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Version 14 Version 15
Nick Xenophon says media reform deal 'won't be happening today' – politics live Nick Xenophon says media reform deal 'won't be happening today' – politics live
(35 minutes later)
7.51am BST
07:51
Katharine Murphy reports:
7.49am BST
07:49
The monthly jobs figures were out today. Cash made these points in her statement.
Today’s figures show:
Total employment rose by 27,900 in July to a record high, of 12,201,400;
In the past 12 months, 239,300 new jobs have been created, three times as many than Labor’s last year in government. Of those, 197,700 were full-time;
In the last seven months, full-time employment has increased by 153,200 – the largest increase in full-time employment over the first seven months of a calendar year since 2008;
Female employment has increased by 124,600 over the past 12 months, to a record high of 5,677,100;
Youth unemployment has fallen 0.4 percentage points over the past 12 months
The unemployment rate was 5.6%, down from last month’s revised figure of 5.7%. The annual rate of employment growth of 2% is well above the decade average rate of 1.6%.
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7.38am BST
07:38
A sharp-eyed reader has reminded me I did not bring the final vote on Labor’s suspension of standing orders against Barnaby Joyce.
The vote was lost 72-62.
Andrew Wilkie, Cathy McGowan and Rebekha Sharkie abstained. Bob Katter also didn’t vote but I am pretty sure he was not in the House. He doesn’t make it to a fair few votes. Only the three aforementioned crossbenchers were watching from the bleachers.
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07:34
The Australian Conservatives senator Cory Bernardi has again repeated his call for Malcolm Turnbull to prorogue parliament to sort out the citizenship issue. That would involve suspending parliament until the high court rules and any byelections can be held.
Bernardi tells David Speers of Sky that he has been told by staff members of members of parliament that their bosses are ineligible to sit in parliament and yet those same bosses have stood in parliament claiming to be eligible.
It is quite the accusation.
The only way this day can get weirder is if Malcolm Turnbull comes out to prorogue the parliament.
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7.30am BST
07:30
Labor’s Joel Fitzgibbon’s federal court case to get to see the Coalition agreement between the Nationals and the Liberals has been held over. No decision today.
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7.28am BST
07:28
Penny Wong has put out a statement to thank George Brandis.
On behalf of all Labor senators, and of all fair-minded Australians, I thank the leader of the government in the Senate, Senator George Brandis, for his words today.
The sort of bigotry and divisiveness we saw displayed by Senator Hanson today has no place in our society. It certainly has no place in our parliament.
Today our parliament showed leadership when it was needed.
It is one thing to wear religious dress as an act of faith. It is another to wear it as a stunt. That can only give offence and divide.
Nobody needs to defend Senator Hanson’s right to speak. The people that need defending are the people she attacks.
Leaders have an obligation to stand up for the people in Australia who do not have a voice and today the parliament did so.
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at 7.40am BST
7.20am BST7.20am BST
07:2007:20
Employment minister Michaelia Cash held a press conference 10 minutes ago and Gareth Hutchens and a few other journos asked why government members did not join the standing ovation by the Greens, Labor and Nick Xenophon. The employment minister, Michaelia Cash, held a press conference 10 minutes ago and Gareth Hutchens and a few other journos asked why government members did not join the standing ovation by the Greens, Labor and Nick Xenophon.
Cash gave three versions of this answer:Cash gave three versions of this answer:
I believe the attorney general has made the position of the government clear, and that is all of us should treat each other with respect. I believe the attorney general has made the position of the government clear and that is all of us should treat each other with respect.
Then she walked out.Then she walked out.
UpdatedUpdated
at 7.27am BST at 7.40am BST
7.10am BST7.10am BST
07:1007:10
Derryn Hinch tells David Speers that Pauline Hanson’s stunt was disgusting and he said he was speaking as an atheist.Derryn Hinch tells David Speers that Pauline Hanson’s stunt was disgusting and he said he was speaking as an atheist.
Hinch does not think she should have been allowed in as a matter of respect but he thought president Stephen Parry was caught off guard like everyone else.Hinch does not think she should have been allowed in as a matter of respect but he thought president Stephen Parry was caught off guard like everyone else.
I found it insulting and I am thrilled that so many people stood (for George Brandis).I found it insulting and I am thrilled that so many people stood (for George Brandis).
Hinch says this was not a version of the Tasmanian Liberal MP Bruce Goodluck, who dressed in a chicken suit for a dare.Hinch says this was not a version of the Tasmanian Liberal MP Bruce Goodluck, who dressed in a chicken suit for a dare.
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at 7.16am BSTat 7.16am BST
6.55am BST6.55am BST
06:5506:55
Pauline Hanson told @JohnSafran last year she would "never wear a burqa". pic.twitter.com/9NV2Ke9tRePauline Hanson told @JohnSafran last year she would "never wear a burqa". pic.twitter.com/9NV2Ke9tRe
6.53am BST6.53am BST
06:5306:53
Once again, Matt Hatter nails the political point of the story of the day.Once again, Matt Hatter nails the political point of the story of the day.
@gabriellechan Senator Hansen draws attention to the evils of Freeway Construction. pic.twitter.com/LZAcLNXNfV@gabriellechan Senator Hansen draws attention to the evils of Freeway Construction. pic.twitter.com/LZAcLNXNfV
6.52am BST6.52am BST
06:5206:52
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6.50am BST
06:50
Updated
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6.45am BST
06:45
At the same time, the inquiry into the postal ballot has started.
ABS says it was only told it would be managing a postal ballot on SSM on August 7. Ten days ago.
6.39am BST
06:39
Nick Xenophon says no deal on media reforms as yet
It keeps spinning here. Nick Xen:
We are extending an offer to the government and that we will continue to talk to them
He says they were hopeful of announcing some agreement today but that is not possible.
He wants tax breaks for public interest journalism for smaller outfits earning up to $25m.
6.35am BST
06:35
Now Pauline Hanson is on 2GB speaking about her stunt.
Isn’t it a shame that there are Muslim women forced to wear this?
6.32am BST
06:32
George Brandis was just brilliant in the chamber. Just brilliant. Strongest I have ever heard him.
6.31am BST
06:31
Pauline Hanson asked two other supplementary questions of George Brandis which he completed shut down.
This was the first one: Is the attorney general aware that the burqa is not a religious requirement at all? My question is – will the attorney general then ban the burqa in this house for, in future, as a security risk and also the fact is the people of Australia have the right to see the face of a person they elect to this parliament and they are the person who is going to be making decisions in the parliament on their behalf?
(I think what she was trying to say was, will you ban the burqa for members and visitors).
At that point, the president, Stephen Parry, stepped in.
It is in the purview of the presiding officers, not the attorney general, to the purview of security in the Parliament House. We have determined if anyone enters the building with their face covered is clearly identified prior to entering the building. And I ascertained when you entered dressed as you were, I identified who you were. Attorney general, do you have comment you wish to make?
Brandis said no.
Then Hanson asked: If a person who wears a balaclava or a helmet into a bank or any other building or even on the floor of the court, they must be removed. Why is it not the same case for someone who is covering up their face and cannot be identified? Will the government make changes to these laws?
Brandis said no.
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6.24am BST
06:24
I just want to bring you more detail of the burqa exchange.
When I reported that Penny Wong congratulated Brandis, she tried to make a short statement but Senator Hanson refused her permission. So she took a point of order to make the point anyway.
Wong:
My point of order is this, if I had the opportunity, I would move to congratulate the leader [George Brandis] for that statement. And all of us on this side of the chamber, there is one thing to wear religious dress as an act of faith and it is another to wear it as a stunt.
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6.20am BST
06:20
Lower house is voting now on the suspension of standing orders regarding Barnaby Joyce.
6.19am BST
06:19
By George!
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6.17am BST
06:17
It was a shame George Brandis did not get a standing ovation from his own side. I suspect they were frozen, thinking through the strategic value or not of standing. Perhaps if a senior Coalition senator had sprang to their feet, the rest would have followed.