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| Julie Bishop calls Russian ambassador in for a 'public dressing down' – as it happened | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| And on that note, we are going to wrap it up. | |
| We won’t see you again until May 8, when parliament resumes - with bonus budget! - but don’t despair. We’ll use the five week break to recharge and rejuvenate, and as always, you’ll find all the in-between parliamentary coverage, including what can be found in the budget, right here on The Guardian. | |
| Plus, @pyjamapolitics, where you’ll find short updates of the goings on and a brief rundown of the main political stories of the day. | |
| We have crammed a week into three days, so a bigger than usual thank you to Mike Bowers and the Guardian’s brain trust. Follow Mike at @mpbowers and @mikepbowers to see what he is up to in the next month or so. It’s how I plan on dealing with our forced separation. | |
| And as always, the biggest thank you to you, for reading. I hope you have a wonderful easter filled with family, rest and as much chocolate as you feel like consuming. Stay safe, stay calm, and take care of you. We’ll catch you back here, on the other side. | |
| Anne Aly launched her book in our parliament press gallery neighbour’s office this afternoon. | |
| She says she hopes Finding My Place will help people learn a little bit more about her, outside of her parliamentary career. | |
| It also includes the tidbit that she has seen Zoolander 23 times. But I mean – who hasn’t? | |
| With all the Russian/QT/tax insanity, I almost missed this earlier today. Ben Doherty has an update on Myanmar: | |
| Australia has told Myanmar that international observers must be allowed into the isolated Rakhine state to monitor the situation of Rohingya still living there, and to supervise the return of any of those who have fled and wish to come back. | |
| In its strongest statement yet against the quasi-military regime, Australia condemned Myanmar’s violence at the United Nations human rights council, saying anyone guilty of human rights abuses “must be held to account”. | |
| “Australia reiterates its deep concern about events in Rakhine state, including reports of widespread and systematic human rights violations and abuses by Myanmar security forces and local vigilantes,” the charge d’affaires of Australia’s mission to the UN, Lachlan Strahan, said in Geneva. “We also note with concern ongoing clashes between the Myanmar military and ethnic armed groups in north-eastern Myanmar and barriers to humanitarian access.” | |
| You can read the whole report, here. | |
| In other Australian-Russian relations: | |
| Tony Abbott says he threw a koala at Vladimir Putin when he was in Sydney.... On more serious note, he supports the Government's action on Russia but says tougher sanctions may likely be needed. | |
| Back to your usual Politics Live fare. I missed putting this one up from earlier. | Back to your usual Politics Live fare. I missed putting this one up from earlier. |
| Bill Shorten: | Bill Shorten: |
| This is the last parliamentary sitting day before the 21st Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. | This is the last parliamentary sitting day before the 21st Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. |
| So I wanted to take this opportunity to wish all 70 visiting teams and their supporters from around the world an enjoyable stay in a beautiful part of Australia. And I want to wish the 473 members of the Australian squad every success, whether it’s on the track, in the pool, on the beach, at the velodrome or, of course, on the netball court. | So I wanted to take this opportunity to wish all 70 visiting teams and their supporters from around the world an enjoyable stay in a beautiful part of Australia. And I want to wish the 473 members of the Australian squad every success, whether it’s on the track, in the pool, on the beach, at the velodrome or, of course, on the netball court. |
| The member for Lalor, who would wear that Diamonds scarf in here every day if she could, told me a great statistic about this year’s games. | The member for Lalor, who would wear that Diamonds scarf in here every day if she could, told me a great statistic about this year’s games. |
| This is the 21st Commonwealth Games, but it is the first Commonwealth Games where half the medals up for grabs can be won by women athletes. And it is great news that the Gold Coast games will include the largest para-sport program in commonwealth history. | This is the 21st Commonwealth Games, but it is the first Commonwealth Games where half the medals up for grabs can be won by women athletes. And it is great news that the Gold Coast games will include the largest para-sport program in commonwealth history. |
| As ever, the smooth running of this event will depend on thousands of cheerful volunteers and I want to thank them in advance, because they are outstanding ambassadors for our nation. | As ever, the smooth running of this event will depend on thousands of cheerful volunteers and I want to thank them in advance, because they are outstanding ambassadors for our nation. |
| Mr Speaker, Australian sport needs a good story at the moment. | Mr Speaker, Australian sport needs a good story at the moment. |
| And I know from the moment Sally Pearson and Kurt Fearnley lead the Australian team into the stadium to start the games, our whole country will be inspired and uplifted. | And I know from the moment Sally Pearson and Kurt Fearnley lead the Australian team into the stadium to start the games, our whole country will be inspired and uplifted. |
| Good luck and go Aussies.” | Good luck and go Aussies.” |
| It was 100 years ago last year, that Rasputin died. The mystic and Tsarina’s confidante had been poisoned, shot and beaten. Russian tales are always tall, but the downfall of the Mad Monk, who led the Russian aristocracy over the cliff, is passed down in the same warning tones as a Baba Yaga fable. Hushed, fervent and with no lack of pride. Rasputin drank his cyanide-laced madeira as if at a state dinner, the third glass, seemingly soothing the stomach ache caused by the poison cakes he’d been served to soak up the poisoned wine. | It was 100 years ago last year, that Rasputin died. The mystic and Tsarina’s confidante had been poisoned, shot and beaten. Russian tales are always tall, but the downfall of the Mad Monk, who led the Russian aristocracy over the cliff, is passed down in the same warning tones as a Baba Yaga fable. Hushed, fervent and with no lack of pride. Rasputin drank his cyanide-laced madeira as if at a state dinner, the third glass, seemingly soothing the stomach ache caused by the poison cakes he’d been served to soak up the poisoned wine. |
| Still on his feet, they tried lead, firing a bullet into his chest. Still he stood. And now, sure Felix Yusupov was trying to kill him, Rasputin reportedly launched himself at the prince. The beating was by no means feeble, and it took four more bullets to down him. Not taking any chances, his body was dropped into the Neva river, where it was found, two days later. | Still on his feet, they tried lead, firing a bullet into his chest. Still he stood. And now, sure Felix Yusupov was trying to kill him, Rasputin reportedly launched himself at the prince. The beating was by no means feeble, and it took four more bullets to down him. Not taking any chances, his body was dropped into the Neva river, where it was found, two days later. |
| Russia’s history is littered with such tales. And those of us who grow up with them are told them as part warning, part honouring the past. But ultimately they all tell a tale of pride. That even in the event of a fall, pride will ensure some part of you will always stand tall. | Russia’s history is littered with such tales. And those of us who grow up with them are told them as part warning, part honouring the past. But ultimately they all tell a tale of pride. That even in the event of a fall, pride will ensure some part of you will always stand tall. |
| Grigory Logvinov’s performance this morning was a masterclass in Russian story telling. Deny, laugh and charm, but ensure your audience realises later it was being ridiculed. The cartoonish Bond villain persona has masked many a sharp mind. Sprinklings of Le Carre intrigue among joking denials. Contemptuous dismissals with a smile chaser. Jovial history lessons with a flash of bite. Those raised with Russian tales recognise the signs. | Grigory Logvinov’s performance this morning was a masterclass in Russian story telling. Deny, laugh and charm, but ensure your audience realises later it was being ridiculed. The cartoonish Bond villain persona has masked many a sharp mind. Sprinklings of Le Carre intrigue among joking denials. Contemptuous dismissals with a smile chaser. Jovial history lessons with a flash of bite. Those raised with Russian tales recognise the signs. |
| It was a more subdued Logvinov who accepted Julie Bishop’s invitation this afternoon. | It was a more subdued Logvinov who accepted Julie Bishop’s invitation this afternoon. |
| The ambassador walked into another room of cameras to sit at a pine table and accepted a public dressing down over the Kremlin’s actions from Australia’s foreign affairs minister. | The ambassador walked into another room of cameras to sit at a pine table and accepted a public dressing down over the Kremlin’s actions from Australia’s foreign affairs minister. |
| The attitude shift was noticeable. The reasons why a diplomatic mystery. But the intention, at least from Australia’s point of view, was clear. Australia, minor player as it is, is taking this issue seriously, even if the ambassador is not. | The attitude shift was noticeable. The reasons why a diplomatic mystery. But the intention, at least from Australia’s point of view, was clear. Australia, minor player as it is, is taking this issue seriously, even if the ambassador is not. |
| Read into all of it, as you will. | Read into all of it, as you will. |
| Linda Burney is talking to Sky and says she believes there is a “crisis” with children in care across Australia. | Linda Burney is talking to Sky and says she believes there is a “crisis” with children in care across Australia. |
| She is calling for a national inquiry and for the state and territories to examine their foster care system. | She is calling for a national inquiry and for the state and territories to examine their foster care system. |
| Mike Bowers presents your last question time (until 8 May). | Mike Bowers presents your last question time (until 8 May). |
| Question time ends. | Question time ends. |
| Amanda Rishworth to Malcolm Turnbull: | Amanda Rishworth to Malcolm Turnbull: |
| Why is the prime minister committed to a $65bn handout for big business but are making our fantastic early childhood educators like those in the public gallery today pay more tax with an early childhood educator on $45,000 paying $225 a year more tax? | Why is the prime minister committed to a $65bn handout for big business but are making our fantastic early childhood educators like those in the public gallery today pay more tax with an early childhood educator on $45,000 paying $225 a year more tax? |
| Turnbull: | Turnbull: |
| “I thank the honourable member for her question and I want to say we all admire early childhood educators. I want to say that, Mr Speaker, the government does not set the wages or conditions of childcare educators. The role of the government is to provide subsidies to hard-working Australian families so they can afford the care they need in order to balance their work and family responsibilities. | “I thank the honourable member for her question and I want to say we all admire early childhood educators. I want to say that, Mr Speaker, the government does not set the wages or conditions of childcare educators. The role of the government is to provide subsidies to hard-working Australian families so they can afford the care they need in order to balance their work and family responsibilities. |
| “And we [will], as of the 2 July this year, provide up to 85% of the cost of care for low-income families and record levels of investment. In fact, Mr Speaker, the increase in the overall subsidy for childcare is well over $1bn a year. It will be $8.8bn in the first full year. | “And we [will], as of the 2 July this year, provide up to 85% of the cost of care for low-income families and record levels of investment. In fact, Mr Speaker, the increase in the overall subsidy for childcare is well over $1bn a year. It will be $8.8bn in the first full year. |
| “Childcare reforms provide the highest rate of subsidies, 85% to those with the lowest incomes, below around $65,000 a year, provides the most subsidised care to those who work the most hours, 100 hours a fortnight, removes the annual childcare rebate cap to families on less than around $185,000 a year and that is 85% of families using childcare. | “Childcare reforms provide the highest rate of subsidies, 85% to those with the lowest incomes, below around $65,000 a year, provides the most subsidised care to those who work the most hours, 100 hours a fortnight, removes the annual childcare rebate cap to families on less than around $185,000 a year and that is 85% of families using childcare. |
| “The Labor party voted against it. They voted against that reform. We know the decision of the Fair Work Commission. It is an independent umpire set up by the Labor party. It respects the independent decisions and it’s about time the leader of the opposition did too.” | “The Labor party voted against it. They voted against that reform. We know the decision of the Fair Work Commission. It is an independent umpire set up by the Labor party. It respects the independent decisions and it’s about time the leader of the opposition did too.” |