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Senate sits through the night to consider voting reform – politics live Senate sits through the night to consider voting reform – politics live
(35 minutes later)
10.29pm GMT
22:29
Paul Karp
Greens senator Scott Ludlam has told Guardian Australia the Senate reform debate has started running at regular pace.
“It’s incredibly elastic - it could be over in 20 minutes without a gag or it could run until Tuesday. It’s entirely up to the mood. If you forced me to make a prediction I’d say we’ll close this out about 11am”.
After Senate reform there are six or seven uncontroversial bills, but senators may choose to speak on them all the same.
10.18pm GMT
22:18
Labor’s Sam Dastyari, fading fast.
If you want a micro nap @samdastyari don't sit behind the person with the call #HotTip pic.twitter.com/AOJTw1ysMq
10.10pm GMT
22:10
AAP reports the independent senator Jacqui Lambie has raised the white flag, calling it quits on the marathon session in the upper house, saying she had an appointment to meet with workers instead.
Jacqui Lambie:
It’s a done deal. There’s nothing more for me to say ... so I’m getting on with the job.
Cross bench colleagues are persisting. Family First senator Bob Day is speaking to amendments now.
10.05pm GMT
22:05
Your mother was a huckster, and your father smelt of elderberry.
9.55pm GMT
21:55
Top of the pops from overnight
Shalailah Medhora
As Murph mentioned a bit earlier, I’ve been compiling the best lines from the debate overnight. Here’s my picks.
Labor’s Doug Cameron quoting Monty Python’s The Holy Grail
You empty-headed animal food trough wiper. I fart in your general direction.
Special minister of state, Mathias Cormann
If you still want to be here on Easter Friday, on Good Friday, that’s fine. Let’s be here on Easter Friday, we will be here until this legislation is dealt with.
Labor’s Glenn Sterle.
[Slurring] I never thought I would ever miss senators Milne and Brown. I know what I’ve just said, and I can assure you I’m stone cold sober. I am so glad that Senator Di Natale, in between turtle-neck shoots, is in the chamber. Because the previous doctor Di Natale will be able to correct me if I’m wrong on a certain medical procedure. I’m actually witnessing in my mind, a political colonoscopy... I’ve actually had one. And I was wide awake, so I really get this. How brave is that? Wide awake, because I did not want to wake up with them doctors giving me a surprise, in the area that they were saying.
Cormann, interjecting:
I know this at times can sometimes be a wide-ranging debate, but I’m not sure how Senator Sterle’s colonoscopy relates to the amendment before the chair.
Labor’s Glenn Sterle, to Cormann:
Don’t give me orders, you big Belgian waffle!
Independent senator Nick Xenophon on ABC Radio
When one of the senators, my good friend Senator Sterle from the Labor party gets up and tries to draw comparisons with colonoscopies ... we’ve literally hit rock bottom.
Labor’s Stephen Conroy
First past the post voting is what you’re introducing, and you know it.
Labor’s Penny Wong
The Liberal lap dog that is Senator Di Natale... has done a deal!
Labor’s Stephen Conroy to an unspecified Coalition senator
Tony Abbott would be proud of you with your sloganeering on this issue... You are a proud Abbott warrior.
Stephen Conroy to Greens leader, Richard Di Natale
I haven’t finished. Sit down. This isn’t the Wiggles.
Updated
at 9.55pm GMT
9.42pm GMT9.42pm GMT
21:4221:42
The debate has entered its 35th hour.The debate has entered its 35th hour.
9.41pm GMT9.41pm GMT
21:4121:41
On twitter, reader David Lamb asks me this.On twitter, reader David Lamb asks me this.
Q: Obviously a huge amount going on, but can you articulate what Labor hopes to achieve by pressing debate on a foregone conclusion?Q: Obviously a huge amount going on, but can you articulate what Labor hopes to achieve by pressing debate on a foregone conclusion?
Utterly reasonable question.Utterly reasonable question.
Labor wants voters to take away two messages from this filibuster:Labor wants voters to take away two messages from this filibuster:
9.35pm GMT9.35pm GMT
21:3521:35
Down in the chamber, Labor senator Jacinta Collins, is objecting to senator Ian Macdonald verbalising behind her. She then gets cranky with the Greens. She says the Greens have complained during the night that Labor is looking at them, so perhaps they’ll understand the pressures associated with trying to speak while Ian Macdonald is sitting behind you, verbalising.Down in the chamber, Labor senator Jacinta Collins, is objecting to senator Ian Macdonald verbalising behind her. She then gets cranky with the Greens. She says the Greens have complained during the night that Labor is looking at them, so perhaps they’ll understand the pressures associated with trying to speak while Ian Macdonald is sitting behind you, verbalising.
Jacinta Collins:Jacinta Collins:
Yes I am cranky.Yes I am cranky.
Bravely, from the chair, Labor’s Gavin Marshall implores Macdonald to be quiet. First time for everything I imagine.Bravely, from the chair, Labor’s Gavin Marshall implores Macdonald to be quiet. First time for everything I imagine.
Collins is now objecting to legislation being rammed through the parliament at lightning speed. The Greens crack up at that.Collins is now objecting to legislation being rammed through the parliament at lightning speed. The Greens crack up at that.
9.27pm GMT9.27pm GMT
21:2721:27
Conroy has popped by ABC24.Conroy has popped by ABC24.
One of the reasons that people got a bit short last night was Mathias Cormann, the minister, would sit there and when Ricky Muir asked him a question or Bob Day or Penny Wong or Jacinta Collins or myself ask him questions, he would sit there and shrug – he wouldn’t even stand up and do the courtesy of answering questions.One of the reasons that people got a bit short last night was Mathias Cormann, the minister, would sit there and when Ricky Muir asked him a question or Bob Day or Penny Wong or Jacinta Collins or myself ask him questions, he would sit there and shrug – he wouldn’t even stand up and do the courtesy of answering questions.
So things did get short and colourful last night, but they [the government] are defacto introducing a first pass the post voting system for the Senate. You can just vote one, advocate to just vote one, no consequences and you will see 3.4m Australians disenfranchised – their votes will not be used ultimately to determine who gets elected to the Senate. You will get 75% of Australians electing 100% of the senators.So things did get short and colourful last night, but they [the government] are defacto introducing a first pass the post voting system for the Senate. You can just vote one, advocate to just vote one, no consequences and you will see 3.4m Australians disenfranchised – their votes will not be used ultimately to determine who gets elected to the Senate. You will get 75% of Australians electing 100% of the senators.
That’s a voting rort, that’s not Senate electoral reform.That’s a voting rort, that’s not Senate electoral reform.
9.18pm GMT9.18pm GMT
21:1821:18
The first Labor amendment has been defeated. Family First senator Bob Day is now moving a similar amendment which deals with the timing the new voting regime takes effect. That will be defeated too.The first Labor amendment has been defeated. Family First senator Bob Day is now moving a similar amendment which deals with the timing the new voting regime takes effect. That will be defeated too.
9.13pm GMT9.13pm GMT
21:1321:13
I’m sorry if I’m slurring my words. No alcohol has been involved.I’m sorry if I’m slurring my words. No alcohol has been involved.
Nick Xenophon, doing the soft shoe after Conroy in the ABC studios.Nick Xenophon, doing the soft shoe after Conroy in the ABC studios.
9.10pm GMT9.10pm GMT
21:1021:10
Meanwhile, the life-affirming aroma of coffee wafts from Aussie's along the corridors of power...Meanwhile, the life-affirming aroma of coffee wafts from Aussie's along the corridors of power...
9.09pm GMT
21:09
Labor’s deputy senate leader Stephen Conroy is on radio duty while colleagues plough away in the chamber. On the ABC he’s asked why overnight there wasn’t much debate about substance. He says that’s because the minister responsible for the debate, Mathias Cormann, was simply refusing to answer questions.
What about colonoscopies? Do we need that?
Stephen Conroy:
It’s fair to say there’s a bit of colour and movement on occasions like this.
9.03pm GMT
21:03
9.00pm GMT
21:00
I had eyes on the chamber until 2am. I gather things went pear shaped around 3am. There were frolics into colonoscopies and Monty Python references. My colleague Shalailah Medhora is gathering some of the quotable quotes from overnight and I’ll share them when we can.
8.54pm GMT
20:54
In case you are sweating on this information, current indicative guidance about when the substantive vote might come is around lunchtime. Nick Xenophon is more pessimistic. He told the ABC very early this morning his departure was scheduled for Good Friday.
8.45pm GMT
20:45
Officially in the category of too much information.
@PatsKarvelas @PhillipCoorey No. I have been going straight in the Chamber since 4.30pm yesterday. Had two bathroom breaks.
8.14pm GMT
20:14
Rhiannon tells Wong the progressive forces in Australian politics should work together. Wong gives her that look. Aren’t the Greens coming after Anthony Albanese and Tanya Plibersek – two of the most progressive people in the parliament. Aren’t the Greens doing a deal with the government on senate voting reform, and on preferences?
Penny Wong:
Don’t give us a lecture about progressive politicians working together.
8.06pm GMT
20:06
Rhiannon says the Greens have a solid record on the CEFC and bills like the Australian Building and Construction Commission. Labor by contrast is weak on industrial reform, she says. Wong persists. Why are you handing the government the keys to a double dissolution? They’ve dissolved into shouting. The finance minister Mathias Cormann is frowning.
8.02pm GMT
20:02
Greens senator Lee Rhiannon appears unsure whether today is yesterday or today. Reasonable, really.
8.00pm GMT
20:00
To bring you up to procedural speed, government amendments to the senate voting reform bill have been considered. We are on Labor amendments currently. From the dispatch box, Labor’s Penny Wong is currently outlining what the government could put to a joint sitting after a double dissolution. Abolition of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation. Wholesale destruction of the union movement. She says the Greens have done a deal on Senate voting reform, paving the way for a double dissolution, but extracted no protections against nasty surprises at the joint sitting.
7.48pm GMT
19:48
Well hello there
Good morning and welcome to Friday, which is of course the day after Thursday, and in this instance the morning after Thursday night, which was a long night in the red room.
The debate over Senate voting reform went on. And on. And on. And on.
And currently it is still going on.
As Thursday night dragged into Friday morning, Labor and the Greens spent hours analysing one another’s deficiencies as political movements. Various Labor frontbenchers considered the merits of the fashion sense of the Greens leader Richard Di Natale. Labor’s Jacinta Collins declared at one point that she was not conducting a filibuster, and didn’t even laugh. Finance minister Mathias Cormann did an off-the-cuff impression of Labor’s Stephen Conroy, broadening his range beyond his periodic homages to Arnold Schwarzenegger. Rather rudely, Queensland LNP senator Barry O’Sullivan yawned widely behind him.
Everything about this process reeks, Jacinta Collins noted, quite correctly, at 11.45pm. You can’t help but be cynical in this place, Ricky Muir observed, in the shadow of midnight. There was an enormous amount of analysis about exhausted votes. By 6am, Greens senator Lee Rhiannon thought she was considering the third amendment. The acting Senate president noted in fact it was the fourth government amendment. By 6.45am Labor’s Penny Wong thought Greens senator Robert Simms had become tired and emotional.
But they remained on their feet, hoarse, and periodically, coarse.
Of course this was serious business. These are the most substantial changes to Australia’s voting system in several decades. But much of what happened over the course of the night was about the politics than gets conducted in the shadow of an election.
Rightly or wrongly, everybody in the place knows this week just gone is very likely the last full sitting week before Malcolm Turnbull guns the C1 in the direction of Government House.
This morning we are reconvening on Politics Live to note the eventual resolution of this debate, and take stock of the sum of the parts of our democracy. Possibly the best way to consider the parts is in parts, lest the sum of them overwhelm and we all lie down and never get up.
Let’s crack on. Today’s comments thread is open for your business. Magic Mike and I are at your disposal on the twits. He’s @mpbowers and I’m @murpharoo. If you speak Facebook you can find me there, here.
Pass the double shot, here comes Friday.
Updated
at 8.03pm GMT