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Bill Shorten asks Labor to endorse Pat Dodson to replace Joe Bullock – politics live Bill Shorten asks Labor to endorse Pat Dodson to replace Joe Bullock – politics live
(35 minutes later)
11.44pm GMT
23:44
To one other piece of news I haven’t had a chance to cover off yet. Private health insurance premiums will rise by an average of 5.59% this year. That’s quite a big increase, given inflation is low, but the health minister Sussan Ley has managed the claw back the hike the insurance companies originally wanted.
Sussan Ley, on the ABC:
A record number of insurers resubmitted lower price rises in response to a direct request from me to reconsider and recognise that for consumers, affordability and value is vitally important in their hanging on to their private health insurance.
11.33pm GMT
23:33
From one star recruit to another. Lovely shot.
11.24pm GMT
23:24
11.20pm GMT
23:20
Scrap that. The government’s response to the JSCEM recommendations on Senate voting reform no longer anyone’s guess. The government will roll over.
Here’s a statement from Malcolm Turnbull and Mathias Cormann:
The government welcomes the supportive report and recommendations of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters into our proposed Senate voting reforms.
We thank the members of the committee and all those who have made submissions and given evidence to the inquiry.
Our proposed reforms to Senate voting are designed to ensure that the results of future Senate elections reflect the will of the people.
Our reforms will empower Australian voters to determine what happens to their preferences when voting for the Senate above the line, instead of having those preferences traded and ultimately directed by political parties through insufficiently transparent group voting ticket arrangements.
The government has considered the issues raised and the recommendation of the Joint Standing Committee to introduce a form of optional preferential voting below the line as well as above the line and has decided to adopt that recommendation.
The government will move amendments to that effect during the committee stages of the debate on the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment Bill 2016.
Those amendments will provide for instructions to voters to number at least 12 boxes from 1 to 12 in order of their preference when voting below the line, together with a related savings provision that any vote with at least 6 boxes numbered from 1 to 6 below the line would still be considered formal.
These are important reforms in the public interest that will ensure election results reflect the will of voters. We again call on Labor to reconsider their position and to follow the considered advice of their highly regarded shadow minister for electoral Matters Gary Gray instead of just succumbing to the pressures of the union lobby and Labor’s backroom operators.
11.16pm GMT
23:16
Let's recap in case you are just tuning in
That opening of super (Wednesday) is hectic enough to warrant a quick recap of events.
Updated
at 11.22pm GMT
11.01pm GMT11.01pm GMT
23:0123:01
Labor has lost the suspension.Labor has lost the suspension.
Green-Lib gag underway in the Senate. Greens abandoning principle in pursuit of Senate voting deal. #auspolGreen-Lib gag underway in the Senate. Greens abandoning principle in pursuit of Senate voting deal. #auspol
The Senate voting reform bill will therefore come on for debate.The Senate voting reform bill will therefore come on for debate.
10.57pm GMT10.57pm GMT
22:5722:57
JSCEM advises the government to amend the Senate voting reform bill. (Again.)JSCEM advises the government to amend the Senate voting reform bill. (Again.)
Gabrielle ChanGabrielle Chan
Just a quick clean up on Senate voting reform and the key recommendations from the JSCEM report. As we’ve already flagged, any reforms to the senate voting system should include optional preferential voting below the line, with voters instructed to number a minimum of 12 boxes, according to the bipartisan joint parliamentary committee.Just a quick clean up on Senate voting reform and the key recommendations from the JSCEM report. As we’ve already flagged, any reforms to the senate voting system should include optional preferential voting below the line, with voters instructed to number a minimum of 12 boxes, according to the bipartisan joint parliamentary committee.
The committee, headed by Liberal MP David Coleman, supported the government bill to change the senate voting system - but only if it was amended to include optional preferential voting below the line.The committee, headed by Liberal MP David Coleman, supported the government bill to change the senate voting system - but only if it was amended to include optional preferential voting below the line.
The existing bill abolishes group voting tickets, the party-submitted mechanism to decide how preferences flow for supporters who simply vote “above the line” rather than filling in all the candidate squares “below the line”.The existing bill abolishes group voting tickets, the party-submitted mechanism to decide how preferences flow for supporters who simply vote “above the line” rather than filling in all the candidate squares “below the line”.
The committee has also recommended a “savings provision” which would ensure any ballot paper with at least six boxes numbered sequentially from one would also be considered formal.The committee has also recommended a “savings provision” which would ensure any ballot paper with at least six boxes numbered sequentially from one would also be considered formal.
“Preferential voting below the line is most important to ensure that voting below the line is not an extraordinarily arduous process that it currently is and acts as a disincentive to voters to vote below the line,” said Coleman.“Preferential voting below the line is most important to ensure that voting below the line is not an extraordinarily arduous process that it currently is and acts as a disincentive to voters to vote below the line,” said Coleman.
10.53pm GMT10.53pm GMT
22:5322:53
Back to that point about tribalism.Back to that point about tribalism.
Dodson optimistic on bipartisanship: " not swapping indigenous tribalism for white fella tribalism". @murpharooDodson optimistic on bipartisanship: " not swapping indigenous tribalism for white fella tribalism". @murpharoo
10.51pm GMT10.51pm GMT
22:5122:51
Mike Bowers tells me that Labor MP Sharon Bird’s phone just rang in the press conference. The ring tone was the Game of Thrones theme.Mike Bowers tells me that Labor MP Sharon Bird’s phone just rang in the press conference. The ring tone was the Game of Thrones theme.
I will come back to Dodson’s substantive points when there’s a slight break in the weather.I will come back to Dodson’s substantive points when there’s a slight break in the weather.
10.47pm GMT10.47pm GMT
22:4722:47
Tools at twenty pacesTools at twenty paces
Gabrielle ChanGabrielle Chan
While this press conference is underway, there’s a procedural fight banging away in the Senate about today’s order of business.While this press conference is underway, there’s a procedural fight banging away in the Senate about today’s order of business.
Suspension of standing orders in progress in the #Senate to bring on Business Services Wage Assessment Tool Payment Scheme Amendment BillSuspension of standing orders in progress in the #Senate to bring on Business Services Wage Assessment Tool Payment Scheme Amendment Bill
Labor has attempted the suspension to bring on the Business Services Wage Assessment Tool Payment Scheme Amendment Bill.Labor has attempted the suspension to bring on the Business Services Wage Assessment Tool Payment Scheme Amendment Bill.
Government business leader in the Senate Mitch Fifield has described this action as one of the strangest interventions in the Senate.Government business leader in the Senate Mitch Fifield has described this action as one of the strangest interventions in the Senate.
The government has previously argued the tool bill is urgent. So bring it on, says Labor’s Senate leader, Penny Wong.The government has previously argued the tool bill is urgent. So bring it on, says Labor’s Senate leader, Penny Wong.
Fifield says no one is fooled by Labor’s tactics. Labor didn’t accept the urgency argument last time but now they do. Fifield says he simply wanted to deal with the tool bill in this sitting. This is just a filibuster says Fifield.Fifield says no one is fooled by Labor’s tactics. Labor didn’t accept the urgency argument last time but now they do. Fifield says he simply wanted to deal with the tool bill in this sitting. This is just a filibuster says Fifield.
(It’s a proxy fight over Senate voting reform.)(It’s a proxy fight over Senate voting reform.)
10.40pm GMT10.40pm GMT
22:4022:40
Shorten is asked about Louise Pratt, given she’s made it known she’ll be nominating for the Bullock vacancy. He says Louise Pratt is a quality person, and has been a great Senator but ..Shorten is asked about Louise Pratt, given she’s made it known she’ll be nominating for the Bullock vacancy. He says Louise Pratt is a quality person, and has been a great Senator but ..
On this occasion though, I’ll be supporting Pat Dodson.On this occasion though, I’ll be supporting Pat Dodson.
He says he wants a meeting of the national executive as soon as possible to sort this out.He says he wants a meeting of the national executive as soon as possible to sort this out.
Dodson is asked whether he accepts that aligning himself politically carries risks, like alienating people he needs to work with. Dodson says politics doesn’t have to be politics, as in constant combat. Tribalism doesn’t always serve people’s best interests.Dodson is asked whether he accepts that aligning himself politically carries risks, like alienating people he needs to work with. Dodson says politics doesn’t have to be politics, as in constant combat. Tribalism doesn’t always serve people’s best interests.
UpdatedUpdated
at 10.48pm GMTat 10.48pm GMT
10.35pm GMT10.35pm GMT
22:3522:35
Bill Shorten:Bill Shorten:
I want Labor to seize the moment. We should put aside the rough and tumble of the party system and give someone of Pat Dodson’s remarkable qualities the opportunity to serve as a senator.I want Labor to seize the moment. We should put aside the rough and tumble of the party system and give someone of Pat Dodson’s remarkable qualities the opportunity to serve as a senator.
Dodson says some of the current problems with Indigenous policy is communities are outside the process. That needs to change.Dodson says some of the current problems with Indigenous policy is communities are outside the process. That needs to change.
10.32pm GMT10.32pm GMT
22:3222:32
Shorten is telling reporters that he wants to take the opportunity of recruiting people of renown to politics.Shorten is telling reporters that he wants to take the opportunity of recruiting people of renown to politics.
Bill Shorten:Bill Shorten:
Pat Dodson’s CV speak s for itself. He is a person of unmatched intelligence, integrity and achievement. He’s nationally recognised and rightly admired as the father of reconciliation.Pat Dodson’s CV speak s for itself. He is a person of unmatched intelligence, integrity and achievement. He’s nationally recognised and rightly admired as the father of reconciliation.
10.30pm GMT10.30pm GMT
22:3022:30
Pat Dodson to fill casual senate vacancy for Labor @murpharoo @GuardianAus #politicslive pic.twitter.com/uTPNPk29uMPat Dodson to fill casual senate vacancy for Labor @murpharoo @GuardianAus #politicslive pic.twitter.com/uTPNPk29uM
10.29pm GMT10.29pm GMT
22:2922:29
Dodson says recognition in the constitution and future settlements b/w Indigenous and non-Indigenous Austns vital. @murpharooDodson says recognition in the constitution and future settlements b/w Indigenous and non-Indigenous Austns vital. @murpharoo
10.26pm GMT10.26pm GMT
22:2622:26
Dodson says Shorten's call came as a surprise and "took some deep thought". @murpharooDodson says Shorten's call came as a surprise and "took some deep thought". @murpharoo
10.23pm GMT10.23pm GMT
22:2322:23
The presence of Pat will bring credit to not just Labor, but the parliament, shorten days. @murpharooThe presence of Pat will bring credit to not just Labor, but the parliament, shorten days. @murpharoo
10.22pm GMT10.22pm GMT
22:2222:22
The Labor leader is having a press conference downstairs with Pat Dodson, a prominent indigenous leader, at the moment. My colleague Shalailah Medhora is down there.The Labor leader is having a press conference downstairs with Pat Dodson, a prominent indigenous leader, at the moment. My colleague Shalailah Medhora is down there.
Pat's decision to stand for Labor will be a win for Australia esp with unfinished business of reconciliation, Shorten says. @murpharooPat's decision to stand for Labor will be a win for Australia esp with unfinished business of reconciliation, Shorten says. @murpharoo
UpdatedUpdated
at 10.25pm GMTat 10.25pm GMT