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| Turnbull claims Neg victory, but backbench dissent still alive – politics live | Turnbull claims Neg victory, but backbench dissent still alive – politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Annnnnnd then this happened: | |
| I’m not going to release my own comments to the party room, because they were along the lines of my remarks to media on the way into the parliament, but the rampant hostile briefing of journalists while the meeting was underway does require a response. pic.twitter.com/YOfv9PZVQA | |
| A little more Malcolm Turnbull: | |
| Remember it was my action as prime minister that resulted in the gas shortage on the east coast being resolved and that is the big factors that brought down the cost of wholesale generation. It was Josh’s legislation that got rid of the limited-merits review, which, of course, reduces the ability of the owners of the poles and wires to game the system with endless appeals. | |
| In every area you look at, we are seeking to reduce costs. Look at the action we took with the retailers. We hauled them in and said too many people are on your standard offers. You’re taking advantage of them. And they wrote to them and hundreds of thousands of people have switched to more competitive plans or switched suppliers and are now paying less for electricity. Every single element of the supply chain for electricity is being addressed by us to reduce the cost for families and businesses. That’s our commitment and we are demonstrating that our policies are working. | |
| So how important is it that Labor supports this legislation, according to the prime minister? | |
| The Labor party has to decide whether they want to support cheaper and more reliability electricity. You know, we have got to bring an end to the years of ideology and idiocy which have been a curse on energy policy for too long and that is why industry – whether you’re talking about big industrial consumers or small business – consumer groups are calling on government, governments and oppositions to get behind this policy. We need to get a certain environment so that people will invest and that’s really the question for Bill Shorten. Bill Shorten wrote to me last year and in the middle of last year and urged me to adopt a bipartisan approach, you know, a non-political approach to energy policy. Well, he’s got everybody lined up supporting – industry, consumer groups – supporting the national energy guarantee. Now is the time for him to support it and vote for it. | |
| Malcolm Turnbull on whether he’ll tell his colleagues to “stop bagging” the Neg: | |
| I’ll discuss matters with my colleagues directly rather than through your offices. Thank you for the kind offer. But this is a policy which has been the subject of extensive consultation. It’s been discussed at Coalition party room meetings on a number of occasions now, and we have received overwhelming support for it. It’s the policy of the government and it will deliver, as the experts have advised, and as industry have advised us – which is why they’re urging us to get on with it – it will deliver more reliable power and cheaper power. We want to see the corner we have turned on electricity prices, that to continue. We want people’s bills to keep coming down. | |
| The next steps according to Josh Frydenberg: | |
| We’re having telephone hook-up this evening with the states, after which, consistent with their agreement at last Friday’s meeting, the draft exposure of state ledges will be released for comment for a period of a month - and that’s a statutory requirement – and then any necessary amendment also be made. The intention is that all states can agree on the final state legislation implemented in the national energy guarantee before Victoria goes into caretaker mode at the end of October. Now, let me make it very clear, let me make it very clear – the Australian energy market has said that in Victoria last year, there was a 43% chance of load shedding, a euphemism for blackouts. Victoria has the second highest electricity prices in the country. It’s time Daniel Andrews stopped walking both sides of the street and put the interests of Victorians first and the businesses of Victorians first and he would do that by signing up to the national energy guarantee before he goes into caretaker mode. | |
| Malcolm Turnbull on the five who have reserved their right to cross the floor (which if Labor doesn’t support the bill, will have it teetering): | |
| But the concerns were expressed across the board about prices. And we share those. Everything, everything we’re doing is seeking to bring town energy prices. The national energy guarantee, of course, addresses one part of the puddle, you know, the addresses the cost of generation but you’ve got poles and wires, retail costs, green schemes, it’s a complex business. | |
| Now what we are seeing already is our policies having the result of bringing down retail prices. We’ve seen big reductions, thanks to our policies in wholesale generation costs and we expect to see minister and we will do more, but ... our commitment is to use every single leave available to us, one of which is the Neg, to bring down energy prices. Now, as Josh said, Bill Shorten has only got a plan for higher electricity prices and a less reliable system. | |
| The time has come for him to support the national energy guarantee. It’s been designed by the experts. It has the broadest support of any energy policy, any energy policy that has ... In my time in politics and possibly a lot longer than that. So now is the time to provide the certainty and the investment climate that is going to see more generation and lower prices. | |
| Malcolm Turnbull has made it to the courtyard and we have full barrister mode – both hands are being used to make the points. | |
| We have had a good debate in the Coalition party room, overwhelming support for the national energy guarantee. | |
| I just need to point out that the prime minister has called a press conference to announce his own party room is mostly backing a government policy. | I just need to point out that the prime minister has called a press conference to announce his own party room is mostly backing a government policy. |
| This is where we are at. | This is where we are at. |
| Malcolm Turnbull is feeling so good about the Neg outcome, he’s called a press conference at the prime minister’s courtyard for 12.45. | Malcolm Turnbull is feeling so good about the Neg outcome, he’s called a press conference at the prime minister’s courtyard for 12.45. |
| Josh Frydenberg gets the lectern next to him. | Josh Frydenberg gets the lectern next to him. |
| The PM’s courtyard is the most fancy of the press conference locations, reserved for the most serious/look at all our flags moments. | The PM’s courtyard is the most fancy of the press conference locations, reserved for the most serious/look at all our flags moments. |
| And Katharine Murphy has confirmed Craig Kelly is also a hard no – so four Coalition MPs prepared to cross the floor, while one (Christensen) is seriously considering it | And Katharine Murphy has confirmed Craig Kelly is also a hard no – so four Coalition MPs prepared to cross the floor, while one (Christensen) is seriously considering it |
| So in summary: hard no's – Abbott, Hastie, Abetz. Medium no: Christensen. Concerns: Pasin, Andrews, Gee #auspol #NEG @AmyRemeikis | So in summary: hard no's – Abbott, Hastie, Abetz. Medium no: Christensen. Concerns: Pasin, Andrews, Gee #auspol #NEG @AmyRemeikis |
| Senate debate has resumed on the David Leyonhjelm bill proposing to give territories the right to decide whether to allow euthanasia. | Senate debate has resumed on the David Leyonhjelm bill proposing to give territories the right to decide whether to allow euthanasia. |
| So far Labor’s Jenny McAllister and Centre Alliance’s Stirling Griff have spoken in favour and National John Wacka Williams against. | So far Labor’s Jenny McAllister and Centre Alliance’s Stirling Griff have spoken in favour and National John Wacka Williams against. |
| Labor senator Kristina Keneally tells the Senate she does not have an “in-principle opposition to euthanasia” but is concerned about practical considerations like protections on the practice and that parliament “might move to legalise euthanasia before we consider the adequacy of palliative care”. | Labor senator Kristina Keneally tells the Senate she does not have an “in-principle opposition to euthanasia” but is concerned about practical considerations like protections on the practice and that parliament “might move to legalise euthanasia before we consider the adequacy of palliative care”. |
| “However the legislation does not ask us to approve or disapprove of euthanasia – but whether territories should have power to determine question for themselves.” | “However the legislation does not ask us to approve or disapprove of euthanasia – but whether territories should have power to determine question for themselves.” |
| Keneally is another vote in favour – we’re expecting the bill to pass with at least 42 votes. | Keneally is another vote in favour – we’re expecting the bill to pass with at least 42 votes. |
| We’re going on a dissenter hunt ... | We’re going on a dissenter hunt ... |
| George Christensen also reserved his rights on crossing the floor, but is dubbed a medium no by one colleague. Haven't tracked down Craig Kelly's position as yet #NEG #auspol | George Christensen also reserved his rights on crossing the floor, but is dubbed a medium no by one colleague. Haven't tracked down Craig Kelly's position as yet #NEG #auspol |
| Lee Rhiannon gave her valedictory speech late yesterday – she’s leaving the Senate | Lee Rhiannon gave her valedictory speech late yesterday – she’s leaving the Senate |
| Her replacement is also finishing up at the NSW parliament: | Her replacement is also finishing up at the NSW parliament: |
| Sad day for NSW Parliament with the amazing @MehreenFaruqi leaving the @nsw_upperhouse, but very exciting that she’ll be representing NSW in @AuSenate! Have loved working with Mehreen on LGBTIQ rights, animal welfare, & assisted dying legislation. pic.twitter.com/trxUCjFHrd | Sad day for NSW Parliament with the amazing @MehreenFaruqi leaving the @nsw_upperhouse, but very exciting that she’ll be representing NSW in @AuSenate! Have loved working with Mehreen on LGBTIQ rights, animal welfare, & assisted dying legislation. pic.twitter.com/trxUCjFHrd |
| Bit more on Coalition party room. Eric Abetz is a hard no, Kevin Andrews and Tony Pasin expressed concerns, but didn't reserve their rights on crossing the floor (like Hastie and Abbott) #NEG #auspol @AmyRemeikis | Bit more on Coalition party room. Eric Abetz is a hard no, Kevin Andrews and Tony Pasin expressed concerns, but didn't reserve their rights on crossing the floor (like Hastie and Abbott) #NEG #auspol @AmyRemeikis |
| So the takeaway of that 1.5-hour meeting is that yes, the majority of the party room are in favour of the Neg. | So the takeaway of that 1.5-hour meeting is that yes, the majority of the party room are in favour of the Neg. |
| But, Labor hasn’t decided what it will do. Which makes this a numbers game for the government. | But, Labor hasn’t decided what it will do. Which makes this a numbers game for the government. |
| There were three fairly concrete “nos” in that party room meeting, which, if it comes to a vote where Labor and the Greens are opposed, makes it a fairly tough ask for the government to get it across the line. If that group of three grows to five, then, well, it’s a pretty insurmountable problem. | There were three fairly concrete “nos” in that party room meeting, which, if it comes to a vote where Labor and the Greens are opposed, makes it a fairly tough ask for the government to get it across the line. If that group of three grows to five, then, well, it’s a pretty insurmountable problem. |
| Anne Aly got to have some fun this morning at the launch of the children’s book: If I was Prime Minister (which I can’t help but think should have been: If I were Prime Minister, but I digress) | Anne Aly got to have some fun this morning at the launch of the children’s book: If I was Prime Minister (which I can’t help but think should have been: If I were Prime Minister, but I digress) |
| Here’s a taster from the book - #ReubenforPM | Here’s a taster from the book - #ReubenforPM |
| The kids are alright pic.twitter.com/lSwQfXugy7 | The kids are alright pic.twitter.com/lSwQfXugy7 |