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Julie Bishop questions Penny Wong's fitness for office – politics live Julie Bishop questions Penny Wong's fitness for office – politics live
(35 minutes later)
2.37am BST
02:37
An update on housekeeping.
After this morning’s flurry in the Senate, the media reforms have slipped down the order of government business. A cynic might suggest the suspension of standing orders against Penny Wong may have been an exercise to buy time for furious negotiations on the media bill. At this rate, the Senate will not get to it today, given there are a few bills in front of it.
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2.23am BST
02:23
Actor Sam Neill passes on a note from his neighbours.
A note from small neighbours Ann & Zac to @JulieBishopMP& @TurnbullMalcolm @AllBlacks @InsidersABC @jacindaardern Barnaby Joyce New Zealand pic.twitter.com/9UEKhJKZu0
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at 2.29am BST
2.21am BST
02:21
Not that we want to be starting anything ... given there’s too much of everything
Katharine Murphy
I’ve been making calls this morning about the media reform package, given it is now obvious the government is inching towards a conclusion of sorts.
Let’s consider the current state of play.
One Nation and the government have come to terms. Nick Xenophon has signalled he’s not up for One Nation and the government’s terms.
The Greens have signalled a willingness to negotiate as well. Under the former communications spokesman Scott Ludlam, in my view there is no way the Greens would have supported a package removing the two-out-of-three rule, because removing the two-out-of-three rule makes the Australian media market more concentrated in terms of ownership.
But under the new communications portfolio holder, Sarah Hanson-Young, the starting position has become more flexible. The Greens are also concerned about the risk that the media-reform package could become an attack on the public broadcasters if the debate is left to One Nation and the government.
But bearing in mind this is a week in which the Greens have traded public blows with one another on a major current affairs program, I thought it prudent to try and discover whether everyone in the Greens is flexible about talking to the government on media reform.
I started with the obvious person you would start with, given the events of recent times – the NSW Greens senator Lee Rhiannon. I asked her this morning whether she thought it was OK to negotiate with the government on media reform. She replied: “No comment.” When I pressed her to expand on “no comment”, she told me her only comment was “no comment”.
I understand there is internal debate within the Greens about the merits of dealing with the government on this media package, both because of the risks of further concentration in the Australian media market (which various studies suggest is one of the most concentrated, in terms of ownership, in the developed world), and because of a basic political calculation: why throw a lifeline to a struggling Coalition government?
Hard to say how this story ends. It’s going to be interesting to watch how this story comes together.
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at 2.27am BST
2.13am BST2.13am BST
02:1302:13
Coalition closes loophole which allowed teens to vote on marriageCoalition closes loophole which allowed teens to vote on marriage
Paul KarpPaul Karp
Acting special minister of state, Mathias Cormann, has released a statement announcing he has issued a direction to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, closing a reported loophole that could have allowed 16 and 17 year olds to vote in the same-sex marriage postal survey. Acting special minister of state, Mathias Cormann, has released a statement announcing he has issued a direction to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, closing a reported loophole that could have allowed 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in the same-sex marriage postal survey.
According to the Australian Electoral Commission, 16 and 17 year olds would never have been able to vote: According to the Australian Electoral Commission, 16- and 17-year-olds would never have been able to vote:
The normal enrolment processes apply – 16 and 17 year olds are not added to the Commonwealth electoral roll until they turn 18. They are ‘provisionally’ enrolled until they turn 18. Under section 90B of the Commonwealth Electoral Act the AEC only provided the details of electors that are enrolled, not provisionally enrolled. Section 90B is the AEC’s authority to provide the roll to the ABS, therefore 16 and 17 year olds will not be included in the Australia Marriage Law Postal Survey.” The normal enrolment processes apply – 16- and 17-year-olds are not added to the commonwealth electoral roll until they turn 18. They are ‘provisionally’ enrolled until they turn 18. Under section 90B of the Commonwealth Electoral Act the AEC only provided the details of electors that are enrolled, not provisionally enrolled. Section 90B is the AEC’s authority to provide the roll to the ABS, therefore 16- and 17-year-olds will not be included in the Australia Marriage Law Postal Survey.”
But now Cormann has put it beyond doubt, announcing he has issued a direction “to make the intention absolutely clear” that only Australians who are 18 years or older on 24 August, 2017 be allowed to vote.But now Cormann has put it beyond doubt, announcing he has issued a direction “to make the intention absolutely clear” that only Australians who are 18 years or older on 24 August, 2017 be allowed to vote.
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2.10am BST2.10am BST
02:1002:10
Cory Bernardi on foreign conspiracies: no one here is without sinCory Bernardi on foreign conspiracies: no one here is without sin
Senator Cory Bernardi is always an interesting character to watch because he does not always jump the way you think he might.Senator Cory Bernardi is always an interesting character to watch because he does not always jump the way you think he might.
He voted against the government’s suspension of standing orders on the Penny Wong censure, accusing the Coalition of over reach on the foreign conspiracy theory. He explained why to Sky: He voted against the government’s suspension of standing orders on the Penny Wong censure, accusing the Coalition of overreach on the foreign conspiracy theory. He explained why to Sky:
Getting factual knowledge is what politics and politicians are all about. They will exploit that for their own base political purposes. I know myself the prime minister and others in the government contacted someone in the Tory party when I was flying over there to speak at a conference because they didn’t want me to speak. Getting factual knowledge is what politics and politicians are all about. They will exploit that for their own base political purposes. I know myself the prime minister and others in the government contacted someone in the Tory party when I was flying over there [the UK] to speak at a conference because they didn’t want me to speak.
No one here is without sin and they would all exploit the same opportunity and the fact is if the journalists knew about it, the Labor party knew about it, how did the government not know about it? That’s the real question or were they trying to cover something up. No one here is without sin and they would all exploit the same opportunity, and the fact is if the journalists knew about it, the Labor party knew about it, how did the government not know about it? That’s the real question, or were they trying to cover something up?
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at 2.15am BST
1.41am BST1.41am BST
01:4101:41
Barnaby: I'm terribly humbled and I love youse allBarnaby: I'm terribly humbled and I love youse all
From Tamworth to Tenterfield, my office has been inundated with people offering their support. Thanks New England. #auspol pic.twitter.com/gfYjwmdoVBFrom Tamworth to Tenterfield, my office has been inundated with people offering their support. Thanks New England. #auspol pic.twitter.com/gfYjwmdoVB
1.39am BST1.39am BST
01:3901:39
Meanwhile in the diplomatic sphere...Meanwhile in the diplomatic sphere...
1.32am BST1.32am BST
01:3201:32
As much as it pains me, I have to turn to Malcolm Roberts and the logic trail, which is about as easy to follow as the scent of a mad hare.As much as it pains me, I have to turn to Malcolm Roberts and the logic trail, which is about as easy to follow as the scent of a mad hare.
He has been arguing in support of One Nation’s proposed media amendments which seek to cut bits off the ABC and feed it to our good Aunty.He has been arguing in support of One Nation’s proposed media amendments which seek to cut bits off the ABC and feed it to our good Aunty.
Roberts says the media reforms have been a journey for him because he started this tour thinking Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp was the “one with the power”.Roberts says the media reforms have been a journey for him because he started this tour thinking Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp was the “one with the power”.
He has since learned that “Google and Facebook” and other interweb channels are making inroads into the mejia.He has since learned that “Google and Facebook” and other interweb channels are making inroads into the mejia.
And that’s hurting ... some of the commercial media outlets. And what we’re seeing is that Guardian, Fairfax, are plummeting in circulation, plummeting in their influence, because the public is waking up.And that’s hurting ... some of the commercial media outlets. And what we’re seeing is that Guardian, Fairfax, are plummeting in circulation, plummeting in their influence, because the public is waking up.
(It is immodest to say but Guardian only started in Oz in 2013 and is in the top six news rankings by Neilsen:-P)(It is immodest to say but Guardian only started in Oz in 2013 and is in the top six news rankings by Neilsen:-P)
Anyway, sans facts, Roberts pushes on in his quasi-empirical fashion, suggesting the public is waking up to the likes of Fairfax and the Guardian. He says luckily we have audience numbers (yes we do) and that tells you all you need to know about why that Rupert Murdoch is totally savvy and smashing it out of the park.Anyway, sans facts, Roberts pushes on in his quasi-empirical fashion, suggesting the public is waking up to the likes of Fairfax and the Guardian. He says luckily we have audience numbers (yes we do) and that tells you all you need to know about why that Rupert Murdoch is totally savvy and smashing it out of the park.
There follows this fabulous exchange with Michael Rowland of the ABC.There follows this fabulous exchange with Michael Rowland of the ABC.
Roberts:Roberts:
[Murdoch]’s got outstanding newspapers, he’s got tabloids and what he does is he goes to the audience. And so Murdoch’s papers are more balanced than the ABC, more balanced than Fairfax and the Guardian, and that shows in his circulation. So what we’ve got now is a market that’s opening up to the customer and the customer deciding where he or she will put their money and their eyeballs ...[Murdoch]’s got outstanding newspapers, he’s got tabloids and what he does is he goes to the audience. And so Murdoch’s papers are more balanced than the ABC, more balanced than Fairfax and the Guardian, and that shows in his circulation. So what we’ve got now is a market that’s opening up to the customer and the customer deciding where he or she will put their money and their eyeballs ...
Rowland: Excuse the interruption, you’re looking at the News Corp tabloids just this week but certainly, over a period of time, they seem to be running a fairly strong campaign against Labor. How does that stand on your fair and balanced spectrum?Rowland: Excuse the interruption, you’re looking at the News Corp tabloids just this week but certainly, over a period of time, they seem to be running a fairly strong campaign against Labor. How does that stand on your fair and balanced spectrum?
Roberts:Roberts:
Well, you know, the Murdoch press has jumped [sides] over the years. I’ve watched them since I was a boy and that’s clear.Well, you know, the Murdoch press has jumped [sides] over the years. I’ve watched them since I was a boy and that’s clear.
Rowland: But therefore you say they take sides. So how can they be balanced?Rowland: But therefore you say they take sides. So how can they be balanced?
That’s correct. That’s what I said. All the media – privately owned – takes sides.That’s correct. That’s what I said. All the media – privately owned – takes sides.
#that’swhatIsaid #fairandbalanced#that’swhatIsaid #fairandbalanced
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1.14am BST1.14am BST
01:1401:14
The latest on media via Gareth Hutchens:The latest on media via Gareth Hutchens:
1.13am BST1.13am BST
01:1301:13
Coalition loses attempt to censure Penny WongCoalition loses attempt to censure Penny Wong
The vote to suspend standing orders to debate the censure of Penny Wong goes down 29-34.The vote to suspend standing orders to debate the censure of Penny Wong goes down 29-34.
1.12am BST1.12am BST
01:1201:12
While the Senate is voting, a bit of housekeeping. Later today in the Senate, we will have the vulnerable workers bill, which imposes maximum civil penalties on franchisors and holding companies for contraventions of the Fair Work Act.While the Senate is voting, a bit of housekeeping. Later today in the Senate, we will have the vulnerable workers bill, which imposes maximum civil penalties on franchisors and holding companies for contraventions of the Fair Work Act.
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at 1.18am BSTat 1.18am BST
1.06am BST1.06am BST
01:0601:06
Given the numbers, Wong says just call it on the numbers, but the government wants a vote so vote it is.Given the numbers, Wong says just call it on the numbers, but the government wants a vote so vote it is.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.17am BSTat 1.17am BST
1.04am BST1.04am BST
01:0401:04
Nick X, Greens and Labor reject suspension on Wong stafferNick X, Greens and Labor reject suspension on Wong staffer
Nick Xenophon says he does not support the suspension, so along with the Greens and Labor, the Coalition can’t win the suspension.Nick Xenophon says he does not support the suspension, so along with the Greens and Labor, the Coalition can’t win the suspension.
Derryn Hinch says he supports the suspension but it does not mean he would support a censure, given he thought Bishop’s attack yesterday amounted to underarm bowling.Derryn Hinch says he supports the suspension but it does not mean he would support a censure, given he thought Bishop’s attack yesterday amounted to underarm bowling.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.06am BSTat 1.06am BST
1.01am BST1.01am BST
01:0101:01
Labor frontbencher Kim Carr says the censure motion should be against foreign minister Julie Bishop and attorney general George Brandis who has aided and abetted her.Labor frontbencher Kim Carr says the censure motion should be against foreign minister Julie Bishop and attorney general George Brandis who has aided and abetted her.