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Bill Shorten introduces Labor's marriage equality bill – live Parakeelia review shows no evidence Liberals broke electoral laws – politics live
(35 minutes later)
3.02am BST
03:02
In the lower house, they are debating the two bills that are listed on the senate paper in government biz. That’s why the senate has nothing to debate. They have not gone through the lower house.
These are the bills.
PRIMARY INDUSTRIES LEVIES AND CHARGES COLLECTION AMENDMENT BILL 2016
REGISTRATION OF DEATHS ABROAD AMENDMENT BILL 2016
2.49am BST
02:49
Croome urges Liberal MPs in favour of marriage equality to knock off plebiscite
Paul Karp
Greens MP Adam Bandt and independent MP Andrew Wilkie have given a press conference about their cross-party same-sex marriage bill.
Bandt said that it “looks for all the world that the legislation to enable the plebiscite won’t pass parliament, so Malcolm Turnbull will need a plan B”. He said the best Plan B is the cross-party bill, a swipe at Labor for introducing its own marriage equality bill on Monday.
At the moment even pro same-sex marriage Coalition MPs appear locked in behind a plebiscite, but Bandt predicts blocking it will cause “a number of Liberal party members of parliament prepared to stick their hand up” and back the cross-party bill.
Wilkie said “it is in the hands of only three government [lower house] members to join with us to suspend standing orders and bring one or both of these bills for a debate and a vote”.
“We are now so close, it is in the hands of three government members ... who see the opportunity here, they could seize it and create history.”
Veteran gay rights campaigner Rodney Croome was also in attendance, lobbying with LGBTI group Just Equal for parliament to block the plebiscite.
Croome rejected the view of Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman that Coalition members are not free to vote how they like on procedural motions like suspending standing orders to force a vote on marriage equality.
I understand from speaking to Liberal backbenchers that it would be possible for them to join with supporters of marriage equality and other parties to suspend standing orders and pass this reform,” he said.
Knocking the plebiscite on the head may force the issue back to the Liberal party room, Croome suggests.
2.44am BST
02:44
So just to be clear on the Senate business, the chamber is still debating the governor general’s address in reply. This is the filibuster mechanism, normally a run-of-the-mill short debate. Backbenchers have been doing their duty, reaching into the deep dark recesses of their brains to find details to entertain the senate. Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie’s memory ran out. She had trouble with the name of a candidate ... can’t remember his name ... from a town beginning with T....Awks.
The filibuster continues but the government is running out of speakers.
Pretty soon the Coalition is going to have to go to ministers, which will make them happy.
The speakers list:
New senator Jonathon Duniam is one of the endangered species of the parliament – a Tasmanian Liberal.
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02:32
We are just going through the audit office response. In the mean time, this is an interesting footnote.
Parakeelia’s (unaudited) general ledger for 2015–16 included a loan from Parakeelia to the Liberal party of $200 000. Parakeelia advised that the loan was made for cash flow purposes and would be repaid by the Liberal party in 2016–17.
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Auditor general says limited review shows no evidence of contravention by Liberal party of electoral laws with ParakeeliaAuditor general says limited review shows no evidence of contravention by Liberal party of electoral laws with Parakeelia
The auditor general Grant Hehir has written to Labor’s Brendan O’Connor to say after its limited review - which was not an audit - there has been no evidence of contravention of electoral laws by Parakeelia. The auditor general, Grant Hehir, has written to Labor’s Brendan O’Connor to say after its limited review – which was not an audit – there has been no evidence of contravention of electoral laws by Parakeelia.
I am writing in response to your letter of 15 June 2016 requesting that I investigate the appropriateness of arrangements concerning the Liberal Party of Australia entity Parakeelia Pty Ltd. Your interest was in taxpayer funded reimbursements of related payments and financial transfers between Parakeelia and the Liberal Party, including whether Parakeelia has donated the profits from Feedback software to the Liberal Party.I am writing in response to your letter of 15 June 2016 requesting that I investigate the appropriateness of arrangements concerning the Liberal Party of Australia entity Parakeelia Pty Ltd. Your interest was in taxpayer funded reimbursements of related payments and financial transfers between Parakeelia and the Liberal Party, including whether Parakeelia has donated the profits from Feedback software to the Liberal Party.
My office has conducted a limited scope assurance review, not an audit, focused on electoral and parliamentary entitlement obligations, and financial transactions between Parakeelia and the Liberal Party. The review was limited to analysis of publicly available information, key documents and advice provided by the Australian Electoral Commission and the Department of Finance, and advice and financial information provided by Parakeelia.My office has conducted a limited scope assurance review, not an audit, focused on electoral and parliamentary entitlement obligations, and financial transactions between Parakeelia and the Liberal Party. The review was limited to analysis of publicly available information, key documents and advice provided by the Australian Electoral Commission and the Department of Finance, and advice and financial information provided by Parakeelia.
In conducting the review, no evidence was provided to the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) that the arrangements contravene electoral and parliamentary entitlement frameworks or that Parakeelia donated any profits1 from the sale of Feedback software to the Liberal Party. Further, the financial transactions reported to the Australian Electoral Commission between Parakeelia and the Liberal Party indicated a net cost to the Liberal Party from 2000–01 to 2014–15.In conducting the review, no evidence was provided to the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) that the arrangements contravene electoral and parliamentary entitlement frameworks or that Parakeelia donated any profits1 from the sale of Feedback software to the Liberal Party. Further, the financial transactions reported to the Australian Electoral Commission between Parakeelia and the Liberal Party indicated a net cost to the Liberal Party from 2000–01 to 2014–15.
Readers will remember this story blew up in the election campaign when Fairfax reported that Liberal MPs used their taxpayer-funded office allowance to purchase data registry services from Parakeelia Pty Ltd. Parakeelia is wholly owned by the Liberal party and has paid substantial sums of “other receipts” to the party.Readers will remember this story blew up in the election campaign when Fairfax reported that Liberal MPs used their taxpayer-funded office allowance to purchase data registry services from Parakeelia Pty Ltd. Parakeelia is wholly owned by the Liberal party and has paid substantial sums of “other receipts” to the party.
Then former Liberal-turned-independent Dennis Jensen weighed in.Then former Liberal-turned-independent Dennis Jensen weighed in.
Liberal MPs use database software to profile constituents and decline requests for help from decided voters, even their own supporters, MP Dennis Jensen has claimed.Liberal MPs use database software to profile constituents and decline requests for help from decided voters, even their own supporters, MP Dennis Jensen has claimed.
Jensen, who is recontesting his seat of Tangney as an independent after losing Liberal preselection, has lashed out at the “illegitimate” use of voter-tracking software for party political purposes.Jensen, who is recontesting his seat of Tangney as an independent after losing Liberal preselection, has lashed out at the “illegitimate” use of voter-tracking software for party political purposes.
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It must be difficult. Note marriage equality supporters Trent Zimmerman and Tim Wilson.It must be difficult. Note marriage equality supporters Trent Zimmerman and Tim Wilson.
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This bill is a chance to say love is love.This bill is a chance to say love is love.
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Rodney Croome says gov doesn't have a mandate on a plebiscite because they didn't outline details before election pic.twitter.com/KE7dLd6zu6Rodney Croome says gov doesn't have a mandate on a plebiscite because they didn't outline details before election pic.twitter.com/KE7dLd6zu6
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In the lower house, it is private members business still with government MPs talking about mobile black spots.In the lower house, it is private members business still with government MPs talking about mobile black spots.
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In the Senate, there appears to be no government business in the government business session. LNP senator James McGrath is filibustering. He is talking about the former member for Herbert, Ewen Jones. McGrath was his campaign manager. McGrath advised Jones to:In the Senate, there appears to be no government business in the government business session. LNP senator James McGrath is filibustering. He is talking about the former member for Herbert, Ewen Jones. McGrath was his campaign manager. McGrath advised Jones to:
Please stop making jokes because the left do not have a sense of humour and they will not see that you are just a funny person, they will use political correctness to attack you.Please stop making jokes because the left do not have a sense of humour and they will not see that you are just a funny person, they will use political correctness to attack you.
I guess there are no bills ready to go, notwithstanding there being only five sitting weeks to go until the Christmas break.I guess there are no bills ready to go, notwithstanding there being only five sitting weeks to go until the Christmas break.
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Bill Shorten: Today the parliament has a chance to prove its worthBill Shorten: Today the parliament has a chance to prove its worth
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The Labor marriage equality bill does this:
Repeal the definition, substitute:
marriage means the union of 2 people to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.
The crossbencher bill says the same thing.
1.23am BST
01:23
Paul Karp
A little snap analysis from Paul Karp on where Labor might be headed:
Bill Shorten has just concluded his speech introducing Labor’s marriage equality bill, and it has given further strong indications Labor will block the plebiscite.
Shorten detailed a number of fundamental objections to the plebiscite, including Michael Kirby’s argument that imposing this process on LGBTI people is a “new hurdle” that has not been needed to resolve other human rights issues.
He also noted an increased risk of suicide for vulnerable LGBTI people, and said “if one child commits suicide over the plebiscite, then that is one too many”.
All this makes it incredibly difficult for Labor to waive through the plebiscite – even if the government denies a free vote on same-sex marriage.
It’s also worth noting he mentioned the nonbinding nature of the plebiscite only once, in a cursory fashion, further evidence that making the plebiscite self-executing (ushering in same-sex marriage automatically if the yes side wins) is not sufficient to overcome Labor’s objections to it.
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1.22am BST
01:22
Bandt: This bill is a chance to say love is love.
More from Adam Bandt:
We are now the only developed English-speaking country not to have equal marriage laws. Our laws continue to send the message to people who are same-sex-attracted that their love is not equal. Our homophobic marriage laws are part of the system that for years has told young people who are coming to grips with their sexuality that you are not straight and not equal. It has allowed the tragedy of young people to suicide at rates many times greater than their heterosexual peers. This bill is a chance to take another important step away from this discrimination and pain into creating a world where all people know and feel that they are equal regardless of who they love. This bill is a chance to say love is love. It knows no gender, it is beautiful and it’s equal.
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1.19am BST
01:19
Bandt: wedding bells could sound before the end of the year
Adam Bandt echoes Labor’s view that the cosponsors should work together for marriage equality.
If we all work together, we have a real chance to pass marriage equality through parliament sooner rather than later without a divisive and wasteful plebiscite. If we all work together, wedding bells could be sounding before Christmas this year. And at the end of the day, what matters is that marriage equality is passed and the leader of the opposition is right, ultimately no one will care whose name appeared in what position on this bill.
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1.16am BST
01:16
Crossbenchers introduce marriage equality bill
Adam Bandt, Greens MP, introduces a bill with Cathy McGowan and Andrew Wilkie, who sit either side.
This cross parliamentary bill will remove discrimination from our marriage laws and finally achieve marriage equality in this country. And it’s time that our laws recognise this equality. It’s time that our parliament finally says to every Australian, to every LGBTI Australian, that they and their love are equal. It’s time that we end discrimination and promote acceptance, love and equality for all.
1.15am BST
01:15
Shorten: a no campaign would be an emotional torment
Bill Shorten questions the cost of the plebiscite and notes the hurtful campaign
Growing up is hard for everyone but for young Australians grappling with their sexual identity, it can be so much more difficult. Every piece of expert advice tells us young Australians who are gay are more likely to contemplate suicide and more likely to take their own lives. The idea of young people, perhaps yet to come out, seeing the legitimacy of their identity debated on the national stage. That is not an ideal inflicted on any citizen when we have a better path. Let me be as blunt as possible. A ‘No’ campaign would be an emotional torment for gay teenagers and if one child commits suicide over the plebiscite, then that is one too many.
1.11am BST
01:11
Bill Shorten says he lives in a blended family and he and wife Chloe chose to get married partly to give their children a sense of formal equality with their other children.
Some might say that marriage equality is a second order issue, identity politics, mere symbolism. But what they need to understand is if you already enjoy a legal right, it is easy to take it for granted. For me, it is as simple as this – in delaying marriage equality, we are not just falling behind the rest of the world, 21 countries who we consider our legal, cultural and social peers, have already moved ahead of us. We are falling short of our own national sense of self. The country we want to see in the mirror, the Australia we tell our children to believe in, how can we call ourselves the land of the fair go if we discriminate against our citizens on the basis of who they are and who they love. And we, who sit in the parliament, trusted with the great privilege of representing all the Australian people, not just some of the Australian people.
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01:07
Bill Shorten:
Go down any street in Australia and you can hear these stories, hard-working people raising children, building community, serving the country, made to feel like second class citizens through one last lingering relic of legal prejudice. It’s in our power in this place to change that once and for all. That’s why Labor promise to deliver marriage equality within our first hundred days. Today we seek to honour that promise.
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01:06
Shorten is listing a number of individuals who have written to Labor to support marriage equality.
Wilma Lorne is 89, with 14 grandchildren and three of her grandsons are gay.
After her husband of 62 years marriage passed away, Wilma wrote to me about her grandsons and their partners, saying “I see the same love and commitment that my husband and I shared, just as much as all my other grandchildren who are happily married. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to attend their weddings.
1.03am BST
01:03
Labor introduces private members marriage equality bill
Bill Shorten is presenting the marriage equality (*private members bill) in the lower house.
Today is a chance for our parliament to prove its worth...Together we can vote to make marriage equality a reality.
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