This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2017/jun/21/australia-politics-live-turnbull-shorten

The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Greens say they could support Gonski 2.0 and attack Labor for politicising funding – politics live Nick Xenophon Team 'optimistic' on Gonski 2.0 deal – politics live
(35 minutes later)
2.29am BST
02:29
With NXT, PHON and Hinch (8 votes) pro, govt only needs 2/3 of Lambie, Gichuhi and Leyonhjelm to do #Gonski deal without Greens #auspol
2.29am BST
02:29
Chair of the senate committee which inquired into Gonski 2.0, speaking in support of the legislation.
2.24am BST
02:24
Speaking list on Gonski 2.0.
COLLINS
McKIMM
FAWCETT
BERNARDI
HANSON
McKENZIE
RICE (speaking now)
WATT
LAMBIE
MCCARTHY
CHISHOLM
LINES
O’NEILL
PRATT
URQUHART
ROBERTS
BIRMINGHAM
2.18am BST
02:18
Barnaby Joyce was asked this morning about his Nationals colleague George Christensen crossing the floor over the Fair Work Commission’s decision to cut penalty rates.
He says the Nats believe in freedom more than any other party (on some things ... I’m thinking marriage equality not so).
Barnaby, who crossed the floor 28 times as a young senator, says the Greens never cross the floor.
Were they all born peas in a pod?
In the Nats, they can cross the floor though they can expect “some time in Coventry, otherwise known as the seat of Dawson”.
Looks at George. George smiles.
Updated
at 2.23am BST
2.10am BST
02:10
Bipartisan ball sports.
2.09am BST
02:09
Smile and wave boys, smile and wave.
Updated
at 2.13am BST
2.04am BST
02:04
Bill Shorten also disassociates Labor from CFMEU warning
Bill Shorten has joined Anthony Albanese in disassociating himself from Victorian CFMEU official John Setka’s remarks targeting the families and communities of Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) inspectors.
I repudiate in the strongest terms what was said yesterday. I understand there is frustration about penalty cuts, that construction workers have a separate set of laws for them but bad laws get changed at elections. Bad laws get changed at the ballot box. Federal Labor disassociate ourselves from the remarks that were made yesterday.
1.57am BST1.57am BST
01:5701:57
Nick Xenophon Team: We are very optimistic on Gonski 2.0Nick Xenophon Team: We are very optimistic on Gonski 2.0
Paul KarpPaul Karp
Nick Xenophon Team education spokeswoman, Rebekha Sharkie, told Guardian Australia “things are going really well, we’re very optimistic we’ll come to a finalised position with the government [on its schools package] this morning”.NXT’s demands were:Nick Xenophon Team education spokeswoman, Rebekha Sharkie, told Guardian Australia “things are going really well, we’re very optimistic we’ll come to a finalised position with the government [on its schools package] this morning”.NXT’s demands were:
For the package to be rolled out in six years, not 10For the package to be rolled out in six years, not 10
A national schools resource bodyA national schools resource body
A requirement on the states to be compelled to give 75% of the school resource standard to public schools; andA requirement on the states to be compelled to give 75% of the school resource standard to public schools; and
A review of the SES model for needs-based funding.A review of the SES model for needs-based funding.
Asked if they had reached in-principle agreement and were just waiting for a deal in writing, Sharkie said: “Yes, that’s exactly right, but a deal’s not a deal until it’s in writing”.Asked if they had reached in-principle agreement and were just waiting for a deal in writing, Sharkie said: “Yes, that’s exactly right, but a deal’s not a deal until it’s in writing”.
1.54am BST1.54am BST
01:5401:54
Shorten turns up the heat: Greens are in danger of a GST momentShorten turns up the heat: Greens are in danger of a GST moment
Tanya Plibersek and Bill Shorten are speaking in a Catholic school playground in Canberra.Tanya Plibersek and Bill Shorten are speaking in a Catholic school playground in Canberra.
Shorten says the former Australian Education Union president Diane Foggo was wrong when she appealed to Labor and her old union to allow this bill to pass for the sake of students.Shorten says the former Australian Education Union president Diane Foggo was wrong when she appealed to Labor and her old union to allow this bill to pass for the sake of students.
They say the education bill represents a $22bn cut. (This is based on what Labor promised at the last election).They say the education bill represents a $22bn cut. (This is based on what Labor promised at the last election).
He hits back at Richard Di Natale’s claims that Labor has chosen politics over fixing its flawed Gonski 1.0 model.He hits back at Richard Di Natale’s claims that Labor has chosen politics over fixing its flawed Gonski 1.0 model.
The Greens are divided. I think they are a protest looking for a cause. The problem for them in education is that they are in danger of having one of those moments on the GST. People might remember the Democrats were going to keep bastards honest. Then they used to sell out on the GST. I hope Senator Di Natale does not sell out government schools and blows the Catholic schools to this government for a few trinkets.The Greens are divided. I think they are a protest looking for a cause. The problem for them in education is that they are in danger of having one of those moments on the GST. People might remember the Democrats were going to keep bastards honest. Then they used to sell out on the GST. I hope Senator Di Natale does not sell out government schools and blows the Catholic schools to this government for a few trinkets.
He says the government and the Greens should “park the legislation”.He says the government and the Greens should “park the legislation”.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.55am BSTat 1.55am BST
1.34am BST1.34am BST
01:3401:34
Anthony Albanese: CFMEU official's warning shocked meAnthony Albanese: CFMEU official's warning shocked me
Senior Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese has given a CFMEU official a whack over reports of threats in the Oz.Senior Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese has given a CFMEU official a whack over reports of threats in the Oz.
Ewin Hannan’s reports Victorian construction union boss John Setka has threatened to reveal the home addresses of ABCC inspectors and lobby their local shopping centres and football clubs to ensure their “kids will be ashamed of who their parents are”.Ewin Hannan’s reports Victorian construction union boss John Setka has threatened to reveal the home addresses of ABCC inspectors and lobby their local shopping centres and football clubs to ensure their “kids will be ashamed of who their parents are”.
Setka told a rally:Setka told a rally:
Labelling the nation’s leading builders as “corrupt”, Mr Setka told 20,000 union protesters in Melbourne the ABCC inspectors were “f..kers trying to take us to court and jail us”.Labelling the nation’s leading builders as “corrupt”, Mr Setka told 20,000 union protesters in Melbourne the ABCC inspectors were “f..kers trying to take us to court and jail us”.
“Let me give a dire warning to the ABCC inspectors: be careful what you do,’’ he said, claiming that many did not have their names on the electoral roll.“Let me give a dire warning to the ABCC inspectors: be careful what you do,’’ he said, claiming that many did not have their names on the electoral roll.
“They have got to lead these secret little lives because they are ashamed of what they do,” he said. “You know what we’re going to do? We’re going to ­expose them all.“They have got to lead these secret little lives because they are ashamed of what they do,” he said. “You know what we’re going to do? We’re going to ­expose them all.
“We will lobby their neighbourhoods. We will tell them who lives in that house. What he does for a living, or she. We will go to their local football club. We will go to the local shopping ­centre.“We will lobby their neighbourhoods. We will tell them who lives in that house. What he does for a living, or she. We will go to their local football club. We will go to the local shopping ­centre.
“They will not be able to show their faces anywhere. Their kids will be ashamed of who their parents are when we expose all these ABCC inspectors.“They will not be able to show their faces anywhere. Their kids will be ashamed of who their parents are when we expose all these ABCC inspectors.
“If they think they are going to walk around and desecrate construction workers, take away our rights, and then ride off into the sunset, and there’s going to be no consequences, well, they’re in for a big surprise.’’“If they think they are going to walk around and desecrate construction workers, take away our rights, and then ride off into the sunset, and there’s going to be no consequences, well, they’re in for a big surprise.’’
Albo welcomed Setka’s reporting to the police.Albo welcomed Setka’s reporting to the police.
I find it extraordinary that any Australians would raise kids in particular. That just made me, just shocked that anyone would raise people’s families for goodness sake of people who are employed in work.I find it extraordinary that any Australians would raise kids in particular. That just made me, just shocked that anyone would raise people’s families for goodness sake of people who are employed in work.
I think the idea that people should be targeted is completely reprehensible. It’s been reported to the police, my understanding is. And that’s appropriate.I think the idea that people should be targeted is completely reprehensible. It’s been reported to the police, my understanding is. And that’s appropriate.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.37am BSTat 1.37am BST
1.25am BST1.25am BST
01:2501:25
Chris Bonnor and Bernie Shepherd are education policy experts who have both long campaigned for Gonski implementation for equity in school funding.Chris Bonnor and Bernie Shepherd are education policy experts who have both long campaigned for Gonski implementation for equity in school funding.
They have been watching the school funding train wreck for years, analysing the dollars, considering the options and this is what they think.They have been watching the school funding train wreck for years, analysing the dollars, considering the options and this is what they think.
Before they vote, legislators might like to consider what the Centre for Policy Development analysis of the latest My School data shows: the failure to implement Gonski 1.0 has made a bad school equity and achievement situation worse. The wrong decision on Gonski 2.0 might make it irreparable.Before they vote, legislators might like to consider what the Centre for Policy Development analysis of the latest My School data shows: the failure to implement Gonski 1.0 has made a bad school equity and achievement situation worse. The wrong decision on Gonski 2.0 might make it irreparable.
The priority this week is to put in place arrangements which will deliver for the long term. In particular, fast-tracking the funding boost to disadvantaged schools and creating a National Schools Resourcing Body to make it all happen have to be priorities.The priority this week is to put in place arrangements which will deliver for the long term. In particular, fast-tracking the funding boost to disadvantaged schools and creating a National Schools Resourcing Body to make it all happen have to be priorities.
These two things weren’t done after Gonski 1.0 and the parlous state of current school funding and achievement is a part consequence. Let’s start with the money and where it went after Gonski reported the first time around.These two things weren’t done after Gonski 1.0 and the parlous state of current school funding and achievement is a part consequence. Let’s start with the money and where it went after Gonski reported the first time around.
Yes, we spent more money on schools, but we did not, across Australia, make sure the funding increasingly favoured those with the greatest need. And this is just on average: in money terms, large numbers of our struggling students and schools went backwards.Yes, we spent more money on schools, but we did not, across Australia, make sure the funding increasingly favoured those with the greatest need. And this is just on average: in money terms, large numbers of our struggling students and schools went backwards.
Why this happened is a long story which includes the patchy implementation of Gonski 1.0, but also reflects the special funding deals made to some school sectors – deals which have corrupted past attempts to fund schools on need.Why this happened is a long story which includes the patchy implementation of Gonski 1.0, but also reflects the special funding deals made to some school sectors – deals which have corrupted past attempts to fund schools on need.
The fast-tracking of funding and the independent funding body are two of the conditions already extracted by the Greens.The fast-tracking of funding and the independent funding body are two of the conditions already extracted by the Greens.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.30am BST at 2.31am BST
1.18am BST1.18am BST
01:1801:18
Education minister Simon Birmingham has just held a flash doorstop in a corridor. There was nothing much new in it, negotiations etc, think of the children etc.Education minister Simon Birmingham has just held a flash doorstop in a corridor. There was nothing much new in it, negotiations etc, think of the children etc.
I’ve always been a hopeful person and I remain hopeful.I’ve always been a hopeful person and I remain hopeful.
He was asked if it will be resolved by Friday.He was asked if it will be resolved by Friday.
Hopefully.Hopefully.
1.07am BST1.07am BST
01:0701:07
Argh! No decision from Greens party room meeting on Gonski 2.0Argh! No decision from Greens party room meeting on Gonski 2.0
Paul KarpPaul Karp
The Greens party room meeting has concluded, and there’s been no final decision on the Gonski 2.0 package. The party is seeking more granular detail on government concessions – it seems like an abundance of caution rather than the leader, Richard Di Natale, and the education spokeswoman, Sarah Hanson-Young, failing to get the package through.The Greens party room meeting has concluded, and there’s been no final decision on the Gonski 2.0 package. The party is seeking more granular detail on government concessions – it seems like an abundance of caution rather than the leader, Richard Di Natale, and the education spokeswoman, Sarah Hanson-Young, failing to get the package through.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.09am BSTat 1.09am BST
12.59am BST12.59am BST
00:5900:59
Debate on the Australian Education Amendment bill, AKA Gonski 2.0, has started in the Senate.Debate on the Australian Education Amendment bill, AKA Gonski 2.0, has started in the Senate.
Labor senator Jacinta Collins has accused the government and the Greens of running a sectarian campaign against herself and the Catholic education sector.Labor senator Jacinta Collins has accused the government and the Greens of running a sectarian campaign against herself and the Catholic education sector.
Collins says Labor settled the school funding issue for good in government.Collins says Labor settled the school funding issue for good in government.
The Greens senator Nick McKim rises to take issue. He was Tasmania’s education minister at the time and was involved in Julia Gillard’s negotiations. He says of Collins’ claim that Labor fixed the school funding wars,The Greens senator Nick McKim rises to take issue. He was Tasmania’s education minister at the time and was involved in Julia Gillard’s negotiations. He says of Collins’ claim that Labor fixed the school funding wars,
I have rarely heard a piece of spin that bears so little relationship with reality.I have rarely heard a piece of spin that bears so little relationship with reality.
He says while Tasmania signed on, the national Gonski 1.0 agrements were a mish-mash of seperate agreements where some sectors win over others, some states were happy and others were not.He says while Tasmania signed on, the national Gonski 1.0 agrements were a mish-mash of seperate agreements where some sectors win over others, some states were happy and others were not.
He says Labor claims to be the true champions of the public education system but they have not asked any questions on public schools.He says Labor claims to be the true champions of the public education system but they have not asked any questions on public schools.
Not one question on public schools from Labor. The DLP is back.Not one question on public schools from Labor. The DLP is back.
Collins yells interjections, that is not true.Collins yells interjections, that is not true.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.01am BSTat 1.01am BST
12.50am BST12.50am BST
00:5000:50
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.53am BSTat 12.53am BST
12.48am BST
00:48
Updated
at 12.49am BST
12.41am BST
00:41
NSW Greens direct Rhiannon not to support Gonski 2.0
Paul Karp
The New South Wales Greens have directed the state’s federal Greens senator, Lee Rhiannon, not to support the Coalition’s Gonski 2.0 package.
A spokeswoman for Tamara Smith, the NSW Greens education spokeswoman, told Guardian Australia the education committee of the NSW Greens, the relevant democratically elected reference group, has directed Rhiannon not to support it.
This will be awkward because signs from federal leader, Richard Di Natale, this morning are that the Greens are moving towards supporting it. It’s possible Rhiannon could abstain on the Senate vote and comply with the direction.
The spokeswoman said that Rhiannon and Smith will release a statement shortly.
Updated
at 12.43am BST
12.40am BST
00:40
The action is in the Senate today.
The three government bills listed on the notice paper are:
School funding
Cross-media ownership laws
Fair work amendment bill
There are two Senate committee reports landing today at some stage relating to Centrelink and the Bell Group, otherwise known as the Adventures of George Brandis.
Bell inquiry’s real name is:
Nature and scope of any agreement reached by the commonwealth and Western Australian governments in relation to the distribution of proceeds of the liquidation of, and litigation concerning, the Bell Group of companies (the proceeds).
We also await former Family First senator Lucy Gichuhi’s first speech at 5pm.
On Gonski, the trouble with the debate is that the Senate can’t really debate the amendments required until the deal is nailed down (because the amendments probably change depending on whether the the votes land with the Greens or the crossbenchers).
There could be a lot of filibustering today to allow negotiations to continue.
Updated
at 12.44am BST
12.29am BST
00:29
Matt Hatter on Gonski 2.0 negotiations. That just might be Simon Birmingham on top.
@gabriellechan 🎓Hello🎓 "It is true the govt has gone back to the drawing board & they have shifted a long way.." That's quite the effort. pic.twitter.com/F1QwzlGmfc
12.27am BST
00:27
12.21am BST
00:21
Former NSW education minister Adrian Piccoli, a big supporter of Labor’s Gonski 1.0 to the detriment of his own career in the Coalition, has tweeted:
If Greens and AEU stop Gonski2.0 they can never again complain about overfunded private schools. Take the concessions and pass the Bill
Australian Education Union:
Who got to you?
It's not perfect and it's not enough money but it does improve the model. It gets rid of the special deals you have always complained about https://t.co/9DCJ5alw8H
The bill enshrines 80% funding of private schools and only 20% of public schools. We will certainly be complaining about this.
Cth currently funds only 17% of public school SRS so 20% is better. And a future gov can increase that further. Take the win!! https://t.co/x0G0irYMW2
Updated
at 12.26am BST
12.15am BST
00:15
Freud and Frydenberg: the political cost of power
In preparation for The Finkel today, there is a lot of talk now about the reverse auction.
(I can only ever think of Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie’s reverse ferret – where newspaper reverses its editorial campaign in the opposite direction.)
The energy and environment minister, Josh Frydenberg, told Sky’s Kieran Gilbert how a reverse auction system for dispatchable power would work. (Dispatchable power being the minimum continuous power required to run the system.)
They bid in to say we can offer this amount over this period at this time at such political cost – ah – at such ah economic cost. Then the market regulator, or whoever is running that auction would make a decision as to what would provide that firm power.
It is, of course, the political problem of the decade, so who would not make the odd Freudian slip?
Kieran kept a very straight face.
Updated
at 12.19am BST
11.30pm BST
23:30
George: I get by with a little help from my friends.
Updated
at 11.40pm BST
11.22pm BST
23:22
Baby it’s cold outside.
Updated
at 11.26pm BST
10.35pm BST
22:35
Good morning blogan people,
Zero degrees at Canberra airport, pea soup fog, farnarkling clearing later in the day. Today is Gonski 2.0 day. Today we expect a vote in the Senate. More of that in a moment.
First let me catch you up on the overnight happenings.
The LNP MP George Christensen crossed the floor on penalty rates, so you know he will cross the floor.
George Christensen votes with Labor and the Indipendents on amendments to fair work act @GuardianAus @murpharoo pic.twitter.com/3INFnQmYsA
The vote failed, as Murphy reported:
So Christensen could make his point without anything much changing.
The chief scientist, Alan Finkel, is speaking at the National Press Club today. I guess when it was booked, his key recommendation of a clean energy target was a thing. But it is looking less like a thing with every day that passes. It seems like coal is still a thing in the Coalition party room. The lot of the chief scientist.
Yesterday Turnbull was counselling Murph not to be hasty.
But he denied his new brief for Aemo was a clear signal the government had either dumped, or was paving the way to dump Finkel’s clean energy target.
“I wouldn’t analyse it in that way if I was you,” the prime minister said.
Paul Karp reports the energy and environment minister, Josh Frydenberg, has been speaking on ABC AM about new measures to lower gas prices such as forcing gas companies to supply the domestic market and unilaterally abolishing the limited merits review accused of raising prices.
Asked if the reason the government is leaving open the possibility of financing new coal power plants is to appease conservative MPs, Frydenberg replied:
No it’s not, it’s designed to ensure Australians have reliable affordable power, in particular having dispatchable baseload power ... We will take an all-of-the-above approach: now, it could be coal, it could be gas, it could be renewables with storage, or it could be a combination of both [that the government supports]. But we are determined to ensure in this brave new world we don’t leave it to chance, we can’t afford to go forward without dispatchable baseload power.
Now to Gonski 2.0. The school funding bill for the 2018 school year will hit the Senate today, with no definitive signal yet from either the Greens or the crossbenchers on whether they will support. Those two paths are the only way to get the bill passed, after Labor ruled out needs-based funding on the basis that the dollar amount was not as high as they would like.
Di Natale has just spoken to Fran Kelly about the phone hook up with the national council. Their message:
They want us to put kids before politics.
The Greens want a fast-tracking of funding, higher funding, an independent funding body, states forced to keep their funding in schools and the NT package.
It is true the government has gone back to the drawing board and they have shifted a long way, a long way ...
If we get the architecture right and then we are satisfied that we’ve got some serious funding going into the model, then of course we would be prepared to support it. The government still has some way to go on that.
Di Natale put the prospect, commonly used, that if the funding architecture for a needs-based consistent funding formula is in place, Labor can ramp up the funding.
If we get the architecture right, the good news is that if Labor is elected we can work together to put more money into the system and know that it goes to the neediest public school.
Di Natale said he was working very closely with the Australian Education Union, which represents 170,000 teachers and educators. He says he was not aware of reports that AEU reps were threatening to campaign against South Australian Greens if they help pass Gonski 2.0.
We are satisfied that if we address those issues ... that it would be very difficult for anyone who has the best interests of children in this debate to do anything other than support a model that makes sure kids in our neediest public schools get the support they deserve.
He says he was “staggered” Labor would take decision not to support a bill that increased funding and improved the model.
I’m staggered that the Labor party have decided that they would rather campaign on education, make it a political issue, rather than take the opportunity to address the flawed funding model they put in place. What the education union will do is ultimately a question for them.
Di Natale said he would not support any delays for the Catholic system for a review – something favoured by WA Liberal Chris Back – as the problem with Labor model is it was not sector blind. It had carve outs for the Catholic system, he said.
Apologies for the War and Peace post, talk to me on the thread, in the Twits @gabriellechan or Facebook.
Updated
at 11.25pm BST