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| Plibersek says byelection date designed to disadvantage Labor party – politics live | Plibersek says byelection date designed to disadvantage Labor party – politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| There has been some chatter that Ken Wyatt was planning on resigning (which would spark another byelection in WA, this time in the Liberal seat of Hasluck) | |
| Apparently not, though: | |
| Ken Wyatt's office said to me this afternoon he's not resigning and will "absolutely" contest the next election #auspol | |
| AEC commissioner Tom Rogers to Penny Wong: "Several members of the House have resigned, they've resigned as a result of failing to follow procedures, and now somehow the AEC is being fingered as being responsible for the outcomes of this. I'm sorry. I'm not taking it." #estimates | |
| And from the estimates hearing, where Penny Wong has been questioning the Australian electoral commissioner Tom Rogers, Mike Bowers saw this: | |
| In the Senate estimates hearing Labor has a few strands of its attack on the idea the new candidate disclosure process requires this lengthy preparation period for the byelection. | |
| As Penny Wong has already demonstrated that filling in the form is voluntary, so the Australian Electoral Commission’s claim that it will guarantee that nobody ineligible will be elected doesn’t quite hold. | |
| And as Kimberley Kitching has just said “the form is not complex” – the form just goes through each part of section 44 of the constitution asking if a candidate is – for example – an undischarged bankrupt. | |
| For the most part it’s a series of yes/no questions. | |
| Labor’s position is that there’s no reason the AEC couldn’t simply make this available to candidates now so they can get themselves ready, although Tony Smith told the House of Representatives it won’t get final sign off from the governor general until 29 May. | |
| There’s nothing to stop candidates reading section 44 of the constitution now, either. | |
| Things got a little insane there, so I am late in showing you what Mike Bowers was up to today – let me correct that: | |
| Here’s what the byelection candidates will be asked to provide by the new regulations: | Here’s what the byelection candidates will be asked to provide by the new regulations: |
| #breaking - I've got a copy of the draft regulations for the new candidate checklist. It starts with the obvious: are you an Australian citizen. #auspol pic.twitter.com/Hsr040RmJm | #breaking - I've got a copy of the draft regulations for the new candidate checklist. It starts with the obvious: are you an Australian citizen. #auspol pic.twitter.com/Hsr040RmJm |
| We then get a series of questions about parents, grandparents and spouse - similar to the citizenship disclosure register #auspol pic.twitter.com/yVM0IwrRo2 | We then get a series of questions about parents, grandparents and spouse - similar to the citizenship disclosure register #auspol pic.twitter.com/yVM0IwrRo2 |
| The form then asks whether people have renounced, and if not, for further details if they are unable to renounce #auspol pic.twitter.com/znXWGpLmOn | The form then asks whether people have renounced, and if not, for further details if they are unable to renounce #auspol pic.twitter.com/znXWGpLmOn |
| The questions are basically a series of boilerplate "are you disqualified by section 44" and going through each part. No guidance eg on what "office of profit" is or "indirect pecuniary interest" #auspol pic.twitter.com/sXSFYIcjfy | The questions are basically a series of boilerplate "are you disqualified by section 44" and going through each part. No guidance eg on what "office of profit" is or "indirect pecuniary interest" #auspol pic.twitter.com/sXSFYIcjfy |
| In estimates Senator Lee Rhiannon is asking Clegg if individual sheep tag numbers are used to count sheep on and off live export ships between ports. She wants to know how accurate counts of animals are.Clegg, the agriculture department secretary, says ear tags aren’t used but she says perhaps that’s something that could be introduced to improve accuracy of counts. She admits there are discrepancies between the numbers of animals said to be loaded onto vessels and the number of animals actually discharged at ports.Clegg says “it’s not the 1950s” and conceded maybe, with the technology now available, this lack of accuracy isn’t good enough.“I think technology has moved on a lot and it will be something we focus on,” she said. | In estimates Senator Lee Rhiannon is asking Clegg if individual sheep tag numbers are used to count sheep on and off live export ships between ports. She wants to know how accurate counts of animals are.Clegg, the agriculture department secretary, says ear tags aren’t used but she says perhaps that’s something that could be introduced to improve accuracy of counts. She admits there are discrepancies between the numbers of animals said to be loaded onto vessels and the number of animals actually discharged at ports.Clegg says “it’s not the 1950s” and conceded maybe, with the technology now available, this lack of accuracy isn’t good enough.“I think technology has moved on a lot and it will be something we focus on,” she said. |
| Estimate hearings are continuing, but the House has adjourned until Tuesday next week. | Estimate hearings are continuing, but the House has adjourned until Tuesday next week. |
| After this story in the Conversation by Michelle Grattan, that says even Barnaby Joyce doesn’t know when the investigation into his expenses is complete, I’ve received this statement from the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority: | After this story in the Conversation by Michelle Grattan, that says even Barnaby Joyce doesn’t know when the investigation into his expenses is complete, I’ve received this statement from the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority: |
| At this time the audit remains ongoing and we are unable to provide a timeframe for completion. To comment on any particular matter that may or may not be under consideration may compromise the conduct and outcome of any audit and the privacy rights of individuals. | At this time the audit remains ongoing and we are unable to provide a timeframe for completion. To comment on any particular matter that may or may not be under consideration may compromise the conduct and outcome of any audit and the privacy rights of individuals. |
| The Australian Electoral Commissioner, Tom Rogers, is arguing that Penny Wong is suggesting that the 28 July date is “solely as a result of the advice of the AEC”, which he rejects. | The Australian Electoral Commissioner, Tom Rogers, is arguing that Penny Wong is suggesting that the 28 July date is “solely as a result of the advice of the AEC”, which he rejects. |
| He says: “I’ve made clear it’s a matter for the Speaker. You’ve asked me when we first advised of the 28 July date ... I don’t provide particular dates, I provide factors [for one date or another].” | He says: “I’ve made clear it’s a matter for the Speaker. You’ve asked me when we first advised of the 28 July date ... I don’t provide particular dates, I provide factors [for one date or another].” |
| Mathias Cormann then launches a counter-attack that the byelections could have been a lot sooner if the Labor MPs had resigned when it was clear they were ineligible (October, after the Canavan decision, by the Coalition’s reckoning). | Mathias Cormann then launches a counter-attack that the byelections could have been a lot sooner if the Labor MPs had resigned when it was clear they were ineligible (October, after the Canavan decision, by the Coalition’s reckoning). |
| This has just dropped into my inbox from the agricultural minister: | This has just dropped into my inbox from the agricultural minister: |
| Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud has announced the review into the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock will be brought forward. | Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud has announced the review into the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock will be brought forward. |
| The review was due at the end of 2019 but will now be finished by the end of this year. | The review was due at the end of 2019 but will now be finished by the end of this year. |
| The committee chair, Dr Chris Back, has notified the Department of Agriculture he is unable to continue in the role of chair, due to the shortened timeframe and competing time commitments. | The committee chair, Dr Chris Back, has notified the Department of Agriculture he is unable to continue in the role of chair, due to the shortened timeframe and competing time commitments. |
| Minister Littleproud thanks Mr Back for his contribution thus far. | Minister Littleproud thanks Mr Back for his contribution thus far. |
| A replacement chair will be announced in the near future. | A replacement chair will be announced in the near future. |
| This was the second review into the culture of the department and regulator, surrounding the live sheep export trade. | This was the second review into the culture of the department and regulator, surrounding the live sheep export trade. |
| Things are getting heated in the finance committee, where Penny Wong is questioning the Australian Electoral Commission over how the byelections date was chosen. | Things are getting heated in the finance committee, where Penny Wong is questioning the Australian Electoral Commission over how the byelections date was chosen. |
| She was just made to withdraw the term “mate”. | She was just made to withdraw the term “mate”. |
| “Un-Australian,” she says. | “Un-Australian,” she says. |
| A very quick list of elections, including byelections, which have been held in school holidays, has been put together: | A very quick list of elections, including byelections, which have been held in school holidays, has been put together: |
| 2017 Bennelong byelection – NSW school holidays | 2017 Bennelong byelection – NSW school holidays |
| 2016 federal election – school holidays in most states | 2016 federal election – school holidays in most states |
| 2001 Aston byelection – Victorian school holidays | 2001 Aston byelection – Victorian school holidays |
| 1998 federal election – school holidays (and a long weekend) | 1998 federal election – school holidays (and a long weekend) |
| The Queensland 2015 state election was also held during the January school holidays. I know, because I was there and it was basically Hades. | The Queensland 2015 state election was also held during the January school holidays. I know, because I was there and it was basically Hades. |
| Barnaby Joyce was speaking to Sky just a moment ago, saying that the government has to stay the course with its company tax cut plan. | Barnaby Joyce was speaking to Sky just a moment ago, saying that the government has to stay the course with its company tax cut plan. |
| The agriculture department assistant secretary, Narelle Clegg, is being asked about the department’s investigation into the death of 2,400 sheep from heatstroke during a voyage to Qatar in August 2017. Senators Malarndirri McCarthy and Barry O’Sullivan are asking how investigations are conducted, what information is sought and what questions are asked of exporters following the deaths of animals.Clegg says the department looks at any reports available from veterinarians aboard the ship, the original application for export, and evidence about whether the voyage was prepared for adequately.The August 2017 voyage saw 900 sheep die in a day, Clegg says, when there was a sudden increase in temperature on day 15. Hundreds more died in the subsequent days, she said.“The cause of death was heat stress,” she said.She also said the vet on board euthanised as many critically unwell animals as possible, according to regulations. But she could not say how many of the dead sheep were euthanised and how many died from the heat stress.Sullivan, the committee chair, tells Clegg surely it would be relevant to know if a vet would have euthanised more animals humanely if they had more resources or time. McCarthy chimes in: “I think it shows the inadequacy of the department as an independent regulator.” She’s warned by the chair to avoid such commentary.Sullivan asks if the temperatures during the voyage were foreseeable. | The agriculture department assistant secretary, Narelle Clegg, is being asked about the department’s investigation into the death of 2,400 sheep from heatstroke during a voyage to Qatar in August 2017. Senators Malarndirri McCarthy and Barry O’Sullivan are asking how investigations are conducted, what information is sought and what questions are asked of exporters following the deaths of animals.Clegg says the department looks at any reports available from veterinarians aboard the ship, the original application for export, and evidence about whether the voyage was prepared for adequately.The August 2017 voyage saw 900 sheep die in a day, Clegg says, when there was a sudden increase in temperature on day 15. Hundreds more died in the subsequent days, she said.“The cause of death was heat stress,” she said.She also said the vet on board euthanised as many critically unwell animals as possible, according to regulations. But she could not say how many of the dead sheep were euthanised and how many died from the heat stress.Sullivan, the committee chair, tells Clegg surely it would be relevant to know if a vet would have euthanised more animals humanely if they had more resources or time. McCarthy chimes in: “I think it shows the inadequacy of the department as an independent regulator.” She’s warned by the chair to avoid such commentary.Sullivan asks if the temperatures during the voyage were foreseeable. |
| Clegg says, yes, you could expect high temperatures in the region where the sheep had died at the time of year the ship had taken its voyage, in August. But the days in August when those high temperatures might occur were not foreseeable, she said. | Clegg says, yes, you could expect high temperatures in the region where the sheep had died at the time of year the ship had taken its voyage, in August. But the days in August when those high temperatures might occur were not foreseeable, she said. |
| “The heat stress risk assessment model is meant to evaluate that risk and set a stocking density for that risk,” she said. “The model uses the average temperature of the month.” | “The heat stress risk assessment model is meant to evaluate that risk and set a stocking density for that risk,” she said. “The model uses the average temperature of the month.” |
| At this stage I am being told that Labor is not considering postponing its national conference “indefinitely”, but that it is “very early hours”. | At this stage I am being told that Labor is not considering postponing its national conference “indefinitely”, but that it is “very early hours”. |