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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2017/mar/28/china-extradition-treaty-australia-politics-live
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| Tony Abbott, Cory Bernardi, Labor and Greens oppose China extradition treaty - politics live | Tony Abbott, Cory Bernardi, Labor and Greens oppose China extradition treaty - politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 11.26pm BST | |
| 23:26 | |
| Turnbull informs Shorten he is pulling the China treaty resolution | |
| Midway through a conversation with Cory Bernardi, journalist Kieran Gilbert receives a message that Malcolm Turnbull has called Bill Shorten to tell him the treaty resolution has been pulled. | |
| I have also confirmed that this has occurred. | |
| So Turnbull has pulled the resolution given the obvious conclusion that it would be an embarrassing defeat for the treaty in the senate. | |
| 11.04pm BST | |
| 23:04 | |
| Big (government) trouble in little China | |
| Katharine Murphy | |
| The extradition treaty with China is the focal point of corridor conversation in Canberra this morning. | |
| There are a number of government MPs very exercised. Government MPs report that three Liberal Senators, Eric Abetz, Dean Smith and David Fawcett would contemplate crossing the floor in the event this issue came to a vote. | |
| I stress this is speculation, but safe to say reasonably informed speculation. I’m chasing these people to see what they might be intending to do. The issue is now unlikely to come to a vote, because Labor doesn’t support the treaty. | |
| The mechanism for blocking the treaty is a disallowance motion that will be moved in the Senate tomorrow. Labor, the Greens and the former Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi support the disallowance. | |
| 11.03pm BST | |
| 23:03 | |
| George Brandis, the Bell matter and careless whispers | |
| Paul Karp | |
| In an unusual senate committee hearing on a sitting night last evening, the Bell litigation matter starring George Brandis was further poked. | |
| This is what we discovered, via Paul Karp. | |
| The Australian Tax Office sought advice about what it could do if Brandis compromised their ability to challenge Western Australia’s Bell litigation laws. It seems there were “bureaucratic whispers” that it was under consideration. | |
| Two ATO witnesses told the Senate legal and constitutional affairs committee on Monday night that they sought legal advice due to rumours from multiple public sector sources that a direction preventing them from intervening in the high court was under consideration. | |
| However, the ATO witnesses noted the rumours were merely hearsay and such a direction was never issued. | |
| Second ATO commissioner, Andrew Mills, said in the days before 4 March, 2016 he heard whispers “to the effect that the attorney general might consider issuing a direction in terms of what agencies could or couldn’t do in terms of proceeding with particular kinds of actions before the high court”. | |
| At the time the ATO was planning to intervene in a constitutional challenge of WA’s laws that gave it priority over the Bell Group’s other creditors for its $1.8bn of assets, a move that could cost the tax office $300m. | |
| Assistant ATO commissioner, Robert Puckeridge, said he was informed that a direction that could prevent the ATO intervening in the case was being contemplated by the attorney general, his department or office. | |
| 10.48pm BST | 10.48pm BST |
| 22:48 | 22:48 |
| Barnaby Joyce on Pauline Hanson: not One Phone Call from One Nation on sugar | Barnaby Joyce on Pauline Hanson: not One Phone Call from One Nation on sugar |
| Barnaby Joyce has been speaking to Sabra Lane about the sugar shambles in Queensland. | Barnaby Joyce has been speaking to Sabra Lane about the sugar shambles in Queensland. |
| This has been a long time issue and has been building to a head because of the sugar harvest. Paul Karp reported yesterday: | This has been a long time issue and has been building to a head because of the sugar harvest. Paul Karp reported yesterday: |
| Sugar growers in north Queensland are concerned that they will lose control over who sells their sugar as Wilmar, which operates monopoly sugar mills in some districts, has failed to come to an agreement over supply with the not-for-profit industry pool Queensland Sugar Ltd. | Sugar growers in north Queensland are concerned that they will lose control over who sells their sugar as Wilmar, which operates monopoly sugar mills in some districts, has failed to come to an agreement over supply with the not-for-profit industry pool Queensland Sugar Ltd. |
| It is a state government issue but in the absence of a resolution, Joyce has threatened to impose a code of conduct on the industry which would force an agreement. | It is a state government issue but in the absence of a resolution, Joyce has threatened to impose a code of conduct on the industry which would force an agreement. |
| He says for all of the foot stamping by One Nation on the sugar code, he has not received one phone call from One Nation. | He says for all of the foot stamping by One Nation on the sugar code, he has not received one phone call from One Nation. |
| It’s like they come out and predict the sun is going to rise and then claim credit for it. | It’s like they come out and predict the sun is going to rise and then claim credit for it. |
| He makes a couple of points: | He makes a couple of points: |
| Government legal opinion suggests that a sugar code of conduct would stand up. | Government legal opinion suggests that a sugar code of conduct would stand up. |
| He has had the code had sitting in his drawer for quite some time. | He has had the code had sitting in his drawer for quite some time. |
| The government will drop the code on the table “at the time of our choosing”. | The government will drop the code on the table “at the time of our choosing”. |
| The quickest way to resolve the issue is through the state government and the slowest way is a code of conduct. | The quickest way to resolve the issue is through the state government and the slowest way is a code of conduct. |
| 10.28pm BST | 10.28pm BST |
| 22:28 | 22:28 |
| The Guardian’s Essential poll is out. Katharine Murphy reports the usual Labor lead on a 2PP basis over the Coalition of 54% to 46%. | The Guardian’s Essential poll is out. Katharine Murphy reports the usual Labor lead on a 2PP basis over the Coalition of 54% to 46%. |
| With the last parliamentary week dominated by the government’s proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act, voters were asked whether they approved of the Turnbull government’s plan to overhaul 18C. | With the last parliamentary week dominated by the government’s proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act, voters were asked whether they approved of the Turnbull government’s plan to overhaul 18C. |
| The government’s proposed change to the legislation, expected to be debated in the Senate on Tuesday, would remove the terms “insult”, “offend” and “humiliate” and insert the higher definition of “harass” into section 18C. | The government’s proposed change to the legislation, expected to be debated in the Senate on Tuesday, would remove the terms “insult”, “offend” and “humiliate” and insert the higher definition of “harass” into section 18C. |
| A total of 45% of the survey approved of the move, and 34% were opposed. | A total of 45% of the survey approved of the move, and 34% were opposed. |
| Voters were also asked whether they thought laws governing racial discrimination in Australia were too strict, too weak or about right. | Voters were also asked whether they thought laws governing racial discrimination in Australia were too strict, too weak or about right. |
| A total of 40% thought Australia’s current laws governing racial discrimination were about right, 26% thought they were too weak and 16% thought they were too strict. | A total of 40% thought Australia’s current laws governing racial discrimination were about right, 26% thought they were too weak and 16% thought they were too strict. |
| Voters were asked the same set of questions about the RDA in November 2016, and the results suggest community sentiment has not shifted despite months of political contention over the issue. | Voters were asked the same set of questions about the RDA in November 2016, and the results suggest community sentiment has not shifted despite months of political contention over the issue. |
| 9.53pm BST | 9.53pm BST |
| 21:53 | 21:53 |
| Good morning blogans, | Good morning blogans, |
| Unity of purpose is a rare thing in parliament but it seems an extradition treaty with China has brought about agreement with all but senior government leadership. | Unity of purpose is a rare thing in parliament but it seems an extradition treaty with China has brought about agreement with all but senior government leadership. |
| The extradition treaty was signed 10 years ago under the Howard government. It would mean that anyone with charges against them could be extradited between either country. | The extradition treaty was signed 10 years ago under the Howard government. It would mean that anyone with charges against them could be extradited between either country. |
| Malcolm Turnbull said yesterday failure to ratify would jeopardise joint law enforcement activities. | Malcolm Turnbull said yesterday failure to ratify would jeopardise joint law enforcement activities. |
| We are urging the opposition and crossbenchers to support the ratification. There are very considerable protections in the treaty and it is an important part of our co-operation with China on law enforcement. | We are urging the opposition and crossbenchers to support the ratification. There are very considerable protections in the treaty and it is an important part of our co-operation with China on law enforcement. |
| Independent senator Cory Bernardi is first out of the blocks this morning, signalling his opposition. Bernardi says 99.9% of defendants in the Chinese legal system are found guilty. | Independent senator Cory Bernardi is first out of the blocks this morning, signalling his opposition. Bernardi says 99.9% of defendants in the Chinese legal system are found guilty. |
| We don’t know what happens to people once they are extradited to China...there is no upside for Australia. | We don’t know what happens to people once they are extradited to China...there is no upside for Australia. |
| Bernardi makes a number of valid points in my opinion. | Bernardi makes a number of valid points in my opinion. |
| That Australia does not know what happens to people who are found guilty, including executions. | That Australia does not know what happens to people who are found guilty, including executions. |
| There is no formal stated protection of minors. | There is no formal stated protection of minors. |
| None of Australia’s Five Eyes intelligence partners (US, UK, Canada and New Zealand) have an extradition treaty with China. | None of Australia’s Five Eyes intelligence partners (US, UK, Canada and New Zealand) have an extradition treaty with China. |
| If the treaty was signed under the Howard government, why does it have to be ratified by parliament now? | If the treaty was signed under the Howard government, why does it have to be ratified by parliament now? |
| Bernardi says of justifications by Turnbull: | Bernardi says of justifications by Turnbull: |
| The difficulty is that governments will always say things to serve their only interests. | The difficulty is that governments will always say things to serve their only interests. |
| Greg Sheridan of the Oz reports that Tony Abbott is not the only one in the Coalition who has problems with the treaty, though the point must be made that Abbott did nothing to overturn the treaty as prime minister. | Greg Sheridan of the Oz reports that Tony Abbott is not the only one in the Coalition who has problems with the treaty, though the point must be made that Abbott did nothing to overturn the treaty as prime minister. |
| Abbott: | Abbott: |
| I’d be very, very cautious about ratifying this treaty at this time. In my judgment, China’s legal system has to evolve further before the Australian government and people could be confident that those before it would receive justice according to law. | I’d be very, very cautious about ratifying this treaty at this time. In my judgment, China’s legal system has to evolve further before the Australian government and people could be confident that those before it would receive justice according to law. |
| I want the best possible friendship with China but not at the expense of our values and long-term national interest. | I want the best possible friendship with China but not at the expense of our values and long-term national interest. |
| It has been reported that Labor’s shadow cabinet does not support the treaty but we have party room meetings this morning so I will bring you more on that decision when it is announced. Suffice to say, Bernardi seems confident of Labor support. | It has been reported that Labor’s shadow cabinet does not support the treaty but we have party room meetings this morning so I will bring you more on that decision when it is announced. Suffice to say, Bernardi seems confident of Labor support. |
| The Greens do not support the treaty, as senator Nick McKim said yesterday: | The Greens do not support the treaty, as senator Nick McKim said yesterday: |
| We’ve got very significant concerns about extraditing Australians, in particular to China. The Chinese government’s legal system quite frankly cannot be trusted, the conviction rate is astronomical which calls into significant question someone’s right to receive a fair trial in China and we will not be supporting the extradition of Australians to China. So we’ll be voting to block that extradition. | We’ve got very significant concerns about extraditing Australians, in particular to China. The Chinese government’s legal system quite frankly cannot be trusted, the conviction rate is astronomical which calls into significant question someone’s right to receive a fair trial in China and we will not be supporting the extradition of Australians to China. So we’ll be voting to block that extradition. |
| The mechanism for blocking the ratification is a disallowance motion, to be moved by Bernardi. He says with Labor support, he won’t need the Coalition to disallow the ratification. | The mechanism for blocking the ratification is a disallowance motion, to be moved by Bernardi. He says with Labor support, he won’t need the Coalition to disallow the ratification. |
| There is plenty more coming up besides, including company tax cut negotiations after that bill passed the lower house. The report into the Racial Discrimination Act amendments to section 18C is due at 12.30pm. Join the conversation in the thread, on the Twits @gabriellechan and on Facebook. | There is plenty more coming up besides, including company tax cut negotiations after that bill passed the lower house. The report into the Racial Discrimination Act amendments to section 18C is due at 12.30pm. Join the conversation in the thread, on the Twits @gabriellechan and on Facebook. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 10.10pm BST | at 10.10pm BST |