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Barnaby Joyce warns NSW Liberals as spill is called off – politics live Barnaby Joyce warns NSW Liberals as spill is called off – politics live
(35 minutes later)
Now that what was obviously the biggest scandal of the day has been cleared up (her office confirmed we were right)
EXCLUSIVE RECREATION: @AmyRemeikis confirms normal-sized hands cannot hold saladas in this fashion, CHEDS CONFIRMED pic.twitter.com/Vkx2nnItxE
It might be worth noting that we haven’t heard from any senior federal Liberals on the NSW mess.
March 24 seems like forever ago:
An ebullient prime minister, Scott Morrison, warmed up the crowd before the premier arrived on Saturday night, taking to the stage to declare: “How good is Gladys Berejiklian and how good is the Liberal party here in NSW?”
And here Richard Marles gives us some idea of where Labor is going today:
The fact here is that the single biggest factor in terms of where the Australian economy is at, is this government’s failure to manage it over the last six years. And I understand that when people I represent are making really difficult decisions about what they go without, that is about the way in which this government has managed our economy far more than it is global factors which are going on, or not going on, over the last few years.
Richard Marles stopped by a doorstop interview after his ABC interview this morning, where he was asked about Donald Trump’s “locked and loaded” tweet (plus, no one in “any history” has ever been this prepared, yadda, yadda).
Saudi Arabia oil supply was attacked. There is reason to believe that we know the culprit, are locked and loaded depending on verification, but are waiting to hear from the Kingdom as to who they believe was the cause of this attack, and under what terms we would proceed!
Well, obviously that language causes anxiety. Clearly it does. I think it’s also important to take a moment and just understand firstly that there has been a walking back of that language overnight. But secondly there’s a big difference between language and action.
And we’ve seen that in respect of the language of this president in the past, in respect of other conflicts.
But I note Josh Frydenberg has pointed to that language, he’s pointing to a whole lot of issues around the world, which I think he’s going to be doing in his speech tonight, about why there is every reason in the world for Australia’s economy at the moment and not the actions of his own government. Let us be clear: we’ve had record low wage growth in this country for the last six years.
That predates the events of the last few weeks. No matter where Josh Frydenberg points, at the end of the day I know that people in my electorate are doing it tough and they have been for a long time. They’re having to go and make decisions about what they will not be able to afford on any given night. And the treasurer going out this evening and pointing to every issue in the world other than his own government’s performance is cold comfort for the people I represent.
With everyone in party room and caucus at the moment, it might be a chance to have a look at the “big stick” energy legislation.
In that, currently, it doesn’t exist. Not as a final-draft hard-copy bill.
So far, it has been discussed through briefings.
Which means we won’t have an answer from Labor, because Labor hasn’t seen it. No one has. Including the government backbench committee.
So don’t expect too many answers on that today.
I’ve said it before, and I say it again today: @GladysB was brave to allow this long overdue reform to come forward. She deserves congratulations and respect, not this nonsense.I’ve said it before, and I say it again today: @GladysB was brave to allow this long overdue reform to come forward. She deserves congratulations and respect, not this nonsense.
Samantha Maiden had a story on one of the donations Gladys Liu was connected to, overnight in the New Daily:Samantha Maiden had a story on one of the donations Gladys Liu was connected to, overnight in the New Daily:
The mystery of a $105,000 donation linked to Liberal MP Gladys Liu has been solved and it involves her Chinese employer dropping six figures to dine with then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.The mystery of a $105,000 donation linked to Liberal MP Gladys Liu has been solved and it involves her Chinese employer dropping six figures to dine with then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.
But in a plot twist, the dinner never occurred and Brighsun, the Chinese-owned company that won the auction, never asked for a refund.But in a plot twist, the dinner never occurred and Brighsun, the Chinese-owned company that won the auction, never asked for a refund.
Victorian Liberal Party sources have told The New Daily that Ms Liu’s employers still agreed to pay the Liberal Party $105,000 – for nothing. Victorian Liberal Party sources have told the New Daily that Ms Liu’s employers still agreed to pay the Liberal party $105,000 – for nothing.
You can read the whole story here.You can read the whole story here.
Siri? Show me “lack of self-awareness”.Siri? Show me “lack of self-awareness”.
Here’s Barnaby Joyce:Here’s Barnaby Joyce:
Now, I respect Gladys Berejiklian. I think she’s a good premier. I think she’s been badly advised and I believe now that the fate of the government rests in the upper house of the New South Wales parliament doing the right thing and properly fixing bad legislation.Now, I respect Gladys Berejiklian. I think she’s a good premier. I think she’s been badly advised and I believe now that the fate of the government rests in the upper house of the New South Wales parliament doing the right thing and properly fixing bad legislation.
That’s what they’re paid money to do. Turn your answering machines back on and listen to the people and listen to their issues. They have a right to be heard.That’s what they’re paid money to do. Turn your answering machines back on and listen to the people and listen to their issues. They have a right to be heard.
And the Senate demand for documents, put forward by Kristina Keneally, has resulted in this report on Paladin from Paul Karp:And the Senate demand for documents, put forward by Kristina Keneally, has resulted in this report on Paladin from Paul Karp:
Offshore detention security contractor Paladin has had to pay back $3.1m to the Australian government for hundreds of breaches of its key performance indicators.Offshore detention security contractor Paladin has had to pay back $3.1m to the Australian government for hundreds of breaches of its key performance indicators.
Documents produced to the Senate on Monday reveal that from May 2018 to April 2019 the contractor was forced to credit back $3.1m of its $423m contract value and is facing an adverse assessment of $8.1m for the month of July 2018, for which there appeared to be no final outcome yet agreed with the home affairs department.Documents produced to the Senate on Monday reveal that from May 2018 to April 2019 the contractor was forced to credit back $3.1m of its $423m contract value and is facing an adverse assessment of $8.1m for the month of July 2018, for which there appeared to be no final outcome yet agreed with the home affairs department.
In that month the department assessed that Paladin would owe $5.6m for 928 failures relating to timely delivery of transport services, $1.4m for 592 breaches of entry and egress processes and $973,500 relating to 649 breaches of training and qualifications requirements.In that month the department assessed that Paladin would owe $5.6m for 928 failures relating to timely delivery of transport services, $1.4m for 592 breaches of entry and egress processes and $973,500 relating to 649 breaches of training and qualifications requirements.
Paladin agreed to pay back $753,900 in May 2018, $701,100 in June and $921,900 in August 2018.Paladin agreed to pay back $753,900 in May 2018, $701,100 in June and $921,900 in August 2018.
In the documents Paladin explained the failures by describing its “inability to deploy expat personnel”, but the department found this was no excuse for failure to deliver training to staff and “should not prevent … incident reporting, particularly as incident reporting is generally overseen in Australia”.In the documents Paladin explained the failures by describing its “inability to deploy expat personnel”, but the department found this was no excuse for failure to deliver training to staff and “should not prevent … incident reporting, particularly as incident reporting is generally overseen in Australia”.
In case you didn’t see it, the latest Guardian Essential poll is out (yes, I know, all the caveats on polling). As Katharine Murphy reports:In case you didn’t see it, the latest Guardian Essential poll is out (yes, I know, all the caveats on polling). As Katharine Murphy reports:
A majority of Australians either approve of the medevac procedures, or think more needs to be done to protect the health and welfare of asylum seekers offshore, according to the latest Guardian Essential poll.A majority of Australians either approve of the medevac procedures, or think more needs to be done to protect the health and welfare of asylum seekers offshore, according to the latest Guardian Essential poll.
While the fortnightly survey of 1,093 respondents finds majority support (52%) for offshore detention, with 25% signalling strong support for Australia’s harsh deterrence framework – 41% of the survey thinks the medevac procedures strike a balance between strong borders and humane treatment for people in offshore detention, and 23% argue the legislation does not go far enough to provide humane treatment for people in offshore detention.While the fortnightly survey of 1,093 respondents finds majority support (52%) for offshore detention, with 25% signalling strong support for Australia’s harsh deterrence framework – 41% of the survey thinks the medevac procedures strike a balance between strong borders and humane treatment for people in offshore detention, and 23% argue the legislation does not go far enough to provide humane treatment for people in offshore detention.
The Morrison government wants to repeal the medical evacuation procedures imposed on the Coalition by the crossbench, Labor and the Greens during the period of minority government before the May election. The procedures give clinicians more of a say in whether sick people are transferred from Nauru and Manus Island to Australia for medical treatment.The Morrison government wants to repeal the medical evacuation procedures imposed on the Coalition by the crossbench, Labor and the Greens during the period of minority government before the May election. The procedures give clinicians more of a say in whether sick people are transferred from Nauru and Manus Island to Australia for medical treatment.
Jacqui Lambie is yet to make her mind up on the bill to repeal medevac. She is the swinging vote in that one. It won’t come up until November, after a parliamentary committee looking into the policy completes its report.Jacqui Lambie is yet to make her mind up on the bill to repeal medevac. She is the swinging vote in that one. It won’t come up until November, after a parliamentary committee looking into the policy completes its report.
There is also no law against stupidity, and so, here we are.There is also no law against stupidity, and so, here we are.
'There's no evidence that I will rob a bank but there's definitely a law that stops me from robbing a bank,' Nats MP @Barnaby_Joyce on the need to specifically outlaw sex-selective abortions under the proposed NSW #abortionbill'There's no evidence that I will rob a bank but there's definitely a law that stops me from robbing a bank,' Nats MP @Barnaby_Joyce on the need to specifically outlaw sex-selective abortions under the proposed NSW #abortionbill
The Business Council of Australia head, Jennifer Westacott, is having a chat to Hamish Macdonald on ABC radio – she is very against the big stick legislation. That’s the one bit of consistency we have with this bill – the business community don’t like it.The Business Council of Australia head, Jennifer Westacott, is having a chat to Hamish Macdonald on ABC radio – she is very against the big stick legislation. That’s the one bit of consistency we have with this bill – the business community don’t like it.
Before we move into the theatrics of politics, just a note to say our thoughts and hearts are with the Greens senator Janet Rice, her family and her loved ones, after the death of her wife, Dr Penny Whetton.Before we move into the theatrics of politics, just a note to say our thoughts and hearts are with the Greens senator Janet Rice, her family and her loved ones, after the death of her wife, Dr Penny Whetton.
The only other spill I can think of to be called off this quickly is when rogue Queensland LNP MPs attempted to move against the then-opposition leader, Lawrence Springborg. Turns out there was basically just three of them pushing the motion, although they had handily created several alternative shadow ministry lists they were distributing, which had different names on them, as they attempted to build support. Apparently no one thought their colleagues would compare the lists and discover they were different.The only other spill I can think of to be called off this quickly is when rogue Queensland LNP MPs attempted to move against the then-opposition leader, Lawrence Springborg. Turns out there was basically just three of them pushing the motion, although they had handily created several alternative shadow ministry lists they were distributing, which had different names on them, as they attempted to build support. Apparently no one thought their colleagues would compare the lists and discover they were different.
But no one can ever talk to me about how insane #qldpol is, ever again.But no one can ever talk to me about how insane #qldpol is, ever again.
pic.twitter.com/RuEytUZqy9pic.twitter.com/RuEytUZqy9
It’s snowing in Canberra. But it’s still not as chilly as the NSW Liberal party room, where, six months after winning an election, and just a year a a bit after their federal colleagues said never again, Gladys Berejiklian’s leadership is under threat.It’s snowing in Canberra. But it’s still not as chilly as the NSW Liberal party room, where, six months after winning an election, and just a year a a bit after their federal colleagues said never again, Gladys Berejiklian’s leadership is under threat.
The spill doesn’t look like being successful, given the number of Liberal MPs who rushed to Twitter to give their support to the premier. But it does put the NSW government majority under threat. Because we all know that once these things start, they don’t stop.The spill doesn’t look like being successful, given the number of Liberal MPs who rushed to Twitter to give their support to the premier. But it does put the NSW government majority under threat. Because we all know that once these things start, they don’t stop.
It’s all over the bill to decriminalise abortion. Barnaby Joyce, who spoke at a rally against the bill (“everyone here was born”) as well as the federal parliament, and has done his best to gee up his state colleagues, told Sky this morning the spill wasn’t a great idea:It’s all over the bill to decriminalise abortion. Barnaby Joyce, who spoke at a rally against the bill (“everyone here was born”) as well as the federal parliament, and has done his best to gee up his state colleagues, told Sky this morning the spill wasn’t a great idea:
Remember it is not so much how many people stand for the spill, you have to look at your majority and say how many in that. If more people move for the spill than you have in a majority, you have a big problem.Remember it is not so much how many people stand for the spill, you have to look at your majority and say how many in that. If more people move for the spill than you have in a majority, you have a big problem.
So my advice, having yes, I have seen a number of these bills, I have seen them up close, I’ve seen how quickly they go from nothing to massive, so now the fate of the premier, who I believe should keep her job – it won’t matter if you change the premier and the bill still goes through, is in the hands of the upper house members, the MLC of the NSW parliament, and they if they choose to throw her off a cliff, then be it on their heads.So my advice, having yes, I have seen a number of these bills, I have seen them up close, I’ve seen how quickly they go from nothing to massive, so now the fate of the premier, who I believe should keep her job – it won’t matter if you change the premier and the bill still goes through, is in the hands of the upper house members, the MLC of the NSW parliament, and they if they choose to throw her off a cliff, then be it on their heads.
The NSW rumbles are a headache the federal government doesn’t want right now. They were quite enjoying the NSW Labor issues and now those are overshadowed. There are more questions over Gladys Liu’s fundraising. Josh Frydenberg is having to warn the business community to stay calm as tensions in the Middle East hit a new flashpoint. And Scott Morrison has to practise walking a middle line before his meetings with Donald Trump, so as not to irk China.The NSW rumbles are a headache the federal government doesn’t want right now. They were quite enjoying the NSW Labor issues and now those are overshadowed. There are more questions over Gladys Liu’s fundraising. Josh Frydenberg is having to warn the business community to stay calm as tensions in the Middle East hit a new flashpoint. And Scott Morrison has to practise walking a middle line before his meetings with Donald Trump, so as not to irk China.
As the prime minister would say – how good is it?As the prime minister would say – how good is it?
Meanwhile, as Katharine Murphy reported, the backbench committee signed off on the big stick energy bill, despite not having seen the actual legislation, after a briefing on the bill, but there remains jitters over what the Senate might do to it.Meanwhile, as Katharine Murphy reported, the backbench committee signed off on the big stick energy bill, despite not having seen the actual legislation, after a briefing on the bill, but there remains jitters over what the Senate might do to it.
We’ll bring you all of that, and more, as the day unfolds. It’s party room and caucus day, so the morning will be pretty quiet. Lucky that state politics steps into the breach!We’ll bring you all of that, and more, as the day unfolds. It’s party room and caucus day, so the morning will be pretty quiet. Lucky that state politics steps into the breach!
Mike Bowers is wandering around, and you have Murph, Sarah Martin and Paul Karp on deck, as well as the rest of the Guardian brains trust, keeping an eye on what my caffeinated pupils miss.Mike Bowers is wandering around, and you have Murph, Sarah Martin and Paul Karp on deck, as well as the rest of the Guardian brains trust, keeping an eye on what my caffeinated pupils miss.
Ready?Ready?
Let’s get into it.Let’s get into it.