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Penny Wong attacks George Brandis in 18C debate – politics live Penny Wong attacks George Brandis in 18C debate – politics live
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Malcolm Turnbull addresses cyclone Debbie after a question from one of the local members, George Christensen. He says it has made landfall and is a category four. He again gives emergency advice. Take care and heed advice. Look out for each other.
Shorten adds his sympathies and thanks emergency workers.
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China and community legal centres – just another day in the Coalition party room
Katharine Murphy
Just a quick update on today’s joint Coalition party room – readers already know the prime minister grounded the contentious China extradition treaty before the issue would have been hotly debated during the regular meeting of government MPs.
But one backbencher, Eric Abetz, did press on and raise his opposition to the deal during today’s discussion. He’d made it known to some colleagues he was prepared to cross the floor to disallow the treaty if it had come to a vote.
There was also an interesting discussion about the funding of community legal centres. Two Liberal MPs and two Nationals raised concerns that there weren’t sufficient funds for the centres to to their job. This has been an issue of contention in Canberra this week.
One of the Liberal MPs, the former police officer Jason Wood, told the prime minister during his contribution that if the government was serious about combating domestic violence, it needed to give the centres more money. Wood pointed out domestic violence impacted one in four people in some areas of his electorate. Colleagues tell me his advice to the prime minister was pretty blunt.
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Shorten to Turnbull: We know that prime minister changes his policies when he feels pressure from the Liberal party room. So why doesn’t he feel any pressure to act when nearly 700,000 workers are facing penalty rate cuts on Sundays?
Turnbull says it was the Fair Work Commission decision.
It was an inquiry started by Shorten as workplace minister.
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Five minutes to question time. Which is like five minutes to midnight.
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Penny Wong channels The Lord of the Rings in her speech.
18C: you shall not pass.
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Nick Xenophon and his senators are opposing the amendments to 18C but voted to bring on the debate with the government.
If he maintains his opposition to the 18C bill, it will fail.
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While the Senate debate continues, the prime minister has met Snowy Hydro workers for a spot of lunch.
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The Greens senator Nick McKim makes the point that if the 18C amendments were really about freedom of speech, the government would address laws that allow whistleblowers to be jailed for two years for speaking detention centres and defamation laws which have a chilling effect.
He also attacks the Senate committee for not allowing Indigenous people to speak to the snap inquiry on the bill, which had a half-day hearing on Friday.
Racism started the day Europeans arrived in this country and it is still going today. For the Senate not to hear from Indigenous people was an absolute bloody disgrace.
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Penny Wong:Penny Wong:
I hope this parliament will vote this amendment down and can I say it is a poor reflection on this prime minister.I hope this parliament will vote this amendment down and can I say it is a poor reflection on this prime minister.
She says refusing to allow the Aboriginal Legal Service speak to the committee hearing on Friday was a profound statement about whose freedom of speech needed to be protected under this bill.She says refusing to allow the Aboriginal Legal Service speak to the committee hearing on Friday was a profound statement about whose freedom of speech needed to be protected under this bill.
I hope the parliament thinks about what this says to the young Muslim woman on the bus or the young Asian boy in the street or some other member of Australia’s multicultural community who is abused because of who they are. Because not only is the amendment before this place wrong, in many ways what is most wrong and has been most damaging has been the signal that has been sent by a prime minister who believes he is a Liberal moderate.I hope the parliament thinks about what this says to the young Muslim woman on the bus or the young Asian boy in the street or some other member of Australia’s multicultural community who is abused because of who they are. Because not only is the amendment before this place wrong, in many ways what is most wrong and has been most damaging has been the signal that has been sent by a prime minister who believes he is a Liberal moderate.
The signal he is sending in cahoots with this attorney general that this sort of racial abuse is more permissible.The signal he is sending in cahoots with this attorney general that this sort of racial abuse is more permissible.
So I ask my colleagues in this place, think of the people who this legislation is designed to protect and think of the principle that this legislation seeks to send out to the community because what it says to the community, we do not believe in this modern multicultural Australia that it is OK for you to be abused because of your race. And that is a principal we should all stand for.So I ask my colleagues in this place, think of the people who this legislation is designed to protect and think of the principle that this legislation seeks to send out to the community because what it says to the community, we do not believe in this modern multicultural Australia that it is OK for you to be abused because of your race. And that is a principal we should all stand for.
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Penny Wong says the 18C changes are more a work program for a government which has no agenda.Penny Wong says the 18C changes are more a work program for a government which has no agenda.
She turns her attack on attorney general George Brandis, whom she describes as a “serial misleader”. She turns her attack on the attorney general, George Brandis, whom she describes as a “serial misleader”.
His is a lonely and thankless job leading a dysfunctional government in the senate. His is a lonely and thankless job leading a dysfunctional government in the Senate.
Wong says with the 18C amendments, Brandis has a purpose. She is riffing on Lord of the Rings and says 18C is “precious” to Brandis.Wong says with the 18C amendments, Brandis has a purpose. She is riffing on Lord of the Rings and says 18C is “precious” to Brandis.
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Penny Wong says the removal of “insult”, “offend” and “humiliate” from the Racial Discrimination Act says everything about this government. She says inserting “harrass” is not strengthening the act.Penny Wong says the removal of “insult”, “offend” and “humiliate” from the Racial Discrimination Act says everything about this government. She says inserting “harrass” is not strengthening the act.
Harassment is about generating fear, not protecting freedom.Harassment is about generating fear, not protecting freedom.
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That means the 18C debate goes forth from now.That means the 18C debate goes forth from now.
Labor senate leader Penny Wong speaks first. Labor’s Senate leader, Penny Wong, speaks first.
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In the chamber, Paul Karp tells me One Nation and Xenophon Team with the government which means Labor’s motion will fail. In the chamber, Paul Karp tells me One Nation and Nick Xenophon Team are with the government which means Labor’s motion will fail.
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The Senate is now dividing on Labor’s 18C suspension of standing orders.The Senate is now dividing on Labor’s 18C suspension of standing orders.
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Paul KarpPaul Karp
Labor’s foreign affairs spokeswoman, Penny Wong, has said the shadow cabinet and caucus had decided not to proceed with ratification of the China extradition treaty “at this time”.Labor’s foreign affairs spokeswoman, Penny Wong, has said the shadow cabinet and caucus had decided not to proceed with ratification of the China extradition treaty “at this time”.
We appreciate that the Chinese government is very clear about wanting the treaty ratified at this stage, however we believe the dissenting report of the Labor members on the joint standing committee on treaties ... expresses a very sensible position.We appreciate that the Chinese government is very clear about wanting the treaty ratified at this stage, however we believe the dissenting report of the Labor members on the joint standing committee on treaties ... expresses a very sensible position.
Labor wants the Extradition Act to be reviewed, not just in relation to the Chinese treaty, but other treaties. The shadow attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, added there were concerns that in the treaty there wasn’t a clause creating a discretion not to extradite if the circumstances were “unjust or oppressive”.Labor wants the Extradition Act to be reviewed, not just in relation to the Chinese treaty, but other treaties. The shadow attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, added there were concerns that in the treaty there wasn’t a clause creating a discretion not to extradite if the circumstances were “unjust or oppressive”.
Despite Julie Bishop saying the Chinese did link an extradition treaty with prisoner transfers, Dreyfus said they shouldn’t be linked because they are separate.Despite Julie Bishop saying the Chinese did link an extradition treaty with prisoner transfers, Dreyfus said they shouldn’t be linked because they are separate.
The transfer of prisoner arrangement has been working well – we expect that to continue.The transfer of prisoner arrangement has been working well – we expect that to continue.
Asked about Bishop’s praise of the Labor leadership and surprise that it had opposed the treaty, Wong denied that Labor had changed position since the Jscot process.Asked about Bishop’s praise of the Labor leadership and surprise that it had opposed the treaty, Wong denied that Labor had changed position since the Jscot process.
She noted that every single member of the Senate crossbench, former prime minister Tony Abbott, and “a great many members of the Liberal party” had expressed concern at the treaty.She noted that every single member of the Senate crossbench, former prime minister Tony Abbott, and “a great many members of the Liberal party” had expressed concern at the treaty.
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Gareth HutchensGareth Hutchens
Labor caucus met this morning. It discussed 18C, two separate banking inquiry bills and the government’s extradition treaty with China.Labor caucus met this morning. It discussed 18C, two separate banking inquiry bills and the government’s extradition treaty with China.
On 18C, the Indigenous MP Patrick Dodson said the government’s handling of the process had been a “shambles”.On 18C, the Indigenous MP Patrick Dodson said the government’s handling of the process had been a “shambles”.
“If it was an Aboriginal organisation it would be sacked,” he said of the government.“If it was an Aboriginal organisation it would be sacked,” he said of the government.
He said some Indigenous groups weren’t even allowed to present to the 18C Senate inquiry.He said some Indigenous groups weren’t even allowed to present to the 18C Senate inquiry.
On the banking and financial services commission of inquiry bills, there are two bills: a crossbench bill moved by the Greens and introduced to the Senate, and a bill introduced in the lower house by the independent MP Bob Katter.On the banking and financial services commission of inquiry bills, there are two bills: a crossbench bill moved by the Greens and introduced to the Senate, and a bill introduced in the lower house by the independent MP Bob Katter.
Labor says it will support both bills, even though the bills fall short of establishing a full royal commission into the banking industry.Labor says it will support both bills, even though the bills fall short of establishing a full royal commission into the banking industry.
Regarding the extradition treaty with China, Bill Shorten said the recommendation from shadow cabinet was to not ratify the treaty “at this time”.Regarding the extradition treaty with China, Bill Shorten said the recommendation from shadow cabinet was to not ratify the treaty “at this time”.
He said the joint standing committee on treaties provided a clear signal and pathway for the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, which “he should have taken”.He said the joint standing committee on treaties provided a clear signal and pathway for the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, which “he should have taken”.
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Greens leader Richard Di Natale supports the Labor motion to suspend standing orders. The Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, supports the Labor motion to suspend standing orders.
He said he thought the changes to 18C were dumped, after all if Tony Abbott dumped them (in 2014), no one could bring them back. He said he thought the changes to 18C had been dumped, after all if Tony Abbott dumped them (in 2014), no one could bring them back.
But Di Natale says it’s like a bad zombie move, they keep coming back and back and back.But Di Natale says it’s like a bad zombie move, they keep coming back and back and back.
He notes the previous Human Rights Committee report, which had a majority of Coalition members, could not even fully support amending the Racial Discrimination Act. He notes the previous human rights committee report, which had a majority of Coalition members, could not even fully support amending the Racial Discrimination Act.
It’s not often I agree with Barnaby Joyce but he belled the cat. It is not a conversation around kitchen tables.It’s not often I agree with Barnaby Joyce but he belled the cat. It is not a conversation around kitchen tables.
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Attorney general George Brandis says yet again, Labor is delaying the bill. He gives a short history of the 18C amendments, from the Coalition promise to change the act at the 2013 elections. The attorney general, George Brandis, says yet again, Labor is delaying the bill. He gives a short history of the 18C amendments, from the Coalition promise to change the act at the 2013 elections.
He says 18C has been:He says 18C has been:
used for the persecution of innocent Australians.used for the persecution of innocent Australians.
used for the persecution of the late, great Bill Leak used for the persecution of the late, great Bill Leak.
used for the persecution over a wise crack by university students. used for the persecution over a wisecrack by university students.
He says in the previous human rights committee inquiry, there were nine full days of public hearings including in every single capital city in Australia.He says in the previous human rights committee inquiry, there were nine full days of public hearings including in every single capital city in Australia.
The Senate can deal with the matter as it always intended to do ... and should not be used by Senator Wong to play politics on this issue. The Senate can deal with the matter as it always intended to do … and should not be used by Senator Wong to play politics on this issue.
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Labor moves to suspend standing orders to delay 18C debate until ThursdayLabor moves to suspend standing orders to delay 18C debate until Thursday
Labor leader in the senate Penny Wong is now suspending standing orders in the senate over the Racial Discrimination Act. She says the whole thing has been rushed through the house, given the: Labor’s leader in the Senate, Penny Wong, is now suspending standing orders in the chamber over the Racial Discrimination Act. She says the whole thing has been rushed through the house, given that the:
Bill was introduced last Wednesday.Bill was introduced last Wednesday.
Bill referred to a half day inquiry. Bill referred to a half-day inquiry.
Bill report just tabled. Bill report was just tabled.
No Indigenous representatives allowed to speak to the half day hearing. No Indigenous representatives were allowed to speak to the half-day hearing.
She wants the debate deferred until Thursday to allow time to digest the bill.She wants the debate deferred until Thursday to allow time to digest the bill.
It really does say everything about this government, about its real views on freedom of speech.It really does say everything about this government, about its real views on freedom of speech.
Wong says the government just wants to get the vote over with.Wong says the government just wants to get the vote over with.
They want to just rush it through ... the optics of this bill is entirely internal. They want to just rush it through … the optics of this bill is entirely internal.
Wong says the government has flagged amendments to its own bill which have not been brought to the Senate. And yet, senators have to debate and vote on it.Wong says the government has flagged amendments to its own bill which have not been brought to the Senate. And yet, senators have to debate and vote on it.
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