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Government withdraws funding for Islamic college of South Australia – politics live Government withdraws funding for Islamic college of South Australia – politics live
(35 minutes later)
2.06am GMT
02:06
In the senate, Cory Bernardi has just lobbed his previously announced bomb, attempting to amend the parliamentary entitlements bill so that retired politicians can only access their pension when they turn 60. He makes a good suggestion IMO, that the allowances should be built into a simple salary structure so everyone can see what politicians get. Then, if you want your kids or spouse to travel with you, pay for it out of that salary.
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at 2.16am GMT
2.02am GMT
02:02
The government, unsurprisingly, wins the suspension. Now the lower house is voting to pass the native title bill.
1.59am GMT
01:59
Someone is yawning very loudly in the chamber. Any MP reading this, feel free to let me know who it is.
1.58am GMT
01:58
While they count the votes, it is worth mentioning that the National Native Title Council has urged parliament to support passage of the bill because of the large number of Indigenous Land Use Agreements rendered invalid by the recent federal court decision.
Updated
at 1.59am GMT
1.53am GMT
01:53
In the lower house, Labor was rolling out speakers on the native title bill.
So the leader of the government in the house, Christopher Pyne, has moved to suspend standing orders to push the bill through the house.
The vote is happening now.
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at 1.56am GMT
1.51am GMT
01:51
The Greens senator Lee Rhiannon has addressed the entitlements bill. She would like to see the whole scheme wound up completely. Cory Bernardi is speaking now.
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1.33am GMT1.33am GMT
01:3301:33
LNP senator Ian Macdonald says if we want to follow populist policies that curtail politicians allowances, next they will get rid of the Comcars that line up out the front of parliament waiting for MPs. Next, those populists will want us to lose the electorate offices and “meet constituents in the privacy of their homes”. LNP senator Ian Macdonald says if we want to follow populist policies that curtail politicians’ allowances, next they will get rid of the Comcars that line up out the front of parliament waiting for MPs. Next, those populists will want us to lose the electorate offices and “meet constituents in the privacy of their homes”.
He wants to amend the bill to remove the gold pass from prime ministers - “the ban should apply to every single politician”. He wants to amend the bill to remove the gold pass from prime ministers – “the ban should apply to every single politician”.
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at 1.54am GMT
1.31am GMT1.31am GMT
01:3101:31
Paul KarpPaul Karp
The Turnbull government has given a $54m loan from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to a large-scale solar development which it says has the potential for pumped hydro storage.The Turnbull government has given a $54m loan from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to a large-scale solar development which it says has the potential for pumped hydro storage.
Malcolm Turnbull and the energy minister, Josh Frydenberg, have announced the government had directed the CEFC and Australian Renewable Energy Agency (Arena) to fund large-scale storage and other flexible capacity projects including pumped hydro.Malcolm Turnbull and the energy minister, Josh Frydenberg, have announced the government had directed the CEFC and Australian Renewable Energy Agency (Arena) to fund large-scale storage and other flexible capacity projects including pumped hydro.
The solar development will take place at Genex Power’s Kidston renewable energy hub, 270km north-west of Townsville.The solar development will take place at Genex Power’s Kidston renewable energy hub, 270km north-west of Townsville.
1.28am GMT1.28am GMT
01:2801:28
The parliamentary entitlements bill is being debated in the Senate. LNP senator Ian Macdonald is speaking against the retrospectivity of the bill which removes free travel known as the gold pass for long serving politicians all.The parliamentary entitlements bill is being debated in the Senate. LNP senator Ian Macdonald is speaking against the retrospectivity of the bill which removes free travel known as the gold pass for long serving politicians all.
I am condemned by the commentariat...It doesn’t matter that the retrospectivity relates to a group who are so poorly regarded.I am condemned by the commentariat...It doesn’t matter that the retrospectivity relates to a group who are so poorly regarded.
He says the savings from the retrospectivity equates to between $1-2m.He says the savings from the retrospectivity equates to between $1-2m.
Removing this from “elderly retired politicians is not going to make one iota of difference to the budget”.Removing this from “elderly retired politicians is not going to make one iota of difference to the budget”.
This is pure populism.This is pure populism.
He has a word for the “trolls, commentariat and the lazy journalists” who falsely accuse him of opposing the reforms for self interest.He has a word for the “trolls, commentariat and the lazy journalists” who falsely accuse him of opposing the reforms for self interest.
This has nothing to do with me. It will give me no benefit.This has nothing to do with me. It will give me no benefit.
But the media probably won’t print that bit, says Macdonald.But the media probably won’t print that bit, says Macdonald.
(Except me.)(Except me.)
He accuses Labor and the Greens of unleashing the trolls on him. He accuses the media of NOT making a fuss about Labor senator Sam Dastyari who had a travel bill paid for by a Chinese-linked company and lost his spot on the frontbench.He accuses Labor and the Greens of unleashing the trolls on him. He accuses the media of NOT making a fuss about Labor senator Sam Dastyari who had a travel bill paid for by a Chinese-linked company and lost his spot on the frontbench.
I am not sure what media Macdonald is reading.I am not sure what media Macdonald is reading.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.32am GMTat 1.32am GMT
1.13am GMT1.13am GMT
01:1301:13
1.07am GMT1.07am GMT
01:0701:07
Of course we will open our arms to refugees, says Joyce.Of course we will open our arms to refugees, says Joyce.
1.04am GMT1.04am GMT
01:0401:04
The deputy prime minister was asked if he would welcome refugee resettlement in his local town of Tamworth, given he is calling on people to move to the bush to escape high city housing prices.The deputy prime minister was asked if he would welcome refugee resettlement in his local town of Tamworth, given he is calling on people to move to the bush to escape high city housing prices.
Barnaby Joyce referenced an episode of the ABC show Australian Story about a town called Mingoola on the Queensland-NSW border where the locals renovated houses to allow refugees to come to their dying town.Barnaby Joyce referenced an episode of the ABC show Australian Story about a town called Mingoola on the Queensland-NSW border where the locals renovated houses to allow refugees to come to their dying town.
I actually led the program, welcoming it. They were from Uganda. In the New England, we are proud of the fact. Of course we will open our arms to refugees. Of course we will. I am only too happy about them going to places like Armidale. I will do everything in my power to make sure they are welcome there. You know why I can do that? because we can do it on our terms. Because we have strong borders. Because we have proper processes.I actually led the program, welcoming it. They were from Uganda. In the New England, we are proud of the fact. Of course we will open our arms to refugees. Of course we will. I am only too happy about them going to places like Armidale. I will do everything in my power to make sure they are welcome there. You know why I can do that? because we can do it on our terms. Because we have strong borders. Because we have proper processes.
12.56am GMT12.56am GMT
00:5600:56
Barnaby Joyce has been joined by his deputy, Fiona Nash, and his MPs to talk up his first year anniversary. There has been a marked change in the profile of the Nationals since the leadership change from Warren Truss and Barnaby Joyce. Joyce is a lot more visible, doing daily media conversations, explaining policies, whereas Truss was lucky to do one a month. The other thing that has changed is media focus on “outsider politics” following the Brexit and Trump votes. Barnaby is deployed to provide the “outsider” bit of the Liberal-National Coalition.Barnaby Joyce has been joined by his deputy, Fiona Nash, and his MPs to talk up his first year anniversary. There has been a marked change in the profile of the Nationals since the leadership change from Warren Truss and Barnaby Joyce. Joyce is a lot more visible, doing daily media conversations, explaining policies, whereas Truss was lucky to do one a month. The other thing that has changed is media focus on “outsider politics” following the Brexit and Trump votes. Barnaby is deployed to provide the “outsider” bit of the Liberal-National Coalition.
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at 1.01am GMTat 1.01am GMT
12.45am GMT
00:45
Back again. Just had to duck out for a quick podcast.
The Senate did not vote on the One Nation bill to change the processes for the Human Rights Commission. The debate was interrupted.
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12.02am GMT
00:02
In the Senate, it is private senators’ business. One Nation’s Brian Burston has moved
The main purpose of this Bill is to improve the procedure for dealing with complaints lodged with the Australian Human Rights Commission under Part IIB of the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986. The Bill adds a requirement that the Commission, on receiving a complaint, must engage in a preliminary assessment of the complaint and the evidence relating to it before proceeding to a full inquiry. It also adds requirements relating to informing respondents about the complaint.
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at 12.45am GMT
12.00am GMT
00:00
Labor accepts and understands the important role of land use agreements and accepts the need for this (native title) legislation, says Dreyfus.
He is highly critical of the timetable of the bill rather than the substance.
11.48pm GMT
23:48
The native title amendment has been introduced into the house. Labor’s Mark Dreyfus is speaking against the rush through the house.
He says even if the bill went through the house this morning, the Senate cannot debate it today because of its packed program. Why the rush? Why not consult?
Updated
at 11.57pm GMT
11.42pm GMT
23:42
Last night, the Senate committee reported into the exposure draft of legislation that would have created marriage equality – had the plebiscite been put and passed.
There is a bit of a tussle behind the scenes in the Coalition between supporters and those opposed to marriage equality to own the next step of the debate.
Finance minister Mathias Cormann – well-known conservative and opposed to a change – was asked about it this morning.
Q: You do not think this report is going to stir up tensions for those people in the Liberal party who support same sex marriage?
We took a policy to the last election that we would give the Australian people a say at a plebiscite. The work the Senate select committee did is in the scenario where a future plebiscite were to make certain decisions which would lead to certain outcomes. We have not had a plebiscite. So from that point of view our policy remains to have a plebiscite first.
Q: Why is the government prepared to change its position on some policies it took to the election but not this one?
We are committed to all of our policies.
Updated
at 11.56pm GMT
11.33pm GMT
23:33
Education minister Simon Birmingham has withdrawn federal funding for the Islamic college of South Australia. He has released this statement:
Today, my department has written to the school authority responsible for the Islamic College of South Australia to inform them that their approval for access to Federal funds has been revoked with effect from 13 April 2017 (end of Term 1).
This means that the Islamic College of South Australia will no longer be receiving Australian Government funding from 14 April 2017.
It is disappointing that after the number of chances this school has been given and the constructive work the Department has been doing with the authority since November 2015 the school has still failed to meet the reasonable standards and expectations placed on them.
Updated
at 11.54pm GMT
10.57pm GMT
22:57
Labor’s suspension of standing orders has been voted down.
10.52pm GMT
22:52
While they vote, Labor has yet to decide whether they will support the legislation. A few days ago, shadow attorney general Mark Dreyfus told us:
Labor recognises the concerns expressed by Indigenous groups, industry and different levels of government over this court ruling, which has the potential to impact not only resource projects but also the designation of new national parks.
Labor has received a briefing from the Attorney-General’s Department and will wait to see the details of any proposed legislation before commenting further.
Updated
at 10.58pm GMT
10.48pm GMT
22:48
Linda Burney, Indigenous Labor frontbencher and member for Barton, rose as the second speaker to suspend standing orders on the native title legislation. There was howls of outrage from the government benches as they condemned the move to use Burney.
Now the government is voting to gag her.
Updated
at 10.48pm GMT
10.45pm GMT
22:45
The government is in the process of gagging Tony Burke.
The native title legislation is trying to change the laws after a federal court ruled in favour of a challenge against the Noongar Indigenous land use agreement (ILUA), which sought to exchange $1.3bn in land, payments and benefits over 12 years in return for the Noongar people extinguishing native title rights on 200,000 hectares in south-west WA.
The court agreed with five Noongar applicants who argued the deal was invalid because they had refused to sign on with other representatives. Four of the six agreements struck could not be legally registered, the court found, because the Native Title Act required “all” claim group members to agree.
The attorney general, George Brandis, has argued the laws need to be changed to protect previous land use agreements relating to resource projects, pastoral leases and national parks which are now in doubt.
Updated
at 10.47pm GMT