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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2016/oct/18/malcolm-turnbull-rejects-amnesty-claim-that-detention-akin-to-torture-politics-live

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Malcolm Turnbull rejects Amnesty claim that detention akin to torture – politics live Malcolm Turnbull rejects Amnesty claim that detention akin to torture – politics live
(35 minutes later)
12.58am BST
00:58
Both @SBS and the ABC's Michelle Guthrie up at #estimates today pic.twitter.com/XWRziZysNr
12.55am BST
00:55
Pollies v press this morning.
As Mike Bowers was heard to utter, float like a butterball, sting like a flea.
There is speculation that Labor MP Ed Husic simply organises this as a chance to beat up on journalists.
12.51am BST
00:51
Updated
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12.46am BST
00:46
Will nobody think of Barry Gibb?
Immigration depart admits visa costs for Bluesfest will jump from $7200 to $55k+ under changes starting in November #estimates pic.twitter.com/ddq0Ai9PxU
12.38am BST
00:38
I did forget there was party room meetings today. Caucus is breaking so we will have some reports from that shortly.
12.37am BST
00:37
The attorney general is listing all the funding relating to ice addiction for Jacqui Lambie.
Brandis says there is no insufficiency in our laws in relation to ice.
There are very strong laws with very strong penalties.
But Lambie is particularly concerned about the rights of parents for drug-addicted kids. Brandis says he will have a “good constructive talk” with her.
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12.33am BST
00:33
Turnbull answered a few extra questions at a doorstop.
Q: David Leyonhjelm says that the government welched on a deal with him last year about the sunset clause for the Adler shotgun. He thinks that he has been treated poorly. Do you think he has got any grounds for those concerns?
Turnbull:
David Leyonhjelm and I have discussed the matter and I’ll be working hard to ensure that any concerns or disappointment he has is addressed.
12.31am BST
00:31
Thanks to Jasper Lindell, aspiring journalist, who is helping out today. Bless him for taking one of the hearings on:
Senator David Leyonhjelm has just recovered from a coughing fit in the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee.
WA Labor senator Glen Sterle broke from questions to wonder whether someone was getting him a defibrillator.
He might be joining his friend, ex Senator Day soon.
Senator Sterle was asking the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation managing director, John Harvey, about rent arrangements for the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority in light of its move to Wagga Wagga.
Hearing that rent was cheaper than the previous Canberra office, Sterle also joked:
Maybe we should move the parliament out there.
12.28am BST12.28am BST
00:2800:28
Jacqui Lambie wants to know from attorney general George Brandis why the government is not ratifying the optional protocol on the convention against torture (Opcat). Jacqui Lambie wants to know from the attorney general, George Brandis, why the government is not ratifying the optional protocol on the convention against torture (Opcat).
Brandis says the government supports the principles in Opcat.Brandis says the government supports the principles in Opcat.
He says a number of steps need to happen first, including consultations with states and territories. It is on the agenda for the next Coag meeting for attorneys general on Friday.He says a number of steps need to happen first, including consultations with states and territories. It is on the agenda for the next Coag meeting for attorneys general on Friday.
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12.24am BST12.24am BST
00:2400:24
Jacquie Lambie asks Triggs about the rights of families and access to mental health services for ice addicted children. She is getting to the ability of parents to compel ice addicts into medical intervention. Jacquie Lambie asks Triggs about the rights of families and access to mental health services for ice-addicted children. She is getting to the ability of parents to compel ice addicts into medical intervention.
Triggs takes the question regarding compulsion on notice.Triggs takes the question regarding compulsion on notice.
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12.20am BST12.20am BST
00:2000:20
Watts is digging to see if he was still on the public purse while starting his preselection process. Triggs said he was careful to discuss his resignation quickly.Watts is digging to see if he was still on the public purse while starting his preselection process. Triggs said he was careful to discuss his resignation quickly.
12.18am BST12.18am BST
00:1800:18
Murray Watts asks if Triggs is sure that former freedom commissioner Tim Wilson didn’t undertake political campaigning or attend events while he was on the payroll of the HRC.Murray Watts asks if Triggs is sure that former freedom commissioner Tim Wilson didn’t undertake political campaigning or attend events while he was on the payroll of the HRC.
As far as she knows, he did not breach the guidelines.As far as she knows, he did not breach the guidelines.
Brandis:Brandis:
Thank you very much Prof Triggs for that answer.Thank you very much Prof Triggs for that answer.
Watts says, so he did attend Liberal events on the public purse?Watts says, so he did attend Liberal events on the public purse?
He attended various political parties’ events in his advocacy role for the Human Rights Act, says Brandis.He attended various political parties’ events in his advocacy role for the Human Rights Act, says Brandis.
That included the Labor party if they wanted to engage with him on human rights issues.That included the Labor party if they wanted to engage with him on human rights issues.
So which ones? Brandis said he attended a Greens events. But he cannot say whether Wilson attended National party events.So which ones? Brandis said he attended a Greens events. But he cannot say whether Wilson attended National party events.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.29am BSTat 12.29am BST
12.11am BST12.11am BST
00:1100:11
Gillian Triggs says there is a cap for commissioners’ expenses. There is a high level of discretion for commissioners to spend their budget. She says new commissioners often spend more in the first year because they travel extensively to consult. Then it settles down.Gillian Triggs says there is a cap for commissioners’ expenses. There is a high level of discretion for commissioners to spend their budget. She says new commissioners often spend more in the first year because they travel extensively to consult. Then it settles down.
There is also family reunion expenses and living away from home allowances.There is also family reunion expenses and living away from home allowances.
Triggs says the annual cap is $30,000. Watt points out in Wilson’s first year, he spent $77,000. Triggs will get back to him on the reasons for the overspend.Triggs says the annual cap is $30,000. Watt points out in Wilson’s first year, he spent $77,000. Triggs will get back to him on the reasons for the overspend.
Brandis intervenes for Wilson, his appointee and friend. He points out that the commission’s headquarters are in Sydney and he lives in Melbourne.Brandis intervenes for Wilson, his appointee and friend. He points out that the commission’s headquarters are in Sydney and he lives in Melbourne.
Watts says he is sure no one would be qualified for the job in Sydney.Watts says he is sure no one would be qualified for the job in Sydney.
Brandis asks:Brandis asks:
Are you suggesting only people in Sydney should be qualified for the job?Are you suggesting only people in Sydney should be qualified for the job?
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at 12.27am BSTat 12.27am BST
12.04am BST
00:04
The Labor senator Murray Watt asks about former freedom commissioner Tim Wilson’s expenses. Wilson is of course now MP for Goldstein.
Updated
at 12.14am BST
12.02am BST
00:02
Prof Triggs' appearance a reminder of the last time Brandis, MacDonald & O'Sullivan bullied a statutory officer who dared to stand up
12.01am BST
00:01
The Greens senator Lee Rhiannon accuses senator David Leyonhjelm of horse trading.
There should not be horse-trading on these bills. It is so important that we do not let our stringent gun laws slip away by bartering over bills like this.
The ABCC is a piece of anti-worker legislation. It has nothing to do with cracking down on corruption, it is about union busting.
We know the Turnbull government is desperate to resurrect the ABCC bill but are they so desperate that they are willing to relax sensible gun laws that keep our communities safe?
Updated
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11.59pm BST
23:59
Albo whacks colleague Gavin Marshall: his comments say more about him than others
Paul Karp
Senior Labor left shadow minister Anthony Albanese has responded to comments by senator Gavin Marshall, an ally of Kim Carr, threatening colleagues’ preselection.
At a press conference in Canberra, Albanese said:
I have seen the comments about not just Andrew Giles but Catherine King and Jenny Macklin – they are all valued colleagues, they are all frontbench colleagues, they’re all playing a significant role in the parliament. And they have, I think, the support of everyone not just here but importantly the people in their respective electorates, which is why they were all returned on July 2 at the federal election.
Albanese said Marshall’s comments “speak for themselves” and “say more about senator Marshall than they do about the colleagues he’s disparaged”.
Asked about the preselection of Kimberley Kitching for Stephen Conroy’s Senate vacancy, Albanese said it was a matter for the Victorian branch and he did not have a vote but noted that Kitching had the support of “some significant figures” in the Victorian branch (read: leader Bill Shorten).
The preselection was conducted in accordance with the rules, Albanese said, but noted he has previously called for ALP members to have votes in all Senate preselections.
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11.54pm BST
23:54
The deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, made the decision earlier this year to move offices of the Grains Research and Development Corporation from Canberra to regional areas.
On Wednesday Mr Joyce announced three Canberra-based research organisations will have work shifted out of the national capital.
The Grains Research and Development Corporation, based in Barton at the foot of Parliament House, will have four offices outside Canberra at Dubbo, Toowoomba, Adelaide and Perth even though the GRDC recently signed a new lease.
AusTender documents say the 10-year, $12.2m lease for the grains corporation’s office in Barton was signed in December 2013 and expired in 2024.
The tweet below lists the costs related to those moves.
It is timely given the controversial decision by Joyce to move the APVMA offices out of Canberra to his own electorate. In the context of the election.
GRDC gives #estimates their relocation/fitout/running costs to move to four sites, excluding GST: #auspol #agchatoz @abcrural pic.twitter.com/MRmvCmqkb4
Updated
at 11.56pm BST
11.47pm BST
23:47
There is a fair bit of tension in the room in this estimates.
Fawcett’s questioning was controlled and Soutphommasane was not backing off.
Now the Liberal senator Linda Reynolds is asking Triggs how she sees her role. Obviously the Coalition is trying to catch her out overstepping the mark. Triggs is walking carefully.
Perhaps what you are getting at is what is our mandate ...
Updated
at 11.56pm BST
11.42pm BST
23:42
Triggs is asked by the Coalition senator David Fawcett about the complaint about the Bill Leak cartoon on the grounds of 18c.
Triggs says she cannot speak about individual complaints.
This was reported in the Oz:
Bill Leak and the Australian are staring down a Human Rights Commission challenge under section 18C, 10 weeks after the cartoonist’s provocative drawing led to a public debate over Indigenous parental neglect.
Commission president Gil­lian Triggs’s delegate, Jodie Ball, has written to the newspaper’s lawyers to advise that allegations of racial hatred under the Racial Discrimination Act will be investigated.
The allegations are in a complaint by Melissa Dinnison over Leak’s August 4 cartoon, which prompted widespread commendation and criticism for its blunt portrayal of a crisis in Aboriginal parenting.
Fawcett suggests the cartoon presented a good image of a police officer in authority.
Triggs won’t bite so Fawcett moves to race commissioner Tim Soutphommasane about his comments about the cartoon and his assessment about “racial stereotyping”. Soutphommasane points out that his comments are appropriate because he has no role in the complaints process and does not judge the complaints.
Updated
at 11.55pm BST
11.34pm BST
23:34
For #agrinerds...
Ag #Estimates is underway, Barry O'Sullivan chairing. GRDC up first. Livestream for #agrinerds via: https://t.co/QOn5a9mWMs #agchatoz #ozpol
11.33pm BST
23:33
#estimates exploring how NBN Chair published this fiery op-ed despite advice it breached caretaker conventions https://t.co/PjRxVTCfWv
11.26pm BST
23:26
Brandis also intervened, reminding Macdonald he could stop the hearings.
Macdonald mentions that Senate president Stephen Parry had to counsel Wong for her behaviour in the chamber.
Updated
at 11.31pm BST