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Labor says Turnbull prime minister ‘in name only’ – question time live
Labor says Turnbull prime minister ‘in name only’ – politics live
(35 minutes later)
Christopher Pyne just became the first government member to defend the prime minister, by actually mentioning him:
Peter Dutton keeps adding the caveat “today” to his answers.
“This house, this government has confidence in the Prime Minister”
The party room made a decision today.
Less than 30 minutes later, Terri Butler was booted
He supports the prime minister today.
Anthony Albanese:
He supports the government agenda today.
There were two words missing from the speeches of those opposing this motion of no-confidence this Prime Minister. What were those two words? Prime Minister. Not one of the speakers has defended Malcolm Turnbull prime ministership. These speeches today are typical of what has characterised this government. Or should I say, this opposition in exile. Because what they have done is turn the coalition into the no-coalition.
“For me, we need to make sure that we are listening to what the Australian public are saying,” he says.
Former Home Affairs minister Peter Dutton on the back bench during #qt today as the PM defends himself against opposition attempts to move a motion of no confidence @AmyRemeikis @murpharoo @GuardianAus #politicslive pic.twitter.com/woLPyUBlfJ
Cathy McGowan has issued this statement:
overwhelming: adjectivevery great in amount."his party won overwhelming support"synonyms:very large, profuse, enormous, immense, inordinate, massive, huge, formidable, stupendous, prodigious, fantastic, staggering, shattering, devastating, sweeping. 48-35 https://t.co/WZGL9nUZKU
Federal Independent Member for Indi Cathy McGowan says today’s Liberal leadership vote has had a destabilising impact on the Federal parliament and the country.“Good government is very important. This destabilisation is not good government. My electorate is concerned as evidenced by those constituents who have been in touch to make comment,” Ms McGowan said.“I have been able to get valuable work done with this government. Indi has had confirmation of $235 million for the North East rail line. Other infrastructure and community grants have supported regional and rural centres in my electorate, including the provision of 38 mobile phone towers.“There is more work to be completed. At a national level, regional policy, including the provision of a regional deal for Indi, is one of the most important areas I am focused on.“As a member of the Joint Select Committee into Constitutional Recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, I have been listening to submissions from communities around the country as we compile our final report for release in late November.“A regional higher education strategy and seeing through the North East rail line revitalisation project remain my priorities. The worthwhile work that has been already done on community energy throughout Indi will continue.”
Those in the gallery who have been doing this much longer than I have pointed out the lack of energy in this debate, compared to when the Gillard government was fighting for its life.
This is an issue, because when the government was unsure of whether there would be a majority, she gave supply. When the government was having section 44 issues, McGowan also said she would continue to give supply - basically to keep them in place to govern.
They are right. It is quite flat and depressing in the chamber. No one is giving any oompf to this.
Would she do the same thing, if Peter Dutton was the prime minister, is the reason this is an issue.
They are lying down and admitting defeat.
Asked about the ballot, Peter Dutton says he will abide by the decision “today”.
Scott Morrison is the next up on the blocks:
He does not rule out another challenge.
They are very cocky. It was the leader of the opposition who said ‘just leave the keys to The Lodge there in the door’. That is what he said. And, as they would have heard those words from the leader of the opposition, I think a chill would have gone through Australians. A chill. For two very important reasons. Australians do not trust a potential Bill Shorten government to run a stronger economy or to keep Australian safe. They know that they will not be safe under a Bill Shorten-led government. They know their jobs, their wages, the fiscal strength of this government, the Triple-A credit rating, the future they hope for, will not be safe under a potential Bill Shorten government. But they can trust the Turnbull government. They can trust the Turnbull government, they can trust the Liberal and National parties because our plan for a stronger economy is working, and our plan for a safest raster and it is working.
“I am not anyone’s person, I am not a puppet for anyone, I think people know that I have the strength to be my person.
Chris Bowen finishes with what I think is an Oliver Cromwell reference:
“ ... I had my go today, that’s it, I listen to the judgment of the party room.”
You have sat too long for any good you have done. The time has come for you to depart.
He says he won’t be the proxy to carry out anyone else’s agenda.
Chris Bowen:
Peter Dutton and Tony Abbott during a division in #qt @murpharoo @AmyRemeikis @GuardianAus #politicslive https://t.co/8VApP60TP7 pic.twitter.com/Fud0RjjLJ1
There was a sigh of relief when the member for Wentworth became the Prime Minister of Australia, and the last few years there have been groans of disappointment.
Peter Dutton is being interviewed on Sky with the photos of his children behind him.
Australians have expressed the view of the 35 colleagues today, he is simply not up to the task. Our Prime Minister without principle and without power.He has betrayed every principle he’s ever had. Yesterday he gave away his power. He said any Liberal or National Party MP who crosses the floor will mean the government cannot implement policy. He vacated policy leadership to the climate change denier is in the extreme right wing of his party. How did they think in? With the midnight knock at the door.
Here’s Malcolm Turnbull fighting for his political life.
Labor has asked finance minister Mathias Cormann about Peter Dutton’s comment that he put his hand up for the leadership because he thought he was best to lead the Liberal party.
Look at his backbench. A picture that says it all.
Cormann said:
Craig Laundy is on Sky, defending Malcolm Turnbull as a “cabinet prime minister” in that he has allowed the ministers to run their own portfolios.
”I disagree with my good friend Peter Dutton. I support prime minister Turnbull, I’ve supported him loyally since he was elected leader in September 2015 and I will support him loyally as his representative in this chamber until the next election and - subject to the will of the Australian people - hopefully beyond.”
The result of the “ballot” Tony Smith says (that’s a joke, because it’s a division, not a leadership ballot) was 67 to 76.
Cormann said the prime minister looks forward to Dutton contributing to the government’s future success (as the member for Dickson, on the backbench).
Tony Abbott chose to sit next to Luke Howarth, in front of Peter Dutton and Barnaby Joyce, with Kevin Andrews rounding out the group.
Julie Bishop is the latest up on this.
Malcolm Turnbull is next to McCormack and Pyne and his foot has not stopped waggling.
We are fighting for the people of Australia because we have an economic plan to grow our economy and ensure there are more jobs and more job opportunities. We are the party that backs the small businesses, the mums and dads who take a risk, who start a business, who grow our business and export their goods and services around the world. These are the people that the Coalition government want to drive our economic growth and create jobs the Australian people. That’s why the Turnbull government is backing small business, medium-sized business group tax cuts. That’s why we are fighting for lower costs. Our energy plan to bring down the cost of the purchase these are our businesses can compete around the world. That’s why we have a plan to fix the GST, so there is a level playing field across Australia for all businesses which are operating in this country.
Michael McCormack just made a joke of fixing his tie when he saw the cameras were angled in his direction.
In the other place, it doesn’t look like a vote on the company tax cuts will be coming anytime soon – it is looking like tomorrow at this stage.
He was the only government MP with a smile on his face.
Mehreen Faruqi is due to deliver her first speech this afternoon.
Peter Dutton decides to take a seat next to Barnaby Joyce.
But right now, it is about the questions:
“Look at them all back over there,” Jenny Macklin yells from the government side of the chamber.
Deborah O’Neill: I refer to reports that the member for Dickson, Peter Dutton, was running a joint ticket with the member for Flinders, Greg Hunt, for the leadership and deputy leadership of the Liberal party. Can the minister guarantee that the minister for health was not running a joint ticket with the member for Dickson, Peter Dutton, in the vote against prime minister Turnbull?
Adam Bandt and Andrew Wilkie are supporting the suspension of standing orders.
Bridget McKenzie: I have no response to Senator O’Neill’s question. I don’t respond to speculation from the Labor party.
Rebekha Sharkie and Cathy McGowan are not supporting the suspension – they are sitting with the government.
O’Neill: Does the minister for health retain full confidence in the prime minister?
Bob Katter is not here.
McKenzie: I have nothing to add to my first answer.
Tony Burke is up next talking about the “colleague that almost half of your colleagues prefer”.
The person who nearly half of your colleagues prefer was the author of the GP tax. The person nearly half of your colleagues prefer is the person who cut ... from hospitals. The person who nearly half of your colleagues prefer is the person who axed national dental programs and was voted by doctors as the worst health minister for 50 years ... This prime minister looks at his beliefs and says, ‘I will throw that one away, don’t need to believe in that, any member of the backbench can have a right of veto, no matter how important I said it was.’
Michael McCormack is up next and you can tell just how insane this day has become, because it has prompted him to almost develop a personality.
Maybe because he is also fighting for his own job.
We reject this motion outright Mr Speaker, we have confidence in the prime minister but we know a few things about this opposition leader. We know he stands for higher taxes. We know his party stand for higher energy prices. Look at the sorry lot behind him. The member for Watson, let’s not forget, people haven’t got that short memory to recall what Labor stood for when it was in power. The member for Watson wanted to take the water rights, irrigation rights, from my farmers, from farmers right throughout river communities in Australia. That is what he stood for. The member for McMahon, remember all of those boats. Look at his face. His was the face that launched hundreds of ships. Hundreds of ships. They came, there were 55,000 people who arrived on authorised, and he was responsible for a lot of those.
There were 1200 deaths at sea. And doubtless tragic. There were 800 boats. Labor put more beds in detention centres than they ever did in hospital. What a sorry figure. He described the recent blackouts in SA, which caused so much to spare for businesses throughout SA, as nothing more than a hiccup.
Tanya Plibersek:
The member for Warringah is calling the shots, because the member for Warringah has right of veto over every government policy, one position. Next it will be the member for Dickson. The member for Dickson, sitting on the lap of the member for Warringah like a really scary wooden puppet come to life. With the hand of the member for Warringah up his back. He’s back. Like Chucky. Like ... Glenn Close in fatal attraction.
When you become a mood.
Everything is totally fine, guys.
Tanya Plibersek: “If he is doing such a great job, why did half his party vote against him this morning?”
She is giving her speech in support of Labor’s motion.
