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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2017/may/23/catholic-schools-special-deals-gonski-politics-live
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| Labor and Coalition clash over changes to 457 visa regime – politics live | Labor and Coalition clash over changes to 457 visa regime – politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.25am BST | |
| 04:25 | |
| You blend up your hopes and dreams, brought to you by Channel Dastyari. | |
| 4.18am BST | |
| 04:18 | |
| From our friends at AAP. | |
| A senior bureaucrat says there is no position of “acting deputy prime minister” despite the title having been used a number of times by Nationals deputy leader Fiona Nash. | |
| When Malcolm Turnbull is overseas, the position of acting prime minister is filled by Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce. | |
| During these times, Nash has issued media releases using the title “acting deputy prime minister”. | |
| Labor senator Penny Wong asked officials from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet on Tuesday whether it was standard practice to appoint an acting deputy PM. | |
| “No,” replied DPMC deputy secretary Elizabeth Kelly. | |
| Two other ministers were next in seniority to Joyce – the attorney general and the foreign minister. | |
| Updated | |
| at 4.21am BST | |
| 4.16am BST | |
| 04:16 | |
| Lunch time politics | |
| Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten have commemorated 20 years since the Bringing Them Home report, again apologising to the Indigenous children taken from their parents. | |
| Labor retains its lead over the Coalition 53-46 on a two party preferred basis. | |
| Former senator Rod Culleton is in the parliament agitating for the Senate to force Brandis to explain his referral of Culleton’s election to the high court, which subsequently ruled his election invalid. | |
| Education minister Simon Birmingham said he is not for turning, going back to existing school funding deals favouring some sectors over others. He was looking at sections of the Catholic education system, some of which claim it is unfair to that sector. | |
| Updated | |
| at 4.20am BST | |
| 3.46am BST | 3.46am BST |
| 03:46 | 03:46 |
| In the House, the first debate is on the fair work amendment (corrupting benefits) bill that criminalises payments to unions in return for trading worker pay and conditions. | In the House, the first debate is on the fair work amendment (corrupting benefits) bill that criminalises payments to unions in return for trading worker pay and conditions. |
| Labor’s employment shadow, Brendan O’Connor, wants to amend the bill: | Labor’s employment shadow, Brendan O’Connor, wants to amend the bill: |
| Whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House calls on the government to: | Whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House calls on the government to: |
| (1) abandon its support of the decision of the Fair Work Commission to cut penalty rates because it will mean nearly 700,000 Australians will have their take-home pay cut by up to $77 a week; and | (1) abandon its support of the decision of the Fair Work Commission to cut penalty rates because it will mean nearly 700,000 Australians will have their take-home pay cut by up to $77 a week; and |
| (2) legislate to prevent the decision from taking effect to stop Australians from having their penalty rates cut. | (2) legislate to prevent the decision from taking effect to stop Australians from having their penalty rates cut. |
| Greens MP Adam Bandt wants to amend the bill: | Greens MP Adam Bandt wants to amend the bill: |
| The bill contains some improvements to the existing law, they are not enough and the House declines to give the bill a second reading and calls on the government to establish a national independent commission against corruption. | The bill contains some improvements to the existing law, they are not enough and the House declines to give the bill a second reading and calls on the government to establish a national independent commission against corruption. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.54am BST | at 3.54am BST |
| 3.25am BST | 3.25am BST |
| 03:25 | 03:25 |
| @SenatorAbetz this is you pic.twitter.com/xDqoGh7Inn | @SenatorAbetz this is you pic.twitter.com/xDqoGh7Inn |
| Get a hobby, Eric. https://t.co/gpGqrGPXva | Get a hobby, Eric. https://t.co/gpGqrGPXva |
| 3.21am BST | 3.21am BST |
| 03:21 | 03:21 |
| Breaking news: Under questioning from Labor, George Brandis says there is no selfie officer for the prime minister. | Breaking news: Under questioning from Labor, George Brandis says there is no selfie officer for the prime minister. |
| 3.13am BST | 3.13am BST |
| 03:13 | 03:13 |
| Gareth Hutchens | Gareth Hutchens |
| Labor held its caucus meeting this morning and concerns were raised about a potential government loan to a South African coalmine. | Labor held its caucus meeting this morning and concerns were raised about a potential government loan to a South African coalmine. |
| As reported in Guardian on the weekend, the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (Efic) is considering a loan to develop the Boikarabelo coal project in Limpopo Province, South Africa. | As reported in Guardian on the weekend, the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (Efic) is considering a loan to develop the Boikarabelo coal project in Limpopo Province, South Africa. |
| The mine has approval to extract 32m tonnes a year of raw coal, making it of similar size to some proposals in Australia’s Galilee Basin. | The mine has approval to extract 32m tonnes a year of raw coal, making it of similar size to some proposals in Australia’s Galilee Basin. |
| With Efic’s help, the project could lead to the development of one of the biggest coalfields in the world, the Waterberg basin, a resource of about 75bn tonnes. | With Efic’s help, the project could lead to the development of one of the biggest coalfields in the world, the Waterberg basin, a resource of about 75bn tonnes. |
| But the progressive thinktank the Australia Institute has questioned the rationale of the loan in a new report, African White Elephant: Should Australian taxpayers finance a South African coal mine? | But the progressive thinktank the Australia Institute has questioned the rationale of the loan in a new report, African White Elephant: Should Australian taxpayers finance a South African coal mine? |
| Jason Clare, the shadow minister for trade and investment, says he will now be raising the matter in Senate estimates next week. | Jason Clare, the shadow minister for trade and investment, says he will now be raising the matter in Senate estimates next week. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.15am BST | at 3.15am BST |
| 2.54am BST | 2.54am BST |
| 02:54 | 02:54 |
| Rod Culleton wants George Brandis to explain his Senate reference to high court | Rod Culleton wants George Brandis to explain his Senate reference to high court |
| Former One Nation senator Rod Culleton has been around the House over the past two days. He wants the Senate to re-examine attorney general George Brandis’ original referral of him in the Senate to the high court. He is seeking the support of Labor, the Greens and various crossbenchers to force Brandis to explain, given the Senate passed a motion last year calling for a Brandis explanation. | Former One Nation senator Rod Culleton has been around the House over the past two days. He wants the Senate to re-examine attorney general George Brandis’ original referral of him in the Senate to the high court. He is seeking the support of Labor, the Greens and various crossbenchers to force Brandis to explain, given the Senate passed a motion last year calling for a Brandis explanation. |
| This was the motion that passed the Senate: | This was the motion that passed the Senate: |
| (a) the Senate notes that: | (a) the Senate notes that: |
| (i) on 25 November 2016, solicitors on behalf of the commonwealth attorney general filed a statement of agreed facts in the high court sitting as the court of disputed returns in the matter of re Rodney Culleton, | (i) on 25 November 2016, solicitors on behalf of the commonwealth attorney general filed a statement of agreed facts in the high court sitting as the court of disputed returns in the matter of re Rodney Culleton, |
| (ii) paragraph 1 of the statement of agreed facts includes the following statement: the magistrate in convicting Senator Culleton as an absent offender was precluded by section 25 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) from making an order for a sentence of imprisonment, and | (ii) paragraph 1 of the statement of agreed facts includes the following statement: the magistrate in convicting Senator Culleton as an absent offender was precluded by section 25 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) from making an order for a sentence of imprisonment, and |
| (iii) the facts set out above and agreed by solicitors acting on behalf of the commonwealth attorney general were not before the Senate on Monday, 7 November 2016, when it considered the motion moved by Senator Brandis to refer the matter to the high court under section 378 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1908; and | (iii) the facts set out above and agreed by solicitors acting on behalf of the commonwealth attorney general were not before the Senate on Monday, 7 November 2016, when it considered the motion moved by Senator Brandis to refer the matter to the high court under section 378 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1908; and |
| (b) the Senate calls on the attorney general (Senator Brandis) to attend the chamber and clarify this matter. | (b) the Senate calls on the attorney general (Senator Brandis) to attend the chamber and clarify this matter. |
| As yet, there is no suggestions that Labor, the Greens and crossbenchers will combine to force Brandis to explain. But we will keep a sheep’s eye on it. | As yet, there is no suggestions that Labor, the Greens and crossbenchers will combine to force Brandis to explain. But we will keep a sheep’s eye on it. |
| Bowers and I ran into Culleton with Saraya Beric, the former national secretary of One Nation, who has since had a falling out with Pauline Hanson. | Bowers and I ran into Culleton with Saraya Beric, the former national secretary of One Nation, who has since had a falling out with Pauline Hanson. |
| Yesterday Hanson blamed former Beric and former national treasurer and Queensland director Ian Nelson for leaking against her on the Ashby tapes. Those recordings have Ashby suggesting the party could make some money selling campaign packages to their own candidates. Ashby and Hanson said they never followed through on the idea. | Yesterday Hanson blamed former Beric and former national treasurer and Queensland director Ian Nelson for leaking against her on the Ashby tapes. Those recordings have Ashby suggesting the party could make some money selling campaign packages to their own candidates. Ashby and Hanson said they never followed through on the idea. |
| Nelson came out and said they both categorically denied he or Beric were responsible. Beric was not talking about it last night. | Nelson came out and said they both categorically denied he or Beric were responsible. Beric was not talking about it last night. |
| Now Colin Bettles of the Land reports: | Now Colin Bettles of the Land reports: |
| Former WA senator and anti-farm-debt-banking crusader Rod Culleton is being pursued for about $700,000 by the commonwealth government over debts related to his six months service in federal parliament. | Former WA senator and anti-farm-debt-banking crusader Rod Culleton is being pursued for about $700,000 by the commonwealth government over debts related to his six months service in federal parliament. |
| Mr Culleton has returned to farming in Kojonup since being disqualified from parliament in February, after the high court ruled he was ineligible to stand at last year’s July 2 election due to constitutional electoral rules regarding convictions and sentencing. | Mr Culleton has returned to farming in Kojonup since being disqualified from parliament in February, after the high court ruled he was ineligible to stand at last year’s July 2 election due to constitutional electoral rules regarding convictions and sentencing. |
| Those who have followed his story will know that the Senate and the finance department are pursuing both Culleton and Bob Day over previous salaries, staff expenses and allowances since they were declared ineligible. | Those who have followed his story will know that the Senate and the finance department are pursuing both Culleton and Bob Day over previous salaries, staff expenses and allowances since they were declared ineligible. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.13am BST | at 3.13am BST |
| 2.29am BST | 2.29am BST |
| 02:29 | 02:29 |
| Thanks to Tom. | Thanks to Tom. |
| Some of the costs of keeping the Prime Minister in official residences #estimates pic.twitter.com/I8NdIy0dAK | Some of the costs of keeping the Prime Minister in official residences #estimates pic.twitter.com/I8NdIy0dAK |
| 2.07am BST | 2.07am BST |
| 02:07 | 02:07 |
| Good morning Alan | Good morning Alan |
| Katharine Murphy | Katharine Murphy |
| After a night of celebrating Robert Menzies, Tony Abbott rose early for a chat with Alan Jones, who had travelled to Canberra to officiate at the anniversary proceedings. | After a night of celebrating Robert Menzies, Tony Abbott rose early for a chat with Alan Jones, who had travelled to Canberra to officiate at the anniversary proceedings. |
| Jones is clearly moved and inspired this morning, because Abbott was hanging on the line for a full seven minutes of monologue before being permitted to speak briefly at the conclusion of Alan’s Great Insights. | Jones is clearly moved and inspired this morning, because Abbott was hanging on the line for a full seven minutes of monologue before being permitted to speak briefly at the conclusion of Alan’s Great Insights. |
| One such Jones insight compared Abbott to Menzies in his wilderness years, which then prompted the two to ruminate on Tennyson later in the conversation, and the coda of the poem Ulysses – “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.” | One such Jones insight compared Abbott to Menzies in his wilderness years, which then prompted the two to ruminate on Tennyson later in the conversation, and the coda of the poem Ulysses – “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.” |
| Hint hint. Striving. Not yielding. | Hint hint. Striving. Not yielding. |
| With such an epic preamble, Abbott really didn’t get a clear run at his task but he shared some general insights. Governments should never punish success. (Banks, anyone?) Punishing success only hurts everyone, Abbott thought. | With such an epic preamble, Abbott really didn’t get a clear run at his task but he shared some general insights. Governments should never punish success. (Banks, anyone?) Punishing success only hurts everyone, Abbott thought. |
| Everyone in the end has to pay for government spending because there is “no such thing as free money.” | Everyone in the end has to pay for government spending because there is “no such thing as free money.” |
| And with that he was off. Striving. Seeking, Finding. Not yielding. | And with that he was off. Striving. Seeking, Finding. Not yielding. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.13am BST | at 2.13am BST |
| 2.04am BST | 2.04am BST |
| 02:04 | 02:04 |
| Estimates get on to ATO scandal | Estimates get on to ATO scandal |
| Nine ICT contractors which utilise Plutus providing services to government agencies. | Nine ICT contractors which utilise Plutus providing services to government agencies. |
| Plutus Payroll is at the centre of an alleged $165m tax fraud, one of the biggest white-collar investigations in Australian history. Ten people were arrested on Thursday following dramatic raids across Sydney. | Plutus Payroll is at the centre of an alleged $165m tax fraud, one of the biggest white-collar investigations in Australian history. Ten people were arrested on Thursday following dramatic raids across Sydney. |
| We knew nine agencies could be exposed. | We knew nine agencies could be exposed. |
| Labor’s Penny Wong is questioning prime minister and cabinet officers. She wants to know what safeguards are in place to ensure government does not engage with companies under investigation by the Australian Tax Office. | Labor’s Penny Wong is questioning prime minister and cabinet officers. She wants to know what safeguards are in place to ensure government does not engage with companies under investigation by the Australian Tax Office. |
| Elizabeth Kelly, of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, says PMC had no relationship with Plutus. | Elizabeth Kelly, of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, says PMC had no relationship with Plutus. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.14am BST | at 2.14am BST |
| 1.55am BST | 1.55am BST |
| 01:55 | 01:55 |
| Gareth Hutchens | Gareth Hutchens |
| ANZ is the last of the big four banks to warn its shareholders about the costs of the Turnbull government’s bank levy. | ANZ is the last of the big four banks to warn its shareholders about the costs of the Turnbull government’s bank levy. |
| Last last night it issued a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange telling its shareholders the levy will cost $240m a year after tax. | Last last night it issued a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange telling its shareholders the levy will cost $240m a year after tax. |
| So here’s what the big four say the levy will cost each year (after tax): | So here’s what the big four say the levy will cost each year (after tax): |
| Westpac: $260m | Westpac: $260m |
| Commonwealth Bank: $220m | Commonwealth Bank: $220m |
| NAB: $245m | NAB: $245m |
| ANZ: $240m | ANZ: $240m |
| The bank levy will apply to the big four plus Macquarie Bank, and Macquarie has yet to make a public statement about the costs of the levy. | The bank levy will apply to the big four plus Macquarie Bank, and Macquarie has yet to make a public statement about the costs of the levy. |
| However, it is understood Macquarie does not plan to make a statement until it sees more details from the government. | However, it is understood Macquarie does not plan to make a statement until it sees more details from the government. |
| The question now is: do the Turnbull government’s numbers stack up? It has been saying the bank levy will generate $6.2bn in revenue over four years. | The question now is: do the Turnbull government’s numbers stack up? It has been saying the bank levy will generate $6.2bn in revenue over four years. |
| The Greens say the levy could raise $1.5bn less than expected over four years, given the levy would be tax-deductible. | The Greens say the levy could raise $1.5bn less than expected over four years, given the levy would be tax-deductible. |
| Analysis by the Tasmanian senator Peter Whish-Wilson, a former banker, suggests the amount raised could be almost quarter less than expected over the next four years. | Analysis by the Tasmanian senator Peter Whish-Wilson, a former banker, suggests the amount raised could be almost quarter less than expected over the next four years. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.14am BST | at 2.14am BST |
| 1.51am BST | 1.51am BST |
| 01:51 | 01:51 |
| Paul Karp with the full Adani story. | Paul Karp with the full Adani story. |
| 1.42am BST | 1.42am BST |
| 01:42 | 01:42 |
| Christian Schools policy forum offering a prayer for Sarah Hanson-Young #auspol #prayforSarah | Christian Schools policy forum offering a prayer for Sarah Hanson-Young #auspol #prayforSarah |
| 1.40am BST | 1.40am BST |
| 01:40 | 01:40 |
| Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young is making vaguely opposing noises in the direction of Gonski 2.0. | Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young is making vaguely opposing noises in the direction of Gonski 2.0. |
| SHY is speaking at an event in Canberra. | SHY is speaking at an event in Canberra. |
| Sarah Hanson-Young going back to Gonski report says "bastardized ever since by both sides of politics" #auspol ping @gabriellechan | Sarah Hanson-Young going back to Gonski report says "bastardized ever since by both sides of politics" #auspol ping @gabriellechan |
| Sarah Hanson-Young: I fear the current package that buy in from states will be difficult #auspol @gabriellechan | Sarah Hanson-Young: I fear the current package that buy in from states will be difficult #auspol @gabriellechan |