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Turnbull digs in and demands Dutton show evidence of support – politics live Turnbull demands Dutton reveal support as Bishop reportedly joins race – politics live
(35 minutes later)
from earlier-Peter Dutton arrives in the House @knausc @murpharoo @GuardianAus #PoliticsLive https://t.co/uyRiPluF5K pic.twitter.com/4Tcc8zjJs8
The Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, has just delivered a powerful excoriation of the Coalition’s navel-gazing and internal turmoil. It’s sobering.
It’s a disgrace. It’s utterly shameful. We haven’t had a stable government in this country for a decade now. I’ve got a 10-year-old boy, he’s seen half a dozen different prime ministers. We have politicians in this joint who are more concerned about themselves, about their own self-interest, than they are with governing the country. Just think, while the Liberal party has been tearing themselves apart. We’ve got 100% of NSW that’s in drought right now, we’ve got the Great Barrier Reef on the brink of collapse, we’ve got floods in India. We’ve got a 12-year-old girl who is setting herself alight in Nauru. We’ve got kids who are in a catatonic state because they’ve given up hope, locked away in those offshore hell-holes. What’s the Liberal party doing? Focusing on vengeance. On payback.
There are 100,000 people in this country who are homeless. There are women who fear going home tonight, because one woman a week is killed at the hands of a violent partner. And what have we got? We’ve got this spectacle. This disgrace.
He screams at the Coalition benches.
You should be ashamed of yourselves. We have people across the country who are suffering, and look what you are doing. You are so focused on yourselves that you have forgotten what the country elected you to do, and that is to govern for them, not for you. Not for you. You don’t deserve to govern. You deserve to be turfed out. That’s what you deserve.
there is a lot of emotion in Richard Di Natale's voice, he's pretty frustrated, Liberal senators have a lot of important things to deal with on the their phones
Channel Seven is reporting that Julie Bishop, the foreign affairs minister, is standing for the leadership. Just a reminder that, in this chaotic environment, claims and counter-claims are flying thick and fast. Not to say they’re not true, but we need to treat them with care. We’re working to confirm the report and will tell you if and when we do.
BREAKING AND EXCLUSIVE from @Riley7News - Julie Bishop will run for the Liberal leadership @7NewsSydney #auspol
Simon Birmingham is continuing to defend the government’s achievements. Same-sex marriage, budget balance, lower taxes and the reintroduction of the ABCC are listed as among those. Birmingham said the choice between Labor and the Coalition is clear.
People will not, in the end, risk their jobs, their wages, their homes, their retirement savings, the potential for lower electricity bills, on that mob opposite.
The Centre Alliance crossbencher Rebekha Sharkie, who sits in the lower house, is using her afternoon of free time to watch the Senate in question time. She looks about as impressed as the rest of us.
Simon Birmingham, the government’s current leader in the Senate, is doing his best to parry the attack. He says it’s all about policies and outcomes. Worth noting the Coalition dumped their two signature policies this week – the corporate tax rate cut and the core of the national energy guarantee. Oh and they stopped trying to repeal the energy supplement, which they’ve been trying to do since 2015, from memory.
Birmingham says:
What matters most to the people of Australia are policies and outcomes.
Policies and outcomes. And this government, this Liberal National party government, has delivered good policies and strong outcomes in spades. We, as the government, stand proud of our strong record of achievement, a strong record of achievement, and we will continue to deliver on behalf of Australian families, on behalf of Australian households, on behalf of Australian businesses.
Penny Wong continues to turn the screws.Penny Wong continues to turn the screws.
I do want to make this point about what we have seen this week, and it has been an extraordinary spectacle, it has been an extraordinary spectacle of disunity, of division, of personal hatred, of enmity and ill discipline. It has been all of those things. But the most telling aspect of what we have seen on offer this week is this. When you ask the question who matters to the Liberal Party, you get one answer. Themselves.I do want to make this point about what we have seen this week, and it has been an extraordinary spectacle, it has been an extraordinary spectacle of disunity, of division, of personal hatred, of enmity and ill discipline. It has been all of those things. But the most telling aspect of what we have seen on offer this week is this. When you ask the question who matters to the Liberal Party, you get one answer. Themselves.
Labor’s Penny Wong is moving a no-confidence motion against the government in the Senate.Labor’s Penny Wong is moving a no-confidence motion against the government in the Senate.
The motion also calls on Malcolm Turnbull to take Australia to the polls by visiting the governor general by 5pm.The motion also calls on Malcolm Turnbull to take Australia to the polls by visiting the governor general by 5pm.
It is very clear from question time today that Australia does not have a functioning government. Australia does not have a functioning government.It is very clear from question time today that Australia does not have a functioning government. Australia does not have a functioning government.
We have a rabble. A rabble of self-important people masquerading as the representatives of Australia.We have a rabble. A rabble of self-important people masquerading as the representatives of Australia.
I don’t want to look at that car crash of a Senate anymore. So here’s a few pictures from the heroic Mike Bowers of that gob-smacking press conference earlier. Turnbull, with his back against the wall, shows some fight.I don’t want to look at that car crash of a Senate anymore. So here’s a few pictures from the heroic Mike Bowers of that gob-smacking press conference earlier. Turnbull, with his back against the wall, shows some fight.
Pure farce.Pure farce.
This is where we’re currently at in the 45th parliament. Senator Malarndirri McCarthy asks:This is where we’re currently at in the 45th parliament. Senator Malarndirri McCarthy asks:
How many ministers currently serve in the Liberal National government? Who are they? And what are their portfolios?How many ministers currently serve in the Liberal National government? Who are they? And what are their portfolios?
I honestly don’t think anyone knows.I honestly don’t think anyone knows.
The uproar from Labor is deafening in there. Each time Birmingham tries to talk about the government’s performance, he is drowned out. The Senate president, Scott Ryan, is trying to wrest control.The uproar from Labor is deafening in there. Each time Birmingham tries to talk about the government’s performance, he is drowned out. The Senate president, Scott Ryan, is trying to wrest control.
Order on my left. Order on my left. If I call order, take a breath and count to three before the interjections continue.Order on my left. Order on my left. If I call order, take a breath and count to three before the interjections continue.
Question time kicks off in the Senate. This is embarrassing. Birmingham is listing the various portfolios that he, Scullion and Payne will take questions on. The lists are ludicrously long.Question time kicks off in the Senate. This is embarrassing. Birmingham is listing the various portfolios that he, Scullion and Payne will take questions on. The lists are ludicrously long.
Labor laugh and yell from the opposition benches as Birmingham works his way through the portfolios.Labor laugh and yell from the opposition benches as Birmingham works his way through the portfolios.
The chaos continues over in the Senate. Senators were preparing to debate a bill on regional broadband. But the government appeared to have no idea who the relevant minister was. Instead of the name of its speaker, the Coalition simply wrote “minister”. Quality, stable government there.The chaos continues over in the Senate. Senators were preparing to debate a bill on regional broadband. But the government appeared to have no idea who the relevant minister was. Instead of the name of its speaker, the Coalition simply wrote “minister”. Quality, stable government there.
You’ll remember that the former communications minister Mitch Fifield resigned earlier today.You’ll remember that the former communications minister Mitch Fifield resigned earlier today.
We know now that Simon Birmingham will be the government’s leader in the Senate. Birmingham, Nigel Scullion and Marise Payne will take most of the questions on behalf of that slew of resigned frontbenchers we mentioned earlier.We know now that Simon Birmingham will be the government’s leader in the Senate. Birmingham, Nigel Scullion and Marise Payne will take most of the questions on behalf of that slew of resigned frontbenchers we mentioned earlier.
Brace for full impact, guys. It’s going to be a heavy landing.Brace for full impact, guys. It’s going to be a heavy landing.
We’re all the crossbenchers today.
The crossbenchers this morning pic.twitter.com/2v4TuB4qLN
Turnbull’s appearance lifted the Aussie dollar slightly from a low of US 72.85c but it has since been bumping along at US72.9c.
The ASX200, meanwhile, is off a little bit more than earlier at 6,250 points, a drop of 0.25% today.
#AUDUSD cautiously higher after Australian PM Turnbull announced that he would not stand as a candidate in a leadership ballot and is waiting on legal advice re: frmr. Health Min. Dutton's eligibility pic.twitter.com/nM9IihxPJM
This may well be the last time I write this caption:PM Malcolm Turnbull at a press conference in Parliament House @knausc @murpharoo @GuardianAus #politicslive https://t.co/uyRiPluF5K pic.twitter.com/5tcdUxXaGe
Andrew Bolt, the late night Sky News commentator and keen promoter of the Anyone-But-Turnbull camp, had just had a hernia live on air.
He’s furious Turnbull is fighting back.
Firstly, he’s angry that Turnbull is demanding to see a petition with 43 names before he convenes a special party-room meeting tomorrow.
“He made up that rule. There is no such rule. Absolutely none,” Bolt says.
Secondly, he’s angry that Turnbull has asked the solicitor general to consider whether Peter Dutton is eligible to sit in parliament.
“Again, this is him trying to kill off Peter Dutton’s challenge. The only way that Peter Dutton goes to the high court is if there parliament refers him.”
Thirdly, he doesn’t like that Turnbull’s digging his heels so that Scott Morrison gets time to challenge Dutton properly with serious numbers.
“Malcolm Turnbull, the most leftwing leader of the Liberal party for, I don’t know when, is trying to stop the Liberal party from returning to its roots.
“It’s an utterly, utterly selfish and narcissistic move. His leadership is completely destroyed and he doesn’t care. He is staying on for as long as he can until he can nominate his preferred successor.
“I think it is a disaster. I have never seen such a selfish, damaging, suicidal kind of move from a man who’s only focus since the day he become prime minister was on himself.”
Bolt then reminded viewers that he wasn’t a member of the Liberal party.
The time could prove crucial. It does two things:
it gives Scott Morrison more time to build support for a tilt at the leadership
it gives more time for concerns about Dutton’s eligibility to foment within the Coalition, including by allowing the solicitor general to deliver his advice before tomorrow’s party room meeting.
Oh, and it also gives Labor more time to do stuff like this:
The Liberals have shut down the Parliament and given up on governing Australia.My united and stable Labor team are ready to govern. We are 100% focused on delivering a fair go for all Australians. pic.twitter.com/LGAzui01fq
Let’s put some context around what we’ve just learned. It’s shocking, really.
Malcolm Turnbull has effectively just booby-trapped the prime minister’s office for Dutton. Turnbull has shown some fight. “I’ve never given in to bullies,” he says.
And indeed he is not.
Here’s why: Turnbull has suggested he will walk from parliament if he loses the leadership.
That would trigger a byelection. A byelection could rob Peter Dutton of the ability to command a majority in parliament.
At the same time, he’s put serious doubt on Dutton’s ability to lead a stable government or sit as an eligible parliamentarian.
Truly remarkable.
PM Turnbull: “I’ve never given in to bullies” pic.twitter.com/Z6ToY6C9gN
So, Turnbull is seeking to buy time. He is asking for the party room meeting to take place tomorrow, at midday.
The press conference was also used to highlight the serious doubts over Dutton’s eligibility. He wants the party to see the solicitor general’s legal advice before the spill.
This issue of eligibility is critically important. You can imagine the consequences of having a prime minister whose actions and decisions are questionable because of the issue of eligibility.
Malcolm Turnbull says we are witnessing a very deliberate effort to haul the Liberal Party to the right. #auspol pic.twitter.com/e49J4rH9Ix
Our political editor, Katharine Murphy, asks Turnbull who he means when he describes the bullies within the party.
He won’t name names. But he says the party is being dragged to the right. He also says the challenge began with a minority, and was built up through bullying and intimidation.
Again, I’m not going to go into names or anything remotely approaching recrimination or anything of that kind. I mean, politics is a tough business. You have got to judge the political actions by their outcomes.
I think what we’re witnessing, what we have witnessed at the moment is a very deliberate effort to pull the Liberal party further to the right. And that is a, that’s been stated by the number of people who have been involved in this.
#BREAKING PM not standing down. Says Dutton wanted the House adjourned. He’s waiting for the petition from members for a party room meeting. If he gets it, he’ll call a meeting of the party room midday tomorrow. And he wants SG advice on Dutton before then #auspol @politicsabc pic.twitter.com/JnDLo4irRc