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Pyne and Bishop jobs found to be 'within the rules' says Cormann – politics live
Rex Patrick will seek Senate inquiry into Pyne and Bishop jobs – politics live
(32 minutes later)
Oh and for those wondering if the budget could handle the $3bn or so annual cost to increase Newstart, franking credits currently cost about $6bn a year.
So yeah. It probably could. Even with the SuRpLuS obsession.
There you go there’s one more.
.@corybernardi on whether Pyne/Bishop goes to an inquiry. He says he's unaware of the findings of the government's investigation but "if asked to vote I will vote yes to inquiry" @AmyRemeikis #auspol
On the numbers (and remember numbers aren’t my thing) by my count Labor, the Greens and Centre Alliance are still two short of getting the inquiry through.
Cory Bernardi had flirted with the idea of voting for the inquiry.
Jacqui Lambie didn’t say, but has been very vocal about lobbyists in the past.
One Nation – who knows (timeless statement) but don’t be surprised if Pauline Hanson voted yes, as part of her “holding them to account” schtick.
Oh, and on Hanson, the Australian’s media section reported today that she has been booked for a once a fortnight paid appearance on Network Nine’s Today show. Cool.
Katharine Murphy has had a chat to Labor about Rex Patrick’s move to bring former ministers’ lobbying jobs to a Senate inquiry and says the guidance, at this stage, is that Labor is likely to support it.
Mathias Cormann will make a statement to the Senate at 12.20 about the outcome of Martin Parkinson’s review into Christopher Pyne’s and Julie Bishop’s new jobs, but it might not be enough.
Rex Patrick is still pushing for an inquiry:
On what is before me at present I will still be asking the Senate to conduct an inquiry.”
Scott Morrison and Papua New Guinea’s PM, James Marape, will make a joint statement at 11.30 in the prime minister’s courtyard.
Scott Morrison and Papua New Guinea’s PM, James Marape, will make a joint statement at 11.30 in the prime minister’s courtyard.
Just on the medevac legislation, the repeal bill has been sent to a parliamentary committee for a review. Submissions close mid next month and the report date is not until 18 October.
Just on the medevac legislation, the repeal bill has been sent to a parliamentary committee for a review. Submissions close mid next month and the report date is not until 18 October.
The next sitting (from 21 October) is a House sitting only. The Senate won’t sit until 11 November.
The next sitting (from 21 October) is a House sitting only. The Senate won’t sit until 11 November.
The too-long, didn’t-read version of that is that he had conversations with both of them and is satisfied, on the information given, that both Pyne and Bishop know their responsibilities.
The too-long, didn’t-read version of that is that he had conversations with both of them and is satisfied, on the information given, that both Pyne and Bishop know their responsibilities.
Here is Martin Parkinson’s report on the review into Christopher Pyne’s and Julie Bishop’s new jobs:
Here is Martin Parkinson’s report on the review into Christopher Pyne’s and Julie Bishop’s new jobs:
Martin Parkinson on the Pyne and Bishop conflict review pic.twitter.com/IOb9psfH02
Martin Parkinson on the Pyne and Bishop conflict review pic.twitter.com/IOb9psfH02
pic.twitter.com/g9u7wg1Rcq
pic.twitter.com/g9u7wg1Rcq
Speaking of national security – and the bipartisan approach the political parties have taken on it (in that they both back the legislation as a general rule) – Labor is a bit cranky over Mathias Cormann saying this on AM this morning:
Speaking of national security – and the bipartisan approach the political parties have taken on it (in that they both back the legislation as a general rule) – Labor is a bit cranky over Mathias Cormann saying this on AM this morning:
“The Labor party needs to decide which side they’re on … We are on the side of keeping Australians safe.”
“The Labor party needs to decide which side they’re on … We are on the side of keeping Australians safe.”
.@AlboMP: Everyone in this parliament opposes terrorism; everyone in this parliament wants to keep Australians safe. MORE: https://t.co/oyPFQ9Ynzw #firstedition pic.twitter.com/2O5bzC8Ase
.@AlboMP: Everyone in this parliament opposes terrorism; everyone in this parliament wants to keep Australians safe. MORE: https://t.co/oyPFQ9Ynzw #firstedition pic.twitter.com/2O5bzC8Ase
That will not be the end of it.
That will not be the end of it.
This has been happening with increasing regularity. The government accuses Labor of not supporting it on national security. Every single time someone asks a question about the bill Labor points out it has always backed the national security legislation. There is argy bargy and then everyone votes for the legislation.
This has been happening with increasing regularity. The government accuses Labor of not supporting it on national security. Every single time someone asks a question about the bill Labor points out it has always backed the national security legislation. There is argy bargy and then everyone votes for the legislation.
Rinse and repeat.
Rinse and repeat.
But given the way national security debates tend to go in this country, Labor will most likely end up supporting the bill.
But given the way national security debates tend to go in this country, Labor will most likely end up supporting the bill.
Kristina Keneally has released a statement on the temporary exclusion order legislation, asking why the legislation is suddenly so “urgent” given how long Peter Dutton has been in the job:
Kristina Keneally has released a statement on the temporary exclusion order legislation, asking why the legislation is suddenly so “urgent” given how long Peter Dutton has been in the job:
Home affairs minister Peter Dutton must explain why he has waited four years to introduce a temporary exclusion order (TEO) scheme in Australia.
Home affairs minister Peter Dutton must explain why he has waited four years to introduce a temporary exclusion order (TEO) scheme in Australia.
“We are working through national security legislation as quickly as possible.”
“We are working through national security legislation as quickly as possible.”
Mathias Cormann, ABC AM, 22 July 2019
Mathias Cormann, ABC AM, 22 July 2019
The United Kingdom TEO scheme – which Mr Dutton so frequently cites – was introduced in 2015. However, Mr Dutton didn’t introduce similar legislation in Australia until February 2019.
The United Kingdom TEO scheme – which Mr Dutton so frequently cites – was introduced in 2015. However, Mr Dutton didn’t introduce similar legislation in Australia until February 2019.
Would Mr Dutton be willing to say he was working “as quickly as possible” when it took him four years to introduce TEO legislation?
Would Mr Dutton be willing to say he was working “as quickly as possible” when it took him four years to introduce TEO legislation?
During the four years Mr Dutton waited to introduce the TEO legislation, it’s reported 40 foreign fighters have returned to Australia.
During the four years Mr Dutton waited to introduce the TEO legislation, it’s reported 40 foreign fighters have returned to Australia.
These 40 foreign fighters have only been able to return because the home affairs minister failed to introduce legislation for four years. Was it incompetence or apathy towards the risks of foreign fighters by minister Dutton that saw him do nothing during this time?
These 40 foreign fighters have only been able to return because the home affairs minister failed to introduce legislation for four years. Was it incompetence or apathy towards the risks of foreign fighters by minister Dutton that saw him do nothing during this time?
Labor has already expressed its support for the intent of the TEO scheme, and agreed with the Liberal-dominated PJCIS that its recommended changes be incorporated into the legislation.
Labor has already expressed its support for the intent of the TEO scheme, and agreed with the Liberal-dominated PJCIS that its recommended changes be incorporated into the legislation.
Labor wants a TEO scheme that works, is constitutional, keeps Australians safe and that withstands high court challenges.”
Labor wants a TEO scheme that works, is constitutional, keeps Australians safe and that withstands high court challenges.”
Pauline Hanson also wants Newstart raised:
There’s a talk about $75 a week that needs to be raised. I think that needs to be addressed and it also needs to be costed. Can we afford it? That’s another thing too.”
Andrew Leigh responded to Mathias Cormann:
It’s important to recognise that many Australians are living on Newstart for ongoing periods. I heard Mathias Cormann this morning saying it’s a temporary payment. He might speak to some of 150,000 Australians who’ve been living on Newstart for more than a year, to the 80,000 Australians who have been living on Newstart for more than two years. It’s not adequate and Labor believes it should be increased, which is why we went to the last election calling for a review of the Newstart payment.”
And just a reminder that the daily parliamentary travel allowance is more than the weekly Newstart payment.
Cormann also says ”most Australians that are on #newstart are on it for a very short period”. (The average time on the payment is three years. 200,000 people have been on it between 2-5 years, 125,000 have been on it 5-10 years) #auspol
And just to get ahead of “those on Newstart get additional payments” comments, Luke Henrique-Gomes broke that down for us earlier this year.
When the department broke down the data for the Greens senator Rachel Siewert last year, it found 51.9% of Newstart recipients also got another supplement. (The energy supplement was not separated out of the data, so it is unclear how many received that, and another supplement.)
So for the majority of Newstart recipients, the average value of the ‘other payments’ is $7.32 a week.
That is, they don’t live on $39 a day, but about $40 a day (before other costs).”
And what would that cost the budget? Sarah Martin has looked at that:
The government’s resistance to lifting the Newstart payment comes after a Deloitte Access Economics report last year found a $75-a-week increase to Newstart would lead to a boost in consumer spending, and create more than 10,000 jobs.
The report said that increasing the incomes of more than 700,000 people by $10.71 a day would cost the federal budget $3.3bn a year.
Unlike the pension, the Newstart payment is linked to prices rather than wages and, since 1994, when the unemployment benefit was last increased in ‘real terms’, wages have grown 40% faster than prices.”
But you know, sUrPlUs.
Raise the payment. It’s ridiculous.
The Senate will also debate Rachel Siewert’s bill to increase Newstart.
“Newstart needs to be increased urgently by at least $75 a week,” the Greens senator said.
“We then have to stop treating income support payments like a political football. An independent process for setting pensions and allowances is well overdue.“Labor and some in the Coalition are clearly feeling the heat when it comes to the abysmally low rate of Newstart, and those in parliament who support an increase to Newstart should vote for it when they get the chance.“The Greens urge senators and MPs to join the community in the campaign to increase Newstart and support my bill.“It is untenable that people on Newstart continue to live in poverty. The government should be moving immediately to address the appalling low rate of Newstart. “When the people in Parliament work for their community, we can do powerful things together.”
Scott Morrison has already said no, which means even if it was passed by the Senate it would be defeated in the House.
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:
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.”
So watch this space.
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’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,” 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.
“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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
