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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2016/mar/17/senate-enters-a-marathon-sitting-to-pass-voting-reform-politics-live
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| Senate enters a marathon sitting to pass voting reform – politics live | Senate enters a marathon sitting to pass voting reform – politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 9.53pm GMT | |
| 21:53 | |
| I gather the Dreyfus referral relates to Stuart Robert and shares in a related company. I’m chasing his referral and will post it when I get it. | |
| 9.41pm GMT | |
| 21:41 | |
| The Australian Federal Police have issued a statement in relation to Stuart Robert. | |
| The Australian Federal Police (AFP) can confirm it received a referral on Sunday 14 February 2016 from Mark Dreyfus QC MP in relation to this matter. The matter is now being investigated and while this occurs, it is not appropriate to provide further comment. | |
| 9.28pm GMT | |
| 21:28 | |
| Some breaking news from the Herald Sun journalist Ellen Whinnett. | |
| Exclusive: Police are investigating dumped minister Stuart Robert over China trip @theheraldsun @Fiona_HS #auspolhttps://t.co/kSOJKAg7WN | |
| 9.26pm GMT | |
| 21:26 | |
| Entsch was asked whether the government review into Safe Schools was a whitewash as critics claim. Conservative MPs say the review only visited five schools and didn’t look at the full range of materials. Entsch says his impression of the review was it was short, sharp and a bit limited – but it was balanced. | |
| Q: Was it a whitewash? | |
| Of course not. It was quite balanced. | |
| He feels some of the education being offered through the program could be offered to some of the adults in the parliament. Entsch says comments like all kids start of being confused until they end up normal are absurd. He suspects children are more tolerant than adults. | |
| 9.13pm GMT | 9.13pm GMT |
| 21:13 | 21:13 |
| O petition, where art thou? | O petition, where art thou? |
| Warren Entsch, a staunch advocate of LGBTI issues within government ranks, has just been interviewed by Radio National. He says colleagues campaigning against the Safe Schools program have a “particular agenda.” He says the current debate really needs “a voice of reason.” His view is the current backlash is being driven by interest groups outside the parliament. Entsch has also noted that people can “draw their own conclusions” why nothing was heard of this program when Tony Abbott was the prime minister. | Warren Entsch, a staunch advocate of LGBTI issues within government ranks, has just been interviewed by Radio National. He says colleagues campaigning against the Safe Schools program have a “particular agenda.” He says the current debate really needs “a voice of reason.” His view is the current backlash is being driven by interest groups outside the parliament. Entsch has also noted that people can “draw their own conclusions” why nothing was heard of this program when Tony Abbott was the prime minister. |
| Entsch has told Radio National he has seen the petition being circulated by Christensen – the letter calling for the program to be defunded until a parliamentary inquiry is conducted – but he refused to sign it or circulate it. | Entsch has told Radio National he has seen the petition being circulated by Christensen – the letter calling for the program to be defunded until a parliamentary inquiry is conducted – but he refused to sign it or circulate it. |
| Warren Entsch: | Warren Entsch: |
| I handed it back. I wasn’t prepared to pass it on. | I handed it back. I wasn’t prepared to pass it on. |
| He says he got an email last night from Christensen’s office asking about the whereabouts of said petition. The email asked did anyone know where the petition was. | He says he got an email last night from Christensen’s office asking about the whereabouts of said petition. The email asked did anyone know where the petition was. |
| It seems to have disappeared. | It seems to have disappeared. |
| Entsch says he had nothing to do with any disappearance. | Entsch says he had nothing to do with any disappearance. |
| 9.01pm GMT | 9.01pm GMT |
| 21:01 | 21:01 |
| Happy Thursday | Happy Thursday |
| Good morning and welcome to Canberra, where hot air is belching in regular intervals over the top of parliament house. No, not a gaggle of aggrieved backbenchers, but a cluster of balloons moving gracefully across the lake. As I drove in this morning a giant censorious owl was staring in incomprehension at parliament house. It seemed fitting. | Good morning and welcome to Canberra, where hot air is belching in regular intervals over the top of parliament house. No, not a gaggle of aggrieved backbenchers, but a cluster of balloons moving gracefully across the lake. As I drove in this morning a giant censorious owl was staring in incomprehension at parliament house. It seemed fitting. |
| We can all make like giant censorious owls and via this live coverage, watch the banquet that politics serves up this Thursday. In no particular order, the government’s senate voting reform package will work its way through the red room at some point in the next 24 hours courtesy of an agreement between the government and the Greens. | We can all make like giant censorious owls and via this live coverage, watch the banquet that politics serves up this Thursday. In no particular order, the government’s senate voting reform package will work its way through the red room at some point in the next 24 hours courtesy of an agreement between the government and the Greens. |
| We expect a short debate on marriage equality during private members time in the senate today. A vote on the legislation is not, technically, impossible, but it’s highly unlikely. This debate is happening because earlier in the week the Greens denied themselves the opportunity of voting on their own marriage bill because of the agreement they’d reached with the government on senate voting reform. | We expect a short debate on marriage equality during private members time in the senate today. A vote on the legislation is not, technically, impossible, but it’s highly unlikely. This debate is happening because earlier in the week the Greens denied themselves the opportunity of voting on their own marriage bill because of the agreement they’d reached with the government on senate voting reform. |
| The Coalition is still roiling over the Safe Schools programs. Yesterday, under the cover of parliamentary privilege, and later on Sky News, LNP backbencher George Christensen, accused a professor linked to the anti-bullying program of being an advocate of paedophilia. Christensen is pushing for a parliamentary inquiry into the program because he doesn’t approve of the outcome of a recent review the government undertook of the program at the request of conservative MPs, including Christensen. The Australian reports this morning that the deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, intends to raise the issue with the education minister Simon Birmingham. I’ve heard one government backbencher, Ewen Jones, standing up for the value of the program on the wireless this morning. Thus far we’ve heard nothing at all from the prime minister. I wonder if we will? | The Coalition is still roiling over the Safe Schools programs. Yesterday, under the cover of parliamentary privilege, and later on Sky News, LNP backbencher George Christensen, accused a professor linked to the anti-bullying program of being an advocate of paedophilia. Christensen is pushing for a parliamentary inquiry into the program because he doesn’t approve of the outcome of a recent review the government undertook of the program at the request of conservative MPs, including Christensen. The Australian reports this morning that the deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, intends to raise the issue with the education minister Simon Birmingham. I’ve heard one government backbencher, Ewen Jones, standing up for the value of the program on the wireless this morning. Thus far we’ve heard nothing at all from the prime minister. I wonder if we will? |
| Rather than wonder, let’s press on. The comments thread is wide open for your business. Magic Mike and I are up and about on the twits. He’s @mpbowers and I’m @murpharoo You can also chime in (and I hope you do) on my Facebook forum, which you can see here. If you are Mike mad (many people are, including me) you can follow him on Instagram at mikepbowers | Rather than wonder, let’s press on. The comments thread is wide open for your business. Magic Mike and I are up and about on the twits. He’s @mpbowers and I’m @murpharoo You can also chime in (and I hope you do) on my Facebook forum, which you can see here. If you are Mike mad (many people are, including me) you can follow him on Instagram at mikepbowers |