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| Peter Dutton calls Cory Bernardi's defection a 'betrayal' – politics live | Peter Dutton calls Cory Bernardi's defection a 'betrayal' – politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 10.02pm GMT | |
| 22:02 | |
| Paul Karp | |
| Another Essential poll on the question of Australian support for the Trump ban. | |
| Australians are evenly divided on Donald Trump’s ban on travel from a group of Muslim-majority nations, two new polls have found. | |
| The Essential poll of 1,014 voters, released on Tuesday, found 41% of Australians supported a “ban on people from Muslim countries from entering Australia”. That compared with 46% who opposed a ban and 14% who didn’t know. | |
| Tuesday’s Newspoll found that 44% of respondents believe Australia should take similar measures to Trump’s executive order, 45% oppose doing so and 11% were uncommitted. | |
| Through the executive order Trump suspended visas being issued for 90 days to migrants or travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, stopped all refugee arrivals into the US for 120 days and banned Syrian refugees indefinitely. | |
| 9.58pm GMT | |
| 21:58 | |
| Christopher Pyne has tweeted his heart out this morning. | |
| The Liberal Party's values are not limited to conservatism. We are Liberals because we are open to new ideas; tolerant of difference; 1/2 | |
| modern and forward looking; we believe in reward for effort and sharing Australia's good fortune with those in need. 2/2 | |
| Those most hurt by Cory Bernardi are the hundreds of thousands of SA voters who voted Liberal in the Senate only to be let down by him. | |
| Special minister of state Scott Ryan is asked about Pyne’s comments that Cory should give up his senate seat. | |
| Ryan says, Christopher and Cory have history. Droll. | |
| That’s for sure. The plane from Canberra to Adelaide after parliament is always interesting. Oftimes, South Australian Liberals would rather sit next to Labor MPs than each other. | |
| Updated | |
| at 9.58pm GMT | |
| 9.49pm GMT | |
| 21:49 | |
| Katharine Murphy | |
| There’s been a lot of talk over the past 24 hours about why the Liberals in South Australia didn’t seek watertight undertakings from Cory Bernardi during the election campaign that he would stay in the Senate as a Liberal for the whole term. | |
| A bit of context about that campaign. Despite the fact Nick Xenophon was surging in the state, Liberal campaign HQ in Canberra had done no detailed work on a South Australian Senate campaign. | |
| The direction from Canberra was to direct resources to defending lower house marginal seats. South Australian senators got the impression they were on their own. As a consequence the South Australian Liberal senators ran their own race, they rallied, raised money, and ignored the directive from Canberra. | |
| So to cut a long story short, at the time of the election, South Australian Liberal Senate eyes were on the NXT. Perhaps people didn’t press hard enough because they were distracted with a more urgent problem – and Bernardi has also made an artform of being elusive about his intentions. I caught some of the context of the contemporary South Australian political dynamics in a longform piece I did about the rise of the NXT just before Christmas. If so inclined you can read that here. | |
| Updated | |
| at 9.55pm GMT | |
| 9.47pm GMT | |
| 21:47 | |
| The special minister of state, Scott Ryan, tells Sky that he too, is disappointed. | |
| Political parties require compromise, says Ryan, and we can’t all have every single one of our views adopted in a party. | |
| In other words, we have to play together. | |
| Updated | |
| at 9.54pm GMT | |
| 9.44pm GMT | |
| 21:44 | |
| Christopher Pyne says Bernardi should resign and recontest his seat | |
| Cory Bernardi was elected as a Liberal. The honourable course is for him to resign his seat and for him to recontest it as an independent. | |
| 9.43pm GMT | |
| 21:43 | |
| Simon Benson at the Australian has an unsourced report that Barnaby Joyce gave the Coalition frontbench a lecture, warning moderates to back off on the push for marriage equality, among other issues. | |
| “It was a spray,” one Liberal frontbencher said. | |
| “He said if we continue to be distracted by issues which only appeal to people in George Street and Oxford Street but not in the outer suburbs and the regions, things will not improve,” another said. | |
| “He then specifically raised gay marriage as an example.” | |
| Steve Ciobo confirmed that Joyce had spoken to the ministry but would not confirm the substance other than this: | |
| Joyce said we have to focus on what’s important to the Australian people. | |
| We have heard no loud denials from Joyce’s office, so make of that what you will. | |
| Updated | |
| at 9.53pm GMT | |
| 9.38pm GMT | |
| 21:38 | |
| The trade minister, Steve Ciobo, is speaking to Kieran Gilbert on Sky. He says the Bernardi defection is disappointing but hopes he will work constructively on the crossbench. | |
| Gilbert points out that Bernardi’s colleagues feel betrayed and that they were given assurances by Bernardi that the Australian Conservatives would act like a faction of the party – what the Tea Party is to the Republican party. Ciobo says he is not getting into who said what to whom but: | |
| He has to stare the Liberal party voters in the face and justify his actions. | |
| Updated | |
| at 9.52pm GMT | |
| 9.29pm GMT | 9.29pm GMT |
| 21:29 | 21:29 |
| Katharine Murphy has written the essential backgrounder on Cory Bernardi. You must read it through but here is a taste: | Katharine Murphy has written the essential backgrounder on Cory Bernardi. You must read it through but here is a taste: |
| As we begin to contemplate what his next phase as a crossbencher will look like, we have certain advantages. Bernardi has been around sufficiently long in Australian politics to be a known known. | As we begin to contemplate what his next phase as a crossbencher will look like, we have certain advantages. Bernardi has been around sufficiently long in Australian politics to be a known known. |
| He’s an avowed climate sceptic. He’s a Christian values conservative: a vociferous opponent of marriage equality, and inclined to poke the hornets’ nest on Islam. He’s been at the pointy end of internal debates on section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, which is the frontline of the contemporary left-right culture war in Australia. On economic issues, he’s a low-tax, small-government man. | He’s an avowed climate sceptic. He’s a Christian values conservative: a vociferous opponent of marriage equality, and inclined to poke the hornets’ nest on Islam. He’s been at the pointy end of internal debates on section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, which is the frontline of the contemporary left-right culture war in Australia. On economic issues, he’s a low-tax, small-government man. |
| Unlike many micro-party players who have to invent a network from scratch and create the means of bankrolling a fledgling political operation, Bernardi has some prospects of garnering firepower and professionalism because of his well-stocked contact book. | Unlike many micro-party players who have to invent a network from scratch and create the means of bankrolling a fledgling political operation, Bernardi has some prospects of garnering firepower and professionalism because of his well-stocked contact book. |
| As an important institutional player in the Liberal party in South Australia, he’s got some powerful friends, including the mining magnate Gina Rinehart. Eyebrows were raised inside the Coalition last year when Bernardi and Rinehart met members of the Trump transition team in the US. There were also reports that Bernardi spent New Year’s Eve with Rinehart as a guest on the luxury cruise liner The World. | |
| A key question of early interest and import will be how Bernardi’s new operation intends to sit in the political firmament with One Nation. Will Bernardi attempt to take back the ground One Nation has claimed over the course of last year, or does he view himself as being complementary to that insurgency? | A key question of early interest and import will be how Bernardi’s new operation intends to sit in the political firmament with One Nation. Will Bernardi attempt to take back the ground One Nation has claimed over the course of last year, or does he view himself as being complementary to that insurgency? |
| Updated | |
| at 9.33pm GMT | |
| 9.24pm GMT | 9.24pm GMT |
| 21:24 | 21:24 |
| Is that the time already? | Is that the time already? |
| A little housekeeping. Last night, after cabinet and ministry meetings, the leaders joined for a (recently) traditional ceremony at the Australian War Memorial. This morning, they have headed to church to praise the lord for such exciting times. Then they will head into party-room meetings, which is the usual Tuesday timetable. Both parliamentary chambers will begin at or after midday, the Senate at 12.30pm. We are expecting a statement from Cory Bernardi in the Senate at first opening. All we know of the conversation between Malcolm Turnbull and Bernardi is that Turnbull made the phone call. | |
| Updated | |
| at 9.31pm GMT | |
| 9.15pm GMT | 9.15pm GMT |
| 21:15 | 21:15 |
| MPs and senators are now in the usual church service to start the parliamentary year. The treasurer, Scott Morrison, suggests that Bernardi made a promise to his Liberal voters – a promise that has now been broken. Bernardi’s fellow conservative senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells says she is disappointed. Backbenchers South Australian MP Rowan Ramsey and Queensland MP Michelle Landry, both on the knife edge and facing threats from minor parties including Nick Xenophon and One Nation respectively, believe he should give back the seat. | MPs and senators are now in the usual church service to start the parliamentary year. The treasurer, Scott Morrison, suggests that Bernardi made a promise to his Liberal voters – a promise that has now been broken. Bernardi’s fellow conservative senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells says she is disappointed. Backbenchers South Australian MP Rowan Ramsey and Queensland MP Michelle Landry, both on the knife edge and facing threats from minor parties including Nick Xenophon and One Nation respectively, believe he should give back the seat. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 9.17pm GMT | at 9.17pm GMT |
| 9.08pm GMT | 9.08pm GMT |
| 21:08 | 21:08 |
| First up, remember that with the Bernardi defection, the Coalition requires one more number in the Senate to pass legislation. | First up, remember that with the Bernardi defection, the Coalition requires one more number in the Senate to pass legislation. |
| Given that Cory obviously has conservative values, he is likely to support the government on economic policies but he will just act as a roadblock on any tribal issues such as marriage equality. | Given that Cory obviously has conservative values, he is likely to support the government on economic policies but he will just act as a roadblock on any tribal issues such as marriage equality. |
| I would suggest he would have done so anyway – so not much change there. For example, if the Liberal moderates did manage to get a marriage equality vote up, he would have crossed the floor. Nothing surer. | I would suggest he would have done so anyway – so not much change there. For example, if the Liberal moderates did manage to get a marriage equality vote up, he would have crossed the floor. Nothing surer. |
| But, as we awake to the news this morning, the conservatives are revolting. | But, as we awake to the news this morning, the conservatives are revolting. |
| The Queensland LNP MP and whip George Christensen has again warned any change to the Coalition policy on marriage would be a step too far. It was a not-so veiled threat. Which would suggest Bernardi would have more sway inside the party. | The Queensland LNP MP and whip George Christensen has again warned any change to the Coalition policy on marriage would be a step too far. It was a not-so veiled threat. Which would suggest Bernardi would have more sway inside the party. |
| Christensen’s vote is far more crucial, given that he sits in the lower house where Malcolm Turnbull has a majority of one. | Christensen’s vote is far more crucial, given that he sits in the lower house where Malcolm Turnbull has a majority of one. |
| Meanwhile, a Newspoll shows a slight majority of Coalition voters support Donald Trump’s travel ban. Paul Karp reports: | Meanwhile, a Newspoll shows a slight majority of Coalition voters support Donald Trump’s travel ban. Paul Karp reports: |
| The Australian community is evenly divided on Donald Trump’s travel ban from a group of Muslim-majority nations, with almost half of voters supporting the ban, a new poll has found. | The Australian community is evenly divided on Donald Trump’s travel ban from a group of Muslim-majority nations, with almost half of voters supporting the ban, a new poll has found. |
| The Newspoll, released on Tuesday, found that 44% of respondents believe Australia should take similar measures, 45% oppose doing so and 11% were uncommitted. | The Newspoll, released on Tuesday, found that 44% of respondents believe Australia should take similar measures, 45% oppose doing so and 11% were uncommitted. |
| Through the executive order Trump suspended visas being issued for 90 days to migrants or travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, stopped all refugee arrivals into the US for 120 days and banned Syrian refugees indefinitely. | Through the executive order Trump suspended visas being issued for 90 days to migrants or travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, stopped all refugee arrivals into the US for 120 days and banned Syrian refugees indefinitely. |
| The poll of 1,734 voters found support highest among Coalition voters, with 52% backing the travel ban, compared with 39% opposed and 9% uncommitted. | The poll of 1,734 voters found support highest among Coalition voters, with 52% backing the travel ban, compared with 39% opposed and 9% uncommitted. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 9.15pm GMT | at 9.15pm GMT |
| 8.44pm GMT | 8.44pm GMT |
| 20:44 | 20:44 |
| It is official: Cory Bernardi is leaving to establish his own party | It is official: Cory Bernardi is leaving to establish his own party |
| Welcome to the first day of #politicslive for 2017 and what a cracker it is. | Welcome to the first day of #politicslive for 2017 and what a cracker it is. |
| My colleague Katharine Murphy has confirmed: | My colleague Katharine Murphy has confirmed: |
| BREAKING: PM and @corybernardi spoke about 20 minutes ago. Bernardi confirmed he's leaving. Will announce at 12.30pm in the Senate #auspol | BREAKING: PM and @corybernardi spoke about 20 minutes ago. Bernardi confirmed he's leaving. Will announce at 12.30pm in the Senate #auspol |
| The immigration minister and a leading conservative, Peter Dutton, told Sabra Lane on AM that the defection was a betrayal of the Liberal party, given that Bernardi stood as a Liberal senator in the number two position at the July election. | The immigration minister and a leading conservative, Peter Dutton, told Sabra Lane on AM that the defection was a betrayal of the Liberal party, given that Bernardi stood as a Liberal senator in the number two position at the July election. |
| The Daily Telegraph is channelling the sentiment in the Liberal party: | The Daily Telegraph is channelling the sentiment in the Liberal party: |
| The Daily Telegraph front page #auspol pic.twitter.com/BrUrm7jaFR | The Daily Telegraph front page #auspol pic.twitter.com/BrUrm7jaFR |
| The party is cranky over Bernardi’s move because he had been setting up the Australian Conservatives, through a website, blog and membership before the last election. Yet he surfed in on the Liberal party ticket to get a six-year Senate term – six years to establish his new brand from a Senate platform and a high-profile crossbench position while eating away at the right flank of the Coalition. | The party is cranky over Bernardi’s move because he had been setting up the Australian Conservatives, through a website, blog and membership before the last election. Yet he surfed in on the Liberal party ticket to get a six-year Senate term – six years to establish his new brand from a Senate platform and a high-profile crossbench position while eating away at the right flank of the Coalition. |
| Mike Bowers is stalking the building on #corywatch. If you have a lot of pent-up feelings, you can share them in the blog or on the Twits. He is @mpbowers and I am @gabriellechan. Or you can speak further on my Facebook page. | Mike Bowers is stalking the building on #corywatch. If you have a lot of pent-up feelings, you can share them in the blog or on the Twits. He is @mpbowers and I am @gabriellechan. Or you can speak further on my Facebook page. |
| Let’s make Australia Grate again. | Let’s make Australia Grate again. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 9.13pm GMT | at 9.13pm GMT |