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| Nationals will meet tonight to choose successor to Warren Truss – politics live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 1.14am GMT | |
| 01:14 | |
| From Sky News reporter Laura Jayes. | |
| .@Barnaby_Joyce will get Nats leadership unopposed. @M_McCormackMP will not be in the running. @SkyNewsAust | |
| 1.12am GMT | |
| 01:12 | |
| Politics this lunchtime | |
| Just a very quick lunchtime summary before Warren Truss performs his swan song in the chamber at 12.30pm. | |
| It is all happening. Stay with us. | |
| 12.46am GMT | |
| 00:46 | |
| DFAT secretary, Peter Varghese, is also having a long day in the estimates committee. | |
| 12.41am GMT | 12.41am GMT |
| 00:41 | 00:41 |
| It's going to be a long day | It's going to be a long day |
| Back to the main business of the day. A quick update. | Back to the main business of the day. A quick update. |
| I said super Thursday this morning, You got that, right? | I said super Thursday this morning, You got that, right? |
| 12.35am GMT | 12.35am GMT |
| 00:35 | 00:35 |
| “Imagine the reaction if I said you were womansplaining” | “Imagine the reaction if I said you were womansplaining” |
| Daniel Hurst | Daniel Hurst |
| A companion piece to the Vine Murph shared before from estimates of Bill Heffernan spouting the f-word. Here’s great moments in estimates, part two. | A companion piece to the Vine Murph shared before from estimates of Bill Heffernan spouting the f-word. Here’s great moments in estimates, part two. |
| There has been a blow-up in the community affairs committee over the use of the term “mansplaining”. Incidentally, Malcolm Turnbull has previously been accused of MalSplaining.® | There has been a blow-up in the community affairs committee over the use of the term “mansplaining”. Incidentally, Malcolm Turnbull has previously been accused of MalSplaining.® |
| The Labor senator Katy Gallagher, who is a former ACT chief minister, was questioning the communications minister Mitch Fifield. Fifield was referring to legislative and party room processes and the need to pursue certain questions during the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet estimates. | The Labor senator Katy Gallagher, who is a former ACT chief minister, was questioning the communications minister Mitch Fifield. Fifield was referring to legislative and party room processes and the need to pursue certain questions during the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet estimates. |
| Here is the full exchange: | Here is the full exchange: |
| Fifield: Let me just stop you, so you don’t waste a line of questioning. I’m just giving you… | Fifield: Let me just stop you, so you don’t waste a line of questioning. I’m just giving you… |
| Gallagher: I love the mansplaining. I’m enjoying it. | Gallagher: I love the mansplaining. I’m enjoying it. |
| Fifield: You’re loving what? | Fifield: You’re loving what? |
| Gallagher: The mansplaining that’s going on. | Gallagher: The mansplaining that’s going on. |
| Fifield: What’s, what…? | Fifield: What’s, what…? |
| Gallagher: Just talking me through how; well, by not answering the question | Gallagher: Just talking me through how; well, by not answering the question |
| Fifield: What are you suggesting? | Fifield: What are you suggesting? |
| Gallagher: …by repeating processes which are not related to the question that I’ve asked. | Gallagher: …by repeating processes which are not related to the question that I’ve asked. |
| Fifield: What’s mansplaining, Senator? | Fifield: What’s mansplaining, Senator? |
| Gallagher: It’s the slightly patronising and condescending way that you’re responding to my questions. | Gallagher: It’s the slightly patronising and condescending way that you’re responding to my questions. |
| Fifield: I would suggest, Senator, that if you’re putting the word man in front of some description of what I’m doing, you are doing that which I’m sure you’re very much against, [which] is making a sexist implication about how I’m conducting my role as a man. Is that what you’re saying senator? | Fifield: I would suggest, Senator, that if you’re putting the word man in front of some description of what I’m doing, you are doing that which I’m sure you’re very much against, [which] is making a sexist implication about how I’m conducting my role as a man. Is that what you’re saying senator? |
| Gallagher: What I’m saying is the way you’ve been responding to me has been patronising and condescending and I have responded to that, so the easiest way to deal with this is not to have that way in responding to questions I’ve asked… | Gallagher: What I’m saying is the way you’ve been responding to me has been patronising and condescending and I have responded to that, so the easiest way to deal with this is not to have that way in responding to questions I’ve asked… |
| Fifield: Imagine the reaction, Senator, if I said you were womansplaining. You’re saying that I’m mansplaining. | Fifield: Imagine the reaction, Senator, if I said you were womansplaining. You’re saying that I’m mansplaining. |
| Gallagher: It is a term that’s used. | Gallagher: It is a term that’s used. |
| Fifield: By whom? By rude senators. By senators who are seeking to make gender an issue. | Fifield: By whom? By rude senators. By senators who are seeking to make gender an issue. |
| Gallagher: No, I’m not. I’m just saying your answers to me have been condescending, and patronising and so I have responded to that and the way not to have that is not to have that approach in the way you’ve answered the questions. | Gallagher: No, I’m not. I’m just saying your answers to me have been condescending, and patronising and so I have responded to that and the way not to have that is not to have that approach in the way you’ve answered the questions. |
| Fifield: I’m not being patronising, Senator. I thought we were having a good-hearted exchange until you said I was mansplaining. Do you want to reconsider what you said? | Fifield: I’m not being patronising, Senator. I thought we were having a good-hearted exchange until you said I was mansplaining. Do you want to reconsider what you said? |
| Gallagher: No, I don’t. | Gallagher: No, I don’t. |
| Fifield: I just find it extraordinary, Senator, that you or any senator at this table would seek to invoke gender in impugning how a senator is responding. Mansplaining. Let the record show, chair, that Senator Gallagher thinks it’s appropriate to refer to a senator as mansplaining. | Fifield: I just find it extraordinary, Senator, that you or any senator at this table would seek to invoke gender in impugning how a senator is responding. Mansplaining. Let the record show, chair, that Senator Gallagher thinks it’s appropriate to refer to a senator as mansplaining. |
| Gallagher: It’s already there on the record. | Gallagher: It’s already there on the record. |
| Fifield: Senator, I’m quite frankly appalled... Take a good look at yourself. I mean, sitting here and saying to a male senator you’re mansplaining. If I said to a female senator that you are womansplaining there would be uproar.Stop being a hypocrite. Conduct yourself appropriately for this place. | Fifield: Senator, I’m quite frankly appalled... Take a good look at yourself. I mean, sitting here and saying to a male senator you’re mansplaining. If I said to a female senator that you are womansplaining there would be uproar.Stop being a hypocrite. Conduct yourself appropriately for this place. |
| Gallagher: I’m sorry you’re so offended by the use of the word. It is a word that’s used. I’m surprised that you’re so shocked by the use of the word. | Gallagher: I’m sorry you’re so offended by the use of the word. It is a word that’s used. I’m surprised that you’re so shocked by the use of the word. |
| Fifield: No, I’m just calling hypocrisy. Hypocrisy, thy name is Labor. Thy name is Senator Gallagher. | Fifield: No, I’m just calling hypocrisy. Hypocrisy, thy name is Labor. Thy name is Senator Gallagher. |
| Gallagher: I think you need to settle down actually; I don’t think it was that big a deal. Your answers to me were patronising and condescending. | Gallagher: I think you need to settle down actually; I don’t think it was that big a deal. Your answers to me were patronising and condescending. |
| Fifield: They weren’t. | Fifield: They weren’t. |
| Gallagher: They were. | Gallagher: They were. |
| Fifield: Senator, welcome to federal parliament. Welcome to federal parliament. | Fifield: Senator, welcome to federal parliament. Welcome to federal parliament. |
| Gallagher: Where the big people play is it? I’m not the one having a breakdown over this. | Gallagher: Where the big people play is it? I’m not the one having a breakdown over this. |
| Chair: ORDER! | Chair: ORDER! |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.36am GMT | at 12.36am GMT |
| 12.29am GMT | 12.29am GMT |
| 00:29 | 00:29 |
| It’s worth pausing just now to take stock of a couple of things. | It’s worth pausing just now to take stock of a couple of things. |
| In the DFAT estimates this morning, Labor has extracted a couple of significant statements from the head of the department of foreign affairs and trade regarding the Stuart Robert imbroglio. It’s worth spelling them out. | In the DFAT estimates this morning, Labor has extracted a couple of significant statements from the head of the department of foreign affairs and trade regarding the Stuart Robert imbroglio. It’s worth spelling them out. |
| These are important points of logic. It’s interesting too that the government didn’t really run any interference during the Labor questioning on this front. | These are important points of logic. It’s interesting too that the government didn’t really run any interference during the Labor questioning on this front. |
| 12.14am GMT | 12.14am GMT |
| 00:14 | 00:14 |
| To foreign affairs estimates again. Labor’s Penny Wong is pointing now to a press release from Chinese state owned enterprise MinMetals which recorded Stuart Robert’s visit with the donor and mining boss Paul Marks. This document surfaced earlier in the week in The Australian Financial Review. She confirms with one of the Chinese speaking DFAT officials that the document records Stuart Robert appearing at the contract signing as a minister in the Australian government. How is this consistent with the minister’s account, that he was at the signing ceremony in a private capacity, Wong asks Varghese? | To foreign affairs estimates again. Labor’s Penny Wong is pointing now to a press release from Chinese state owned enterprise MinMetals which recorded Stuart Robert’s visit with the donor and mining boss Paul Marks. This document surfaced earlier in the week in The Australian Financial Review. She confirms with one of the Chinese speaking DFAT officials that the document records Stuart Robert appearing at the contract signing as a minister in the Australian government. How is this consistent with the minister’s account, that he was at the signing ceremony in a private capacity, Wong asks Varghese? |
| Peter Varghese: | Peter Varghese: |
| On the face of it it’s not. | On the face of it it’s not. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.14am GMT | at 12.14am GMT |
| 12.07am GMT | 12.07am GMT |
| 00:07 | 00:07 |
| Shalailah Medhora | Shalailah Medhora |
| Independent MP, Andrew Wilkie, has written to the International Criminal Court over the plight of the 267 asylum seekers currently in limbo following a failed bid to challenge offshore detention in the high court. | Independent MP, Andrew Wilkie, has written to the International Criminal Court over the plight of the 267 asylum seekers currently in limbo following a failed bid to challenge offshore detention in the high court. |
| Wilkie wrote to the ICC in October 2014 asking the organisation to investigate Australia for crimes against humanity over its treatment of asylum seekers. Thursday’s letter aims to supplement the original case. | Wilkie wrote to the ICC in October 2014 asking the organisation to investigate Australia for crimes against humanity over its treatment of asylum seekers. Thursday’s letter aims to supplement the original case. |
| Andrew Wilkie: | Andrew Wilkie: |
| The government is in contravention of the Rome Statute because it continues to incarcerate people indefinitely without trial, forcibly transfer people to third countries and places them in conditions causing great suffering and serious injury to mental and physical health. If the government won’t listen to the outrage of the Australian people, then let’s hope they listen to the ICC. | The government is in contravention of the Rome Statute because it continues to incarcerate people indefinitely without trial, forcibly transfer people to third countries and places them in conditions causing great suffering and serious injury to mental and physical health. If the government won’t listen to the outrage of the Australian people, then let’s hope they listen to the ICC. |
| 11.59pm GMT | 11.59pm GMT |
| 23:59 | 23:59 |
| Great moments in estimates, part one. | Great moments in estimates, part one. |
| Here's the vine of Aussie Senator Bill Heffernan hilariously telling #estimates: "F*ck that's risky shit" https://t.co/1VX8T8kQ0b | Here's the vine of Aussie Senator Bill Heffernan hilariously telling #estimates: "F*ck that's risky shit" https://t.co/1VX8T8kQ0b |
| 11.45pm GMT | 11.45pm GMT |
| 23:45 | 23:45 |
| Daniel Hurst | Daniel Hurst |
| Back to Peter Dutton, who got trampled by leave letters, an official Truss timetable and a Rolex. In his radio interview earlier this morning, Dutton was asked about the fate of five children said to be stranded in an Isis stronghold in Syria. This follows reports that Tara Nettleton- the widow of Australian Isis fighter Khaled Sharrouf - has died, leaving her children in Raqqa. | Back to Peter Dutton, who got trampled by leave letters, an official Truss timetable and a Rolex. In his radio interview earlier this morning, Dutton was asked about the fate of five children said to be stranded in an Isis stronghold in Syria. This follows reports that Tara Nettleton- the widow of Australian Isis fighter Khaled Sharrouf - has died, leaving her children in Raqqa. |
| Dutton told 2GB he was unable to confirm the reports but “if there’s an Australian citizen of any age, and most definitely children, regardless of circumstance, we will provide consular assistance”. He avoided making any specific commitment about the children’s return to Australia, saying the government would prioritise public safety. | Dutton told 2GB he was unable to confirm the reports but “if there’s an Australian citizen of any age, and most definitely children, regardless of circumstance, we will provide consular assistance”. He avoided making any specific commitment about the children’s return to Australia, saying the government would prioritise public safety. |
| Dutton raised concern about any parent being “crazy enough or dangerous enough” to take children into such a dangerous environment and suggested the experience would “obviously scar those children for life”. When host Ray Hadley asked about the previously published photo of one of the children holding up a severed head, Dutton said: “It’s a barbaric act and I can only imagine what else these children have been exposed to. It shows how evil and pervasive this death cult is and we need to stare it down.” | Dutton raised concern about any parent being “crazy enough or dangerous enough” to take children into such a dangerous environment and suggested the experience would “obviously scar those children for life”. When host Ray Hadley asked about the previously published photo of one of the children holding up a severed head, Dutton said: “It’s a barbaric act and I can only imagine what else these children have been exposed to. It shows how evil and pervasive this death cult is and we need to stare it down.” |
| 11.33pm GMT | 11.33pm GMT |
| 23:33 | 23:33 |
| I imagine most Politics Live readers will be aware that Liberal backbencher Ian Goodenough last night released the best press release that I have seen in twenty years in this building. I’ve titled this statement: “Ian buys a Rolex.” | I imagine most Politics Live readers will be aware that Liberal backbencher Ian Goodenough last night released the best press release that I have seen in twenty years in this building. I’ve titled this statement: “Ian buys a Rolex.” |
| If you missed this last night Daniel Hurst can bring you up to speed. If you just want the short version, suffice to say that Goodenough has burst onto the scene as a minor player in RolexGate over the past 48 hours – he’s exhibited a hitherto unknown talent for spotting authentic luxury goods courtesy of the fact he’s a proud owner of a Rolex. | If you missed this last night Daniel Hurst can bring you up to speed. If you just want the short version, suffice to say that Goodenough has burst onto the scene as a minor player in RolexGate over the past 48 hours – he’s exhibited a hitherto unknown talent for spotting authentic luxury goods courtesy of the fact he’s a proud owner of a Rolex. |
| We suspect this is the first sighting of Ian’s Rolex in the Wild. | We suspect this is the first sighting of Ian’s Rolex in the Wild. |
| Thank you Magic Mikearoo. Thank you. | Thank you Magic Mikearoo. Thank you. |
| 11.19pm GMT | 11.19pm GMT |
| 23:19 | 23:19 |
| Deputy PM Warren Truss will address Nationals party room on retirement schedule shortly before statement to the House of Reps @AAPNewswire | Deputy PM Warren Truss will address Nationals party room on retirement schedule shortly before statement to the House of Reps @AAPNewswire |
| 11.18pm GMT | 11.18pm GMT |
| 23:18 | 23:18 |
| Look out, Andrew. | Look out, Andrew. |
| 11.15pm GMT | 11.15pm GMT |
| 23:15 | 23:15 |
| Sky News political editor David Speers has just reported that letters approving Stuart Robert’s personal leave have been handed to Malcolm Turnbull by Tony Abbott as part of the current Parkinson inquiry. | Sky News political editor David Speers has just reported that letters approving Stuart Robert’s personal leave have been handed to Malcolm Turnbull by Tony Abbott as part of the current Parkinson inquiry. |
| Noting this fact gives me an opportunity to make something clear. | Noting this fact gives me an opportunity to make something clear. |
| Right now, it is pretty obvious that Tony Abbott is attempting to position against an eventuality where he is ultimately blamed for allowing this extremely ill-judged visit to proceed – regardless of whether Robert is ultimately pinged or exonerated. | Right now, it is pretty obvious that Tony Abbott is attempting to position against an eventuality where he is ultimately blamed for allowing this extremely ill-judged visit to proceed – regardless of whether Robert is ultimately pinged or exonerated. |
| So much interesting, subterranean, hand to hand combat in this transaction between key government figures. | So much interesting, subterranean, hand to hand combat in this transaction between key government figures. |
| Also lots of speculation around about where the Robert story emerged from, where this morning’s photograph emerged from – all the standard parlour games. I’m going to leave off the conspiracy theories and try and keep today factual. | Also lots of speculation around about where the Robert story emerged from, where this morning’s photograph emerged from – all the standard parlour games. I’m going to leave off the conspiracy theories and try and keep today factual. |
| (Is this woman mad?) | (Is this woman mad?) |
| 11.06pm GMT | 11.06pm GMT |
| 23:06 | 23:06 |
| Speaking of seeking .. | Speaking of seeking .. |
| Warren Truss will be addressing the House of Reps at 1230. PM Turnbull will follow. @AAPNewswire | Warren Truss will be addressing the House of Reps at 1230. PM Turnbull will follow. @AAPNewswire |
| 11.04pm GMT | 11.04pm GMT |
| 23:04 | 23:04 |
| They seek him here, they seek him there, they seek him everywhere .. | They seek him here, they seek him there, they seek him everywhere .. |
| 11.03pm GMT | 11.03pm GMT |
| 23:03 | 23:03 |
| The conversation has moved on to Rolex watches. Wong wants to know whether or not a minister has ever been presented with a Rolex during Varghese’s tenure in DFAT, which stretches back to 1979. Varghese says he imagines ministers have been given many gifts without his direct knowledge. Has he ever been given a Rolex, Wong inquires? No, Varghese says. | The conversation has moved on to Rolex watches. Wong wants to know whether or not a minister has ever been presented with a Rolex during Varghese’s tenure in DFAT, which stretches back to 1979. Varghese says he imagines ministers have been given many gifts without his direct knowledge. Has he ever been given a Rolex, Wong inquires? No, Varghese says. |
| 10.59pm GMT | 10.59pm GMT |
| 22:59 | 22:59 |
| Back to estimates, Labor’s Penny Wong is asking Peter Varghese whether the appropriate security protocols were in place during Robert’s Beijing visit. She means whether or not he carried communications technology supplied by defence to minimise the potential for devices to be hacked or bugged. | Back to estimates, Labor’s Penny Wong is asking Peter Varghese whether the appropriate security protocols were in place during Robert’s Beijing visit. She means whether or not he carried communications technology supplied by defence to minimise the potential for devices to be hacked or bugged. |
| Peter Varghese: | Peter Varghese: |
| I think the short answer to that question is no, because I don’t think the system as a whole was aware of the visit. | I think the short answer to that question is no, because I don’t think the system as a whole was aware of the visit. |
| 10.54pm GMT | 10.54pm GMT |
| 22:54 | 22:54 |
| Daniel Hurst | Daniel Hurst |
| The immigration minister, Peter Dutton, has meanwhile bobbed up on 2GB radio and is signalling he wants to keep his portfolio in the forthcoming reshuffle. Dutton says he has been “working very closely with the prime minister” and they are “determined to make sure those boats don’t start” coming again and they also want to get children out of detention.Here’s the pitch: | The immigration minister, Peter Dutton, has meanwhile bobbed up on 2GB radio and is signalling he wants to keep his portfolio in the forthcoming reshuffle. Dutton says he has been “working very closely with the prime minister” and they are “determined to make sure those boats don’t start” coming again and they also want to get children out of detention.Here’s the pitch: |
| I think continuity in this portfolio is important – and that’s been the prime minister’s advice to me as well. | I think continuity in this portfolio is important – and that’s been the prime minister’s advice to me as well. |
| 10.51pm GMT | 10.51pm GMT |
| 22:51 | 22:51 |
| Bill Shorten is out at a health facility, and he’s taking questions now. | Bill Shorten is out at a health facility, and he’s taking questions now. |
| Q: On Stuart Robert, some in the government are suggesting that if the then prime minister approved this trip, that absolves Stuart Robert of any breach of the ministerial code because it is up to the prime minister of the day to enforce it. What are your thoughts? | Q: On Stuart Robert, some in the government are suggesting that if the then prime minister approved this trip, that absolves Stuart Robert of any breach of the ministerial code because it is up to the prime minister of the day to enforce it. What are your thoughts? |
| Bill Shorten: | Bill Shorten: |
| A crocodile wouldn’t swallow that. I think Malcolm Turnbull is keen to throw Tony Abbott under the bus for a second time and blame him for the Stuart Robert scandal. But what is going on? What is it that Malcolm Turnbull doesn’t understand about a minister acting in his private capacity, not his official capacity? | A crocodile wouldn’t swallow that. I think Malcolm Turnbull is keen to throw Tony Abbott under the bus for a second time and blame him for the Stuart Robert scandal. But what is going on? What is it that Malcolm Turnbull doesn’t understand about a minister acting in his private capacity, not his official capacity? |
| It’s not standard business for Australians when they are having a holiday in China to turn up at the signing ceremony after mega financial deal between a resources company and the Chinese government. This is Stuart Robert acting like Forrest Gump, he is in the photo but has nothing to do with him. | It’s not standard business for Australians when they are having a holiday in China to turn up at the signing ceremony after mega financial deal between a resources company and the Chinese government. This is Stuart Robert acting like Forrest Gump, he is in the photo but has nothing to do with him. |
| The Chinese government just don’t have meetings with people who turn up in China. Mr Robert was accompanied by executives of Nimrod Resources. It is a big coincidence? There is a beer ad where the bloke and his wife are on holiday, sitting around the pool, then another one of his mates turns up, then another mate comes along. Stuart Robert, wanders into a room in China, sees them and says: “What are you doing here?” Then the [Chinese] vice minister of resources, fancy running into you! | The Chinese government just don’t have meetings with people who turn up in China. Mr Robert was accompanied by executives of Nimrod Resources. It is a big coincidence? There is a beer ad where the bloke and his wife are on holiday, sitting around the pool, then another one of his mates turns up, then another mate comes along. Stuart Robert, wanders into a room in China, sees them and says: “What are you doing here?” Then the [Chinese] vice minister of resources, fancy running into you! |
| This doesn’t pass the credibility test. | This doesn’t pass the credibility test. |
| 10.43pm GMT | 10.43pm GMT |
| 22:43 | 22:43 |
| Wong asks Varghese whether or not DFAT have subsequently sought access to the Chinese record of the meeting between Stuart Robert and the Chinese vice minister. The DFAT secretary says that would be a highly unusual development. Wong says of course it would, because normally the Australian government would have officials in the room during a bilateral meeting. We would have our own record of what was said. In this case there is no record. This is why this contact is extraordinary, she notes. Varghese says nothing in response. | Wong asks Varghese whether or not DFAT have subsequently sought access to the Chinese record of the meeting between Stuart Robert and the Chinese vice minister. The DFAT secretary says that would be a highly unusual development. Wong says of course it would, because normally the Australian government would have officials in the room during a bilateral meeting. We would have our own record of what was said. In this case there is no record. This is why this contact is extraordinary, she notes. Varghese says nothing in response. |
| 10.35pm GMT | 10.35pm GMT |
| 22:35 | 22:35 |
| Back in estimates, DFAT officials say there were advised of the Robert visit in Beijing on August 28 by defence officials by email. In the email, Robert was reported to have met with the Chinese vice minister and engaged in activities including golf and visiting tourist sites. | Back in estimates, DFAT officials say there were advised of the Robert visit in Beijing on August 28 by defence officials by email. In the email, Robert was reported to have met with the Chinese vice minister and engaged in activities including golf and visiting tourist sites. |
| 10.30pm GMT | 10.30pm GMT |
| 22:30 | 22:30 |
| Live action succession. Warren Truss and Barnaby Joyce in the House. | Live action succession. Warren Truss and Barnaby Joyce in the House. |
| 10.27pm GMT | 10.27pm GMT |
| 22:27 | 22:27 |
| Labor Senator Penny Wong is asking Varghese to agree with the proposition that it is highly unusual for Australian government ministers to meet with Chinese ministers without DFAT being aware of the contact. Varghese notes that this line of questioning is straying into Rumsfeldian territory: known knowns and known unknowns. | Labor Senator Penny Wong is asking Varghese to agree with the proposition that it is highly unusual for Australian government ministers to meet with Chinese ministers without DFAT being aware of the contact. Varghese notes that this line of questioning is straying into Rumsfeldian territory: known knowns and known unknowns. |
| Wong bats that away and persist with the question. Is it unusual for Australian ministers to freelance in this way? | Wong bats that away and persist with the question. Is it unusual for Australian ministers to freelance in this way? |
| Peter Varghese: | Peter Varghese: |
| What ministers do with their own private visit .. | What ministers do with their own private visit .. |
| Penny Wong: | Penny Wong: |
| They don’t stop being ministers. | They don’t stop being ministers. |
| Peter Varghese: | Peter Varghese: |
| I can’t give you an answer to the question about whether it is highly unusual. | I can’t give you an answer to the question about whether it is highly unusual. |
| Wong asks whether there was any facilitation for the China visit? Land transport? (No.) | Wong asks whether there was any facilitation for the China visit? Land transport? (No.) |
| Peter Varghese: | Peter Varghese: |
| We didn’t know he was there. | We didn’t know he was there. |
| Wong says it is inconceivable to her that a minister would appear in China in a private capacity. It’s technically impossible she thinks, given you don’t stop being a minister, even when you are on holidays. You are still a minister. | Wong says it is inconceivable to her that a minister would appear in China in a private capacity. It’s technically impossible she thinks, given you don’t stop being a minister, even when you are on holidays. You are still a minister. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 10.38pm GMT | at 10.38pm GMT |
| 10.18pm GMT | 10.18pm GMT |
| 22:18 | 22:18 |
| Shalailah Medhora | Shalailah Medhora |
| In estimates, the head of the foreign affairs department, Peter Varghese is being quizzed about his knowledge of Stuart Robert’s trip to China. Varghese has told Senators the department as well as the post had no prior knowledge of the visit. He says DFAT would have found out “very soon after the visit.” Varghese has also been asked whether DFAT has contributed to the Parkinson review. “I’m not aware of Dr Parkinson seeking any information from DFAT. I’m not aware of us providing any information to Dr Parkinson.” | In estimates, the head of the foreign affairs department, Peter Varghese is being quizzed about his knowledge of Stuart Robert’s trip to China. Varghese has told Senators the department as well as the post had no prior knowledge of the visit. He says DFAT would have found out “very soon after the visit.” Varghese has also been asked whether DFAT has contributed to the Parkinson review. “I’m not aware of Dr Parkinson seeking any information from DFAT. I’m not aware of us providing any information to Dr Parkinson.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 10.20pm GMT | at 10.20pm GMT |