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Angus Taylor grilled over grasslands saga after making statement – politics live Angus Taylor grilled over grasslands saga after making statement – politics live
(32 minutes later)
Labor’s motion calling for Angus Taylor to be referred to a Senate inquiry has been lost by one vote.
Ayes: Labor, the Greens, Centre Alliance, Jacqui Lambie.
Noes: Coalition, Cory Bernardi, Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.
Ayes 32
Noes 33
How Mike Bowers spent some of his time in the chamber.
Taking note of answers after question time, Labor has sent Penny Wong, Kim Carr and Deborah O’Neil into the attack against Angus Taylor.
Wong told the Senate that it appeared Taylor had used his ministerial position “to shore his investments up”:
He failed to declare a direct financial interest in a company, then used his position as a minister to defend that company’s interest after it was accused of breaking the law.
Earlier, in question time, Simon Birmingham gave an “emphatic no” to Wong’s suggestion that Taylor had sought special treatment and received it.
Wong said Taylor’s statement to parliament had failed to “provide any evidence he was representing anybody’s interests but himself”.
She dismissed a letter from a constituent three years prior to Taylor seeking a meeting with the environment department – because he didn’t act on it at the time – a letter that came six months after the meeting and “a conversation with a bloke from Yass”.
Taylor “magically, coincidentally” got a meeting with the environment department a day after the department met with Jam Land on the compliance matter, Wong said.
As we heard in question time, Taylor and the department maintain that the compliance matter was not raised at the meeting.
New senators National Susan McDonald and Liberal Claire Chandler were then sent in to defend Taylor.
McDonald accused Labor of acting “as if there is only one farmer in Australia” and defends Taylor’s explanation he was representing constituents by arguing there had been concern about the grass classification issue “for some time”.
The Senate still hasn’t voted on the Angus Taylor inquiry motion – that is coming up in just a bit, but it will be lost.
Russell Broadbent just delivered a statement to the House, claiming to have been misrepresented.Russell Broadbent just delivered a statement to the House, claiming to have been misrepresented.
He has not called for an increase to the Newstart allowance. Just so you know.He has not called for an increase to the Newstart allowance. Just so you know.
Scott Morrison walks over to Angus Taylor on the bench and gives him a nod to walk out with him.Scott Morrison walks over to Angus Taylor on the bench and gives him a nod to walk out with him.
Subtle.Subtle.
Scott Morrison nods to David Littleproud, letting him know that he will get the last dixer and then stacks his papers, the international signal that question time is about to end.Scott Morrison nods to David Littleproud, letting him know that he will get the last dixer and then stacks his papers, the international signal that question time is about to end.
Terri Butler to Angus Taylor:Terri Butler to Angus Taylor:
I again refer to his earlier answers and to the letter from farm organisations dated 3 October 2017. Given the minister refused to answer, I ask again, is the single alleged EPBCC breach in that letter the alleged poisoning of critically endangered grass on his lands?I again refer to his earlier answers and to the letter from farm organisations dated 3 October 2017. Given the minister refused to answer, I ask again, is the single alleged EPBCC breach in that letter the alleged poisoning of critically endangered grass on his lands?
Angus Taylor:Angus Taylor:
That is the same question and it gets the same answer.That is the same question and it gets the same answer.
Rebekha Sharkie to Sussan Ley:Rebekha Sharkie to Sussan Ley:
On 26 October 2018 I joined local conservation groups in writing to the secretariat of the UN convention on the wetlands of international importance about the lower lakes site. Our letter constituted an article 3.2 notification and requires the government to respond within three months to a detailed questionnaire and what measures have been put in place to rectify the deterioration. Would the minister please advise the House of the government’s response?On 26 October 2018 I joined local conservation groups in writing to the secretariat of the UN convention on the wetlands of international importance about the lower lakes site. Our letter constituted an article 3.2 notification and requires the government to respond within three months to a detailed questionnaire and what measures have been put in place to rectify the deterioration. Would the minister please advise the House of the government’s response?
Ley:Ley:
Can I thank the member for Mayo for her question and her keen interest in the [site] which is a vital part of her electorate, and indicate the letter she refers to was received before I was sworn in as environment minister. The convention, as she notes, is an international convention on the conservation of wetlands, particularly when it comes to the habitat of water birds. I’m very happy to follow up where that information is and get back to the member.Can I thank the member for Mayo for her question and her keen interest in the [site] which is a vital part of her electorate, and indicate the letter she refers to was received before I was sworn in as environment minister. The convention, as she notes, is an international convention on the conservation of wetlands, particularly when it comes to the habitat of water birds. I’m very happy to follow up where that information is and get back to the member.
And that, is how dixers SHOULD be used.And that, is how dixers SHOULD be used.
Terri Butler to Angus Taylor:Terri Butler to Angus Taylor:
I refer to his earlier answers and the letters from farm organisations dated 3 October 2017. Is the single alleged EPBCC breach referenced in that letter alleging poisoning of critically endangered grassland on the minister’s land?I refer to his earlier answers and the letters from farm organisations dated 3 October 2017. Is the single alleged EPBCC breach referenced in that letter alleging poisoning of critically endangered grassland on the minister’s land?
Taylor:Taylor:
The environment is not my portfolio responsibility. I have no idea how you expect me to answer that question.The environment is not my portfolio responsibility. I have no idea how you expect me to answer that question.
This is the ongoing contempt and disdain you show for the farmers of this country.This is the ongoing contempt and disdain you show for the farmers of this country.
Scott Morrison’s papers are not stacked. Which means we have some dixers to get through.Scott Morrison’s papers are not stacked. Which means we have some dixers to get through.
Labor is asking Senate questions about “lawbreaking Liberal construction boss Gerry Hanssen”, citing breaches by his company for “exploiting migrant workers” and a fine of Hanssen personally for refusing union officials entry to a work site.
Labor senator Louise Pratt asks why the Liberal party won’t eject him as a member. The finance minister Mathias Cormann says that the government “condemns all breaches of workplace laws” – by employers or unions – and Hanssen was “appropriately subject to court proceedings”.
Cormann accuses Labor of attempting to suggest “an equivalence of the actions of Hansen with John Setka to distract from their failure to eject him from the Labor party”.
Labor senators interject – asking if the government will push to deregister his companies.
Christian Porter with your daily dose of just how safe you are: unions are terrible is up now.
Tony Burke to Angus Taylor:
Can the minister confirm that his statements to the parliament now offer three reasons for why he held a meeting with the Department of the Environment in 2017. One, somebody wrote a letter six months after the meeting that was addressed to somebody else. Two, somebody wrote a letter three years before the meeting that was addressed to somebody else and, three, he had a conversation with a bloke in Yass. Isn’t the only consistent interest here his own?
Angus Taylor:
That question shows the disdain that those opposite have for the farmers of Australia. The contempt they have for the farmers of Australia. Well, I’ll always back our farmers. I will always back our farmers.
I do it every day, Mr Speaker, and I refer to the comments that I made in my comprehensive and detailed statement earlier today.
Terri Butler to Angus Taylor:
I refer to the minister’s previous answers. Is it just a coincidence that the consultant who gave the go-ahead to spray critically endangered grasslands on the minister’s land also advised the authors of the letter about so-called problems with the listing?
Taylor:
I have already made a comprehensive and detailed statement to the House earlier today, where I made clear that my focus in my work as the member for Hume … was the technical aspects of the listing and ensuring that farmers get a fair deal under this listing.
That was my focus.
And that remains my focus and that is my job. Because there are only two people in this parliament who have regions covered by this, and only one was ever gonna advocate for the farmers across that region and that was me, Mr Speaker.
But the question is ... the question ... the question I want to know is, what have those opposite got against hard-working farmers?
What have they got against hard-working farmers? Because we have seen in this place now a targeted and deliberate approach from those opposite not just to demonise them but to fail to support them when it counts. Just last week they voted against the government’s drought fund which would help farmers when they’re doing it tough. This is a vital fund.
(Labor voted for the fund)
Paul Fletcher is STILL ON YOUR SIDE.
But really, his delivery is so...ravishingly engaging, it’s hard to pay attention to the words.
But trust us. HE IS ON YOUR SIDE
Angus Taylor, on the question of whether he received any correspondence from any constituents about the grasslands listing:
Whilst the question may not be identical, I have clearly answered the question in my previous answer. And I said in my statement earlier today, late 2016-17 I spoke with a series of farmers across my electorate and elsewhere about the concerns they had. And they pointed me ... to the 2014 submission from the National Farmers’ Federation.
And I go on, on this submission. This submission is very important because it captured the concerns of the farmers. It said, ‘Based on the information provided in the NFF’s view it is highly unlikely that an individual farmer would be able to assess their responsibilities under the EPBC.’
So this is a listing where the farmers were in a situation where they were not able to assess whether efficient pasture improvement and weed management could indeed be compliant. That is a very real concern for people who farm, and we understand farming on this side of the House.
But I think what those opposite are actually suggesting ... should be named and there is a very important piece of legislation going in front of this parliament in the coming weeks where there is an opportunity for you to decide whether naming farmers, naming farmers, in the face of activism, should be permitted.
Terri Butler to Angus Taylor:
I refer to the minister’s earlier answers. Did the minister receive a single letter from any constituent about the grasslands listing prior to his meeting with the Department of Environment in March 2017?
Christian Porter:
The member is relying on previous answers to ask that question, and the minister has just noted that in his answers and statement there is no reference to correspondence, which is what [they are] seeking to have tabled or answered.
Tony Smith:
I have to say to the leader of the house, whilst he may well be factually right, that doesn’t prevent the question being asked. It’s not an identical question. The only problem it would have would be if it was an identical question, and it’s not.
Don’t look back in anger
Fletch is like a champagne supernova in the sky of #qt.Dazzling.
Another dixer on finding out how the Morrison government is ON YOUR SIDE.
Seriously. If the parliamentary procedures committee doesn’t come back with a DEATH TO DIXERS rule, you’ll be able to hear my scream in Cairns.
Angus Taylor:
In my statement earlier today in the House, I said that in late 2016 and early 2017 I spoke with farmers … in Goulburn in my electorate and Yass, which had been in Hume until mid-2016, about this listing and their concerns about the listing.
... On 21 February 2017 I spoke with a farmer near Yass who expressed strong and detailed concerns about the revised listing, pointing out that it had occurred despite the concerns of the National Farmers’ Federation and the New South Wales Farmers Federation and with little consultation with the farmers themselves.
And referring back to the letter from the National Farmers’ Federation to the department back in 2014, they laid out very clearly that the proposed adjustment to the listing typifies the frustration of the farm sector in relation to the listings under the EPBBC and they made it very clear that the evidence supporting the listing is not sufficiently robust.