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| Julie Bishop to meet Russian ambassador – politics live | Julie Bishop to meet Russian ambassador – politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| While the Russian ambassador has been entertaining members of the press gallery (and the nation via live coverage) at his Canberra residence, Labor has distributed what it says is a draft of a public statement the Business Council of Australia issued last week, targeted at members of the Senate, in support of the big business tax cut. | |
| Regular readers will know that the BCA issued a brief statement last week signed by 10 chief executives making a non-specific commitment about investment in the event the company tax cut passed. | |
| The document Labor is distributing, headed “Informal Compact”, is a much longer document spelling out specific commitments in the event the company tax passes. It reads: “If the Senate passes the enterprise tax plan in full, we will – 1. Create more Australian jobs in the cities, suburbs, town and bush; 2. Invest in more Australian projects and ideas – especially in remote and rural Australia; 3. Be in a stronger position to avoid offshoring of jobs; 4. Be able to increase wages when the conditions are right; 5. Pay our tax and show our commitment by signing the ATOs tax transparency charter.” | |
| I’ve had a preliminary conversation with a BCA spokesman, who says this statement is a separate document to the brief statement that was issued by the BCA last week.There is also a statement from the BCA chief executive, Jennifer Westacott: “In agreement with our members, the BCA began a process for developing a statement of commitments to the Australian people. | |
| “We realise that in order to reestablish the community’s confidence in business we need to respond to the issues that matter most to them. | |
| “The statement will go beyond the company tax debate and outline what the business community will do to help the nation deal with the challenges of the future. | |
| “These include how we create more meaningful and well-paid jobs for people, how we support more Australian projects and ideas, how we keep Australians in jobs in Australia, including taking responsibility for the transition taking place in our workplaces, and ensure we pay our tax openly and transparently. | |
| “Given the broad and diverse nature of the businesses represented by our members, we are consulting with them closely to ensure we can make a meaningful commitment. | |
| “This process is ongoing.” | |
| Last night the BCA launched an advertising campaign to try to win hearts and minds in the Australian community and push back against progressive campaigns that the business community considers deleterious to its interests. | |
| Labor will pursue this issue throughout the parliamentary day. There has already been some procedural theatrics in the house. | |
| In other news, Tony Abbott has launched the annual pollie pedal this morning. | |
| Russia has no spies in Australia. Ha ha. | |
| I absolutely need a vodka and a lie down after that. It’s partly a Pavlovian response to hearing those arguments put forward in a Russian accent (hey Uncle Sarunas) and partly because that was an incredible hour of absolute insanity. | |
| Grigory Logvinov is now prosecuting Russia’s grievances with Nato (which go back to Mikhail Gorbachev) at this press conference. | |
| (This is something I have heard about my entire life, from all sides, and also something that will be spoken about in 3018.) | |
| As to why he believes Australia has joined forces with the UK and others, Logvinov had this to say: | |
| I don’t believe it is simple and that the Australians are so simple that they can be fooled by anyone. I respect my Australian colleagues and that they are very able diplomats. Secondly, it was stated yesterday, we understand that it is 100% policy and that Australia is acting within the framework of the Euro Atlantic and Anglo-Saxon solidarity. That’s all.” | |
| We have officially reached the taking-the-piss-stage of this press conference: | We have officially reached the taking-the-piss-stage of this press conference: |
| Well, actually, I have never heard of anyone poisoned in Russia. Perhaps food poisoning.” | Well, actually, I have never heard of anyone poisoned in Russia. Perhaps food poisoning.” |
| How many spies are left in Australia? | How many spies are left in Australia? |
| Zero minus zero is still zero.” | Zero minus zero is still zero.” |
| Question: Do you realise how stupid you sound when you say there are no Russian spies in Australia. | Question: Do you realise how stupid you sound when you say there are no Russian spies in Australia. |
| Answer: I do not feel stupid. | Answer: I do not feel stupid. |
| Is this a global conspiracy against Russia then? | Is this a global conspiracy against Russia then? |
| Maybe. Perhaps it is a destiny of great ... global power. Russia has always encountered ... negative activity from the west. Everybody understands, and especially it became quite clear, when it was ... passed through the 90s, the period when Russia’s economy was completely in ... rubble while the armed forces were absolutely devastated. We had no real independent foreign policy. | Maybe. Perhaps it is a destiny of great ... global power. Russia has always encountered ... negative activity from the west. Everybody understands, and especially it became quite clear, when it was ... passed through the 90s, the period when Russia’s economy was completely in ... rubble while the armed forces were absolutely devastated. We had no real independent foreign policy. |
| As ... was said by our foreign minister, Russia has no national interests, only international. But after that, after Russia started revising, started carrying out its independent foreign policy, after Russia started pursuing its own independent ... national interests, everything started. All this anti-Russian campaign started and gained momentum as Russia became more and more independent. That is the problem. First of all, Americans, colleagues, they are not used to having equal partnership or relations with anyone. You see, they are following ... the old principle formulated actually by Stalin, if not, they would be against us. They cannot imagine, they cannot actually accept, any other state which can carry out independent foreign policy but not be hostile to the US. That is the situation, regrettably. But it has only just begun.” | As ... was said by our foreign minister, Russia has no national interests, only international. But after that, after Russia started revising, started carrying out its independent foreign policy, after Russia started pursuing its own independent ... national interests, everything started. All this anti-Russian campaign started and gained momentum as Russia became more and more independent. That is the problem. First of all, Americans, colleagues, they are not used to having equal partnership or relations with anyone. You see, they are following ... the old principle formulated actually by Stalin, if not, they would be against us. They cannot imagine, they cannot actually accept, any other state which can carry out independent foreign policy but not be hostile to the US. That is the situation, regrettably. But it has only just begun.” |
| And yes, I have an emotional connection to the Baltic states, but anyone defending Russia might want to have a chat to a Balt and ask them how they feel about Putin’s continuing reign. | And yes, I have an emotional connection to the Baltic states, but anyone defending Russia might want to have a chat to a Balt and ask them how they feel about Putin’s continuing reign. |
| Why won’t he admit there are spies as part of the diplomatic efforts in Australia? | Why won’t he admit there are spies as part of the diplomatic efforts in Australia? |
| It is quite a peculiar question. If I say [that it] admits that all other Russian embassies are half spy embassies. Embassies are consisting of diplomats. Some embassies, well, our embassy here, is quite small. Its average, actually. We have embassies that are bigger in the US. Well, it was big, now it is much smaller. | It is quite a peculiar question. If I say [that it] admits that all other Russian embassies are half spy embassies. Embassies are consisting of diplomats. Some embassies, well, our embassy here, is quite small. Its average, actually. We have embassies that are bigger in the US. Well, it was big, now it is much smaller. |
| The press conference is now descending into Grigory Logvinov defending Russia against everything from MH17 to the next annexation of Crimea. | The press conference is now descending into Grigory Logvinov defending Russia against everything from MH17 to the next annexation of Crimea. |
| We just hit WWII. | We just hit WWII. |
| I would be very happy to hear, actually, what they want and how do they see the final results on all of these anti-Russian campaigns. What do they want to see? Their final point? If they want Russia, if they are hopeful for Russia to fall on its knees, to repent and say yes, we are a bad place and so on, you see, it is blasphemy. Because don’t forget, please, Russia in the first world war lost more than the whole population of Australia in that time. In the second world war, Russia has lost more than today’s population of the whole of Australia and we have never surrendered. It sounds like a bad joke to expect Russia to give up and repent.” | I would be very happy to hear, actually, what they want and how do they see the final results on all of these anti-Russian campaigns. What do they want to see? Their final point? If they want Russia, if they are hopeful for Russia to fall on its knees, to repent and say yes, we are a bad place and so on, you see, it is blasphemy. Because don’t forget, please, Russia in the first world war lost more than the whole population of Australia in that time. In the second world war, Russia has lost more than today’s population of the whole of Australia and we have never surrendered. It sounds like a bad joke to expect Russia to give up and repent.” |
| First of all … let’s ... not start judging or making judgment on our domestic situation. It is our choice, not anyone else’s. That is why we had troubles and frictions with the Americans. It is their bad ... tradition to interfere into other domestic politics and judge [what is] good and bad. Look at yourselves first. That is first of all. Secondly, you do not like that we simply deny [it]. Actually, what have the British said? What evidence have they provided? They simply say ... Just ... look at the famous three monkeys. No see, no hear, closed everything. But it is Russia, Russia, Russia. Why do you believe the British? [You] do not believe facts! | First of all … let’s ... not start judging or making judgment on our domestic situation. It is our choice, not anyone else’s. That is why we had troubles and frictions with the Americans. It is their bad ... tradition to interfere into other domestic politics and judge [what is] good and bad. Look at yourselves first. That is first of all. Secondly, you do not like that we simply deny [it]. Actually, what have the British said? What evidence have they provided? They simply say ... Just ... look at the famous three monkeys. No see, no hear, closed everything. But it is Russia, Russia, Russia. Why do you believe the British? [You] do not believe facts! |
| (Sidenote: Listening to Grigory Logvinov has me flashing back to my childhood and listening to my relatives argue over vodka about the USSR.) | (Sidenote: Listening to Grigory Logvinov has me flashing back to my childhood and listening to my relatives argue over vodka about the USSR.) |
| Someone just asked the Russian ambassador to Australia: “Are we in a new cold war?” | Someone just asked the Russian ambassador to Australia: “Are we in a new cold war?” |
| Because I am sure the first person to be told is Moscow’s man in Canberra. | Because I am sure the first person to be told is Moscow’s man in Canberra. |
| Honestly. | Honestly. |
| For the record, his answer was: | For the record, his answer was: |
| Actually, [the] cold war was invented by, you know, Winston Churchill. | Actually, [the] cold war was invented by, you know, Winston Churchill. |
| … If the west ... wants it. | … If the west ... wants it. |
| The Russian ambassador is quite cranky over the expulsion – not just in Australia, but in the 23 or so other countries across the west. | The Russian ambassador is quite cranky over the expulsion – not just in Australia, but in the 23 or so other countries across the west. |
| This has been coordinated and agreed. It is quite clear that the campaign about so-called Russian interference into domestic situations and domestic politics in the US was exhausted. It turned out to be nothing. That was well-prepared. This is a well-orchestrated campaign. Like the foreign ministry, this is boorish. We will have to retaliate. It is now … up to the west to finally stop and understand that the anti-Russian campaign has no future. | This has been coordinated and agreed. It is quite clear that the campaign about so-called Russian interference into domestic situations and domestic politics in the US was exhausted. It turned out to be nothing. That was well-prepared. This is a well-orchestrated campaign. Like the foreign ministry, this is boorish. We will have to retaliate. It is now … up to the west to finally stop and understand that the anti-Russian campaign has no future. |
| Grigory Logvinov starts his briefing with a joke that the Russian diplomat expulsion seems to have attracted more attention than the cricket. | Grigory Logvinov starts his briefing with a joke that the Russian diplomat expulsion seems to have attracted more attention than the cricket. |
| “That’s interesting,” he says. | “That’s interesting,” he says. |