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Government will 'not countenance' same-sex marriage discrimination, says Turnbull - politics live Government will 'not countenance' same-sex marriage discrimination, says Turnbull - politics live
(35 minutes later)
Folks, we’ve officially entered the twilight zone. Kristina Keneally, who was due to host a show on Sky News at 1pm, has just been interviewed on Sky News as Labor’s new candidate for Bennelong. Bizarre is the new normal.
Not so long ago, she was due to move to Canberra to help Sky News enhance its political coverage. That’s off now, obviously. How’s this exchange between Keneally and Sky News’ Samantha Maiden?
Maiden:
You recently announced you’re moving to Canberra, is that now off?
Keneally:
Well, I might be coming to Canberra in another position, as the federal MP, but, yes, I’ve got to say Sam Maiden, I don’t think it’s going to be compatible to be a federal candidate and also to be a commentator here at Sky News.
Maiden:
OK, so that’s your resignation note.
The government has spent much of the morning attacking Keneally’s history as the NSW premier. Her time in state government, where she had Eddie Obeid as a minister, leaves her exposed to Coalition attacks. But Keneally has responded to the criticism.
I say to Malcolm Turnbull, if that’s the best you’ve got mate, if that is the best you can do... well knock yourself out, it doesn’t phase me whatsoever.
I’m going to talk about the things that matter to the people of Bennelong, the things that I know people talk about because I live here.
Keneally said she had resisted prior attempts to have her run for federal parliament. But she said Bill Shorten had persuaded her on Saturday that these were unique times, and it was an opportunity for Labor to “put it’s best case forward”.
He said to me that if I were to choose to run, the Labor party would put everything they could into this campaign, if I would be their standard bearer.
The opposition is pushing back against attempts to tarnish their new candidate for Bennelong, Kristina Keneally, with the actions of Eddie Obeid, her former minister in NSW state parliament. Obeid is currently behind bars.
Labor is pointing out that Keneally gave evidence against Obeid at a NSW ICAC inquiry codenamed Operation Credo. Credo investigated the connections between Obeid’s family and the water infrastructure company, Australia Water Holdings, which was attempting to secure a lucrative NSW government contract.
ICAC’s report on Credo noted Keneally was a “credible and conscientious witness, who was at all times careful to give accurate evidence”.
An opposition spokeswoman said:
Kristina Keneally helped put Eddie Obeid in jail. And any smear from desperate Liberals shows you how pathetic they really are.
The Senate has voted to refer the communications minister, Mitch Fifield, to the legal and constitutional affairs references committee. Fifield has been under attack all week over his failure to act on knowledge that former Senate president Stephen Parry may have been ineligible for office due to dual citizenship.
A motion was moved by the Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, to refer Fifield over his “knowledge of former senator Parry’s dual-citizenship status”. The motion was carried 32 to 27.
The legal and constitutional affairs references committee will need to inquire and report on the matter by 4 December.
We’ve just published some vision of Jacqui Lambie’s resignation speech to the Senate. It was a highly emotional time in the chamber. She was praised for the passion she brought to politics, which attorney general George Brandis said had also made her effective.We’ve just published some vision of Jacqui Lambie’s resignation speech to the Senate. It was a highly emotional time in the chamber. She was praised for the passion she brought to politics, which attorney general George Brandis said had also made her effective.
Question time is done in the Senate. The day in politics has twisted and turned with every hour. So where are we at now?Question time is done in the Senate. The day in politics has twisted and turned with every hour. So where are we at now?
Jacqui Lambie resigned from the Senate after she received confirmation that her grandfather was a British citizen. The citizenship was passed down through Lambie’s father, down to her. The resignation sparked emotional scenes in the Senate. Lambie herself struggled back tears as she spoke of her achievements as a senator, including pushing for veteran rights and saving welfare recipients from further cuts. She wants to return to parliament, and may seek a seat in the House of Representatives, if Labor MP Justine Keay becomes the next to fall to the citizenship crisis.Jacqui Lambie resigned from the Senate after she received confirmation that her grandfather was a British citizen. The citizenship was passed down through Lambie’s father, down to her. The resignation sparked emotional scenes in the Senate. Lambie herself struggled back tears as she spoke of her achievements as a senator, including pushing for veteran rights and saving welfare recipients from further cuts. She wants to return to parliament, and may seek a seat in the House of Representatives, if Labor MP Justine Keay becomes the next to fall to the citizenship crisis.
A shock announcement in the seat of Bennelong. Former NSW premier Kristina Keneally was announced as a high-profile candidate for Labor. She was convinced to run by a “very persuasive” Bill Shorten. The seat is considered safe Liberal, but Keneally’s presence could be a game-changer. The government has already begun to tarnish her with the actions of her former minister, Eddie Obeid, who is now behind bars. The decision pits her against another high-profile candidate, former tennis great John Alexander. It should be a great spectacle, if nothing else.A shock announcement in the seat of Bennelong. Former NSW premier Kristina Keneally was announced as a high-profile candidate for Labor. She was convinced to run by a “very persuasive” Bill Shorten. The seat is considered safe Liberal, but Keneally’s presence could be a game-changer. The government has already begun to tarnish her with the actions of her former minister, Eddie Obeid, who is now behind bars. The decision pits her against another high-profile candidate, former tennis great John Alexander. It should be a great spectacle, if nothing else.
Malcolm Turnbull has delivered his strongest rebuke yet to a new same-sex marriage bill, proposed by Liberal senator James Paterson. Paterson’s bill proposes stronger rights for Australian businesses to discriminate against same-sex weddings. A baker, for example, would be allowed to hang a sign on a shopfront saying “no same-sex weddings”. Turnbull said the government would “not countenance” legalising forms of discrimination, which are currently illegal. Paterson’s bill is an alternative to the original bill proposed by Dean Smith, a moderate Liberal MP.Malcolm Turnbull has delivered his strongest rebuke yet to a new same-sex marriage bill, proposed by Liberal senator James Paterson. Paterson’s bill proposes stronger rights for Australian businesses to discriminate against same-sex weddings. A baker, for example, would be allowed to hang a sign on a shopfront saying “no same-sex weddings”. Turnbull said the government would “not countenance” legalising forms of discrimination, which are currently illegal. Paterson’s bill is an alternative to the original bill proposed by Dean Smith, a moderate Liberal MP.
Andrew Wilkie, the independent MP, has written to the opposition leader, Bill Shorten, asking him to use the numbers in the House of Representatives to immediately act to help the men stranded on Manus Island.Andrew Wilkie, the independent MP, has written to the opposition leader, Bill Shorten, asking him to use the numbers in the House of Representatives to immediately act to help the men stranded on Manus Island.
Labor used question time to keep up the attack on the government over its knowledge of former Senate president Stephen Parry’s citizenship woes and the media tip-off given by Michaelia Cash’s office before raids on the Australian Workers’ Union offices.Labor used question time to keep up the attack on the government over its knowledge of former Senate president Stephen Parry’s citizenship woes and the media tip-off given by Michaelia Cash’s office before raids on the Australian Workers’ Union offices.
It’s been a fiery Senate question time so far. Mike Bowers has been down in the chamber for us.It’s been a fiery Senate question time so far. Mike Bowers has been down in the chamber for us.
The Greens have allocated portfolios after new senators Andrew Bartlett and Jordon Steele-John were sworn in to replace Scott Ludlam and Larissa Waters.The Greens have allocated portfolios after new senators Andrew Bartlett and Jordon Steele-John were sworn in to replace Scott Ludlam and Larissa Waters.
Bartlett gets Waters’ portfolios of mining and resources, environment and biodiversity tourism. Janet Rice gains women.Bartlett gets Waters’ portfolios of mining and resources, environment and biodiversity tourism. Janet Rice gains women.
Steele-John gets disability services, digital rights and information technology, youth and sustainable cities.Steele-John gets disability services, digital rights and information technology, youth and sustainable cities.
Of Ludlam’s portfolios foreign policy and development goes to leader Richard Di Natale, defence and veterans’ affairs to Peter Whish-Wilson, and “nuclear” to Sarah-Hanson Young.Of Ludlam’s portfolios foreign policy and development goes to leader Richard Di Natale, defence and veterans’ affairs to Peter Whish-Wilson, and “nuclear” to Sarah-Hanson Young.
Adam Bandt and Rachel Siewert continue as “acting co-deputy leaders”, a state of affairs that’s been in place since Ludlam and Waters resigned and that will continue until the next election.Adam Bandt and Rachel Siewert continue as “acting co-deputy leaders”, a state of affairs that’s been in place since Ludlam and Waters resigned and that will continue until the next election.
The blowtorch is again on the employment minister, Michaelia Cash, in question time. She’s being questioned by Labor’s Murray Watt about her office’s media tip-off before raids on the Australian Workers’ Union office.The blowtorch is again on the employment minister, Michaelia Cash, in question time. She’s being questioned by Labor’s Murray Watt about her office’s media tip-off before raids on the Australian Workers’ Union office.
Cash declines to answer the questions, saying the issues have already been canvassed in estimates.Cash declines to answer the questions, saying the issues have already been canvassed in estimates.
“I will not stand here and be lectured by a senator who goes to CFMEU picket lines and stands in solidarity with thugs, who are screaming at workers ... who threaten to rape workers’ children,” Cash said.“I will not stand here and be lectured by a senator who goes to CFMEU picket lines and stands in solidarity with thugs, who are screaming at workers ... who threaten to rape workers’ children,” Cash said.
The allegations and counter-allegations are raising the decibel levels in the chamber, putting pressure on the new Senate president, Scott Ryan, to intervene.The allegations and counter-allegations are raising the decibel levels in the chamber, putting pressure on the new Senate president, Scott Ryan, to intervene.
It’s not been an easy first two days for Ryan, and Derryn Hinch has now requested him to do more to keep a handle on proceedings.It’s not been an easy first two days for Ryan, and Derryn Hinch has now requested him to do more to keep a handle on proceedings.
The resources minister, Matthew Canavan, is given his second dixer in as many days on the proposed Adani Carmichael mine in Queensland. What will it mean for the people of Queensland?The resources minister, Matthew Canavan, is given his second dixer in as many days on the proposed Adani Carmichael mine in Queensland. What will it mean for the people of Queensland?
It means more business and more jobs, because we’re already seeing that impact in Queensland, where I’m proud to have my office in Rockhampton.It means more business and more jobs, because we’re already seeing that impact in Queensland, where I’m proud to have my office in Rockhampton.
We’re already seeing that impact because last month Adani announced that thousands of jobs would be based in Rockhampton and Townsville.We’re already seeing that impact because last month Adani announced that thousands of jobs would be based in Rockhampton and Townsville.
The Coalition won’t chase votes in inner-city areas at the expense of jobs, he says.The Coalition won’t chase votes in inner-city areas at the expense of jobs, he says.
Andrew Wilkie has written to the opposition leader, Bill Shorten, imploring him to act to help the men stranded on Manus Island. Labor has the numbers to “progress a humane solution”, Wilkie said.Andrew Wilkie has written to the opposition leader, Bill Shorten, imploring him to act to help the men stranded on Manus Island. Labor has the numbers to “progress a humane solution”, Wilkie said.
Ball in @AustralianLabor's court. | @WilkieMP to @billshortenmp:"You have publicly stated that the situation on Manus is deeply concerning. With the support of the cross-bench you now have the numbers in the House of Representatives to progress a humane situation." #Manus #Auspol pic.twitter.com/VPcVC5qUT4Ball in @AustralianLabor's court. | @WilkieMP to @billshortenmp:"You have publicly stated that the situation on Manus is deeply concerning. With the support of the cross-bench you now have the numbers in the House of Representatives to progress a humane situation." #Manus #Auspol pic.twitter.com/VPcVC5qUT4
The attorney general, George Brandis, has just denied the parliament’s citizenship woes are either a constitutional or political crisis. Brandis agrees with the Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, that section 44 of the constitution, which bars dual citizens from office, is not appropriate in Australia’s multicultural society.
Section 44 on the reading the high court gave it ... is not in my view appropriate for a multicultural democracy in which 51% of people were born overseas or has at least one parent that was born overseas.
Brandis says the government has referred the matter of section 44 to the joint standing committee on electoral matters, to determine what could be done to ameliorate its impact. One option, Brandis says, is to consider a constitutional referendum. That was not the government’s policy, but Brandis says it should at least be canvassed. Another option to be canvassed is reforms to Australia’s citizenship laws, with the aim of changing the way foreign citizenship could be renounced.
There is one point about which I differ from you [Di Natale]. There is no constitutional crisis, there is no political crisis. There is the unexpected effect of a decision of the high court which has resulted in both houses of the parliament now having had to resign or be referred to the court of disputed returns.
Question time has just kicked off in the Senate. The leader of the opposition in the Senate, Penny Wong, has begun with a series of attacks on the communications minister, Mitch Fifield. The strategy is much the same as yesterday. Labor is attempting to flush out what Fifield knew about the citizenship woes of former Senate president Stephen Parry and what he did with such knowledge.
Wong asks Fifield whether he directed Parry to keep silent about his citizenship concerns until after the high court ruled on the matter.
Fifield responds:
Suggestions that I directed Senator Parry are wrong and Mr President I was not aware that Senator Parry was a dual citizen until he advised all colleagues of this by way of a memo.
Wong pressed again, asking whether Fifield directed Parry to withhold his concerns.
Fifield responds:
I’ve answered you senator, I did not direct Senator Parry.
We talked a little earlier about the potential replacement for Lambie, following her retirement. The next name on her 2016 ticket is Steve Martin, the current mayor of Devonport, a city on Tasmania’s north coast.
Lambie described Martin as a “great bloke” with “fire in the belly”.
She was asked what checks had been done to ensure Martin was eligible, given fears he might fall foul of section 44 of the constitution. Martin, through his role as mayor, could be found to hold an office of profit under the Crown.
But Lambie said Martin’s eligibility had been thoroughly checked. She said he was eligible and that the restriction did not apply to mayors.
Mike Bowers was down in the Senate for Jacqui Lambie’s speech. All sides of the chamber momentarily suspended hostilities to wish her well and express sadness at her sudden departure. Attorney general George Brandis and Labor senator Doug Cameron both spoke glowingly of Lambie. Cameron said no one was ever bored when Lambie was on her feet.
Lambie is speaking to the media outside. She has a message for Justine Keay, Labor’s MP for the Tasmanian seat of Braddon. Keay is also under a citizenship cloud, and Lambie has expressed an interest in running for her seat, should a byelection be held. Lambie says:
I haven’t slept for nearly four days not knowing what’s going on. If they want to continue to live like that, if they actually have a conscience, then be my guest. But quite frankly, and I’ll tell her right now, the people of Braddon will not appreciate that.
Just a bit more on Turnbull’s media conference. He bought into the attack on Kristina Keneally, mounted by Greg Hunt earlier today, which attempts to tie her to Eddie Obeid, the jailed NSW powerbroker.
She is Bill Shorten’s handpicked candidate, so obviously, Eddie Obeid and Bill Shorten have formed the same view about Kristina Keneally. And I just say again, the voters of Bennelong should back John Alexander, a great local member who has delivered in every respect for his community.
The government “would not countenance” legalising discrimination against same-sex weddings and a bill to do so would have “virtually no prospect” of passing parliament, Malcolm Turnbull has said in an extraordinary rebuke of conservatives demanding the rollback of anti-discrimination laws.
As conservative Coalition MPs and senators rallied around the same-sex marriage bill released on Monday by Liberal senator James Paterson, Turnbull warned he intended to stamp his authority on the issue after the release of marriage law survey results tomorrow.
The intervention rejected calls from Tony Abbott to do more to protect religious freedom than the Smith bill does and “entrench the right to dissent from any new orthodoxy”.
The rival Paterson bill was criticised by lawyers, marriage equality advocates and the attorney general, George Brandis, for allowing discrimination against same-sex weddings by commercial service providers.
Yesterday, Turnbull described the Smith bill as a good starting point but at a media conference in Manila on Tuesday he went further by warning: “I don’t believe Australians would welcome, and certainly the government would not countenance, making legal discrimination that is illegal, that is unlawful, today.”
Asked about a bill that would allow businesses to say “no gay weddings serviced here” – in reference to Paterson’s proposal – Turnbull said: “I think it would have virtually no prospect of getting through the parliament.”
Turnbull is asked about the selection of Kristina Keneally as Labor’s candidate for Bennelong. He said John Alexander was a great candidate for the Liberals, and cautioned voters:
“Don’t let Kristina Keneally do to Bennelong what she did to NSW,” he said.
Malcolm Turnbull is speaking in Manila, Philippines, on the final day of his trip through Asia. He’s fresh from meetings with Donald Trump and Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi.
He said his meeting with Trump was one-on-one, without any officials. The discussions were frank, he said.
“We had a very good one-on-one meeting, just the two of us, we decided we would sit down and have a very frank discussion,” Turnbull said.
A clearly emotional Jacqui Lambie is now speaking about her resignation. She received confirmation this morning that her grandfather hadn’t renounced his British citizenship, which she and her father inherited by descent.
Fighting back tears, she says she hasn’t been able to sleep for days, while a question mark remained about her citizenship.
“There’s no question mark any more, it’s in place in an answer in black and white, courtesy of an email sent by a bureaucrat sitting at his desk on a London afternoon,” Lambie said. “Anyone who knows my father would be shocked to think of him other than anything else than an Aussie,” she said.
Lambie says she has worked hard to be a voice for the voiceless. That included championing the rights of veterans and welfare recipients. “Veterans fight hard for this country, they shouldn’t have to fight their government when they get back,” she said.
“Politicians on both sides of the house talk about helping those on welfare without ever having experienced what it’s like to choose between spending your welfare payment on either school uniforms or school lunches,” she said.
“Voters must look at their options and despair.”
Lambie says she does not know what will happen to her next, politically or personally. But she wants to come back to parliament, on either side of the building, and wants her party, the Jacqui Lambie Network, to be represented.
Lambie was overcome with emotion while praising her staff. “Thanks to my staff, who at many times have been my bloody saving grace, I’ll tell you. You’ve proven yourself to be loyal, you’re wonderful, you are hard working, and I would never have gotten this far without you,” she said. “If you need a reference later come and see me because I’m going to give you the best one you’ve ever had.”
She said: “For now, I just want to say thank you, thank you for giving me the opportunity to be in here.”