But it does draw attention to a problem I bang on about very frequently in the Australian political system: the close relationship between parliamentarians and political donors. I’ve got a first principles question: what on earth was a minister doing on “holidays” in China with a key political donor and appearing at a corporate function? Seriously, what gives? |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.37am GMT | at 4.37am GMT |
| 4.12am GMT | 4.12am GMT |
| 04:12 | 04:12 |
| The prime minister has wrapped question time. I’ll be back shortly to walk you through the Robert developments just in case anything was a bit garbled in the real time reportage. | The prime minister has wrapped question time. I’ll be back shortly to walk you through the Robert developments just in case anything was a bit garbled in the real time reportage. |