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| Josh Frydenberg faces citizenship challenge by constituent – politics live | Josh Frydenberg faces citizenship challenge by constituent – politics live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| There are two more challenges in the court of disputed returns: one by Naomi Hall against Liberal MP Gladys Liu in Chisholm and one by independent Oliver Yates against Josh Frydenberg in Kooyong. | |
| Both challenges are based on Chinese-language signs which instructed voters that the “correct voting method” was to vote 1 for the Liberal candidate, arguing that these signs were “likely to mislead or deceive an elector in relation to the casting of a vote” in breach of the Electoral Act. | |
| The first petition notes that more than 20% of voters in Chisholm speak Mandarin or Cantonese at home and are likely to be able to read Chinese; and in Kooyong the figure is about 12%. | |
| Hall’s case argues that as a consequence some voters were likely to have voted 1 for Liu “notwithstanding that such was not the vote that they otherwise intended to cast” and argues “had it been the elector’s intention to direct his or her first preference to a candidate other than Liu, that intention was not realised”. | |
| Hall wants a declaration that the election in Chisholm is void. | |
| Maybe certain representatives are too busy watching city dwellers “quaffing” coffees, to tackle this issue from the National Farmers’ Federation: | |
| Fed-up farmers, doctors, surgeons, farm safety experts and rural community members will deliver an ultimatum to the Government in Canberra this week: take action on quad bike safety or more lives will be lost. | |
| Unbelievably, the Government continues to stall on implementing recommendations to improve the safety of the popular but dangerous farm vehicle. | |
| Led by the NFF, today and tomorrow, the group will continue its call for the adoption of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s recommendation to mandate the fitting of Operator Protection Devices (OPDs) to all new quad bikes with 24 months. | |
| “Already this year, seven Australians, including children have lost their lives in quad bike incidents,” NFF Workforce Committee Chair, Farm Safe Chair and NSW farmer, Charles Armstrong said. | |
| More than half of the deaths caused by quad bikes are a result of a rollover, often by crushing or asphyxiation, which OPDs prevent. | |
| “Deaths and life-altering injuries from quad bikes continue to cut at the heart of rural and regional communities. | |
| “The Government has the opportunity right now, to stem these incidents, but for reasons which aren’t clear to us, has failed to act.” | |
| Seems the “unfunded empathy” comment has made it’s way out of the Canberra bubble* | |
| WARNING!!! #UnfundedEmpathy is evidence of @ScottMorrisonMP 's warped prosperity theology. WE ARE IN DANGER! #Auspol pic.twitter.com/H11PQaCGzn | |
| *TM | |
| Mark Dreyfus on the ensuring integrity (some, but not all unions and leaders are terrible, probably) bill: | |
| Putting to one side the many problems with the Liberal party’s preferred model for a commonwealth integrity commission – their title – it is notable that we haven’t heard a peep from the attorney general or any other member of the government about their proposed commonwealth integrity commission since the election. | |
| There have been no sermons from them about ensuring the integrity of this parliament or the government of Australia. They are so allergic to ensuring integrity – that’s the title of this bill – and ensuring integrity in their own ranks that they can’t even bring themselves to talk about an election commitment that they made, which was to bring legislation for a commonwealth integrity commission to this parliament. | |
| Just to go back to the list, published by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, of legislation that’s proposed for introduction to this parliament in 2019. There is nothing about the commonwealth integrity commission. They have listed, however, the overseas welfare recipients integrity program bill as a priority; the social services legislation amendment (payment integrity) bill is also apparently a priority – again, these are very small, focused, targeted integrity measures – but nothing at all about a national integrity commission, which would grapple with integrity at the national level and across government. | |
| When it comes to welfare recipients, you might observe that these phoney tough guys are all about ensuring integrity. When it comes to the union movement, they love to talk about integrity, but if they’re putting their own house in order you’d be left wanting.” | |
| Federal Liberal party vice president Karina Okotel spoke on the allegations raised in Eryk Bagshaw’s story this morning while on Sky. She says there does need to be proper processes put in place. | Federal Liberal party vice president Karina Okotel spoke on the allegations raised in Eryk Bagshaw’s story this morning while on Sky. She says there does need to be proper processes put in place. |
| .@KarinaOkotel on Liberal sexual assault allegations: It’s not enough that it be just dealt with by an internal process. I would say that’s sweeping it under the carpet.MORE: https://t.co/ykweMevBOK #firstedition pic.twitter.com/DeLbsuSJcU | .@KarinaOkotel on Liberal sexual assault allegations: It’s not enough that it be just dealt with by an internal process. I would say that’s sweeping it under the carpet.MORE: https://t.co/ykweMevBOK #firstedition pic.twitter.com/DeLbsuSJcU |
| My eye twitched just writing the words “section 44”. | My eye twitched just writing the words “section 44”. |
| Michael Staindl, a constituent of Josh Frydenberg in Kooyong, has launched a section 44(1) case against the deputy Liberal leader and treasurer in the court of disputed returns. A spokesman for the court told Guardian Australia the petition was filed today, the last day for such applications. | Michael Staindl, a constituent of Josh Frydenberg in Kooyong, has launched a section 44(1) case against the deputy Liberal leader and treasurer in the court of disputed returns. A spokesman for the court told Guardian Australia the petition was filed today, the last day for such applications. |
| Staindl has confirmed the challenge, explaining that it queries whether Frydenberg has Hungarian citizenship by descent. | Staindl has confirmed the challenge, explaining that it queries whether Frydenberg has Hungarian citizenship by descent. |
| Staindl said: | Staindl said: |
| The long and the short of it is: I’ve known Josh for many years. I’ve been trying to get action on climate change and he makes you feel well heard but I think he’s consistently betrayed me, the electorate and the country on climate change. In the last parliament he gave assurances [of action on the issue] that weren’t convincing to me at all. And as our legislator I think he owes us better integrity than that. He should show us he’s entitled to sit. He might well be, but he’d be stupid if he hasn’t renounced citizenship or can’t prove he [holds only Australian citizenship].” | The long and the short of it is: I’ve known Josh for many years. I’ve been trying to get action on climate change and he makes you feel well heard but I think he’s consistently betrayed me, the electorate and the country on climate change. In the last parliament he gave assurances [of action on the issue] that weren’t convincing to me at all. And as our legislator I think he owes us better integrity than that. He should show us he’s entitled to sit. He might well be, but he’d be stupid if he hasn’t renounced citizenship or can’t prove he [holds only Australian citizenship].” |
| Frydenberg has previously rejected the claim of dual citizenship, arguing: “It is absurd to think that I could involuntarily acquire citizenship of a foreign country from a stateless mother and grandparents – it invokes the North Korean example of conferring citizenship on someone against their will.” | Frydenberg has previously rejected the claim of dual citizenship, arguing: “It is absurd to think that I could involuntarily acquire citizenship of a foreign country from a stateless mother and grandparents – it invokes the North Korean example of conferring citizenship on someone against their will.” |
| Under Hungarian law, anyone born in the country between 1941 and 1945 is automatically a citizen, in a bid to address the plight of stateless Jews who fled the Holocaust. | Under Hungarian law, anyone born in the country between 1941 and 1945 is automatically a citizen, in a bid to address the plight of stateless Jews who fled the Holocaust. |
| Earlier this month a Victorian lawyer, Trevor Poulton – who has written a novel called The Holocaust Denier – said he was considering such a challenge, but it appears not to have materialised. | Earlier this month a Victorian lawyer, Trevor Poulton – who has written a novel called The Holocaust Denier – said he was considering such a challenge, but it appears not to have materialised. |
| Staindl said he noted “with great alarm and grief that whenever this issue is raised [Frydenberg] raised the Holocaust denier cannons and fires in every direction”. | Staindl said he noted “with great alarm and grief that whenever this issue is raised [Frydenberg] raised the Holocaust denier cannons and fires in every direction”. |
| “This has nothing to do with denial of the Holocaust; it is simply a matter of whether he is an Australian citizen only.” | “This has nothing to do with denial of the Holocaust; it is simply a matter of whether he is an Australian citizen only.” |
| Staindl said if Frydenberg shows evidence he is not Hungarian he could drop the case “otherwise, yes, I’ll see it through”. | Staindl said if Frydenberg shows evidence he is not Hungarian he could drop the case “otherwise, yes, I’ll see it through”. |
| The CPAC organisers have responded to Kristina Keneally’s Senate speech, calling for some of the speakers to be banned for hate speech. The headlines, in bold, are theirs: | The CPAC organisers have responded to Kristina Keneally’s Senate speech, calling for some of the speakers to be banned for hate speech. The headlines, in bold, are theirs: |
| REMARKABLE ALLEGATIONS | REMARKABLE ALLEGATIONS |
| Last night senator Kristina Keneally launched an extraordinary attack in parliament against the inaugural Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Sydney next week. In a remarkable display of twisted logic, she claimed that conference speakers British political commentator and Muslim, Raheem Kassam, was Islamophobic and that Indigenous conservatives Warren Mundine and Jacinta Price were racist. | Last night senator Kristina Keneally launched an extraordinary attack in parliament against the inaugural Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Sydney next week. In a remarkable display of twisted logic, she claimed that conference speakers British political commentator and Muslim, Raheem Kassam, was Islamophobic and that Indigenous conservatives Warren Mundine and Jacinta Price were racist. |
| VISA BAN | VISA BAN |
| She called on minister Peter Dutton to reject any visa application by Mr Kassam to visit Australia. Raheem Kassam is a Brexiteer and popular commentator and is attending and speaking alongside the head of the UK Brexit party, Nigel Farage. CPAC is proud to bring Raheem Kassam to Australia and rejects senator Keneally’s embarrassing attempt to shut down political opponents. Australia is a country with a long history of free speech, something authoritarian hard left opponents such as senator Keneally seek to change simply because they sometimes do not like what their opponents might say. | She called on minister Peter Dutton to reject any visa application by Mr Kassam to visit Australia. Raheem Kassam is a Brexiteer and popular commentator and is attending and speaking alongside the head of the UK Brexit party, Nigel Farage. CPAC is proud to bring Raheem Kassam to Australia and rejects senator Keneally’s embarrassing attempt to shut down political opponents. Australia is a country with a long history of free speech, something authoritarian hard left opponents such as senator Keneally seek to change simply because they sometimes do not like what their opponents might say. |
| GUILT BY ASSOCIATION | GUILT BY ASSOCIATION |
| Ms Keneally cast aspersions on other speakers and attendees of CPAC including senator Amanda Stoker and Craig Kelly MP, by using the underhanded tactic of “guilt by association”. | Ms Keneally cast aspersions on other speakers and attendees of CPAC including senator Amanda Stoker and Craig Kelly MP, by using the underhanded tactic of “guilt by association”. |
| The implication of her attack is that speaking at the same event as those she basely accuses of racism is an endorsement of such views. Ms Keneally went so far as to describe the CPAC event as a “talkfest of hate”, a ludicrous accusation that merely makes use of the kind of language that is used to shut down healthy debate – a fundamental component of a liberal democracy and a free society. She also describes the speaker list as a “who’s who of right-wing extremism”, a claim that is objectively false. | The implication of her attack is that speaking at the same event as those she basely accuses of racism is an endorsement of such views. Ms Keneally went so far as to describe the CPAC event as a “talkfest of hate”, a ludicrous accusation that merely makes use of the kind of language that is used to shut down healthy debate – a fundamental component of a liberal democracy and a free society. She also describes the speaker list as a “who’s who of right-wing extremism”, a claim that is objectively false. |
| CPAC organisers, the nonprofit LibertyWorks and the American Conservative Union, view these accusations as a clear indication that CPAC Australia conference is viewed by some as a threat to Ms Keneally’s handlers in the Labor party.” | CPAC organisers, the nonprofit LibertyWorks and the American Conservative Union, view these accusations as a clear indication that CPAC Australia conference is viewed by some as a threat to Ms Keneally’s handlers in the Labor party.” |
| *end statement* | *end statement* |
| Jason Clare was also talking about this on Sky this morning. But here is Labor’s official response to the Newstart figures which came out today, from Brendan O’Connor’s office: | Jason Clare was also talking about this on Sky this morning. But here is Labor’s official response to the Newstart figures which came out today, from Brendan O’Connor’s office: |
| The government’s attack on job seekers is a blatant attempt to distract from the division within the government over raising the rate of Newstart. | The government’s attack on job seekers is a blatant attempt to distract from the division within the government over raising the rate of Newstart. |
| Everyone other than this government knows the current labour market system must work better, connecting unemployed Australians with decent, stable jobs. | Everyone other than this government knows the current labour market system must work better, connecting unemployed Australians with decent, stable jobs. |
| Publicly shaming people struggling day by day is not helping them get in to work. | Publicly shaming people struggling day by day is not helping them get in to work. |
| Labour market programs should be geared to making people more work-ready, help them get the skills they need, and help them to get a secure, decent job. | Labour market programs should be geared to making people more work-ready, help them get the skills they need, and help them to get a secure, decent job. |
| The government is not getting people into work, failing to even respond to the Jobactive Senate inquiry, which reported in February this year. | The government is not getting people into work, failing to even respond to the Jobactive Senate inquiry, which reported in February this year. |
| Labor believes in mutual obligation arrangements for jobseekers, but that means the government has an obligation to ensure that the job active service is value for money. | Labor believes in mutual obligation arrangements for jobseekers, but that means the government has an obligation to ensure that the job active service is value for money. |
| Rather than simply attacking people struggling to get work in order to distract from their own internal division, the government should help people to get decent, secure work.” | Rather than simply attacking people struggling to get work in order to distract from their own internal division, the government should help people to get decent, secure work.” |
| Michaelia Cash’s office just put out the transcript of an interview she had with 2GB this morning, about Newstart and Jobactive and how the jobs are out there. After a few minutes of just how many jobs are out there, in places like Kalgoorlie and Townsville, there was this exchange with a caller: | Michaelia Cash’s office just put out the transcript of an interview she had with 2GB this morning, about Newstart and Jobactive and how the jobs are out there. After a few minutes of just how many jobs are out there, in places like Kalgoorlie and Townsville, there was this exchange with a caller: |
| Barbara: I’m good. Michaelia, I’ve just turned 65. When you turn 65, you get no help whatsoever from any provider. I look for a job every single day, have done for the last three years. I get no response from any employer from my applications, and I try my hardest to get a job. You want us to work till we’re 70 but I cannot get a job. Even those over 50 I speak to cannot get a job. | Barbara: I’m good. Michaelia, I’ve just turned 65. When you turn 65, you get no help whatsoever from any provider. I look for a job every single day, have done for the last three years. I get no response from any employer from my applications, and I try my hardest to get a job. You want us to work till we’re 70 but I cannot get a job. Even those over 50 I speak to cannot get a job. |
| Cash: Barbara, absolutely we need to – if you want to work, we, as a government, need to ensure that we can find a job for you. What I will do is, offline we’ll take your details and we’ll get someone to contact you and have a chat.” | Cash: Barbara, absolutely we need to – if you want to work, we, as a government, need to ensure that we can find a job for you. What I will do is, offline we’ll take your details and we’ll get someone to contact you and have a chat.” |
| I’m sure Barbara and those she knows can just move though, right? | I’m sure Barbara and those she knows can just move though, right? |
| Thank you to the readers for pointing out that Mitch Fifield is off to the UN, not the US (although he will be based in New York). Post amended. | Thank you to the readers for pointing out that Mitch Fifield is off to the UN, not the US (although he will be based in New York). Post amended. |
| Mark Dreyfus is standing up in the House talking on the government’s ensuring integrity bill (short title: unions are terrible, probably) and using it as an opportunity to talk about Angus Taylor and the need for a federal Icac. | Mark Dreyfus is standing up in the House talking on the government’s ensuring integrity bill (short title: unions are terrible, probably) and using it as an opportunity to talk about Angus Taylor and the need for a federal Icac. |
| Dreyfus’s main point is that the government wants integrity for unions but not when it comes to themself. | Dreyfus’s main point is that the government wants integrity for unions but not when it comes to themself. |
| “They are so allergic to ensuring integrity in their own ranks, they can’t even bring themselves to talk about an election commitment that they made, which was to bring a national integrity commission [to the parliament],” he said. | “They are so allergic to ensuring integrity in their own ranks, they can’t even bring themselves to talk about an election commitment that they made, which was to bring a national integrity commission [to the parliament],” he said. |
| Kevin Andrews, who is sitting in the Speaker’s chair, is not having a good time, insisting Dreyfus stick to what is relevant to the legislation. | Kevin Andrews, who is sitting in the Speaker’s chair, is not having a good time, insisting Dreyfus stick to what is relevant to the legislation. |
| The crossbench has put forward its federal anti-corruption agency demands. Paul Karp was at the press conference and will bring you something on that very soon. In the meantime, here is what the crossbench members and the Australia Institute have to say: | The crossbench has put forward its federal anti-corruption agency demands. Paul Karp was at the press conference and will bring you something on that very soon. In the meantime, here is what the crossbench members and the Australia Institute have to say: |
| Integrity and accountability are critical features of a healthy democracy. Without a federal integrity commission with teeth, public trust and confidence in our federal parliament will continue eroding,” said David Harper AM, former Victorian supreme court judge and member of the Australia Institute national integrity committee. | Integrity and accountability are critical features of a healthy democracy. Without a federal integrity commission with teeth, public trust and confidence in our federal parliament will continue eroding,” said David Harper AM, former Victorian supreme court judge and member of the Australia Institute national integrity committee. |
| Centre Alliance crossbench MP Rebekha Sharkie said independents and minor party members wanted the 46th parliament to establish a transparent, publicly accessible and properly resourced agency that could do the job the Australian people expected it to do. | Centre Alliance crossbench MP Rebekha Sharkie said independents and minor party members wanted the 46th parliament to establish a transparent, publicly accessible and properly resourced agency that could do the job the Australian people expected it to do. |
| “This is a once in a generation opportunity so let’s do it once and let’s do it right,” said Sharkie, member for Mayo. | “This is a once in a generation opportunity so let’s do it once and let’s do it right,” said Sharkie, member for Mayo. |
| “This is such an important area of public policy but the government is ignoring it,” said senator Rex Patrick, Centre Alliance. | “This is such an important area of public policy but the government is ignoring it,” said senator Rex Patrick, Centre Alliance. |
| “I will introduce legislation for an Icac with teeth. The latest Crown saga reinforces the need for a real Icac,” said Adam Bandt, Greens member for Melbourne. | “I will introduce legislation for an Icac with teeth. The latest Crown saga reinforces the need for a real Icac,” said Adam Bandt, Greens member for Melbourne. |
| “There’s an urgent need for a national integrity commission and not the woefully inadequate model the government has put forward. The community is sick and tired of dodgy behaviour in Canberra. They want to see real action to tackle corruption – not just a pretence or half-baked measures,” said Andrew Wilkie, independent member for Clark. | “There’s an urgent need for a national integrity commission and not the woefully inadequate model the government has put forward. The community is sick and tired of dodgy behaviour in Canberra. They want to see real action to tackle corruption – not just a pretence or half-baked measures,” said Andrew Wilkie, independent member for Clark. |
| “Australians have an expectation that the parliament and public service meet the highest standards of integrity. We urgently need an effective, national anti-corruption body that is independent, well-resourced and with broad jurisdiction. It’s time for transparency and accountability,” said Zali Steggall, independent member for Warringah. | “Australians have an expectation that the parliament and public service meet the highest standards of integrity. We urgently need an effective, national anti-corruption body that is independent, well-resourced and with broad jurisdiction. It’s time for transparency and accountability,” said Zali Steggall, independent member for Warringah. |
| “Australians’ trust in parliament is very low. I will work with my crossbench colleagues in the House and Senate for the establishment of a fully resourced commission that has independent authority to investigate, to hold public hearings, to deal effectively with political and public sector misconduct and corruption and to publish its findings. This is a clear way forward to restore trust in our Parliament,”said Helen Haines, independent member for Indi. | “Australians’ trust in parliament is very low. I will work with my crossbench colleagues in the House and Senate for the establishment of a fully resourced commission that has independent authority to investigate, to hold public hearings, to deal effectively with political and public sector misconduct and corruption and to publish its findings. This is a clear way forward to restore trust in our Parliament,”said Helen Haines, independent member for Indi. |
| “The parliament is less than four weeks old and already we have seen four cases that would have been referred to a federal Icac, and according to the government there’s nothing to see here? It’s disgraceful. We need to get the dirty money out of politics and a federal Icac with teeth is the way to do it,” said senator Jacqui Lambie, independent senator for Tasmania. | “The parliament is less than four weeks old and already we have seen four cases that would have been referred to a federal Icac, and according to the government there’s nothing to see here? It’s disgraceful. We need to get the dirty money out of politics and a federal Icac with teeth is the way to do it,” said senator Jacqui Lambie, independent senator for Tasmania. |
| The Australia Institute national integrity committee of retired judges has put forward a design blueprint and implementation plan for any national integrity commission. | The Australia Institute national integrity committee of retired judges has put forward a design blueprint and implementation plan for any national integrity commission. |