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Pyne and Bishop jobs found to be 'within the rules' says Cormann – politics live Pyne and Bishop jobs found to be 'within the rules' says Cormann – politics live
(32 minutes later)
Richard Marles had a chat to ABC breakfast this morning about Labor’s position on the temporary exclusion orders Peter Dutton wants.
Labor supports, in principle, a regime of temporary exclusion orders, and we always have.
But we’ve been working cooperatively with the government through the parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security. This is complex legislation.
It needs to be done in a way that is lawful, in the sense that it needs to be able to survive high court challenges. That’s why this committee is in place and goes through the legislation in detail.
There are actually a number of amendments that the committee recommended which Liberal members of the committee supported. We just want to get through the bottom of that and work with the government on that.
But at the end of the day, we completely acknowledge the importance of having a temporary exclusion order regime and we’ll work cooperatively with the government to achieve that.”
Shadow cabinet will meet later today, followed by caucus where a final decision will be made
Sarah Hanson-Young is still pushing for a royal commission into the Murray-Darling basin. That debate will begin in the Senate today.
Like the banking royal commission, the Senate’s support for a bill to establish a commission is an essential step in cleaning up the management of the Murray-Darling and stopping the rorts,” she said in a statement.
“Farmers, communities and ecosystems throughout the basin are suffering. We know there are problems with the way it is being managed, and Australians deserve answers.
“Most of the money allocated for the plan has been spent and the river is still in deep trouble. The only way to ensure we get the answers we need, and those responsible are held to account, is with a comprehensive royal commission.
“The South Australia royal commission began this important work but was hampered by the refusal of the federal government and other basin states to participate. A million fish dead and revelations of ongoing mismanagement mean we must have answers.”
Rex Patrick has just got back to me. Here is what he had to say:Rex Patrick has just got back to me. Here is what he had to say:
I need to see the evidence that the prime minister is relying on to reach his finding – it needs to cover off on Pyne’s [and Bishops] intended role, the reasons for hiring, the expectations of the parties to the employment contracts and the processes and procedure in place in the companies to prevent future breaches [use of knowledge not in the public domain]. I need to see the evidence that the prime minister is relying on to reach his finding. It needs to cover off on Pyne’s [and Bishop’s] intended role, the reasons for hiring, the expectations of the parties to the employment contracts and the processes and procedure in place in the companies to prevent future breaches [use of knowledge not in the public domain].
I will hear what Minister Cormann has to say and then make a decision as to whether to ask the Senate to initiate an inquiry.” I will hear what minister Cormann has to say and then make a decision as to whether to ask the Senate to initiate an inquiry.”
So watch this space.So watch this space.
Labor had also expressed interest in an inquiry, but without Centre Alliance would not have the numbers.Labor had also expressed interest in an inquiry, but without Centre Alliance would not have the numbers.
Speaking to ABC radio this morning, Mathias Cormann said the review Martin Parkinson undertook into Julie Bishop and Christopher Pyne’s new job found neither breached the ministerial standards. Speaking to ABC radio this morning, Mathias Cormann said the review Martin Parkinson undertook into Julie Bishop’s and Christopher Pyne’s new jobs found neither breached the ministerial standards.
“What is important is that whatever employment they take on does not put them in breach of the statement of ministerial standards,” Cormann told AM. “What is important is that whatever employment they take on does not put them in breach of the statement of ministerial standards,” he told AM.
“And the advice that the prime minister has received from the secretary of his department independently is that former ministers Pyne and Bishop are not in breach.” “And the advice that the prime minister has received from the secretary of his department independently is that former ministers Pyne and Bishop are not in breach.
“Dr Parkinson reviewed all of the relevant information, he spoke to both former ministers Pyne and Bishop, and his advice to the prime minister is there’s no breach of ministerial standards – and that is the advice that I will be providing to the Senate this morning.” “Dr Parkinson reviewed all of the relevant information, he spoke to both former ministers Pyne and Bishop, and his advice to the prime minister is there’s no breach of ministerial standards, and that is the advice that I will be providing to the Senate this morning.”
The statement of ministerial standards includes this bit: “Ministers are also required to undertake that, on leaving office, they will not take personal advantage of information to which they have had access as a minister, where that information is not generally available to the public.”The statement of ministerial standards includes this bit: “Ministers are also required to undertake that, on leaving office, they will not take personal advantage of information to which they have had access as a minister, where that information is not generally available to the public.”
Rex Patrick from Centre Alliance had wanted to launch a Senate inquiry into the jobs of former ministers, who work in areas related to their former portfolios when they leave parliament. He said he would wait and see the outcome of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet review before making up his mind – we have asked him what his thinking is now that Cormann says they are clear. Rex Patrick from Centre Alliance had wanted to launch a Senate inquiry into the jobs of former ministers, who work in areas related to their former portfolios when they leave parliament. He said he would wait and see the outcome of the prime minister and cabinet department’s review before making up his mind. We have asked him what his thinking is now that Cormann says they are clear.
Time flies whether you are having fun or not, and so we find ourselves back in Canberra, with the MPs for the first sitting fortnight since the May election. Time flies whether you are having fun or not, and so we find ourselves back in Canberra with the MPs for the first sitting fortnight since the May election.
It’s also about the 14th or 15th sitting day this year, so I suppose we shouldn’t complain too much. Because – democracy.It’s also about the 14th or 15th sitting day this year, so I suppose we shouldn’t complain too much. Because – democracy.
And after this sitting ends on 1 August, parliament won’t sit again until 9 September. It’s been that sort of year.And after this sitting ends on 1 August, parliament won’t sit again until 9 September. It’s been that sort of year.
But suddenly, national security is once again URGENT – we know this, because there were stories about how many foreign fighters had already returned to Australia in the News Corp papers over the weekend. And Deidre Chambers, what a coincidence – Peter Dutton wants the parliament to give home affairs the power to place temporary exclusion orders on dual citizen foreign fighters, which would keep them out of Australia for at least two years. And the parliament is due to debate that this fortnight. What. Are. The. Chances. But suddenly national security is once again URGENT. We know this because there were stories in the News Corp papers over the weekend about how many foreign fighters had already returned to Australia. And Deidre Chambers, what a coincidence – Peter Dutton wants the parliament to give home affairs the power to place temporary exclusion orders on dual citizen foreign fighters, which would keep them out of Australia for at least two years. And the parliament is due to debate that this fortnight. What. Are. The. Chances.
Drought will also be back on the agenda – or at least the drought fund the government wants to set up. Labor will back it – if it doesn’t take money from other funds, like infrastructure. So prepare for that debate. Drought will also be back on the agenda – or at least the drought fund the government wants to set up. Labor will back it if it doesn’t take money from other funds, like infrastructure. So prepare for that debate.
Meanwhile, the government will attempt to appeal the medevac legislation (Jacqui Lambie is the key vote for that one) and has been made a little more sensitive by the visit from Papua New Guinea’s prime minster James Marape. Marape wants a timeline on when Australia plans on closing down its offshore detention centre on Manus Island and also has a few things to say about the awarding of contracts for running the centres. Meanwhile the government will attempt to appeal the medevac legislation (Jacqui Lambie is the key vote for that one) and has been made a little more sensitive by the visit from Papua New Guinea’s prime minster, James Marape. Marape wants a timeline on when Australia plans to close its offshore detention centre on Manus Island and also has a few things to say about the awarding of contracts for running the centres.
Fun.Fun.
Oh and smash me down and call me avocado: Mathias Cormann, as one of the only regular government members approved to do regular media spots, was doing the rounds this morning and said a review into Christoper Pyne and Julie Bishop’s new jobs has found no breach of the rules. Oh and smash me down and call me avocado: Mathias Cormann, as one of the only regular government members approved to do regular media spots, was doing the rounds this morning and said a review into Christoper Pyne’s and Julie Bishop’s new jobs has found no breach of the rules.
Pyne has been hired as a defence consultant for EY. He was the defence minister about two seconds ago. Bishop has taken a board position with Palladium, which manages hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Dfat contracts. She was the foreign affairs minister about five minutes ago.Pyne has been hired as a defence consultant for EY. He was the defence minister about two seconds ago. Bishop has taken a board position with Palladium, which manages hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Dfat contracts. She was the foreign affairs minister about five minutes ago.
But Cormann told ABC radio a review by the head of prime minister and cabinet has found “nothing to see here”.But Cormann told ABC radio a review by the head of prime minister and cabinet has found “nothing to see here”.
We will bring you that and the rest of the days news, as it happens. Mike Bowers is on deck running around, no doubt freezing, and forgetting to bring me my coffee, so you’ll have his amazing work to look forward to as well. Katharine Murphy is back from leave, and she’ll be heading up the brains trust of Sarah Martin and Paul Karp. All of them have forgot to bring me a coffee, but I adore them anyway. We will bring you that and the rest of the day’s news, as it happens. Mike Bowers is on deck running around, no doubt freezing, and forgetting to bring me my coffee, so you’ll have his amazing work to look forward to as well. Katharine Murphy is back from leave, and she’ll be heading up the brains trust of Sarah Martin and Paul Karp. All of them have forgot to bring me a coffee, but I adore them anyway.
You’ll find me in the comments, or on Twitter, so drop us a line if you are in the mood.You’ll find me in the comments, or on Twitter, so drop us a line if you are in the mood.
Ready?Ready?
Let’s get into itLet’s get into it