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Government MPs launch round two in opposing the Safe Schools program – politics live Turnbull flips and supports an effects test in competition law – politics live
(35 minutes later)
1.19am GMT
01:19
Big business won’t like it. As long as the Nationals have campaigned for an effects test, big business has campaigned against one.
1.18am GMT
01:18
The short version of the politics of an effects test. The Nationals want it. They’ve campaigned for it for years, and when I say years, I mean as long as I’ve been in this building. The economic rationalists of the Liberal party have resisted this notion for years. Including Turnbull, when he wasn’t the leader.
1.06am GMT
01:06
If you don’t speak competition law – an effects test is designed to stop big firms misusing their market power. Critics of effects tests say they drive up consumer prices.
1.04am GMT
01:04
Stand by for an effects test
Coming up shortly: the communications minister at the National Press Club.
And the prime minister will shortly confirm a decision by Cabinet to implement an effects test in the competition law. This is a fairly amazing development, given Turnbull argued pretty vigorously against an effects test before he took the Liberal leadership from Tony Abbott.
12.49am GMT12.49am GMT
00:4900:49
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says it is no secret that Macfarlane has applied for the job of Queensland resources commissioner, which will be decided according to a merit based selection. She says the government would like whomever the successful applicant is to start in the new gig soon.Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says it is no secret that Macfarlane has applied for the job of Queensland resources commissioner, which will be decided according to a merit based selection. She says the government would like whomever the successful applicant is to start in the new gig soon.
12.46am GMT12.46am GMT
00:4600:46
The Queensland premier is speaking to reporters in Brisbane now. She is asked whether Ian Macfarlane has a job or not.The Queensland premier is speaking to reporters in Brisbane now. She is asked whether Ian Macfarlane has a job or not.
He has applied for the job. I can confirm he has applied.He has applied for the job. I can confirm he has applied.
12.34am GMT12.34am GMT
00:3400:34
Because today wasn’t quite unhinged enough. Apparently the Queensland government is now disputing the fact that Ian Macfarlane has been offered a job in the state. I’ll keep you posted as (disputed) particulars come to hand. Usually you can rely on someone being able to report accurately whether they have a job offer or not. Politics does move the goal posts on reliability, though.Because today wasn’t quite unhinged enough. Apparently the Queensland government is now disputing the fact that Ian Macfarlane has been offered a job in the state. I’ll keep you posted as (disputed) particulars come to hand. Usually you can rely on someone being able to report accurately whether they have a job offer or not. Politics does move the goal posts on reliability, though.
Prem Palaszczuk S/man says selection process is ongoing. Insists No offer has been made. https://t.co/XvducMDAkNPrem Palaszczuk S/man says selection process is ongoing. Insists No offer has been made. https://t.co/XvducMDAkN
12.24am GMT12.24am GMT
00:2400:24
In Florida, Marco Rubio has just suspended his campaign after failing to win his home state of Florida in the Republican primaries.In Florida, Marco Rubio has just suspended his campaign after failing to win his home state of Florida in the Republican primaries.
12.21am GMT12.21am GMT
00:2100:21
Summary this almost lunchtimeSummary this almost lunchtime
I know we are early but a small cluster of things is going to happen between about noon and 2pm, so I’m getting in early with our stocktake.I know we are early but a small cluster of things is going to happen between about noon and 2pm, so I’m getting in early with our stocktake.
Let’s recap Wednesday morning in Canberra.Let’s recap Wednesday morning in Canberra.
Yes, that is Wednesday. Delightful.Yes, that is Wednesday. Delightful.
Cue restorative drumming solo.Cue restorative drumming solo.
11.52pm GMT11.52pm GMT
23:5223:52
We could use a blast of grannies right about now.We could use a blast of grannies right about now.
Don’t you reckon?Don’t you reckon?
11.49pm GMT11.49pm GMT
23:4923:49
My colleague Shalailah Medhora has been told by Macfarlane’s office the new job is resources investment commissioner for the Queensland government. The official word is he intends to stay in parliament until the election, unless he announces otherwise. Which is a fairly significant unless in the circumstances.My colleague Shalailah Medhora has been told by Macfarlane’s office the new job is resources investment commissioner for the Queensland government. The official word is he intends to stay in parliament until the election, unless he announces otherwise. Which is a fairly significant unless in the circumstances.
11.44pm GMT11.44pm GMT
23:4423:44
Political editor for Sky News, David Speers, is reporting that Queensland Liberal Ian Macfarlane has been offered a job by the Queensland government. The implications of this are obvious. Will he leave the parliament and trigger a by-election?Political editor for Sky News, David Speers, is reporting that Queensland Liberal Ian Macfarlane has been offered a job by the Queensland government. The implications of this are obvious. Will he leave the parliament and trigger a by-election?
11.41pm GMT11.41pm GMT
23:4123:41
Some pictures from earlier of Bill Shorten with the poorly treated workers.Some pictures from earlier of Bill Shorten with the poorly treated workers.
11.36pm GMT
23:36
Back to Chris Bowen for a moment. The shadow treasurer was asked about his own negative gearing policy. Was Labor really prepared to implement this policy, particularly if it discovered significant implementation issues along the way? Paul Keating tried to fiddle with negative gearing in the 1980s and ditched it after-all. Might he do the same thing?
Bowen says he’s not for turning.
Our policy is clear. It will be implemented by an incoming Labor government.
11.32pm GMT
23:32
While I’ve been trying not to smack my head on the desk, Magic Mike has been shaking his tail feather bringing me visuals of the day. He visited grandmas for refugees earlier today, bless them.
11.28pm GMT
23:28
There is a lot about today that is making me laugh out loud. There’s quite a large laugh coming up a bit later on as well, but we’ll get to that in due course. The big guffaw.
11.25pm GMT
23:25
Down in the courtyard, the shadow treasurer Chris Bowen is laying into the treasurer Scott Morrison. It’s quite clear Scott Morrison should hand back the keys to the treasury portfolio, Bowen says.
We don’t even know when the budget will be.
11.17pm GMT
23:17
Over in the Mural Hall, the prime minister Malcolm Turnbull is making sure we are all pulling in the same direction. Worthy aspiration. This is a speech about regional development.
11.15pm GMT
23:15
Bob Day, continuing.
A petard is French for bomb.
11.13pm GMT
23:13
Over in the senate, debate has begun on the voting reform legislation. Family First senator Bob Day is speaking presently, saying he can’t believe the government has moved to stifle independent voices in the senate. This is an odd line of argument from this particular parliamentarian given he has voted with the government more often than any other cross bencher. But why sweat the small incomprehensible things when the big things are equally incomprehensible. Day says this proposal will see the government introduce first past the post voting by stealth. Foul deeds will rise.
11.05pm GMT
23:05
Politics tragics who still watch the telly will be aware that there is a lot of taxpayer funded advertising on TV at the moment, some of it quite general in nature.
Labor isn’t worried about the lack of verbs, it’s worried that at least one current campaign – welcome to the ideas boom – breaches official guidelines on taxpayer funded advertising.
Pat Conroy has written to the Commonwealth auditor-general asking whether the $28m innovation policy campaign uses a political slogan. The guidelines prohibit the use of political slogans.
The campaign says: “There has never been a more exciting time to be an Australian.” If that formulation sounds familiar, it is. We know who says this because he says it very often. Most days. Sometimes several times a day. He’s a politician, and a senior one.
Conroy has asked the auditor-general to rule on the matter, and also rule on whether or not the campaign is factual and verifiable.
10.49pm GMT
22:49
Sometimes you’ve just got to dive in.
10.41pm GMT
22:41
Persisting on Safe Schools, Shorten says Turnbull is going to have to decide whether to back his education minister, or side with the “tin foil hate brigade” in the Liberal party’s right wing. Shorten says the prime minister can’t do both.
Bill Shorten:
The idea behind Safe Schools is that children who are grappling with their sexuality, who are dealing with the toughest issues teenagers can in terms of bullying, that Safe Schools would provide resources for schools to be able to help students. It’s a voluntary scheme. Schools opt in to the Safe Schools program.
Who is Mr Turnbull or indeed the sort of the tin foil hat brigade in the Liberal right wing in the senate to start second guessing school councils, school principals and the administrators?