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Coalition divisions on Safe Schools widen as Senate marathon sitting continues – question time live | |
(35 minutes later) | |
3.40am GMT | |
03:40 | |
Shadow treasurer, Chris Bowen. | |
Q: My question is to the treasurer. Despite the treasurer’s talk, isn’t it the case that the tax to GDP ratio is now higher than at any time than under the former Labor government? Isn’t this just another example of the government being all talk and no action? | |
The treasurer is currently working through the greatest hits on Labor policies of the past. Grocery Watch. Fuel Watch. | |
Speaker Tony Smith says he’s delighted by Morrison’s analogies but an analogy can’t be the whole answer. Bit of sass there from the chair. | |
Morrison ignores him and frolics on. Carbon tax. Mining tax. | |
Labor says Morrison should follow the speaker’s advice. | |
Smith says it’s ok, he’s back on tax now. But I’m listening. | |
3.34am GMT | |
03:34 | |
Labor’s questions have been framed around the prime minister caving to the right wing of the Liberal party on expenditure cuts. Two questions on health. | |
The government has bowled up the virtues of yesterday’s decision on the effects test. The small business minister Kelly O’Dwyer. Why Labor. Why? | |
Now, one might wonder why is it that those opposite do not support free enterprise, do not support small business, do not support innovation and do not support the strengthening of competition laws? | |
3.31am GMT | |
03:31 | |
Things that make you go hmmmm. | |
3.24am GMT | |
03:24 | |
Rather unkindly, the treasurer, Scott Morrison, uses the question from McGowan to plug the Liberal party candidate, Sophie Mirrabella. | |
3.22am GMT | |
03:22 | |
My Speaker is to the treasurer. | |
This is independent Cathy McGowan. | |
It’s ok. I totally understand. | |
3.18am GMT | |
03:18 | |
Turnbull, astride a barbed wire fence | |
Bill Shorten returns to the dispatch box to ask a question about whether the prime minister will cave in to the right wing of his party and privatise Medicare. | |
For some reason, Turnbull thinks this is a question about Safe Schools. | |
The prime minister provides this rather limp formulation, where he both attacks Shorten for extracting partisan advantage while validating the concerns about Safe Schools and rebuking the complainants in his own side. | |
I think when you stand astride a barbed wire fence, you risk doing yourself an injury. A nasty one. | |
Malcolm Turnbull: | |
The way the leader of the opposition has sought to extract partisan advantage from this is thoroughly unworthy. | |
The way that he has sought to describe any critic of the Safe Schools program as being an extremist or an ideologue or worse is utterly unworthy and he should recognise that inflaming this debate is unworthy. | |
I repeat what I said on the last time we discussed this and I address this to every member of this House - all members expressing views on this program should choose their words carefully and remember the impact their statements can have on young people and their families. | |
3.09am GMT | 3.09am GMT |
03:09 | 03:09 |
The act is the act | The act is the act |
Just while the Dorothy Dixer happens, here’s the Christensen exchange on acting or not acting on your urges, via Shalailah Medhora. | |
Q: Do you think [sexuality] is a choice? | Q: Do you think [sexuality] is a choice? |
George Christensen: | George Christensen: |
Obviously it’s a choice... Or they can be born that way. They can choose it. | Obviously it’s a choice... Or they can be born that way. They can choose it. |
Q: Well which one is it? | Q: Well which one is it? |
George Christensen: | George Christensen: |
Whatever it is. If the person is born gay, then they’re gay. If someone makes the choice that they’re going to have homosexual sex, that’s up to them. | Whatever it is. If the person is born gay, then they’re gay. If someone makes the choice that they’re going to have homosexual sex, that’s up to them. |
It’s a free world. | It’s a free world. |
Q: If you think being gay is a choice - | Q: If you think being gay is a choice - |
George Christensen: | George Christensen: |
I didn’t say it was a choice. I said people could choose if they want. So I’m not saying it’s a choice people have, that they’re not born gay... You can choose to enter into homosexual relationships if you want to. It’s a free society. | I didn’t say it was a choice. I said people could choose if they want. So I’m not saying it’s a choice people have, that they’re not born gay... You can choose to enter into homosexual relationships if you want to. It’s a free society. |
Q: What’s the difference? | Q: What’s the difference? |
George Christensen: | George Christensen: |
There’s no difference... There’s no difference in the act. If you’ve chosen it of if you’re born with it. The act is the act. | There’s no difference... There’s no difference in the act. If you’ve chosen it of if you’re born with it. The act is the act. |
Updated | |
at 3.10am GMT | |
3.05am GMT | 3.05am GMT |
03:05 | 03:05 |
Question time | Question time |
Labor opens on Ian Macfarlane, and his job offer in Queensland. The Courier Mail story I pointed to earlier this morning. | Labor opens on Ian Macfarlane, and his job offer in Queensland. The Courier Mail story I pointed to earlier this morning. |
Q: Can the prime minister confirm that he spoke to the Queensland premier on Friday morning about the appointment of the member for Groom as Queensland Resources Investment Commissioner. Did the prime minister attempt to interfere in the independent process, including but not limited to, requesting the appointment be delayed until after the federal election? | Q: Can the prime minister confirm that he spoke to the Queensland premier on Friday morning about the appointment of the member for Groom as Queensland Resources Investment Commissioner. Did the prime minister attempt to interfere in the independent process, including but not limited to, requesting the appointment be delayed until after the federal election? |
Turnbull’s response to Shorten is I talk to premiers all the time. Confidentially, he adds. | Turnbull’s response to Shorten is I talk to premiers all the time. Confidentially, he adds. |
3.00am GMT | 3.00am GMT |
03:00 | 03:00 |
The Labor leader Bill Shorten is using his 90 second statement before question time to speak about Safe Schools. His message is directed at the prime minister. The prime minister needs to stand up on this issue. | The Labor leader Bill Shorten is using his 90 second statement before question time to speak about Safe Schools. His message is directed at the prime minister. The prime minister needs to stand up on this issue. |
Bill Shorten: | Bill Shorten: |
When you give into a bully, they come back wanting more. When you give into bullies on the right wing of your party, they come back wanting more. | When you give into a bully, they come back wanting more. When you give into bullies on the right wing of your party, they come back wanting more. |
2.57am GMT | 2.57am GMT |
02:57 | 02:57 |
Christensen also, according to my colleague Shalailah Medhora, observed that people could be gay but refuse to act on their urges. That old chestnut. | Christensen also, according to my colleague Shalailah Medhora, observed that people could be gay but refuse to act on their urges. That old chestnut. |
I’ll get the quote from her and bring it to you when I can. Question time now. | I’ll get the quote from her and bring it to you when I can. Question time now. |
2.51am GMT | 2.51am GMT |
02:51 | 02:51 |
More George, on the scourge of Marxist gayness. | More George, on the scourge of Marxist gayness. |
It’s trying to put queer gender theory into schools and I think that needs to stand in university. | It’s trying to put queer gender theory into schools and I think that needs to stand in university. |
If you want an anti-bullying program, have an anti-bullying program, but don’t bring queer gender theory into schools. | If you want an anti-bullying program, have an anti-bullying program, but don’t bring queer gender theory into schools. |
That’s for the esoteric part of the university, too, not mainstream schools. | That’s for the esoteric part of the university, too, not mainstream schools. |
2.47am GMT | 2.47am GMT |
02:47 | 02:47 |
Christensen has told reporters he raised concerns about the program when Tony Abbott was prime minister. Nothing happened at that point. | Christensen has told reporters he raised concerns about the program when Tony Abbott was prime minister. Nothing happened at that point. |
A fairly salient point to bear in mind, given the former prime minister is now rolling along on this backlash bandwagon. Rolling, rolling, rolling. | A fairly salient point to bear in mind, given the former prime minister is now rolling along on this backlash bandwagon. Rolling, rolling, rolling. |
While I’m catching up on Christensen, on my television, the Liberal senator Cory Bernardi says this program is about implementing the Marxist agenda through the school system. | While I’m catching up on Christensen, on my television, the Liberal senator Cory Bernardi says this program is about implementing the Marxist agenda through the school system. |
2.41am GMT | 2.41am GMT |
02:41 | 02:41 |
I don't want to see the sexual liberation of young people | I don't want to see the sexual liberation of young people |
Christensen, who is looking so delighted with himself he can hardly function, has held court in the corridor. | Christensen, who is looking so delighted with himself he can hardly function, has held court in the corridor. |
Q: Do you concede [the Safe Schools program] is stamping out bullying? | Q: Do you concede [the Safe Schools program] is stamping out bullying? |
That’s obviously one of its outcomes, but I’m just saying it’s obviously one of its outcomes, but it’s got other outcomes as well and again, Ros Ward has talked about sexual liberation of young people. | That’s obviously one of its outcomes, but I’m just saying it’s obviously one of its outcomes, but it’s got other outcomes as well and again, Ros Ward has talked about sexual liberation of young people. |
I don’t want to see sexual liberation of young people. | I don’t want to see sexual liberation of young people. |
Updated | Updated |
at 2.41am GMT | at 2.41am GMT |