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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Banking royal commission: another National signals support as Christensen launches site | Banking royal commission: another National signals support as Christensen launches site |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| A banking inquiry is closer to becoming reality, with another lower house National party MP signalling he is on board. | A banking inquiry is closer to becoming reality, with another lower house National party MP signalling he is on board. |
| After Barnaby Joyce suggested early on Monday that the Nationals might switch positions on the banking inquiry when the party room meets next Monday, the dissident MP George Christensen launched a website in support of the probe and fellow Queenslander Llew O’Brien signalled to colleagues he was likely to support it, too. | After Barnaby Joyce suggested early on Monday that the Nationals might switch positions on the banking inquiry when the party room meets next Monday, the dissident MP George Christensen launched a website in support of the probe and fellow Queenslander Llew O’Brien signalled to colleagues he was likely to support it, too. |
| After telegraphing his view to colleagues, O’Brien later told the Australian he was “looking favourably” on the inquiry proposal. | After telegraphing his view to colleagues, O’Brien later told the Australian he was “looking favourably” on the inquiry proposal. |
| But while parliamentary numbers are building to make the inquiry a reality, National party MPs remain divided over whether or not an inquiry is a good idea. | But while parliamentary numbers are building to make the inquiry a reality, National party MPs remain divided over whether or not an inquiry is a good idea. |
| The Queensland federal cabinet minister Matt Canavan said he was not a supporter of an inquiry, although he understood many colleagues were. | The Queensland federal cabinet minister Matt Canavan said he was not a supporter of an inquiry, although he understood many colleagues were. |
| Liberals were also holding the line on Monday, with the government leader in the Senate, George Brandis, declaring a royal commission into the banks would deliver nothing beyond more beach houses for the lawyers appearing before it. | Liberals were also holding the line on Monday, with the government leader in the Senate, George Brandis, declaring a royal commission into the banks would deliver nothing beyond more beach houses for the lawyers appearing before it. |
| The prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, noted a banking inquiry had not been a live issue during the Queensland election. | The prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, noted a banking inquiry had not been a live issue during the Queensland election. |
| With the LNP’s poor showing in the Queensland election emboldening National MPs in Canberra, the Queensland senator Barry O’Sullivan said the state election result reinforced his intention to push forward with his private member’s bill for a parliamentary inquiry into the banks. | With the LNP’s poor showing in the Queensland election emboldening National MPs in Canberra, the Queensland senator Barry O’Sullivan said the state election result reinforced his intention to push forward with his private member’s bill for a parliamentary inquiry into the banks. |
| Christensen also launched a new website promoting the case for a royal commission into the banks, asking voters to sign a petition. | Christensen also launched a new website promoting the case for a royal commission into the banks, asking voters to sign a petition. |
| “By signing this petition and telling your story, you are sending a very strong message to my federal government colleagues and it’s the message I will be sharing with them in Canberra next week,” Christensen said in a statement. “Unless the government acts to establish a royal commission, I will be acting before the end of this year to vote for a commission of inquiry into the banks.” | “By signing this petition and telling your story, you are sending a very strong message to my federal government colleagues and it’s the message I will be sharing with them in Canberra next week,” Christensen said in a statement. “Unless the government acts to establish a royal commission, I will be acting before the end of this year to vote for a commission of inquiry into the banks.” |
| Joyce faces the voters in New England this Saturday in a byelection. He told Guardian Australia on Monday it was possible the Nationals could agree as a group to pursue the inquiry next Monday, when the House of Representatives is scheduled to sit. | Joyce faces the voters in New England this Saturday in a byelection. He told Guardian Australia on Monday it was possible the Nationals could agree as a group to pursue the inquiry next Monday, when the House of Representatives is scheduled to sit. |
| But even if they do not, O’Sullivan currently has the numbers in the Senate to pass his private member’s bill because he has support from Labor and the Greens. | But even if they do not, O’Sullivan currently has the numbers in the Senate to pass his private member’s bill because he has support from Labor and the Greens. |
| The question to date has been would the O’Sullivan proposal have the numbers in the House of Representatives but Christensen and O’Brien give the rebellion a good prospect of success. | The question to date has been would the O’Sullivan proposal have the numbers in the House of Representatives but Christensen and O’Brien give the rebellion a good prospect of success. |
| The dissidents need 76 votes in the House to suspend the standing orders and bring the bill on for debate, and there is support for the inquiry from Labor and from sections of the crossbench. | The dissidents need 76 votes in the House to suspend the standing orders and bring the bill on for debate, and there is support for the inquiry from Labor and from sections of the crossbench. |
| While some Nationals are determined enough to break ranks in the event their party doesn’t flip on the issue, other Nationals remain unconvinced. | While some Nationals are determined enough to break ranks in the event their party doesn’t flip on the issue, other Nationals remain unconvinced. |
| The Liberal National party MP David Littleproud told Guardian Australia he did not think a commission of inquiry was necessary but if the party room decided to support O’Sullivan’s bill he would support it in the House of Representatives. | The Liberal National party MP David Littleproud told Guardian Australia he did not think a commission of inquiry was necessary but if the party room decided to support O’Sullivan’s bill he would support it in the House of Representatives. |
| Nationals MP Mark Coulton said he did not think an inquiry was necessary either, because he felt it was being pursued for political reasons than that practical ones. He would withhold his support for the idea. | Nationals MP Mark Coulton said he did not think an inquiry was necessary either, because he felt it was being pursued for political reasons than that practical ones. He would withhold his support for the idea. |
| Nationals MP Michael McCormack said he did not want to speculate on the party room discussion. | Nationals MP Michael McCormack said he did not want to speculate on the party room discussion. |
| Nationals MP Damian Drum said he was unhappy with the way O’Sullivan was trying to force the issue into the House of Representatives with a private member’s bill, rather than going through the party room. He said voters needed to know that it was not National party policy to pursue a banking inquiry. | Nationals MP Damian Drum said he was unhappy with the way O’Sullivan was trying to force the issue into the House of Representatives with a private member’s bill, rather than going through the party room. He said voters needed to know that it was not National party policy to pursue a banking inquiry. |
| Nationals MP Andrew Broad said few of his constituents had raised concerns about the banking industry, because the Victorian Coalition government had introduced a farm debt remediation process and that had been “very helpful”. | Nationals MP Andrew Broad said few of his constituents had raised concerns about the banking industry, because the Victorian Coalition government had introduced a farm debt remediation process and that had been “very helpful”. |
| But he said he would listen to what his colleagues had to say in next week’s party room meeting. “I trust the judgment of my colleagues. That’s how a good party should work.” | But he said he would listen to what his colleagues had to say in next week’s party room meeting. “I trust the judgment of my colleagues. That’s how a good party should work.” |
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