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Senate voting legislation will go to parliament today, Turnbull says – politics live Senate voting legislation will go to parliament today, Turnbull says – politics live
(35 minutes later)
1.15am GMT
01:15
Sorry, we really can’t help ourselves.
Come. We ride.
1.13am GMT
01:13
Scott Morrison wanders to the dispatch box. I’m representing the special minister of state, he notes. The former special minister of state, Mal Brough, is sitting directly behind him.
1.09am GMT
01:09
(That rather tart Burke reference about Morrison is a reference to the recent leadership challenge.)
1.07am GMT
01:07
Manager of opposition business Tony Burke says it is ironic the treasurer is the one introducing this legislation. Scott Morrison goes to the National Press Club last week and has zero to say on jobs, Burke contends. Waffle is all he has. But chasing votes? Well, Morrison is an expert at that. A vote harvester from way back.
1.04am GMT
01:04
Manager of government business Christopher Pyne is in the house now suspending the standing orders in order to allow the Senate reform legislation to be brought on now.
Pyne says the government cannot possibly be accused of lobbing this proposal without warning. There has been a wealth of debate and a parliamentary inquiry by the joint committee on electoral matters. He is clearly filibustering here.
Ah yes I get it, he’s waiting for the treasurer to arrive. Scott Morrison will be introducing the legislation (presumably representing Cormann).
12.51am GMT
00:51
Quick Mathias, bung the Senate on.
12.47am GMT
00:47
Meanwhile, what was I saying about the barricade in the red room?
Thanks for singling me out in your power grab speech @malcolmturnbull, I will return the favour in the chamber #auspol
12.45am GMT
00:45
Q: Does this change advantage the Coalition?
Richard Di Natale:
Look, there are claims and counter-claims about what it will do.
If you’re a small party, the advice I give you is: do what the Greens have done. Become a grass roots movement, get people elected at local government, at state government, into the national parliament, and you will find that you have success in this place.
That’s how you build a political movement.
12.43am GMT12.43am GMT
00:4300:43
Di Natale, continuing, in response to ‘what’s in this for you’?Di Natale, continuing, in response to ‘what’s in this for you’?
Ultimately, we think what we are doing is good for democracy.Ultimately, we think what we are doing is good for democracy.
I don’t think it will make a big difference to the Greens’ prospects.I don’t think it will make a big difference to the Greens’ prospects.
12.42am GMT12.42am GMT
00:4200:42
Greens leader Richard Di Natale is speaking to reporters outside. This is all about strengthening the democracy, he says.Greens leader Richard Di Natale is speaking to reporters outside. This is all about strengthening the democracy, he says.
I understand that the Labor party – people like Gary Gray, Alan Griffin and many others I’ve spoken to privately want to see reform. They believe that we need to ensure that we have a functioning democracy.I understand that the Labor party – people like Gary Gray, Alan Griffin and many others I’ve spoken to privately want to see reform. They believe that we need to ensure that we have a functioning democracy.
But there are people inside the Labor party who wield their power and influence through these back-room deals. The factional power - the factional operators inside the Labor party who wield their influence as a result of these backroom deals don’t want to see reform. Well, again, we say to them: we live in a democracy. Let’s make sure that people’s vote’s reflected in the ballot box.But there are people inside the Labor party who wield their power and influence through these back-room deals. The factional power - the factional operators inside the Labor party who wield their influence as a result of these backroom deals don’t want to see reform. Well, again, we say to them: we live in a democracy. Let’s make sure that people’s vote’s reflected in the ballot box.
Di Natale cites the ABC election analyst Antony Green (who I quoted in the last post).Di Natale cites the ABC election analyst Antony Green (who I quoted in the last post).
Antony Green’s made it very clear he doesn’t believe there’s a high likelihood of the Coalition getting control of the Senate.Antony Green’s made it very clear he doesn’t believe there’s a high likelihood of the Coalition getting control of the Senate.
(What Di Natale doesn’t say is Green has said quite clearly this proposed change will benefit the Coalition’s position, for the reasons he outlined at the tail end of my last post.)(What Di Natale doesn’t say is Green has said quite clearly this proposed change will benefit the Coalition’s position, for the reasons he outlined at the tail end of my last post.)
12.34am GMT12.34am GMT
00:3400:34
Quick translation of all thatQuick translation of all that
Hmm, the voters, yes. Hmm. Moving forward. Here’s the broad outline.Hmm, the voters, yes. Hmm. Moving forward. Here’s the broad outline.
Here are the main points of the Senate voting reform package the government is proposing, in detail.Here are the main points of the Senate voting reform package the government is proposing, in detail.
Here’s what the Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, is saying about this.Here’s what the Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, is saying about this.
It is vital that Senate voting reform is in place before the next election. The Greens had proposed a series of changes to how the Senate is elected including allowing voters to determine their own preferences when they vote above the line. We understand that the proposed new voting system would instruct voters to number at least six boxes. We are pleased that the bill will end the era of back room party preference deals with the removal of group voting tickets.It is vital that Senate voting reform is in place before the next election. The Greens had proposed a series of changes to how the Senate is elected including allowing voters to determine their own preferences when they vote above the line. We understand that the proposed new voting system would instruct voters to number at least six boxes. We are pleased that the bill will end the era of back room party preference deals with the removal of group voting tickets.
Here’s one very quick translation from the ABC’s election analyst, Antony Green, on this issue that Labor is concerned about: that the proposed change will boost the prospect of the Coalition winning control of the Senate. Readers with me since the opening of today’s play will know already that Bill Shorten is reserving his position on this package.Here’s one very quick translation from the ABC’s election analyst, Antony Green, on this issue that Labor is concerned about: that the proposed change will boost the prospect of the Coalition winning control of the Senate. Readers with me since the opening of today’s play will know already that Bill Shorten is reserving his position on this package.
Antony Green:Antony Green:
As long as the Greens are there, Labor will poll fewer votes than the Coalition. At a half Senate election, the Coalition will find it easier to win three seats than Labor because Labor’s vote is lower, and Labor will often find itself competing with the Greens for the same seat, the same final seat. So that’s what the Labor party’s concerned about, the way the voting works they’re more reliant, they will be forced to be more reliant on the Greens in the Senate, where the coalition may end up being able to govern with someone like Nick Xenophon or other crossbenchers.As long as the Greens are there, Labor will poll fewer votes than the Coalition. At a half Senate election, the Coalition will find it easier to win three seats than Labor because Labor’s vote is lower, and Labor will often find itself competing with the Greens for the same seat, the same final seat. So that’s what the Labor party’s concerned about, the way the voting works they’re more reliant, they will be forced to be more reliant on the Greens in the Senate, where the coalition may end up being able to govern with someone like Nick Xenophon or other crossbenchers.
12.19am GMT12.19am GMT
00:1900:19
The prime minister has wrapped up now. Given that all got a bit choppy with the protest, I’ll come back shortly with a stocktake on Senate reform.The prime minister has wrapped up now. Given that all got a bit choppy with the protest, I’ll come back shortly with a stocktake on Senate reform.
12.16am GMT
00:16
Turnbull is asked who are the beneficiaries of this change. He’s back to the voters.
It needs to be done now so that it is in place before the election, whenever that election is held, in the second part of this year. So the time has come to do this, but as to who may be better off, the truth is that the only person, people that will be better off are the voters because their wish will be clearly translated into a parliamentary outcome and surely that’s what this whole mechanism, this great edifice here is designed to translate the will of the Australian people into senators and members of the house – and that’s what this will do – make that translation more transparent and more effective.
12.14am GMT
00:14
The prime minister and Cormann have said the Australian Electoral Commission will explain these changes to voters in the lead up to the election. The changes will also be referred for inquiry to the joint standing committee on electoral matters, with a reporting date of 2 March. The government is proposing to debate the changes in the Senate from 2 March onwards, for “as long as it takes.”
As to election timings?
Malcolm Turnbull:
Well, nothing has changed. I’m working on the assumption that the election will be held at the normal time, which is August/September/October, in that period.
I know there has been speculation about a double dissolution election.
Our aim is to ... persuade the senators to pass the registered organisations bill and indeed to pass the Australian Building Construction Commission legislation, the legislation that would reinstate them.
That’s why we’d urge them to do that.
12.07am GMT
00:07
It's the voter, stupid
Malcolm Turnbull, in case we missed it.
I will just make this observation: this is critically important – these changes will advantage only the voter. The only person that will benefit from these changes is the voter.
Because the voter will determine where their preferences go. So it’s up to the voter.
12.06am GMT
00:06
Entirely coincidentally, a rendition of Somewhere, over the Rainbow, down the front.
Sit-in ends with a rendition of "Somewhere over the rainbow". @murpharoo pic.twitter.com/rv79iTKife
12.04am GMT
00:04
Back to the prime minister, who thinks the crossbenchers need to vote on this issue on the merits, not out of self interest.
Malcolm Turnbull:
We would hope that Senate crossbenchers will vote on legislation on its merits and without regard to whatever they may perceive to be their personal electoral agenda.
They are, after all, elected to serve the people of the state or territory from which they’re chosen, and they should act accordingly.
(They would of course counter that lowering the number of micro parties in the Senate is entirely in the government’s interest. Everyone is pursuing their interest, here.)
12.02am GMT
00:02
While the prime minister is talking, a protest is underway at the other end of the parliament about children in detention.
"All children matter", protesters say, referring to children in detention. "Enough is enough." @murpharoo pic.twitter.com/fYNExnDsbn
12.00am GMT
00:00
A dig at Labor, which as I’ve mentioned, is divided on this question. Gary Gray (shadow special minister of state) is all for it, the Labor Senate leadership is dead against it.
Malcolm Turnbull:
There’s been no more forceful advocate of this change than Gary Gray himself. Labor’s spokesman in this area.
So this is an important change, it’s an important reform, it’s an important electoral reform. It’s be a important economic reform because it goes to the governance of Australia, our strong economy.
Our destiny depends on the strength of our democracy. This strengthens it because it gives the power, the choice, back into the hands of voters. Clearly and accountably.
(I’m glad the government recognises this as a principle. But I can think of several things which also need urgent attention, which won’t get a run today.)
11.57pm GMT
23:57
"The system has been taken advantage of .. "
The current system has been gamed, Turnbull says.
The system has been taken advantage of. There is no doubt about that. The last Senate election was widely criticised. Australians were astonished to see people elected to the Senate whose primary votes were a fraction – in the case of one senator from Victoria – about half of 1% of the vote.
(Here’s looking at you, Ricky).
11.56pm GMT
23:56
Malcolm Turnbull addresses journalists on Senate reform
The prime minister has arrived in his courtyard downstairs with the finance minister and special minister of state, Mathias Cormann.
Malcolm Turnbull says legislation giving effect to Senate reform will go into the parliament today.
It’s all about empowering the voters, the prime minister says.
What these changes will do, what they seek to do, is to ensure that Australians, Australian voters, determine where their Senate votes go.
11.48pm GMT
23:48
We have a prime ministerial press conference coming up in three minutes on Senate reform.
Hang onto your hats – and watch for that spontaneous barricade in the red chamber.