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PM’s department evades question on Brian Houston's White House invite – politics live PM’s department evades question on Brian Houston's White House invite – as it happened
(32 minutes later)
And on that note, we are going to call it a day.
We’ll be back early tomorrow morning for more estimates fun and games. Will we find out who the mysterious “they” are? Probably not because they don’t exist.
Or maybe that’s exactly what they want you to think! I am very confused right now. All I know is that for a government which has argued against “gender whisperers” it can certainly embrace the they pronoun when it wants.
Mike Bowers is on assignment for the rest of the week, but you’ll have Sarah Martin, Paul Karp and Katharine Murphy on board, as well as the rest of the Guardian brains trust.
And however many brain cells I can scrape together to sit under my tinfoil hat, which is apparently now part of the uniform in here.
Thank you to everyone for today – we really appreciated you following along. We’ll hopefully see you back here tomorrow. In the meantime – take care of you.
I’m really, really not sure that the world didn’t end in 2012, and we have spent the past seven years in a bad place simulation.I’m really, really not sure that the world didn’t end in 2012, and we have spent the past seven years in a bad place simulation.
New development: Labor now says journalists should be exempt from prosecution under national security laws for doing their job. @markdreyfusQCMP says “not a blanket exemption” but “recognising the vital role played by journalists”.New development: Labor now says journalists should be exempt from prosecution under national security laws for doing their job. @markdreyfusQCMP says “not a blanket exemption” but “recognising the vital role played by journalists”.
Penny Wong is now asking the PM&C officials whether they are aware of any international agreements Australia has entered into unwillingly.Penny Wong is now asking the PM&C officials whether they are aware of any international agreements Australia has entered into unwillingly.
They are not.They are not.
*fin**fin*
“When you say this unaccountable, unelected international bureaucracy – the only thing you can point to is they give us lectures,” Penny Wong says.“When you say this unaccountable, unelected international bureaucracy – the only thing you can point to is they give us lectures,” Penny Wong says.
Mathias Cormann eventually concedes that “they” can’t direct us, but from “time to time” “they” try.Mathias Cormann eventually concedes that “they” can’t direct us, but from “time to time” “they” try.
Wong wants him to take on notice who “they are”.Wong wants him to take on notice who “they are”.
Cormann won’t because he says he has answered who “they” are. (He has not)Cormann won’t because he says he has answered who “they” are. (He has not)
“I am asking the department to take on notice who the ‘they’ is ... which organisations are included in the ‘they’ [in the prime minister’s speech].”“I am asking the department to take on notice who the ‘they’ is ... which organisations are included in the ‘they’ [in the prime minister’s speech].”
This is an actual exchange in Senate estimates and not a rebooted Laurel and Hardy sketch.This is an actual exchange in Senate estimates and not a rebooted Laurel and Hardy sketch.
Mathias Cormann won’t say who “they” are, when he says that sometimes “they” impose judgements or decisions which the government doesn’t believe supports Australia’s national interest.Mathias Cormann won’t say who “they” are, when he says that sometimes “they” impose judgements or decisions which the government doesn’t believe supports Australia’s national interest.
But he won’t say who “they” is.But he won’t say who “they” is.
It’s just “they”.It’s just “they”.
Mathias Cormann and Penny Wong are now using Malcolm Roberts’s support as a sledge.Mathias Cormann and Penny Wong are now using Malcolm Roberts’s support as a sledge.
Fair.Fair.
Asking about the prime minister’s Lowy institute speech – the “negative globalism” one – Penny Wong asks for the difference between positive and negative globalism.Asking about the prime minister’s Lowy institute speech – the “negative globalism” one – Penny Wong asks for the difference between positive and negative globalism.
It doesn’t look like anyone can.It doesn’t look like anyone can.
The PM&C officials can’t think of any other reference to negative globalism.The PM&C officials can’t think of any other reference to negative globalism.
Mathias Cormann jumps in to say it was a great speech, which was very well received by those who heard it.Mathias Cormann jumps in to say it was a great speech, which was very well received by those who heard it.
“One Nation loved it,” Wong quips back.“One Nation loved it,” Wong quips back.
Cormann says he believes the “quiet Australians” would have received it well.Cormann says he believes the “quiet Australians” would have received it well.
Wong then asks what global organisations demand conformity.Wong then asks what global organisations demand conformity.
There is silence in the room.There is silence in the room.
Cormann is now reading directly from the speech.Cormann is now reading directly from the speech.
Penny Wong is asking PM&C officials about “BurnedSpy” (a name she laughs as she says out loud) and whether the department has taken any investigations as a consequence of the claims made in the story (that he regularly posts on conspiracy QAnon conspiracy sites and their partner works on the prime minister’s staff).Penny Wong is asking PM&C officials about “BurnedSpy” (a name she laughs as she says out loud) and whether the department has taken any investigations as a consequence of the claims made in the story (that he regularly posts on conspiracy QAnon conspiracy sites and their partner works on the prime minister’s staff).
Mathias Cormann takes everything on notice.Mathias Cormann takes everything on notice.
I imagine this will be in response to Ken Wyatt’s interview last week, in which he said he would be moving to legislate a voice to parliament, rather than enshrining it in the constitution, in order to get the recognition referendum up (and passed).I imagine this will be in response to Ken Wyatt’s interview last week, in which he said he would be moving to legislate a voice to parliament, rather than enshrining it in the constitution, in order to get the recognition referendum up (and passed).
Indigenous people called for the voice to be enshrined, so it could not be overrun, as Atsic was.Indigenous people called for the voice to be enshrined, so it could not be overrun, as Atsic was.
MUST LISTEN TO interview with Labor’s Indigenous spokeswoman @LindaBurneyMP #auspol at 6pmMUST LISTEN TO interview with Labor’s Indigenous spokeswoman @LindaBurneyMP #auspol at 6pm
For those interested, Bob Katter and Adam Bandt are both in the chamber arguing against the free trade deal - it s not often you see those two on the same side of an argument.
Angus Taylor’s disclosures regarding his interest in company Jam Land are now being scrutinised, given the department’s administration of the ministerial standards.
Labor senator Jenny McAllister is asking what attempts have been made by the prime minister, Scott Morrison, to satisfy himself that Taylor is not in breach of ministerial standards which prevent the use of public office for personal benefit.
Cormann insists that Taylor is not in breach, and has disclosed his interest in Jam Land as required under the rules, and says the targeting of Taylor is “smear and innuendo”.
Cormann says that stopping Taylor advocating for landholders in his electorate, including himself, would be like suggesting he should not advocate tax cuts as a beneficiary.
Labor senator Penny Wong accuses him of making a “ridiculous equivalency”.
“He is not advocating on behalf of his constituency, he is advocating for himself,” Wong said.
Mathias Cormann says there was no breach of the rules by Mr Pyne and Ms Bishop. He says there's been no further action from the PM after the Senate inquiry. Senator Cormann calls it a partisan exercise #estimates
Labor has picked up on the prime minister’s statement during question time (highlighted below) that
I do not believe that those decisions about who should be prosecuted at the end of the day should be made on the whim of politicians.
Which contradicts the line that Christian Porter has taken on this – that he will need to approve any brief from the commonwealth director of public prosecutions (if there is one) before any charges could be moved ahead.
Mark Dreyfus says Scott Morrison has confused the issue, asking whether Porter’s directive stands, or not.
Mr Morrison’s statement suggests that this government does not know where it stands on freedom of the press and the Australian public’s right to know.
A Dfat officer, Philip Green, has sent a message re this morning’s evidence - prompting clarification from Caroline Miller.
Miller says that a colleague from Dfat has forwarded an email from 28 May sent to Justin Hayhurst [first assistant secretary to PM&C), CC’d to Miller, which advised that Ambassador Hockey was going to send a letter re the US justice department inquiry into the Mueller report.
This was an issue this morning, because Penny Wong wanted to know when PM&C were aware that Australia would be co-operating with the investigation, because of Alexander Downer’s involvement.
“We had forgotten about this message”, says Miller.
Zali Steggall will officially present the largest ever parliamentary e-petition (there have been bigger hardcopy ones presented, including one to stop a beer tax) calling on the parliament to declare a climate emergency, in the chamber tomorrow. There were over 400,000 signatures on that one, which is no mean feat.
But for it to pass, a few government MPs would need to cross over.
Steggall tells Patricia Karvelas “we are writing around to request a conscience vote”.
We are a democracy,” she says.
PK points out that the conservative government in the UK passed a climate emergency declaration, so she asks whether she thinks anyone from the conservative side of politics would support it, if a conscience vote was allowed (which it most likely will not be).
Absolutely. A lot called for a climate act to be introduced in the UK. It needs to be done, it has to be done and we need to find the political will in Australia.
You need more than just lip service at an election, saying that you do believe in climate change and you will take action. We needed to be for more than just inside the party room, it needs to be outside. Everyone should be able to have a conscience vote in parliament and declare whether or not this is an issue we need to address.
Back in environment estimates, Labor has been asking about the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, which received a controversial $443.3 m six-year grant from the government.
At the time the grant was awarded, it was said the foundation had “unique” capacity to attract further donations for reef projects from the private sector.Senator Nita Green notes the department’s annual report says there is an investment target of between $300m to $400m.
“How many funds have actually been raised?” she asks.
Deb Callister, from the department’s heritage, reef and marine division, says: “To date, the amount that we’ve been advised of is that they’ve raised more than $21m as in-kind contributions from their projects.”
Asked what in-kind means, she says it refers to additional provided by organisations and groups that had received funding from the foundation via the grant. This could be staff provided for projects, office space, or cash.
Callister says the federal election had affected the foundation’s ability to “participate more actively in the fundraising sphere”.
Labor warned the foundation before the election it would terminate the grant if it was elected.
“It would come as no surprise to senators that some of the uncertainty around the future of the partnership that arose around the election...has impacted on their (the foundation’s) ability to participate more actively in the fundraising sphere,” Callister says.
“But now that that outcome is known and their future is known they’re moving more actively to engage with potential donors.”
Callister says in the first year of the grant the foundation spent “in the vicinity” of $25m on projects and just under $8m on administrative costs.
She said the foundation anticipated they would spend $58m on projects in 19-20.
Labor is now asking about how the prime minister’s office treats journalists, highlighting messages sent from the PMO to journalist Peter van Onselen that criticised coverage.
Labor senator Tim Ayres has asked whether the department believes the correspondence from the PMO shows “professional courtesy” in how it deals with journalists, as is required under standards for staffers.
After finance minister Mathias Cormann defended the private exchange, Ayres said “no wonder the government wants to lock up journalists”.
This sparks an angry response from Cormann, who accuses the senator of conflating in a “dangerous and inappropriate” way the issue of communication between staffers and journalists, and the AFP investigation into national security breaches.
Seems to be a lot of incorrect responses flying around
Here's the lead in to that exchange, where they explain the confusion of the review without a report that they said there was a report for and then took it back a month later. pic.twitter.com/OrNygLwjZN
Five years ago we lost an Australian hero – a leader, reformer, and friend.His legacy lives on. pic.twitter.com/Cf0DgVwKLs