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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2018/dec/04/scott-morrison-pm-leadership-spill-coalition-labor-politics-live
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| Morrison defends dumping energy policy despite Turnbull speech – politics live | Morrison defends dumping energy policy despite Turnbull speech – politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Christian Porter will be holding a quick press conference at 5.15 to talk encryption laws | |
| Christian Porter’s answer on the committee statement is below: | |
| Thank you Mr Speaker. Not unlike the shadow attorney general to only read half the provision. So … 9 (2) says sub clause one does not apply to the disclosure or publication by a person of a matter of which the person has become aware otherwise than because of the giving of any evidence before or the production of any documents to the committee. | |
| “… Yesterday Mr Speaker we were asked by the shadow attorney general whether we were aware of a newspaper article that in his words appears to quote from what may or may not have been a confidential submission to the joint committee. And Mr Speaker appearances are never more deceiving when they are apparitions of the shadow AG. And last night, last night I did speak with the commissioner of the AFP and further I also sought summary information around the prior circulation of the material that later came to be submitted in a letter by the commissioner to the joint committee. The commissioner confirmed that the submission was not potentially or operationally sensitive or security classified, the material contained in the letter was material that received circulation before it was produced as a document to the committee. So it would actually …” | |
| Tony Smith: | |
| If the attorney general would just pause for a second. Members, members on both sides. Not only am I trying to hear, the vast majority of members of this place are trying to hear the attorney general’s answer. I’m trying to listen carefully. Members need to cease interjecting. The attorney has the call. | |
| Porter: | |
| Despite, Mr Speaker, how it appears to the shadow attorney general, it actually appears that given the nature and prior circulation of the material in question that any subsequent dealings of it would never fall within the scope of provisions in the Intelligence Service Act or the Crimes Act. | |
| “But of course if the shadow attorney takes a different view, he can of course refer the matter if he feels fit. But the larger question, I think Mr Speaker, is how much more constructive could the shadow attorney general be if he put his considerable legal skills to reading the submissions, understanding what they say, and acting on them appropriately and passing this counter encryption bill this week.” | |
| But he doesn’t say how the letter was circulated before it was produced as a document or when. | |
| The motion to suspend standing orders ended up at: | |
| Ayes 73 | |
| Noes 72. | |
| So the government lost the vote, but a suspension of standing orders needs an absolure majority, which is 75 plus one. | |
| So Albo wins the battle, but not the vote. | |
| On the live sheep export three month moratorium, the Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council has released a statement (Simon Crean was seen walking the halls today, so this was bubbling along for a while): | |
| Australian livestock exporters have today written to Western Australian sheep producers, advising of a new three-month moratorium in sheep shipments to the Middle East during the Northern hemisphere summer. | |
| The moratorium, to take effect from 1 June 2019, will mean no shipments of Australian sheep will depart any Australian port for the Middle East during the highest heat stress risk period of the northern summer. | |
| Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council independent chairman Simon Crean said the moratorium would provide certainty to sheep producers who supply the trade, and was just one initiative which was part of wider ranging industry reforms. | |
| “This is about maintaining and growing a strong, viable nine-month-a-year live sheep trade and, more broadly, securing the future of Australia’s livestock export industry,” Mr Crean said. | |
| Exporters will observe the moratorium while the industry develops new technology which could, in the future, address the heat risk challenges associated with shipments in June, July and August. | |
| “Potential solutions being developed by the export research and development corporation, Livecorp, include improved detection and avoidance of temperature extremes, and on-board dehumidification,” Mr Crean said. | |
| It goes on – you can read the whole thing here. | |
| Independent MP Kerryn Phelps has cautiously welcomed Labor’s indication it will support her bill on medical transfers of refugees and asylum seekers in offshore detention with three amendments. | |
| Phelps: | |
| I’ve been speaking to a range of doctors including some who have spent nearly a year treating patients on Nauru. What is clear to me is that we have a medical and humanitarian criss on our hands and something needs to change. | |
| “I think we need to put medical decisions for asylum seekers into the hands of clinicians rather than bureaucrats. There is a role for ministerial oversight but it needs to be well-defined.” | |
| Anthony Albanese has called for a proposed suspension of standing orders on this issue: | |
| That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent private embers’ business order of the day No. 8 relating to the High Speed Rail Planning Authority Bill 2018 standing in the name of the Member for Grayndler being called on immediately and being given priority over all other business for passage through all stages by 1.30 pm today. | |
| #BREAKING Australia's live export industry will not export live sheep to the Middle East during the northern hemisphere summer next year. @KathSully confirms the industry will self-impose a three-month moratorium for the dangerous exporting months #auspol | #BREAKING Australia's live export industry will not export live sheep to the Middle East during the northern hemisphere summer next year. @KathSully confirms the industry will self-impose a three-month moratorium for the dangerous exporting months #auspol |
| The Australian Energy Council is still not totally into the government’s divesture proposal: | The Australian Energy Council is still not totally into the government’s divesture proposal: |
| The Australian Energy Council welcomes the federal government’s agreement that any divestment power must be consistent with the constitution but remains alarmed at the government’s intention to legislate an onerous and unprecedented set of government market interventions which will only increase risk to investors and costs for consumers. | The Australian Energy Council welcomes the federal government’s agreement that any divestment power must be consistent with the constitution but remains alarmed at the government’s intention to legislate an onerous and unprecedented set of government market interventions which will only increase risk to investors and costs for consumers. |
| The ACCC report specifically recommended against the need for a divestiture power and did not find misconduct in the market, rather recommended welcome reforms to improve its transparency and operations. The ACCC correctly identified the primary drivers of high prices – cost pressures across the supply chain and the policy vacuum. | The ACCC report specifically recommended against the need for a divestiture power and did not find misconduct in the market, rather recommended welcome reforms to improve its transparency and operations. The ACCC correctly identified the primary drivers of high prices – cost pressures across the supply chain and the policy vacuum. |
| The industry recognises that customers need support in an environment of high prices, and is already working with the regulator to implement those recommendations which will assist consumers to get a better deal. | The industry recognises that customers need support in an environment of high prices, and is already working with the regulator to implement those recommendations which will assist consumers to get a better deal. |
| The Australian Energy Council’s Chief Executive, Sarah McNamara, said that the energy sector was yet to see the revised bill and looks forward to sitting down with government to work through the detail. | The Australian Energy Council’s Chief Executive, Sarah McNamara, said that the energy sector was yet to see the revised bill and looks forward to sitting down with government to work through the detail. |
| “To date there has been only a token consultation over a three-day period on an earlier version of the bill. It appears that many significant questions raised through the submissions process remain unanswered. | “To date there has been only a token consultation over a three-day period on an earlier version of the bill. It appears that many significant questions raised through the submissions process remain unanswered. |
| “Once we see the revised bill, we will consider it and respond in good faith. | “Once we see the revised bill, we will consider it and respond in good faith. |
| “Divestiture powers are an extreme measure in any market and deserve thorough economy-wide consultations and cost-benefit analysis. This bill differs markedly from its equivalent in the US, which is economy wide and aimed at monopolistic behaviour, and in the UK divestment powers under its Enterprise Act are also economy wide and subject to very strong prescriptive measures and processes focussed on ensuring natural justice. | “Divestiture powers are an extreme measure in any market and deserve thorough economy-wide consultations and cost-benefit analysis. This bill differs markedly from its equivalent in the US, which is economy wide and aimed at monopolistic behaviour, and in the UK divestment powers under its Enterprise Act are also economy wide and subject to very strong prescriptive measures and processes focussed on ensuring natural justice. |
| “The only thing that is certain is that this Bill increases the risk profile of investment in the energy market for would-be investors. This can only increase costs for market participants, and accordingly the price for Australian families and small businesses. | “The only thing that is certain is that this Bill increases the risk profile of investment in the energy market for would-be investors. This can only increase costs for market participants, and accordingly the price for Australian families and small businesses. |
| “We continue to urge the government to work with the business community on reform and policy options which enhance Australia’s economic stability, encourage investment and deliver better outcomes for customers. If the government insists on progressing this bill, we support careful consideration of the detail and a proper consultation process to reflect the unprecedented nature of the interventions it proposes.” | “We continue to urge the government to work with the business community on reform and policy options which enhance Australia’s economic stability, encourage investment and deliver better outcomes for customers. If the government insists on progressing this bill, we support careful consideration of the detail and a proper consultation process to reflect the unprecedented nature of the interventions it proposes.” |
| Labor and the government have come to in-principle agreement on the Coalition’s encryption bill. The deal will have to go to the parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security but this clears the way for it to be legislated this week. | |
| Labor highlights a number of concessions from the government including limiting the powers in the bill to serious offences only and to provide a definition of “systemic weaknesses” to limit backdoors that tech companies can be required to build into their products. | Labor highlights a number of concessions from the government including limiting the powers in the bill to serious offences only and to provide a definition of “systemic weaknesses” to limit backdoors that tech companies can be required to build into their products. |
| Law enforcement agencies would also require both the attorney general and the minister for communications before they can demand companies build a backdoor. | Law enforcement agencies would also require both the attorney general and the minister for communications before they can demand companies build a backdoor. |
| Disputes over whether technical capability notices create a “systemic weakness” would be determined by a former judge and a person with appropriate technical expertise. | |
| The shadow attorney general, Mark Dreyfus: | |
| Labor has spent five years responsibly improving national security legislation to make Australians safer, and we have done the same thing today. | |
| The government have made important concessions on its earlier position on the Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) bill. It appears the government will agree to proposals by Labor that will ensure there is better oversight and limitation of the powers in this bill, and better safeguards against potential unintended consequences. | |
| Importantly, the PJCIS will continue its scrutiny of the bill into 2019, allowing for outstanding concerns to be worked on and further amendments introduced in the new year if necessary. | Importantly, the PJCIS will continue its scrutiny of the bill into 2019, allowing for outstanding concerns to be worked on and further amendments introduced in the new year if necessary. |
| Following the extraordinary interference with this committee by the minister for home affairs and prime minister, Labor welcomes the constructive negotiations conducted with the attorney general over the past two days. | |
| Let me be clear – this bill is far from perfect and there are likely to be significant outstanding issues. But this compromise will deliver security and enforcement agencies the powers they say they need over the Christmas period, and ensure adequate oversight and safeguards to prevent unintended consequences while ongoing work continues – just as Labor proposed. | Let me be clear – this bill is far from perfect and there are likely to be significant outstanding issues. But this compromise will deliver security and enforcement agencies the powers they say they need over the Christmas period, and ensure adequate oversight and safeguards to prevent unintended consequences while ongoing work continues – just as Labor proposed. |
| I want to issue a call to the government – the trashing of bipartisan process and politicisation of national security that has occurred over the past month must never happen again. There is nothing more important than keeping Australians safe – the government must remember that. | |
| From Mike Bowers, to you: | |