This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2016/nov/28/turnbulls-agenda-hangs-in-balance-as-minor-party-support-skyrockets-politics-live

The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 8 Version 9
Penny Wong says Brandis has thrown Joe Hockey under a bus – politics live Penny Wong says Brandis has thrown Joe Hockey under a bus – politics live
(35 minutes later)
2.56am GMT
02:56
Senator David Leyonhjelm has announced his deal on the ABCC bill:
The government has agreed to remove the onus of proof imposed on employees by the bill to establish they took action because of a reasonable concern about an imminent threat to safety. Employees shouldn’t be wondering about their legal position like this when it comes to matters of safety. I have negotiated for our taxpayer-funded broadcasters to have more accountability to their shareholders. Their shareholders being Australians. The ABC and SBS will hold open community forums in conjunction with their board meetings with some to be held in regional areas.
Updated
at 2.59am GMT
2.45am GMT
02:45
We have question time coming up at 2pm. Blimey, this day is moving quickly.
2.42am GMT
02:42
Back to George Brandis. We are still not clear on the legal direction from Brandis to Gleeson to gain his approval before giving legal advice to government departments. We are also not clear on whether Brandis asked Gleeson to avoid a certain argument to allegedly help out WA.
He was asked again on Sky by Peter Van Onselen.
Look, I’m not going to disclose legal advice. But when there is a large matter before any court including the High Court, of course you have discussions with your barrister and of course you discuss a range of options and the posture and strategy that you should take. Now I’m not going to into that matter.
Updated
at 2.42am GMT
2.37am GMT
02:37
Malcolm Turnbull spoke to the parliament on the Indigenous campaign against domestic violence at the same time as the Brandis statement at noon.
Thank you to those who led the ceremony, the story the two sisters, a story of creation. Your dance brings a message from the beginning of time - a message of love, a message of respect, a call to men to respect women - the mothers who gave them life, the wives who give their children life, the sisters who carry their culture through thousands and thousands of years, from time [immemorial] You are using the strength of your culture to seek to stop this violence.
Updated
at 2.38am GMT
2.35am GMT
02:35
Brandis: there was no evidence of Hockey-Nahan agreement
Brandis is asked, does this call into question ambassador Hockey’s record, and should it?
Brandis:
No, it doesn’t, not slightly. As I said in response to your colleague, the evidence we have of the discussion or discussions between Mr Hockey and Dr Nahan is that contained in the exchange of letters of April 2015, which do not [constitute] evidence, let alone constitute, an agreement.
Updated
at 2.46am GMT
2.32am GMT
02:32
Brandis says:
At all times commonwealth ministers, including me, acted to protect the interests of the commonwealth. We acted on the solicitor general’s advice, the interests of the commonwealth were protected ... The position the commonwealth took in relation to the Income Tax Assessment Act ... the principal issue before the high court, was resolved on terms favourable to the commonwealth.
Updated
at 2.45am GMT
2.30am GMT
02:30
George Brandis: Mark Dreyfus will lie through his teeth
In a doorstop after his statement, Brandis accuses Labor’s Bill Shorten and Mark Dreyfus of “serial lying”.
The things they have said had no basis whatever in fact. No basis whatever. But I’m sorry to say that we live in an era, as far as the Labor party and the Greens are concerned, what is lately become known as post-truth politics. It is absolutely of no concern to Mr Dreyfus that he will lie through his teeth, that Mr Dreyfus is prepared to lie and lie again to make things up, to fantasise, to make the most reckless and offensive allegations with no facts to support him whatsoever.
Updated
at 2.44am GMT
2.21am GMT2.21am GMT
02:2102:21
Lunchtime politicsLunchtime politics
Updated
at 2.43am GMT
2.01am GMT2.01am GMT
02:0102:01
UpdatedUpdated
at 2.08am GMTat 2.08am GMT
1.58am GMT1.58am GMT
01:5801:58
Greens senator Nick McKim says Brandis should resign or he should be sacked by Malcolm Turnbull if he instructed Gleeson not to run the strongest argument on the Bell matter.Greens senator Nick McKim says Brandis should resign or he should be sacked by Malcolm Turnbull if he instructed Gleeson not to run the strongest argument on the Bell matter.
Did they really think that states effectively inventing their own version of commonwealth tax laws wouldn’t be an issue for the high court? Of course it was going to be an issue for the high court. As it turned out, it was an issue for the high court. It was a 7-0 decision by which the high court struck down the Bell act. That is as clear cut as you get: 7-0. It was the most extraordinary deal that occurred here between the commonwealth Liberal government and the state Liberal government.Did they really think that states effectively inventing their own version of commonwealth tax laws wouldn’t be an issue for the high court? Of course it was going to be an issue for the high court. As it turned out, it was an issue for the high court. It was a 7-0 decision by which the high court struck down the Bell act. That is as clear cut as you get: 7-0. It was the most extraordinary deal that occurred here between the commonwealth Liberal government and the state Liberal government.
UpdatedUpdated
at 2.09am GMTat 2.09am GMT
1.51am GMT1.51am GMT
01:5101:51
Greens senator Nick McKim:Greens senator Nick McKim:
Let’s be very clear about what that allegation is. That allegation is that the attorney general instructed the then solicitor general, Mr Gleeson, to effectively run dead on the strongest argument he had at his disposal in the high court ... That statement that we have just heard from the attorney general did not rebut that allegation.Let’s be very clear about what that allegation is. That allegation is that the attorney general instructed the then solicitor general, Mr Gleeson, to effectively run dead on the strongest argument he had at his disposal in the high court ... That statement that we have just heard from the attorney general did not rebut that allegation.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.54am GMTat 1.54am GMT
1.48am GMT1.48am GMT
01:4801:48
A-G Brandis says there is no evidence to suggest a deal was struck between Joe Hockey and the WA treasurer Dr Nehan. https://t.co/jgYnnxhw9vA-G Brandis says there is no evidence to suggest a deal was struck between Joe Hockey and the WA treasurer Dr Nehan. https://t.co/jgYnnxhw9v
1.46am GMT1.46am GMT
01:4601:46
The key points of WA treasurer Nahan's letter, and Hockey's response tabled by Brandis today. pic.twitter.com/AO8i5KsDJ7The key points of WA treasurer Nahan's letter, and Hockey's response tabled by Brandis today. pic.twitter.com/AO8i5KsDJ7
1.44am GMT1.44am GMT
01:4401:44
Wong: “Magically you woke up one morning and thought I will muzzle the solicitor general.”Wong: “Magically you woke up one morning and thought I will muzzle the solicitor general.”
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.51am GMTat 1.51am GMT
1.40am GMT1.40am GMT
01:4001:40
Now the lower house is voting on the Labor suspension motion, which presumably will go down as well.Now the lower house is voting on the Labor suspension motion, which presumably will go down as well.
1.38am GMT1.38am GMT
01:3801:38
Meanwhile Penny Wong is pointing out the fact that Brandis did not explain – if he agreed with Gleeson – why did he make the legal direction to force Gleeson to get approval for future advice.Meanwhile Penny Wong is pointing out the fact that Brandis did not explain – if he agreed with Gleeson – why did he make the legal direction to force Gleeson to get approval for future advice.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.47am GMTat 1.47am GMT
1.36am GMT1.36am GMT
01:3601:36
In the lower house Labor is trying to suspend standing orders to debate George Brandis’s role.In the lower house Labor is trying to suspend standing orders to debate George Brandis’s role.
The government gagged Tony Burke successfully.The government gagged Tony Burke successfully.
Now the government is voting to gag Mark Dreyfus.Now the government is voting to gag Mark Dreyfus.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.37am GMTat 1.37am GMT
1.33am GMT1.33am GMT
01:3301:33
Penny Wong describes the deal between the commonwealth and the WA government as a “political fix”.Penny Wong describes the deal between the commonwealth and the WA government as a “political fix”.
What is a few hundred million dollars between friends anyway? It is very interesting that all of a sudden out of that appears the direction that requires Mr Justin Gleeson to get this bloke’s permission before he acts for people and provides advice. Where was that in the statement? Where was that? All of a sudden did it just come out of the ether? In relation to the GST, we don’t know yet what relevance the GST debate had to this political fix.What is a few hundred million dollars between friends anyway? It is very interesting that all of a sudden out of that appears the direction that requires Mr Justin Gleeson to get this bloke’s permission before he acts for people and provides advice. Where was that in the statement? Where was that? All of a sudden did it just come out of the ether? In relation to the GST, we don’t know yet what relevance the GST debate had to this political fix.