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Furious Scott Morrison vows to 'fight' Nauru bill as pressure builds on government – politics live Furious Scott Morrison vows to 'fight' Nauru bill as pressure builds on government – politics live
(35 minutes later)
David Coleman just about confirmed that as a live option while talking to the ABC just seconds ago:
The prime minister has made a clear statement about that. We’re very determined not to allow these changes to be passed through the parliament. They would massively weaken Australia’s border security, they would lead to the starting of boats again, and they would lead to the end of offshore processing and resettlement, which is one of the key tenets that has kept Australia’s borders secure for all these years under this government. And we’ll not be agreeing to those changes and as the PM said, we’ll be using all measures to seek to stop them.”
In terms of the tactics that Scott Morrison was talking about, one of them is suspending parliament and going home early.
I am not joking. The government would rather see the parliament shut down at this stage, then have this reach the floor.
The lines have been drawn in very black marker by Scott Morrison.
I mean, seriously guys, let the scale fall from your eyes. This is not about politics.This is about Australia’s national security. That’s why I’m standing here. This is about Australia’s national security. It’s not about what happens on the floor of the house or the floor of the Senate. You got to look past Canberra. This is about Australia’s safety. And Bill Shorten is a clear and present threat to Australia’s safety. Because he is so obsessed with politics, that he cannot see the national interest.
That press conference, as seen by Mike Bowers:
The Intelligence and Security Committee has commenced a review of the Australian Citizenship Amendment (Strengthening the Citizenship Loss Provisions) Bill 2018. Submissions are open until 11 January 2019. More info at https://t.co/zmZ7qYrh1e pic.twitter.com/GDiP32VN0P
What do we make of that press conference? Well, the short version is Scott Morrison is under excruciating pressure. He’s a prime minister in a corner.
The purpose of the press conference was to telegraph to all and sundry around the building that he intended to fight his way out of the corner by whatever means necessary.
Politics was not a reality television show, Morrison told reporters, of course knowing full well that it is, and people are watching, and if his prime ministerial authority takes a hammer blow later today, people will not miss it. It’s a judgment he will be unable to escape.
If Morrison loses this vote, it will be a de facto motion of no-confidence, so it’s unsurprising that the prime minister is coming out swinging. Fine if it works, but it’s highly problematic if it doesn’t.
Morrison has spent the morning telling anyone who will listen that if the government loses this vote, it has lost the ability to control one of its key policies, the protection of the borders, and all hell will break lose. (Never mind the minor inconvenience that the government is, itself, getting kids off Nauru, and all hell has not broken lose. Demonstrably).
Back to the Morrison thunderousness. The threats are designed to turn the political screws on his opponents, to try and break the resolve of the non-government parties to follow through with the current threat.
But that judgment that Morrison has willingly offered up – if this comes to pass, policy-making is now outside my control – really is the working definition of a government that has lost command of the play.
Morrison, in a feverish effort to save himself, and counter the threat that has loomed on the final sitting day of a torrid political year, is helping to make a public case for an expression of no-confidence in the government
This year is not over yet, but here is a bit more from how you saw it:
Scott: Far and away the biggest event for 2018 was that climate change is back on the agenda in a very powerful way. Solar is going crazy which means governments will just have to deal with renewables into the electricity grid.
Obviously the middle- to upper-middle classes in Victoria are convinced of the pressing need for climate action AND so are school kids, this is very powerful.
ALSO the public is finally waking up to just how bad natural disasters will get, see California and now Queensland fires. Sadly as the disasters keep coming the public will realise just how duped they have been and they will get very angry.
Wendy: As an historian the five most memorable images of this parliament are:
(1) Julie Bishop’s elegant legs in her red shoes at her presser after losing the ballot
(2) Liberal party women adorning themselves in Handmaids Tale red in the chamber
(3) The new PM walking out of the chamber as the member for Wentworth rose to make her maiden speech
(4) Liberal party men vacating the chamber as Julia Banks announced her resignation from the party
(5) Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi, first Muslim woman Senator, standing resplendent delivering her articulate maiden speech one week after Fraser Anning’s disgraceful diatribe.
Stephen: As to this year to be brutally honest I am just glad I have made it through the last 12 or so months, the last year has been particularly brutal for me. I am 49, a survivor of “conversion therapy” and a mother’s abuse as a child. I spent 10 years living on the streets of Sydney after running away from home. I am also “Public Enemy Number One” right now due to being trans. The last 12 months alone I have attended 12 funerals for people now out of this mess. So my feelings are personal and also hurt and angry because people need to learn to be more aware of what they say, because the real-world consequences for their stupid hurtful actions or “jokes” are having real-life reactions out here in the world.
And it is also worth mentioning that the government has fought the advice of medical professionals to have asylum seekers and refugee brought to Australia for medical treatment they were not receiving in Nauru or Manus Island, meaning the federal court has been asked to intervene.
Then the government brought a case that questioned the federal court’s authority in these matters.
This bill leaves the responsibility with the minister. It provides for border protection and national security protections. It installs an independent health authority. It only allows for temporary transfers.
Just a reminder that it was doctors who really started turning the tide on the offshore detention centre medical transfers, because they (through their professional bodies) said they could no longer stand by and watch it happen.
There is no doctor anywhere in the world, @ScottMorrisonMP, who will suggest that incarcerating and denying medical care to children is a way of preventing drowning. Just support this bill so you don't lose. Stop your political games.
Scott Morrison talks about the encryption laws cluster here:
.@David_Speers: Isn't it also politics to change how we're dealing with these encryption amendments to buy enough time to see off the migration bill?@ScottMorrisonMP: They can give us leave and we can pass the amendments straightaway.MORE: https://t.co/zcW6Tg22SO #SkyLiveNow pic.twitter.com/0npBz6KQwr
And here he is talking about using “every tool” to stop the medical transfers bill:
.@ScottMorrisonMP: I will do everything in my power to ensure that these suggested changes that would undermine our border protection laws never see the light of dayI will fight them using whatever tool or tactic I have available to meMORE: https://t.co/zcW6Tg22SO #SkyLiveNow pic.twitter.com/kZr8HVCtBP
For what it is worth, Labor sources are infuriated with Scott Morrison’s take on the encryption bill snafu and want it called out as a lie.
They say that Morrison wanted the committee report into encryption tabled by 5.30pm yesterday, but the committee was not even meant to meet until 4.45pm to finalise the report.
Then there were the nine divisions in under an hour over the energy big stick bill.
The committee then met, and finalised the report in 15 minutes, where it was sent to the House. Labor worked with Christopher Pyne to delay the adjournment debate to ensure the report could be tabled last night.
And we know that all happened, because Mike Bowers caught photos of the discussions the committee was having in the House and we were told what the argument was about, before this all blew up today.
From Paul Karp’s story:
In a huddle on the sidelines of parliamentary speeches about the Coalition’s energy legislation, members of the joint committee on intelligence and security handling the bill engaged in open debate about details of the deal.
Racing to beat the adjournment debate so a full report could be tabled, the deputy chair, Anthony Byrne, was seen having words with the chair, Andrew Hastie, and the attorney general, Christian Porter, alongside fellow committee members Mike Kelly and Julian Leeser.
Guardian Australia understands Labor objected to the timeframe set by Hastie to agree on outstanding issues.
After the group broke, Byrne proceeded to sprint in and out of the chamber with drafts of proposed recommendations.
As the 7.30pm deadline approached, Porter strolled back in and shook hands triumphantly first with Byrne then Kelly.
The government leader in the House, Christopher Pyne, asked Hastie if he was still waiting for the report, then delayed the adjournment, allowing the report to be tabled at 7.50pm.
In an improvised speech likely indicating the member for Canning had been more focused on the report itself, Hastie praised government concessions to enhance oversight, define the term “systemic weakness” and narrow the range of offences to which new encryption cracking powers will apply.
Hastie commended Byrne and Kelly for bipartisan support for the bill and the secretariat for the haste in putting the report together.
The outbreak of bonhomie crossed the aisle, and Byrne in turn praised Hastie’s “steadfast commitment to bipartisanship essential to keeping this committee working and this parliament working”.
For anyone wondering, these photos were taken just after 4pm.
While Scott Morrison had his press conference of power in the House, Tony Burke and Adam Bandt have just walked in to a room together to have a chat. Christopher Pyne is talking with his staff.While Scott Morrison had his press conference of power in the House, Tony Burke and Adam Bandt have just walked in to a room together to have a chat. Christopher Pyne is talking with his staff.
Tony Abbott is in the chamber tapping away with two fingers on his laptop. That is how he types.Tony Abbott is in the chamber tapping away with two fingers on his laptop. That is how he types.
Burke is back and is talking to Pyne behind the Speaker’s chair.Burke is back and is talking to Pyne behind the Speaker’s chair.
Scott Morrison walks out of the press conference as more questions are yelled at him.Scott Morrison walks out of the press conference as more questions are yelled at him.
Last question was called and it was on how is it a threat to national security to allow the minister in charge (right now that is David Coleman) to make the decision:Last question was called and it was on how is it a threat to national security to allow the minister in charge (right now that is David Coleman) to make the decision:
Morrison says he dreads the day a “Labor minister is in charge” of those decisions:Morrison says he dreads the day a “Labor minister is in charge” of those decisions:
You know what – I’m not going to see an arrangement put in place that could ever see potentially, and I hope a long way down the track, a Labor minister being responsible for a decision like that. We’ve got a clear policy – it’s working. It is worked for five years. It has kept Australians safe. Anyone who wants to have a debate with me about that, happy to line up, any day of the week.You know what – I’m not going to see an arrangement put in place that could ever see potentially, and I hope a long way down the track, a Labor minister being responsible for a decision like that. We’ve got a clear policy – it’s working. It is worked for five years. It has kept Australians safe. Anyone who wants to have a debate with me about that, happy to line up, any day of the week.
Why would you change something that has ... worked so successfully, so hard won, and at great cost. Why on Earth would Bill Shorten sell all of that out for a cheap day in politics?Why would you change something that has ... worked so successfully, so hard won, and at great cost. Why on Earth would Bill Shorten sell all of that out for a cheap day in politics?
Siri, show me a politician under pressure:Siri, show me a politician under pressure:
Scott Morrison:Scott Morrison:
Stopping terrorists is more important than getting a cheap win for the nightly news out of Canberra. Their support for amendments in the Senate to abolish offshore processing as we know it, the cheap win in the House of Representatives, don’t do it, Bill.Stopping terrorists is more important than getting a cheap win for the nightly news out of Canberra. Their support for amendments in the Senate to abolish offshore processing as we know it, the cheap win in the House of Representatives, don’t do it, Bill.
The cheap win on the House of Representatives floor is not worth it. You know what you’ll be telling every Australian? Every single Australian, if you support those amendment, Bill, you’ll be telling them what they really already know, when it comes to border protection, your heart isn’t in it, and you and your party cannot be trusted that you have learnt nothing from the horror show you inflicted on them when you were last in government.The cheap win on the House of Representatives floor is not worth it. You know what you’ll be telling every Australian? Every single Australian, if you support those amendment, Bill, you’ll be telling them what they really already know, when it comes to border protection, your heart isn’t in it, and you and your party cannot be trusted that you have learnt nothing from the horror show you inflicted on them when you were last in government.
So I think you know where I stand on this issue. I have always stood on the same place in this issue, I will never move from where I stand on this issue. We’ll continue to ensure a strong border protection framework for Australia that’s been successful, and we will continue to deliver the leadership on national security, we’re no longer joined at the hip when it comes to the Labor Party, I doubt we really ever were.So I think you know where I stand on this issue. I have always stood on the same place in this issue, I will never move from where I stand on this issue. We’ll continue to ensure a strong border protection framework for Australia that’s been successful, and we will continue to deliver the leadership on national security, we’re no longer joined at the hip when it comes to the Labor Party, I doubt we really ever were.
Every single time, they have to be dragged along, dragged along, we’re the party of national security and we can keep Australians safe. Bill Shorten hasn’t got the mettle for it.Every single time, they have to be dragged along, dragged along, we’re the party of national security and we can keep Australians safe. Bill Shorten hasn’t got the mettle for it.
The games being played over the encryption bill are basically boiling down to this: the government wants to change the timetable in the House to stop the Nauru bill.The games being played over the encryption bill are basically boiling down to this: the government wants to change the timetable in the House to stop the Nauru bill.
The amendments to the encryption bill were going to be made in the Senate. Now the government is saying the amendments have to be dealt with in the House.The amendments to the encryption bill were going to be made in the Senate. Now the government is saying the amendments have to be dealt with in the House.
Here’s the letter Christian Porter has sent to the opposition pic.twitter.com/WPbtEy8IqlHere’s the letter Christian Porter has sent to the opposition pic.twitter.com/WPbtEy8Iql
Meanwhile, Christopher Pyne is in the House having very quick meetings with the crossbenchers, after most of them rejected the government’s come and see how important our border-security message is.
Scott Morrison:
I will fight them on this. I will seek to stop them doing this. I will fight to get those encryption laws passed. And I will fight to stop any change to that offshore processing arrangement which I know directly and personally has been so critical to maintaining the successful border protection framework that has kept our borders secure, and has prevented young people, children, going on to boats and drowning.
Let’s not forget the horror of 6,500 children being put into detention, 17 detention centres being opened, $11.5bn in cost blowouts.
And we’ve come to government, and we fixed the problem. In the last three months I have taken 100 children off Nauru.
There are 10 children on Nauru today. So, don’t let them tell you this is about getting children off Nauru. That’s a con. That’s happened. And it happened under the government’s border protection arrangements. This is about getting rid of offshore processing.
They never believed it in the first place, they had to be forced into even doing it in the dying days of their previous government, and when they implemented it, it was a tragic shocker of an implementation, which took incredible investment and effort to fix it.
I know, because I was the one who had to fix it. These are important issues. And the obsession with the political games of Canberra, to try and score a one-upmanship for the nightly news is damaging our national interest today. I would call on the Labor party to pass the encryption bills.
Scott Morrison (who seriously looks the most emotional I have ever seen him)
Bill Shorten’s mettle has been tested on national security today, and border protection, and has been found untrue.
Bill Shorten does not have the mettle to deal with national security. He does not have the mettle to deal with border protection. Our government has demonstrated that we do. I have demonstrated that I do. In this place, people can have some short memories.
It wasn’t that long ago where boats crashed on the rocks and children were dragged up from the sea face down. I remember it. I stopped it.
With the suite of measures that were necessary together to stop that horror. Temporary protection visas, I had to legislate through the parliament and Labor tried to stop me. But we passed them. Offshore processing, which they resisted and resisted and resisted, and then put into place and then we made it work.
And turning back boats – where it’s safe to do so, which everyone told us wasn’t possible – but I did it. We did it. And it worked. Labor has already said they want to get rid of temporary protection visas, they said it doesn’t matter. Kevin Rudd said the same thing in August of 2008. He got rid of it and the boats came again. Now Labor want to abolish offshore processing as we know it. Turn it into a transit lounge. They have learned nothing when it comes to what it takes to protect our borders in this country.
Just a reminder that this change leaves the medical evacuation approvals with the minister, who has the power to reject it on the grounds of national security and border protection.
It needs two doctors to sign off on any transfer. If the minister rejects the advice, then they have to publish their reasons why. An independent medical panel will then review the decisions.
It is also only for temporary medical transfers. Which already occur.
Scott Morrison is having all of the feelings right now.
He is also speaking as if he is making this up on the spot. Which I think he is.
This is not reality television. This place should not be about who gets the win on the nightly news. Our government is not going to play those games. What has is happening in this parliament today should concern Australians.
Right now, in the House of Representatives, the Labor party is not cooperating to pass important encryption legislation that would ensure that police, Asio, other agencies, they won’t have the powers to access encrypted messages which can help them thwart a terrorist attack.
They are delaying the passage of those bills to play games in the parliament with national security. That’s in the House of Representatives. In the Senate, the Labor party is playing games with crossbenchers and others to try and introduce laws that completely undermine the successful border protection framework that has been saving lives for the last five years.
For what purpose are they doing this? To seek a cheap win in the House of Representatives. The Labor party have shown Australians today that when it comes to national security, and border protection, they will trade it all for politics.”
While we wait for Scott Morrison to step up to the Blue Room podium, we’re just checking into the Senate, where the Greens are absolutely tearing into Labor for agreeing to pass the encryption bill.
The drug-testing bill, which was once part of the welfare bill, is also popping its head back in the Senate again today, so try and keep an eye out on that.
Sometime between 12.45 and 1.50, Tim Storer and Nick McKim plan on moving this motion:
That—
(a) the home affairs legislation amendment (miscellaneous measures) bill 2018 be called on at 12.45 pm on Thursday, 6 December 2018, and have precedence over all government business until determined;
(b) if, by 1.50 pm the bill has not been finally considered, the questions on all remaining stages shall be put without debate; and
(c) paragraph (b) of this order shall operate as a limitation of debate under standing order 142.
Then, when that debate is underway, Storer will move an amendment, a version of the Kerryn Phelps bill
Once this debate is under way, Senator Storer will move an amendment which is very similar to the Phelps private members bill. Labor, the Greens, Centre Alliance, Derryn Hinch and Tim Storer will see that pass.
Then it gets to the House, just after 3pm, when question time ends.
The government can be defeated (on the numbers, this stage) or run down the clock, so it won’t come to a vote this year.
Running down the clock seems to be the favoured option right now. Because, according to all the messages flying around this building at the moment, losing this legislative vote means “we’re fucked”. (The “we’re” here, being the government.)
Scott Morrison has called a press conference in the Blue Room for 10.20am.
BREAKING: Frantic series of phone calls/messages between Cabinet ministers last night and this morning. Fear in ministerial wing that if independents succeed, government is cooked. #7News #auspol https://t.co/3BZBhoEh23
So (and thank you to the experts, who are frantically answering my procedure questions), it seems that a delay in the Senate would mean the House would have to suspend standing orders to consider the message from the Senate. That is where the absolute majority comes in - 76. Labor and the Greens and the crossbench, minus Bob Katter, make for 75.
The House has an automatic adjournment standing order that kicks off at 4.30pm (no more government business).
Looking at the daily program, number three on government business today, is Christopher Pyne suspending standing orders 31 and 33, which would prevent the automatic adjournment and remove a limit on new business being introduced after the scheduled adjournment time – meaning the House decides when it adjourns.
If those standing orders get suspended, the time limit won’t apply. If they don’t get suspended, they will.
BASICALLY – the government is trying to arrange the timetable to make any sure the motion from the Senate which will bring this all on doesn’t make it to the House in time to be passed.
What that means is that the government will bring the Senate motion on so late, that it is too late to make it into the House, where they are all but guaranteed of losing the vote.