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Scott Morrison says he won't 'horse-trade' with Labor on asylum seekers – question time live | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Question time is about to begin. | |
While you get your bingo cards in order, Labor has launched its latest attack ad. | |
The book, volume two, is launched. | |
Don’t count on ABC estimates starting on time: | |
It's a total mystery how #estimates hearings get behind schedule pic.twitter.com/GVj9VtpN9e | |
Oh look – the government fixed Father Chris Riley’s funding issue, for his Youth Off the Streets schools. | |
For next year. | |
Dan Tehan says the government will “look at the issue going forward” because it is a “unique” issue. | |
Another dispatch from New Zealand on the asylum seeker issue: | |
The New Zealand foreign minister and deputy prime minister, Winston Peters, said there had been no approaches by the Australian government to his office since the latest comments made by the Australian PM. | |
“At this point in time we don’t know where this is going,” Peters said. | |
“It may not even make it past parliament in Australia. When we know what we are dealing with we will deal with it.” | |
The New Zealand Greens MP, human rights lawyer and former refugee, Golriz Ghahraman, said the proposed conditions would only affect Australian law and the welfare of the Nauru refugees must be the New Zealand government’s highest priority. | |
“It is something akin to the Trump muslim ban, it will be a dark day for Australia but were it to happen, because it doesn’t affect New Zealand, we would be supportive of it in terms of getting this desperate situation to a point of resolution so people aren’t at risk of really serious physical and mental harm,” Ghahraman said. | |
“We have no control over what Australia does over its immigration laws and they may be really unfair and in fact racist... but we just have to make those people safe in a humanitarian emergency so that is the thing to keep front of mind.” | |
Ghahraman said refugee agencies were “really stretched” in New Zealand and offers by Australian NGOs to travel to New Zealand and assist in the resettlement would likely be taken up. | |
Doctors Without Borders may also able to continue their care for the Nauru refugees when and if they arrive in New Zealand, Ghahraman said. | |
Dan Tehan and Father Chris Riley have a scheduled doorstop for 1.35pm. | |
I think we can expect to hear that Youth Off the Streets no longer owes the government $600,000. | |
At a guess. | |
And just for some context – here is what Kelly O’Dwyer* was referring to when she said John Setka had likened the Coalition to the Hitler government. | |
It’s actually a Martin Luther King quote, and quite a famous one at that. | |
*I had originally written Michaelia Cash, as my brain has not yet retained all the new portfolios | |
Thomas JeffersonIf a Law is unjust a man is not only right to disobey it he is obliged to do soMartin Luther KingNever forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was legalMahatma GandiAn unjust law is itself a species of violence. Arrest for its breach is more so#auspol pic.twitter.com/9XM2VDNjKz | |
And finally from the party room: | And finally from the party room: |
Issues that weren’t discussed: | Issues that weren’t discussed: |
No one discussed changes to the Sex Discrimination Act (to prevent gay students from being expelled from schools). Christian Porter, the attorney general, told his colleagues that he was still in discussions with his Labor counterpart Mark Dreyfus. | |
No one raised Nauru for discussion. | |
No one raised the issue that voters in Wentworth were concerned about the Liberal party’s climate change policies (or lack thereof). | |
No one raised coal-fired power stations. | |
No one raised Morrison’s idea to move Australia’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. | |
No one raised the idea of having a large policy to unveil in the last weeks of the election campaign. | |
More from the party room meeting: | More from the party room meeting: |
Michael McCormack, the deputy prime minister, then spoke. He said no one should get spooked by the loss in Wentworth. | Michael McCormack, the deputy prime minister, then spoke. He said no one should get spooked by the loss in Wentworth. |
“What they think in Double Bay is not what they think in Dubbo,” he said. | “What they think in Double Bay is not what they think in Dubbo,” he said. |
He spoke about the importance of this Friday’s drought summit. | He spoke about the importance of this Friday’s drought summit. |
Josh Frydenberg, the deputy leader of the Liberal Party, reminded his colleagues that the Wills byelection in 1992 saw a 23% swing about the sitting Labor government but Labor still went on to win the 1993 federal election. | |
[The Wills by-election was triggered by the resignation of Bob Hawke, who had been rolled as prime minister by Paul Keating. An independent candidate (Phil Cleary) won that by-election, too]. | [The Wills by-election was triggered by the resignation of Bob Hawke, who had been rolled as prime minister by Paul Keating. An independent candidate (Phil Cleary) won that by-election, too]. |
Morrison then reminded his colleagues that once you’re sworn in as the government, you’re the government. Labor has been trying to create a sense of chaos but it’s nonsense. | Morrison then reminded his colleagues that once you’re sworn in as the government, you’re the government. Labor has been trying to create a sense of chaos but it’s nonsense. |
A number of backbenchers then stood up to gee their colleagues up. | A number of backbenchers then stood up to gee their colleagues up. |
One “very experienced” backbencher said no election is unwinnable or unlosable, and the next election, in his assessment, was “line-ball”. | |
He said only two things could change that: if there was a major change in the economic indicators or if there was disunity in the government. | He said only two things could change that: if there was a major change in the economic indicators or if there was disunity in the government. |
A regional backbencher highlighted issue of energy and concerns about foreign workers. | A regional backbencher highlighted issue of energy and concerns about foreign workers. |
He also spoke about casual and permanent employees, and for the need to campaign vigorously on the retiree tax. | He also spoke about casual and permanent employees, and for the need to campaign vigorously on the retiree tax. |
Kelly O’Dwyer, the minister for jobs, talked about the union rally in Melbourne today. | |
She warned it was a small insight into what people could expect under a Shorten government. | She warned it was a small insight into what people could expect under a Shorten government. |
She said union official John Setka had today likened the Liberal-National government to the Hitler government. | She said union official John Setka had today likened the Liberal-National government to the Hitler government. |
She said Steka had scores of convictions and Labor wanted to “turn the lawbreakers into the lawmakers”. | |
A backbencher then warned the room that both Brendan O’Connor, the shadow minister for employment, and Sally McManus, the ACTU secretary, wanted industry-wide bargaining, which is something not seen in Australia since the early 1980s. | A backbencher then warned the room that both Brendan O’Connor, the shadow minister for employment, and Sally McManus, the ACTU secretary, wanted industry-wide bargaining, which is something not seen in Australia since the early 1980s. |
The minister for energy gave a preview of the energy announcement that was later made in the prime minister’s courtyard. | The minister for energy gave a preview of the energy announcement that was later made in the prime minister’s courtyard. |
Scott Morrison addressed the joint party room this morning. | Scott Morrison addressed the joint party room this morning. |
The prime minster spent a large part of his time talking about the Coalition’s chances of winning the federal election despite its drubbing in Wentworth on the weekend. | |
He said the Coalition was still the government, and the government sets the agenda. It was important to show unity and purpose. | He said the Coalition was still the government, and the government sets the agenda. It was important to show unity and purpose. |
He said over the last two months the Coalition had effectively been in minority government anyway and it had managed well and would continue to do so. | He said over the last two months the Coalition had effectively been in minority government anyway and it had managed well and would continue to do so. |
The Wentworth result was not unexpected, he said. A week ago the polls had the Coalition 41-59 to Labor but over the last week that difference narrowed substantially, with help from many people including John Howard, he said. | |
He then stressed that the government’s policy direction was the right one. | He then stressed that the government’s policy direction was the right one. |
“We’re not shifting to the left or to the right, this is not hokey-pokey politics,” he said. | |
“We’ll continue to be a strong centre-right government and strong centre-right parties focusing on the needs of mainstream Australians, focusing on things that matter.” | |
He said all Coalition MPs needed to keep emphasising the differences between the Coalition and Labor, because under a Labor government Australians would pay higher taxes, higher electricity prices, higher health insurance premiums, and they’d earn less. | |
“Under the Liberal-National government you’ll have a stronger economy, better pay, and a budget under control.” | “Under the Liberal-National government you’ll have a stronger economy, better pay, and a budget under control.” |
He spoke about yesterday’s national apology to victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, saying it was a very emotional day. He said he’d never sat in a room full of so much hurt. | He spoke about yesterday’s national apology to victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, saying it was a very emotional day. He said he’d never sat in a room full of so much hurt. |
Former PM Kevin Rudd at his book launch in Parliament House, Canberra this afternoon. @AmyRemeikis @GuardianAus @murpharoo #PoliticsLive pic.twitter.com/uR8CKWPX7X | Former PM Kevin Rudd at his book launch in Parliament House, Canberra this afternoon. @AmyRemeikis @GuardianAus @murpharoo #PoliticsLive pic.twitter.com/uR8CKWPX7X |
Our politicians have largely ignored the Jamal Khashoggi case, at least publicly. | Our politicians have largely ignored the Jamal Khashoggi case, at least publicly. |
But Richard Di Natale is calling for Australia to follow Germany and suspend arms trade with Saudi Arabia, following the journalist’s death: | But Richard Di Natale is calling for Australia to follow Germany and suspend arms trade with Saudi Arabia, following the journalist’s death: |
The disappearance and apparent murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi has shocked the international community into rethinking its relationship with Saudi Arabia,” Di Natale said. | The disappearance and apparent murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi has shocked the international community into rethinking its relationship with Saudi Arabia,” Di Natale said. |
The announcement by the German government overnight that it will not approve further arms exports to Saudi Arabia is a welcome development. The Australian government should follow Germany’s lead and suspend our arms trade with the Saudis. | The announcement by the German government overnight that it will not approve further arms exports to Saudi Arabia is a welcome development. The Australian government should follow Germany’s lead and suspend our arms trade with the Saudis. |
It is clear that any country with an ounce of sense and humanity has seen through the Saudis’ ludicrous and offensive explanation for Khashoggi’s death, and is demanding the truth. | It is clear that any country with an ounce of sense and humanity has seen through the Saudis’ ludicrous and offensive explanation for Khashoggi’s death, and is demanding the truth. |
Saudi Arabia is consistently ranked as one of the worst human rights abusers in the world. The war it is waging on Yemen has brought Yemenis to the brink of the world’s worst famine in over 100 years. Thirteen million people are being deliberately starved as a weapon of war. | Saudi Arabia is consistently ranked as one of the worst human rights abusers in the world. The war it is waging on Yemen has brought Yemenis to the brink of the world’s worst famine in over 100 years. Thirteen million people are being deliberately starved as a weapon of war. |
Yet, in the last two years, the Australian government has granted 18 licences for the export of defence equipment to Saudi Arabia. Australia should not be selling weapons to this murderous regime. | Yet, in the last two years, the Australian government has granted 18 licences for the export of defence equipment to Saudi Arabia. Australia should not be selling weapons to this murderous regime. |
Our economic future cannot and should not be dependent on arming regimes like Saudi Arabia and the UAE. | Our economic future cannot and should not be dependent on arming regimes like Saudi Arabia and the UAE. |
This government’s priorities are completely out of whack. We should be increasing our international development assistance and exporting sustainable technologies, not weapons of death. | This government’s priorities are completely out of whack. We should be increasing our international development assistance and exporting sustainable technologies, not weapons of death. |
If you have been paying attention, you may have noticed that Scott Morrison likes to speak in dot points. | If you have been paying attention, you may have noticed that Scott Morrison likes to speak in dot points. |
His speeches, even as treasurer, usually start off with a scene-setting sentence or five, before moving into ‘this is what we are going to do’ in dot points. | His speeches, even as treasurer, usually start off with a scene-setting sentence or five, before moving into ‘this is what we are going to do’ in dot points. |
His brain seems to be one which likes things compartmentalised. He gets thrown if topics bounce around and prefers to deal with one group of questions on one topic, before moving to the next. | His brain seems to be one which likes things compartmentalised. He gets thrown if topics bounce around and prefers to deal with one group of questions on one topic, before moving to the next. |
Well, now the PMO press releases are going the same way. | Well, now the PMO press releases are going the same way. |
Case in point – this one, on the energy policy, which includes actual dot points. | Case in point – this one, on the energy policy, which includes actual dot points. |
The AER has been tasked with introducing default prices by 30 April 2019 with savings being passed through to families and small businesses by 1 July 2019. | The AER has been tasked with introducing default prices by 30 April 2019 with savings being passed through to families and small businesses by 1 July 2019. |
Other measures announced today by the Morrison Government that will bring prices down and increase reliability are: | Other measures announced today by the Morrison Government that will bring prices down and increase reliability are: |
· Stopping price gouging by the big energy companies. This includes banning sneaky late payment penalties and making energy retailers pass on savings in wholesale prices to customers. It will increase regulator’s power to crack down on dodgy, anti-competitive practices – through fines, penalties, enforceable undertakings, structural separation and divestiture. We have already seen prices come down in Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales on 1 July 2018, and we have directed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to monitor electricity prices until 2025 to ensure prices are fairer for consumers. | · Stopping price gouging by the big energy companies. This includes banning sneaky late payment penalties and making energy retailers pass on savings in wholesale prices to customers. It will increase regulator’s power to crack down on dodgy, anti-competitive practices – through fines, penalties, enforceable undertakings, structural separation and divestiture. We have already seen prices come down in Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales on 1 July 2018, and we have directed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to monitor electricity prices until 2025 to ensure prices are fairer for consumers. |
· Backing investment in new power generators to improve competition. Underwriting new electricity generation will attract investment in the electricity market, increasing supply and reducing wholesale electricity prices. The Government will consult on the Underwriting New Generation Investments program, with submissions open until 9 November 2018. Based on feedback from the consultation, the Government will release initial program guidelines and invite proponents to nominate projects through an expression of interest process open from December 2018 to January 2019. | · Backing investment in new power generators to improve competition. Underwriting new electricity generation will attract investment in the electricity market, increasing supply and reducing wholesale electricity prices. The Government will consult on the Underwriting New Generation Investments program, with submissions open until 9 November 2018. Based on feedback from the consultation, the Government will release initial program guidelines and invite proponents to nominate projects through an expression of interest process open from December 2018 to January 2019. |
· Supporting reliable power by requiring energy companies to sign contracts guaranteeing enough energy to meet demand. We will work with state and territory governments through the COAG Energy Council to ensure these contracts are signed. | · Supporting reliable power by requiring energy companies to sign contracts guaranteeing enough energy to meet demand. We will work with state and territory governments through the COAG Energy Council to ensure these contracts are signed. |
Australia’s doctors have spoken up, as have the lawyers. | Australia’s doctors have spoken up, as have the lawyers. |
And now the Wiggles have gone political, in the name of getting children and their families off Nauru. | And now the Wiggles have gone political, in the name of getting children and their families off Nauru. |
the yellow Wiggle AND the blue Wiggle have joined the #kidsoffnauru campaign“We sing and dance with millions of children all over the world who have those opportunities - but there are more than 100 children trapped in detention on Nauru who don’t have this freedom" pic.twitter.com/gGnx4J8Fxb | the yellow Wiggle AND the blue Wiggle have joined the #kidsoffnauru campaign“We sing and dance with millions of children all over the world who have those opportunities - but there are more than 100 children trapped in detention on Nauru who don’t have this freedom" pic.twitter.com/gGnx4J8Fxb |