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| Sam Dastyari resigns, Jim Molan and John Alexander sworn in as MPs return – question time live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Michael Gordon’s seat, five chairs in on the front row, on the right of the press gallery, has been marked with a flower, tied with the colours of his beloved Hawthorn. | |
| We start with condolence motions for Flo Bjelke-Petersen, Barry Cohen and Brian Conquest. | |
| A floral tribute is placed at the seat Michael Gordon usually sat at, ahead of Question Time in the House of Representatives pic.twitter.com/W1YQ1FODDd | |
| Oh dear. How long ago was it that Jim Molan was sworn in? | |
| Looks like he has been caught sharing videos from Britain First. The same group which got US President Donald Trump an admonishment from Theresa May | |
| I’ll be heading into the chamber to cover this first question time, so let me know your predictions. | I’ll be heading into the chamber to cover this first question time, so let me know your predictions. |
| Coming up to question time at 2pm and so far this morning we have had: | Coming up to question time at 2pm and so far this morning we have had: |
| • Adani• Citizenship drama • Energy | • Adani• Citizenship drama • Energy |
| For a moment there, I thought it was still 2017. This is doing nothing to sway me from my theory that the end of the world actually occurred in 2007 and we have all been living in some sort of purgatory since then. How early is too early to add vodka to your coffee? Asking for a friend. | For a moment there, I thought it was still 2017. This is doing nothing to sway me from my theory that the end of the world actually occurred in 2007 and we have all been living in some sort of purgatory since then. How early is too early to add vodka to your coffee? Asking for a friend. |
| At a press conference in Canberra Matt Canavan has spruiked the benefits of the Adani Carmichael coalmine and attacked Bill Shorten for positioning Labor to find a way to kill the project. | At a press conference in Canberra Matt Canavan has spruiked the benefits of the Adani Carmichael coalmine and attacked Bill Shorten for positioning Labor to find a way to kill the project. |
| Asked if there is some other way for the federal government to help the mine other than the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility, Canavan said: | Asked if there is some other way for the federal government to help the mine other than the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility, Canavan said: |
| The only proposal before us was the [Naif] loan, that has now been vetoed by the Queensland government, which is their right. As I said last year, that’s that. That particular path is closed. There is another proposal from Aurizon ... the Queensland government is yet to come back to us on what their position on that project is. | The only proposal before us was the [Naif] loan, that has now been vetoed by the Queensland government, which is their right. As I said last year, that’s that. That particular path is closed. There is another proposal from Aurizon ... the Queensland government is yet to come back to us on what their position on that project is. |
| Asked if there was some way to directly fund the project, the northern Australia and resources minister said: | Asked if there was some way to directly fund the project, the northern Australia and resources minister said: |
| Well that proposal is not before us and no, we can’t do that without the legislative authority, of course. We had that availability through the Naif [and because of] the constitutional reasons that became apparent when that legislation went through we’ve had to go through the states. | Well that proposal is not before us and no, we can’t do that without the legislative authority, of course. We had that availability through the Naif [and because of] the constitutional reasons that became apparent when that legislation went through we’ve had to go through the states. |
| Matt Canavan has just held a press conference. Shock, horror, he was defending Adani. | Matt Canavan has just held a press conference. Shock, horror, he was defending Adani. |
| He suggested Labor’s switch in position on Adani had something to do with the Batman byelection. | He suggested Labor’s switch in position on Adani had something to do with the Batman byelection. |
| Will wonders never cease? | Will wonders never cease? |
| Julie Bishop is heading across the ditch, with a visit planned to New Zealand next week. | Julie Bishop is heading across the ditch, with a visit planned to New Zealand next week. |
| But she won’t be meeting with Jacinda Ardern. *Cough* | But she won’t be meeting with Jacinda Ardern. *Cough* |
| From her statement: | From her statement: |
| I will visit Auckland from 9 to 10 February to meet with the Rt Hon Winston Peters, New Zealand’s deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs. | I will visit Auckland from 9 to 10 February to meet with the Rt Hon Winston Peters, New Zealand’s deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs. |
| This will be my second meeting with Mr Peters since New Zealand’s general election and Minister Peters’ appointment in October 2017. We will discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of importance to both our countries. | This will be my second meeting with Mr Peters since New Zealand’s general election and Minister Peters’ appointment in October 2017. We will discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of importance to both our countries. |
| Australia’s relationship with New Zealand is the closest and most comprehensive of all our bilateral relationships. It is underpinned by deep and dynamic links between our peoples through family, business enterprise, cultural activity and sporting rivalry. Around 650,000 New Zealanders live in Australia, and close to 70,000 Australians live in New Zealand. | Australia’s relationship with New Zealand is the closest and most comprehensive of all our bilateral relationships. It is underpinned by deep and dynamic links between our peoples through family, business enterprise, cultural activity and sporting rivalry. Around 650,000 New Zealanders live in Australia, and close to 70,000 Australians live in New Zealand. |
| Together with nine other like-minded countries, earlier this month New Zealand and Australia concluded the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership. Our total two-way trade with New Zealand in 2016-17 was valued at $26.8bn, with strong growth in the two-way services trade. Australian investment in New Zealand is valued at almost $107bn and New Zealand’s investment is valued at $A46.2bn. | Together with nine other like-minded countries, earlier this month New Zealand and Australia concluded the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership. Our total two-way trade with New Zealand in 2016-17 was valued at $26.8bn, with strong growth in the two-way services trade. Australian investment in New Zealand is valued at almost $107bn and New Zealand’s investment is valued at $A46.2bn. |
| We share with New Zealand a commitment to the international rules-based order and to an open global trading system. | We share with New Zealand a commitment to the international rules-based order and to an open global trading system. |
| New Zealand is an essential and valuable partner in supporting economic growth, stability and security of the Pacific. Mr Peters and I will discuss how to increase our shared efforts to support Pacific Island countries to tackle development challenges and promote a stable and resilient region. | New Zealand is an essential and valuable partner in supporting economic growth, stability and security of the Pacific. Mr Peters and I will discuss how to increase our shared efforts to support Pacific Island countries to tackle development challenges and promote a stable and resilient region. |
| Sarah Hanson-Young is calling for a full audit of the Murray-Darling basin plan. | Sarah Hanson-Young is calling for a full audit of the Murray-Darling basin plan. |
| From her release: | From her release: |
| The intervention by economists and scientists today shows that there’s serious lack of trust amongst policy experts. Experts and the community alike know that things are not as rosy as the federal government or the Murray-Darling Basin Authority would like everyone to believe. Scandals of water theft, tampering of water metres and rorting of public money spent on water and irrigation subsidies with little water being returned to the river has undermined the plan and wasted billions of taxpayers’ dollars. The longer authorities and politicians turn a blind eye to what is happening the harder it will be to get things back on track. | The intervention by economists and scientists today shows that there’s serious lack of trust amongst policy experts. Experts and the community alike know that things are not as rosy as the federal government or the Murray-Darling Basin Authority would like everyone to believe. Scandals of water theft, tampering of water metres and rorting of public money spent on water and irrigation subsidies with little water being returned to the river has undermined the plan and wasted billions of taxpayers’ dollars. The longer authorities and politicians turn a blind eye to what is happening the harder it will be to get things back on track. |
| Despite these scandals, the Senate is being asked to agree to a further weakening of environmental allocations. The Greens will not stand by and let this happen, which is why we will move to disallow the government’s recent push to weaken the plan’s existing sustainable diversion limits. | Despite these scandals, the Senate is being asked to agree to a further weakening of environmental allocations. The Greens will not stand by and let this happen, which is why we will move to disallow the government’s recent push to weaken the plan’s existing sustainable diversion limits. |
| The parliamentary committee looking into modernising Australia’s power grid has handed down its report. | The parliamentary committee looking into modernising Australia’s power grid has handed down its report. |
| You’ll find it here. We are just having a look at it now, so we’ll let you know the key points, if you actually have a life and don’t want to spend part of it reading a parliamentary report. | You’ll find it here. We are just having a look at it now, so we’ll let you know the key points, if you actually have a life and don’t want to spend part of it reading a parliamentary report. |
| Here’s a blast from the (not so distant) past. Malcolm Roberts, who is now on the payroll of Pauline Hanson, was out and about outside parliament this morning. Novelty joint for scale. | Here’s a blast from the (not so distant) past. Malcolm Roberts, who is now on the payroll of Pauline Hanson, was out and about outside parliament this morning. Novelty joint for scale. |
| Speaking of the Adani protest: | Speaking of the Adani protest: |
| The Adani protest is picking up steam outside Parliament House (and Batman) | The Adani protest is picking up steam outside Parliament House (and Batman) |
| The Queensland Greens senator Andrew Bartlett has been on Sky this morning talking about Labor’s need to pick a position. Queensland Labor remains in support of it. Federal Labor is backing away. The Queensland Greens are going through an internal preselection battle for the state Senate spot. This isn’t going away as an issue anytime soon. In fact, it is just getting started. | The Queensland Greens senator Andrew Bartlett has been on Sky this morning talking about Labor’s need to pick a position. Queensland Labor remains in support of it. Federal Labor is backing away. The Queensland Greens are going through an internal preselection battle for the state Senate spot. This isn’t going away as an issue anytime soon. In fact, it is just getting started. |
| .@AndrewBartlett: the Adani coal mine is 'dodgy' and we need a statement from Labor indicating whether they support the mine or not. MORE: https://t.co/j81O8Ni7lX pic.twitter.com/32DJHxOZgP | .@AndrewBartlett: the Adani coal mine is 'dodgy' and we need a statement from Labor indicating whether they support the mine or not. MORE: https://t.co/j81O8Ni7lX pic.twitter.com/32DJHxOZgP |
| Some Mike Bowers chamber magic | Some Mike Bowers chamber magic |
| A memorial is being held for the former Hawke minister Barry Cohen. | A memorial is being held for the former Hawke minister Barry Cohen. |
| Malcolm Turnbull: | Malcolm Turnbull: |
| He also believed Australian parliamentarians should never stop learning and obtain every skill possible. This was hardly surprising. He was a first-class golfer, postman, clerk and businessmen. To Barry, no vocation was more enthralling or rewarding than writing, that he continued to write even after Alzheimer’s cast its long shadow. His writings opened the door on what had previously been a very private pain of those who lived with Alzheimer’s. He fought for greater awareness of dementia and often did it, again, with his trademark humour. When John Howard asked him how he found life in a nursing home, he replied, ‘it’s like question time!’ Australia has been enriched by his presence. To his family, I offer the supreme thanks of a nation for a life of service well served. Thank you. | |
| Bill Shorten: | Bill Shorten: |
| We remember a remarkable man with an extraordinary legacy. He safeguarded some of Australia’s most precious national treasures for future generations, from Uluru to Kakadu to the Great Barrier Reef. He championed the security of Israel and a stronger tie between the two nations. And even when his time in public life had ended, even when he became more than one of 400,000 Australians living with dementia, he did not go gentle into that good night. In fact, that is when I came to know him best. Not from his remarkable ... six columns in the Australian extolling my virtues, a feat never to be repeated, but in his search for a better deal for older Australians. I think we know that all that charisma, all that humour, all that passion and undoubted love for his family, for whom he was very proud and talked to me at length about, that lifetime of campaigning experience channelled into a course so often overlooked. We do not have a cure for dementia yet and we have a long way to go before, I think, we are doing aged care in this country worthy of the generation that taught us and helped us build a modern Australia. But when we find the cure, when every older Australia and in their family can enjoy a life of great dignity and security, Barry Cohen will be due a measure of great credit. On behalf of the Labor family and your family, I say thank you ... We are all the better for his contribution to our country. May he rest in peace. | We remember a remarkable man with an extraordinary legacy. He safeguarded some of Australia’s most precious national treasures for future generations, from Uluru to Kakadu to the Great Barrier Reef. He championed the security of Israel and a stronger tie between the two nations. And even when his time in public life had ended, even when he became more than one of 400,000 Australians living with dementia, he did not go gentle into that good night. In fact, that is when I came to know him best. Not from his remarkable ... six columns in the Australian extolling my virtues, a feat never to be repeated, but in his search for a better deal for older Australians. I think we know that all that charisma, all that humour, all that passion and undoubted love for his family, for whom he was very proud and talked to me at length about, that lifetime of campaigning experience channelled into a course so often overlooked. We do not have a cure for dementia yet and we have a long way to go before, I think, we are doing aged care in this country worthy of the generation that taught us and helped us build a modern Australia. But when we find the cure, when every older Australia and in their family can enjoy a life of great dignity and security, Barry Cohen will be due a measure of great credit. On behalf of the Labor family and your family, I say thank you ... We are all the better for his contribution to our country. May he rest in peace. |
| Speaking of backbenches, Keith Pitt and Darren Chester have taken their new seats in the back row, for the first week of parliament since both were demoted. | Speaking of backbenches, Keith Pitt and Darren Chester have taken their new seats in the back row, for the first week of parliament since both were demoted. |
| That came after Matt Canavan came third in the ballot to choose Barnaby Joyce’s Nationals deputy. Canavan was Joyce’s choice. Bridget McKenzie was the eventual victor and the cabinet reshuffle saw two popular and performing Nats booted. Read into that what you will. Plenty of others certainly have. | That came after Matt Canavan came third in the ballot to choose Barnaby Joyce’s Nationals deputy. Canavan was Joyce’s choice. Bridget McKenzie was the eventual victor and the cabinet reshuffle saw two popular and performing Nats booted. Read into that what you will. Plenty of others certainly have. |
| For the politico watchers: | For the politico watchers: |
| In case you missed it! @SabraLane has been appointed as President of the National Press Club. Sabra is the second female correspondent to be become President in the 55 year history of the club. #NPChttps://t.co/bQSdMG8dWn | In case you missed it! @SabraLane has been appointed as President of the National Press Club. Sabra is the second female correspondent to be become President in the 55 year history of the club. #NPChttps://t.co/bQSdMG8dWn |