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Coalition embarrassed by mistaken support for Labor vote – politics live
Coalition embarrassed by mistaken support for Labor vote – politics live
(35 minutes later)
12.39am BST
00:39
Karen Andrews, as assistant minister for education, has introduced the VET loan bills.
12.22am BST
00:22
Lee and Turnbull are asked about the tendency towards protectionism. Lee says there is nothing to be gained by closing ourselves off in our little corner.
Turnbull:
The critical role for us as leaders is to set out the facts clearly, reassure our communities and explain to them that turning your back on technology, turning your back on innovation, turning your back on this change is only a road back to impoverishment, as Prime Minister Lee said. And the world has seen that film before, so this is not a theoretical proposition.
12.17am BST
00:17
The first question to Turnbull and Lee is about trade-offs.
The second is on the role of the US in Asia (the South China Sea).
Lee says it is important that the US is in Asia.
PM Lee hopes the US ratifies the Trans Pacific Partnership.
It is important that there are good relations between America and China, America and Japan, which enable them to discuss individual difficult issues in the South China Sea and a broader context. So that there are restraints on pushing difficult problems [but], at the same time, there is a possibility of seeing it with a perspective and therefore, managing and preventing them from getting out of control.
Turnbull also supports the TPP.
The importance of American engagement in our region cannot be overstated … It is of vital importance to the region and of vital importance to our countries. The presence of the United States in our region has underpinned the peace and stability that has been the foundation for the prosperity of the last 40 years, and that extraordinary growth, perhaps most of all in China, has been underpinned by that foundation of peace.
Updated
at 12.29am BST
12.10am BST
00:10
This is interesting from Scott Ludlam’s adviser. It seems the thought of a Human Headline keen on transparency would be too much for the privileges committee.
The senate has conducted a ballot and confirmed that they don't think it's a great idea to have Senator Hinch on the Privileges Committee.
Updated
at 12.14am BST
12.07am BST
00:07
Malcolm Turnbull is speaking with Lee Hsien Loong now. He talks about defence ties, people-to-people ties and trade. But he returns to his favourite theme:
Singapore has been founded as an open market. A nation dealt built on free trade. That provides jobs and growth … Perhaps, and some respects, underlying all of this, as a theme and the commitment, is greater collaboration with Singapore on innovation and science.
Updated
at 12.14am BST
12.02am BST
12.02am BST
00:02
00:02
Put on a 🔴nose to support @RedNose_Aus. Their mission: to tackle all sudden and unexpected deaths in babies. pic.twitter.com/q4qvvVUd1q
Put on a 🔴nose to support @RedNose_Aus. Their mission: to tackle all sudden and unexpected deaths in babies. pic.twitter.com/q4qvvVUd1q
11.59pm BST
11.59pm BST
23:59
23:59
Red Nose Day became red face day.
Red Nose Day became red face day.
But O’Dwyer wisely chose not to wear a red nose with her colleagues.
But O’Dwyer wisely chose not to wear a red nose with her colleagues.
Updated
Updated
at 12.04am BST
at 12.04am BST
11.53pm BST
11.53pm BST
23:53
23:53
The final votes on this Labor motion are now taking place. In the PM’s courtyard, reporters are gathering for a press conference with Malcolm Turnbull and Singapore’s prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong.
The final votes on this Labor motion are now taking place. In the PM’s courtyard, reporters are gathering for a press conference with Malcolm Turnbull and Singapore’s prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong.
Updated
Updated
at 12.05am BST
at 12.05am BST
11.50pm BST
11.50pm BST
23:50
23:50
Breaking: Government wins vote.
Breaking: The government wins the vote.
Bowen is gagged.
Bowen is gagged.
Updated
at 12.05am BST
11.44pm BST
11.44pm BST
23:44
23:44
So pardon me, the last vote was a gag on Tony Burke. The government won this vote 74-70.
So pardon me, the last vote was a gag on Tony Burke. The government won this vote 74-70.
The current vote is a gag on Chris Bowen who stood up to second the aforementioned suspension motion.
The current vote is a gag on Chris Bowen who stood up to second the aforementioned suspension motion.
11.40pm BST
11.40pm BST
23:40
23:40
Labor moves to suspend parliament to debate Coalition loss of control
Labor moves to suspend parliament to debate Coalition loss of control
Labor’s motion:
Labor’s motion:
Mr Burke moved:
Mr Burke moved:
That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent That the House:
That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent that the house:
(1) notes that in the first 10 sitting days of the 45th Parliament:
(1) notes that in the first 10 sitting days of the 45th parliament:
(a) the Government lost control of the floor of the House of Representatives;
(a) the government lost control of the floor of the House of Representatives;
(b) the Treasurer introduced legislation containing a $107 million black hole;
(b) the treasurer introduced legislation containing a $107m black hole;
(c) the Senate ran out of legislation to debate; and
(c) the Senate ran out of legislation to debate; and
(d) for the first time in the history of the Federation, an Opposition second reading amendment passed the House of Representatives, meaning the House, and all Government Members, voted unanimously that the Government has failed to close tax loopholes and increase transparency in Australia; and
(d) for the first time in the history of the federation, an opposition second reading amendment passed the House of Representatives, meaning the house, and all government members, voted unanimously that the government has failed to close tax loopholes and increase transparency in Australia; and
(2) given the House has resolved the Government must explain these failures, therefore calls on the Minister for Revenue to attend the House to explain why the Government has failed to close tax loopholes and increase transparency in Australia.
(2) given the house has resolved the government must explain these failures, therefore calls on the minister for revenue to attend the house to explain why the government has failed to close tax loopholes and increase transparency in Australia.
Updated
at 12.06am BST
11.35pm BST
11.35pm BST
23:35
23:35
The house is now dividing to vote on Burke’s suspension. On the numbers, you would think Labor would lose but I have given up my crystal ball in this parliament.
The house is now dividing to vote on Burke’s suspension. On the numbers, you would think Labor would lose but I have given up my crystal ball in this parliament.
11.34pm BST
23:34
First up, Tony Burke has moved that minister Kelly O’Dwyer attend the house to explain herself on the vote. The government says no.
So Burke is suspending standing orders to note the government lost control of the floor of the house. He has a long list of grievances which I shall bring you shortly.
11.32pm BST
23:32
Just before we go to the chambers, the Member assisting the Prime Minister George Christensen had a quiet chat to Andrew Bolt on Sky last night. He took the same position on the plebiscite to his National party colleague Andrew Broad. That is withdrawing support for the Coalition if there is a free vote on same sex marriage. George says it is part of the Coalition that a plebiscite must be honoured.
.@GChristensenMP says a free vote in parliament on same-sex marriage could threaten the Liberal National coalition https://t.co/3YTlmmH7qY
11.26pm BST
23:26
Both houses begin sitting at 9.30am.
11.25pm BST
23:25
Bill Shorten has held a quick presser out the front of the building.
Q: What are the ramifications from this historic moment [the loss of a vote]? Does anything actually happen out of it?
Labor believes the government has been a soft touch on multinationals not paying their direct tax in Australia. The parliament has passed a resolution which confirms that view.
Updated
at 11.43pm BST
11.23pm BST
23:23
The assistant minister James McGrath has referenced the scary clown craze on Sky while talking about the vote last night.
There is a craze to look out for crazy clowns in Australia. You don’t need to look far. They are all down here in the Labor party.
Updated
at 11.43pm BST
11.07pm BST
23:07
Bronwyn Bishop: Where are the leftwing women on rape by refugees in Germany?
Bronwyn Bishop has weighed in on Julia Gillard’s comments suggesting women were being dissuaded from pursuing a career in politics because of abuse and threats online.
The artist formerly known as Madame Speaker let loose on Gillard’s temerity.
Former speaker Bronwyn Bishop calls for the 'left-wing voice' to speak out about violence against women https://t.co/qIpXiXCFZK
Updated
at 11.43pm BST
10.56pm BST
22:56
By the way, after the vote stuff-up was revealed, there was general confusion over what to do because it had never happened before.
The Speaker, Tony Smith – who was not in the chair at the time of the vote – came to the chamber and made the following statement:
Earlier today, the question on a second reading amendment moved by the member for Fenner on the international tax agreements amendment bill 2016 was put to the house and, as I understand it, called for the ayes.
As the question on the amendment was called for the ‘ayes’ and not contested, the amendment was validly passed and proceedings on the bill should have ceased at that point. I understand that questions on the second and third readings of the bill were then put. This should not have happened and those proceedings were not valid. The votes and proceedings record will be corrected to show the second reading amendment being agreed to and proceedings on the bill ceasing at that point.
But the Speaker noted that Labor supported the bill and made mention in its motion that Labor did not want to stop the bill in its tracks. Smith said he would allow the change to the record if it was agreed on (by both sides).
As the member for Fenner’s [Andrew Leigh] amendment was in the form ‘whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading … ’ I consider this is a reasonable course of action and I will permit that to occur.
Some of the readers are wondering why Labor allowed the Coalition to amend their mistake.
In my view, three reasons:
Updated
at 11.42pm BST
10.34pm BST
22:34
Steve Ciobo on the procedural error: 'The fixer has fixed it'
The trade minister, Steve Ciobo, has been on ABC AM talking about the Singapore prime minister’s visit and the resulting trade and partnership deals which open the way for greater cooperation between the two countries.
What matters is that this has been fixed and the comment earlier that the fixer has fixed it. Christopher Pyne has fixed this issue. It was a procedural error in the house. There were multiple parties involved and that’s why this error took place. To throw a bouquet to the opposition they supported the government in having it declared null and void because it was a procedural error.
Let’s look at what the government has actually delivered this week. We’ve delivered now a comprehensive upgrade to Australia’s free trade agreement with Singapore, we have delivered tax relief to 500,000 Australians that are average wage earners and in middle incomes and made good on our commitment to CFA volunteers in Victoria. Now that sounds like a good track record of a government that is focussed on delivering for the Australian people.
If Bill Shorten and the Labor party want to run around and pretend a procedural vote in the House of Representatives in any way indicates anything otherwise, well good luck to them.
Updated
at 11.40pm BST
10.20pm BST
22:20
Three ministers, the health minister, Sussan Ley, the assistant health minister, Ken Wyatt, and the Indigenous minister, Nigel Scullion, will travel to Indigenous communities tomorrow to discuss suicide prevention techniques. Ley has told the ABC:
We don’t know what has worked and what hasn’t … Suicide was almost unknown in Indigenous communities before 1960 so it is indeed a national tragedy that the rate is now double of non-Indigenous communities.
The government has put $1m into a suicide prevention trial and Ley says the local communities will need to be happy with the programs that come out of the trial.
Part of my discussions tomorrow with Ken and Nigel Scullion will be about ensuring the local groups, the Aboriginal Medical Service and the community-controlled health organisations are indeed happy.
My Guardian colleague Calla Walquist has been reporting on this national tragedy for some time. This from June this year:
Indigenous people in the Kimberley region of Western Australia are seven times more likely to kill themselves and up to 20 times more likely to self-harm than other Australians, creating a situation where suicide has become “normalised behaviour”, a report has found.
There have been increasing calls for a royal commission into Indigenous suicide after a 10-year-old girl killed herself in the remote Aboriginal community of Looma, 250km east of Broome, in March.
The report, published in the Medical Journal of Australia on Monday, found that 102 of the 125 people who took their lives in the Kimberley between 2005 and 2014 identified as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
Updated
at 11.39pm BST
10.00pm BST
22:00
Good morning, people,
Those who were with me just before the close of business will know there was a last-minute flurry in the house when the government voted against its own interests. Let me recap for those who do not follow for the full day. (You are only human.)
There was a Labor amendment to an international tax bill moved by Andrew Leigh. The financial services minister, Kelly O’Dwyer, was in the chair, which means she was in charge on the government side with the usual staffers. The Speaker in the chair called for the vote and the government waved it through. As O’Dwyer left the chamber, Leigh thanked the government for voting for a Labor amendment and only then did it dawn on the Coalition what just happened.
The manager of opposition business, Tony Burke, was up on his feet, making hay while the sun shone.
Let’s make clear what it is that was carried unanimously in this room today. Every member of the house earlier resolved the following – that the house calls on the government to explain why it has failed to close tax loopholes and increase transparency in Australia.
The leader of the house, Christopher Pyne, acknowledged the win.
The member is allowed to have his moment in the sun gloating about an inadvertent error. I would make the point that there are several owners of this error and I am not going to criticise them individually because it is wrong to criticise the people who work for us, the people who were sitting in the chair … and I am not going to do that.
Burke was having none of that this morning. He told Kieran Gilbert on Sky:
If it was an ordinary administrative error, it would have happened sometime in the last century. It hasn’t.
A point he made on Twitter straight after the vote.
Today for the first time in the history of Federation an Opposition second reading amendment was carried.This was not the government's plan
I spoke to Burke straight afterwards to confirm it because not even the live minutes of the house recorded the fact. No one was ready for it.
Labor allowed the government to amend the vote after it had made its point and events continued to the adjournment. The truth is Labor is very good at this procedural stuff, having survived the hung parliament. It knows how to run a tight parliamentary ship and thus, it can identify the weak points.
Onwards and upwards. Today we see the introduction of the bills which reform Vocational Education and Training sector. There are three bills associated:
The education minister, Simon Birmingham, announced reforms that tighten up a scheme that has allowed 1,000 dodgy colleges to bloom. We reported on this earlier.
The new system will impose tougher barriers to entry on private training colleges, loan caps will be applied to courses, course eligibility criteria will be strengthened in alignment with what the government terms “industry requirements”, and there will be mandatory student engagement measures.
Let’s get on with it. I am @gabriellechan on the Twits and he is @mpbowers. If you prefer a longer chat, you can get me through my Facebook page or below. Grab a cuppa, I am charged up on the camomile. Living on the edge ...
