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Scott Morrison changes rules to end 'frustration' of leadership spills – politics live Scott Morrison changes rules to end 'frustration' of leadership spills – politics live
(35 minutes later)
Malcolm Turnbull, whose leadership of the Liberal party would have been saved by the new rule changed announced by Scott Morrison overnight, has embraced the change.
People will welcome the prospect of there being, you know, fewer - well, less of the, sort of, revolving-door prime ministership, which I think was the way Scott Morrison referred to it last night. So, I think it’s a welcome reform. Of course, how effective it will be, time will tell.”
That time will tell bit is because changing the rule only requires a party room vote of 50% plus one. And on top of that, we don’t actually know the mechanics of this rule change – is it a constitutional change, or is it just someone stood at a podium and declared it so? Does each state branch have to ratify it? How does that happen? What happens if one of the state’s doesn’t pass it?
Labor makes nods towards the party room rules in its constitution, but it is not spelled out, making it easy, if necessary, for the party room to change those rules, without changing the constitution.
But we are yet to learn how the Liberal party plans on making these new rules concrete.
Steve Ciobo was on Sky this morning with the latest incarnation of Don’t Dream It’s Over:
“My focus is upon those issues that matter to Australians, how the economy is going, what we doing to create jobs, what we are doing to get tax rates down, how we are balancing the budget, the first surplus budget that Australia’s have had now, since the Coalition was last in power.
“...The government’s moved, we have moved swiftly, we have heard what Australians have said. We have implemented this change and this brings assurance to Australians that who they vote for will be the one [to lead the party].
“...What we’ve got to do is get on with the job. We’ve got a lot to deal with.”
Andrew Leigh’s office has just passed along the lyrics to the Christmas carol the politicians sang in the sort-of-annual-but-always-interrupted Pollies v Press Christmas carol sing-off. I am told it was performed to the tune of Angels We Have Heard on High.Andrew Leigh’s office has just passed along the lyrics to the Christmas carol the politicians sang in the sort-of-annual-but-always-interrupted Pollies v Press Christmas carol sing-off. I am told it was performed to the tune of Angels We Have Heard on High.
Ding dong, election day is nighDing dong, election day is nigh
Your local MP’s callingYour local MP’s calling
Ding dong, how ya doing, hiDing dong, how ya doing, hi
It’s promises we’re bringingIt’s promises we’re bringing
To Victoria, or whatever your state is.To Victoria, or whatever your state is.
Victoria, or whatever your state is.Victoria, or whatever your state is.
Shorten and Morrison will vieShorten and Morrison will vie
That pendulum is swingingThat pendulum is swinging
Hoping soon to be the guyHoping soon to be the guy
With flagpins and with zingersWith flagpins and with zingers
In Victoria, or whatever your state is.In Victoria, or whatever your state is.
Victoria, or whatever your state is.Victoria, or whatever your state is.
Journos roll a cynic’s eyeJournos roll a cynic’s eye
Their hands are always wringingTheir hands are always wringing
Would be nice to see them tryWould be nice to see them try
To dodge all that mudslingingTo dodge all that mudslinging
In Victoria, or whatever your state is.In Victoria, or whatever your state is.
Victoria, or whatever your state is.Victoria, or whatever your state is.
Coalition members and staff – Nola Marino wants you to know that a party room meeting has been called for all of you this morning at 9.30. It’s in the government party room.Coalition members and staff – Nola Marino wants you to know that a party room meeting has been called for all of you this morning at 9.30. It’s in the government party room.
Doug Cameron also stopped by doors this morning. He had this to say about the Liberals change of heart over leadership rules:Doug Cameron also stopped by doors this morning. He had this to say about the Liberals change of heart over leadership rules:
Look absolutely too little too late. This Coalition is absolutely consumed by their own internals.Look absolutely too little too late. This Coalition is absolutely consumed by their own internals.
Malcolm Turnbull, if that rule was in, would still be the leader. No one can explain why Malcolm Turnbull had to go.Malcolm Turnbull, if that rule was in, would still be the leader. No one can explain why Malcolm Turnbull had to go.
The polls are still tanking for this mob and no wonder the polls are tanking. They have got no environment policy, they have no economic policies, all they want to do is attack those that are the weakest in our community. So time for them to go.”The polls are still tanking for this mob and no wonder the polls are tanking. They have got no environment policy, they have no economic policies, all they want to do is attack those that are the weakest in our community. So time for them to go.”
And on that last post, this story by Phillipa McGuinness is incredibly powerful.And on that last post, this story by Phillipa McGuinness is incredibly powerful.
The tragedy of stillbirth: 'An unfathomable amount of heartbreak'The tragedy of stillbirth: 'An unfathomable amount of heartbreak'
This has been a very important inquiry which hasn’t always got the attention it deserves, despite impacting so many Australians.This has been a very important inquiry which hasn’t always got the attention it deserves, despite impacting so many Australians.
Reminder: The Senate Select Committee on Stillbirth Research & Education tables its final report today (Tues 4 Dec) at 3:30pm Canberra time. Livestream available via inquiry webpage: https://t.co/miiNZAioS9#StillbirthSenateInquiry #SenateInquiryStillbirth pic.twitter.com/LC04N3RpnbReminder: The Senate Select Committee on Stillbirth Research & Education tables its final report today (Tues 4 Dec) at 3:30pm Canberra time. Livestream available via inquiry webpage: https://t.co/miiNZAioS9#StillbirthSenateInquiry #SenateInquiryStillbirth pic.twitter.com/LC04N3Rpnb
Malcolm Turnbull is talking energy this morning in Sydney, and has very handily tweeted his plans for all to see.Malcolm Turnbull is talking energy this morning in Sydney, and has very handily tweeted his plans for all to see.
Looking forward to the @SmartEnergyCncl conference today - conveniently held at Pyrmont a short walk from a ferry wharf. So after enjoying @GladysB public transport service can then hear her energy minister Don Harwin on NSW plans for transition to cleaner more affordable power. pic.twitter.com/jyZtKLvEScLooking forward to the @SmartEnergyCncl conference today - conveniently held at Pyrmont a short walk from a ferry wharf. So after enjoying @GladysB public transport service can then hear her energy minister Don Harwin on NSW plans for transition to cleaner more affordable power. pic.twitter.com/jyZtKLvESc
The latest Essential poll is out and Labor has increased its two-party-preferred lead over the Coalition by two points.The latest Essential poll is out and Labor has increased its two-party-preferred lead over the Coalition by two points.
As Katharine Murphy reports:As Katharine Murphy reports:
Labor has extended its lead over the Morrison government after a horror political fortnight, and the Coalition’s trenchant campaign against key opposition revenue measures, such as negative gearing and dividend imputation, does not seem to have gained much traction with voters.Labor has extended its lead over the Morrison government after a horror political fortnight, and the Coalition’s trenchant campaign against key opposition revenue measures, such as negative gearing and dividend imputation, does not seem to have gained much traction with voters.
The latest Guardian Essential poll shows Labor’s two-party-preferred lead over the government has blown out again to 54% to 46%. A fortnight ago Labor was ahead 52% to 48%, which suggested a tightening in the contest.The latest Guardian Essential poll shows Labor’s two-party-preferred lead over the government has blown out again to 54% to 46%. A fortnight ago Labor was ahead 52% to 48%, which suggested a tightening in the contest.
In the latest survey of 1,032 respondents, which follows a thumping electoral loss for the Liberals in the recent Victorian state election, and the defection of Julia Banks to the crossbench, Labor’s primary vote sits on 39% and the Coalition is on 38%.In the latest survey of 1,032 respondents, which follows a thumping electoral loss for the Liberals in the recent Victorian state election, and the defection of Julia Banks to the crossbench, Labor’s primary vote sits on 39% and the Coalition is on 38%.
Despite the latest poll indicating Labor would easily win an election held today, Morrison remains 11 points clear of the Labor leader Bill Shorten as preferred prime minister, with 40% of the sample rating him ahead of the Labor leader, and 29% backing Shorten.”Despite the latest poll indicating Labor would easily win an election held today, Morrison remains 11 points clear of the Labor leader Bill Shorten as preferred prime minister, with 40% of the sample rating him ahead of the Labor leader, and 29% backing Shorten.”
Labor extends lead as Coalition's negative campaigning flopsLabor extends lead as Coalition's negative campaigning flops
Tanya Plibersek was out on doors just a few moments ago with a few things to say about the leadership changes:Tanya Plibersek was out on doors just a few moments ago with a few things to say about the leadership changes:
If Scott Morrison was really interested in stability, he would explain why he knifed Malcolm Turnbull, or he wouldn’t have done it in the first place. Nothing says stability like an emergency meeting of the Liberal party in the dead of night. And this government has now reached such crisis in the government that nobody believes that a simple rule change will actually bring certainty to the federal Liberal party.If Scott Morrison was really interested in stability, he would explain why he knifed Malcolm Turnbull, or he wouldn’t have done it in the first place. Nothing says stability like an emergency meeting of the Liberal party in the dead of night. And this government has now reached such crisis in the government that nobody believes that a simple rule change will actually bring certainty to the federal Liberal party.
What Scott Morrison’s got to watch is someone putting their arm around him and saying, “My ambition is for him.” This party is in chaos at the moment. All sorts of people are speculating that Julie Bishop is on the march. Who knows? I mean, is he really worried about his job, or does he have nothing better to do than try and shore up his leadership in the final weeks and months of this parliament?”What Scott Morrison’s got to watch is someone putting their arm around him and saying, “My ambition is for him.” This party is in chaos at the moment. All sorts of people are speculating that Julie Bishop is on the march. Who knows? I mean, is he really worried about his job, or does he have nothing better to do than try and shore up his leadership in the final weeks and months of this parliament?”
Mathias Cormann has been on ABC breakfast TV and held a small press conference in Parliament House to promote the government’s leadership rule change last night.Mathias Cormann has been on ABC breakfast TV and held a small press conference in Parliament House to promote the government’s leadership rule change last night.
ABC host Virginia Trioli did her best to encourage Cormann to share interesting details about the conversation in the party room. She should know that’s like trying to turn a desert into an ocean. It never makes interesting TV.ABC host Virginia Trioli did her best to encourage Cormann to share interesting details about the conversation in the party room. She should know that’s like trying to turn a desert into an ocean. It never makes interesting TV.
Trioli: Did many speak out against the idea?Trioli: Did many speak out against the idea?
Cormann: Well this was definitely carried with overwhelming support. There was discussion about aspects of it, questions were asked, as you would expect in a meeting of this nature with a proposal of this nature ...Cormann: Well this was definitely carried with overwhelming support. There was discussion about aspects of it, questions were asked, as you would expect in a meeting of this nature with a proposal of this nature ...
Trioli: I’m going to go back to my question. Did many speak out against the idea?Trioli: I’m going to go back to my question. Did many speak out against the idea?
Cormann: I’m not going to give you a blow-by-blow description of the party room.Cormann: I’m not going to give you a blow-by-blow description of the party room.
Trioli: Just after one blow.Trioli: Just after one blow.
Cormann: Well the one blow is that there was overwhelming support for the proposal that was put forward with the unanimous endorsement of the Liberal ministers in the ministry.Cormann: Well the one blow is that there was overwhelming support for the proposal that was put forward with the unanimous endorsement of the Liberal ministers in the ministry.
Sigh.Sigh.
As was pointed out for Labor, and now, for the Coalition, one of the issues with the two-thirds rule, is that it doesn’t take two-thirds of the party room to change a rule.As was pointed out for Labor, and now, for the Coalition, one of the issues with the two-thirds rule, is that it doesn’t take two-thirds of the party room to change a rule.
So say you wanted to get rid of a leader. And say half the party room was in agreement with you, but you didn’t have two-thirds of the room on your side, you still have enough people to change the rule which stops you from being able to do what you want.So say you wanted to get rid of a leader. And say half the party room was in agreement with you, but you didn’t have two-thirds of the room on your side, you still have enough people to change the rule which stops you from being able to do what you want.
Labor has that issue too. These rules are made by people who know, that if necessary, they are made to be broken. I’m not saying it is going to happen. But if you have lost the support of half of your colleagues, you are in trouble, no matter what the rules say.Labor has that issue too. These rules are made by people who know, that if necessary, they are made to be broken. I’m not saying it is going to happen. But if you have lost the support of half of your colleagues, you are in trouble, no matter what the rules say.
Well, less than a month after telling Studio 10 this about why the Liberal party didn’t need leadership rules like the ones Labor put in place after Rudd-Gillard-Rudd:Well, less than a month after telling Studio 10 this about why the Liberal party didn’t need leadership rules like the ones Labor put in place after Rudd-Gillard-Rudd:
We have a parliamentary democracy in Australia, it’s not a presidential system. John Howard also had this strong view and it is that we represent our elected members of parliament, they go to parliament and they elect who their leader is to run their parliamentary party. That has been the case since federation began and that is what a representative parliamentary democracy is, not just here or any other part of the world where that’s done. So we don’t have any plans to change our processes but what we have plans to do, is just get on with the job of governing.”We have a parliamentary democracy in Australia, it’s not a presidential system. John Howard also had this strong view and it is that we represent our elected members of parliament, they go to parliament and they elect who their leader is to run their parliamentary party. That has been the case since federation began and that is what a representative parliamentary democracy is, not just here or any other part of the world where that’s done. So we don’t have any plans to change our processes but what we have plans to do, is just get on with the job of governing.”
Last night, Scott Morrison said this:Last night, Scott Morrison said this:
Tonight our party made an historic decision, it is the biggest change to how our party deals with these issues, in 74 years. We understand, our entire party, the frustration and the disappointment that Australians have felt when governments and prime ministers that they have elected under their authority, under their power, has been taken from them with the actions of politicians here in Canberra. We’ve seen it on both sides of politics and the Liberal party has done it also as you all know. We understand that frustration, we understand that disappointment, we acknowledgment it and we take responsibility for it.Tonight our party made an historic decision, it is the biggest change to how our party deals with these issues, in 74 years. We understand, our entire party, the frustration and the disappointment that Australians have felt when governments and prime ministers that they have elected under their authority, under their power, has been taken from them with the actions of politicians here in Canberra. We’ve seen it on both sides of politics and the Liberal party has done it also as you all know. We understand that frustration, we understand that disappointment, we acknowledgment it and we take responsibility for it.
Tonight the Liberal party in acknowledging this, has made a decision. That decision is that an elected Liberal party leader who goes to the election, wins that election and becomes prime minister, they will remain prime minister for that full parliamentary term. They will not be able to be removed from that office. The only safeguard that is put in place is the very high bar of a special majority; that for that rule to be changed, it would require a two-thirds majority of the parliamentary party. Now in my experience around this place, such a majority is rarely if ever achieved when it comes to these matters. What this is doing is, the parliamentary Liberal party acknowledging that it’s own conduct over this period of time needs to be changed. It needs to be changed by that party limiting itself. Of course the Liberal party remains sovereign in how it makes these decisions and it has elected tonight, it has determined tonight that it has listened to the Australian people. It is willingly and enthusiastically putting this constraint to return the power of these decisions about who is prime minister in this country, to the Australian people.”Tonight the Liberal party in acknowledging this, has made a decision. That decision is that an elected Liberal party leader who goes to the election, wins that election and becomes prime minister, they will remain prime minister for that full parliamentary term. They will not be able to be removed from that office. The only safeguard that is put in place is the very high bar of a special majority; that for that rule to be changed, it would require a two-thirds majority of the parliamentary party. Now in my experience around this place, such a majority is rarely if ever achieved when it comes to these matters. What this is doing is, the parliamentary Liberal party acknowledging that it’s own conduct over this period of time needs to be changed. It needs to be changed by that party limiting itself. Of course the Liberal party remains sovereign in how it makes these decisions and it has elected tonight, it has determined tonight that it has listened to the Australian people. It is willingly and enthusiastically putting this constraint to return the power of these decisions about who is prime minister in this country, to the Australian people.”
It’s the new, new Liberal party.It’s the new, new Liberal party.
So with that behind it, Morrison is hoping to finally move on from August. Will it work? Well, it didn’t for Kevin Rudd. Just sayin’.So with that behind it, Morrison is hoping to finally move on from August. Will it work? Well, it didn’t for Kevin Rudd. Just sayin’.
And there are also the party room meetings today, where Katharine Murphy has outlined the latest issue for the Liberal and National parties – the divesture legislation.And there are also the party room meetings today, where Katharine Murphy has outlined the latest issue for the Liberal and National parties – the divesture legislation.
So energy is still bubbling along.So energy is still bubbling along.
In other news, the government and Labor look like inching closer to a compromise on the encryption laws.In other news, the government and Labor look like inching closer to a compromise on the encryption laws.
And there are still three days left.And there are still three days left.
Mike Bowers and the Guardian brains trust is on deck for you, and I’ll be bringing you their work throughout the day. You’ll find me on Twitter and the comments, when I get a moment. I can already tell this is going to be a four coffee day.Mike Bowers and the Guardian brains trust is on deck for you, and I’ll be bringing you their work throughout the day. You’ll find me on Twitter and the comments, when I get a moment. I can already tell this is going to be a four coffee day.
Ready?Ready?
Let’s get into it.Let’s get into it.