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| Barnaby Joyce poised to become new leader of Nationals and deputy PM – politics live | Barnaby Joyce poised to become new leader of Nationals and deputy PM – politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 9.33am GMT | |
| 09:33 | |
| Check Barnaby Joyce’s face. | |
| The face of anticipation. | |
| 9.27am GMT | |
| 09:27 | |
| Yes, conventional wisdom this evening is Fiona Nash or Luke Hartsukyer or possibly Darren Chester for deputy National’s leader, but in our office, we are keeping close watch on Keith Pitt, the member for Hinkler. | |
| Because we love an underdog/outsider at Guardian Australia. And because he’s from Queensland. | |
| 9.22am GMT | |
| 09:22 | |
| Truss ends somewhat ominously. | |
| Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for being here. And we’ll have some news for you, I guess, in an hour or two. | |
| 9.19am GMT | |
| 09:19 | |
| Warren Truss has invited the cameras briefly into the partyroom to record some brief remarks. He points out that it is impossible for everyone to emerge as a winner tonight. That is true. It is completely impossible for that to happen. | |
| Warren Truss: | |
| This is an important ballot for us. And I’m delighted that we have such a pool of talent that has expressed interest in taking leadership roles in the party. Not everyone will be able to be successful tonight, but the good news about a ballot of this nature is we have so many people who will get their opportunity also into the future. So we’ll proceed now, I think, to the ballot. | |
| 9.16am GMT | |
| 09:16 | |
| Hellooo, Australia’s almost new deputy prime minister. | |
| 9.14am GMT | |
| 09:14 | |
| Just while we wait and chat amongst ourselves, the trade minister Andrew Robb is being interviewed on Sky News tonight. | |
| This is interesting. | |
| Andrew Robb expects someone else to take Trade portfolio in reshuffle while he becomes "trade envoy" for rest of this term #SpeersTonight | |
| I’ve neglected to say until now there are smoke signals this evening that the reshuffle could be as soon as tomorrow. | |
| 9.03am GMT | |
| 09:03 | |
| More from the Nationals party room. The sorting hat. | |
| This is the hat that the Nats voting order will be drawn from...Nats new leader. pic.twitter.com/5iqavm2dMm | |
| 9.01am GMT | |
| 09:01 | |
| Meta. Nationals MP takes picture of photographers taking pictures of National MPs walking into their party room meeting. | |
| Nothing beats turning lens back on the media #auspol #nationals pic.twitter.com/NuLlxoHwwF | |
| Let the record show the Nationals are now entering their party room to elect their new leadership. | |
| 8.37am GMT | 8.37am GMT |
| 08:37 | 08:37 |
| If you need a laugh, there is also the famous Last Week Tonight episode that was sparked by Joyce’s declaration that Johnny Depp’s dogs, Pistol and Boo, should bugger off. | If you need a laugh, there is also the famous Last Week Tonight episode that was sparked by Joyce’s declaration that Johnny Depp’s dogs, Pistol and Boo, should bugger off. |
| As well as featuring Guardian Australia’s own countdown clock, it also has the bonus benefit of a description of an alpaca as a glassy eyed muppet donkey. | As well as featuring Guardian Australia’s own countdown clock, it also has the bonus benefit of a description of an alpaca as a glassy eyed muppet donkey. |
| 8.33am GMT | 8.33am GMT |
| 08:33 | 08:33 |
| Barnaby Joyce is such a well known character it seems unlikely that Politics Live readers will need background reading, but in the event you do, Tony Walker from the Australian Financial Review has produced a good pen portrait which you can find here. | Barnaby Joyce is such a well known character it seems unlikely that Politics Live readers will need background reading, but in the event you do, Tony Walker from the Australian Financial Review has produced a good pen portrait which you can find here. |
| Walker quotes Joyce telling him that what excites me about Malcolm Turnbull “is that he is a bit of a maddie, but he’s also got some big ideas.” | Walker quotes Joyce telling him that what excites me about Malcolm Turnbull “is that he is a bit of a maddie, but he’s also got some big ideas.” |
| Tony Walker: | Tony Walker: |
| Joyce’s use of the word “maddie” is not random. He draws the description from Paul Keating’s observation that there are three types of political leader: straight men, fixers, and maddies. | Joyce’s use of the word “maddie” is not random. He draws the description from Paul Keating’s observation that there are three types of political leader: straight men, fixers, and maddies. |
| In the history of the National party, and before that the Country party, it has been “straight” men who have tended to lead the party, like the outgoing Truss and before him Mark Vaile, John Anderson, and Doug Anthony. | In the history of the National party, and before that the Country party, it has been “straight” men who have tended to lead the party, like the outgoing Truss and before him Mark Vaile, John Anderson, and Doug Anthony. |
| The one notable exception is Arthur Fadden. Fadden was a maverick and served briefly as Australia’s 13th prime minister on Robert Menzies’s resignation in 1941 after the latter lost the confidence of colleagues. Like Joyce, Fadden, from rural Queensland, was an accountant, albeit a flamboyant one. | The one notable exception is Arthur Fadden. Fadden was a maverick and served briefly as Australia’s 13th prime minister on Robert Menzies’s resignation in 1941 after the latter lost the confidence of colleagues. Like Joyce, Fadden, from rural Queensland, was an accountant, albeit a flamboyant one. |
| 8.20am GMT | 8.20am GMT |
| 08:20 | 08:20 |
| As the Nationals start to get ready for tonight’s party room, I can remind readers that the party leadership is already a foregone conclusion – Barnaby Joyce doesn’t have a challenger. The contest is for the deputy’s spot. | As the Nationals start to get ready for tonight’s party room, I can remind readers that the party leadership is already a foregone conclusion – Barnaby Joyce doesn’t have a challenger. The contest is for the deputy’s spot. |
| Rob Harris from the Herald Sun says his mail is it’s coming down to these two. | Rob Harris from the Herald Sun says his mail is it’s coming down to these two. |
| Not great insight, but some say Luke Hartsukyer has the numbers for deputy, others say Fiona Nash. Obviously tight. Will go for a while. | Not great insight, but some say Luke Hartsukyer has the numbers for deputy, others say Fiona Nash. Obviously tight. Will go for a while. |
| Hartsukyer has my vote for his pitch from earlier today: I have skills that complement Barnaby Joyce’s “flair.” | Hartsukyer has my vote for his pitch from earlier today: I have skills that complement Barnaby Joyce’s “flair.” |
| Skillz. | Skillz. |
| 8.13am GMT | 8.13am GMT |
| 08:13 | 08:13 |
| The ABC’s Chris Uhlmann has just reported on the ABC news that this exchange .. | The ABC’s Chris Uhlmann has just reported on the ABC news that this exchange .. |
| Tonight on @abcnews @CUhlmann has new details on this heated exchange between Stuart Robert and Peta Credlin https://t.co/CM7o7BnLZC #auspol | Tonight on @abcnews @CUhlmann has new details on this heated exchange between Stuart Robert and Peta Credlin https://t.co/CM7o7BnLZC #auspol |
| .. between Tony Abbott’s chief of staff Peta Credlin and Stuart Robert – a finger pointing session that attracted a deal of attention at the time as a symptom of Credlin’s controlling tendencies – was actually sparked by a desire on the part of Robert that Abbott sign a tie for Paul Marks, the businessman and donor with Robert during the controversial trip to Beijing that is now the subject of the Parkinson inquiry. | .. between Tony Abbott’s chief of staff Peta Credlin and Stuart Robert – a finger pointing session that attracted a deal of attention at the time as a symptom of Credlin’s controlling tendencies – was actually sparked by a desire on the part of Robert that Abbott sign a tie for Paul Marks, the businessman and donor with Robert during the controversial trip to Beijing that is now the subject of the Parkinson inquiry. |
| Credlin as you can see in the footage objected to that request somewhat strenuously. I can’t remember whether or not that detail came out at the time. | Credlin as you can see in the footage objected to that request somewhat strenuously. I can’t remember whether or not that detail came out at the time. |
| 7.39am GMT | 7.39am GMT |
| 07:39 | 07:39 |
| Various Nationals have been asked over the course of the afternoon how Barnaby Joyce will differ from Warren Truss as party leader. | Various Nationals have been asked over the course of the afternoon how Barnaby Joyce will differ from Warren Truss as party leader. |
| Apart from their obvious differences in personality, Joyce will be more inclined to carve out political territory for the Nationals. He’s no longer the parliamentarian who thought coalitionism meant the slow death of the National party – but he’s no shrinking violet either. Any person who threatens to kill Johnny Depp’s dogs isn’t naturally risk averse. | Apart from their obvious differences in personality, Joyce will be more inclined to carve out political territory for the Nationals. He’s no longer the parliamentarian who thought coalitionism meant the slow death of the National party – but he’s no shrinking violet either. Any person who threatens to kill Johnny Depp’s dogs isn’t naturally risk averse. |
| Asked to nominate any specific policy differences, National MP John Wacka Williams said this afternoon that Joyce would be more inclined than Warren Truss to take up the internal fights on things like competition policy, specifically the implementation of an effects test which would help protect small business against the misuse of market power by large companies. | Asked to nominate any specific policy differences, National MP John Wacka Williams said this afternoon that Joyce would be more inclined than Warren Truss to take up the internal fights on things like competition policy, specifically the implementation of an effects test which would help protect small business against the misuse of market power by large companies. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.43am GMT | at 7.43am GMT |
| 7.04am GMT | 7.04am GMT |
| 07:04 | 07:04 |
| Labor’s senate leader and shadow trade minister Penny Wong has issued a statement marking the retirement of Andrew Robb. | Labor’s senate leader and shadow trade minister Penny Wong has issued a statement marking the retirement of Andrew Robb. |
| Over recent years we have shadowed each other in government and opposition in the finance and trade portfolios, and acted as campaign spokespeople for our respective parties. Andrew is a person of integrity. While we haven’t always agreed, our personal engagement has been respectful and constructive, and I acknowledge his diligent and committed parliamentary and ministerial service. At a personal level Andrew has shown a great deal of courage and acted as a model for many others. | Over recent years we have shadowed each other in government and opposition in the finance and trade portfolios, and acted as campaign spokespeople for our respective parties. Andrew is a person of integrity. While we haven’t always agreed, our personal engagement has been respectful and constructive, and I acknowledge his diligent and committed parliamentary and ministerial service. At a personal level Andrew has shown a great deal of courage and acted as a model for many others. |
| 6.50am GMT | 6.50am GMT |
| 06:50 | 06:50 |
| A couple of pictures while we have the chance. Tony Abbott, articulating the dream I really don’t want to mention again. | A couple of pictures while we have the chance. Tony Abbott, articulating the dream I really don’t want to mention again. |
| This one is all kinds of fabulous. Mike captured the reaction of Warren Truss, Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack when the Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek said during her tribute to Truss that she enjoyed plenty of fun times with the Nats. | This one is all kinds of fabulous. Mike captured the reaction of Warren Truss, Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack when the Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek said during her tribute to Truss that she enjoyed plenty of fun times with the Nats. |
| 6.41am GMT | 6.41am GMT |
| 06:41 | 06:41 |
| Current guidance suggests we will still see the results of the Parkinson review at some point this evening – but all things liable to change without notice. | Current guidance suggests we will still see the results of the Parkinson review at some point this evening – but all things liable to change without notice. |
| 6.13am GMT | 6.13am GMT |
| 06:13 | 06:13 |
| Fun times. | Fun times. |
| Politely asked @M_McCormackMP to vote for me as Deputy Leader. Fair to say he declined. Pix credit Newscorp #auspol pic.twitter.com/paxZoudqVW | Politely asked @M_McCormackMP to vote for me as Deputy Leader. Fair to say he declined. Pix credit Newscorp #auspol pic.twitter.com/paxZoudqVW |
| 6.03am GMT | 6.03am GMT |
| 06:03 | 06:03 |
| With other skills that complement that flair | With other skills that complement that flair |
| I’ll be going right through this evening until stumps. And by stumps I mean until we know who the new Nationals leadership team is. | I’ll be going right through this evening until stumps. And by stumps I mean until we know who the new Nationals leadership team is. |
| Obviously we know the leader will be Barnaby Joyce, but the deputy field remains open and hotly contested. | Obviously we know the leader will be Barnaby Joyce, but the deputy field remains open and hotly contested. |
| Luke Hartsuyker, the minister for vocational education and skills, made it known this afternoon he is pitching for the deputy position. Explaining his reasoning to ABC TV, he said the success of the Warren Truss-Barnaby Joyce partnership was that they had “very complementary skills”. | Luke Hartsuyker, the minister for vocational education and skills, made it known this afternoon he is pitching for the deputy position. Explaining his reasoning to ABC TV, he said the success of the Warren Truss-Barnaby Joyce partnership was that they had “very complementary skills”. |
| Luke Hartsuyker: | Luke Hartsuyker: |
| I think for the Nationals going forward it is important that we have a team with a balance of skills that brings, perhaps if Barnaby Joyce is so elected, the Barnaby Joyce flair with other skills that complement that flair. | I think for the Nationals going forward it is important that we have a team with a balance of skills that brings, perhaps if Barnaby Joyce is so elected, the Barnaby Joyce flair with other skills that complement that flair. |
| 5.55am GMT | 5.55am GMT |
| 05:55 | 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. | 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 | 5.40am GMT |
| 05:40 | 05:40 |
| Shalailah Medhora | 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. | 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 | Updated |
| at 5.47am GMT | at 5.47am GMT |
| 5.30am GMT | 5.30am GMT |
| 05:30 | 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. | 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? | 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? | 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. | 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 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. | 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. | 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. |