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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2018/oct/23/coalition-labor-shorten-morrison-nauru-politics-liv
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| Scott Morrison questioned over 'disastrous performance' in Wentworth byelection – as it happened | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Abetz-mas continues, but I am going to leave the blog here today. | |
| I’ll pick up anything else that happens tonight tomorrow morning, so check back here bright and early. | |
| Barnaby Joyce and Pauline Hanson are on a unity ticket at being absolutely outraged that Malcolm Turnbull will be representing Australia at an oceans conference in the near future, so that is fun. Doesn’t look like they’ll be giving him up as whipping boy any time soon. | |
| We’ll also start to hear more about the drought round table (you know, the one which was announced on the same day Scott Morrison cancelled Coag because he didn’t want to sit around in a meeting eating biscuits?) which is being held on Friday and Joyce is playing a large role in. He is the drought envoy after all. | |
| And, of course, there are more fun and games as the government attempts to land on something resembling an energy policy. | |
| Plus, there is still Nauru. | |
| There has been some chatter the Coalition may call for a recount of votes in Wentworth but, speaking to party sources, that is just chatter so far. The idea is that a recount could delay Kerryn Phelps’s entry to parliament. But after this week, where we won’t have a result, parliament doesn’t sit for another three weeks, so it doesn’t make a lot of sense as a tactic. | |
| But we will bring you all that and more as the day rolls on. A big thank you to Mike Bowers and the Guardian brains trust, who are still toiling away for you. And to everyone who read and followed along today. Yes, wishing and hoping was the 60s, not the 50s. But if Eric Abetz gets to ask questions about the ABC in the 1970s, I get to conflate my pop song eras. | |
| I’ll be back tomorrow for the Wednesday fun and games but, in the meantime, take care of you. | |
| Eric Abetz has released a statement on the redundancy question: | |
| The revelation at Senate Estimates tonight that the acting Managing Director of the ABC, Mr David Anderson, discussed with the former Managing Director a redundancy is troubling according to Senator Abetz. | |
| Under questioning from Senator Abetz, Mr Anderson confirmed that he both had a discussion with Ms Guthrie and that such a redundancy would have happened without any change to his position. | |
| “This revelation tonight where it appears Mr Anderson may have sought to game the system to get a redundancy where no redundancy would have existed is highly concerning,” Senator Abetz said. | |
| “This is extremely troubling and inappropriate conduct which brings into question Mr Anderson’s judgement and fitness to continue in the substantiative Managing Director’s role.” | |
| “As someone with decades of employment at the ABC who was on an executive salary, a redundancy payout could have been well over a quarter of a million dollars.” | |
| “At a time when the ABC is again seeking more money from taxpayers, it is of concern that the most senior ABC employee may have tried to take such a significant payout,” Senator Abetz concluded. | |
| "How many claimants were made redundant? How many complainants made a Comcare claim? How many MPs have had more than one complaint that resulted in an inquiry, and that complaint was partially supported?" | "How many claimants were made redundant? How many complainants made a Comcare claim? How many MPs have had more than one complaint that resulted in an inquiry, and that complaint was partially supported?" |
| I just want to know if the elephant cufflinks were trunk up, or trunk down. | I just want to know if the elephant cufflinks were trunk up, or trunk down. |
| They don’t say. | They don’t say. |
| It’s all going well | It’s all going well |
| Senator Fifield says the government appointed former Foxtel boss Peter Tonagh to Council of the Australian Film Television and Radio School about this time #estimates https://t.co/IaU9eLtgH8 | Senator Fifield says the government appointed former Foxtel boss Peter Tonagh to Council of the Australian Film Television and Radio School about this time #estimates https://t.co/IaU9eLtgH8 |
| Liberal senator Eric Abetz asked David Anderson if he had sought a redundancy from the ABC recently. | Liberal senator Eric Abetz asked David Anderson if he had sought a redundancy from the ABC recently. |
| Anderson is the acting managing director of the ABC.The question seemed to catch Anderson by surprise. | Anderson is the acting managing director of the ABC.The question seemed to catch Anderson by surprise. |
| Anderson said he had had a “broad-ranging” discussion with his former managing director about his career, and redundancy did come up, yes.Abetz then asked him how he could get redundancy when he was still under the full employ of the ABC.Anderson agreed that in order for him to get a redundancy his then current role would have had to be substantially changed or abolished. | Anderson said he had had a “broad-ranging” discussion with his former managing director about his career, and redundancy did come up, yes.Abetz then asked him how he could get redundancy when he was still under the full employ of the ABC.Anderson agreed that in order for him to get a redundancy his then current role would have had to be substantially changed or abolished. |
| Anderson has previously said he would like to be put in the role, formerly Michelle Guthrie’s, permanently, so this is a slightly interesting development. | Anderson has previously said he would like to be put in the role, formerly Michelle Guthrie’s, permanently, so this is a slightly interesting development. |
| Eric Abetz, who lives for ABC estimates in the way most of us live for, I don’t know, something fun, has just asked a question about something in 1975. | Eric Abetz, who lives for ABC estimates in the way most of us live for, I don’t know, something fun, has just asked a question about something in 1975. |
| 43 years ago. | 43 years ago. |
| The ABC estimate hearings have begun. | The ABC estimate hearings have begun. |
| So far, it is all ho hum | So far, it is all ho hum |
| I am too tired to even type that solar power and wind energy can work when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind blows, because there are batteries that store the excess power. | I am too tired to even type that solar power and wind energy can work when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind blows, because there are batteries that store the excess power. |
| And that the reason energy prices are coming down at the moment is because there is more power in the network – more power, which has come from renewables. | And that the reason energy prices are coming down at the moment is because there is more power in the network – more power, which has come from renewables. |
| I have no idea how Katharine Murphy has managed to cover energy policy for almost two decades without tearing her hair out. | I have no idea how Katharine Murphy has managed to cover energy policy for almost two decades without tearing her hair out. |
| When Orwellian terms go wrong: | When Orwellian terms go wrong: |
| Onto live exports and Senator Brockman doesn't appear to like the term Hot Stuff - the industry term for the new heat stress model. "Let's just call it the model..." he says #estimates | Onto live exports and Senator Brockman doesn't appear to like the term Hot Stuff - the industry term for the new heat stress model. "Let's just call it the model..." he says #estimates |
| Folks, we have another video: | Folks, we have another video: |
| You asked about how we're getting electricity prices down.Here's my answer. pic.twitter.com/LFrxFLcLpR | You asked about how we're getting electricity prices down.Here's my answer. pic.twitter.com/LFrxFLcLpR |
| We are missing the Australian Conservative power stance – which is a masterclass in manspreading. | We are missing the Australian Conservative power stance – which is a masterclass in manspreading. |
| But we do have a completely useless closing of the phone case, which looks like a notepad, and reminds me of this and also this | But we do have a completely useless closing of the phone case, which looks like a notepad, and reminds me of this and also this |
| Question time, as seen by Mike Bowers: | Question time, as seen by Mike Bowers: |
| Julie Bishop will be delivering a speech tomorrow at the National Security Conference on “The future of power”. | Julie Bishop will be delivering a speech tomorrow at the National Security Conference on “The future of power”. |
| Seems timely, in a lot of senses. | Seems timely, in a lot of senses. |
| Barnaby Joyce is being super helpful by speaking to Ben Fordham on 2GB | Barnaby Joyce is being super helpful by speaking to Ben Fordham on 2GB |
| Barnaby Joyce tells 2GB it was "remarkable" that Malcolm Turnbull did not help his party win his old seat. Perhaps MT thinks it's "remarkable" that he was removed in the first place. #auspol | Barnaby Joyce tells 2GB it was "remarkable" that Malcolm Turnbull did not help his party win his old seat. Perhaps MT thinks it's "remarkable" that he was removed in the first place. #auspol |
| Jennifer Westacott, of the Business Council, doesn’t seem thrilled with what the government has announced in the energy space, but welcomes it as a step towards an actual policy: | Jennifer Westacott, of the Business Council, doesn’t seem thrilled with what the government has announced in the energy space, but welcomes it as a step towards an actual policy: |
| “The business community supports the government’s decision to adopt the ACCC’s recommendation to introduce a benchmark price and supports any moves to lower electricity prices,” she said in a statement. | “The business community supports the government’s decision to adopt the ACCC’s recommendation to introduce a benchmark price and supports any moves to lower electricity prices,” she said in a statement. |
| Business has been crying out for a workable and durable national energy policy framework to deliver affordable and reliable energy whilst also helping to meet our international commitments. | Business has been crying out for a workable and durable national energy policy framework to deliver affordable and reliable energy whilst also helping to meet our international commitments. |
| The intention to convene a meeting of the major energy retailers in the coming weeks to discuss current standing offers and the implementation of a price benchmark is another welcome move. | The intention to convene a meeting of the major energy retailers in the coming weeks to discuss current standing offers and the implementation of a price benchmark is another welcome move. |
| Determining a price benchmark needs to be done in consultation with industry to ensure price reforms are fit-for-purpose, protect competition in the market and provide the best outcomes for both consumers and businesses. | Determining a price benchmark needs to be done in consultation with industry to ensure price reforms are fit-for-purpose, protect competition in the market and provide the best outcomes for both consumers and businesses. |
| Importantly, introducing a benchmark price is just one of more than 50 recommendations made by the ACCC to help lower power prices. We call on the federal government to work with the states, territories and industry on implementing a range of other recommendations, that as a package, are likely to deliver significant savings for consumers. | Importantly, introducing a benchmark price is just one of more than 50 recommendations made by the ACCC to help lower power prices. We call on the federal government to work with the states, territories and industry on implementing a range of other recommendations, that as a package, are likely to deliver significant savings for consumers. |
| Business backs the implementation of the reliability obligation – and continues to do so – but it is only one piece of the puzzle. | Business backs the implementation of the reliability obligation – and continues to do so – but it is only one piece of the puzzle. |
| Policy uncertainty has paralysed investment in dispatchable generation for a decade. The government’s intention to introduce a new program to underwrite new investment in firm electricity supply must not have the unintended consequence of undermining investment from the private sector. | Policy uncertainty has paralysed investment in dispatchable generation for a decade. The government’s intention to introduce a new program to underwrite new investment in firm electricity supply must not have the unintended consequence of undermining investment from the private sector. |
| We look forward to working closely with government on the design of the program. | We look forward to working closely with government on the design of the program. |
| Ad hoc intervention in the energy market, such as underwriting generation investment or forced divestment, is sending a signal to the world that investing in Australia comes with considerable risks. In the long term, this will only result in less investment in energy generation, less reliable energy and ultimately higher prices. | Ad hoc intervention in the energy market, such as underwriting generation investment or forced divestment, is sending a signal to the world that investing in Australia comes with considerable risks. In the long term, this will only result in less investment in energy generation, less reliable energy and ultimately higher prices. |
| The business community would be concerned at any move to consider forced divestments which would send the wrong signal on investment. | The business community would be concerned at any move to consider forced divestments which would send the wrong signal on investment. |
| Australia needs policies that support new investment and deliver lower prices. We should be cautious that new interventions into the market do not increase sovereign risk and discourage the new investment the sector urgently needs. | Australia needs policies that support new investment and deliver lower prices. We should be cautious that new interventions into the market do not increase sovereign risk and discourage the new investment the sector urgently needs. |