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Malcolm Turnbull rejects Amnesty claim that detention akin to torture – politics live Nauru accuses ABC of coaching refugee children as Turnbull rejects Amnesty claims – politics live
(35 minutes later)
1.33am BST
01:33
The Greens senator Nick McKim is asking about the Opcat (convention on torture). Triggs sees the “enormous importance” of the ratification. McKim tries to draw out a judgement at the slowness of the ratification process by the government.
She says it is not up to her to express those “emotions”.
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at 1.38am BST
1.30am BST
01:30
The Liberal senator Ian Macdonald accuses Labor senator Penny Wong of talking over others.
Penny Wong cracks up.
Updated
at 1.37am BST
1.26am BST
01:26
Nauru government accuses Four Corners of coaching kids
From AAP:
The Nauru government has accused the ABC Four Corners program of coaching refugee children for its documentary about the plight of youngsters detained on the island nation.It claimed the ABC did not seek comment from the Nauru government before airing the “wild and unsubstantiated” claims by “discredited” former detention welfare services provider Save the Children.“It was clear that these children were coached, and that the entire process of filming the refugees was stage-managed, as the program has not been to Nauru,” the government said in a statement.The government accused the ABC of biased political propaganda, saying the report was an embarrassment to journalism.“From start to finish it was denigrating, racist, false and pure political activism,” it said.The show aired footage of Nauruans belting-up each other.But the government maintained Nauru was not a violent country and had a lower crime rate than Australia.Comment has been sought from the ABC.
1.20am BST
01:20
The Future Fund has told #estimates it has been "taking risk out of the portfolio" and it expects returns will be lower
1.19am BST
01:19
Rosie Lewis of the Oz reports this morning on a bluetooth watch and a minister.
A bluetooth watch given to infrastructure minister Paul Fletcher by Chinese company Huawei has come under heavy scrutiny after Labor suggested it could pose a security risk but the piece has never been worn by its owner.
Labor Senate leader Penny Wong took interest in the watch after it was declared on Mr Fletcher’s updated register of members’ interests alongside a Chinese teapot from the same company.
Senator Wong used Senate estimates yesterday to ask the Department of Parliamentary Services if it had “any concerns” about a device provided by Huawei being connected to its computer network, noting there were a “range of security concerns” on the public record about the telecoms giant.
The former Labor government banned Huawei from participating in the rollout of the National Broadband Network on the basis of security advice from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the Defence Intelligence Organisation.
The Abbott government kept the ban in place.
DPS said intelligence agencies recommended hardware such as USBs received from external sources should not be connected to the parliamentary networks.
But the department assured Senator Wong there was malware detection software that initiated anti-virus checks upon connection.
Fletcher says its all G because he does not wear the watch.
That wag Bowers is amused.
Tea, anyone?
Updated
at 1.38am BST
1.10am BST
01:10
Updated
at 1.14am BST
1.08am BST
01:08
Senator Linda Reynolds has begun on Gillian Triggs.
She asks about a Triggs quote in an interview, here in the Saturday Paper.
Ramona Koval asked:
You’ve said, ‘When I was younger I thought one could build on the past. But I have learned that we need to be eternally vigilant in ensuring human rights in a modern democracy.’ Is that a sense of an idea of conservatism, building on the past, not letting go of good things that have been achieved? And feeling that confidence in that idea has been shaken?
Triggs said this:
A shocking phenomenon is Australians don’t even understand their own democratic system. They are quite content to have parliament be complicit with passing legislation to strengthen the powers of the executive and to exclude the courts. They have no idea of the separation of powers and the excessive overreach of executive government.
Reynolds says she understands the need for better civic education but not Triggs’ cynicism about the Australian people.
A conversation ensues about the role of parliamentarians and Triggs’ role.
Updated
at 1.13am BST
12.58am BST12.58am BST
00:5800:58
Both @SBS and the ABC's Michelle Guthrie up at #estimates today pic.twitter.com/XWRziZysNrBoth @SBS and the ABC's Michelle Guthrie up at #estimates today pic.twitter.com/XWRziZysNr
12.55am BST12.55am BST
00:5500:55
Pollies v press this morning.Pollies v press this morning.
As Mike Bowers was heard to utter, float like a butterball, sting like a flea.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.There is speculation that Labor MP Ed Husic simply organises this as a chance to beat up on journalists.
12.51am BST12.51am BST
00:5100:51
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.04am BSTat 1.04am BST
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.
Updated
at 12.44am BST
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 BST
00:28
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.
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.
Updated
at 12.35am BST
12.24am BST
00:24
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.
Triggs takes the question regarding compulsion on notice.
Updated
at 12.35am BST
12.20am BST
00:20
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.
12.18am BST
00:18
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.
As far as she knows, he did not breach the guidelines.
Brandis:
Thank you very much Prof Triggs for that answer.
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.
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.
Updated
at 12.29am BST
12.11am BST
00:11
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.
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.
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.
Brandis asks:
Are you suggesting only people in Sydney should be qualified for the job?
Updated
at 12.27am BST