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Senate sits through the night to consider voting reform – politics live Greens vote with government against lowering threshold for donations – politics live
(35 minutes later)
1.59am GMT
01:59
The question now is that the bill, as amended, be agreed to. Government senate leader George Brandis has been holding his head with the faintest of victory smiles.
1.54am GMT
01:54
Here we go people. Here come the big votes. Stay tuned. This filibuster is about to come to a screaming halt.
Updated
at 1.54am GMT
1.42am GMT
01:42
Greens vote with the government against lowering the threshold for political donations
The senate is dividing on the Labor disclosure amendments now. The Greens are voting with the government. Love to show you that division because I know a lot of readers would find that one interesting. But the rules prohibit us photographing senate divisions.
The cross benchers are voting with Labor. Nick Xenophon is voting with the government and the Greens.
Bye bye opportunity for more transparency. There goes the amendments.
Updated
at 1.46am GMT
1.26am GMT
01:26
The intent here is not about political donations.
This is the Green senator Lee Rhiannon.
(I think the amendment makes it quite clear this is about donations, and making them more transparent. This is an opportunity to change a system which absolutely needs to change. I get Di Natale’s rationale from before, but this is a bird in the hand. I don’t understand at all why the Greens wouldn’t grab this. You can always revisit down the track. This is a lost opportunity. Pure and simple.)
Right now the job before us is senate voting reform.
1.20am GMT1.20am GMT
01:2001:20
Doug Cameron says if you want to know how the Liberals operate, follow the money. Banks, property developers. The associated entities. They take money and do favours. Who gets priority access? The people making the donations. And associated entities hide the identities of the donors.Doug Cameron says if you want to know how the Liberals operate, follow the money. Banks, property developers. The associated entities. They take money and do favours. Who gets priority access? The people making the donations. And associated entities hide the identities of the donors.
I can go on, and on, and on. It is an absolute rort. If there was ever a need for a royal commission, it’s into the associated entities of the Liberal party.I can go on, and on, and on. It is an absolute rort. If there was ever a need for a royal commission, it’s into the associated entities of the Liberal party.
1.14am GMT1.14am GMT
01:1401:14
He was up, like a jack in the box!He was up, like a jack in the box!
This is Labor’s Doug Cameron, pointing out how quickly the finance minister leapt to his feet to defend corporate political donations.This is Labor’s Doug Cameron, pointing out how quickly the finance minister leapt to his feet to defend corporate political donations.
He says the Greens as recently as February 24 were demanding immediate action on disclosure and donations.He says the Greens as recently as February 24 were demanding immediate action on disclosure and donations.
They are an absolutely pathetic mob. You can’t trust a word that comes out of Senator Di Natale’s mouth. They really are a do nothing mob.They are an absolutely pathetic mob. You can’t trust a word that comes out of Senator Di Natale’s mouth. They really are a do nothing mob.
1.10am GMT1.10am GMT
01:1001:10
Greens leader Richard Di Natale says the Greens support the amendments in principle but the donations issue is currently before a parliamentary inquiry. He says he looks forward to Labor’s support when the issue emerges out of committee.Greens leader Richard Di Natale says the Greens support the amendments in principle but the donations issue is currently before a parliamentary inquiry. He says he looks forward to Labor’s support when the issue emerges out of committee.
He says the public will look on at events in the senate this week with disgust and contempt. Di Natale says the public will view the discussion in the senate as little more than a stunt. He says we need an improvement to the disclosure regime. He says the public will look on at events in the Senate this week with disgust and contempt. Di Natale says the public will view the discussion in the senate as little more than a stunt. He says we need an improvement to the disclosure regime.
Richard Di Natale.Richard Di Natale.
I hope this isn’t just another tactic.I hope this isn’t just another tactic.
Updated
at 1.38am GMT
1.05am GMT1.05am GMT
01:0501:05
Mathias Cormann.Mathias Cormann.
This is a transparent stunt and the government won’t be supporting these amendments.This is a transparent stunt and the government won’t be supporting these amendments.
1.03am GMT1.03am GMT
01:0301:03
Labor is moving amendments now to lower the disclosure threshold on political donations. Labor senator Jacinta Collins says the Greens have played lame on this issue. Finance minister Mathias Cormann says the government opposes lowering the disclosure threshold to $1,000 because the system is fine.Labor is moving amendments now to lower the disclosure threshold on political donations. Labor senator Jacinta Collins says the Greens have played lame on this issue. Finance minister Mathias Cormann says the government opposes lowering the disclosure threshold to $1,000 because the system is fine.
Cormann said Labor had a chance to pursue this when in government supported by the Greens, and failed to do so. He notes Labor had six years in government. In 2010, you had the numbers in parliament to do something about it, Cormann says. You left it stranded. Ha, ha, ha. (That’s how Cormann laughs. Ha, ha, ha.) Cormann says Labor had a chance to pursue this when in government, supported by the Greens, and failed to do so. He notes Labor had six years in government. In 2010, you had the numbers in parliament to do something about it, Cormann says. You left it stranded. Ha, ha, ha. (That’s how Cormann laughs. Ha, ha, ha.)
Updated
at 1.37am GMT
12.53am GMT12.53am GMT
00:5300:53
Labor’s Jacinta Collins.Labor’s Jacinta Collins.
Can I make the point about JSCEM [the joint committee on electoral matters]?Can I make the point about JSCEM [the joint committee on electoral matters]?
Green senator Robert Simms.Green senator Robert Simms.
Oh, not again.Oh, not again.
Please.Please.
12.44am GMT12.44am GMT
00:4400:44
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.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.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 GMT12.38am GMT
00:3800:38
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.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 GMT12.35am GMT
00:3500:35
A couple of chamber shots from last night.A couple of chamber shots from last night.
12.30am GMT12.30am GMT
00:3000:30
Straight out of the authoritarian handbook.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.The LDP’s David Leyonhjelm isn’t taking a backward step. He’s speaking to an amendment that would introduce voluntary voting.