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George Brandis finally releases his diaries – politics live George Brandis finally releases his diaries – politics live
(35 minutes later)
9.53pm GMT
21:53
I am suffering from the freedom confusion again. It relates to the various campaigns being waged at the moment to win the heart and soul of the Liberal.
You may have seen conservative spear chucka Peter Dutton out on the weekend telling company CEOs to back off on the marriage debate. He suggested to business leaders to leave it to the big people in parliament.
Alan Joyce, the individual, is perfectly entitled to campaign for and spend his hard earned money on any issue he sees fit, but don’t do it in the official capacity and with shareholders money,” he told the meeting.
And certainly don’t use an iconic brand and the might of a multi-billion dollar business on issues best left to the judgment of issues and elected decision makers,” he said to applause.
The Sunday Tele’s Annika Smethurst reported:
Conservative government MPs are frantically marshalling their numbers to foil a plot by moderate Liberals planning to reignite the same-sex marriage debate this week.
Conservatives, including one senior government minister, caught wind of the secret plan to lobby Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to abandon his commitment to hold a plebiscite on marriage equality.
Liberal moderate said all will be worked out in the party room - brackets - keep the discussion there Dutts - brackets.
At the same time as this debate is happening, the same group is prosecuting the freedom of information case to change 18C in the Coalition party room. Two camps there as well.
Conservative camp says amend the law, by removing insult and offend.
Moderate camp says change the Human Rights Commission’s process to make it work better and chuck out vexatious cases.
So freedom of speech for some and not others, it would seem.
9.14pm GMT9.14pm GMT
21:1421:14
If you have an interest in trawling the Brandis diaries, you can find them here at the ABC.If you have an interest in trawling the Brandis diaries, you can find them here at the ABC.
Dreyfus:Dreyfus:
The FOI shows no evidence the attorney-general met with legal assistance organisations before savagely slashing their funding in 2013 and 2014. The FoI shows no evidence the attorney general met with legal assistance organisations before savagely slashing their funding in 2013 and 2014.
While the capitulation represents a victory for common sense, transparency and the principles of FOI, it is also ridiculous that it took such lengths to force the Attorney-General to comply with an Act that sits within his own portfolio. While the capitulation represents a victory for common sense, transparency and the principles of FoI, it is also ridiculous that it took such lengths to force the attorney general to comply with an act that sits within his own portfolio.
Updated
at 9.21pm GMT
9.03pm GMT9.03pm GMT
21:0321:03
Good morning rentseekers, radicals and rationalists, Good morning, rentseekers, radicals and rationalists,
Here we are, the beginning of the last sitting fortnight before the budget. This is what you need to know ahead of the day. Here we are, the beginning of the last sitting fortnight before the budget. This is what you need to know today.
George Brandis has finally released his ministerial diaries.George Brandis has finally released his ministerial diaries.
This story stems from a dispute with Labor from the 2014 Tony Abbott budget. Labor shadow attorney Mark Dreyfus challenged Brandis over whether he consulted with legal aid groups including Indigenous legal aid before cutting their funding. Brandis said yes. Dreyfus said show me the diaries. Brandis said no. A lot of bureaucratic fluffing and legal work down the track, including a Administrative Appeals Tribunal hearing, a hearing in the Full Court of the Federal Court, and the threat of contempt, Brandis has relented. The diaries show no evidence of any meetings with legal groups. Brandis’ spokesman has told the ABC that it does not necessarily prove he did not talk to them on the phone. But he has not confirmed he did talk to them on the phone. This is the sort of in-and-out-of-a-feline’s-fundamental that gives voters the cranks. This story stems from a dispute with Labor from the 2014 Tony Abbott budget. The Labor shadow attorney, Mark Dreyfus, challenged Brandis over whether he consulted with legal aid groups including Indigenous legal aid before cutting their funding. Brandis said yes he had. Dreyfus said show us the diaries. Brandis said no. A lot of bureaucratic fluffing and legal work down the track, including an Administrative Appeals Tribunal hearing, a hearing in the full court of the federal court, and the threat of contempt, Brandis has relented. The diaries show no evidence of any meetings with legal groups. Brandis’s spokesman has told the ABC that it does not necessarily prove he did not talk to them on the phone. But he has not confirmed he did talk to them on the phone. This is the sort of in-and-out-of-a-feline’s-fundamental that gives voters the cranks.
The Man from Snowy River gets a bump in Newspoll.The Man from Snowy River gets a bump in Newspoll.
Turnbull is up three points in the measure of preferred PM ahead of Bill Shorten, at 43% to Shorten’s 29% compared with 40% to 33% in the previous poll. Turnbull is up three points in the measure of preferred PM in frontBill Shorten, at 43% to Shorten’s 29% compared with 40% to 33% in the previous poll.
The Coalition primary vote is up three from 34% to 37% over three weeks.The Coalition primary vote is up three from 34% to 37% over three weeks.
Labor’s primary is down two points 37% to 35%.Labor’s primary is down two points 37% to 35%.
The Greens are at 9%.The Greens are at 9%.
Hanson, in spite of the WA election, is steady at 10%. One Nation, despite the Western Australian election, is steady at 10%.
This has the 2PP vote at 52% to 48% to Labor.This has the 2PP vote at 52% to 48% to Labor.
Paul Keating tells Scott Morrison to back off a superannuation raid for housing.Paul Keating tells Scott Morrison to back off a superannuation raid for housing.
One of the options for the government is to let first home buyers dip into their super to afford housing. Keating has written a piece of Fairfax which suggests this is nuts and will simply push the market higher while denuding savings for under 40s. Here is a little vintage Keating. One of the options for the government is to let first-home buyers dip into their super to afford housing. Keating has written a piece of Fairfax which suggests this is nuts and will simply push the market higher while denuding savings for under 40s. Here is a little vintage Keating.
I have said before, you don’t expect conservative parties to believe in much but you do expect them to believe in thrift. And when a Labor government comes along and, in a co-operative way, encourages the workforce to save for their retirement, you would think any true conservative party would be eternally grateful. I have said before, you don’t expect conservative parties to believe in much but you do expect them to believe in thrift. And when a Labor government comes along and, in a cooperative way, encourages the workforce to save for their retirement, you would think any true conservative party would be eternally grateful.
Instead the Liberal Party, limited by its ideological snakiness, continues biting at superannuation, as it does, periodically, Medicare. Instead the Liberal party, limited by its ideological snakiness, continues biting at superannuation, as it does, periodically, Medicare.
The remains of the day.The remains of the day.
Penalty rates is likely to dominate question time as the Coalition is trying to push back against Labor’s attempts to blame the government for the Fair Work Commission’s decision to cut rates. The ACTU is bringing low paid workers to parliament to highlight the need for the government to step in. The Coalition is expected to roll out enterprise bargaining agreements between unions and large companies which shows unions were happy to trade away penalties. Penalty rates are likely to dominate question time as the Coalition is trying to push back against Labor’s attempts to blame the government for the Fair Work Commission’s decision to cut them. The ACTU is bringing low-paid workers to parliament to highlight the need for the government to step in. The Coalition is expected to roll out enterprise bargaining agreements between unions and large companies which shows unions were happy to trade away penalties.
The omnibus bill is likely to be fought out in the senate this week with key crossbenchers telling the government to go back to the drawing board and separate the (good) childcare reforms from the cuts to family tax benefits etc. Derryn Hinch has predicted it will not get the support to pass the senate. The omnibus bill is likely to be fought out in the Senate this week, with key crossbenchers telling the government to go back to the drawing board and separate the (good) childcare reforms from the cuts to family tax benefits, etc. Derryn Hinch has predicted it will not get the support to pass the Senate.
There is also 18C and multiculturalism, marriage equality, company tax cuts and much more to come. But I reckon that is enough for you to be getting on with right now. Talk to us in the thread, on the Twits @gabriellechan and @mpbowers or on Facebook.There is also 18C and multiculturalism, marriage equality, company tax cuts and much more to come. But I reckon that is enough for you to be getting on with right now. Talk to us in the thread, on the Twits @gabriellechan and @mpbowers or on Facebook.
UpdatedUpdated
at 9.06pm GMT at 9.26pm GMT