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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2018/sep/19/coalition-labor-morrison-shorten-super-aged-care
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| Peter Dutton misled parliament over au pairs, inquiry finds – as it happened | Peter Dutton misled parliament over au pairs, inquiry finds – as it happened |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| So tomorrow looks like being interesting! | So tomorrow looks like being interesting! |
| From what I understand, not a lot can happen, even if the no-confidence motion gets up, but it is a terrible, terrible look and not something the government wants at any time, let alone when Scott Morrison is attempting to establish himself as a “strong” leader. | |
| Morrison seized his chance with Australia’s Berry Force today – and if you don’t think his advisors saw this as the perfect opportunity to display is prime-ministerialness, then you haven’t been paying enough attention – and for the most part, the government didn’t have to deal with questions on bullying or its lack of women. | |
| But, a no-confidence motion in Peter Dutton will change all of that. They’ve tried to keep him out of the spotlight as much as possible – today’s ABF presser non-withstanding – with limited dixers and a low profile. | |
| No word on what is happening with his section 44 concerns – but I can’t imagine Labor or the Greens would want to wet all their powder tomorrow – there is another sitting coming up in three weeks after all. | |
| We will bring you all the updates as they come to hand, along with whatever else this insane place brings us. | We will bring you all the updates as they come to hand, along with whatever else this insane place brings us. |
| A big thank you to Katharine Murphy and Gareth Hutchens for dragging me over the line today – I could not do it without them, or the people behind the scenes who clean up the mess my muddled brain and too fast fingers create. | |
| Mike Bowers will be back with us tomorrow and I know he missed you as much as you missed him. | Mike Bowers will be back with us tomorrow and I know he missed you as much as you missed him. |
| I’ll be back bright and early as well, but in the mean time – thank you for hanging out with us today – and take care of you. | |
| Labor hasn’t given an official response as yet, but: | Labor hasn’t given an official response as yet, but: |
| #Breaking #auspol #thedrum Peter Dutton pic.twitter.com/9KZvgDlVvs | #Breaking #auspol #thedrum Peter Dutton pic.twitter.com/9KZvgDlVvs |
| And there we go: | And there we go: |
| BREAKING: inquiry finds Peter Dutton misled Parl over au pair scandal when answering my question.I will seek to move a motion of ‘no confidence’ in him tomorrow.#Greens pic.twitter.com/7XAd5TUVpG | BREAKING: inquiry finds Peter Dutton misled Parl over au pair scandal when answering my question.I will seek to move a motion of ‘no confidence’ in him tomorrow.#Greens pic.twitter.com/7XAd5TUVpG |
| But it looks like the no-confidence motion against Peter Dutton the government had been pushing against will be put to the lower house tomorrow. | But it looks like the no-confidence motion against Peter Dutton the government had been pushing against will be put to the lower house tomorrow. |
| No word on what the independents would do – they wanted to see the report before making any decisions. | No word on what the independents would do – they wanted to see the report before making any decisions. |
| This is why Ian Macdonald and Eric Abetz don’t believe the report’s findings: | This is why Ian Macdonald and Eric Abetz don’t believe the report’s findings: |
| This inquiry has been a farcical and shambolic witch-hunt that, despite the hyperbolic majority report, has come up with nothing except findings that mirror the Labor party’s initial talking points which actually fall outside the terms of reference of this inquiry. | This inquiry has been a farcical and shambolic witch-hunt that, despite the hyperbolic majority report, has come up with nothing except findings that mirror the Labor party’s initial talking points which actually fall outside the terms of reference of this inquiry. |
| Despite Labor Senators’ constant changing of the goal posts in order to try and locate a smoking gun, the extensive hearings show that not only is there no smoking gun, there is in fact no gun. | Despite Labor Senators’ constant changing of the goal posts in order to try and locate a smoking gun, the extensive hearings show that not only is there no smoking gun, there is in fact no gun. |
| The undisputed evidence provided to the Committee was very clear: | The undisputed evidence provided to the Committee was very clear: |
| The evidence has disclosed no instances of inappropriate conduct by the Minister for Home Affairs as has been so recklessly alleged by Labor and Green Senators. The findings listed in the committee report are unsustainable | The evidence has disclosed no instances of inappropriate conduct by the Minister for Home Affairs as has been so recklessly alleged by Labor and Green Senators. The findings listed in the committee report are unsustainable |
| That of the 24 subclass 600 interventions signed by Minister Dutton, only two (the already publicised Brisbane and Adelaide cases) related to au pairs;[1] | That of the 24 subclass 600 interventions signed by Minister Dutton, only two (the already publicised Brisbane and Adelaide cases) related to au pairs;[1] |
| In both of these cases, the minister accepted the department’s recommendation to grant a short-term visitor visa to the two individuals involved;[2] | In both of these cases, the minister accepted the department’s recommendation to grant a short-term visitor visa to the two individuals involved;[2] |
| That neither the minister nor his office had any contact with the department on either the Brisbane or Adelaide cases, other than through the usual channel of the departmental liaison officer;[3] | That neither the minister nor his office had any contact with the department on either the Brisbane or Adelaide cases, other than through the usual channel of the departmental liaison officer;[3] |
| That no additional costs were incurred by the department on the two cases;[4] and | That no additional costs were incurred by the department on the two cases;[4] and |
| The minister acted within ministerial intervention powers as prescribed under the Migration Act 1958 and the department’s guidelines for ministerial intervention. | The minister acted within ministerial intervention powers as prescribed under the Migration Act 1958 and the department’s guidelines for ministerial intervention. |
| Adam Bandt is one of the first lower house MPs out of the blocks to respond to the Senate report: | Adam Bandt is one of the first lower house MPs out of the blocks to respond to the Senate report: |
| Peter Dutton has misled parliament over the au pair scandal and the Senate inquiry report confirms this. If he won’t resign, the parliament should take matters into its own hands.” | Peter Dutton has misled parliament over the au pair scandal and the Senate inquiry report confirms this. If he won’t resign, the parliament should take matters into its own hands.” |
| Eric Abetz and Ian Macdonald do not agree with the majority report. They have issued a dissenting report, where they conclude the Senate should recommend: | Eric Abetz and Ian Macdonald do not agree with the majority report. They have issued a dissenting report, where they conclude the Senate should recommend: |
| The Minister for Home Affairs be commended for his prudent and diligent work as a minister | The Minister for Home Affairs be commended for his prudent and diligent work as a minister |
| Mr Quaedvlieg’s correspondence be referred to the privileges committee and be considered as to whether privilege should apply to these documents; and | Mr Quaedvlieg’s correspondence be referred to the privileges committee and be considered as to whether privilege should apply to these documents; and |
| The Minister for Home Affairs ignore the majority report’s findings. | The Minister for Home Affairs ignore the majority report’s findings. |
| And what do they recommend? | And what do they recommend? |
| That the government strengthen the minister’s tabling statements to parliament on ministerial interventions, by requiring the minister’s statements to declare whether or not each ministerial intervention was made in accordance with the ministerial guidelines. | That the government strengthen the minister’s tabling statements to parliament on ministerial interventions, by requiring the minister’s statements to declare whether or not each ministerial intervention was made in accordance with the ministerial guidelines. |
| The committee recommends that the Senate consider censuring the Minister for Home Affairs (the hon Peter Dutton MP) for the actions examined in this report, when he was the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, for failing to observe fairness in making official decisions as required by the Statement of Ministerial Standards | The committee recommends that the Senate consider censuring the Minister for Home Affairs (the hon Peter Dutton MP) for the actions examined in this report, when he was the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, for failing to observe fairness in making official decisions as required by the Statement of Ministerial Standards |
| That the minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs provide, within three sitting days, an explanation to the Senate responding to the matters raised in this report. | That the minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs provide, within three sitting days, an explanation to the Senate responding to the matters raised in this report. |
| The committee (except for the Coalition senators) has found: | The committee (except for the Coalition senators) has found: |
| It is the view of the committee that Minister Dutton had a clear personal connection and existing relationship with the intended employer of the au pair in the Brisbane case. Given his definitive answer in the House of Representatives, it is the view of the committee the minister misled Parliament in relation to this matter. | It is the view of the committee that Minister Dutton had a clear personal connection and existing relationship with the intended employer of the au pair in the Brisbane case. Given his definitive answer in the House of Representatives, it is the view of the committee the minister misled Parliament in relation to this matter. |
| It is the view of the committee that Minister Dutton acted expeditiously in using his ministerial intervention powers to grant a tourist visa to the au pair in the Adelaide case. Whilst the use of these powers is within his rights as the relevant minister, the committee recognises this request for intervention may not have come to the attention of Minister Dutton prior to the individual’s removal from Australia if it was not for the fact it was raised through personal connections. Minister Dutton appears to have failed to give consideration to the damage to public confidence in the integrity of the immigration system that his actions could cause and, at best, reflects very poor judgement on the part of the minister. | It is the view of the committee that Minister Dutton acted expeditiously in using his ministerial intervention powers to grant a tourist visa to the au pair in the Adelaide case. Whilst the use of these powers is within his rights as the relevant minister, the committee recognises this request for intervention may not have come to the attention of Minister Dutton prior to the individual’s removal from Australia if it was not for the fact it was raised through personal connections. Minister Dutton appears to have failed to give consideration to the damage to public confidence in the integrity of the immigration system that his actions could cause and, at best, reflects very poor judgement on the part of the minister. |
| In the Adelaide case, Minister Dutton signed the intervention documents despite acting ministerial arrangements being in place. No evidence presented assured the committee that there were any reasons why Minister Dutton signed the ministerial intervention in the Adelaide case rather than acting Minister Keenan, heightening perceptions that Minister Dutton acted due to a personal interest. | In the Adelaide case, Minister Dutton signed the intervention documents despite acting ministerial arrangements being in place. No evidence presented assured the committee that there were any reasons why Minister Dutton signed the ministerial intervention in the Adelaide case rather than acting Minister Keenan, heightening perceptions that Minister Dutton acted due to a personal interest. |
| It is the view of the committee that substantial inconsistencies in evidence provided by the department during the course of the inquiry leaves significant doubt as to whether all relevant ministerial interventions have been captured by the inquiry. | It is the view of the committee that substantial inconsistencies in evidence provided by the department during the course of the inquiry leaves significant doubt as to whether all relevant ministerial interventions have been captured by the inquiry. |
| Given the broad powers of the immigration minister, any perception of conflict of interest or corruption in relation to the use of ministerial intervention powers is detrimental to the integrity of Australia’s immigration system. While these powers are intended to ensure legitimate cases of humanitarian need or public interest can be addressed, Minister Dutton’s interventions in these au pair cases do not reflect community expectations of how such powers should be used. | Given the broad powers of the immigration minister, any perception of conflict of interest or corruption in relation to the use of ministerial intervention powers is detrimental to the integrity of Australia’s immigration system. While these powers are intended to ensure legitimate cases of humanitarian need or public interest can be addressed, Minister Dutton’s interventions in these au pair cases do not reflect community expectations of how such powers should be used. |
| At best, Minister Dutton’s actions have resulted in a perception, if not an actual, conflict of interest. To ensure transparent and accountable decisions, the government should give serious consideration to strengthening the minister’s statement to parliament, requiring the minister’s statement to declare that the ministerial intervention was made in accordance with the ministerial guidelines, thereby maintaining community confidence in the integrity of Australia’s immigration system. | At best, Minister Dutton’s actions have resulted in a perception, if not an actual, conflict of interest. To ensure transparent and accountable decisions, the government should give serious consideration to strengthening the minister’s statement to parliament, requiring the minister’s statement to declare that the ministerial intervention was made in accordance with the ministerial guidelines, thereby maintaining community confidence in the integrity of Australia’s immigration system. |
| You can find the whole report – including the Coalition senator’s dissenting report – here. | You can find the whole report – including the Coalition senator’s dissenting report – here. |
| Louise Pratt: “I can’t think of all the extraordinary humanitarian cases which require intervention, but this is an extraordinary level of service provided by the minister’s office which underscores the minister’s [personal involvement]”. | Louise Pratt: “I can’t think of all the extraordinary humanitarian cases which require intervention, but this is an extraordinary level of service provided by the minister’s office which underscores the minister’s [personal involvement]”. |
| “There is no basis for the minister to say he had no personal connection, when the very genesis of the request came through his office because of a personal connection,” Louise Pratt says. | “There is no basis for the minister to say he had no personal connection, when the very genesis of the request came through his office because of a personal connection,” Louise Pratt says. |
| She said the committee has found (I would imagine there is a dissenting report) that it has undermined the integrity of the immigration department. | She said the committee has found (I would imagine there is a dissenting report) that it has undermined the integrity of the immigration department. |
| Given how strong Pratt’s language is here, I think we will be seeing a no confidence motion coming the parliament’s way. | Given how strong Pratt’s language is here, I think we will be seeing a no confidence motion coming the parliament’s way. |
| “It is the view of the committee that the minister misled the parliament in this matter,” Louise Pratt says, in handing down the report. | “It is the view of the committee that the minister misled the parliament in this matter,” Louise Pratt says, in handing down the report. |
| The Senate is receiving the Peter Dutton report as I type this. | The Senate is receiving the Peter Dutton report as I type this. |
| The Greens have released this statement: | The Greens have released this statement: |
| The Senate has today ordered the government to table the Ruddock review by 9.30am Thursday, after a passing a motion from the Australian Greens. | The Senate has today ordered the government to table the Ruddock review by 9.30am Thursday, after a passing a motion from the Australian Greens. |
| Greens LGBTIQ+ spokesperson Janet Rice said: “LGBTIQ+ communities have been left in the lurch for months awaiting the release of this report. Our rights are at stake and we’re being kept in the dark. | Greens LGBTIQ+ spokesperson Janet Rice said: “LGBTIQ+ communities have been left in the lurch for months awaiting the release of this report. Our rights are at stake and we’re being kept in the dark. |
| “Scott Morrison’s recent anti-LQBTIQ+ comments have ignited fear in our communities that the government is planning to wind back the laws which protect LGBTIQ+ people from discrimination. | “Scott Morrison’s recent anti-LQBTIQ+ comments have ignited fear in our communities that the government is planning to wind back the laws which protect LGBTIQ+ people from discrimination. |
| “We need to know to what extent he is planning to further discriminate against everyday LGBTIQ+ Australians in order to shore up the support of powerful religious institutions.” | “We need to know to what extent he is planning to further discriminate against everyday LGBTIQ+ Australians in order to shore up the support of powerful religious institutions.” |
| Greens justice spokesperson Nick McKim said: | Greens justice spokesperson Nick McKim said: |
| “The prime minister has already has made it clear that he has plans to dismantle anti-discrimination laws. | “The prime minister has already has made it clear that he has plans to dismantle anti-discrimination laws. |
| “The far right lost the marriage equality debate and now they want revenge and are going to try to entrench discrimination in other parts of society. | “The far right lost the marriage equality debate and now they want revenge and are going to try to entrench discrimination in other parts of society. |
| “We will fight them every step of the way.” | “We will fight them every step of the way.” |
| Feel free to pass this on to anyone you know who it could interest. It is very easy to be cynical about politics, but it’s the most important thing in the world and we keep trying to make it better – and generation Z have a pretty good chance of making that happen: | Feel free to pass this on to anyone you know who it could interest. It is very easy to be cynical about politics, but it’s the most important thing in the world and we keep trying to make it better – and generation Z have a pretty good chance of making that happen: |
| Speaker of the House Tony Smith has officially launched the 2018 My First Speech competition. This year's judging panel will be @ChrisCrewtherMP, @KateEllisMP, @AdamBandt and, in a first for the competition, Mr Speaker himself! Enter at https://t.co/2yDd2dYU8k pic.twitter.com/wM0d3cnwt2 | Speaker of the House Tony Smith has officially launched the 2018 My First Speech competition. This year's judging panel will be @ChrisCrewtherMP, @KateEllisMP, @AdamBandt and, in a first for the competition, Mr Speaker himself! Enter at https://t.co/2yDd2dYU8k pic.twitter.com/wM0d3cnwt2 |
| The senate inquiry report into Peter Dutton’s au pair decision is due to be handed down very soon - we are keeping an eye on the committee website for you. | The senate inquiry report into Peter Dutton’s au pair decision is due to be handed down very soon - we are keeping an eye on the committee website for you. |