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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2016/feb/09/labor-maintains-pressure-over-stuart-roberts-china-trip-politics-live
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Labor attacks Coalition over Stuart Robert's China trip – as it happened | Labor attacks Coalition over Stuart Robert's China trip – as it happened |
(7 days later) | |
5.49am GMT | 5.49am GMT |
05:49 | 05:49 |
Fare thee well | Fare thee well |
Curse the falling down socks. Curse them. | Curse the falling down socks. Curse them. |
Now sorry to love you and leave you but I now need to get ready for the television shift. If 8,000 words on a live blog hasn’t been quite enough of me today, you are very welcome to tune in to The Drum on the ABC shortly, where I will be attempting to form complete sentences. | Now sorry to love you and leave you but I now need to get ready for the television shift. If 8,000 words on a live blog hasn’t been quite enough of me today, you are very welcome to tune in to The Drum on the ABC shortly, where I will be attempting to form complete sentences. |
Let’s wrap today, Tuesday. | Let’s wrap today, Tuesday. |
There was more, but that’s the guts of things. Thanks for reading today. Let’s do it all again on the morrow. | There was more, but that’s the guts of things. Thanks for reading today. Let’s do it all again on the morrow. |
5.16am GMT | 5.16am GMT |
05:16 | 05:16 |
A little bit more on the tax questions in Essential. | A little bit more on the tax questions in Essential. |
I share these results mainly as an exercise in demonstrating how hard it is to cut through when you are a politician. | I share these results mainly as an exercise in demonstrating how hard it is to cut through when you are a politician. |
Because I share a zoo with these characters, I can tell you the government’s stated rationale for pursuing tax reform is boosting growth and economic efficiency. The prime minister says it all the time. He’s a good communicator, so you might think those ideas might have pierced the fog. | Because I share a zoo with these characters, I can tell you the government’s stated rationale for pursuing tax reform is boosting growth and economic efficiency. The prime minister says it all the time. He’s a good communicator, so you might think those ideas might have pierced the fog. |
Nope, nope, nope, as another prime minister once famously noted. | Nope, nope, nope, as another prime minister once famously noted. |
Essential tells us 58% of the survey believe that one of the main two reasons the government is considering tax reform is to address the budget deficit. (Nope.) | Essential tells us 58% of the survey believe that one of the main two reasons the government is considering tax reform is to address the budget deficit. (Nope.) |
Thirty percent think it is to maintain government services. (Double nope, that’s Mike Baird’s problem and Jay Weatherill’s problem.) | Thirty percent think it is to maintain government services. (Double nope, that’s Mike Baird’s problem and Jay Weatherill’s problem.) |
Twenty six percent think reform is to encourage economic growth. (Ding). | Twenty six percent think reform is to encourage economic growth. (Ding). |
Only 5% think it is to invest in infrastructure (errr) and 10% think it is to boost employment. (Ding). | Only 5% think it is to invest in infrastructure (errr) and 10% think it is to boost employment. (Ding). |
5.08am GMT | 5.08am GMT |
05:08 | 05:08 |
A couple of quick takes from this afternoon’s new Essential poll. | A couple of quick takes from this afternoon’s new Essential poll. |
On tax. | On tax. |
These results have not changed since this question was asked in July last year. | These results have not changed since this question was asked in July last year. |
4.51am GMT | 4.51am GMT |
04:51 | 04:51 |
Speaking of not very happy. Mike Bowers, with Stuart Robert’s longest walk to the dispatch box. | Speaking of not very happy. Mike Bowers, with Stuart Robert’s longest walk to the dispatch box. |
4.45am GMT | 4.45am GMT |
04:45 | 04:45 |
Catching up. My colleague Amanda Meade – who was kind enough to share a post with readers earlier – has been eyes glued on senate estimates while I’ve been eyes glued on question time. | Catching up. My colleague Amanda Meade – who was kind enough to share a post with readers earlier – has been eyes glued on senate estimates while I’ve been eyes glued on question time. |
The ABC is in the hot seat. As she noted a bit earlier, Mr Scott has been stirring the public broadcaster’s pot. | The ABC is in the hot seat. As she noted a bit earlier, Mr Scott has been stirring the public broadcaster’s pot. |
The ABC’s managing director, Mark Scott, has called into question the need for a second public broadcaster, saying SBS provides less distinctive content and foreign language programming than it once did and has evolved into a general interest channel. Appearing before the Senate estimates communications committee for the last time in his 10 years as ABC chief, Scott seized the opportunity to say he believed it was “worth considering” whether Australia still needed two public broadcasters. But he said it was a matter for the government. | The ABC’s managing director, Mark Scott, has called into question the need for a second public broadcaster, saying SBS provides less distinctive content and foreign language programming than it once did and has evolved into a general interest channel. Appearing before the Senate estimates communications committee for the last time in his 10 years as ABC chief, Scott seized the opportunity to say he believed it was “worth considering” whether Australia still needed two public broadcasters. But he said it was a matter for the government. |
I’m also aware with half an eye on the twits that Nick Ross – the ABC’s former technology editor – has been tweeting during the Scott appearance. Ross has said that he was gagged at the national broadcaster from writing about the national broadband network because management did not want to upset the then communications minister Malcolm Turnbull. As I wasn’t watching the proceedings, I’m not sure what happened, but it’s pretty obvious Ross wasn’t entirely pleased with his afternoon viewing. | I’m also aware with half an eye on the twits that Nick Ross – the ABC’s former technology editor – has been tweeting during the Scott appearance. Ross has said that he was gagged at the national broadcaster from writing about the national broadband network because management did not want to upset the then communications minister Malcolm Turnbull. As I wasn’t watching the proceedings, I’m not sure what happened, but it’s pretty obvious Ross wasn’t entirely pleased with his afternoon viewing. |
How can @mscott take that on notice when it's what he and everyone has been talking about for past 30mins #Estimates ??? | How can @mscott take that on notice when it's what he and everyone has been talking about for past 30mins #Estimates ??? |
I will bring you an update if time permits. | I will bring you an update if time permits. |
4.31am GMT | 4.31am GMT |
04:31 | 04:31 |
I was going to write something a bit more chunky, but after standing up and stretching, and taking a breath, I wondered why is chunky necessary. | I was going to write something a bit more chunky, but after standing up and stretching, and taking a breath, I wondered why is chunky necessary. |
I only need to say one thing at the conclusion of the hour of glower: I would rather be me than Stuart Robert right now. The End. | I only need to say one thing at the conclusion of the hour of glower: I would rather be me than Stuart Robert right now. The End. |
Of that in any case. The afternoon is rolling on, and so will we. | Of that in any case. The afternoon is rolling on, and so will we. |
4.18am GMT | 4.18am GMT |
04:18 | 04:18 |
The prime minister has rung the bell on question time. Shorten takes a personal explanation to dispute the prime minister’s characterisation of his record at the Australian Workers Union. | The prime minister has rung the bell on question time. Shorten takes a personal explanation to dispute the prime minister’s characterisation of his record at the Australian Workers Union. |
I’ll be back shortly with some quick analytical thoughts on that session. | I’ll be back shortly with some quick analytical thoughts on that session. |
4.14am GMT | 4.14am GMT |
04:14 | 04:14 |
Shorten persists by reading the relevant clause in the ministerial code of conduct. How is this not over already? | Shorten persists by reading the relevant clause in the ministerial code of conduct. How is this not over already? |
The prime minister thanks Shorten for asking the same question twice. This issue was raised yesterday, I called for an inquiry yesterday, and now we’ll follow due process, the prime minister says. | The prime minister thanks Shorten for asking the same question twice. This issue was raised yesterday, I called for an inquiry yesterday, and now we’ll follow due process, the prime minister says. |
Malcolm Turnbull: | Malcolm Turnbull: |
We’ve set in train the appropriate process. The remarkable thing about the opposition is this parallel universe in which they live. Here we have a government, presented with an issue and immediately follows the appropriate course of action under the code of ministerial standards. Exactly what we’re required to do. | We’ve set in train the appropriate process. The remarkable thing about the opposition is this parallel universe in which they live. Here we have a government, presented with an issue and immediately follows the appropriate course of action under the code of ministerial standards. Exactly what we’re required to do. |
On the other hand, we have in the parallel universe of the leader of the opposition and the Labor party, we have a world in which trade unions can trade away, negotiate away the penalty rates of some of Australia’s lowest paid workers, in return for an undisclosed payment of money from the employer and they think there is nothing wrong with that. | On the other hand, we have in the parallel universe of the leader of the opposition and the Labor party, we have a world in which trade unions can trade away, negotiate away the penalty rates of some of Australia’s lowest paid workers, in return for an undisclosed payment of money from the employer and they think there is nothing wrong with that. |
We are not going to be lectured on accountability and integrity by that opposition. | We are not going to be lectured on accountability and integrity by that opposition. |
(A little misogyny speech motif there. Nice one. Not sure the penalty rates riposte is the strongest suit though, given many in the government would like to do away with them altogether. But we get where he’s coming from.) | (A little misogyny speech motif there. Nice one. Not sure the penalty rates riposte is the strongest suit though, given many in the government would like to do away with them altogether. But we get where he’s coming from.) |
4.04am GMT | 4.04am GMT |
04:04 | 04:04 |
Bill Shorten has a question now to Turnbull. | Bill Shorten has a question now to Turnbull. |
Q: The prime minister’s own statement of ministerial standards puts a blanket ban on ministers providing assistance to companies in a private capacity. It is clear that the minister for human services did exactly that. Why is the minister still on your front bench and why won’t you enforce your own standards and if you won’t do that, what exactly do you stand for? | Q: The prime minister’s own statement of ministerial standards puts a blanket ban on ministers providing assistance to companies in a private capacity. It is clear that the minister for human services did exactly that. Why is the minister still on your front bench and why won’t you enforce your own standards and if you won’t do that, what exactly do you stand for? |
Turnbull turns rhetorical guns back on Shorten. | Turnbull turns rhetorical guns back on Shorten. |
I am sure the members of the Australian Workers Union who worked for Cleanevent know what the honourable member stood for. They know how he stood up for them! They know how well he dealt with full disclosure. They know how he took $25,000 from the employer, while he traded off their penalty rates and didn’t tell them about the payments. That is what he knows about. He wants to lecture us about due process! | I am sure the members of the Australian Workers Union who worked for Cleanevent know what the honourable member stood for. They know how he stood up for them! They know how well he dealt with full disclosure. They know how he took $25,000 from the employer, while he traded off their penalty rates and didn’t tell them about the payments. That is what he knows about. He wants to lecture us about due process! |
Turnbull says the inquiry he has initiated into Robert’s conduct will take its proper course. | Turnbull says the inquiry he has initiated into Robert’s conduct will take its proper course. |
Mr Speaker, due process, accountability, integrity, that is what we stand for and that is what we will deliver. | Mr Speaker, due process, accountability, integrity, that is what we stand for and that is what we will deliver. |
4.00am GMT | 4.00am GMT |
04:00 | 04:00 |
Dreyfus again. | Dreyfus again. |
Q: I refer to the minister’s trip to China and his statement to the House – he was in China in August 2014 in a personal capacity. But today, the Australian Financial Review reports on the same trip the minister attended a Nimrod Resources signing ceremony, the minister met with China’s vice minister of land and resources. Did the minister meet with China’s minister as a private citizen? | Q: I refer to the minister’s trip to China and his statement to the House – he was in China in August 2014 in a personal capacity. But today, the Australian Financial Review reports on the same trip the minister attended a Nimrod Resources signing ceremony, the minister met with China’s vice minister of land and resources. Did the minister meet with China’s minister as a private citizen? |
Stuart Robert: | Stuart Robert: |
Let me thank the member for his question and I refer the member to my previous statement. | Let me thank the member for his question and I refer the member to my previous statement. |
One wag interjects: | One wag interjects: |
Sounds like a terrible holiday! | Sounds like a terrible holiday! |
(Diplomatic incident looms.) | (Diplomatic incident looms.) |
3.57am GMT | 3.57am GMT |
03:57 | 03:57 |
3.53am GMT | 3.53am GMT |
03:53 | 03:53 |
Dreyfus, on strike three. | Dreyfus, on strike three. |
Q: My question is to the minister for human services. I refer to the minister’s previous answer where he said he travelled to China in August 2014 in a personal capacity. Did the minister’s declaration on his official Chinese visa application form reflect the statement he has just made to the House – that he was travelling in a personal capacity? | Q: My question is to the minister for human services. I refer to the minister’s previous answer where he said he travelled to China in August 2014 in a personal capacity. Did the minister’s declaration on his official Chinese visa application form reflect the statement he has just made to the House – that he was travelling in a personal capacity? |
Stuart Robert: | Stuart Robert: |
I thank the member for his question. I refer the member to my previous answer. | I thank the member for his question. I refer the member to my previous answer. |
3.51am GMT | 3.51am GMT |
03:51 | 03:51 |
Dreyfus, persisting. | Dreyfus, persisting. |
Q: My question is to the minister for human services. I refer to the minister’s previous answer where he said he travelled to China in August 2014 in a personal capacity. Did the minister’s declaration on his outgoing Australian passenger card reflect the statement he has just made to the house, that he travelled in a personal capacity? | Q: My question is to the minister for human services. I refer to the minister’s previous answer where he said he travelled to China in August 2014 in a personal capacity. Did the minister’s declaration on his outgoing Australian passenger card reflect the statement he has just made to the house, that he travelled in a personal capacity? |
Stuart Robert, again, declining to engage. | Stuart Robert, again, declining to engage. |
I thank the member for his question and with great respect, I refer the member to my previous answer. | I thank the member for his question and with great respect, I refer the member to my previous answer. |
3.49am GMT | 3.49am GMT |
03:49 | 03:49 |
In this situation, there are two reasons to avoid answering a very direct question. | In this situation, there are two reasons to avoid answering a very direct question. |
The first is, given an investigation is now underway into your conduct, you have an agreed form of words and you stick to them, come what may. | The first is, given an investigation is now underway into your conduct, you have an agreed form of words and you stick to them, come what may. |
The second is you don’t answer the question because if you do, you will: | The second is you don’t answer the question because if you do, you will: |
a) have to follow your answer with resigning your position, or alternatively; | a) have to follow your answer with resigning your position, or alternatively; |
b) you will risk misleading the House by failing to provide a correct answer, which is a sackable offence. | b) you will risk misleading the House by failing to provide a correct answer, which is a sackable offence. |
That’s why we get words signifying nothing. | That’s why we get words signifying nothing. |
3.44am GMT | 3.44am GMT |
03:44 | 03:44 |
Directly now, to Stuart Robert. | Directly now, to Stuart Robert. |
Labor’s Mark Dreyfus. | Labor’s Mark Dreyfus. |
Q: I refer to the minister’s trip to China in August 2014 and the statement from the minister’s office in the Courier Mail: “Mr Robert was on approved leave and attended in a private capacity”. On his outgoing Australian passenger card and on his official Chinese visa application form, what did the minister declare the purpose of his trip was? Did the minister’s declaration reflect he was travelling in a private capacity? | Q: I refer to the minister’s trip to China in August 2014 and the statement from the minister’s office in the Courier Mail: “Mr Robert was on approved leave and attended in a private capacity”. On his outgoing Australian passenger card and on his official Chinese visa application form, what did the minister declare the purpose of his trip was? Did the minister’s declaration reflect he was travelling in a private capacity? |
Speaker Smith says he is going to let this one through after a rephrase, because he says Dreyfus has framed the question with reference to a public statement by Robert. He needs to tighten the question with reference to the statement. | Speaker Smith says he is going to let this one through after a rephrase, because he says Dreyfus has framed the question with reference to a public statement by Robert. He needs to tighten the question with reference to the statement. |
Christopher Pyne is banging his gavel again. | Christopher Pyne is banging his gavel again. |
Labor is persisting. | Labor is persisting. |
Smith says you’ve got one more chance to rephrase. Dreyfus gives it another go. Smith waves it through. | Smith says you’ve got one more chance to rephrase. Dreyfus gives it another go. Smith waves it through. |
Stuart Robert reads a prepared statement that does not address the nub of the question in any way. | Stuart Robert reads a prepared statement that does not address the nub of the question in any way. |
I thank the member for his question regarding a visit I undertook over seas in a personal capacity in 2014. Can I say to the House, I am confident I have no acted inappropriately and as the prime minister said yesterday, this matter has been referred to the highest public servant in the land, Dr Martin Parkinson for review. | I thank the member for his question regarding a visit I undertook over seas in a personal capacity in 2014. Can I say to the House, I am confident I have no acted inappropriately and as the prime minister said yesterday, this matter has been referred to the highest public servant in the land, Dr Martin Parkinson for review. |
I will fully assist the secretary in his review. | I will fully assist the secretary in his review. |
3.38am GMT | 3.38am GMT |
03:38 | 03:38 |
The man of the hour, by Mr Bowers. | The man of the hour, by Mr Bowers. |
3.35am GMT | 3.35am GMT |
03:35 | 03:35 |
Labor’s deputy leader, Tanya Plibersek. | Labor’s deputy leader, Tanya Plibersek. |
Q: My question is to the minister for foreign affairs. Is it usual for ministers to meet with ministers or vice ministers of foreign countries when travelling overseas without informing the minister for foreign affairs or her department? | Q: My question is to the minister for foreign affairs. Is it usual for ministers to meet with ministers or vice ministers of foreign countries when travelling overseas without informing the minister for foreign affairs or her department? |
Julie Bishop: | Julie Bishop: |
It would depend on the circumstances. There is no widespread practice, it would depend on a case by case basis. | It would depend on the circumstances. There is no widespread practice, it would depend on a case by case basis. |
3.31am GMT | 3.31am GMT |
03:31 | 03:31 |
Back to Stuart Robert. Labor’s Jim Chalmers to the trade minister, Andrew Robb. | Back to Stuart Robert. Labor’s Jim Chalmers to the trade minister, Andrew Robb. |
Q: My question is to the minister for trade. What assistance did Austrade provide Nimrod Resources? Was any assistance provided leading up to or on the day of the signing ceremony in Beijing in August 2014 or in relation to any other events, and has Austrade provided any other assistance to any other companies associated with Mr Paul Marks? | Q: My question is to the minister for trade. What assistance did Austrade provide Nimrod Resources? Was any assistance provided leading up to or on the day of the signing ceremony in Beijing in August 2014 or in relation to any other events, and has Austrade provided any other assistance to any other companies associated with Mr Paul Marks? |
Andrew Robb says talk to the hand. | Andrew Robb says talk to the hand. |
In answer to the member, the prime minister informed the House that he had sought all information associated with the issues that have been raised on the other side of the House. | In answer to the member, the prime minister informed the House that he had sought all information associated with the issues that have been raised on the other side of the House. |
When that information is available, I am sure that you will hear about it. | When that information is available, I am sure that you will hear about it. |
(Grand moments in public accountability: a case study.) | (Grand moments in public accountability: a case study.) |