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Labor's support for Coalition energy policy under microscope – politics live Labor's support for Coalition energy policy under microscope – politics live
(35 minutes later)
1.24am BST
01:24
Labor mourns Holden
Bill Shorten has fired the latest salvo in the ‘Australia First’ wars, using the closure of Holden tomorrow as a rallying cry:
Where are the visionaries now? Turnbull blamed the wages of the workers when Holden made their decision, he’s washed his hands of it, not his problem. Australia is a good manufacturing nation, we’re a great manufacturing nation. I want to congratulate generations of Australian workers and their families who have worked at Holden, who have worked in the auto component industry. They are world-class trades people building a world-class product. This car industry did not need to close. It closed because of the lazy,negligent, disinterest of the right-wing economic rationalists of the Turnbull and Abbott government. They goaded the industry into going. As a result, Australia is poorer tomorrow because of the inaction and neglect of the Turnbull Government. We say to those who still work in Australian manufacturing, Labor’s got your back. We understand, and if we get the privilege to form a government, we will back Australian made and Australian manufacturing. We have announced on the weekend inSouth Australia the creation of anAustralian manufacturing future fund. This will ensure that the finance is available for all the great manufacturing ideas, for all the small and medium businesses who want to back Australian Made. I promised Australia and I promised the Australian manufacturing sector that the three-word slogan you are most going to hear from me if I’m Prime Minister is “made in Australia”.
1.16am BST
01:16
Bill Shorten has just repeated his dab move for school students ahead of a media event at Old Parliament House.
pin this gif pic.twitter.com/UGeqQkAm1D
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As expected, the Medicinal cannabis bill has just passed the Senate
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The Senate is busy debating the Greens motion on medicinal cannabis, which opens up the market for Australian-grown products to be accessed by patients and stops the government from using clauses in import products to stop category A drugs from being prescribed to terminally ill patients.
Labor is in support of this and it looks like most of the crossbench is as well.
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01:03
Ben Doherty
Yesterday it was the proposed welfare drug testing trial which caught the UN’s attention – and not in a good way, as Paul Karp reported
Today:
Australia’s marriage equality postal survey has attracted international criticism overnight, with the UN human rights committee in Geneva telling the government that fundamental rights were not to be judged by a show of hands, or granted by virtue of popular opinion.
Committee member Sarah Cleveland told the Australian delegation of the survey: “human rights are not to be determined by opinion poll or a popular vote”.
Australia’s human rights record is being examined by the committee – indigenous incarceration and asylum policies are expected to be pre-eminent – in Geneva this week, at the same time as the country was elected uncontested to the UN’s powerful human rights council in New York.
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While the government works to stave off a banking royal commission, Scott Morrison has announced the actions it is taking to pull the banking industry into line.
From his statement:
Banking Executive Accountability Regime (BEAR)
The government is bringing greater accountability to our banks, introducing tough new rules for banks and their executives that will keep their behaviour and decision making in check. Under the BEAR, banks and their senior executives and directors will be expected to conduct their business with honesty and integrity, prudence, care and diligence; deal with APRA in an open, constructive and cooperative way; and prevent matters from arising that would adversely affect the bank’s reputation or hurt its customers.
Where these expectations are not met there will be strict consequences.
APRA will be empowered to more easily remove or disqualify executives, dish out substantial fines to banks when they fail to crack down on bad practices, and claw back remuneration from individuals.
Banks will also be required to register individuals with APRA before appointing them as senior executives and directors. And APRA will have new powers to examine witnesses, including during potential investigations of breaches of the BEAR.
Section 66
Legislation is also being introduced to deliver more choice for customers by boosting competition in financial services.
We are lifting the prohibition on the use of the word “bank”, so all banking businesses with an ADI licence will be able to use this term. Currently only ADIs with more than $50 million in capital can call themselves a bank.
Credit cards
The reforms include:
• requiring that affordability assessments be based on a consumer’s ability to repay the credit limit within a reasonable period;
• banning unsolicited offers of credit limit increases;
• simplifying how credit card interest is calculated; and
• requiring credit card providers to have online options to cancel cards or to reduce credit limits.
Crisis Management
APRA will be given clear powers that will enable it to set requirements on resolution planning and ensure banks and insurers are better prepared for a crisis.
APRA will also be provided an expanded set of crisis resolution powers to allow it to act decisively to facilitate the orderly resolution of a distressed bank or insurer.
Macroprudential powers
APRA will be able to make rules where it sees that the activities of non-bank lenders are materially contributing to risks of instability in the Australian financial system.
APRA will also be given the ability to collect data from the non-bank lender sector to determine if and when to use this new power.
Modernising APRA’s legislative framework
The legislation will insert an objects provision into the Banking Act 1959 to make clear APRA’s roles and responsibilities under the Act, aligning it with other acts such as the Life Insurance Act 1995.
This will make clear that APRA can, and will, act to address varying economic circumstances and stresses as they arise across different parts of Australia.
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On issues which were all encompassing but appear to have become less all encompassing, the next round of banking hearings is on tomorrow. On issues which were all-encompassing but appear to have become less all-encompassing, the next round of banking hearings is on tomorrow.
David Coleman said the government’s plan of hauling the banking execs ahead of a parliamentary committee on the semi-regular, rather than a banking royal commission is working.David Coleman said the government’s plan of hauling the banking execs ahead of a parliamentary committee on the semi-regular, rather than a banking royal commission is working.
It’s become less obvious as the RBA stays steady on rates–which has made non-action by the banks, or delayed action by the banks, a little less obvious. It’s become less obvious as the RBA stays steady on rates – which has made non-action by the banks, or delayed action by the banks, a little less obvious.
But Coleman told Sky the banks were still being questioned over ‘pay and go’ fees–where paypass/paywave cards are being routed through the Visa or Mastercard route–which carries fees for retailers and ultimately customers. But Coleman told Sky the banks were still being questioned over “pay and go” fees –where paypass/paywave cards are being routed through the Visa or Mastercard route –which carries fees for retailers and ultimately customers.
So the ATM fee scrapping looks a lot less generous when you consider the drop in the number of people using ATMs and the amount of money being raked in by pay-and-go card habits.So the ATM fee scrapping looks a lot less generous when you consider the drop in the number of people using ATMs and the amount of money being raked in by pay-and-go card habits.
Coleman said the committee was making progress on that.Coleman said the committee was making progress on that.
Labor has maintained a royal commission is the only way to investigate what is happening in the Australian banking industry, but Coleman said the committee was having “ a real substantive effect” Labor has maintained a royal commission is the only way to investigate what is happening in the Australian banking industry, but Coleman said the committee was having “ a real, substantive effect”
“Nine our of our 10 recommendations to the government were adopted, so the things about customers being able to get redress when things go wrong,that has been fixed, that was a real issue, the lack of executive accountability, no senior executives fired for any of the scandals in the banking industry, that has been fixed through the executive accountability regime, the lack of competition, we are changing the rules to make it easier to set up a bank so you can compete with the big 4, all these things are happening. It is good to see moves like ATM fee abolition. We have also seen three of the four banks that have come out with a low cost credit card in response to the inquiry and that is a big issue for a lot of Australians, so we are seeing a positive change, but we will keep at this, because this is an inquiry that goes forever, this is not a one-year inquiry, this is a permanent oversight function, we have achieved a lot in the first year and we will keep doing it.” “Nine our of our 10 recommendations to the government were adopted, so the things about customers being able to get redress when things go wrong, that has been fixed. That was a real issue – the lack of executive accountability, no senior executives fired for any of the scandals in the banking industry – that has been fixed through the executive accountability regime. The lack of competition – we are changing the rules to make it easier to set up a bank so you can compete with the big four. All these things are happening. It is good to see moves like ATM fee abolition. We have also seen three of the four banks that have come out with a low-cost credit card in response to the inquiry and that is a big issue for a lot of Australians, so we are seeing a positive change, but we will keep at this, because this is an inquiry that goes forever, this is not a one-year inquiry, this is a permanent oversight function, we have achieved a lot in the first year and we will keep doing it.”
But it is not all sunshine and lollipops even in the Coaltion party room on banking.But it is not all sunshine and lollipops even in the Coaltion party room on banking.
As Katharine Murphy told us yesterday, a brouhaha was brewing in the party room over the plans to regulate the salary and appointment of banking executives:As Katharine Murphy told us yesterday, a brouhaha was brewing in the party room over the plans to regulate the salary and appointment of banking executives:
Veteran Liberal MP Russell Broadbent kicked up a stink about this package in the Coalition party room meeting yesterday, and is reserving his rights, which means he might cross the floor to vote against the change.Veteran Liberal MP Russell Broadbent kicked up a stink about this package in the Coalition party room meeting yesterday, and is reserving his rights, which means he might cross the floor to vote against the change.
Broadbent has told me governments should not be regulating the internal affairs of businesses. He says that’s like Labor’s plans for bank nationalisation in the 1940s.Broadbent has told me governments should not be regulating the internal affairs of businesses. He says that’s like Labor’s plans for bank nationalisation in the 1940s.
“This is totally at odds with what the Liberal and national parties stand for,” Broadbent said. “I think Ben Chifley tried something like this in 1947.” “This is totally at odds with what the Liberal and National parties stand for,” Broadbent said. “I think Ben Chifley tried something like this in 1947.”
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A Neg for breakfastA Neg for breakfast
Katharine MurphyKatharine Murphy
Malcolm Turnbull has started Thursday with a breakfast hosted by the Ai Group to explain the government’s new energy policy to the suits. The prime minister this week has been flanked by a hastily convened Jedi council – the heads of the energy market regulators – and they came along for the ride to the National Press Club this morning.Malcolm Turnbull has started Thursday with a breakfast hosted by the Ai Group to explain the government’s new energy policy to the suits. The prime minister this week has been flanked by a hastily convened Jedi council – the heads of the energy market regulators – and they came along for the ride to the National Press Club this morning.
It was clear from the mood in the room that what business leaders want is bipartisanship. They want a policy which makes sense and they want to know the policy will remain constant for a reasonable period of time.It was clear from the mood in the room that what business leaders want is bipartisanship. They want a policy which makes sense and they want to know the policy will remain constant for a reasonable period of time.
Turnbull said rather grandly in his pitch that the government looked to the opposition to settle the climate wars, but he also studded his remarks with plenty of trolling of the South Australian government’s idiocy and ideology, and of Labor’s stupidity more generally.Turnbull said rather grandly in his pitch that the government looked to the opposition to settle the climate wars, but he also studded his remarks with plenty of trolling of the South Australian government’s idiocy and ideology, and of Labor’s stupidity more generally.
A couple of business leaders asked very politely about bipartisanship, including the host, the Ai Group’s chief executive, Innes Willox, who asked whether Turnbull had a plan B in the event the states didn’t like the new plan. Willox asked what would happen if the states said no. “Let’s focus on getting them to say yes,” Turnbull said, side stepping the elephant in the room.A couple of business leaders asked very politely about bipartisanship, including the host, the Ai Group’s chief executive, Innes Willox, who asked whether Turnbull had a plan B in the event the states didn’t like the new plan. Willox asked what would happen if the states said no. “Let’s focus on getting them to say yes,” Turnbull said, side stepping the elephant in the room.
I made an attempt to put the elephant back in the room by asking whether the government actually wanted a fight with Labor on energy, or whether they wanted a settlement – and if they wanted a settlement, was it productive to keep bagging Labor and the states publicly all the time? The prime minister thought one had to point out previous mistakes in order to create the ground for a settlement in energy.I made an attempt to put the elephant back in the room by asking whether the government actually wanted a fight with Labor on energy, or whether they wanted a settlement – and if they wanted a settlement, was it productive to keep bagging Labor and the states publicly all the time? The prime minister thought one had to point out previous mistakes in order to create the ground for a settlement in energy.
John Pierce, one of the Jedi council, and the chairman of the Australian Energy Market Commission, was asked a question about prices and economic modelling. Pierce noted that economic models “don’t give you the truth”. He said good economic models lined up elegantly with the assumptions that were built into them. Rather than focussing on things like specific price reductions association with the new framework, Pierce hoped people would focus on the model. He said the purpose of the energy guarantee was simple: the business that produces the lowest cost, reliable energy, which was consistent with the emissions reduction target, “wins”.John Pierce, one of the Jedi council, and the chairman of the Australian Energy Market Commission, was asked a question about prices and economic modelling. Pierce noted that economic models “don’t give you the truth”. He said good economic models lined up elegantly with the assumptions that were built into them. Rather than focussing on things like specific price reductions association with the new framework, Pierce hoped people would focus on the model. He said the purpose of the energy guarantee was simple: the business that produces the lowest cost, reliable energy, which was consistent with the emissions reduction target, “wins”.
Pierce was asked later whether the new framework was actually a de facto carbon price, as a lot of analysts have noted. He thought not. His explanation for why a system which creates a market for emissions reduction via regulation wasn’t a form of carbon price wasn’t entirely convincing.Pierce was asked later whether the new framework was actually a de facto carbon price, as a lot of analysts have noted. He thought not. His explanation for why a system which creates a market for emissions reduction via regulation wasn’t a form of carbon price wasn’t entirely convincing.
He said South Australia, for example, wouldn’t have to do much in order to comply with the emissions reductions rules, given its high proportion of renewables. He then moved to say the new system priced reliability. Given the national energy guarantee has two components: reliability and emissions reduction, it wasn’t clear why the system priced one but not the other.He said South Australia, for example, wouldn’t have to do much in order to comply with the emissions reductions rules, given its high proportion of renewables. He then moved to say the new system priced reliability. Given the national energy guarantee has two components: reliability and emissions reduction, it wasn’t clear why the system priced one but not the other.
In case it’s not clear – it’s not helpful to the government to point out in public that the Coalition party room has just ticked off on a form of carbon pricing after having resisted any sort of carbon pricing for the best part of a decade. Not helpful. People who want a solution to the problem don’t want to engage on this turf.In case it’s not clear – it’s not helpful to the government to point out in public that the Coalition party room has just ticked off on a form of carbon pricing after having resisted any sort of carbon pricing for the best part of a decade. Not helpful. People who want a solution to the problem don’t want to engage on this turf.
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The latest unemployment figures are due at 11.30am (AEDT) today, so get ready for that.The latest unemployment figures are due at 11.30am (AEDT) today, so get ready for that.
But on the jobs front, Christopher Knaus has written on an alarming trend:But on the jobs front, Christopher Knaus has written on an alarming trend:
Entry-level jobs are disappearing from the Australian labour market, and five entry-level workers are now competing for each advertised job, a report has found.Entry-level jobs are disappearing from the Australian labour market, and five entry-level workers are now competing for each advertised job, a report has found.
The findings prompted Anglicare Australia’s deputy director, Roland Manderson, to call on the government to stop making scapegoats of the unemployed.The findings prompted Anglicare Australia’s deputy director, Roland Manderson, to call on the government to stop making scapegoats of the unemployed.
You’ll find more on that here and we will bring you the unemployment figures shortly after they are released.You’ll find more on that here and we will bring you the unemployment figures shortly after they are released.
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But Dutton did confirm that those who applied for citizenship after 20 April, when the government first proposed its changes, which included longer waiting periods for citizenship, will be processed under the existing rules.But Dutton did confirm that those who applied for citizenship after 20 April, when the government first proposed its changes, which included longer waiting periods for citizenship, will be processed under the existing rules.
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Peter Dutton is not backing down on his citizenship changes and is condemning Tony Burke for condemning him. It seems Dutton is not impressed with the comparison to the White Australia Policy.Peter Dutton is not backing down on his citizenship changes and is condemning Tony Burke for condemning him. It seems Dutton is not impressed with the comparison to the White Australia Policy.
It is very clear from their own statements that for a long period of time they have supported strengthening the Citizenship Act but they are acting now against the national interest and in their own political interest by pulling this stunt in the Senate with the Greens in an effort to try to delay debate about what is a very important bill. Now what we have proposed in relation to the bill, very sensibly, we’ve been able to negotiate with the independent senators, given that the Labor party will enter into no sensible discussion at all. We have been able to offer up some amendments to the bill which address, in large part, some of the recommendations put forward by the Senate committee; our discussions with the independent senators will continue because we will not be distracted by a political stunt in the Senate between the Labor party and the Greens. We believe very strongly that the proposal we have put forward is moderate, it is sensible, and as I pointed out this morning, we have cancelled the visas of 3,000 people who have committed serious offences, in many cases against Australian citizens, including against children and including the distribution of drugs such as ice. One-thousand-one-hundred people within that cohort were permanent residents and would have gone on to become Australian citizens. Our argument is that these changes were sensible, because we are asking people not only to abide by Australian laws but to adhere to Australian values and we have put forward some sensible amendments. Our discussions will continue with the independents but Tony Burke’s completely over-the-top reaction today really shows that he and Mr Shorten are acting not in the national interest but in their own political interest and for that they should be condemned.It is very clear from their own statements that for a long period of time they have supported strengthening the Citizenship Act but they are acting now against the national interest and in their own political interest by pulling this stunt in the Senate with the Greens in an effort to try to delay debate about what is a very important bill. Now what we have proposed in relation to the bill, very sensibly, we’ve been able to negotiate with the independent senators, given that the Labor party will enter into no sensible discussion at all. We have been able to offer up some amendments to the bill which address, in large part, some of the recommendations put forward by the Senate committee; our discussions with the independent senators will continue because we will not be distracted by a political stunt in the Senate between the Labor party and the Greens. We believe very strongly that the proposal we have put forward is moderate, it is sensible, and as I pointed out this morning, we have cancelled the visas of 3,000 people who have committed serious offences, in many cases against Australian citizens, including against children and including the distribution of drugs such as ice. One-thousand-one-hundred people within that cohort were permanent residents and would have gone on to become Australian citizens. Our argument is that these changes were sensible, because we are asking people not only to abide by Australian laws but to adhere to Australian values and we have put forward some sensible amendments. Our discussions will continue with the independents but Tony Burke’s completely over-the-top reaction today really shows that he and Mr Shorten are acting not in the national interest but in their own political interest and for that they should be condemned.
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Labor started the emissions-intensity-scheme-in-sheep’s-clothing line on Wednesday. Pat Conroy, who seems to know more about energy policy than is healthy for one person, said the Neg “involves setting an emissions reduction target for its retail, so it is sending a signal through the market to reduce the emissions”.
Laura Jayes from Sky pointed out that Kerry Schott, the chair of the Energy Security Board, “said it is absolutely not a carbon price”, to which Conroy replied:
I’m just telling you what the mechanism operates like. The mechanism operates in a way that signals to retailers that you need to reduce the carbon intensity of your generation mix. That is a carbon signal, which is quite interesting that the party room of the Liberal’s isn’t picking that up. The key thing here is that we need to get emissions down, while increasing reliability and dispatchability and that’s why we will look at this once we see all the details.
We are hearing the is-it-or-isn’t-it question was much talked about at the Australian Industry Group breakfast this morning, where Malcolm Turnbull was speaking on energy policy. We’ll bring you more on that very soon.
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Paul Karp
At a doorstop in Canberra, the Greens MP Adam Bandt has said the party will push in the Senate for a full parliamentary inquiry into the Crown casino allegations after “very distressing allegations” from whistleblowers. Nick Xenophon has called for the same this morning after revelations from MP Andrew Wilkie yesterday.
Bandt said the numbers would be there if Labor supported the push, but Guardian Australia has confirmed that Labor will not support a Senate inquiry. Labor’s position is understood to be that this is a matter for the state regulator, but is happy to reconsider after the regulator has done its job.
Bandt:
The only thing protecting the casino bosses from a full inquiry into these allegations of misconduct is the Labor party. The Labor party now needs to decide whether honesty is more important than money.
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While Labor (and some within the industry) paint the Neg as an emissions intensity scheme, the government is just as adamant that it is not.
Zed Seselja was quick to tell Sky that Burke was wrong, but not why.
It is not an emissions intensity scheme. What it is, is a scheme which will ensure we will have reliable, affordable power while also meeting our emissions reductions targets. This is absolutely critical to industry in this country, to jobs and to householders to ensure there is downward pressure on their electricity prices. The reason Tony Burke is trying to pretend it is something that it is not is because he knows [the] Labor scheme would push up electricity prices dramatically.
Not content with just Seselja, James McGrath was next in the studio to say Labor was wrong, while also calling on Labor to come on board.
Josh [Frydenberg] has been quite strong in saying it is not a trading scheme, it is not a carbon tax, what it is, is a plan to deliver reliability, it is a plan to deliver affordability, and what we want to hear from Labor is what is your plan, they don’t have a plan at the moment, so if you don’t have a plan, stop criticising ours and come on board and support our plan, because it will deliver reliability and it will put downward plan on electricity prices and that is what people want to hear.
The talking notes the government have released on this topic clearly point to MPs being told to hammer the affordability aspect, as well as the reliability points, with responsibility, the third “ity” in the non-three-word slogan government’s three-word slogan, being left to bigger hitters Josh Frydenberg and Malcolm Turnbull. But so far, the denial of the Neg as including a carbon price, or an emissions intensity scheme, has been left at “it’s not”, with no detail on why it’s not.
For what it’s worth, here was Katharine Murphy’s take on what the scheme involved from earlier in the week:
The reliability obligation will require energy retailers to hold hedges in the form of forward contracts totalling a percentage of their forecast peak load. The amount of hedges required will be based on a system-wide reliability standard to be determined in the new framework. That process, which will be done state-by-state and carried out annually on a five-year forward planning basis, will identify capacity gaps.
The emissions reduction obligation adds to the reliability framework. In addition to the requirement to hedge their load, there will be a further requirement for energy consumption to meet a set emissions intensity target for the electricity sector.
That target will be set by the government. The government has signalled it will be in the order of a 26% reduction on 2005 levels by 2030. Tony Abbott willing. Yes, that’s a joke, but not a very funny one, given this legislation will have to clear the parliament, and Abbott is still naysaying.
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The energy debate has moved on to whether or not Labor will support it. So far, Labor hasn’t said either way. It has been very careful to be critical of the process, and what the government is using to make some of its claims, such as the $110-$115 saving (which is an average which kicks in some time between 2020 and 2030) but not explicitly slam the policy itself.
Now it has moved on to talking why it might support it, because it looks like an emissions intensity scheme, which is Labor’s preferred option. That has now placed the government in the unusual position of denying something contained within its policy.
Here is what Tony Burke told Sky News this morning:
It does look like it may well be another way of doing an emissions intensity scheme. It may well be that what we have in front of us is an emissions intensity scheme, managed by the energy retailers, rather than managed by the government. We are still working our way through it, we still don’t have all the detail you need to make that conclusion. It might be that that is what we are looking at. It might end up being something that Labor can support.
Kim Carr is due to give a speech today, where he has come to the same conclusion, as Paul Karp reports:
What’s particularly interesting, and I am not certain that the government party room has understood this, [is] the new measures have remarkable underlying similarities to the principles of the electricity intensity scheme that were rejected last December.
And it’s not just Labor; yesterday, the chief of the Australian Energy Council, Matthew Warren, was asked if the Neg was a carbon price:
Well, yes, of course it is. Anything that operates, anything that drives investment in the electricity sector in the 21st century, if is going to work, has to reflect the carbon price. There is a value that is attributed to the risk of carbon in all investments.”
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Tony Burke has called the Peter Dutton-led citizenship changes “appalling”, likening it to the White Australia Policy.
“If you came from China to Australia you need university-level English, if you came from Canada, you didn’t need university-level English. If you came from India, you needed university-level English, if you came from Great Britain you didn’t,” he told Sky News.
“It was an appalling policy, the likes of which we haven’t seen since the White Australia Policy. I am glad it has been knocked back. Peter Dutton should back down on this.”
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Paul Karp
Speaking on Radio National, the communications minister, Mitch Fifield, has responded to calls from Andrew Wilkie and Nick Xenophon for an inquiry into allegations Crown casino tampered with poker machines and avoided reporting transactions of more than $10,000 to Austrac.
Fifield replied:
In relation to allegations Mr Wilkie has made, the justice minister, Michael Keenan, has already made clear that Austrac, our financial intelligence agency, will, as it always does, investigate claims of wrongdoing.
But casinos and venue-based poker machines are “matters that fall squarely within the jurisdictions of the states”, he said. Fifield said federal parliament can’t assume responsibility for those, but then concedes the Senate can establish a parliamentary inquiry.
Fifield suggests the states can move more quickly:
There are state regulatory bodies there are state law enforcement agencies, they have the responsibility in this area … That is fairly and squarely a matter for those state governments. They have the power, they have the legislative authority, they are the people who can move swiftly in this area.
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While a former prime minister openly questions whether climate change is real, and if it is “probably doing good” the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science were handed out overnight.
The 2017 recipients are:
Prime Minister’s Prize for Science: Distinguished Professor Jenny Graves AO, La Trobe University
Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation: Laureate Professor Eric Reynolds AO, the University of Melbourne/Oral Health CRC
Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year: Professor Jian Yang, the University of Queensland
Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year: Professor Dayong Jin, University of Technology Sydney
Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools: Neil Bramsen, Mount Ousley Public School, Wollongong
Prime Minister’s Priz for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools: Brett McKay, Kirrawee High School, Sydney.
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We still don’t know when the high court will return its judgment on the seven MPs facing questions over their eligibility to sit in parliament, but Nick Xenophon was taking no chances, seizing the opportunity to make a valedictory speech overnight.
In typical Xenophon humblebrag style, the South Australian senator said he was not one for valedictories, but he had a few more words to say on a few more topics. Those would be donations reform and the gambling industry.
I do not know when I’ll be making my last speech in the Senate. I hope this won’t be it, because I have a lot to say about many issues affecting my home state of South Australia, but, like others, being part of the ‘citizenship seven’, I am in the hands of the high court – of the wise women and men of the high court. I will be leaving this place, however, one way or the other and sooner rather than later, once that decision is handed down.”
That sent George Brandis running back into the chamber:
I wasn’t proposing to participate in the adjournment debate this evening, but I understand that Senator Xenophon has intimated that may very well have been his last speech to the chamber, depending upon the high court. I suspect this was not your last speech to the chamber, Senator Xenophon, because if it was, you’ve had a complete personality change. The speech has been delivered in a low-profile, unflamboyant, discreet way and there’s not a single journalist or, indeed, photographer in the gallery. So all of the indicators suggest that this isn’t your last speech. But against the possibility that it is, I do want to say to you on behalf of the government, while we do not wish you success in the South Australian election because we in the government are strongly of the view that the election of Steven Marshall as the premier of South Australia is far and away in the best interests of the state of South Australia. Nevertheless, I did want, in the event that this is your last speech, to wish you well in a personal sense on behalf of the government and to thank you for your service in this chamber, which has been very conspicuous and very consequential. We have found that you have agreed with the government more often than you have not agreed with us. But, whether you’ve agreed with us or not, you’ve always dealt with us in a considerate, constructive and collegial manner. May I say to you, Senator Xenophon, on my own personal behalf, that when the day comes that you leave us, I for one will miss you. I don’t think every one of my government colleagues would say the same, but you and I have become friends. I’ve enjoyed our friendship. I hope it will continue and, in a personal sense as well, I wish you all of the best for the future, and I wish you success in the high court as well.”
And then Penny Wong:
I apologise I didn’t quite get here before the leader of the government took his seat, but he hasn’t gone yet. I missed the beginning of your speech, Senator Xenophon, and I know you said ‘maybe’, so I don’t know if this is one of those teasing things that you do: ‘I might agree. I might not agree. I might go. I might not.’ But in the event that the ‘maybe’ is in fact the case: I think I sent you a text, which, as I chided you today, you hadn’t responded to, when you announced you were running in South Australia and I said, ‘I think I can safely say the Senate won’t be the same without you – stay in touch.’ Certainly, we disagree on a range of policy positions; we agree on some. I do appreciate, notwithstanding those differences, that you have dealt with me courteously and with my team courteously, and you have listened to us when we have put a view to you. I particularly remember when in government as finance minister, we had some difficult and personal negotiations on some very big issues, including the NBN and of course the stimulus package. We were very appreciative that we were able to resolve those issues. So, I share Senator Brandis’s distance from your political objectives: he wants Steven Marshall elected and I want the premier re-elected. Obviously, we have a different political perspective, but I do wish you well.”
Senate president Stephen Parry had the last word:
Senator Xenophon, it was a very poor way of exiting if you wanted no fuss; you’ve had some fuss.”
And the Senate was adjourned.
Updated
at 10.34pm BST
10.05pm BST
22:05
Paul Karp
The finance minister, Mathias Cormann, has said the government “remains committed” to its citizenship package, despite the bill being dropped from the Senate notice paper on Wednesday due to opposition from Labor, the Greens and crossbench.
Cormann told ABC News Breakfast the reforms are “very important ... and will keep working with all non-government senators to secure the necessary support”.
Cormann said the government understands it does not have numbers in the Senate but promises to “continue to work with all nongovernment senators to see how we can best secure consensus to ensure we take a step forward”.
He doesn’t list any specific compromises, saying that’s a matter for the immigration minister, Peter Dutton.
Updated
at 10.35pm BST
10.04pm BST
22:04
Good morning and welcome to the last sitting day of the week
Energy is still dominating the headlines, with Labor’s support for the Neg now under the microscope.
Labor has been very critical of the process, and has hit out against the lack of modelling and what they are calling an “eight-page policy” but have not ruled out supporting it. That’s what Malcolm Turnbull and Josh Frydenberg are hoping for, as Labor’s support would not only mean a political win, it will help bring the states, particularly Queensland, South Australia and Victoria on board, which is the easiest way of bringing the Neg into existence. Meanwhile, the Greens say the Neg is worse for renewables than no action. More on that here.
Turnbull was up early, this time talking all things Neg with industry. Katharine Murphy will be able to give us an update on that a little later.
Also floating around today, as the parliamentary sitting week draws to a close, the government has not given up on its citizenship changes, despite the Senate, led by the Greens and Labor, forcing it off the agenda on Wednesday. Peter Dutton made some last-minute overtures to the Nick Xenophon Team to try and keep it in the land of the legislatively living, but no dice. But Mathias Cormann says it will be back.
The communications minister, Mitch Fifield, has been up and about doing his best to defend the need to include “fair and balanced” in the ABC charter, after introducing the changes One Nation wanted in regards to the national broadcaster, in exchange for their support for the media reforms.
Labor is sticking to its no minimum mandatory sentencing policy. The justice minister, Michael Keenan, wants compulsory sentences for convicted child abusers, but Labor has cited concerns within the legal community of unintended consequences – like juries being less likely to convict if judges have no control over the sentence.
A leaked poll conducted by the banking industry has found Nick Xenophon is South Australia’s preferred premier. Xenophon announced earlier this month he plans on resigning from the Senate, no matter what the high court finds in regards to his citizenship, to run for a state seat in the South Australian parliament.
And calls for an inquiry into the casino industry are continuing after Andrew Wilkie tabled allegations of machine tampering and worse in parliament on Wednesday.
So it’s a busy day ahead of us, ahead of estimates and the House sitting next week. The Guardian Australia brains trust will help keep you updated, along with Mike Bowers on the lens and myself. Follow along in the comments or on Twitter (@mpbowers and @amyremeikis) and we’ll do our best to get back to you.
Let’s get started!
Updated
at 10.39pm BST