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Xenophon and Leyonhjelm won't commit to deal on ABCC bill – politics live Malcolm Turnbull praises Peter Dutton after 'Lebanese-Muslim' remarks – politics live
(35 minutes later)
2.06am GMT
02:06
(Live blogger picks herself up off floor.)
Penny Wong gave her best “give me a break” face at George Brandis’ suggestion last night that a mickey vote was the reason for the Nats absence.
Wong:
Where were the Nationals ministers? Where were the Nationals cabinet ministers? Were they here? I have to say—
Brandis:
It was a mick.
Wong:
It was a mick he says. That was very, very mediocre, Senator Brandis. We will have a bit more to say about mediocrity, I am sure, in the days ahead, as will your colleagues, but that is a different point.
1.59am GMT
01:59
PM takes the mickey on the Nats
The last point to mention from the PM’s press conference is about the Nationals abstaining or crossing the floor on the guns motion. He is asked about the “guiding principle” behind the Nats’ decision, given three National cabinet ministers abstained and two backbenchers crossed the floor.
In our parties, backbenchers are able to cross the floor and, indeed, you know, have done so and we respect their right – unlike the Labor party, we don’t expel people from the Coalition parties if they cross the floor.
Then he asked Michaelia Cash to explain the mickey vote. This is if both major parties support a vote, not everyone needs to turn up for the vote. It just so happens that the three senior Nats did not make the gun vote.
(Live blogger falls off chair.)
Updated
at 2.06am GMT
1.53am GMT
01:53
Q: Last night, Peta Credlin said your chief of staff is paid double what an ordinary chief of staff is paid and that’s obviously taxpayer money. Is that correct? And, if so, why?
Turnbull said his “outstanding” chief of staff, Drew Clarke, was one of the most experienced public servants in the city and
that’s obviously been reflected in his ongoing remuneration.
Updated
at 2.06am GMT
1.49am GMT
01:49
Malcolm Turnbull is asked about the Murray-Darling Basin plan. Following a review of the socioeconomic impact of the basin plan on local communities, the Murray-Darling Basin Authority announced a reduced target of 320 gigalitres, down from an initial level of 390GL.
A key element in the plan was to restore water to the environment. But to do so, by investing in infrastructure, both off-farm and on-farm, that enabled us to produce the same amount, if not more, food and fibre with less water ... That was the big idea in 2007 and, for whatever reasons, laziness, failure to understand it – you will have you to ask the Labor party – they abandoned that and spent a lot of money buying water back in a very, very non-strategic way that did disadvantage many irrigation communities.
Updated
at 2.10am GMT
1.40am GMT
01:40
Dennis Atkins asks: Do you think that the return, electorally, of the One Nation party warrants a review of the 2008 deal between the Liberal party and National party in Queensland? Or should the LNP merger stand?
Turnbull says the Queensland LNP is working very effectively.
Updated
at 2.11am GMT
1.38am GMT1.38am GMT
01:3801:38
David Speers follows up on Massola and Murph’s questions regarding Dutton: do you support your minister’s comments about Lebanese Muslim immigration in the ‘70s? David Speers follows up on Massola and Murph’s questions regarding Dutton: do you support your minister’s comments about Lebanese Muslim immigration in the 70s?
There is no question that there are lessons to be learned from previous immigration policies and the minister was reflecting on, you know, on policies many years ago. He’s entitled to do that.There is no question that there are lessons to be learned from previous immigration policies and the minister was reflecting on, you know, on policies many years ago. He’s entitled to do that.
But the critical thing is - I’m not making any comment on his remarks other than to say that it’s fair for all of us to reflect on past policies and how effective they were or not and seek to improve, in the light of that, to improve what we’re doing now. But the critical thing is – I’m not making any comment on his remarks other than to say that it’s fair for all of us to reflect on past policies and how effective they were or not and seek to improve, in the light of that, to improve what we’re doing now.
(This is excruciating.)(This is excruciating.)
The Labor Party is constantly envious of Dutton’s record as an Immigration Minister, because every day, by his effectiveness, he demonstrates what failures they were when they were responsible for our nation’s borders. The Labor party is constantly envious of Dutton’s record as an immigration minister, because every day, by his effectiveness, he demonstrates what failures they were when they were responsible for our nation’s borders.
Updated
at 1.40am GMT
1.34am GMT1.34am GMT
01:3401:34
Katharine Murphy asks Turnbull: In the 1970s, should Malcolm Fraser have let Lebanese Muslims into Australia, on on the basis that a handful of their descendants might commit crimes?Katharine Murphy asks Turnbull: In the 1970s, should Malcolm Fraser have let Lebanese Muslims into Australia, on on the basis that a handful of their descendants might commit crimes?
Turnbull refuses to answer the direct question. He simply says Peter Dutton is doing a great job and Australia has a great migration program.Turnbull refuses to answer the direct question. He simply says Peter Dutton is doing a great job and Australia has a great migration program.
1.32am GMT1.32am GMT
01:3201:32
Asked about Lebanese Muslim migration, Turnbull backs Dutton's job as minister.Asked about Lebanese Muslim migration, Turnbull backs Dutton's job as minister.
James Massola of Fairfax asks: on Lebanese Muslim immigration Trent Zimmerman told the party room he had concerned about the mixed messaging we have heard in the last few days. Do you grow with Mr Zimmerman or do you agree with Michael Sukkar who told the party today that Peter Dutton’s commentary is spot on. James Massola of Fairfax asks: on Lebanese Muslim immigration, Trent Zimmerman told the party room he had concerns about the mixed messaging we have heard in the last few days. Do you grow with Mr Zimmerman or do you agree with Michael Sukkar who told the party today that Peter Dutton’s commentary is spot on.
Malcolm Turnbull backs Peter Dutton.Malcolm Turnbull backs Peter Dutton.
Peter Dutton is doing a great job as minister...Of course, Peter has been outstanding in his work, in our work together as a government, in reaching agreement for resettlement with third countries. So, he’s doing an outstanding job as immigration minister and if you want to look at a failure in immigration policy, you don’t have to look very far back. Peter Dutton is doing a great job as minister ... Of course, Peter has been outstanding in his work, in our work together as a government, in reaching agreement for resettlement with third countries. So, he’s doing an outstanding job as immigration minister and if you want to look at a failure in immigration policy, you don’t have to look very far back.
Updated
at 1.43am GMT
1.27am GMT1.27am GMT
01:2701:27
Michaelia Cash is asked if she is offended by Doug Cameron’s comments regarding her need for hand holding by fellow minister. Michaelia Cash is asked if she is offended by Doug Cameron’s comments regarding her need for hand-holding by fellow minister.
Someone asked me if I was offended last night. The only thing that offended me last night is the fact that the Labor Party consistently failed to stand up for the 2 million members of registered organisations. Someone asked me if I was offended last night. The only thing that offended me last night is the fact that the Labor party consistently failed to stand up for the 2m members of registered organisations.
Updated
at 2.13am GMT
1.25am GMT1.25am GMT
01:2501:25
Turnbull is asked how many jobs will be created by the legislation?Turnbull is asked how many jobs will be created by the legislation?
The PM won’t say how many jobs but it will be of economic benefit, he says.The PM won’t say how many jobs but it will be of economic benefit, he says.
It is perfectly clear that if you reduce the potential for corruption and abuse and malfeasance, that is a benefit to the economy.It is perfectly clear that if you reduce the potential for corruption and abuse and malfeasance, that is a benefit to the economy.
1.23am GMT1.23am GMT
01:2301:23
Cash says the registered orgs bill was required because unions handle $1.5bn annually, they have net assets of $2.5bn and they have a special tax exempt status.Cash says the registered orgs bill was required because unions handle $1.5bn annually, they have net assets of $2.5bn and they have a special tax exempt status.
[Labor] continue to condone the using of members’ funds in registered organisations by some union officials for their own personal piggy bank.[Labor] continue to condone the using of members’ funds in registered organisations by some union officials for their own personal piggy bank.
1.21am GMT1.21am GMT
01:2101:21
Malcolm Turnbull crowing after the registered organisations bill win in the senate last night. Malcolm Turnbull crowing after the registered organisations bill win in the Senate last night.
He is doubling down on the ABCC bill.He is doubling down on the ABCC bill.
Employment minister Michaelia Cash thanked the crossbench. The employment minister, Michaelia Cash, thanked the crossbench.
Updated
at 2.14am GMT
1.19am GMT1.19am GMT
01:1901:19
Xenophon is happy if the Trans Pacific Partnership dies but Hinch does not agree. Xenophon is happy if the Trans-Pacific Partnership dies but Hinch does not agree.
Xenophon and Hinch both support the government’s 19% backpacker tax . Xenophon says “someone” is floating 15% as a compromise with Labor’s 10% tax.Xenophon and Hinch both support the government’s 19% backpacker tax . Xenophon says “someone” is floating 15% as a compromise with Labor’s 10% tax.
1.13am GMT
01:13
Derryn Hinch says there was no horse trading for their votes on the registered organisations bill. In other words, they have not done any deals to pass registered orgs in return for other legislation.
Asked about the ABCC, Xenophon and Hinch again talks about the security of payments for subcontractors.
Asked whether they will horse trade on the Murray Darling Basin Plan bill given the stoush over South Australian water allocations, Hinch says no.
Xenophon will not answer the question (perhaps given Hinch has highlighted his refusal to horsetrade).
Xenophon says he will talk about water later.
1.08am GMT
01:08
Nick Xenophon also underlines the fact that, between them, they have four votes which can block any government legislation.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.11am GMT at 2.14am GMT
1.07am GMT
01:07
The prime minister is back in the country. He will give a press conference in about 10 minutes.
1.06am GMT
01:06
Nick Xenophon is speaking now.
For first time whistleblowers will have real protections, the right to civil compensation and remedies that otherwise didn’t exist ... It applies at this stage to registered organisations, to unions and employer organisations, but there is a very firm commitment from the government to include this with a firm process within the next 18 months or earlier to our corporations and public sector.
He thanked everyone, including Prof A.J.Brown, the professor of law and governance at Griffith University, an expert on whistleblower protections and public expert exposures.
Derryn Hinch warns the government it must follow through and provide the same protection for corporate whistleblowers, noting he and Xenophon have four Senate votes between them.
People have been looking sceptically at us and saying we are trusting the government on a promise. If you don’t trust them, trust us. If they renegotiate on it we will come after them. There are four votes to come after them between us. That is something that should happen.
Updated
at 1.12am GMT
12.59am GMT
00:59
Feedback from dear reader. It’s a fair cop.
@gabriellechan Please please don't call Trump "leader of the free world". Firstly its an outdated cold war term. Secondly its Merkel anyway.
12.54am GMT
00:54
Nick Xenophon and Derryn Hinch are holding a press conference in five minutes on the registered orgs bill et al.
12.53am GMT
00:53
Doug Cameron wouldn't withdraw comments last night claiming Michaelia Cash needed Mathias Cormann to "hold her hand" pic.twitter.com/FnRxxDnQ8U
12.51am GMT
00:51
He’s only human.
This was last night at around 2am. The Liberal senator Linda Reynolds suggested that he might want to be aware that Bowers was in the room. He said he didn’t care because was looking at the sky.
Just so you know, there are skylights in both chambers. It was dark at the time.
Updated
at 1.03am GMT
12.36am GMT
00:36
ABCC: deal or no deal? No deal. Yet.
Paul Karp
After the government passed its registered organisations commission bill at 2am on Tuesday morning, attention swung to the Australian Building and Construction Commission bill.
Nick Xenophon told Guardian Australia there is “no deal” on it (yet, that can obviously change). In return for his votes, Xenophon wants security of payments laws improved so that subcontractors are not ripped off.
David Leyonhjelm said he is still in talks with the government over his vote. Leyonhjelm had asked for reform to section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act in return for his vote but now says “realistically the government can’t deliver that” as Labor, the Greens and some in the Coalition oppose it.
He said the government had come up with “a couple” of reforms to improve freedom to help sway his vote.
Asked what they were, Leyonhjelm replied:
If I told you what they were I would have to kill you immediately after.
Yikes.
We’re endeavouring to find out what One Nation senator Rodney Culleton is thinking on the ABCC bill. He supported the registered orgs bill but has been much more critical of the ABCC.
Updated
at 12.41am GMT
12.32am GMT
00:32
Paul Karp
A reader, Captain Haymaker, has asked about the coercive powers of the ABCC.
One of the key controversies with the Australian Building and Construction Commission is that it has coercive powers to compel evidence and force witnesses to testify. There is no right to refuse to give evidence, but it can’t be used in proceedings against the witness.
The current building industry regulator has similar coercive powers but the shadow employment minister, Brendan O’Connor, has argued that they are subject to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal giving its approval, a check the ABCC bill removes.
Before the election the Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union ran a series of provocative ads claiming that because unionists and others in the building industry wouldn’t enjoy the right against self-incrimination, they would have fewer rights than criminals including ice dealers.
In an explainer about the controversy in April, the Australian Industry Group’s head of workplace relations policy, Stephen Smith, said the comparison between ice dealers and construction workers was “not valid” because industrial breaches are civil penalty provisions not crimes.
Smith argued other civil regulators including the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Australian Tax Office had the same powers.
Updated
at 12.42am GMT