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New poll suggests Coalition is holding its ground while Turnbull slides – politics live New poll suggests Coalition is holding its ground while Turnbull slides – politics live
(35 minutes later)
2.28am GMT
02:28
I’ve doubled checked. A spokesman for Di Natale says the Greens will not support the Muir motion to bring on the ABCC bill. This is Senate voting reform week, not ABCC week.
I’ve sought clarification from Labor on their intentions. As yet, no clarity.
2.23am GMT
02:23
Di Natale’s position on the ABCC bill requires a further clarification which I’ll seek when there’s a moment. Saying you won’t do anything to bring on the ABCC bill doesn’t entirely rule out supporting Muir.
2.20am GMT
02:20
Di Natale is asked about a preference deal with the Liberals in Victoria. He says the Greens will not preference the Liberals ahead of Labor in any seat. He says the decision is not up to him, but he believes it is inconceivable that the Greens would preference the Liberals ahead of Labor.
He says the Liberal party may well choose to preference the Greens ahead of Labor in some seats, if the party believes that strategy is in its interests. He notes this used to happen regularly. Liberals being opposed to Greens preference deals is a recent phenomemon. (He’s quite right about this.)
2.14am GMT
02:14
The government should go full term, not shift the budget, says Di Natale
Q: Have they (the government) sounded you out about trying to add more days to bring the budget forward?
Richard Di Natale:
No.
Q: Your position is were they to, that wouldn’t be ...
Our view is that you have the schedule that’s set, we should sit according to that schedule and we should go full term, that’s what the PM should do.
He should go to a budget, we should sit in June and we should have the election as the government has already said, the PM said on a number of occasions, go full term and get a mandate.
2.10am GMT
02:10
Greens say they won't help bring on the ABCC bill
I had just picked up the phone to the Greens when leader Richard Di Natale bobbed up on the TV. He’s asked whether the Greens would support extending the hours to bring on and debate the ABCC legislation – which was where I was going with the call.
No, seems to be the answer.
Richard Di Natale:
We made it clear we don’t support extending hours to do anything other than debate the important issue of Senate voting reform – and we won’t do anything to bring on the ABCC legislation.
Updated
at 2.10am GMT
1.59am GMT1.59am GMT
01:5901:59
ABCC: bring it on says XenophonABCC: bring it on says Xenophon
Nick Xenophon meanwhile is on Sky News, where he’s been asked for his position on the ABCC bill. His position is well known: Xenophon supports passage of the bill provided the government agrees to some safeguards he’s seeking on occupational health and safety.Nick Xenophon meanwhile is on Sky News, where he’s been asked for his position on the ABCC bill. His position is well known: Xenophon supports passage of the bill provided the government agrees to some safeguards he’s seeking on occupational health and safety.
On whether or not the ABCC bill should be considered this week, Xenophon has backed Ricky Muir’s desire to bring on the vote.On whether or not the ABCC bill should be considered this week, Xenophon has backed Ricky Muir’s desire to bring on the vote.
Nick Xenophon:Nick Xenophon:
If we sit extra hours we should be able to deal with both senate voting reform and the ABCC.If we sit extra hours we should be able to deal with both senate voting reform and the ABCC.
1.49am GMT1.49am GMT
01:4901:49
Victorian premier Daniel Andrews is asked whether he is happy with the policing effort at Federation Square.Victorian premier Daniel Andrews is asked whether he is happy with the policing effort at Federation Square.
Daniel Andrews:Daniel Andrews:
I’ve been briefed on the information that Victoria Police had and I’m confident that the preparations that they put in place were proportionate to the threat that had been advised to them.I’ve been briefed on the information that Victoria Police had and I’m confident that the preparations that they put in place were proportionate to the threat that had been advised to them.
Obviously what occurred was significantly more serious, if you like, a much bigger, much more violent, it was in many respects a unique set of circumstances.Obviously what occurred was significantly more serious, if you like, a much bigger, much more violent, it was in many respects a unique set of circumstances.
I fully support the work of our Victoria Police on this matter.I fully support the work of our Victoria Police on this matter.
1.44am GMT1.44am GMT
01:4401:44
In Victoria, the premier and the police commissioner are having a press conference about the riot in Melbourne over the weekend. The Liberal senator Scott Ryan was complaining earlier today about the response at the event because the intention for disruption was telegraphed in advance.In Victoria, the premier and the police commissioner are having a press conference about the riot in Melbourne over the weekend. The Liberal senator Scott Ryan was complaining earlier today about the response at the event because the intention for disruption was telegraphed in advance.
Q: In terms of preparation by police, do you think you were ill-prepared given there had been a social media tip-off relaid to you?Q: In terms of preparation by police, do you think you were ill-prepared given there had been a social media tip-off relaid to you?
The police commissioner says there was some social media advice provided to police.The police commissioner says there was some social media advice provided to police.
It was fairly scant information. We had no further information or intelligence that would in any way indicate that we would see the behaviour that we did see on Saturday night.It was fairly scant information. We had no further information or intelligence that would in any way indicate that we would see the behaviour that we did see on Saturday night.
So based on the information, the intelligence available to us at the time, I believe that we were prepared.So based on the information, the intelligence available to us at the time, I believe that we were prepared.
1.35am GMT1.35am GMT
01:3501:35
More like, why not.More like, why not.
why.pic.twitter.com/jb9hqP5rw4why.pic.twitter.com/jb9hqP5rw4
1.21am GMT1.21am GMT
01:2101:21
Oh, I did forget in the summary. Treasurer Scott Morrison has said the budget will happen on the day scheduled for budget day, more than likely. As opposed to the week before that.Oh, I did forget in the summary. Treasurer Scott Morrison has said the budget will happen on the day scheduled for budget day, more than likely. As opposed to the week before that.
Moving forward.Moving forward.
Over in the west, Labor man Stephen Smith is holding a press conference about his desire to lead the state Labor party in order to help Labor win the coming election election in the west. This development emerged over the weekend.Over in the west, Labor man Stephen Smith is holding a press conference about his desire to lead the state Labor party in order to help Labor win the coming election election in the west. This development emerged over the weekend.
From this distance, Smith’s sortie makes absolutely no sense. Looking at Smith speaking now, it still makes no sense. It’s completely out of character, this burst of wildness. The hallmark of Stephen Smith in Canberra was abundant caution. He won’t even say why he would be a better leader than the current leader Mark McGowan. He will only repeat demurely what other people say to me on this subject. He says unnamed others say to him that he has the maturity and experience to lead Labor in WA. Others observe that he is calm and can cope with policy complexity. Pressed again he questions the capacity of McGowan to win ten seats on a 10% swing.From this distance, Smith’s sortie makes absolutely no sense. Looking at Smith speaking now, it still makes no sense. It’s completely out of character, this burst of wildness. The hallmark of Stephen Smith in Canberra was abundant caution. He won’t even say why he would be a better leader than the current leader Mark McGowan. He will only repeat demurely what other people say to me on this subject. He says unnamed others say to him that he has the maturity and experience to lead Labor in WA. Others observe that he is calm and can cope with policy complexity. Pressed again he questions the capacity of McGowan to win ten seats on a 10% swing.
1.12am GMT1.12am GMT
01:1201:12
Politics this lunchtimePolitics this lunchtime
Time to take stock of Monday morning. The main stories:Time to take stock of Monday morning. The main stories:
12.57am GMT12.57am GMT
00:5700:57
Safely in situ in new digs, I’ll be back shortly with a lunchtime summary.Safely in situ in new digs, I’ll be back shortly with a lunchtime summary.
12.27am GMT12.27am GMT
00:2700:27
Now dear readers bear with me, I need to switch locations, meaning I’ll be off the air for about twenty minutes. Just chat among yourselves while I tend to that. See you shortly.Now dear readers bear with me, I need to switch locations, meaning I’ll be off the air for about twenty minutes. Just chat among yourselves while I tend to that. See you shortly.
12.13am GMT
00:13
I suspect it’s worth posting Eric Abetz’s full response to the PricewaterhouseCoopers study of the full costs of the proposed marriage equality plebiscite. I agree with Abetz that it is quite odd to analyse a democratic process in terms of opportunity cost. I don’t recall a study that has done that before. But I feel readers will be interested in this response in full.
Eric Abetz, on the ABC.
Look you can ask the question what price of democracy and changing the fundamental institution which has socialised children for the past millennia can’t be reduced to bean counting. And when you know, and if I heard correctly the $281m dollars of that figure or 500 plus is in fact the time taken to vote, it does show and indicate that this was a study in inverted commas with an outcome that was sought by those doing it.
Because quite frankly to try to take into account and double the figure on the basis of the time taken to vote as being a factor basically sees that, look let’s get rid of democracy each time people go to the polling booth it costs them $281m. But then in a very perceptive question the interviewer was able to get out of PricewaterhouseCoopers that it was not an actual financial costs but just something foregone.
So instead of sitting at home on election or plebiscite days for an extra 15, 20 minutes, or half an hour you actually go out to vote and you put the financial cost on that is, I must say, quite a bizarre way to undertake such an analysis. And of course it doesn’t take into account the costs on the other side of this debate - people who feel strongly, who will feel depressed about a change if it were to occur as a result of a plebiscite. So I think this is a very skewed study.
Updated
at 12.13am GMT
12.00am GMT
00:00
It’s always bad for my concentration, mentioning America. I’ve been sharing a lot of top shelf material from the primaries on Facebook but I will here too as time permits. Slate has published a piece from chief political correspondent Jamelle Bouie which is a racial analysis of Donald Trump’s rise. Very much worth your time. Here’s a very small excerpt.
We’ve been missing the most important catalyst in Trump’s rise. What caused this fire to burn out of control? The answer, I think, is Barack Obama. In a nation shaped and defined by a rigid racial hierarchy, his election was very much a radical event, in which a man from one of the nation’s lowest castes ascended to the summit of its political landscape. And he did so with heavy support from minorities: Asian Americans and Latinos were an important part of Obama’s coalition, and black Americans turned out at their highest numbers ever in 2008.
Updated
at 12.01am GMT
11.50pm GMT
23:50
John Howard has been on television in the United States talking about the benefits to community safety associated with gun control. Howard was interviewed on CBS. Obviously gun control is a hot issue in the American election.
John Howard:
It is incontestable that gun-related homicides have fallen quite significantly in Australia, incontestable. I mean, if you had 13 mass shootings before Port Arthur and you had none since, isn’t that evidence? And you had a 74% fall in the gun-related suicide rates, isn’t that evidence? Or are we expected to believe that that was all magically going to happen? Come on.
11.25pm GMT
23:25
Bishop is also unimpressed with Ricky Muir’s plans to try and bring on the ABCC bill for a vote this week.
The only reason we are having this discussion is because the cross benchers and Labor are refusing to support legislation that would prevent corrupt unions and corrupt union officials from carrying out their unlawful activities, as identified by the royal commission.
(This response of course doesn’t explain the government’s failure to bring on the issue during this parliamentary week. If you want the bill voted down, then it does seem sensible to bring it on.)
11.22pm GMT
23:22
Q: One of your predecessors, Stephen Smith, is being touted as the leader of the Labor party in your home state. Any comment?
Julie Bishop:
I think people will remember that Stephen Smith was a Cabinet minister in the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd government that brought the carbon and mining taxes to WA, trashed the budget, ran up record deficits and trashed the live export industry – so Stephen Smith will have a lot of explaining to do if he runs for high office.
11.19pm GMT
23:19
Bishop is asked about the Australian ambassador in Turkey who was very close to the blast in Ankara that killed 34 people.
Julie Bishop:
Our ambassador was actually at that intersection in his vehicle about 20 metres away from the blast. He is fine. All of the Australian staff and our locally engaged embassy staff are fine. In fact, I understand that no foreigners were either killed or injured in the attack, although the investigations are still under way.
Q: Does this raise questions about the security of Australian diplomatic personnel in areas that either have had attacks or are under threat?
We are constantly reviewing the security arrangements for our diplomats overseas.
Q: Will there be a specific investigation into this particular diplomat and this diplomatic post?
There is always an ongoing review whenever there is an incident like this, there is always a review.
Q: Do you think he was targeted or just unfortunate to be in the area?
He was just there at the time. No, I don’t believe at all he was targeted. This was actually directed, as I understand, at Turkish soldiers.
Q: Will we consider pulling diplomatic staff out given the worsening security situation in Turkey?
No, we would not.
11.11pm GMT
23:11
Bishop is asked about whether a meeting scheduled tomorrow with the foreign minister of Iran will produce a repatriation deal on asylum seekers. Doesn’t sound like it.
Julie Bishop:
These discussions are at a very early stage among officials. It’s certainly a goal at officials level at present.
11.08pm GMT
23:08
Bishop is asked whether or not Australia is concerned that an ABC TV crew has been detained in Malaysia after investigating corruption. The foreign minister is concerned. She says this incident has been raised with the Malaysian government.
Julie Bishop:
We are deeply concerned about this. We are providing consular support for the ABC crew.
I haven’t got to this issue yet this morning. Thanks to the ABC for this report.
An ABC Four Corners crew has been detained by Malaysian police after trying to question Prime Minister Najib Razak over a corruption scandal. Reporter Linton Besser and camera operator Louie Eroglu were arrested in the city of Kuching on Saturday night, after approaching Mr Razak on the street. Both were released without charge on Sunday, but have been told not to leave the country.
11.03pm GMT
23:03
The foreign minister Julie Bishop is in Fiji to inspect the relief effort after the big cyclone. She’s already done several interviews this morning, and she’s having a media conference now.
Q: How much additional money will Australia provide?
Julie Bishop:
It’s a question of what Fiji is looking for.
10.59pm GMT
22:59
While the treasurer is driving up the road past Gundaroo, the special minister of state Mathias Cormann is making himself available on the internet on Senate voting reform.
That is absolutely your democratic right as an Australian citizen. Thank you for exercising it. https://t.co/W4KZNkKVHh