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| Turnbull contradicts Tony Abbott on guns-for-votes issue – question time live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.44am BST | |
| 04:44 | |
| Turnbull confirms Tony Abbott was wrong on guns for votes | |
| Shorten to Turnbull: Can the Prime Minister confirm that in a previous answer today he stated that the member for Warringah was wrong when he told the 7.30 report that the Prime Minister’s Office was not informed by ministers Dutton or Keenan or their staff about the guns for votes deal? | |
| I refer the honourable member to my previous answer which I think was perfectly clear. | |
| That means yes. | |
| Tony Abbott was wrong. | |
| 4.40am BST | |
| 04:40 | |
| Shorten to Turnbull: Today it’s reported that the Deputy Prime Minister supports the NSW Deputy Premier taking a proposal to the NSW cabinet to allow the importation of the Adler shotgun. Is the position of the Deputy Prime Minister the position of the government and is that position consistent with the advice or recommendations of the Australian Federal Police? | |
| Turnbull refers to Troy Grant’s statement to “tighten” the categorisation of lever action shotguns. | |
| Turnbull says the states regulate the categorisation and licensing of guns. | |
| He is encouraging the states to tighten the reclassification of those guns. | |
| We are encouraging the states to come to a consensus to see a reclassification with an appropriately tighter classification on those lever action weapons, and of course once that consensus is reached and they’re classification is fully implemented, then consistent with the arrangements described on several occasions now, as this ban has gone through now, three iterations, the ban would be lifted and so guns, the import arrangements would be consistent with they’re classification. That’s our commitment. | |
| Keeping Australians safe, ensuring we hold the ring, keep the guns out of the country, until the appropriate reclassification by the state and territory police ministers is agreed to. | |
| 4.32am BST | |
| 04:32 | |
| Malcolm Turnbull: Tony Abbott's office knew about the Leyonhjelm gun for vote deal | |
| Onto CFMEU for a guvvie question. | |
| Shorten to Turnbull: According to former prime minister Abbott, the minister for immigration and the minister for justice made a deal to trade guns for votes without the authority of the then prime minister. What steps has the prime minister taken to determine whether what the former prime minister said was true, or whether the minister for immigration or minister for justice are telling the truth, instead that the prime minister’s office was in fact advised? | |
| Turnbull is on to the government’s plan for mandatory sentencing for illegal firearm crimes .... until: | |
| Now, turning to the specific question, I have made inquiries of my ministers and can say to the house as a result of those inquiries I’m satisfied that the minister for justice acted in the full knowledge of the prime minister’s office at that time, says Turnbull. | |
| Updated | |
| at 4.42am BST | |
| 4.24am BST | |
| 04:24 | |
| NXT MP Rebekha Sharkie asks Turnbull: earlier today representatives from the 100% Australian-owned consortium, BBHO, attended Parliament House. They are here in the gallery. Do you agree, as a matter of principle and for the national interests, that if there is a credible, commercially-competitive 100% Australian bid for the iconic Australian asset such as S Kidman and Co cattle empire, that should take precedence over overseas bids? | |
| Turnbull applauds her patriotism and flicks the question to Scott Morrison who as treasurer is in charge of bids. | |
| Morrison says Kidman is in charge of the bids and the government will only get involved if approval is required because of foreign buyer participation. | |
| 4.20am BST | |
| 04:20 | |
| Labor to justice minister Keenan: My question is again to the Minister for Justice, referring to his previous statement that there was no deal with Senator Leyonhjelm. Can the minister explain why the email from his office refers to a sunset clause of 12 months and I quote “in return for Senator Leyonhjelm’s vote”. | |
| Keenan says lever action shotguns were in category A under the Labor government. (The easiest category to access.) | |
| He expected the categorisation to be done in less than 12 months. | |
| 4.14am BST | |
| 04:14 | |
| Justice minister Michael Keenan ALSO contradicts Abbott on guns for votes issue. | |
| Labor asks Keenan, justice minister: Last night on 7. 30, the former PrimeMinister, the Member for Warringah, said a deal to trade guns for votes by the Minister for Justice was not authorised. Is that accurate? Was the Minister acting without the authority of the then Prime Minister, the member for Warringah? | |
| Keenan refuses to answer thus far. He goes over the same old processes, entirely avoiding the question until: | |
| On the question about my interaction with the Prime Minister’s Office (Abbott) in relation to this, we interacted in the usual way as we would with the Prime Minister’s...of keeping them appraised of what was going on. | |
| Bang. Keenan also contradicts Abbott’s story there was no deal. | |
| 4.08am BST | 4.08am BST |
| 04:08 | 04:08 |
| Immigration minister Peter Dutton contradicts Abbott on guns for votes issue. | |
| Plibersek to immigration minister Dutton: Last night on the 7.30 report, the former prime minister, the member for Warringah, said a deal on trade – to trade guns for votes by the minister for immigration was not authorised. Is that accurate? Was the minister acting without the authority of the then prime minister, the member for Warringah? | |
| Dutton confirms: | Dutton confirms: |
| But there’s no question that at an advisor’s level, there would have been discussions around this issue. | But there’s no question that at an advisor’s level, there would have been discussions around this issue. |
| Updated | |
| at 4.14am BST | |
| 4.00am BST | 4.00am BST |
| 04:00 | 04:00 |
| On to question time.... | On to question time.... |
| 3.58am BST | 3.58am BST |
| 03:58 | 03:58 |
| Cathy McGowan explains her position. | Cathy McGowan explains her position. |
| It is so disappointing that this is still dragging on. Like many others I was looking forward to seeing a resolution on 11 February 2017. | It is so disappointing that this is still dragging on. Like many others I was looking forward to seeing a resolution on 11 February 2017. |
| My first preference has always been for a conscience vote by the parliament on marriage equality. In the absence of a conscience vote I agreed to support the plebiscite but this option is now gone. | My first preference has always been for a conscience vote by the parliament on marriage equality. In the absence of a conscience vote I agreed to support the plebiscite but this option is now gone. |
| I call on all parties to come together in good faith to respectfully discuss the process from here. I look forward to working with the government and the opposition to resolve the issue as quickly as we can. | I call on all parties to come together in good faith to respectfully discuss the process from here. I look forward to working with the government and the opposition to resolve the issue as quickly as we can. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.03am BST | at 4.03am BST |
| 3.47am BST | 3.47am BST |
| 03:47 | 03:47 |
| Cathy McGowan votes for free marriage vote in parliament, then for plebiscite | Cathy McGowan votes for free marriage vote in parliament, then for plebiscite |
| Paul Karp | Paul Karp |
| The government has won two key votes in the lower house on the plebiscite bill: one voting down a Labor amendment to immediately consider a free vote; and another approving the plebiscite bill. It now passes to the Senate. | The government has won two key votes in the lower house on the plebiscite bill: one voting down a Labor amendment to immediately consider a free vote; and another approving the plebiscite bill. It now passes to the Senate. |
| Independent Cathy McGowan voted with Labor for a free vote but when that failed she voted with the Coalition in favour of the plebiscite. | Independent Cathy McGowan voted with Labor for a free vote but when that failed she voted with the Coalition in favour of the plebiscite. |
| “Now we need to find a Plan C,” she tells Guardian Australia - in reference to the fact the Senate is expected to reject the plebiscite because it is opposed by Labor, the Greens, the Nick Xenophon Team, Derryn Hinch and the Coalition’s own Dean Smith. | “Now we need to find a Plan C,” she tells Guardian Australia - in reference to the fact the Senate is expected to reject the plebiscite because it is opposed by Labor, the Greens, the Nick Xenophon Team, Derryn Hinch and the Coalition’s own Dean Smith. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.47am BST | at 3.47am BST |
| 3.45am BST | 3.45am BST |
| 03:45 | 03:45 |
| Penny Wong wants to talk about the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (Asis) in the senate estimates. | Penny Wong wants to talk about the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (Asis) in the senate estimates. |
| Dfat secretary Frances Adamson says she doesn’t believe it is appropriate to talk about Asis at all. | Dfat secretary Frances Adamson says she doesn’t believe it is appropriate to talk about Asis at all. |
| It relates to a story in The Australian about Asis operations. Foreign minister Julie Bishop commented on details of Asis operations. Wong asks why it is not appropriate to talk about Asis in estimates but it is appropriate to talk to a newspaper. | It relates to a story in The Australian about Asis operations. Foreign minister Julie Bishop commented on details of Asis operations. Wong asks why it is not appropriate to talk about Asis in estimates but it is appropriate to talk to a newspaper. |
| Adamson refuses to answer. Wong tries again. Adamson firmly says no. | Adamson refuses to answer. Wong tries again. Adamson firmly says no. |
| Minister Concetta Fierravanti-Wells takes the question on notice asking why it is appropriate for Bishop to discuss Asis operations in public. | Minister Concetta Fierravanti-Wells takes the question on notice asking why it is appropriate for Bishop to discuss Asis operations in public. |
| Then Wong moves to former treasurer and now US ambassador Joe Hockey accepting a luxury cruise from trucking magnate Lindsay Fox was declared. Here is part of the original story in the Oz in July this year: | Then Wong moves to former treasurer and now US ambassador Joe Hockey accepting a luxury cruise from trucking magnate Lindsay Fox was declared. Here is part of the original story in the Oz in July this year: |
| Australia’s Ambassador to the US, Joe Hockey, has taken time out from his busy schedule to celebrate the 80th birthday of businessman Lindsay Fox. | Australia’s Ambassador to the US, Joe Hockey, has taken time out from his busy schedule to celebrate the 80th birthday of businessman Lindsay Fox. |
| Mr Hockey was snapped in the Mediterranean with mining billionaire Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest, and actress Deborra Lee-Furness. | Mr Hockey was snapped in the Mediterranean with mining billionaire Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest, and actress Deborra Lee-Furness. |
| The former Treasurer is friends with Mr Fox’s daughter Lisa, who is based in New York. | The former Treasurer is friends with Mr Fox’s daughter Lisa, who is based in New York. |
| Mr Fox, who turns 80 in April next year, is sailing a collection of friends from Athens to Venice to celebrate. Other high-profile guests include Eddie McGuire, Jeff Kennett and Greg Norman. | Mr Fox, who turns 80 in April next year, is sailing a collection of friends from Athens to Venice to celebrate. Other high-profile guests include Eddie McGuire, Jeff Kennett and Greg Norman. |
| They are passengers on a luxury liner called Seabourn Odyssey, which has been chartered at a reported cost of about $200,000 per day for the seven-day cruise. | They are passengers on a luxury liner called Seabourn Odyssey, which has been chartered at a reported cost of about $200,000 per day for the seven-day cruise. |
| More than 450 guests are believed to be on deck for the birthday bash. | More than 450 guests are believed to be on deck for the birthday bash. |
| Dfat takes it on notice. | Dfat takes it on notice. |
| 3.33am BST | 3.33am BST |
| 03:33 | 03:33 |
| Ben Doherty | Ben Doherty |
| The Department of Foreign Affairs (Dfat) has confirmed the Guardian’s story from this morning, that Australia will vote against a resolution before the United Nations General Assembly to begin negotiations on outlawing nuclear weapons. | The Department of Foreign Affairs (Dfat) has confirmed the Guardian’s story from this morning, that Australia will vote against a resolution before the United Nations General Assembly to begin negotiations on outlawing nuclear weapons. |
| The UNGA will vote on the resolution later this month, but Australia has been a prominent agitator to defeat the push for a total global prohibition of nuclear weapons. | The UNGA will vote on the resolution later this month, but Australia has been a prominent agitator to defeat the push for a total global prohibition of nuclear weapons. |
| Under questioning from Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon, Dfat first assistant secretary Richard Sadlier confirmed Australia would maintain its opposition. | Under questioning from Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon, Dfat first assistant secretary Richard Sadlier confirmed Australia would maintain its opposition. |
| Consistent with the position to that we took to the open-ended working group [into nuclear disarmament] report, we will be voting no with respect to that resolution. | Consistent with the position to that we took to the open-ended working group [into nuclear disarmament] report, we will be voting no with respect to that resolution. |
| Sadlier told estimates Australia’s position of nuclear disarmament was “consistent and clear”. | Sadlier told estimates Australia’s position of nuclear disarmament was “consistent and clear”. |
| We do not support a ban treaty. A ban treaty that does not include the nuclear weapons states, those states which possess nuclear weapons, and is disconnected from the rest of the security environment, would be counterproductive and not lead to reductions in nuclear arsenals. | We do not support a ban treaty. A ban treaty that does not include the nuclear weapons states, those states which possess nuclear weapons, and is disconnected from the rest of the security environment, would be counterproductive and not lead to reductions in nuclear arsenals. |
| Sadlier said a ban treaty would “deepen divisions” between nuclear and non-nuclear weapons states. | Sadlier said a ban treaty would “deepen divisions” between nuclear and non-nuclear weapons states. |
| The push for a global prohibition is gathering momentum – a “humanitarian pledge” supporting the abolition of nuclear weapons has 127 nation signatories – but a ban treaty remains contentious without any support from the countries that actually have the weapons. | The push for a global prohibition is gathering momentum – a “humanitarian pledge” supporting the abolition of nuclear weapons has 127 nation signatories – but a ban treaty remains contentious without any support from the countries that actually have the weapons. |
| Australia relies on the “extended nuclear deterrence” of the US’s nuclear arsenal, but its prominent role in seeking to stymie ban treaty negotiations – including lobbying other countries to vote ‘no’ – has raised significant international attention. | Australia relies on the “extended nuclear deterrence” of the US’s nuclear arsenal, but its prominent role in seeking to stymie ban treaty negotiations – including lobbying other countries to vote ‘no’ – has raised significant international attention. |
| Read more detail here. | Read more detail here. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.55am BST | at 3.55am BST |