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US embassy responds to Andrew Hastie disclosure – politics live US embassy responds to Andrew Hastie disclosure – politics live
(35 minutes later)
Mike Bowers has been out and about this morning. Here is some of what he saw:
Grandmothers against removal is a group working to stop what they say is the mass removal of children from their families by child protection agencies and the authorities - including police and detention centres.
Craig Kelly, who is facing a very strong preselection challenge for Hughes, seems to be enjoying himself this morning
Over in the Federation Chamber (where overflow speeches go, and where, you may note Andrew Hastie made his speech on Tuesday night) Andrew Leigh was talking about the need for Australia to do more to combat discrimination of the LGBTI community around the world.
From his speech:
“During my lifetime we in Australia have decriminalised homosexual acts between consenting adults. We have removed many forms of institutionalised discrimination against LGBT+ Australians. And we have belatedly legislated same-sex marriage.
“There is more to be done in Australia, but there is much more to be done around the world. According to the ILGA’s 2017 report, as of May 2017, 72 states continue to criminalise same-sex consensual activity—that is, more than one-third of the world’s nations. There are currently eight nations in which the death penalty is imposed as a punishment for same-sex consensual sexual acts.
“Let me go to some examples. This month in Malaysia we saw the release of Anwar Ibrahim, but it is a reminder that Malaysia continues to make sodomy illegal under section 377 of the Penal Code, which prohibits ‘carnal intercourse against the order of nature’. In Bangladesh in the capital Dhaka, Xulhaz Mannan, the founder of Bangladesh’s first and only LGBT magazine, was brutally hacked to death as punishment for his activism on behalf of same-sex-attracted Bangladeshis. In Tunisia, Bouhdid Belhedi, a campaigner for LGBT rights, was assaulted by Islamic extremists and beaten by a mob outside his house in Tunis as a policeman watched.
“In Ecuador, gay people are forced to undergo conversion therapy in secret clinics, where they are raped and beaten even though homosexuality is legal. Since the 2013 military intervention in Egypt, at least 250 LGBT+ people have been arrested. In Aceh, the Indonesian police recently arrested 12 transgender people. In Iran, gay men are sometimes hanged. In Russia, homophobic violence is on the rise. In Syria, there are media reports of LGBT individuals being thrown from tall buildings head first and then stoned by bystanders. And although homosexuality is legal in Turkey, it has one of the worst records of human rights violations against LGBT+ people in Europe.
“Homosexuality is not a choice. Being transgender is not a lifestyle. Equality is indivisible. Human rights are universal. It doesn’t matter whether you approach politics from the standpoint of freedom or from the standpoint of equality. As individuals, as civil society, as government, Australians must do more to stand up for LGBT+ rights around the globe.”
Can we ever trust transcripts again?
(Do be clear, most of us in the press gallery take our own recordings and transcribe from there, or double check the transcript with our recording)
Transcripts came up in the February estimates hearings, after Jenny McAllister wanted to know from Mathias Cormann, while the official PMO transcript showed Malcolm Turnbull thanking Donald Trump during their meeting just once, while the White House official transcript included a much more generous four thank yous. THE SCANDAL.
From that estimates Hansard transcript (page 134 of the February 26 hearing)
Senator McALLISTER: In the transcript issued by the Prime Minister, Mr Turnbullthanks President Trump twice, but in the version of the transcript issued by the White HouseMr Turnbull’s very effusive. He says, ‘Thank you,’ and, ‘I just say thank you to you andMelania for your hospitality and your friendship,’ and then he goes on to say thank you again.I think we get ‘thank you’, ‘thank you so much’, ‘thank you’ and ‘thank you’. So he was veryeffusive.
CHAIR: Senator McAllister, you’ve uncovered Thankyougate.
Senator Cormann: I’m really pleased that we are dealing with a major issue.
Senator McALLISTER: I’m just curious: how does it come about that it gets editeddown, that the thankyous are so much less prominent in the one issued by the Prime Minister?
Mr McKinnon: I think he’s just being a very thankful guest in the United States.
CHAIR: You might be too, Senator McAllister, if you were in the Oval Office.
Senator McALLISTER: But is the PMO’s office in some way trying to downplay howeffusive Mr Turnbull has been on this occasion?
Senator Cormann: Sorry, what are you suggesting?
Senator McALLISTER: I’m asking: is this deliberate or is this just an accident oftranscription? Are they trying to downplay how effusive Mr Turnbull was?
Senator Cormann: I haven’t had a conversation with the Prime Minister about thetranscripts of his relevant remarks, but now that you’ve asked the question I will undertake aninvestigation as to how the transcript that you’ve referenced has been so edited. It’s notunusual—in the context of Hansard transcription, for example—to remove any repetition of things that are said in the verbal communication that don’t necessarily add anything when you read a written transcript. I think that that is precisely the way Hansard does it. You’ve got Hansard people at the back here, and I think you’ll find that those of us in politics from time to time, for effect—particularly, a non-partisan statement, when you’re in opposition; I may have done the same when I was in opposition—repeat a particular sentence. You’ll find that Hansard will remove any such repetition and only provide what looks like a very eloquent, concise presentation of the point that you wanted to make.
Jenny Macklin is speaking in the House on the commonwealth redress scheme for survivors of institutional child abuse.
She is crying as she reads the history of the scheme, and what led to this point, and urges the states and territories who haven’t signed up to the commonwealth scheme (Tasmania and WA are yet to sign up).
As the royal commission said, many of the injuries were severe and long-lasting. Many people have been and continue to be impacted by injuries for the rest of their lives. It is the case that many, many survivors have still not had the opportunity to seek compensation for their injuries. The royal commission acknowledged that, and I quote: ‘it can not be feasible for many of those who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse to seek commonwealth damages. There is a clear need to provide avenues for survivors to take effective redress for this past abuse’. The establishment of a national redress scheme will acknowledge the abuse which occurred.
Labor understands, and I think everyone understands, that no amount of money can make up for the pain and trauma experienced. However, redress is a vital step along the path to healing. A vital step that we all have an obligation to put in place.
Macklin says Labor will be supporting the bill, but wants guarantees that all survivors will be able to access the scheme and older survivors are not left out.
When we get to question time, the Andrew Hastie matter is bound to come up again.
Here was some of what Mark Dreyfus had to say this morning to Radio National:
“It’s been reported today that Mr Hastie did not seek any permission from US agencies or warned them, give them advance notice of the proposed use of information that he gained from US agencies. And that’s a real concern. It’s not something that I can recall ever having occurred from any previous chair of the Intelligence Committee. I’ve been on trips as a member of the Intelligence Committee and as attorney general and obtained information from briefings from the FBI, the CIA, the NSA in the United States or their like agencies in the United Kingdom. It’s always in confidence, and speaking for myself I wouldn’t have dreamed ever of using information that I’d obtained in that manner,” he said.
“... The question that arises is one of trust. And I have to say that the prime minister is more in possession of information, obviously, than me as a member of the committee. But the committee have received highly classified information from Australian agencies, sometimes … when it visits US agencies, and members of the committee go, as has just occurred – or sometimes to the UK – equally highly confidential information and sometimes classified information is given. And it assists us in our work. There’s got to be a question of trust there about knowing that those confidences will be respected. But it is a matter for the prime minister.”
Paul Karp has written more on that here
Linda Burney has issued ANOTHER statement (this one official, sent from Bill Shorten’s office, while one was in response to questions and the second was a doorstop).Linda Burney has issued ANOTHER statement (this one official, sent from Bill Shorten’s office, while one was in response to questions and the second was a doorstop).
My comments on Sky News yesterday are public.My comments on Sky News yesterday are public.
This was an error in my office and was unintentional – the staff member involved has been counselled about the mistake.This was an error in my office and was unintentional – the staff member involved has been counselled about the mistake.
No other office had any role – it was solely my office’s responsibility for transcribing the interview and checking its accuracy.No other office had any role – it was solely my office’s responsibility for transcribing the interview and checking its accuracy.
There was also the time Michaelia Cash’s department (not her office, and there is a BIG difference) cut out questions from Paul Karp from one of Cash’s doorstops. The department at the time said it removed things which are not part of the minister’s portfolio. Cash’s office blamed an “overzealous” departmental staffer. From the story published earlier this year:There was also the time Michaelia Cash’s department (not her office, and there is a BIG difference) cut out questions from Paul Karp from one of Cash’s doorstops. The department at the time said it removed things which are not part of the minister’s portfolio. Cash’s office blamed an “overzealous” departmental staffer. From the story published earlier this year:
Media coverage of the embattled employment minister, Michaelia Cash, hasn’t been as bad as last week, but all things are relative. Earlier this week her department released a transcript of a “doorstop” interview – a huddle with reporters.Media coverage of the embattled employment minister, Michaelia Cash, hasn’t been as bad as last week, but all things are relative. Earlier this week her department released a transcript of a “doorstop” interview – a huddle with reporters.
The Q&A had been redacted to remove questions and answers – including several on the raid on the Australian Workers’ Union – which the department said didn’t relate to the senator’s portfolio of jobs and innovation. Strange, because those questions are evidently official business. Leigh Sales, presenter of 7.30, said the questions had been “censored”.The Q&A had been redacted to remove questions and answers – including several on the raid on the Australian Workers’ Union – which the department said didn’t relate to the senator’s portfolio of jobs and innovation. Strange, because those questions are evidently official business. Leigh Sales, presenter of 7.30, said the questions had been “censored”.
Cash’s office quickly blamed an “overzealous staffer” in the department and not her office for tampering with the record.Cash’s office quickly blamed an “overzealous staffer” in the department and not her office for tampering with the record.
Jane Hume, who said on the Bad Show (Q&A) on Monday that women and people of colour should just work harder to get into parliament, is on Sky saying preselection challenges are “not a gendered issue”.Jane Hume, who said on the Bad Show (Q&A) on Monday that women and people of colour should just work harder to get into parliament, is on Sky saying preselection challenges are “not a gendered issue”.
Jane Prentice’s dumping as candidate for her seat of Ryan, despite being an assistant member, and being replaced with a man, has set off another round of debate about what the Liberal party is doing about getting women into the party.Jane Prentice’s dumping as candidate for her seat of Ryan, despite being an assistant member, and being replaced with a man, has set off another round of debate about what the Liberal party is doing about getting women into the party.
Hume, who is under pressure to hold her number one Senate spot in Victoria after openly supporting marriage equality, has given another message direct to party preselectors in the wake of Malcolm Turnbull stepping in to save Ann Sudmalis from a preselection challenge:Hume, who is under pressure to hold her number one Senate spot in Victoria after openly supporting marriage equality, has given another message direct to party preselectors in the wake of Malcolm Turnbull stepping in to save Ann Sudmalis from a preselection challenge:
“It’s still a democratic process ... [but what about the intervention] ... sometimes it can be defied and that is the beaut thing about the Liberal party is that it is a democratic party no matter what.“It’s still a democratic process ... [but what about the intervention] ... sometimes it can be defied and that is the beaut thing about the Liberal party is that it is a democratic party no matter what.
“If the grassroots are cross at Malcolm Turnbull or Scott Morrison for doing that, then they can let him know. ““If the grassroots are cross at Malcolm Turnbull or Scott Morrison for doing that, then they can let him know. “
Labor’s Clare O’Neil says it is “completely outrageous”.Labor’s Clare O’Neil says it is “completely outrageous”.
“Jane is saying it is grassroots decisions, well there is a hell of a lot of grassroots decisions being made here, where we are seeing women who are of high caliber in the Liberal party getting replaced by the same kind of people – they are young, they are male and they all seem to have worked for the Institute of Public Affairs at one stage or another.”“Jane is saying it is grassroots decisions, well there is a hell of a lot of grassroots decisions being made here, where we are seeing women who are of high caliber in the Liberal party getting replaced by the same kind of people – they are young, they are male and they all seem to have worked for the Institute of Public Affairs at one stage or another.”
O’Neil said she doesn’t understand why Prentice wasn’t saved but a “backbencher who no one has ever heard of” has been saved.O’Neil said she doesn’t understand why Prentice wasn’t saved but a “backbencher who no one has ever heard of” has been saved.
Given it’s Thursday, which is the day on social media for throwbacks (#TBT), let’s head back to the last big “doctored document” conspiracy, when Barnaby Joyce was forced to admit his office changed the Hansard to correct the word “over” to “nearly”.Given it’s Thursday, which is the day on social media for throwbacks (#TBT), let’s head back to the last big “doctored document” conspiracy, when Barnaby Joyce was forced to admit his office changed the Hansard to correct the word “over” to “nearly”.
The agriculture minister, Barnaby Joyce, has admitted his staff changed Hansard records without his knowledge after Labor accused him of deliberately misleading parliament.The agriculture minister, Barnaby Joyce, has admitted his staff changed Hansard records without his knowledge after Labor accused him of deliberately misleading parliament.
The Hansard record had been changed to correct an error Joyce made on Monday 20 October regarding the government’s drought assistance package. In the speech, Joyce referred to “over” 4,000 people applying for drought assistance. His office changed that to read “nearly” 4,000. They also added a qualifier line that wasn’t originally in the speech, saying that “recipient[s] of the Interim Farm Household Allowance” would also receive the assistance.The Hansard record had been changed to correct an error Joyce made on Monday 20 October regarding the government’s drought assistance package. In the speech, Joyce referred to “over” 4,000 people applying for drought assistance. His office changed that to read “nearly” 4,000. They also added a qualifier line that wasn’t originally in the speech, saying that “recipient[s] of the Interim Farm Household Allowance” would also receive the assistance.
Joyce set the record straight in parliament after question time on Monday, saying the “minor edits were made to Hansard by my staff without my knowledge. My staff have been counselled. Consistent with standing orders, I have asked that the changes requested by my office be removed from Hansard before Hansard is finalised.”Joyce set the record straight in parliament after question time on Monday, saying the “minor edits were made to Hansard by my staff without my knowledge. My staff have been counselled. Consistent with standing orders, I have asked that the changes requested by my office be removed from Hansard before Hansard is finalised.”
Ahhh, the more things change, the more they stay the same.Ahhh, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
(And in the end, Paul Grimes, the head of the agriculture department, was sacked)(And in the end, Paul Grimes, the head of the agriculture department, was sacked)
Asked about it directly, Linda Burney acknowledged it was her office that made the “mistake”.Asked about it directly, Linda Burney acknowledged it was her office that made the “mistake”.
“It was a genuine mistake by a person in my office and I think we have been very clear about that,” she said.“It was a genuine mistake by a person in my office and I think we have been very clear about that,” she said.
“My comments are on record and there was a mistake in my office and we made it very clear that there is a mistake.“My comments are on record and there was a mistake in my office and we made it very clear that there is a mistake.
Labor maintains that this was a mistake made by one of Linda Burney’s staffers, and that the leader’s office only distributes the transcripts.Labor maintains that this was a mistake made by one of Linda Burney’s staffers, and that the leader’s office only distributes the transcripts.
“We don’t have time to watch or listen to every interview,” one staffer says.“We don’t have time to watch or listen to every interview,” one staffer says.
Peter Dutton sees more.Peter Dutton sees more.
Come on. [A Labor] staffer has issued a fraudulent document. Linda Burney has presided over a fraudulent document going out, purporting to be something that it is not. Bill Shorten’s office had knowledge of it and distributed the document. He needs to answer the question why his office was involved in the publication and distribution of this fraudulent document. How can Mr Shorten trust … his frontbench – who has deliberately lied in relation to what she said? And this is not a clarification, not an improvement on grammar. It is a fabrication, pure and simple.”Come on. [A Labor] staffer has issued a fraudulent document. Linda Burney has presided over a fraudulent document going out, purporting to be something that it is not. Bill Shorten’s office had knowledge of it and distributed the document. He needs to answer the question why his office was involved in the publication and distribution of this fraudulent document. How can Mr Shorten trust … his frontbench – who has deliberately lied in relation to what she said? And this is not a clarification, not an improvement on grammar. It is a fabrication, pure and simple.”
I think that sound you hear are opposition staffers looking for examples of when the PMO’s transcripts differ from the interview.I think that sound you hear are opposition staffers looking for examples of when the PMO’s transcripts differ from the interview.
Peter Dutton on Andrew Hastie:Peter Dutton on Andrew Hastie:
He has an outlook on national security that very few of us could bring to the table. He is a patriot of this country, he is a personal fine character, and in relation to the statements he has made, I won’t have knowledge of the state nor documents. That was an issue to him … and that is a very separate matter, I might say, to what we are dealing with in relation to Linda Burney.He has an outlook on national security that very few of us could bring to the table. He is a patriot of this country, he is a personal fine character, and in relation to the statements he has made, I won’t have knowledge of the state nor documents. That was an issue to him … and that is a very separate matter, I might say, to what we are dealing with in relation to Linda Burney.
Linda Burney has deliberately put out a statement with Bill Shorten’s office knowledge, and with authorisation from a senior figures within the Labor party. It is not just a word or two that might have been brushed out or tidied up. It is a complete fabrication. And it needs to be answered by Mr Shorten today.”Linda Burney has deliberately put out a statement with Bill Shorten’s office knowledge, and with authorisation from a senior figures within the Labor party. It is not just a word or two that might have been brushed out or tidied up. It is a complete fabrication. And it needs to be answered by Mr Shorten today.”
And for anyone who wants to see Ian Macdonald’s take on racism and how it doesn’t exist, because an indigenous footballer is basically the ruler of Queensland, Paul Karp has cut that up for you:And for anyone who wants to see Ian Macdonald’s take on racism and how it doesn’t exist, because an indigenous footballer is basically the ruler of Queensland, Paul Karp has cut that up for you:
Here's LNP senator Ian MacDonald's thoughts on RACISM - IS IT EVEN A THING #auspol #estimates pic.twitter.com/qwzKKEjFpQHere's LNP senator Ian MacDonald's thoughts on RACISM - IS IT EVEN A THING #auspol #estimates pic.twitter.com/qwzKKEjFpQ
Peter Dutton has taken issue with the missing quote from the Linda Burney transcript:
This has gone through Bill Shorten’s office, it has been cleared by senior people and authorised by senior people, which is written down the bottom of the transcript they have released by senior people within the Labor party. This is not some mistake by somebody transcribing and can’t understand garbled words within a tape recording. This is a deliberate act of fabrication, and Mr Shorten needs to explain who in his office knew about it, who in his office authorised this document to be released, why was this transcript sent out by one of Mr Shorten’s staffers. These are questions that Mr Shorten needs to answer today.
I’d want to fob you off, but the reality is this is a serious issue to the Labor party to contemplate. The Labor party has completely discredited itself in relation to border protection policy. Under Bill Shorten, caucus now is much worse than anything … under Kevin Rudd or Julia Gillard. It is clear to us now that the Labor party vote policy has completely unravelled. It is essentially open warfare within the Labor party on … boats. You will see some stitched together flashy statement out of conference that the Labor party has a policy that reflects the Operation Sovereign Borders policy, which has resulted in boat stopping. It is a complete and utter dodgy deal and nobody should believe it. The Labor party has lost any credibility when it comes to border protection. Mr Shorten needs to come out today quite beyond what their position is on border protection, and explain why somebody on his frontbench has fabricated a document.”
Kelly O’Dwyer has introduced legislation to introduce a “one-off, twelve month amnesty for historical underpayment of superannuation”
From the statement:
The Bill incentivises employers to come forward and do the right thing by their employees by paying any unpaid superannuation in full.
Employers will not be off the hook – to use the amnesty they must pay all that is owing to their employees, including the high rate of nominal interest. However, the amnesty will make it easier to secure outstanding employee entitlements, by setting aside the penalties for late payment that are normally paid to the government by employers.
Employers that do not take advantage of the one-off amnesty will face higher penalties when they are subsequently caught – in general, a minimum 50% on top of the SG charge they owe. In addition, throughout the amnesty period the ATO will still continue its usual enforcement activity against employers for those historical obligations they don’t own up to voluntarily.
The ATO estimates that in 2014‑15, around $2.85bn in SG payments went unpaid.
While this represents a 95% compliance rate, any level of non‑compliance is unacceptable, which is why the Turnbull government is giving the ATO the tools it needs to enforce compliance going forward.
We are introducing this one‑off amnesty to allow employers to wipe the slate clean and pay their workers what they’re owed. All Australians workers should be paid the entitlements they are owed.
The amnesty will run for 12 months from today.
O’Dwyer said the move would build on reforms to protect workers’ superannuation entitlements by:
Giving the ATO the ability to seek court-ordered penalties in cases where employers defy directions to pay their superannuation guarantee liabilities, including up to 12 months jail in the most egregious cases of non-payment;
Requiring superannuation funds to report contributions received more frequently, at least monthly, to the ATO. This will enable the ATO to identify non-compliance and take prompt action;
Bringing payroll reporting into the 21st century through the rollout of Single Touch Payroll (STP). Employers with 20 or more employees will transition to STP from 1 July 2018 with smaller employers coming on board from 1 July 2019. This will reduce the regulatory burden on business and transform compliance by aligning payroll functions with regular reporting of taxation and superannuation obligations;
Improving the effectiveness of the ATO’s recovery powers, including strengthening director penalty notices and use of security bonds for high-risk employers, to ensure that unpaid superannuation is better collected by the ATO and paid to employees’ super accounts.
Senator Ian MacDonald is asking in Senate estimates whether racism is really a thing, and whether we even NEED a race discrimination commissioner.
MacDonald:
I might live in a bubble perhaps but I find it very difficult to find any but very rare cases of racism in Australia. In this building we have two ministers that don’t – are clearly not white Australian male sort of thing. In my own society … the greatest hero, in fact the king of Queensland, is Jonathan Thurston. If only I could get him to run for a political party he’d walk it in. I just don’t know - there are obviously isolated aspects of racism in Australia but I would think across the board they’re very isolated.
Standing in for the attorney general, Michaelia Cash confirms that the government’s position is to hire a new race discrimination commissioner when Tim Soutphommasane’s term ends.
The Australian Human Rights Commissioner president, Rosalind Croucher, replies that the race discrimination commissioner used to be a commissioner for “community relations” and she might like to “shift the titles” back to that positive aspect.
She said the commissioner has a role beyond just dealing with discrimination complaints, to promoting racial harmony and tackling prejudice.
Just a note - the government’s $140bn over 10 years tax plan is now $144bn.
The back third of the plan (getting rid of the 37% tax bracket, which will see people on $41,000 to $200,000 pay the same rate of tax from 2024-25) will cost $40bn.
Labor had been after that figure since the budget was announced.
But we still have no idea where the extra $4bn came from overnight.
The US Embassy has responded to the Andrew Hastie issue – it says relations are as “strong as ever” but ultimately it’s up to the Australian government how it handles his use of parliamentary privilege.
The reason this is becoming an issue is because Hastie used information he had received as part of leading a delegation to the US in his role as head of the parliamentary intelligence committee, which is seen as a pretty big no-no.
Still, he did it under parliamentary privilege, so he’s protected there. It’s just a question of any wider ramifications, which Malcolm Turnbull was checking on, through his admission he had been in contact with our allies, and Labor is pursuing.
The US Embassy has released a statement on Liberal MP Andrew Hastie's speech about businessman and political donor Chau Chak Wing #auspol @politicsabc pic.twitter.com/1awrzIawNY
The Workplace Gender Equality Agency has put out a statement, after nine Australians were recognised in the Gender Equality Top 100:
Workplace Gender Equality Agency Director Libby Lyons is one of nine Australians recognised for their contribution to improving gender equality on a new list of top influencers from around the world.
Apolitical, a global network for governments and public sectors, has announced its inaugural Gender Equality Top 100 list of the most influential people in gender equality policy.
The nine Australians named in the list are:
· Libby Lyons, Director Workplace Gender Equality Agency
· Kelly O’Dwyer, Federal Minister for Women
· Julia Gillard, former Prime Minister and chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership
· Professor Marian Baird, Sydney University’s distinguished researcher into women, work and care
· Susan Harris-Rimmer, an Australian Research Council Future Fellow in the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy at the Australian National University
· Rosie Batty, domestic violence campaigner and 2015 Australian of the Year
· Tracey Spicer, journalist, advocate and founder of Now Australia
· Liz Broderick, former Sex Discrimination Commissioner and UN special rapporteur on the issue of discrimination against women in law and practice
· Natasha Stott-Despoja, chair of Our Watch and former ambassador for women and girls.
“The Agency is receiving unprecedented interest in Australia’s gender reporting scheme as governments worldwide grapple with the economic challenge of removing barriers to women’s workforce participation and career progression.
“That nine Australians made the top 100 list, with Professor Marion Baird and Julia Gillard in the top 20, demonstrates the leading role that the Australian government and Australian employers are taking in driving change towards gender equality,” said Ms Lyons.
***end statement***
In regional estimates, the live sheep trade issue is scheduled to come up in the hearing just before 4pm.
And we have just got the official response from Linda Burney:
My comments on Sky News yesterday are public.
This was an error in my office and was unintentional.”
After every on-air interview, or doorstop, Labor provides transcripts of the interviews as a matter of course (the prime minister’s office also does this). It’s a fairly longstanding convention, with each office responsible for transcribing its member’s interview (which is then sent out by the leader’s office).
But Labor this morning is being questioned over the transcript it provided for Linda Burney’s interview on Sky News yesterday afternoon. She was asked about the party’s asylum seeker policy, which is about to become a fairly major issue at the national conference in July, where Labor will lock down its official policy direction.
There is growing support within the Labor party for a shut down of Manus and Nauru and over how long asylum seekers should be held in detention.
Here is what Labor sent out:
SPEERS: Labor will be discussing asylum seekers at its conference in a couple of months. What’s your own view?
BURNEY: It will be an issue at the national conference. Indefinite detention is what we’re arguing against. Look at what has happened on Manus in the last 24 hours –
SPEERS: So they shouldn’t be there indefinitely?
BURNEY: That’s being worked on by the appropriate people in my party. It’s not my portfolio –
SPEERS: Well how long does Labor think those people should be stuck there?
BURNEY: That will become clear over the course of the next –
SPEERS: But Labor will put a time frame on it?
BURNEY: I’m not responsible for the area, but I do believe that they shouldn’t be held indefinitely, and logically that means there’d be a time line.
It’s missing the quote
There needs to be a time frame and I’m sure there are people who are working towards that ... I think there needs to be a time limit”.
.@Kieran_Gilbert: @AustralianLabor is facing accusations someone within its ranks has doctored a transcript of @LindaBurneyMP's comments on asylum policy during her interview with @David_Speers.MORE: https://t.co/9qTiXts1Bq #FirstEdition pic.twitter.com/dJDKBhgCNt
We are being told it’s more cock-up then conspiracy and that it is a “genuine fuckup”. We’ve been in touch with Labor and Burney’s office and will get you that response when it comes through.
While the blog was sleeping, the government’s income tax package passed the lower house – with Labor’s support.
Labor says that’s because it supports income tax cuts for lower and middle-class earners and plans on working to separate the third tranche – the flat tax for $41,000 to $200,000 earners in the never-never of budget forwards – in the Senate.
It also dulls the government’s attacks that Labor doesn’t support income tax cuts. On the flip side, the government can argue that Labor has supported its whole package (Labor attempted to amend the legislation in the House to separate the bill and were defeated). So watch that space.
There is still no byelections date, but that is expected to come very soon. 30 June or 7 July are shaping up as the dates to watch but at this stage, everyone just wants to know if the campaign is actually on.
Meanwhile, Mark Dreyfus has picked up on Labor’s three questions in QT yesterday about Andrew Hastie’s actions, telling Radio National that the whole Labor frontbench believed there were questions to answer over whether or not Hastie’s revelations have damaged Australia’s relationship with its intelligence agencies.
Malcolm Turnbull admitted yesterday he had been in contact with the spooks about the matter.
Dreyfus had to say Labor frontbench, because Michael Danby and Anthony Byrne have both indicated support for Hastie’s actions.
And estimates continues! ABC is up again this morning, with Michelle Guthrie due to appear, as well as the Human Rights Commission. Basically it’s Eric Abetz’s favourite day. And Pauline Hanson has been spotted walking around the halls, after somehow magically choosing the chair right in front of the cameras at the royal banking commission for a spell yesterday. Anyone would think she was attempting to reset her image and achieve some sort of relevance again, ahead of the Longman byelection and a general election.
Mike Bowers is wandering around here somewhere. Stay up to date with him at @mikepbowers and of course, you can see him annoying me as part of the instagram story on @pyjamapolitics.
Everyone ready? Let’s get going.