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| Labor questions Australia Post board member 'headlining' Liberal fundraiser – politics live | Labor questions Australia Post board member 'headlining' Liberal fundraiser – politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 2.13am GMT | |
| 02:13 | |
| The point of that little deep dive from Daniel is a simple one. Robert has said the China trip was not official, it was personal. But the official finance records show the minister was in Singapore (just immediately after the contentious meeting in Beijing) – for an official engagement. | |
| The question then is who paid for the side trip to Beijing? Daniel has tried to get an answer for 24 hours without success. | |
| 2.07am GMT | |
| 02:07 | |
| Daniel Hurst | |
| Some new material on the trip. The embattled minister Stuart Robert took his controversial “private” trip to China several days before he was due in Singapore for official business – raising questions about portions of his international travel being taxpayer-funded. I’ve asked Robert whether he had undertaken the controversial Beijing visit as a side trip to his $10,450 government-funded trip to Singapore, but he and his office declined to answer. Finance Department entitlement records showed he claimed $10,449.83 “to attend the Singapore-Australia joint ministerial meeting and the defence ministers’ dialogue” from 21 August to 23 August 2014. PM&C confirmed Robert had requested personal leave for the period 15 to 22 August 2014 and this been approved by the then prime minister, Tony Abbott. I’ve repeatedly asked Robert and his spokesman whether the Beijing trip constituted a side-trip to the official engagement in Singapore, and sought clarity about which flights were paid for by taxpayers and which flights were paid for privately. There was no response to the direct queries, first submitted on Monday. | |
| Updated | |
| at 2.08am GMT | |
| 2.01am GMT | |
| 02:01 | |
| Meanwhile, back in the chamber. | |
| Manager of opposition business, Tony Burke: | |
| The Turnbull government can’t cover up for this minister forever! | |
| Manager of government business, Christopher Pyne: | |
| I move that the member be no longer heard. | |
| 1.59am GMT | |
| 01:59 | |
| Just while this division is underway, some rhetoric from Dreyfus this morning that has the bonus of articulating precisely the questions the opposition wants answered about Stuart Robert. | |
| I have bolded the relevant paragraph. (Good to spell these things out when we get a chance, given we have about ten separate threads running in Canberra right at the moment.) | |
| I say again, he’s got to now make a full statement about as to what it was he was doing in Beijing. It can’t be both a trip for private purposes and a trip on which he met with a Vice Minister in the Chinese Government. | |
| What did his visa application say? What assistance did he get from the Australian embassy in Beijing? Who paid for his trip? Who paid for his accommodation? Who paid for his expenses? | |
| All of these questions need to be answered. It’s time for Mr Robert to answer those questions and it’s time for Mr Turnbull to show some leadership. | |
| 1.54am GMT | 1.54am GMT |
| 01:54 | 01:54 |
| The government has moved the gag. | The government has moved the gag. |
| 1.54am GMT | 1.54am GMT |
| 01:54 | 01:54 |
| Here’s the motion, moved by the shadow attorney-general, Mark Dreyfus: | Here’s the motion, moved by the shadow attorney-general, Mark Dreyfus: |
| I move that so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the member for Isaacs from moving the following motion forthwith, that the House notes that: | I move that so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the member for Isaacs from moving the following motion forthwith, that the House notes that: |
| A: Except where the prime minister has given permission to continue an interest in a family business, the prime minister’s own statement of ministerial standards puts a blanket ban on ministers providing assistance to companies in a private capacity. | A: Except where the prime minister has given permission to continue an interest in a family business, the prime minister’s own statement of ministerial standards puts a blanket ban on ministers providing assistance to companies in a private capacity. |
| B: The minister for veterans’ affairs provided assistance in a private capacity to Nimrod resources to seal a mining deal with a Chinese State-owned company during a trip to China. | B: The minister for veterans’ affairs provided assistance in a private capacity to Nimrod resources to seal a mining deal with a Chinese State-owned company during a trip to China. |
| C: The principal of Nimrod resources, who the minister accompanied to China, has donated more than $2m to the Liberal party, and; | C: The principal of Nimrod resources, who the minister accompanied to China, has donated more than $2m to the Liberal party, and; |
| D: On the same trip the minister subsequently met with the Chinese vice minister for land and resources. | D: On the same trip the minister subsequently met with the Chinese vice minister for land and resources. |
| And: 2, calls on the minister for veterans’ affairs to immediately attend the House to provide a full explanation of his trip to China and explain why he has not breached the prime minister’s statement of ministerial standards. | And: 2, calls on the minister for veterans’ affairs to immediately attend the House to provide a full explanation of his trip to China and explain why he has not breached the prime minister’s statement of ministerial standards. |
| Mark Dreyfus: | Mark Dreyfus: |
| Deputy speaker, the prime minister needs to show some leadership to this country. This minister has betrayed his duty to the Australian people. He has betrayed his duty. | Deputy speaker, the prime minister needs to show some leadership to this country. This minister has betrayed his duty to the Australian people. He has betrayed his duty. |
| 1.48am GMT | 1.48am GMT |
| 01:48 | 01:48 |
| Labor pursues Stuart Robert in the House | Labor pursues Stuart Robert in the House |
| With the House saddling up for the day, Labor is now attempting to force Stuart Robert to make a statement about his China trip. A procedural skirmish is underway in the House of Representatives now. | With the House saddling up for the day, Labor is now attempting to force Stuart Robert to make a statement about his China trip. A procedural skirmish is underway in the House of Representatives now. |
| 1.40am GMT | 1.40am GMT |
| 01:40 | 01:40 |
| Meanwhile, in the HRC estimates committee, the Liberal senator Ian Macdonald is suggesting he may have to adjust the photographic guidelines in committees given the morning has produced flattering photographs of Gillian Triggs and Sarah Hanson Young, unflattering pictures of himself and Barry O’Sullivan, and a whimsical photograph of Tim Wilson. | Meanwhile, in the HRC estimates committee, the Liberal senator Ian Macdonald is suggesting he may have to adjust the photographic guidelines in committees given the morning has produced flattering photographs of Gillian Triggs and Sarah Hanson Young, unflattering pictures of himself and Barry O’Sullivan, and a whimsical photograph of Tim Wilson. |
| Wilson, rebutting: | Wilson, rebutting: |
| That’s not possible! | That’s not possible! |
| 1.36am GMT | 1.36am GMT |
| 01:36 | 01:36 |
| Just in case I skipped over key details too quickly there, Bruce McIver was the key organisational figure in the LNP in Queensland up until his recent departure. | Just in case I skipped over key details too quickly there, Bruce McIver was the key organisational figure in the LNP in Queensland up until his recent departure. |
| He’s a former National, but he drove the merger of the conservative parties in Queensland. It’s understood he opposed the proposed defection of the Liberal Ian Macfarlane (remember that whole dummy spitting imbroglio late last year) because he was worried party unity would take a blow. | He’s a former National, but he drove the merger of the conservative parties in Queensland. It’s understood he opposed the proposed defection of the Liberal Ian Macfarlane (remember that whole dummy spitting imbroglio late last year) because he was worried party unity would take a blow. |
| McIver was appointed to the board of Australia Post by the government in late December. The three year appointment comes with remuneration of $89,500 per year. | McIver was appointed to the board of Australia Post by the government in late December. The three year appointment comes with remuneration of $89,500 per year. |
| Fifield is quite correct. This is a farewell dinner he’s attending. Dastyari is also correct. the flyer indicates the event is a fundraising event for the looming federal election. | Fifield is quite correct. This is a farewell dinner he’s attending. Dastyari is also correct. the flyer indicates the event is a fundraising event for the looming federal election. |
| My quick analysis? You can, perhaps, have a fabulous, well earned farewell, without elevating it to a fundraiser. I believe it happens all the time. | My quick analysis? You can, perhaps, have a fabulous, well earned farewell, without elevating it to a fundraiser. I believe it happens all the time. |
| 1.25am GMT | 1.25am GMT |
| 01:25 | 01:25 |
| Sam Dastyari: | Sam Dastyari: |
| Frankly, I think he should be pulling out. It is highly inappropriate. I am happy to leave it at that. | Frankly, I think he should be pulling out. It is highly inappropriate. I am happy to leave it at that. |
| Mitch Fifield: | Mitch Fifield: |
| Mr McIver is attending a testimonial dinner. If that function was billed as being ‘a director of Australia Post’ that wouldn’t be appropriate. If there was an Australia Post logo that wouldn’t be appropriate. | Mr McIver is attending a testimonial dinner. If that function was billed as being ‘a director of Australia Post’ that wouldn’t be appropriate. If there was an Australia Post logo that wouldn’t be appropriate. |
| It’s a farewell function. | It’s a farewell function. |
| 1.20am GMT | 1.20am GMT |
| 01:20 | 01:20 |
| Here’s the flyer showing an Australia Post board member as the main event at a federal Liberal Party fundraiser pic.twitter.com/D7gaL55CX5 | Here’s the flyer showing an Australia Post board member as the main event at a federal Liberal Party fundraiser pic.twitter.com/D7gaL55CX5 |
| 1.18am GMT | 1.18am GMT |
| 01:18 | 01:18 |
| Dastyari is pushing past the Fifield dead bat. Was the minister aware of this fundraising event? (He was.) When did he become aware? (Recently). Has the board considered the appropriateness of this issue? (No, it hasn’t met since McIver was appointed to his post.) The next board meeting is scheduled for a couple of days before the farewell/fundraiser. | Dastyari is pushing past the Fifield dead bat. Was the minister aware of this fundraising event? (He was.) When did he become aware? (Recently). Has the board considered the appropriateness of this issue? (No, it hasn’t met since McIver was appointed to his post.) The next board meeting is scheduled for a couple of days before the farewell/fundraiser. |
| 1.12am GMT | 1.12am GMT |
| 01:12 | 01:12 |
| Fundraising takes a fresh turn | Fundraising takes a fresh turn |
| Over in communications estimates, the Labor senator Sam Dastyari is on the trail of a decision by the government to appoint Bruce McIver, a past president of the LNP in Queensland, to the board of Australia Post. This appointment happened last December. | Over in communications estimates, the Labor senator Sam Dastyari is on the trail of a decision by the government to appoint Bruce McIver, a past president of the LNP in Queensland, to the board of Australia Post. This appointment happened last December. |
| Dastyari thinks he sees a potential breach of the guidelines governing government business enterprises. He cites part of the code which stipulates “the government expects GBE boards to establish and maintain a code of conduct for directors (including any subsidiaries), employees and contractors and that GBEs, in undertaking their business, avoid activities that could give rise to questions about their political impartiality. For example, GBEs should not make direct or indirect political donations or participate in activities that would bring the government into disrepute.” | Dastyari thinks he sees a potential breach of the guidelines governing government business enterprises. He cites part of the code which stipulates “the government expects GBE boards to establish and maintain a code of conduct for directors (including any subsidiaries), employees and contractors and that GBEs, in undertaking their business, avoid activities that could give rise to questions about their political impartiality. For example, GBEs should not make direct or indirect political donations or participate in activities that would bring the government into disrepute.” |
| He says McIver is listed as a participant in a looming political fundraiser, in late February. | He says McIver is listed as a participant in a looming political fundraiser, in late February. |
| Sam Dastyari: | Sam Dastyari: |
| A board member headlining a fundraiser for the Liberal party under his own name would be a clear breach of the GBE guidelines. | A board member headlining a fundraiser for the Liberal party under his own name would be a clear breach of the GBE guidelines. |
| If this doesn’t raise questions about political impartiality – what will? | If this doesn’t raise questions about political impartiality – what will? |
| Mitch Fifield: | Mitch Fifield: |
| It’s a farewell function for Mr McIver. It does not relate to the activities of Australia Post. | It’s a farewell function for Mr McIver. It does not relate to the activities of Australia Post. |
| Dastyari says the flyer makes it plain the event will be a fundraiser for the looming federal election. | Dastyari says the flyer makes it plain the event will be a fundraiser for the looming federal election. |
| Fifield, squarely in nice try Sam but no banana, mode: | Fifield, squarely in nice try Sam but no banana, mode: |
| He’s attending a farewell event in his honour. | He’s attending a farewell event in his honour. |
| Dastyari: | Dastyari: |
| It’s a fundraiser. He’s headlining it. Do you have any concerns this breaches the GBE guidelines? | It’s a fundraiser. He’s headlining it. Do you have any concerns this breaches the GBE guidelines? |
| Fifield: | Fifield: |
| There’s a farewell function that’s been organised. | There’s a farewell function that’s been organised. |
| Dastyari: | Dastyari: |
| Which is a fundraiser. | Which is a fundraiser. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.30am GMT | at 1.30am GMT |
| 12.57am GMT | 12.57am GMT |
| 00:57 | 00:57 |
| Daniel Hurst | Daniel Hurst |
| A quick update following the Labor caucus meeting. | A quick update following the Labor caucus meeting. |
| Here’s a direct quote from the Shorten pep talk/political positioning vis the prime minister. | Here’s a direct quote from the Shorten pep talk/political positioning vis the prime minister. |
| Malcolm Turnbull gave his full support to Stuart Robert. You only need to ask marriage equality campaigners, climate change campaigners, and the republican campaigners what Malcolm Turnbull’s full support means. You can also ask CSIRO scientists what his full support means. | Malcolm Turnbull gave his full support to Stuart Robert. You only need to ask marriage equality campaigners, climate change campaigners, and the republican campaigners what Malcolm Turnbull’s full support means. You can also ask CSIRO scientists what his full support means. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.58am GMT | at 12.58am GMT |
| 12.35am GMT | 12.35am GMT |
| 00:35 | 00:35 |
| Inconvenient alternative explanations notwithstanding, O’Sullivan would like Gillian Triggs to review the Hansard of yesterday’s evidence from the border protection chief, Mike Pezzullo. | Inconvenient alternative explanations notwithstanding, O’Sullivan would like Gillian Triggs to review the Hansard of yesterday’s evidence from the border protection chief, Mike Pezzullo. |
| More fizz than pop. And the hearing moves on. | More fizz than pop. And the hearing moves on. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.45am GMT | at 12.45am GMT |
| 12.33am GMT | 12.33am GMT |
| 00:33 | 00:33 |
| O’Sullivan asks whether Triggs knows why children are being held in detention. The HRC president says children are held in detention in compliance with the law. O’Sullivan begs to differ. He says children are detained because of concern about their parents. Triggs then begs to differ. That’s correct in some cases, she says, but incorrect in others. The attorney general points out that some children are in detention because they are babies, and they need to be with their mothers. | O’Sullivan asks whether Triggs knows why children are being held in detention. The HRC president says children are held in detention in compliance with the law. O’Sullivan begs to differ. He says children are detained because of concern about their parents. Triggs then begs to differ. That’s correct in some cases, she says, but incorrect in others. The attorney general points out that some children are in detention because they are babies, and they need to be with their mothers. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.45am GMT | at 12.45am GMT |
| 12.30am GMT | 12.30am GMT |
| 00:30 | 00:30 |
| As promised, the LNP senator Barry O’Sullivan is now performing a warm up lap in order to set “the professor” straight. | As promised, the LNP senator Barry O’Sullivan is now performing a warm up lap in order to set “the professor” straight. |
| O’Sullivan wonders whether Gillian Triggs accepts the high court’s decision on offshore detention, that children are detained by Nauru? She does. | O’Sullivan wonders whether Gillian Triggs accepts the high court’s decision on offshore detention, that children are detained by Nauru? She does. |
| I think O’Sullivan intends to suggest that Australia has no responsibility for what goes on on Nauru because asylum seekers are detained by Nauru, not by Australia. The attorney general is having to translate his interventions slightly. I think. You’ll have to bear with me. | I think O’Sullivan intends to suggest that Australia has no responsibility for what goes on on Nauru because asylum seekers are detained by Nauru, not by Australia. The attorney general is having to translate his interventions slightly. I think. You’ll have to bear with me. |
| O’Sullivan then asks Triggs whether she believes children detained on Nauru are being tortured? | O’Sullivan then asks Triggs whether she believes children detained on Nauru are being tortured? |
| Gillian Triggs: | Gillian Triggs: |
| We have never, ever, made that assertion. | We have never, ever, made that assertion. |
| She explains there’s a difference between torture and cruel punishment. | She explains there’s a difference between torture and cruel punishment. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.46am GMT | at 12.46am GMT |
| 12.15am GMT | 12.15am GMT |
| 00:15 | 00:15 |
| The Human Rights Commission estimates are back from their short break. The Labor senator Jacinta Collins wants to know first off the bat whether or not the government considered Tony Abbott’s former chief of staff, Peta Credlin, as Australia’s new (as yet unannounced) sex discrimination commissioner. | The Human Rights Commission estimates are back from their short break. The Labor senator Jacinta Collins wants to know first off the bat whether or not the government considered Tony Abbott’s former chief of staff, Peta Credlin, as Australia’s new (as yet unannounced) sex discrimination commissioner. |
| Attorney-general George Brandis: | Attorney-general George Brandis: |
| The answer no. | The answer no. |
| 12.00am GMT | 12.00am GMT |
| 00:00 | 00:00 |
| Also, reporter beavers away on party room updates, and a voice from the ether chimes in. | Also, reporter beavers away on party room updates, and a voice from the ether chimes in. |
| David Gillespie tells Coalition party room they can't "wimp out" on tax reform, otherwise why are we here? | David Gillespie tells Coalition party room they can't "wimp out" on tax reform, otherwise why are we here? |
| Christopher Pyne replies to David Gillespie: "we are here to get elected" in party room discussion | Christopher Pyne replies to David Gillespie: "we are here to get elected" in party room discussion |
| @jamesmassola - if you don't get elected, you can't deliver for the people. Governments deliver, not oppositions or protest parties #auspol | @jamesmassola - if you don't get elected, you can't deliver for the people. Governments deliver, not oppositions or protest parties #auspol |
| It being Tuesday, both the Coalition party room and the Labor caucus have been meeting downstairs. | It being Tuesday, both the Coalition party room and the Labor caucus have been meeting downstairs. |
| 11.56pm GMT | 11.56pm GMT |
| 23:56 | 23:56 |
| Fortunately for all our sanity that committee has broken for tea. | Fortunately for all our sanity that committee has broken for tea. |
| On my quick survey of the daily field I see the ABC’s Chris Uhlmann now has a story about the prime minister urging the former small business minister Bruce Billson not to leave politics. Bruce! Don’t gooooo. | On my quick survey of the daily field I see the ABC’s Chris Uhlmann now has a story about the prime minister urging the former small business minister Bruce Billson not to leave politics. Bruce! Don’t gooooo. |
| Uhlmann has popped onto ABC24 to flog his wares (as it were). | Uhlmann has popped onto ABC24 to flog his wares (as it were). |
| Uhlmann: | Uhlmann: |
| In a conversation between Christmas and new year, that he had with the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull urged him not to leave politics. You might recall back in 2010, Malcolm Turnbull himself announced he would leave politics. They talked about that and Malcolm Turnbull held open the possibility that Bruce Billson, at only 50 years of age, could work his way back into cabinet. | In a conversation between Christmas and new year, that he had with the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull urged him not to leave politics. You might recall back in 2010, Malcolm Turnbull himself announced he would leave politics. They talked about that and Malcolm Turnbull held open the possibility that Bruce Billson, at only 50 years of age, could work his way back into cabinet. |
| (Readers will remember that a reshuffle is hovering, defiantly, in the background right at the moment. The prime minister is waiting for Warren Truss to reveal his hand before sweeping up his small Christmas messes by the name of Briggs and Brough, and now, of course, Stuart Robert’s future is in play.) | (Readers will remember that a reshuffle is hovering, defiantly, in the background right at the moment. The prime minister is waiting for Warren Truss to reveal his hand before sweeping up his small Christmas messes by the name of Briggs and Brough, and now, of course, Stuart Robert’s future is in play.) |
| 11.47pm GMT | 11.47pm GMT |
| 23:47 | 23:47 |
| Collins has moved on to asking whether Tim Wilson has resigned as a member of the Liberal party. He says he has. Why did he do that? Wilson says he did that at the request of the attorney general. | Collins has moved on to asking whether Tim Wilson has resigned as a member of the Liberal party. He says he has. Why did he do that? Wilson says he did that at the request of the attorney general. |
| Collins asks Triggs whether that was the right call. She doesn’t want to get into this rooster fight. It’s a matter of judgment, she says, delicately. | Collins asks Triggs whether that was the right call. She doesn’t want to get into this rooster fight. It’s a matter of judgment, she says, delicately. |
| Collins then asks Brandis why he asked Wilson to resign his Liberal party membership. Brandis says he’s happy to answer but the question might be out of order. Hint hint. Senator Macdonald. Hint. So prompted, I think the question is deemed out of order, but it’s hard to tell. There’s a steep nosedive under way in this committee. | Collins then asks Brandis why he asked Wilson to resign his Liberal party membership. Brandis says he’s happy to answer but the question might be out of order. Hint hint. Senator Macdonald. Hint. So prompted, I think the question is deemed out of order, but it’s hard to tell. There’s a steep nosedive under way in this committee. |
| Daggers at dawn, presently. | Daggers at dawn, presently. |
| Ian Macdonald: | Ian Macdonald: |
| Senator Collins you are entitled to your own opinions but don’t bore the committee with them. | Senator Collins you are entitled to your own opinions but don’t bore the committee with them. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.09am GMT | at 12.09am GMT |