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Version 17 Version 18
Turnbull demands Dutton reveal support as Morrison joins race – politics live Turnbull demands Dutton reveal support as Morrison joins race – politics live
(35 minutes later)
I still don’t have primary confirmation that Julie Bishop is in the field, but government MPs are telling me she is now campaigning flat out. I’ve been speaking to a few Liberal MPs to try and gauge how seriously they take the constitutional issue with Peter Dutton that Malcolm Turnbull elevated at his press conference earlier by calling for the solicitor general’s advice before the party room meeting.
Dutton supporters see the move as sheer bastardry. “Desperation, totally inaccurate and not a good reflection on the prime minister,” one MP told me.
That MP suggested it was “outrageous” to involve the solicitor general and MPs would ignore the advice.
Perhaps that’s what you’d expect from a Dutton supporter - but my read on it is swing voters are less angry but don’t regard it as a critical issue either. One said the constitutional issue is “beyond their remit” and they will “take no notice of it” because it’s beyond their control.
This parliamentarian - who voted for Turnbull in the first ballot - sounds thoroughly depressed with the whole episode:
I had no great love for Tony Abbott but I voted for him [in September 2015] because throwing out a sitting prime minister never works. It’s the same with Malcolm Turnbull - it doesn’t matter whether you love him or hate him, change is not going to help us.
Asked how the “madness” had taken hold in the Liberal party if that was the case, the parliamentarian suggested colleagues’ “ego” and “ambition” was to blame. “It’s all about themselves.”
One factor that could swing votes more than constitutional issues: avoiding an early election. But the one person who canvassed this MP’s vote said it was “not his intention to go to an early election unless resignations and byelections force the issue” (I suspect this was Dutton’s pitch FYI).
Barnaby Joyce spoke to ABC radio a little earlier. He hit out at Turnbull’s decision not to stay on in parliament, should he lose the leadership. He said he does not agree with knifing a sitting prime minister.
I don’t agree with this process. A lot of people out there are dismayed with the chaos this inflicts on the parliament.
Hand in glove with that, if that is the case, the only way you can make this worse, is if you decide with a one-seat majority you are not going to represent the party you led.
There’s a bit of a lull in parliament at the moment.
A lot of the MPs have left the building. The Senate is still sitting on. So, what to do in the quiet? Well, you could listen to Alan Jones on Sky News. Or you can watch the excellent video at the top of the blog we’ve just published taking you through the twists and turns of the last three days. Tough choice, I know.
I still don’t have primary confirmation that Julie Bishop is in the field, but government MPs are telling me she is now campaigning flat-out.
Some predict she will pick up support from Victorian Liberals, because Peter Dutton and Scott Morrison are both bad news in the most progressive state in Australia. Bishop appearing has caused complications for moderates who were in the process of swinging behind Scott Morrison.Some predict she will pick up support from Victorian Liberals, because Peter Dutton and Scott Morrison are both bad news in the most progressive state in Australia. Bishop appearing has caused complications for moderates who were in the process of swinging behind Scott Morrison.
Some moderates think if she finishes ahead of Morrison in the ballot, swinging votes will swing behind Dutton, giving him victory.Some moderates think if she finishes ahead of Morrison in the ballot, swinging votes will swing behind Dutton, giving him victory.
You could not script this, seriously.You could not script this, seriously.
Australia is a strange, strange place sometimes.Australia is a strange, strange place sometimes.
OK, EVERYONE FORGET #Libspill2. TOO DEPRESSING. INSTEAD, WE GIVE YOU #crocanoodletoo https://t.co/8wXDG8stLyOK, EVERYONE FORGET #Libspill2. TOO DEPRESSING. INSTEAD, WE GIVE YOU #crocanoodletoo https://t.co/8wXDG8stLy
You may have missed this amid the chaos, but the Senate voted to hold an inquiry into the Peter Dutton au pair mystery. It promises to be very interesting. Lisa Martin prepared this report for Guardian Australia. She’s been excellent on this story. Martin writes:You may have missed this amid the chaos, but the Senate voted to hold an inquiry into the Peter Dutton au pair mystery. It promises to be very interesting. Lisa Martin prepared this report for Guardian Australia. She’s been excellent on this story. Martin writes:
The Senate has voted to investigate the circumstances surrounding Peter Dutton’s decision to use ministerial intervention powers to save two foreign au pairs from deportation.The Senate has voted to investigate the circumstances surrounding Peter Dutton’s decision to use ministerial intervention powers to save two foreign au pairs from deportation.
The visa status of the two unknown young women has been in the public spotlight since March, when it was revealed the former home affairs minister granted them visas on public interest grounds in 2015.The visa status of the two unknown young women has been in the public spotlight since March, when it was revealed the former home affairs minister granted them visas on public interest grounds in 2015.
Dutton stood aside as minister on Tuesday after challenging prime minister Malcolm Turnbull for the leadership of the Liberal party. His backers circulated a petition late on Wednesday in an attempt to trigger a second leadership spill.Dutton stood aside as minister on Tuesday after challenging prime minister Malcolm Turnbull for the leadership of the Liberal party. His backers circulated a petition late on Wednesday in an attempt to trigger a second leadership spill.
Labor senator Louise Pratt, who chairs the Senate legal and constitutional affairs references committee, moved a motion for a snap inquiry into “allegations concerning the inappropriate exercise of ministerial powers with respect to the visa status of au pairs”.Labor senator Louise Pratt, who chairs the Senate legal and constitutional affairs references committee, moved a motion for a snap inquiry into “allegations concerning the inappropriate exercise of ministerial powers with respect to the visa status of au pairs”.
A great take of today’s events from David Rowe, the Australian Financial Review’s cartoonist.A great take of today’s events from David Rowe, the Australian Financial Review’s cartoonist.
'Now I'd prefer this in writing.' @roweafr's latest cartoon. For more: https://t.co/eCXdPFLLAL #auspol #libsspill pic.twitter.com/a9L0o9pFc3'Now I'd prefer this in writing.' @roweafr's latest cartoon. For more: https://t.co/eCXdPFLLAL #auspol #libsspill pic.twitter.com/a9L0o9pFc3
What do you do when your minister resigns? Edit Wikipedia entries about fish, I suppose?What do you do when your minister resigns? Edit Wikipedia entries about fish, I suppose?
Murray cod Wikipedia article edited anonymously from Department of Human Services https://t.co/9FT2hMvzha pic.twitter.com/Wftms5MjiOMurray cod Wikipedia article edited anonymously from Department of Human Services https://t.co/9FT2hMvzha pic.twitter.com/Wftms5MjiO
There has been some speculation among MPs about what Josh Frydenberg might do in any ballot tomorrow.There has been some speculation among MPs about what Josh Frydenberg might do in any ballot tomorrow.
Some are claiming he’s now in the Dutton column, but I don’t think that’s right. What I think is entirely possible is Frydenberg will nominate for the deputy’s job regardless of who wins tomorrow’s ballot. He’s being urged to put his hand up.Some are claiming he’s now in the Dutton column, but I don’t think that’s right. What I think is entirely possible is Frydenberg will nominate for the deputy’s job regardless of who wins tomorrow’s ballot. He’s being urged to put his hand up.
It’s 5.30pm here in Canberra. Many of you are heading home and wondering where this all goes next. Luckily, my dear colleague Gareth Hutchens is back from prowling the ministerial wing of parliament house and has written up this great explainer.It’s 5.30pm here in Canberra. Many of you are heading home and wondering where this all goes next. Luckily, my dear colleague Gareth Hutchens is back from prowling the ministerial wing of parliament house and has written up this great explainer.
An update on the petition for the party room meeting. The Liberal MP Karen Andrews spoke to reporters outside parliament earlier.
She said she understands that only “one more signature is required”. She signed the petition, basically out of frustration with the current mess, but warns that does not mean she will automatically back Peter Dutton.
But I will not stand by after having parliament adjourned today to have this matter not concluded tomorrow. I understand that only one more signature is required.
The former Labor prime minister Julia Gillard has warned Australia may be headed for an election focused on race and law and order. She was speaking in Melbourne and my colleague Luke Henriques-Gomes was there.
“I think we could be heading for a federal election that would be quite ugly around questions of race,” Gillard said. “There’s been no secret that there will be campaigning on law and order questions, putting to the forefront people’s race and ethnicity rather than the crime.
“I think it’s sort of incumbent on all of us when emotions get worked up around those things to be voices of reason, pointing methodically to the evidence rather than getting swept up in it. That in some ways sounds passionless … but over time I believe reason tells.”
The Liberal senator Linda Reynolds has given an impassioned speech in the Senate about the behaviour of people on her own side destabilising the leadership.
Reynolds said:
Yesterday here in this place I said that I was deeply saddened and distressed by what was happening over the last 24 hours and now 48 hours in my own party. And I’ve got to say what’s happened since yesterday – I’m even more greatly distressed and disturbed by what has been happening ... In fact some of the behaviour is behaviour I simply do not recognise, and I think has no place in my party or this chamber.
So whatever happens over the next 24 hours, I cannot condone and I cannot support what has happened to some of my colleagues on this side, in this chamber, in this place. The tragedy of what has been happening, the madness of what has taken hold of a number of my colleagues is this has been a very good government, and a government is always more than a leader, and the leader is only ever the sum of those he or she serves with.
She continues:
I just hope, as I said, whatever happens tomorrow that the behaviours that we have seen and the bullying and intimidation that I do not recognise as Liberal in any shape, way or form, is brought to account. And we can find a better way, all of us in this chamber, to deal with each other. And most importantly, to represent the people of Australia, because that is what we are here to do. We are not here to squabble with each other. We are here to serve the people of Australia. And I feel ashamed that we are letting our nation down. Thank you.
The ASX200 has closed down 0.34% for the day to finish at 6,244 points. Although banking and utilities stocks led the way down, it’s not clear how much of the fall can be laid at the door of the Canberra carnage. The energy sector, which you might expect to suffer most from the political uncertainty, was up 0.8% helped by higher oil prices.
The drop in the Aussie dollar was more clearly linked to what our political editor Katharine Murphy calls a “complete shambles”.
The currency has lost 0.75% today to sit at US72.9c at the moment. But as I said earlier, that’s still higher than it was on Friday and it has been trending lower for the past six months.
For a bit of much-needed levity, have a look at this piece from Guardian Australia reporter Naaman Zhou on the poor buggers all over the world who share the name Peter Dutton. They’re all taking it with good humour. Good on them. Should we give them a run in government? A cabinet full of foreign Peter Duttons. Can’t be worse than the current bunch. And by the time we fly them over, the prime minister’s liable to have changed a few times anyway.
I've been to Australia once, in 1998, and nothing that's happened there since is my fault. https://t.co/Sz1XKnHC4E
I'm with you bro.... https://t.co/TMqos2mc1N
Pretty sure my last tweet has made me the leading candidate for PM of Australia. USA! It’s been real, mate. ✌🏾
We heard fiery speeches from both Labor’s Penny Wong and the Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, in the Senate earlier, as they backed a no-confidence motion against the government.
They’re both worth a watch.
It is now clear the Liberals cannot provide the leadership that the Australian people deserve. The only party capable of delivering that government and governing for all Australians is the Australian Labor Party. pic.twitter.com/DvIKarPXNl
Richard Di Natale's speech in the Senate just now was straight fire"We have kids in a catatonic state because they had given up hope, locked away in those offshore hellholes. What is the Liberal Party doing? Focusing on vengeance, on payback. Focusing on themselves." pic.twitter.com/AViuVb5Ooc
Linda Reynolds says she no longer recognises her own party. "I do not recognise the values, I do not recognise the bullying and intimidation that has gone on". @politicsabc
Have a look at the time stamps on these tweets, and you’ll get an idea of the frenetic pace in this place right now. A claim is made that Tony Abbott is going to run for PM at 4.02pm. By 4.04pm, it is dismissed.
Tony Abbott says “he’s not going to be a candidate” https://t.co/3EydNQQvaO
And further evidence:
🤷‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/rM6FjaZU5i
The first thing to say is this thing is a complete shambles. Like nothing I’ve ever seen. It’s chaos, and people are playing the echo chamber.
Scott Morrison is running, and canvassing. Ben Morton is doing his numbers. People are canvassing for Julie Bishop. I know many outlets are already running that she’s a certainty, but I have not had confirmation from her that she is running. Some moderates are sceptical that she is, because she agreed (according to a couple of sources) to be Morrison’s deputy in a meeting this morning. So that’s a bit of a wildcard. But she certainly has supporters in the party room.
I’m told efforts by the Dutton camp to collect signatures have stalled. Mathias Cormann has been canvassing on Dutton’s behalf, ringing around MPs – but people are refusing to sign what some are terming a suicide note.
That’s an interesting point from my colleague Paul Karp, just now. Dutton’s camp have reportedly pulled the petition from circulation for the time being, in the hope that Marino would unilaterally call the meeting. She is saying no, she will not do that.