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Version 9 Version 10
One Nation overturns medicinal cannabis vote to improve access for terminally ill – politics live Greg Hunt calls Greens medicinal cannabis motion 'reckless' – question time live
(35 minutes later)
5.28am BST
05:28
Labor MP responds to Dutton.
Dutton trying to put the 'pressure' on #qt pic.twitter.com/pbnGEbPb8D
5.27am BST
05:27
Immigration minister Peter Dutton is taking a Dixer to attack Labor for not immediately supporting the citizenship package which is yet to be revealed completely.
Speaker Tony Smith throws out Nick Champion and Dutton welcomes the move, suggesting it lifted the IQ in the chamber.
Labor’s Graham Perrett protests and Smith said he did not hear Dutton’s comment.
5.24am BST
05:24
NXT MP Rebekha Sharkie to health minister Hunt: In the past, cuts threatened the child dental benefits schedule, a program which provides $1,000 of free dental care for low income families because the government claimed the program was under-utilised. In March 2016, a review of the program made four recommendations to increase uptake including targeted promotion, making letters more recognisable as a dental voucher and providing follow-up notification to families. Would the minister advise which recommendations have been implemented in the 15 months since the review?
Greg Hunt says the government has lifted the child dental benefits scheme from $700 to $1000 but does not answer the question relating to the low income dental care.
5.20am BST
05:20
Malcolm Turnbull calls Labor fools and dimwits on energy policy
Shorten to Turnbull: The chief scientist has said about new coal-fired power stations “It would be surprising if Governments were to endorse a scheme that incentivised them”. I give the Prime Minister another opportunity, does he agree?
Turnbull says the time for politics and ideology is over.
The clean energy target proposed by Dr Finkel ... would provide an incentive to forms of generation that are lower than the benchmark of so many kilograms per megawatt hour. That is how it would work.
The PM has its all very well to write him “lovely letters” but Australians just want consistent energy policy.
So dim-witted is this bunch of left wing ideologues opposite, so dim-witted are they, so dim-witted in anything to do with engineering or science, these fools were happy to have lots of renewable energy but it didn’t occur to them that sometimes the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine and they forgot to do anything about it.
5.16am BST
05:16
Foreign minister Julie Bishop is taking a Dixer so that she can criticise Sam Dastyari’s brief departure from Labor’s South China Sea policy following the Four Corners revelations last week.
Christopher Pyne is yelling incessantly “shame on Labor”.
5.14am BST
05:14
Greg Hunt calls Greens motion on medicinal cannabis 'reckless and irresponsible'
The Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, has spoken at a doorstop about the successful Senate motion on medicinal cannabis.
What it means now is that a patient can go and see a doctor, a doctor can order medicinal cannabis for that patient if they’ve got a terminal illness. If it’s not available in Australia, they can get it overseas. Really important, very simple.
Di Natale also dismissed government claims this would open the floodgates to unregulated cannabis as “utter nonsense”. He said if the government accepts that cannabis is an effective treatment for people who are suffering, its access regime should be the same as for other drugs.
The health minister, Greg Hunt, said at a later press conference the advice from the Therapeutic Goods Administration on Tuesday and earlier in the year at Senate estimates is that “removing the safeguards could potentially allow dangerous drugs that could take lives”.
He labelled the Senate motion “reckless and irresponsible” and said it amounted to supporting “unsafe drugs in unregulated quantities that could be diverted to criminal purposes”.
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at 5.23am BST
5.11am BST
05:11
Turnbull: Finkel does not prohibit coal fired power stations
Labor’s Mark Butler to Turnbull: Modelling in the Finkel report assumes no new coal fired power stations will be built under a clean energy target. The chief scientist has said about new coal fired power stations “It would be surprising if governments were to endorse a scheme that incentivised them”. Does the Prime Minister agree with the chief scientist?
Turnbull says:
What Dr Finkel proposes as a clean energy target does not penalise coal, it does not prohibit the construction of a coal-fired power station or indeed a gas-fired power station. What he seeks to do there is to provide incentives for lower emission technologies including but not exclusively renewables.
5.09am BST
05:09
Shorten to Turnbull: Under this Liberal Government, wholesale electricity prices have doubled. Pollution is up. Jobs and renewable energy are down. Will the government commit to working with Labor through the Finkel report to address this massive policy failure?
Turnbull begins blaming the South Australian Labor government.
The Labor party left the engineering and the economics at the door and attacked Australia’s energy system armed with only politics and partisanship. They have no plan at all.
He says since the government announced the (threat of) domestic gas reservations, there has been a fall in wholesale gas prices on the east coast.
We have already arrested the rapid rise in prices on the east coast which were being driven by a shortage of supply, taking a tough decision, responding to the problem quickly. What is the long term answer? It is more gas.
This was a clarification from gas expert Bruce Robertson last sitting week.
PM tells parli: we have already seen reductions in gas price???Customers would love to know.AAH the #gascartel won't disclose prices
4.59am BST
04:59
Lunch time politics
The Greens have successfully overturned a government regulation which would have restricted access to medicinal cannabis. The regulation previously passed with One Nation support but the Hansons changed their vote to back the Greens move.
Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten have given national security statements to the house.
The Coalition party room has heard a long briefing from energy and environment minister Josh Frydenberg on the Finkel review into electricity policy. The party room needs to reconvene later in the day to discuss the report.
QT coming up.
4.54am BST4.54am BST
04:5404:54
The senate is debating the Indigenous Land Use Agreements (Iluas) in the few minutes before question time which is coming up at 2pm. The Senate is debating the Indigenous land use agreements (Iluas) in the few minutes before question time, which is coming up at 2pm.
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4.34am BST4.34am BST
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They’re a weird mob.They’re a weird mob.
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Coalition joint party room meeting: Part 1Coalition joint party room meeting: Part 1
Gareth HutchensGareth Hutchens
Malcolm Turnbull told the Coalition party room today the threat from Islamist terrorism was “real and close” and warned the world would see “more [attacks] before we see less”.Malcolm Turnbull told the Coalition party room today the threat from Islamist terrorism was “real and close” and warned the world would see “more [attacks] before we see less”.
He said immigration minister Peter Dutton’s changes to citizenship law – which will be introduced to the House of Representatives this week – will “underline our commitment to maintain and strong, cohesive society”.He said immigration minister Peter Dutton’s changes to citizenship law – which will be introduced to the House of Representatives this week – will “underline our commitment to maintain and strong, cohesive society”.
Josh Frydenberg, the energy and environment minister, gave a 30-minute presentation on the Finkel report.Josh Frydenberg, the energy and environment minister, gave a 30-minute presentation on the Finkel report.
By the time the presentation was finished, the party room didn’t have time to discuss it because Malcolm Turnbull had to leave to attend an event backing Australia’s bid for the 2023 women’s football World Cup.By the time the presentation was finished, the party room didn’t have time to discuss it because Malcolm Turnbull had to leave to attend an event backing Australia’s bid for the 2023 women’s football World Cup.
The party room will reconvene sometime after question time to discuss Frydenberg’s presentation.The party room will reconvene sometime after question time to discuss Frydenberg’s presentation.
The foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop, talked about the UK election result. She warned the “left is on the move. They are globally networked.”The foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop, talked about the UK election result. She warned the “left is on the move. They are globally networked.”
She referred to Momentum, the UK equivalent of GetUp!, and said “this group represents an ideology we thought had collapsed with the fall of the Berlin Wall.”She referred to Momentum, the UK equivalent of GetUp!, and said “this group represents an ideology we thought had collapsed with the fall of the Berlin Wall.”
“Bill Shorten knows that this platform would lead to economic ruin and the loss of jobs. He’ll sacrifice anything to win the next election.”“Bill Shorten knows that this platform would lead to economic ruin and the loss of jobs. He’ll sacrifice anything to win the next election.”
She emphasised the importance of vigorously fighting back against the left.She emphasised the importance of vigorously fighting back against the left.
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4.26am BST4.26am BST
04:2604:26
One Nation overturns medicinal cannabis vote to improve access for terminally illOne Nation overturns medicinal cannabis vote to improve access for terminally ill
The Greens have won a disallowance vote, which effectively means the Senate has supported an amendment to therapeutic goods laws to change category A of the Special Access Scheme for cannabis.The Greens have won a disallowance vote, which effectively means the Senate has supported an amendment to therapeutic goods laws to change category A of the Special Access Scheme for cannabis.
The effect of it will speed access to the drug for people with a terminal illness.The effect of it will speed access to the drug for people with a terminal illness.
It came about because Pauline Hanson and the Hansons changed their votes on a previous regulation.It came about because Pauline Hanson and the Hansons changed their votes on a previous regulation.
The independent senator Jacqui Lambie, who missed the vote last time, also turned up and voted with the Greens.The independent senator Jacqui Lambie, who missed the vote last time, also turned up and voted with the Greens.
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4.16am BST
04:16
The lower house has put off the suspension vote until later in the day.
The senate voted to disallow the regulation relating to medicinal cannabis.
Bear with me, I am trying to interpret the double negatives to explain what it will mean in practice.
4.11am BST
04:11
So, to be clear, we have competing suspensions of both the lower house (on penalty rates) and the Senate (on medicinal cannabis).
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4.08am BST
04:08
In the Senate there is also a suspension of standing orders over medicinal cannabis.
It is all breaking loose here.
It is over an old vote, which would have made medicinal cannabis easier to get. The vote went down, much to the pleasure of the Coalition.
At the time, Jacqui Lambie missed the vote but there was some reporting that she did so purposely because there was doubt over the measure.
The Greens want the vote taken again in line with longstanding Senate practice that votes should not be decided by misadventure.
The government is having no bar of it and the communications minister, Mitch Fifield, says there were plenty of other opportunities to redo the vote in the meantime – opportunities Lambie did not take.
So the Greens suspended standing orders to get a disallowance vote – which would overturn that vote.
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4.02am BST
04:02
Labor’s Tony Burke is the second speaker on the suspension of standing orders.
He says the Turnbull government wants to stand by the Fair Work Commission’s decision to cut some penalty rates because it agrees with that decision.
Burke says while ordinary workers will get a pay cut as a result, the government stands by its decision to “give millionaires a pay rise” by removing the temporary deficit levy.
3.52am BST
03:52
Labor is now moving to suspend standing orders to get its bill debated to amend the Fair Work Act 2009, which would stop the Fair Work Commission from cutting penalties.
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3.47am BST
03:47
Bill Shorten also underlines the ongoing debate in the ranks of parts of the Coalition backbench regarding Islamist terrorism.
The wisdom of [former Asio director general] David Irvine is always worth repeating at any discussion of national security. The tiny number of violent extremists does not represent the Islamic communities of Australia. We are talking about a few hundred abhorrent souls in a community of nearly 500,000.
Muslims see themselves as a committed component of Australia’s multicultural community. Our fight is with terrorism, not with Islam or with our Muslim community. The strongest defence against terrorism lies within the Australian Muslim community itself.
With that, his speech ends but we have clearer idea of where Labor stands on the specific changes in proposed citizenship bill, which has yet to be introduced to parliament.
Labor wants to see the details before committing.
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3.42am BST
03:42
Bill Shorten backs the need to ensure that we cannot rely on self policing for tech giants like Facebook.
He says government agencies also need resources to stop cyber attacks on Australian businesses.
This is, of course, a difficult and complex area and there are two things we simply don’t know enough to deal with properly - I refer to the use of the digital currency bitcoin and the use of the dark web. A network of untraceable online activities and hidden websites, allowing those who wish to stay in the shadows to remain hidden. Terrorists are increasingly using this network to avoid detection, conduct planning and acquire capability and tools to carry out their evil actions. We must target this threat head-on.
3.33am BST
03:33
The Coalition party room’s Finkel discussion has broken for a second instalment at a later time in the day yet to be announced.
An ominous sign, given the last time it happened was the marathon meeting on marriage equality.
3.31am BST
03:31
Bill Shorten is up now.
He is speaking about the victims and it is worth a quote at length, (as a mother whose daughter has recently returned from OS.)
We produce bold and resilient young people. The kind of people who run towards danger, bravely, without a second thought for themselves. People with the courage and character to make lives away from this country to achieve great things in other lands while always holding Australia in their heart.
And, whether it’s years or decades later, they come home. As Clive James has said, “The same abundance of natural blessings that gave us the energy to leave has every right to call us back.”
But because of a vicious act of violent cowardice, a lightning strike of terror, Kirsty and Sara will never come home. They’re not going to walk through the sliding doors at the airport arrivals, embrace the loved ones who they’ve missed and missed them.
Instead, their families are left with the last conversation forever unfinished. Perhaps a cheery message about the night ahead, a friendly update from home. A routine exchange, an old joke or two and the things that we all say as parents – take care of yourself, have fun, we love you.
Never truly knowing the weight of those words until they’re the last ones that we share with the most precious things in our lives. No matter how much they grow up, they’re always your daughter or your son, your life.
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3.21am BST
03:21
Turnbull notes that George Brandis will meet with the Five Eyes to discuss digital security.
This is not about creating or exploiting back doors, as some privacy advocates continue to say, despite constant reassurance from us. It is about collaboration with and assistance from industry in the pursuit of public safety.
But democracy must be safeguarded ...
While there is currently no higher priority than defeating Islamist terrorism, our interests are also directly threatened by attempts by foreign states to compromise the integrity of our democratic institutions and processes. We should all guard jealously the principles of democracy that we practise here in this place.
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