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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2016/sep/12/malcolm-turnbull-under-pressure-to-fund-both-sides-on-marriage-equality-live

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Version 8 Version 9
Parakeelia review shows no evidence Liberals broke electoral laws – politics live Parakeelia review shows no evidence Liberals broke electoral laws – politics live
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The managing directors of Gummint.
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"In govt you can get things done," Sinodinos tells an almost empty Senate that's killing time with filibusters because it has nothing to do.
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Thanks to Alice Workman of Buzzfeed for this little snippet.
"It was a fantastic spectacle" - @JamesMcGrathLNP filibusters about his favourite tv show 'Last Night At The Proms'. pic.twitter.com/bgHnRqzBZ4
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Not happy Mal.
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Penny Wong, Labor leader in the Senate, is speaking on the government’s filibuster in the Senate.
She says the government was so divided, “they are paralysed”.
It’s been two-and-a-half months since the election and four months since the parliament sat in the last term.
Where is the plan for jobs and growth?
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Exciting times to be an Australian.
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Lunchtime political summaryLunchtime political summary
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Bill Shorten is following up now, saying Labor will continue to be cooperative on national security. But he says it’s about time there was an “honest conversation” about jobs and growth.Bill Shorten is following up now, saying Labor will continue to be cooperative on national security. But he says it’s about time there was an “honest conversation” about jobs and growth.
Ordinary Australians are feeling the pinch.Ordinary Australians are feeling the pinch.
He says the headline figures on growth do not reflect the “soft underbelly” of the economy. He says underemployment is at near record levels.He says the headline figures on growth do not reflect the “soft underbelly” of the economy. He says underemployment is at near record levels.
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Essentially Malcolm Turnbull’s statement appears to be a stump speech for the government off the back of the summit season and throwing forward into the sitting week.Essentially Malcolm Turnbull’s statement appears to be a stump speech for the government off the back of the summit season and throwing forward into the sitting week.
There was no notice of this speech. He has covered the economic challenges facing Australia and the world. He has covered the threat of Islamic state in the region, noting the stabbing in Sydney.There was no notice of this speech. He has covered the economic challenges facing Australia and the world. He has covered the threat of Islamic state in the region, noting the stabbing in Sydney.
He again urges all the claimants in the South China Sea dispute to abide by the rules. He asks claimants to “refrain from coercive behaviour”.He again urges all the claimants in the South China Sea dispute to abide by the rules. He asks claimants to “refrain from coercive behaviour”.
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Malcolm Turnbull is making a ministerial statement on the state of the global economy and national security. He is talking about the summits he attended last week, including G20.Malcolm Turnbull is making a ministerial statement on the state of the global economy and national security. He is talking about the summits he attended last week, including G20.
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The government leader of the House, Christopher Pyne, has moved to suspend standing orders to get the aforementioned bills through the House and into the Senate.The government leader of the House, Christopher Pyne, has moved to suspend standing orders to get the aforementioned bills through the House and into the Senate.
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Matt Canavan is up in the Senate now. One hour 40 minutes to go until Senate question time. Can the government fill the time?Matt Canavan is up in the Senate now. One hour 40 minutes to go until Senate question time. Can the government fill the time?
#mattersofstate#mattersofstate
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Earlier in the house, Denison indie MP Andrew Wilkie made mention of Bob Katter’s private members bill: the banking commission of inquiry bill 2016. Wilkie was helping Katter out by deferring the bill to the next sitting week.Earlier in the house, Denison indie MP Andrew Wilkie made mention of Bob Katter’s private members bill: the banking commission of inquiry bill 2016. Wilkie was helping Katter out by deferring the bill to the next sitting week.
We have not seen the text of this bill but we do know this.We have not seen the text of this bill but we do know this.
As I reported last month, the Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson was given advice from the clerk of the Senate that:As I reported last month, the Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson was given advice from the clerk of the Senate that:
The opposition and minor parties could force a rare and powerful “commission of inquiry” into the banks if the Coalition refuses a royal commission, according to the clerk of the Senate, Rosemary Laing.The opposition and minor parties could force a rare and powerful “commission of inquiry” into the banks if the Coalition refuses a royal commission, according to the clerk of the Senate, Rosemary Laing.
And the Senate’s key parliamentary adviser said if the commission of inquiry bill won a majority in both houses it would be an outcome that “any government would find difficult to resist”.And the Senate’s key parliamentary adviser said if the commission of inquiry bill won a majority in both houses it would be an outcome that “any government would find difficult to resist”.
Laing has advised the Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson that parliament could establish the inquiry, similar to that set up to investigate former Labor minister and high court justice Lionel Murphy by the Hawke government.Laing has advised the Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson that parliament could establish the inquiry, similar to that set up to investigate former Labor minister and high court justice Lionel Murphy by the Hawke government.
I understand Katter’s bill will support a commission of inquiry into the banks.I understand Katter’s bill will support a commission of inquiry into the banks.
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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.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.These are the bills.
PRIMARY INDUSTRIES LEVIES AND CHARGES COLLECTION AMENDMENT BILL 2016PRIMARY INDUSTRIES LEVIES AND CHARGES COLLECTION AMENDMENT BILL 2016
REGISTRATION OF DEATHS ABROAD AMENDMENT BILL 2016REGISTRATION OF DEATHS ABROAD AMENDMENT BILL 2016
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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.
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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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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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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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/KE7dLd6zu6
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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:
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.
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Bill Shorten: Today the parliament has a chance to prove its worth
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