This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2018/oct/16/scott-morrison-israel-embassy-wentworth-politics-live
The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Government grilled over 'It's OK to be white' vote – question time live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Tanya Plibersek to Scott Morrison: | |
| The government claims its decision to endorse white supremacist slogans in the Senate was an administrative error. Was it an administrative error when the government voted to cut $14 billion from public schools? Was it eight administrative errors when it voted to cut penalty rates, was it will be six administrative errors when the Prime Minister voted against a banking Royal Commission? Is the government’s message in Wentworth really, vote for a government that has absolutely no idea what it is doing? | |
| Christopher Pyne says the question is “offensive” because the government re-put the motion and voted against it today. (I WISH it was that easy to re-write history. Do-overs for all!) | |
| Tony Smith rules the question in order. | |
| Scott Morrison: | |
| The electors of Wentworth have an important choice to make on Saturday. They can support a government that can support economic growth, that has been the envy of the developed world, they can support a government that has demonstrated working with business and those all around the country, more than 1 million jobs over the last five years, they can support a government that has ensured that they are able to keep Australians are safe, keeping Australians safe, and you know the Labor Party likes to talk about bipartisanship on these sorts of issues. | |
| What I know about the Labor Party is that they subcontract the hard decisions on national security, and the economy, to the government. | |
| They are happy to support us on occasion, Mr Speaker. They are happy to support us on occasion, but what would actually happen if the Labor Party was sitting on these benches when it comes to Australia’s national Security? When it comes to our border security? | |
| When it comes to our economic security? When the Liberals and Nationals are not there to make the decisions about taking down taxes for individuals and small business. | |
| What would happen if the Labor Party was one step closer and this leader of the Labor Party that thinks that his version of leadership and his vision to Australia is to divide Australians on one side and the other into winners and losers, those who employ and those who turn up in worker wages. | |
| Between parents who want to send their kids to an independent school and parents who want to send their kids to state school, Mr Speaker. The Leader of the Opposition only has a plan to divide this country for his own political interests and purposes, Mr Speaker. | |
| Our government has a plan to keep our economy strong, to ensure that we can guarantee the essential services that Australians rely on, that we take the difficult decisions to keep Australians safe, whether it is in the playground or whether it is overseas or whether it is on our borders, and we have the record for achieving that, Mr Speaker, and it is our plan and our record of government that we are keeping Australians together. | |
| That is a plan that Australians can vote for in Wentworth on Saturday. And a vote for anyone other than the Liberal candidate puts the Wrecker, the leader of the Labour Party, one step closer to taxing you more, slowing our economy, being less safe and driving Australians apart. | |
| We move back to dixers and looking at the despatch box, Nicole Flint has been moved to directly behind it. | |
| She’s a splash of pink jacket in a sea of [mostly] blue suits, but she is most definitely smack bang behind the despatch box. | |
| Tony Burke to Scott Morrison: | |
| Does the prime minister honestly expect Australia to believe that an administrative error led to the government supporting a white supremacy slogan, when a review of the motion in September... Today the government refused to allow this house to debate and rejected. Is this what the prime minister meant when he called his own government the Muppet show?” | |
| Morrison: | |
| “I always expect the Labor party to play politics with serious issues. That is what I expect. | |
| “These are serious issues, Mr Speaker. The leader of the government has said it and made a statement to the Senate, and I am pleased to table that for the information of members, and Mr Speaker, I would refer the matter to the attorney general.” | |
| Christian Porter: | |
| (after repeating much of his statement today) | |
| I simply want to say that the criticism of me and my office is a completely fair cop, and I accept and apologise for the processing [mistake of] my office. And I use the language “fair cop” Mr Speaker, because that is the language the leader of the opposition wisely used when he was criticised about a year ago for producing a full political television ad meant for the Queensland market with an all-white cast, under the banner “Australians first”. | |
| “...The leader of the opposition will recall his explanation that although the final ad was cleared through his office, he had not seen the final product and he said that that was a bad oversight that won’t happen again. | |
| “So it is very interesting that the Labor leader is unwilling to accept an admission of a bad oversight on the part of my office with respect to an email, when it was an entire TV commercial that went out of his office, starring him, which he says that he never saw and we are meant to accept that.” | |
| Ross Vasta gets the first dixer. My, my, my Queensland MPs are getting some love in QT lately. | |
| Anyone would think that the LNP was in trouble in Queensland and could decide the election. | |
| Not that I am convinced that standing up in QT and reading a question which has been written for you helps get voters across the line, but what would I know? | |
| Bill Shorten to Scott Morrison on...Malcolm Turnbull: | |
| “The Liberal candidate for Wentworth said yesterday that he was appalled at the treatment that was meted out to Malcolm Turnbull. Does the prime minister agree that the way he and his government treated Malcolm Turnbull was appalling, and when will the prime minister tell the voters in Wentworth, why isn’t Malcolm Turnbull still the prime minister of Australia?” | |
| Morrison: | |
| We have dealt with this before and Dave Sharma is an awesome candidate and also, strong economy. | |
| And we are almost at question time! | And we are almost at question time! |
| Get those bingo predictions ready | Get those bingo predictions ready |
| I’m not sure this helps the government’s argument today: | I’m not sure this helps the government’s argument today: |
| .@tomwconnell: Do people read motions when they vote on them?@MichaelKeenanMP: There is a lot going on in this place at any given time. Sometimes instructions can get mangled in the telling. MORE: https://t.co/ECcDiJepZz #newsday pic.twitter.com/3asKFhxSGw | .@tomwconnell: Do people read motions when they vote on them?@MichaelKeenanMP: There is a lot going on in this place at any given time. Sometimes instructions can get mangled in the telling. MORE: https://t.co/ECcDiJepZz #newsday pic.twitter.com/3asKFhxSGw |
| The Greens also stand against the accelerated tax cuts for businesses with a turnover of between $10m and $50m. | The Greens also stand against the accelerated tax cuts for businesses with a turnover of between $10m and $50m. |
| Richard Di Natale made that position clear last week – here is Adam Bandt on why: | Richard Di Natale made that position clear last week – here is Adam Bandt on why: |
| Meanwhile, the small to medium accelerated tax cut debates is also going on: pic.twitter.com/JVsz2HJ91j | Meanwhile, the small to medium accelerated tax cut debates is also going on: pic.twitter.com/JVsz2HJ91j |
| Back to the Senate for the wash up. | Back to the Senate for the wash up. |
| Mathias Cormann puts the motion again. | Mathias Cormann puts the motion again. |
| Pauline Hanson was in her press conference talking about all those demonised white men, and no one else in the room was there to support the motion, so there was no need for a division and it was officially defeated on the voices. | Pauline Hanson was in her press conference talking about all those demonised white men, and no one else in the room was there to support the motion, so there was no need for a division and it was officially defeated on the voices. |
| Cormann looks like he wants to crawl under the table and rock in the foetal position. | Cormann looks like he wants to crawl under the table and rock in the foetal position. |
| And there is still question time to come! | And there is still question time to come! |
| Believe it or not, there is still some policy and legislative work being done in this place. | Believe it or not, there is still some policy and legislative work being done in this place. |
| Josh Frydenberg has confirmed the government will legislate to ensure no state or territory is worse off under the GST changes, after originally dismissing it. | Josh Frydenberg has confirmed the government will legislate to ensure no state or territory is worse off under the GST changes, after originally dismissing it. |
| Labor and the Coag treasurers had supported it. | Labor and the Coag treasurers had supported it. |
| Frydenberg: | Frydenberg: |
| So, a compromise, a sensible compromise, has been reached. Which will see the commonwealth legislate that no state or territory will be worse off under the new system to the period 26-27 ... and in 26-27, the Productivity Commission will undertake a review to assess whether the new system of the GST distribution is working efficiently and effectively. | So, a compromise, a sensible compromise, has been reached. Which will see the commonwealth legislate that no state or territory will be worse off under the new system to the period 26-27 ... and in 26-27, the Productivity Commission will undertake a review to assess whether the new system of the GST distribution is working efficiently and effectively. |
| Richard Di Natale says the Greens won’t be supporting the motion to allow the government to revote on the motion, as he sees it as allowing the government to say it made a mistake, when he does not believe they did. | Richard Di Natale says the Greens won’t be supporting the motion to allow the government to revote on the motion, as he sees it as allowing the government to say it made a mistake, when he does not believe they did. |
| He said the Greens would support a new motion, but not this one. | He said the Greens would support a new motion, but not this one. |
| Pauline Hanson said she put the motion forward because she wants to get of racism: | Pauline Hanson said she put the motion forward because she wants to get of racism: |
| “There is a rise of anti-white racism in this country. The most demonised person in this country is the white male. It has to stop, right from the very beginning. Even 22 years ago, I called for equality for all Australians. I am seeing a division which is happening in our nation because of the colour of your skin or your cultural background. | “There is a rise of anti-white racism in this country. The most demonised person in this country is the white male. It has to stop, right from the very beginning. Even 22 years ago, I called for equality for all Australians. I am seeing a division which is happening in our nation because of the colour of your skin or your cultural background. |
| “That has to stop. And if the senators in this parliament cannot agree to that, that it is OK to be white, to be proud of the cultural background and your heritage. And as I said in my speech to them, which I will actually reply to now, word for word, so I’m not confused. | “That has to stop. And if the senators in this parliament cannot agree to that, that it is OK to be white, to be proud of the cultural background and your heritage. And as I said in my speech to them, which I will actually reply to now, word for word, so I’m not confused. |
| “People have a right to be proud of their cultural background whether they are black, white or brindle,” and I stand by that. One Nation’s immigration policies are non-discriminatory. Everyone has a right to play here, to come to Australia. I have said many a time – you do not have to be white to be Australian. And I stand by that. | “People have a right to be proud of their cultural background whether they are black, white or brindle,” and I stand by that. One Nation’s immigration policies are non-discriminatory. Everyone has a right to play here, to come to Australia. I have said many a time – you do not have to be white to be Australian. And I stand by that. |
| “This is nothing about racism, but they have turned it into it. And for the Greens, Richard Di Natale, to stand up to say if you say these words you’re associated with the neo-Nazis or the KKK, that is absolutely ridiculous. They are the ones who are making this into a political platform with their agenda and it’s all about getting rid of One Nation and what we stand for. Why I call this party One Nation is because I wanted that. I want to get rid of the racism that is there.” | “This is nothing about racism, but they have turned it into it. And for the Greens, Richard Di Natale, to stand up to say if you say these words you’re associated with the neo-Nazis or the KKK, that is absolutely ridiculous. They are the ones who are making this into a political platform with their agenda and it’s all about getting rid of One Nation and what we stand for. Why I call this party One Nation is because I wanted that. I want to get rid of the racism that is there.” |
| Mathias Cormann said it may seem implausible but it is true, that the government voting for the motion yesterday was an administrative error. | Mathias Cormann said it may seem implausible but it is true, that the government voting for the motion yesterday was an administrative error. |
| He is attempting to bring the motion back, so the government can formally reject it. | He is attempting to bring the motion back, so the government can formally reject it. |
| “For me personally, this is severely embarrassing,” he said. | “For me personally, this is severely embarrassing,” he said. |
| “...I thank Senator Wong for giving us the opportunity to [redo] this vote to reflect, truly reflect, the views [of the government]. | “...I thank Senator Wong for giving us the opportunity to [redo] this vote to reflect, truly reflect, the views [of the government]. |
| Anthony Chisholm said the opposition would support the government in its attempt to redo the vote, but the government needs to work out “how it deals with One Nation”. | Anthony Chisholm said the opposition would support the government in its attempt to redo the vote, but the government needs to work out “how it deals with One Nation”. |
| Chisholm said the government didn’t know whether to “cuddle One Nation, or fight them” and that’s what lies at the heart of the government’s dysfunction. | Chisholm said the government didn’t know whether to “cuddle One Nation, or fight them” and that’s what lies at the heart of the government’s dysfunction. |
| And Tony Burke continued: | And Tony Burke continued: |
| The attorney general’s excuses on this have been completely pathetic. We’re talking about a motion that was put on the Senate notice paper in September, in September. That the attorney general had had since September and issued instructions to support. The debate occurred and the Liberal and National party senators sat there hearing the debate and knowing what they were about to vote on. | The attorney general’s excuses on this have been completely pathetic. We’re talking about a motion that was put on the Senate notice paper in September, in September. That the attorney general had had since September and issued instructions to support. The debate occurred and the Liberal and National party senators sat there hearing the debate and knowing what they were about to vote on. |
| And none of them questioned it. None of them thought that maybe we should be opposed to this white supremacist stuff that’s coming from Senator Hanson. | And none of them questioned it. None of them thought that maybe we should be opposed to this white supremacist stuff that’s coming from Senator Hanson. |
| And then after the vote had occurred the attorney general tweeted in support of the government’s position. | And then after the vote had occurred the attorney general tweeted in support of the government’s position. |
| The leader of the government in the Senate did the same. | The leader of the government in the Senate did the same. |
| And then once the community backlash said we will not accept this white supremacist rubbish from the Liberal party they started to backpedal and try to change their position. Be in no doubt, I suppose they also think it’s a coincidence that the attorney general on the weekend in his own seat, One Nation announced their candidate. A candidate he’ll be trying to get preferences from. | And then once the community backlash said we will not accept this white supremacist rubbish from the Liberal party they started to backpedal and try to change their position. Be in no doubt, I suppose they also think it’s a coincidence that the attorney general on the weekend in his own seat, One Nation announced their candidate. A candidate he’ll be trying to get preferences from. |
| And a hint to those opposite, when a motion is moved by Pauline Hanson about race it’s probably not going to be an anti-racism motion. Probably not the case. Note to self to think about that one.” | And a hint to those opposite, when a motion is moved by Pauline Hanson about race it’s probably not going to be an anti-racism motion. Probably not the case. Note to self to think about that one.” |
| And from Tony Burke: | And from Tony Burke: |
| This resolution does not condemn the government and what they just did [vote against suspending standing orders] does. Because they were given an opportunity, just then, to vote on a motion that says nothing more than that we reject what Pauline Hanson put to the Senate yesterday. | This resolution does not condemn the government and what they just did [vote against suspending standing orders] does. Because they were given an opportunity, just then, to vote on a motion that says nothing more than that we reject what Pauline Hanson put to the Senate yesterday. |
| Nothing more than that. | Nothing more than that. |
| That we reject a white supremacist slogan that has also been adopted by the Ku Klux Klan. And we gave them the opportunity to simply vote for a resolution that says that. Because bear in mind we were sorely tempted to put in a resolution that carried a whole lot of argument in it. But instead we have provided a resolution for every member of the Coalition that if you oppose what Pauline Hanson put to the Senate yesterday that will be the only question before you. | That we reject a white supremacist slogan that has also been adopted by the Ku Klux Klan. And we gave them the opportunity to simply vote for a resolution that says that. Because bear in mind we were sorely tempted to put in a resolution that carried a whole lot of argument in it. But instead we have provided a resolution for every member of the Coalition that if you oppose what Pauline Hanson put to the Senate yesterday that will be the only question before you. |
| Nothing else. | Nothing else. |
| There will be no other question before the House and if that’s something the government wants to vote against then what has the Liberal party become? | There will be no other question before the House and if that’s something the government wants to vote against then what has the Liberal party become? |
| What have you become? | What have you become? |
| What has that party become?” | What has that party become?” |
| Fraser Anning doesn’t get why those words are racist. | Fraser Anning doesn’t get why those words are racist. |
| Appears to be a running theme for him. | Appears to be a running theme for him. |
| Cool, cool, cool | Cool, cool, cool |
| "The most demonised person in this country is the white male" - Pauline Hanson stands by her motion declaring it's ok to be white @7NewsSydney #auspol pic.twitter.com/jaqKR1jpFz | "The most demonised person in this country is the white male" - Pauline Hanson stands by her motion declaring it's ok to be white @7NewsSydney #auspol pic.twitter.com/jaqKR1jpFz |
| The House, for those managing to keep up, has delayed the vote on whether to suspend standing orders to debate Tony Burke’s motion, until after the matter of public importance. | The House, for those managing to keep up, has delayed the vote on whether to suspend standing orders to debate Tony Burke’s motion, until after the matter of public importance. |