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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)
12.44am GMT
00:44
In this division, Leyonhjelm has been appointed teller for the ayes. It’s a short count. Bob Day, Ricky Muir, Dio Wang, John Madigan. No sign of Glenn Lazarus and Jacqui Lambie, as we’ve reported, has pulled up stumps.
Nick Xenophon is voting with the Greens, government and Labor. I believe this amendment was about optional preferential voting in the House of Representatives.
12.38am GMT
00:38
While I’m looking back, if you’d like to hear about the Labor senator Glenn Sterle’s diagnostic procedures, it’s your lucky day.
12.35am GMT
00:35
A couple of chamber shots from last night.
12.30am GMT
00:30
Straight out of the authoritarian handbook.
The LDP’s David Leyonhjelm isn’t taking a backward step. He’s speaking to an amendment that would introduce voluntary voting.
12.23am GMT
00:23
No bridge too far in this river.
Mugabe. @DavidLeyonhjelm has just compared the senate reforms with Robert Mugabe. Possibly a bridge too far... pic.twitter.com/9EOMoGvO1o
12.22am GMT
00:22
While I was posting Lenore Taylor on Morrison I missed a Mugabe reference in the Senate debate from the LDP senator David Leyonhjelm. The finance minister thinks this was a humorous reference. So I think we are all good.
Updated
at 12.37am GMT
12.18am GMT
00:18
Lenore Taylor
Some explanation. Scott Morrison has just announced new rules for the Foreign Investment Review Board to scrutinise the sale of critical infrastructure to any foreign private investor.
Current rules require scrutiny only for foreign state-owned enterprises and meant the Firb did not scrutinise the sale of the Port of Darwin to a Chinese company with alleged links to the People’s Liberation Army.
The US – which has 1,200 marines stationed in Darwin – was blindsided by that announcement and Richard Armitage, former US deputy secretary of state, said he was “stunned” by the $500m deal.
Morrison refused to be drawn on whether that sale would have proceeded under the new rules, but said they would mean a number of pending sales would now be scrutinised, including the NSW electricity distributor Ausgrid, the Western Australian bulk handling facility Utah Point, the Port of Melbourne, the Port of Fremantle and a stake in the NSW Endeavour electricity network.
Morrison said the change could be made by regulation and would apply from 31 March to the sale of “an airport or an airport site, a port, infrastructure for public transport, electricity, gas, water and sewerage systems, existing and proposed roads, railways, intermodal transfer facilities, the part of the northern land transport network, or a designated by a state and territory government as significant or controlled by the government as well as telecommunications infrastructure, and nuclear facilities”.
It is the latest in a series of restrictions on foreign ownership by the government, including reduced thresholds for the purchase of agricultural land.
Updated
at 12.37am GMT
12.10am GMT12.10am GMT
00:1000:10
I’m not alone.I’m not alone.
Q: Is this an acknowledgement that the port of Darwin should not have been sold to a Chinese company?Q: Is this an acknowledgement that the port of Darwin should not have been sold to a Chinese company?
Scott Morrison:Scott Morrison:
These thresholds apply to investments above $250m. They’re the normal rules that apply for private investors. There was a set of processes that led to that decision under previous arrangements and I’m not here really to comment on those arrangements, they are considered under the framework that has been in place for sometime.These thresholds apply to investments above $250m. They’re the normal rules that apply for private investors. There was a set of processes that led to that decision under previous arrangements and I’m not here really to comment on those arrangements, they are considered under the framework that has been in place for sometime.
Q: Would the support of the Darwin port face extra scrutiny under this process?Q: Would the support of the Darwin port face extra scrutiny under this process?
The port of Darwin is sold. It’s not a matter that is coming up. I don’t intend to engage in hypotheticals.The port of Darwin is sold. It’s not a matter that is coming up. I don’t intend to engage in hypotheticals.
12.06am GMT12.06am GMT
00:0600:06
Over in another part of the building, treasurer Scott Morrison has announced that from 31 March this year the Foreign Investment Review Board will formally review “critical infrastructure assets” sold by state and territory governments.Over in another part of the building, treasurer Scott Morrison has announced that from 31 March this year the Foreign Investment Review Board will formally review “critical infrastructure assets” sold by state and territory governments.
While governments can and do work with the Commonwealth when selling such assets the proposed change will formalise the process and ensure that future sales of critical infrastructure to privately owned investors are scrutinised under the FIRB arrangements.While governments can and do work with the Commonwealth when selling such assets the proposed change will formalise the process and ensure that future sales of critical infrastructure to privately owned investors are scrutinised under the FIRB arrangements.
Hmm, I’m sensing the sale of the port of Darwin. The sale the Americans didn’t approve of.Hmm, I’m sensing the sale of the port of Darwin. The sale the Americans didn’t approve of.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.11am GMTat 12.11am GMT
11.54pm GMT11.54pm GMT
23:5423:54
The pace is picking up in here considerably. Whipping through amendments now.The pace is picking up in here considerably. Whipping through amendments now.
11.52pm GMT11.52pm GMT
23:5223:52
I have asked the Senate on Twitter whether it knows where the current debate sits in the stats about longest continuous political debates. Something astonishing has happened. The Senate has admitted frailty.I have asked the Senate on Twitter whether it knows where the current debate sits in the stats about longest continuous political debates. Something astonishing has happened. The Senate has admitted frailty.
@murpharoo most days... today, however...@murpharoo most days... today, however...
I think the Senate needs a hug.I think the Senate needs a hug.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.04am GMTat 12.04am GMT
11.49pm GMT11.49pm GMT
23:4923:49
I was going to move an amendment to the amendment ..I was going to move an amendment to the amendment ..
That’s Ricky Muir.That’s Ricky Muir.
11.45pm GMT11.45pm GMT
23:4523:45
There’s some talk down on the floor about the longest continuous Senate debate. I’ll ask the Senate gurus for guidance.There’s some talk down on the floor about the longest continuous Senate debate. I’ll ask the Senate gurus for guidance.
The last division makes the Senate voting reform changes effective from 1 July. That’s a Greens amendment that passed with government support.The last division makes the Senate voting reform changes effective from 1 July. That’s a Greens amendment that passed with government support.
UpdatedUpdated
at 11.47pm GMTat 11.47pm GMT
11.38pm GMT11.38pm GMT
23:3823:38
The two Senate leaders, Penny Wong and George Brandis, are having an amiable chat across the table while the Greens leader Richard Di Natale is on his feet. Wong looks quite pale.The two Senate leaders, Penny Wong and George Brandis, are having an amiable chat across the table while the Greens leader Richard Di Natale is on his feet. Wong looks quite pale.
UpdatedUpdated
at 11.47pm GMTat 11.47pm GMT
11.29pm GMT
23:29
Shalailah Medhora
Meanwhile, in less sleep-deprived places in parliament house, additional duties worth more than $4m will be applied to foreign steel companies that try to circumvent Australian laws, the industry minister, Christopher Pyne, has announced.
Local producer BlueScope Steel made a complaint to the Anti-Dumping Commissioner against Chinese, Taiwanese and Malaysian companies that changed the composition of steel by adding other elements like boron in order to bypass Australian duties.
Pyne admitted this morning he had not spoken to counterparts in key export country China over the decision to add the additional duties, but rejected suggestions it would strain relations.
“[The steel companies] have breached the Australian rules and we are acting to make sure that they don’t continue to get away with that circumvention,” he said. “So I don’t see how any country, any government, could be disappointed with the Australian government applying the rules.”
Updated
at 11.38pm GMT
11.23pm GMT
23:23
Ok, we’ve snapped down here now.
Jacinta Collins has just deployed one of her favourite phrases. This is legislation by attrition. She notes that it has taken its toll on Senator Rhiannon.
Her comprehension has declined.
The Greens have gone berko, out of their seats.
Green Larissa Waters:
Oh, come ON!
Richard Di Natale has demanded Collins withdraw her disgraceful attribution to Senator Rhiannon.
Collins is asked to withdraw. She says she will withdraw whatever remark the Greens found offensive.
It’s not a complete withdrawal of course. She then repeats the line about comprehension declining. The Greens are pretty cranky right now.
Collins thinks people might be a bit sleep-deprived.
Green Peter Whish-Wilson thinks calling people senile is a bit over the top.
Collins is now furious.
I did NOT say that!
Updated
at 11.34pm GMT
11.17pm GMT
23:17
Given Jacinta Collins is back into Lee Rhiannon’s Stalinism, I have an opportunity to give you some stats on marathon political debates we have known.
Top of the pops was the native title debate in 1997, which ran for 105hr 56 mins. That was followed by the GST debate (68hr 54 mins) and the carbon pollution reduction scheme debate (68hr 54 mins).
If you’d like the full list, have a look here.
Updated
at 11.48pm GMT
11.10pm GMT
23:10
I need to remind the Senate of senator Rhiannon’s credibility.
Labor’s Jacinta Collins.
We’ve heard this before.
Greens senator Robert Simms.
Updated
at 11.19pm GMT
11.05pm GMT
23:05
Magic Mike and I have just decided to dub the past 35 hours “the festival of over-thinking”. It just felt right.
Updated
at 11.18pm GMT
10.54pm GMT
22:54
Just vote one will not be a consequence, this will be an objective!
This is Family First senator Bob Day on his feet again.
Labor’s Jacinta Collins says an objective, echoing Day. Senator Rhiannon isn’t listening, Collins observes to Day. Rhiannon is bending over in her seat tending to some papers. She shoots a smile to Collins.
Another division. People are strolling around the chamber, stretching their legs.
10.44pm GMT
22:44
This is what’s known in the trade as a non-denial denial.
@murpharoo for the record I'm sure i was probably just checking my phone ;-)
Given Nick Xenophon’s pyjama antics overnight, a new Twitter account has sprung up: Nick Xenophon’s pillow. It has some advice for the Labor man.
@samdastyari @murpharoo wake up mate
Updated
at 11.02pm GMT
10.39pm GMT
22:39
I’ve come down to the chamber rather than watch the live feed just to get a sense of how the senators are faring. They look surprisingly good. Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young is slightly slumped over. Crossbencher John Madigan is sitting on a diagonal.
Ricky Muir confesses he’s running out of puff. He’s moving a block of amendments together. Mathias Cormann is a machine. He’s run this show all night, and looks like he could front up for another all-nighter. He just leapt out of his seat to get the call, like a rocket.
Updated
at 11.03pm GMT
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.
Updated
at 11.01pm GMT
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