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| Stuart Robert dismisses accusations over businesses dealings – politics live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 7.29am BST | |
| 07:29 | |
| We are approaching the pointy end of the media reform debate, with various players attempting to wedge Nick Xenophon on the One Nation deal. | |
| The Greens are planning an amendment, which they believe they have Labor’s support for, along with a couple of other crossbenchers, which would basically seek to make Pauline Hanson’s proposed ABC plans disallowable. | |
| How that would work in the real world is one thing. How it works politically, is another. It’s basically an opportunity to force Xenophon into acting on One Nation’s deal. | |
| Debate on the reforms has just restarted. | |
| Updated | |
| at 7.47am BST | |
| 6.51am BST | 6.51am BST |
| 06:51 | 06:51 |
| Stuart Robert says his business dealings are in order | Stuart Robert says his business dealings are in order |
| Stuart Robert was on his feet the moment question time ended, to respond to recent stories about his business dealings, after Fairfax Media raised questions over whether companies he was linked with had benefited from the commonwealth when he was first elected. | |
| Fairfax also alleges that my father was not running our family company when the directors changed, that I was, even though the trust wasn’t doing very much. I will seek to table the copies sourced from our chartered accountant of annual trust resolutions signed by the directors, my parents, for multiple years during this period. | Fairfax also alleges that my father was not running our family company when the directors changed, that I was, even though the trust wasn’t doing very much. I will seek to table the copies sourced from our chartered accountant of annual trust resolutions signed by the directors, my parents, for multiple years during this period. |
| My father is a sophisticated investor and even today runs a very successful business. Fairfax names him at 80 years of age of which his age is irrelevant unless Fairfax is trying to make an ageist point about competence. All of this is based on a single call last night by a Fairfax journalist asking opaque questions to my father who is currently caring for mum, who was just discharged from hospital after her second heart attack. | |
| Here, Robert became choked up and almost cried before tabling the trust resolutions which he said “shows the Fairfax articles are a complete load of rubbish as is the member for Fenner’s political motivated letter to ASIC based on the same rubbish.” | Here, Robert became choked up and almost cried before tabling the trust resolutions which he said “shows the Fairfax articles are a complete load of rubbish as is the member for Fenner’s political motivated letter to ASIC based on the same rubbish.” |
| Latika Bourke reported today that Robert’s father “was unaware he was a director of a private investment company that held shares in his son’s IT service business which has won tens of millions of dollars worth of government contracts” and when approached for comment, “did not respond to the specific questions and accused Fairfax Media of lying about having spoken to his father. He also said he was ceasing all communications.” | Latika Bourke reported today that Robert’s father “was unaware he was a director of a private investment company that held shares in his son’s IT service business which has won tens of millions of dollars worth of government contracts” and when approached for comment, “did not respond to the specific questions and accused Fairfax Media of lying about having spoken to his father. He also said he was ceasing all communications.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.41am BST | |
| 6.36am BST | 6.36am BST |
| 06:36 | 06:36 |
| In Senate question time Labor’s Anthony Chisholm has targeted Senator Barry O’Sullivan, asking if he has inappropriately offered a comment on the Toowoomba second range crossing during a regional and rural affairs transport committee, despite allegations he has a commercial interest in the project.Attorney general, George Brandis, said: | In Senate question time Labor’s Anthony Chisholm has targeted Senator Barry O’Sullivan, asking if he has inappropriately offered a comment on the Toowoomba second range crossing during a regional and rural affairs transport committee, despite allegations he has a commercial interest in the project.Attorney general, George Brandis, said: |
| “That question is so stupid even by your very low standards. Senator O’Sullivan lives in Toowoomba ... This government is very proud to have funded the Toowoomba second range crossing.” | “That question is so stupid even by your very low standards. Senator O’Sullivan lives in Toowoomba ... This government is very proud to have funded the Toowoomba second range crossing.” |
| O’Sullivan rises to table a transcript of a speech and evidentiary documents that he said “will put this to bed”. Labor refuses to give him leave, suggesting he can say his piece after question time, and then asks if he has a conflict of interest. | O’Sullivan rises to table a transcript of a speech and evidentiary documents that he said “will put this to bed”. Labor refuses to give him leave, suggesting he can say his piece after question time, and then asks if he has a conflict of interest. |
| Brandis: | Brandis: |
| “I have seen no evidence senator O’Sullivan has a conflict of interest, I don’t believe he has a conflict of interest. If Labor hadn’t denied him leave, we wouldn’t be having this question. Senator O’Sullivan would’ve had the opportunity to respond to the innuendoes and show them to be utterly false and unworthy.” | “I have seen no evidence senator O’Sullivan has a conflict of interest, I don’t believe he has a conflict of interest. If Labor hadn’t denied him leave, we wouldn’t be having this question. Senator O’Sullivan would’ve had the opportunity to respond to the innuendoes and show them to be utterly false and unworthy.” |
| After question time, O’Sullivan said a statement by Labor senators in the Senate on 11 September that he has an interest in Newlands Civil Construction Pty Ltd “is materially incorrect,” nor has he ever had “an interest in or control of” that company. | After question time, O’Sullivan said a statement by Labor senators in the Senate on 11 September that he has an interest in Newlands Civil Construction Pty Ltd “is materially incorrect,” nor has he ever had “an interest in or control of” that company. |
| O’Sullivan: | O’Sullivan: |
| “I’ve not now nor have I ever had a contract or an interest in a contract with the public service of the Commonwealth of Australia, either directly or indirectly. Nor have I had a share in a company that has a share in another company, even through multiple structural relationships, where those others have had a contract with the public service of Australia. | “I’ve not now nor have I ever had a contract or an interest in a contract with the public service of the Commonwealth of Australia, either directly or indirectly. Nor have I had a share in a company that has a share in another company, even through multiple structural relationships, where those others have had a contract with the public service of Australia. |
| “I’ve never been the managing director of Newlands or its predecessor, Town and Country Interests Pty Ltd. I’ve never been a member of either of their boards. When it is asserted a shareholder or director or managing director – those claims are absolutely false.” | “I’ve never been the managing director of Newlands or its predecessor, Town and Country Interests Pty Ltd. I’ve never been a member of either of their boards. When it is asserted a shareholder or director or managing director – those claims are absolutely false.” |
| Labor was not satisfied: | Labor was not satisfied: |
| Section 44 test: has O'Sullivan got interest in ANY contract with Cth? He does: Cth-Qld road contract. Besides, it's ok he makes $ from Cth? | Section 44 test: has O'Sullivan got interest in ANY contract with Cth? He does: Cth-Qld road contract. Besides, it's ok he makes $ from Cth? |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.11am BST | at 7.11am BST |
| 6.30am BST | 6.30am BST |
| 06:30 | 06:30 |
| Malcom Turnbull ends question time on a dixer about Australian values and the welfare reforms, which he repeats, are an act of love. | Malcom Turnbull ends question time on a dixer about Australian values and the welfare reforms, which he repeats, are an act of love. |
| Australia is the most successful multicultural society in the world. On Australia Day, which we defend, which we defend, we begin those celebrations with an acknowledgment of country, a welcome to country. | Australia is the most successful multicultural society in the world. On Australia Day, which we defend, which we defend, we begin those celebrations with an acknowledgment of country, a welcome to country. |
| A recognition of the 65,000 years during which our first Australians cared for this country. And we end with a citizenship ceremony, with our newest Australians. A baby perhaps in the arms of her migrant mother. And through all of that, all of that which Labor so derides, listen to them, they deride the values that Australians share. Australians love this country. | A recognition of the 65,000 years during which our first Australians cared for this country. And we end with a citizenship ceremony, with our newest Australians. A baby perhaps in the arms of her migrant mother. And through all of that, all of that which Labor so derides, listen to them, they deride the values that Australians share. Australians love this country. |
| They love Australia Day. They love the values it embodies. And at the heart of those values, Mr Speaker, democracy, freedom, the rule of law, mutual respect, mutual respect and mutual obligation. | They love Australia Day. They love the values it embodies. And at the heart of those values, Mr Speaker, democracy, freedom, the rule of law, mutual respect, mutual respect and mutual obligation. |
| Now we on our side, Mr Speaker, we believe that welfare money should not be spent on drugs and booze. We believe that welfare money should not be spent on drugs and booze, but those opposite have no problem with it being spent on drugs and booze. They will not support us. How shameful. If they loved those people who on welfare, if they love them, if you love them, what would you do? Would you tell them to get off the drugs, get off the booze? Well, I’d hope so. We’d hope so. But, no, the Labor Party won’t do that. And what about the cashless welfare card? Mr Speaker, I have been with my colleagues, the social services minister, the minister for human services, I’ve been there with the member for O’Connor, I’ve been talking to families whose lives have been wrecked by drugs and alcohol and they call out for us to support and deliver the cashless welfare card. | Now we on our side, Mr Speaker, we believe that welfare money should not be spent on drugs and booze. We believe that welfare money should not be spent on drugs and booze, but those opposite have no problem with it being spent on drugs and booze. They will not support us. How shameful. If they loved those people who on welfare, if they love them, if you love them, what would you do? Would you tell them to get off the drugs, get off the booze? Well, I’d hope so. We’d hope so. But, no, the Labor Party won’t do that. And what about the cashless welfare card? Mr Speaker, I have been with my colleagues, the social services minister, the minister for human services, I’ve been there with the member for O’Connor, I’ve been talking to families whose lives have been wrecked by drugs and alcohol and they call out for us to support and deliver the cashless welfare card. |
| And I will never forget the mother, the grandmother in Kalgoorlie who said to me those who criticise the cashless welfare card should look into the eyes of a child with foetal alcohol syndrome. They should look at that child. | And I will never forget the mother, the grandmother in Kalgoorlie who said to me those who criticise the cashless welfare card should look into the eyes of a child with foetal alcohol syndrome. They should look at that child. |
| And I tell you, Mr Speaker, when we do, we do so with love. We do so with love and a compassion and the Australian values of helping our mate, looking after each other, standing up for Australia, standing up for Australians. | And I tell you, Mr Speaker, when we do, we do so with love. We do so with love and a compassion and the Australian values of helping our mate, looking after each other, standing up for Australia, standing up for Australians. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.57am BST | at 6.57am BST |
| 6.24am BST | 6.24am BST |
| 06:24 | 06:24 |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.33am BST | at 6.33am BST |
| 6.19am BST | 6.19am BST |
| 06:19 | 06:19 |
| Bill Shorten’s “what is the point of the coup” question again: | Bill Shorten’s “what is the point of the coup” question again: |
| Can the prime minister confirm he promised Australians economic leadership but has delivered flat wages growth, falling living standards and higher power prices? He promised intelligent debate but delivers two-world slogans instead of three-word. He promised a national style of leadership but has sold out the national interest for self-interest. Prime Minister, after two years of failure and disappointment, what’s really changed? How are you any better than the member for Warringah? | Can the prime minister confirm he promised Australians economic leadership but has delivered flat wages growth, falling living standards and higher power prices? He promised intelligent debate but delivers two-world slogans instead of three-word. He promised a national style of leadership but has sold out the national interest for self-interest. Prime Minister, after two years of failure and disappointment, what’s really changed? How are you any better than the member for Warringah? |
| Malcolm Turnbull is happy to answer on a day when the unemployment rate has been held steady at 5.6%. | Malcolm Turnbull is happy to answer on a day when the unemployment rate has been held steady at 5.6%. |
| What an extraordinary, what extraordinary, impeccable timing? When you put these things in your diary, when you say, you know, on 14 September remember to ask the prime minister a snarky question, you have to be able to review it and check what’s happened that morning? Check the facts. | What an extraordinary, what extraordinary, impeccable timing? When you put these things in your diary, when you say, you know, on 14 September remember to ask the prime minister a snarky question, you have to be able to review it and check what’s happened that morning? Check the facts. |
| What we’ve seen in term less of economic growth, we have seen GDP growing by 0.8%, in the last quarter, it’s grown by 1.8% through the year. Our economic plan is working. Businesses are investing. New private business investment is growing in the last quarter by 1.1%to be 1.5% higher than a year ago. | What we’ve seen in term less of economic growth, we have seen GDP growing by 0.8%, in the last quarter, it’s grown by 1.8% through the year. Our economic plan is working. Businesses are investing. New private business investment is growing in the last quarter by 1.1%to be 1.5% higher than a year ago. |
| We all know we inherited an economy which had seen mining investment scaled down. That’s as it was always going to. And the concern was how could we get the rest of the economy to invest? What did we do? We did what the leader of the opposition said we should when he was in government, cutting business taxes. We did that. We caught business taxes for companies that employ nearly half all the Australian workforce. What does that do? It does exactly what he said it would do before he did his double backflip. It provides more investment and hence more jobs. That’s why we’re seeing more jobs. So as I said, jobs and growth is not a slogan, it’s not a slogan. It is an outcome. Jobs and growth.” | We all know we inherited an economy which had seen mining investment scaled down. That’s as it was always going to. And the concern was how could we get the rest of the economy to invest? What did we do? We did what the leader of the opposition said we should when he was in government, cutting business taxes. We did that. We caught business taxes for companies that employ nearly half all the Australian workforce. What does that do? It does exactly what he said it would do before he did his double backflip. It provides more investment and hence more jobs. That’s why we’re seeing more jobs. So as I said, jobs and growth is not a slogan, it’s not a slogan. It is an outcome. Jobs and growth.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.29am BST | at 6.29am BST |
| 6.14am BST | 6.14am BST |
| 06:14 | 06:14 |
| Jason Clare attempts the Matt Canavan and gas trigger question from earlier in the week again: | Jason Clare attempts the Matt Canavan and gas trigger question from earlier in the week again: |
| Australian businesses are still being offered gas contracts that are double or triple the price of their expiring contracts. The gas trigger must be pulled by 1 November. Given the high court may not decide if Senator Canavan or the deputy prime minister are even qualified to be members of parliament by then, why won’t the prime minister his deputy aside and put someone else in the job that can pull the trigger now? | Australian businesses are still being offered gas contracts that are double or triple the price of their expiring contracts. The gas trigger must be pulled by 1 November. Given the high court may not decide if Senator Canavan or the deputy prime minister are even qualified to be members of parliament by then, why won’t the prime minister his deputy aside and put someone else in the job that can pull the trigger now? |
| Malcolm Turnbull gives almost the same answer: | Malcolm Turnbull gives almost the same answer: |
| For the assistance of the member for Blaxland, I will just repeat what I said earlier in the week. The domestic gas mechanism would have the effect of restricting exports to the extent necessary to ensure the domestic market is fully supplied, comes in to operation on 1 January. | For the assistance of the member for Blaxland, I will just repeat what I said earlier in the week. The domestic gas mechanism would have the effect of restricting exports to the extent necessary to ensure the domestic market is fully supplied, comes in to operation on 1 January. |
| The minister has a decision to make about that,about the extent of the restriction on exports to be made, which obviously is based on a lot of industry and expert advice, which is being, which is being received, as I described earlier in the week, we’re already seeing substantial amounts of gas coming into the domestic market, so there is, it is, in a sense, a very rapidly changing environment, so as long as decision is is taken before ... before 1 January, it doesn’t matter when the decision is taken. | The minister has a decision to make about that,about the extent of the restriction on exports to be made, which obviously is based on a lot of industry and expert advice, which is being, which is being received, as I described earlier in the week, we’re already seeing substantial amounts of gas coming into the domestic market, so there is, it is, in a sense, a very rapidly changing environment, so as long as decision is is taken before ... before 1 January, it doesn’t matter when the decision is taken. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.27am BST | at 6.27am BST |
| 6.09am BST | 6.09am BST |
| 06:09 | 06:09 |
| Just heading back to Peter Dutton’s answer, he takes aim at his shadow counterpart, Shayne Neumann with this: | Just heading back to Peter Dutton’s answer, he takes aim at his shadow counterpart, Shayne Neumann with this: |
| It is impossible to get an alternative approach from what is known as the shadow minister for border protection. He sits nervously on a glass of water right now. I don’t normally get into question time until 2:00. But I presume that the sedation of the member for Blair takes place just before he comes into parliament or just after. He’s wheeled in on a fridge trolley as I understand. Three or four times in question time they take a pulse from the member for Blair to see whether he is still alive.” | It is impossible to get an alternative approach from what is known as the shadow minister for border protection. He sits nervously on a glass of water right now. I don’t normally get into question time until 2:00. But I presume that the sedation of the member for Blair takes place just before he comes into parliament or just after. He’s wheeled in on a fridge trolley as I understand. Three or four times in question time they take a pulse from the member for Blair to see whether he is still alive.” |
| Anthony Albanese asks him to withdraw as a “reflection on members that crossed the line”. | Anthony Albanese asks him to withdraw as a “reflection on members that crossed the line”. |
| On a side note, the bright yellow R U OK Day badges on most MPs lapels are a lovely touch today. | On a side note, the bright yellow R U OK Day badges on most MPs lapels are a lovely touch today. |
| Today is @ruokday. Four letters, a practical question that says 'I care'. Check in with your mates, a conversation could save a life #RUOK pic.twitter.com/fvhCJ4S5Q9 | Today is @ruokday. Four letters, a practical question that says 'I care'. Check in with your mates, a conversation could save a life #RUOK pic.twitter.com/fvhCJ4S5Q9 |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.14am BST | at 6.14am BST |
| 6.03am BST | 6.03am BST |
| 06:03 | 06:03 |
| Looks like most MPs heeded the call to attend Malcolm Turnbull’s pre-question time briefing. | Looks like most MPs heeded the call to attend Malcolm Turnbull’s pre-question time briefing. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.14am BST | at 6.14am BST |
| 5.58am BST | 5.58am BST |
| 05:58 | 05:58 |
| Ian Goodenough has been handed a dixer for Peter Dutton: will the minister for immigration and border protection update the house on the important of protecting the Australian community from dangerous non-citizens? What action has the government taken and is the minister aware of any other approaches? | Ian Goodenough has been handed a dixer for Peter Dutton: will the minister for immigration and border protection update the house on the important of protecting the Australian community from dangerous non-citizens? What action has the government taken and is the minister aware of any other approaches? |
| Which proves just too tempting for Labor’s Tony Burke: | Which proves just too tempting for Labor’s Tony Burke: |
| Mr Speaker, reflections on the deputy prime minister should be a direct motion. There should be a motion on the notice paper. | Mr Speaker, reflections on the deputy prime minister should be a direct motion. There should be a motion on the notice paper. |
| He is warned. | He is warned. |
| Dutton decides the best way to handle that joke is remind everyone about leadership coups. | Dutton decides the best way to handle that joke is remind everyone about leadership coups. |
| I’m not sure how many days but I congratulate the leader of the opposition on the anniversary of having knived two former Prime Ministers, Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd. | I’m not sure how many days but I congratulate the leader of the opposition on the anniversary of having knived two former Prime Ministers, Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd. |
| There must be some celebration upcoming for the Leader of the Opposition, some sort of anniversary for him. I note particular interest from the member for Grayndler. | There must be some celebration upcoming for the Leader of the Opposition, some sort of anniversary for him. I note particular interest from the member for Grayndler. |
| As for the question that was asked: “We have had now 219 visas for armed robbers cancelled, 221 for theft, break and enter, 550 for assault, 54 for murder, 21 for manslaughter. 114 rapists and other sexual offenders.” | As for the question that was asked: “We have had now 219 visas for armed robbers cancelled, 221 for theft, break and enter, 550 for assault, 54 for murder, 21 for manslaughter. 114 rapists and other sexual offenders.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.13am BST | at 6.13am BST |