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Version 1 Version 2
David Leyonhjelm: it's inconceivable Tony Abbott would not know about gun deal – politics live David Leyonhjelm: it's inconceivable Tony Abbott would not know about gun deal – politics live
(35 minutes later)
11.25pm BST
23:25
Labor senator Penny Wong moves to Heath Aston’s cracker story in Fairfax this morning:
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spent an estimated $215,000 or more sending nearly two dozen senior bureaucrats from Canberra to Paris to attend an inhouse talkfest about ways to save money.
Fairfax Media can reveal the two day junket in September included business class return travel for all 23 DFAT officers....
Wong asks for the costs in total as well as a breakdown but Dfat can’t provide that but may have to take it on notice.
Aston has done a bit of a cost breakdown:
According to the Qantas website, the cheapest business class “saver” ticket to Paris costs $3800 one-way, indicating the group of 23 cost at least $175,000 in airfares alone for the 48-hour jaunt.
The group stayed at the four-star Mercure Paris Centre Eiffel Tower Hotel where standard rooms for mid-week business travellers start at $530 a night, according to booking websites.
DFAT would not comment on the total cost of flights, hotels and meals but using the scenario of the cheapest business class fares on offer, three nights at the Mercure and a $150 daily meal allowance, a conservative estimate of the trip’s cost would be $215,000. That figure does not include the as yet unknown cost of getting more than two dozen Europe-based diplomatic staff to Paris.
Adamson says Paris was chosen because it was a “regional hub”.
11.20pm BST
23:20
Penny Wong has started questions to Dfat secretary Frances Adamson.
Wong is questioning on the Coalition announcement of a new white paper on foreign policy. Adamson keeps referencing a “strategy” rather than a white paper. Bishop seemed quite clear in her announcement.
From James Massola’s story on 19 August this year:
Ms Bishop told Fairfax Media that, in fact, a formal white paper would be produced and that it “will look at how to maximise our influence through our policies, but also shape the thinking of other nations. Its about strategy – our global focus and our global interests”.
Adamson says she has established a foreign policy strategy taskforce because:
We have been asked to produced a foreign policy strategy.
Updated
at 11.22pm BST
11.03pm BST
23:03
Scott Morrison warns on AAA rating
Paul Karp
The Treasurer Scott Morrison has spoken to Radio National to discuss the AAA credit rating after reports the midyear budget update could be the catalyst for Australia losing the rating.
He said all three credit ratings agencies had affirmed the AAA rating since the election, although S&P had put Australia on negative watch.
Morrison said he met John Chambers, the head of the sovereign risk at S&P, in New York.
Morrison said:
He reaffirmed the point that we have a trajectory to budget balance, we have measures to achieve that – and there were no additional measures or alternative measures that were suggested to us, it’s a matter of implementing and legislating the plan that we have.
The treasurer asks why Labor is “refusing to help bring expenditure under control”.
So basically, now that Labor has supported the omnibus savings bill, Morrison is ramping up pressure to pass the rest of the government’s more contentious savings that the opposition did not agree to before the election.
Updated
at 11.23pm BST
10.59pm BST
22:59
The department of foreign affairs (Dfat) is up before estimates committees. We might see an appearance of Penny the Conqueror in that committee.
We have three bills before the house this morning which starts at 9.30am. Here are the government titles:
Updated
at 10.59pm BST
10.55pm BST
22:55
Matt Hatter has flushed us out with recommendations to improve our flagging bodies and brains.
Good morning @mpbowers. Might I also recommend these fine products, although the adhesive could be a bit uncomfortable. @gabriellechan pic.twitter.com/ihNpmIaN40
10.53pm BST10.53pm BST
22:5322:53
Leyonhjelm deal? "Neither here nor there", says Eric AbetzLeyonhjelm deal? "Neither here nor there", says Eric Abetz
Eric Abetz, who was leader of the government in the senate when the alleged Leyonhjelm deal was done, has said the Leyonhjelm deal was not much of an offer or compromise given the states had to decide.Eric Abetz, who was leader of the government in the senate when the alleged Leyonhjelm deal was done, has said the Leyonhjelm deal was not much of an offer or compromise given the states had to decide.
He has appeared on Sky with Kieran Gilbert.He has appeared on Sky with Kieran Gilbert.
If I might say Kieran the offer of a sunset clause was not much of an offer at all or compromise from the government perspective because at all times the government did not want to fix this courtesy of a regulation but through the Coag National Firearms Agreement between the states and territories. This was a short term solution and so for somebody to say put a 12 month sunset clause on it, was neither here nor there in our thinking because we thought it was going to be resolved within 12 months.If I might say Kieran the offer of a sunset clause was not much of an offer at all or compromise from the government perspective because at all times the government did not want to fix this courtesy of a regulation but through the Coag National Firearms Agreement between the states and territories. This was a short term solution and so for somebody to say put a 12 month sunset clause on it, was neither here nor there in our thinking because we thought it was going to be resolved within 12 months.
Abetz said he can’t remember the deal but if he had of known about it he would have thought it was of “no great moment”.Abetz said he can’t remember the deal but if he had of known about it he would have thought it was of “no great moment”.
He says a regulation usually would not go to cabinet.He says a regulation usually would not go to cabinet.
Abetz said it was “unfortunate” if Leyonhjelm thought said deal was a great coup.Abetz said it was “unfortunate” if Leyonhjelm thought said deal was a great coup.
And he delivers the ol’ conspiracy versus stuff up line. Must be a stuff up, he figures.And he delivers the ol’ conspiracy versus stuff up line. Must be a stuff up, he figures.
10.35pm BST10.35pm BST
22:3522:35
Abbott didn’t know? Inconceivable.Abbott didn’t know? Inconceivable.
10.31pm BST10.31pm BST
22:3122:31
Census shutdown cost $30mCensus shutdown cost $30m
Estimates continue for a final day. Last night we learned of the cost of the census clusterduck.Estimates continue for a final day. Last night we learned of the cost of the census clusterduck.
From our friends at AAP:From our friends at AAP:
The chaos surrounding the first online census which resulted in the website being shut down and thousands of people unable to access it on the night will cost taxpayers about $30m.The chaos surrounding the first online census which resulted in the website being shut down and thousands of people unable to access it on the night will cost taxpayers about $30m.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics told a Senate estimates hearing on Wednesday night the 40-hour outage meant the expected $100m saving from moving the census online was now more likely to be about $70m.The Australian Bureau of Statistics told a Senate estimates hearing on Wednesday night the 40-hour outage meant the expected $100m saving from moving the census online was now more likely to be about $70m.
“We have to date probably incurred additional costs of around $20m ... and we anticipate possibly spending another $10m,” chief statistician David Kalisch said.“We have to date probably incurred additional costs of around $20m ... and we anticipate possibly spending another $10m,” chief statistician David Kalisch said.
UpdatedUpdated
at 10.32pm BSTat 10.32pm BST
10.20pm BST10.20pm BST
22:2022:20
"I certainly want Malcolm Turnbull to be the best possible PM throughout this term," says @TonyAbbottMHR #abc730 #auspol pic.twitter.com/9SXZhr7evX"I certainly want Malcolm Turnbull to be the best possible PM throughout this term," says @TonyAbbottMHR #abc730 #auspol pic.twitter.com/9SXZhr7evX
10.11pm BST10.11pm BST
22:1122:11
Good morning blogans,Good morning blogans,
Here we go, down the hill, one ski, no poles, as Paul Keating would say.Here we go, down the hill, one ski, no poles, as Paul Keating would say.
Today is Thursday all day, which means it is the last sitting day.Today is Thursday all day, which means it is the last sitting day.
Tony Abbott was on 7.30 last night. Katharine Murphy did a wrap, reporting Abbott’s view that a mass casualty event had been avoided due to the gun laws.Tony Abbott was on 7.30 last night. Katharine Murphy did a wrap, reporting Abbott’s view that a mass casualty event had been avoided due to the gun laws.
Abbott also said there was no deal – as far as he was concerned – with David Leyonhjelm, even though the senator has released all the emails that suggests there was a deal. Must have been a ministerial staffer, Abbott said, but no deals from me or my office.Abbott also said there was no deal – as far as he was concerned – with David Leyonhjelm, even though the senator has released all the emails that suggests there was a deal. Must have been a ministerial staffer, Abbott said, but no deals from me or my office.
There were no deals, no deals.There were no deals, no deals.
In case you missed it last night, here is the snippet from 7.30.In case you missed it last night, here is the snippet from 7.30.
Tony Abbott on whether there was a deal with Senator David Leyonhjelm over the Adler gun ban. #abc730 #auspol pic.twitter.com/WQE4OlR3ooTony Abbott on whether there was a deal with Senator David Leyonhjelm over the Adler gun ban. #abc730 #auspol pic.twitter.com/WQE4OlR3oo
After Abbott’s interview, Leyonhjelm is out this morning disputing Abbott’s version of events.After Abbott’s interview, Leyonhjelm is out this morning disputing Abbott’s version of events.
Leyonhjelm makes the entirely logical point that a government regulation would not have been introduced on the say so of staffers.Leyonhjelm makes the entirely logical point that a government regulation would not have been introduced on the say so of staffers.
He told Michael Brissenden on ABC AM:He told Michael Brissenden on ABC AM:
If all of that occurred without the prime minister’s personal knowledge, that would be understandable. There is an awful lot of regulations that are done but it is inconceivable that his office wouldn’t have known about it.If all of that occurred without the prime minister’s personal knowledge, that would be understandable. There is an awful lot of regulations that are done but it is inconceivable that his office wouldn’t have known about it.
Brissenden:Brissenden:
Q: Abbott also said that this sort of sunset clause is common in such regulations and you were just being told how these things work. Did you misunderstand what was being offered?Q: Abbott also said that this sort of sunset clause is common in such regulations and you were just being told how these things work. Did you misunderstand what was being offered?
Leyonhjelm:Leyonhjelm:
He is wrong about that. There are no sunset clauses in most regulations. We look at regulations all the time. I moved to disallow a few of them. There is no such thing as an automatic sunset clause in regulations. That is just false. In order to implement the deal that I had with the minister that we negotiated, they had to actually bring in a specific regulation, which they did.He is wrong about that. There are no sunset clauses in most regulations. We look at regulations all the time. I moved to disallow a few of them. There is no such thing as an automatic sunset clause in regulations. That is just false. In order to implement the deal that I had with the minister that we negotiated, they had to actually bring in a specific regulation, which they did.
Q: You looked at it and thought this was a deal, yes?Q: You looked at it and thought this was a deal, yes?
Yes, they wanted my vote on a particular amendment to a bill, an unrelated bill. In exchange for that, we agreed that they would implement a sunset clause on the ban on the import of the seven shot lever-action shotgun.Yes, they wanted my vote on a particular amendment to a bill, an unrelated bill. In exchange for that, we agreed that they would implement a sunset clause on the ban on the import of the seven shot lever-action shotgun.
Q: What did you say when that deal never materialised that you thought you had?Q: What did you say when that deal never materialised that you thought you had?
That happened in August this year. I had a phone call from Michael Keenan, the justice minister who said, “We are reimposing the import ban on the seven shot lever action.”That happened in August this year. I had a phone call from Michael Keenan, the justice minister who said, “We are reimposing the import ban on the seven shot lever action.”
I said, “You can’t do that. The sunset clause is about to kick in. “It was a week before the 12 months was up and it was about to kick in so the ban would be lifted. We did a deal. You are renegotiating on the deal. His answer was, “We never intended to allow it in anyway.” In other words, they were intending to do me over.I said, “You can’t do that. The sunset clause is about to kick in. “It was a week before the 12 months was up and it was about to kick in so the ban would be lifted. We did a deal. You are renegotiating on the deal. His answer was, “We never intended to allow it in anyway.” In other words, they were intending to do me over.
Q: Has it hardened since what happened this week?Q: Has it hardened since what happened this week?
Well, it has made it a bit more awkward. I am still 50/50. I am prepared to vote against the ABCC. I make no bones about that. I am prepared to vote against it. There are some bad aspects about that bill. Its purpose is admirable.Well, it has made it a bit more awkward. I am still 50/50. I am prepared to vote against the ABCC. I make no bones about that. I am prepared to vote against it. There are some bad aspects about that bill. Its purpose is admirable.
OK that’s it. Let’s crack on. I am @gabriellechan and @mpbowers is just basting himself liberally with a can of Start Ya Bastard. I will explain.OK that’s it. Let’s crack on. I am @gabriellechan and @mpbowers is just basting himself liberally with a can of Start Ya Bastard. I will explain.
UpdatedUpdated
at 10.31pm BSTat 10.31pm BST