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| Kate Jenkins is Australia's new sex discrimination commissioner – politics live | Kate Jenkins is Australia's new sex discrimination commissioner – politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 5.55am GMT | |
| 05:55 | |
| I’m just now getting a moment to sort through Mike Bowers question time pictures. How marvellous is this one? Prime minister and putative deputy prime minister. | |
| 5.40am GMT | |
| 05:40 | |
| Shalailah Medhora | |
| Just catching up with some evidence given in estimates earlier today, testimony from DFAT officials indicates that Philip Ruddock may have been the only person considered for the new role of Australia’s special envoy on human rights to the UN. Earlier this week, the foreign minister, Julie Bishop, announced that the Liberal party stalwart would leave Parliament to take up the role. DFAT secretary, Peter Varghese, told estimates that he was asked to provide information on the role during a meeting with Bishop. During this meeting, Ruddock – and only Ruddock – was mentioned for the job. “No other names were canvassed by the foreign minister so I don’t know if there were other names in the mix,” Varghese said. | |
| Updated | |
| at 5.47am GMT | |
| 5.30am GMT | |
| 05:30 | |
| I’ve been having a conversation on Twitter with a reader about the merits of Labor spending so much time on Stuart Robert in question time. Rather than try and have that conversation on Twitter, I thought it was more productive to have it here. | |
| Seriously what are Labor trying to achieve? Surely there are more issues to discuss than Stuart Robert. @murpharoo can you help me out here? | |
| Now I get the point. It’s pretty obvious the opposition is just spinning its wheels by asking questions repeatedly that have no prospect of being answered. So from the point of view of the voter, going about ordinary business, what is all the fuss about? Why not move on to the million other issues that need prosecuting rather than keep going on Stuart Robert? | |
| This is a perfectly valid perspective. I have a different perspective, possibly because I’m very close to the action but more likely because I think the whole set of issues surrounding the case study of Stuart Robert in Beijing are precisely the issues politics needs to confront and talk about. | |
| I said this yesterday, I’ll say it again today. This whole episode (however the story ultimately ends) is the story of a politician who, evidently, does not know where to draw the line. And we really need our elected representatives to know where to draw the lines. Our MPs should not be (as Shorten put it in the censure debate this afternoon) valets for special interests, or door openers for their financial backers. Not ever. They need to be servants of the public and of the public interest. That’s what I mean by drawing the line. And this imperative applies equally to Labor as to the Liberal party. | |
| I think this whole Stuart Robert debate has shone a light on a systemic issue which is existentially important to the health of our politics. That’s why I’m delighted to see several successive question times devoted to this issue. Because I think we need to have this debate and have it seriously, because if we do make time for this debate, politics will get a whole lot better at serving the public rather than seeing “reform” as a process of appeasement with various sectional interests. | |
| That’s my view. Fell free to call me crazy. | |
| 4.54am GMT | 4.54am GMT |
| 04:54 | 04:54 |
| Back to the sex discrimination commissioner, for a minute. Terrific picture from Mike Bowers. | Back to the sex discrimination commissioner, for a minute. Terrific picture from Mike Bowers. |
| 4.51am GMT | 4.51am GMT |
| 04:51 | 04:51 |
| Outside, the Nationals leader Warren Truss is holding a press conference. He says there will be four Nationals in cabinet once the prime minister concludes the reshuffle, but one less outer ministry member. | Outside, the Nationals leader Warren Truss is holding a press conference. He says there will be four Nationals in cabinet once the prime minister concludes the reshuffle, but one less outer ministry member. |
| He concedes Barnaby Joyce – his successor – has a different style to me. Truss says Joyce will have to draw up a new coalition agreement with the prime minister, but suggests the contents of the current agreement will transfer to the new leadership team. | He concedes Barnaby Joyce – his successor – has a different style to me. Truss says Joyce will have to draw up a new coalition agreement with the prime minister, but suggests the contents of the current agreement will transfer to the new leadership team. |
| Truss is asked whether or not he flagged privately that the government intended to go to the election in early July using one of its double dissolution triggers. He says certainly there is interest in a double dissolution election. A double dissolution election is one of the options open to the government, for that reason it is obviously on the government’s agenda. | Truss is asked whether or not he flagged privately that the government intended to go to the election in early July using one of its double dissolution triggers. He says certainly there is interest in a double dissolution election. A double dissolution election is one of the options open to the government, for that reason it is obviously on the government’s agenda. |
| 4.39am GMT | 4.39am GMT |
| 04:39 | 04:39 |
| Kate Jenkins, Australia's new sex discrimination commissioner | Kate Jenkins, Australia's new sex discrimination commissioner |
| Onwards and upwards through the political afternoon. A quick update on some breaking news: Australia has a new sex discrimination commissioner. It’s Kate Jenkins, who has been the the human rights commissioner in Victoria. From her bio: | Onwards and upwards through the political afternoon. A quick update on some breaking news: Australia has a new sex discrimination commissioner. It’s Kate Jenkins, who has been the the human rights commissioner in Victoria. From her bio: |
| Kate is the convener of the Victorian Male Champions of Change, the Chair of the Independent Review into sex discrimination and sexual harassment, including predatory behaviour in Victoria Police and the Co-Chair of Play by the Rules. She is also the Co-Chair of the Commission’s Disability Reference Group and a member of the Aboriginal Justice Forum. | Kate is the convener of the Victorian Male Champions of Change, the Chair of the Independent Review into sex discrimination and sexual harassment, including predatory behaviour in Victoria Police and the Co-Chair of Play by the Rules. She is also the Co-Chair of the Commission’s Disability Reference Group and a member of the Aboriginal Justice Forum. |
| 4.29am GMT | 4.29am GMT |
| 04:29 | 04:29 |
| The prime minister has placed further questions on the notice paper. | The prime minister has placed further questions on the notice paper. |
| 4.28am GMT | 4.28am GMT |
| 04:28 | 04:28 |
| A brief time travel while we wait for the vote. Some pictures of the suspension debate. | A brief time travel while we wait for the vote. Some pictures of the suspension debate. |
| 4.22am GMT | 4.22am GMT |
| 04:22 | 04:22 |
| The House is dividing now. | The House is dividing now. |
| 4.13am GMT | 4.13am GMT |
| 04:13 | 04:13 |
| Manager of government business Christopher Pyne is up to rebut Shorten. It’s quite interesting the government has let the debate run today, no gag motion today. | Manager of government business Christopher Pyne is up to rebut Shorten. It’s quite interesting the government has let the debate run today, no gag motion today. |
| Pyne says the government is not going to be lectured on accountability by the party of Eddie Obeid, of Craig Thomson, of Cleanevent. | Pyne says the government is not going to be lectured on accountability by the party of Eddie Obeid, of Craig Thomson, of Cleanevent. |
| The idea of being lectured by the Labor Party on standards is like Dean Martin lecturing people on alcohol abuse, Mr Speaker. | The idea of being lectured by the Labor Party on standards is like Dean Martin lecturing people on alcohol abuse, Mr Speaker. |
| 4.08am GMT | 4.08am GMT |
| 04:08 | 04:08 |
| Shorten is taking the big bash cricket approach. | Shorten is taking the big bash cricket approach. |
| Prime minister Turnbull just wants this issue to go away. He’d like to save one of his cash cows and donors, he’d like to save minister Roberts (sic) because he did vote for him in the leadership ballot. | Prime minister Turnbull just wants this issue to go away. He’d like to save one of his cash cows and donors, he’d like to save minister Roberts (sic) because he did vote for him in the leadership ballot. |
| What he’s doing is letting his loyalty to some people overwhelm his obligation to the nation. What we won’t have on this side is – you got Tony Abbott once, we are not going to let you get him again by blaming him ... he should not be hung out to dry because you won’t act because you need that hopeless treasurer to keep backing up your machine. | What he’s doing is letting his loyalty to some people overwhelm his obligation to the nation. What we won’t have on this side is – you got Tony Abbott once, we are not going to let you get him again by blaming him ... he should not be hung out to dry because you won’t act because you need that hopeless treasurer to keep backing up your machine. |
| We know exactly what is going on! | We know exactly what is going on! |
| The government of Australia and the ministers of Australia are not valets for donors in the Liberal party, opening doors, closing doors. | The government of Australia and the ministers of Australia are not valets for donors in the Liberal party, opening doors, closing doors. |
| Does (Stuart Robert) have an interest in watching big deals being signed and he just likes to turn up? | Does (Stuart Robert) have an interest in watching big deals being signed and he just likes to turn up? |
| Is it an affectation? And we do want to know who paid his air fare. We do want to know that. | Is it an affectation? And we do want to know who paid his air fare. We do want to know that. |
| We do want to know how he travelled around, what equipment from the Australian government he took. I cannot believe that this issue has gone on for the last number of days! | We do want to know how he travelled around, what equipment from the Australian government he took. I cannot believe that this issue has gone on for the last number of days! |
| 4.02am GMT | 4.02am GMT |
| 04:02 | 04:02 |
| Shorten, enjoying himself. | Shorten, enjoying himself. |
| Then we have got this hapless traveller, Stuart Robert... The hapless minister for human services wandering around in China ... and not only did he fortuitously meet the donor, Paul Marks, fantastic, what a surprise meeting you here! Then he happens to stumble across a signing ceremony in his personal capacity. Then, glory be, he’s got a meeting with the vice minister for land and resources. | Then we have got this hapless traveller, Stuart Robert... The hapless minister for human services wandering around in China ... and not only did he fortuitously meet the donor, Paul Marks, fantastic, what a surprise meeting you here! Then he happens to stumble across a signing ceremony in his personal capacity. Then, glory be, he’s got a meeting with the vice minister for land and resources. |
| He should buy a Tatts Lotto ticket, he’s so lucky in his travels. | He should buy a Tatts Lotto ticket, he’s so lucky in his travels. |
| Did that Chinese minister think he was just having a chat to citizen Roberts of Australia or was he under the misapprehension that this man was a minister in the government? We have asked the prime minister to act. | Did that Chinese minister think he was just having a chat to citizen Roberts of Australia or was he under the misapprehension that this man was a minister in the government? We have asked the prime minister to act. |
| But what he’s done is he has contracted out his leadership to Martin Parkinson. He must be so happy to be back working for the Liberal government. He got run out of town by one bunch of this government, now he’s been brought back in to carry out the night soil for this current prime minister! | But what he’s done is he has contracted out his leadership to Martin Parkinson. He must be so happy to be back working for the Liberal government. He got run out of town by one bunch of this government, now he’s been brought back in to carry out the night soil for this current prime minister! |
| 3.55am GMT | 3.55am GMT |
| 03:55 | 03:55 |
| Shorten is back with a question to Turnbull. Is he attempting to construct an outcome here post Parkinson review where he blames his predecessor Tony Abbott in order to protect Stuart Robert? | Shorten is back with a question to Turnbull. Is he attempting to construct an outcome here post Parkinson review where he blames his predecessor Tony Abbott in order to protect Stuart Robert? |
| There’s some procedural argument about the validity of this question. Then Shorten moves to suspend the standing orders. There’s a double censure today: one for Stuart Robert for failing to resign and another for Turnbull for failing to sack him. | There’s some procedural argument about the validity of this question. Then Shorten moves to suspend the standing orders. There’s a double censure today: one for Stuart Robert for failing to resign and another for Turnbull for failing to sack him. |
| 3.50am GMT | 3.50am GMT |
| 03:50 | 03:50 |
| Question seven to Robert. | Question seven to Robert. |
| Q: I refer to the minister’s previous answers on the Parkinson inquiry. Did the minister inform the Parkinson inquiry of how he travelled to China, including whether he took a private jet? Who paid for his travel and whether it was properly declared on his register of members interest? Will the minister now provide that information to the parliament and is the minister aware that his previous answer does not answer this question? | Q: I refer to the minister’s previous answers on the Parkinson inquiry. Did the minister inform the Parkinson inquiry of how he travelled to China, including whether he took a private jet? Who paid for his travel and whether it was properly declared on his register of members interest? Will the minister now provide that information to the parliament and is the minister aware that his previous answer does not answer this question? |
| You can guess the response. | You can guess the response. |
| 3.45am GMT | 3.45am GMT |
| 03:45 | 03:45 |
| Question six (I think) on Robert. | Question six (I think) on Robert. |
| Q: Has the minister informed the Parkinson inquiry that when he wrote to the former prime minister applying for personal leave for his trip to China, he did not inform him that he would attend a signing ceremony between Nimrod Resources and a Chinese state-owned corporation or that he would meet with the Chinese vice minister for land and resources accompanied by Nimrod Resources executives? Is the minister aware that his previous answer does no the answer this question? | Q: Has the minister informed the Parkinson inquiry that when he wrote to the former prime minister applying for personal leave for his trip to China, he did not inform him that he would attend a signing ceremony between Nimrod Resources and a Chinese state-owned corporation or that he would meet with the Chinese vice minister for land and resources accompanied by Nimrod Resources executives? Is the minister aware that his previous answer does no the answer this question? |
| You guessed it. Robert refers Mark Dreyfus to his statement. | You guessed it. Robert refers Mark Dreyfus to his statement. |
| 3.41am GMT | 3.41am GMT |
| 03:41 | 03:41 |
| Dreyfus, to Robert: | Dreyfus, to Robert: |
| Q: Has the minister provided to the secretary all emails, letters and invitations which caused him to be attending the meeting with the Chinese vice minister for land and resources and Nimrod Resources? Will he also provide those documents to the parliament, and is the minister aware that his previous statement does not answer this question? | Q: Has the minister provided to the secretary all emails, letters and invitations which caused him to be attending the meeting with the Chinese vice minister for land and resources and Nimrod Resources? Will he also provide those documents to the parliament, and is the minister aware that his previous statement does not answer this question? |
| Stuart Robert refers Dreyfus to his statement. | Stuart Robert refers Dreyfus to his statement. |
| 3.36am GMT | 3.36am GMT |
| 03:36 | 03:36 |
| Question four on Stuart Robert. Shadow attorney general Mark Dreyfus this time. Did Stuart Robert use proper security protocols with his government devices while in Beijing? | Question four on Stuart Robert. Shadow attorney general Mark Dreyfus this time. Did Stuart Robert use proper security protocols with his government devices while in Beijing? |
| Robert won’t say either way. Like yesterday, he refers Dreyfus to the statement he made to parliament a few days ago, which confirms nothing of a substantive nature. | Robert won’t say either way. Like yesterday, he refers Dreyfus to the statement he made to parliament a few days ago, which confirms nothing of a substantive nature. |
| 3.29am GMT | 3.29am GMT |
| 03:29 | 03:29 |
| Shorten is back on Stuart Robert. He’s referencing today’s senate estimates evidence that I covered earlier: that there is a Chinese government record of the controversial meeting in Beijing, but no Australian record, because there were no Australian officials in the room. Has Dr Parkinson sought the record of the meeting? | Shorten is back on Stuart Robert. He’s referencing today’s senate estimates evidence that I covered earlier: that there is a Chinese government record of the controversial meeting in Beijing, but no Australian record, because there were no Australian officials in the room. Has Dr Parkinson sought the record of the meeting? |
| The prime minister is disposed to be genial. Accountability and due process is important, in accordance with the code, the prime minister says. | The prime minister is disposed to be genial. Accountability and due process is important, in accordance with the code, the prime minister says. |
| Then geniality ceases. He’s back onto Shorten’s record with the workers at Cleanevent. | Then geniality ceases. He’s back onto Shorten’s record with the workers at Cleanevent. |
| Labor says hang on a second, Shorten gave a personal explanation a couple of days ago, taking issue with the prime minister’s misrepresentations on this issue. That should be the end of the matter, says the manager of opposition business, Tony Burke. | Labor says hang on a second, Shorten gave a personal explanation a couple of days ago, taking issue with the prime minister’s misrepresentations on this issue. That should be the end of the matter, says the manager of opposition business, Tony Burke. |
| Christopher Pyne, across the table. | Christopher Pyne, across the table. |
| Toughen up Bill. | Toughen up Bill. |
| Turnbull is powering on with Cleanevent. | Turnbull is powering on with Cleanevent. |
| 3.22am GMT | 3.22am GMT |
| 03:22 | 03:22 |
| The next Dixer invites the foreign minister to update the House on how her forthcoming visit to China will strengthen our economic relationship and help boost our domestic economy leading to jobs and growth. | The next Dixer invites the foreign minister to update the House on how her forthcoming visit to China will strengthen our economic relationship and help boost our domestic economy leading to jobs and growth. |
| Labor’s Anthony Albanese notes that standing order 100(d)(6) clearly rules out irony and given today ... | Labor’s Anthony Albanese notes that standing order 100(d)(6) clearly rules out irony and given today ... |
| Speaker Smith gongs him off. Albanese is ejected from the House under standing order 94A. | Speaker Smith gongs him off. Albanese is ejected from the House under standing order 94A. |
| 3.18am GMT | 3.18am GMT |
| 03:18 | 03:18 |
| Shorten is back to Stuart Robert and he’d like the prime minister to table letters confirming that the minister sought and was granted leave for his trip to Beijing. Shorten has reference numbers for the correspondence. | Shorten is back to Stuart Robert and he’d like the prime minister to table letters confirming that the minister sought and was granted leave for his trip to Beijing. Shorten has reference numbers for the correspondence. |
| The prime minister is inclined to see this as another polite request for information. Which he’ll decline for now. Just be patient, Bill, is the Turnbull counsel. | The prime minister is inclined to see this as another polite request for information. Which he’ll decline for now. Just be patient, Bill, is the Turnbull counsel. |
| I will consider (Shorten’s) request and consider what material should be tabled in the context of reporting (after the Parkinson inquiry). So I thank him for his suggestion. | I will consider (Shorten’s) request and consider what material should be tabled in the context of reporting (after the Parkinson inquiry). So I thank him for his suggestion. |
| 3.14am GMT | 3.14am GMT |
| 03:14 | 03:14 |
| Daniel Hurst | Daniel Hurst |
| Sorry to break into question time, and I know we already know this, but it’s worth recording properly, now he’s put his position on the record. | Sorry to break into question time, and I know we already know this, but it’s worth recording properly, now he’s put his position on the record. |
| Nationals MP Michael McCormack has confirmed he is not eyeing the leadership. There’s a brief statement: | Nationals MP Michael McCormack has confirmed he is not eyeing the leadership. There’s a brief statement: |
| I am not challenging for the leadership and have told the party as much. | I am not challenging for the leadership and have told the party as much. |
| And now, back to question time. | And now, back to question time. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.15am GMT | at 3.15am GMT |
| 3.12am GMT | 3.12am GMT |
| 03:12 | 03:12 |
| First Dorothy Dixer is on the resilience of the Australian economy. | First Dorothy Dixer is on the resilience of the Australian economy. |
| Then Shorten is back, on Stuart Robert. | Then Shorten is back, on Stuart Robert. |
| Q: Isn’t it the case the prime minister has one choice: sack the minister, or sack your ministerial standards? | Q: Isn’t it the case the prime minister has one choice: sack the minister, or sack your ministerial standards? |
| (I think that’s two choices, but let’s not quibble). | (I think that’s two choices, but let’s not quibble). |
| Turnbull says in the Robert investigation, he’s following the process set out in the code. This is called due process, the prime minister says. | Turnbull says in the Robert investigation, he’s following the process set out in the code. This is called due process, the prime minister says. |
| 3.05am GMT | 3.05am GMT |
| 03:05 | 03:05 |
| Question time | Question time |
| Thank heavens question time has arrived and we can now walk right by the dreams of men in Australian political leadership. | Thank heavens question time has arrived and we can now walk right by the dreams of men in Australian political leadership. |
| Here’s Bill Shorten, to the prime minister. | Here’s Bill Shorten, to the prime minister. |
| Q: When does good government start? | Q: When does good government start? |
| Malcolm Turnbull says today we’ve had warm words about the National party, lovely words, and he intends to treat this question from Shorten as a polite request for information. We are back into excitement territory. Why is Bill so gloomy? Why does he get his questions from sarcastic newspaper columns? | Malcolm Turnbull says today we’ve had warm words about the National party, lovely words, and he intends to treat this question from Shorten as a polite request for information. We are back into excitement territory. Why is Bill so gloomy? Why does he get his questions from sarcastic newspaper columns? |
| 2.59am GMT | 2.59am GMT |
| 02:59 | 02:59 |
| Just in case you think I might have been joking about the boulevard of dry dreams. | Just in case you think I might have been joking about the boulevard of dry dreams. |
| Former PM Tony Abbott jokes about "wet dreams" in Parliament, while farewelling Warren Truss #auspol pic.twitter.com/HaqTFMTOAs | Former PM Tony Abbott jokes about "wet dreams" in Parliament, while farewelling Warren Truss #auspol pic.twitter.com/HaqTFMTOAs |
| 2.54am GMT | 2.54am GMT |
| 02:54 | 02:54 |
| Tony Abbott congratulates Warren Truss #reps #politicslive @murpharoo @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/oCgMCm81Xj | Tony Abbott congratulates Warren Truss #reps #politicslive @murpharoo @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/oCgMCm81Xj |
| 2.47am GMT | 2.47am GMT |
| 02:47 | 02:47 |
| Tony Abbott, continuing: | Tony Abbott, continuing: |
| You know, in this parliament, we are very good at saying the right thing. We are not always nearly so good at doing the right thing, but both the member for Wide Bay and the Member for Goldstein have done the right thing, in every way. | You know, in this parliament, we are very good at saying the right thing. We are not always nearly so good at doing the right thing, but both the member for Wide Bay and the Member for Goldstein have done the right thing, in every way. |
| In everyway. | In everyway. |
| Our country is better for their public life and I join with my other senior colleagues in saying to both of them: “Well done, good and faithful servants.” | Our country is better for their public life and I join with my other senior colleagues in saying to both of them: “Well done, good and faithful servants.” |
| 2.44am GMT | 2.44am GMT |
| 02:44 | 02:44 |
| Tony Abbott and the boulevard of dry dreams | Tony Abbott and the boulevard of dry dreams |
| Tony Abbott is his making his contribution now. He notes very few people leave politics at a time of their choosing. But both of these men have managed it. | Tony Abbott is his making his contribution now. He notes very few people leave politics at a time of their choosing. But both of these men have managed it. |
| He’s running through their respective legacies and their remarkable achievements. Warren Truss he says, has transformed the country. He says he used to talk about adult government, then look to Warren Truss to see that it was delivered. | He’s running through their respective legacies and their remarkable achievements. Warren Truss he says, has transformed the country. He says he used to talk about adult government, then look to Warren Truss to see that it was delivered. |
| Tony Abbott: | Tony Abbott: |
| The foreign minister talked about the deputy prime minister’s dry and droll wit. I can remember after listening to one of his colleagues in leadership group, Warren said: “That sounds a bit like a Treasury wet dream,” and then he said, “No, Treasury only has dry dreams.” | The foreign minister talked about the deputy prime minister’s dry and droll wit. I can remember after listening to one of his colleagues in leadership group, Warren said: “That sounds a bit like a Treasury wet dream,” and then he said, “No, Treasury only has dry dreams.” |