This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2019/oct/21/coalition-labor-morrison-albanese-politics-live

The article has changed 21 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Adam Bandt to introduce bill to lower voting age to 16 – politics live New Australian federal police commissioner faces Senate grilling – politics live
(30 minutes later)
In environment estimates, Katy Gallagher is asking about the department’s failure to publish freedom of information documents on its public disclosure log for more than 10 months, a breach of FOI law Andrew Wilkie has introduced a ‘protect refugees’ bill in the House
This bill provides for a sustainable, equitable and humane response to the protection and processing of asylum seekers and refugees in the Asia Pacific region. A key component of this bill is the Asia Pacific Asylum Seeker Solution (APASS), a regional framework to be initiated by the Australian Government in partnership with other Asia Pacific countries. All countries party to APASS must be legally bound to provide effective protection for asylum seekers and refugees as provided under international law. It is identical to the Refugee Protection Bill 2018, introduced to the House of Representatives by the Member for Denison on 18 June 2018.
In rural and regional affairs estimates, Labor is probing how Moyne shire council was declared eligible for $1m of drought assistance funding when the council said it wasn’t in drought.
Diana Hallam, the infrastructure department executive director of regional development and local government, explains that Moyne shire qualified because between 1 July 2017 and 30 June 2019 more than 60% of the shire had received 14 consecutive months of a one-in-20-year rainfall deficiency, and 17% of the workforce was engaged in agriculture, fisheries or forestry.
But after the shire said it didn’t need the funding, the department conducted an audit and discovered a small stuff-up. Either the data from the Bureau of Meteorology or the selection of it the department used ran until the end of May 2019 not June. Hallam said this did not affect the result – Moyne shire and the other 12 councils all qualified when the numbers were rerun over the correct 24-month period.
No decision has yet been made by the government about what will happen to the $1m, which Moyne will not receive.
Hallam: “We assess rainfall on a quarterly basis. With the conclusion of the 1 July to 30 September quarter we will assess eligibility again, and there will be another opportunity regarding whether new shires become eligible.”
Angus Taylor, on Sky News this morning, said he didn’t know what a climate emergency actually meant (as in policy) and called it “empty” virtue signalling (which is something the Tories in the UK might raise an eyebrow at, considering they passed one.)
Anyway, Mark Butler has moved this motion in the House:
Senate president Scott Ryan is refusing to answer questions about a hack on Parliament House that the country’s intelligence agencies have said was carried out by a foreign government.
Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick asked a series of questions about the data breach that took place in February and which targeted Australia’s political parties.
Ryan said he would not comment on whether a foreign government had been identified, nor any details of the data breach.
“I don’t think it is appropriate for public consumption,” Ryan said. “I don’t think these matters are appropriately canvassed in a public forum.”
Ryan said he had received a report on the data breach, but he did not think the report was “appropriate” for publication.”I am not convinced that publishing the report I have received, even in a redacted form would be helpful.”
He said he would be receiving a further briefing and consulting with Speaker of the House, Tony Smith, before updating the Senate on what took place. It was reported by Reuters earlier this year that China was responsible for the cyber attack.
Prime minister Scott Morrison told parliament that a “sophisticated state actor” was responsible for the “malicious activity.”
Mike Bowers was in Senate estimates to capture new AFP commissioner Reece Kershaw doing his best Mariah Carey’s “I don’t know her” in response to questions about the media campaign today:
You could also insert Keke Palmer’s “sorry to this man” response gif to not knowing who Dick Cheney was.
In environment estimates, Katy Gallagher is asking about the department’s failure to publish freedom of information documents on its public disclosure log for more than 10 months, a breach of FOI law.
The department is saying an increase in FOI requests and “IT matters” have caused the issue.The department is saying an increase in FOI requests and “IT matters” have caused the issue.
“We made a decision last year to change our disclosure log process so that documents were made immediately available,” Margaret Tregurtha , from the department’s general counsel branch, says. “We made a decision last year to change our disclosure log process so that documents were made immediately available,” Margaret Tregurtha, from the department’s general counsel branch, says.
“It’s apparent that in doing that we encountered some difficulties with the website “It’s apparent that in doing that we encountered some difficulties with the website.
“We’re now in a situation where we’re making every effort to catch that up.”“We’re now in a situation where we’re making every effort to catch that up.”
Katy Gallagher is asking why, if it’s a relatively simple process to upload documents to the website, has the delay in disclosures occurred.Katy Gallagher is asking why, if it’s a relatively simple process to upload documents to the website, has the delay in disclosures occurred.
The department says that once the backlog of disclosures arose it became difficult to find time to catch up because they were prioritising the processing of FOI applications. Officials don’t have information available to tell Labor the average processing for FOI applications it receives.The department says that once the backlog of disclosures arose it became difficult to find time to catch up because they were prioritising the processing of FOI applications. Officials don’t have information available to tell Labor the average processing for FOI applications it receives.
The department says its intention is to publish the documents that should have been uploaded to the disclosure log since January. The department tells the committee that there are about 120 document packs that need to be published and there could be thousands of documents within those document packages.The department says its intention is to publish the documents that should have been uploaded to the disclosure log since January. The department tells the committee that there are about 120 document packs that need to be published and there could be thousands of documents within those document packages.
Katy Gallagher asks why advice was not sent to the Minister’s office if the department was in breach of the law. Katy Gallagher asks why advice was not sent to the ,inister’s office if the department was in breach of the law.
“If I was the minister I would want to know if my department was breaking the law,” she says.“If I was the minister I would want to know if my department was breaking the law,” she says.
Matt Cahill, the deputy secretary of the strategy and operations group, says the department is working to bring itself in line with the act.Matt Cahill, the deputy secretary of the strategy and operations group, says the department is working to bring itself in line with the act.
“We will bring ourselves up to standard in the next week,” he says.“We will bring ourselves up to standard in the next week,” he says.
The new AFP Commissioner also said:-He hasn’t seen today’s front pages-He doesn’t know what sparked the newspapers to do this-He hasn’t asked any media outlets to meet with him since becoming Commissioner, but he’s hand-picked John Lawler to conduct a review of AFP procedures https://t.co/HV2W4RPmjoThe new AFP Commissioner also said:-He hasn’t seen today’s front pages-He doesn’t know what sparked the newspapers to do this-He hasn’t asked any media outlets to meet with him since becoming Commissioner, but he’s hand-picked John Lawler to conduct a review of AFP procedures https://t.co/HV2W4RPmjo
Still with the AFP at estimates, the police commissioner has been asked by Green senator Nick McKim about the leaking of a home affairs briefing document that included advice from Asio.Still with the AFP at estimates, the police commissioner has been asked by Green senator Nick McKim about the leaking of a home affairs briefing document that included advice from Asio.
Quotes from this document, which was about the medevac regime, ended up in the front page of the Australian.Quotes from this document, which was about the medevac regime, ended up in the front page of the Australian.
The commissioner, Reece Kershaw, confirmed the AFP “declined to escalate” even though it was an unlawful disclosure.The commissioner, Reece Kershaw, confirmed the AFP “declined to escalate” even though it was an unlawful disclosure.
McKim wonders why.McKim wonders why.
The commissioner says about 200 people had access to drafts of the document, but the final version went to 11 email addresses.The commissioner says about 200 people had access to drafts of the document, but the final version went to 11 email addresses.
He says there is a “priority system” when it comes to launching leak investigations, which includes costs and the likely success of being able to produce a brief of evidence. McKim is less than convinced.He says there is a “priority system” when it comes to launching leak investigations, which includes costs and the likely success of being able to produce a brief of evidence. McKim is less than convinced.
Oh, there we goOh, there we go
But the contract costs for the security upgrade blew out to $1.8 million (up from the last estimate of $1.5 million) due to inflation as the project was delayed, the complexity, and Canberra's busy construction market #estimatesBut the contract costs for the security upgrade blew out to $1.8 million (up from the last estimate of $1.5 million) due to inflation as the project was delayed, the complexity, and Canberra's busy construction market #estimates
The Parliamentary Budget Office is being asked about a thought bubble from DPM Michael McCormack to move the ABC’s Ultimo headquarters to regional Victoria.The Parliamentary Budget Office is being asked about a thought bubble from DPM Michael McCormack to move the ABC’s Ultimo headquarters to regional Victoria.
Labor senator Kimberley Kitching requested the PBO cost the proposal.Labor senator Kimberley Kitching requested the PBO cost the proposal.
Parliamentary Budget officer Jenny Wilkinson said the PBO was not able to calculate the fiscal impact of the idea, given it would require industry-specific expertise that it did not have.Parliamentary Budget officer Jenny Wilkinson said the PBO was not able to calculate the fiscal impact of the idea, given it would require industry-specific expertise that it did not have.
“We were not in a position to make a judgment.”“We were not in a position to make a judgment.”
Yes this is inside baseball, but it was a big deal to everyone who works in this building, after a project clusterfriz ended with the entries being closed for more than a year, meaning a lot of equipment was lugged up a lot of stairs, rain, hail or snow.
Scott Ryan gleefully tells #estimates senators may have noticed the new APH security doors are fully operational (they have been for about a month)
Reece Kershaw on press freedom (before admitting he had not seen the front page of today’s papers, or “turned his mind” to the campaign:
In regards to the recent inquiries and media reporting on the freedom of the press: as I have previously stated, police independence and freedom of the press are both fundamental pillars that coexist in our democracy. I strongly believe in these two pillars and this is the approach I intend to take.
I welcome the direction from the minister for home affairs outlining his expectations in terms of taking into account the importance of a free and open press.
In support of the direction, the AFP has finalised an internal national guideline on investigations of unauthorised disclosure of material made or obtained by a current or former commonwealth officer.
I am also aware of the direction issued by the attorney general to the commonwealth director of public prosecutions.
The attorney general’s direction reaffirms the importance of the AFP to thoroughly investigate these matters and to collect all relevant information and evidence to ensure the attorney general and CDPP can make a fully informed decision, where relevant.
As I mentioned earlier, the outcomes of the review conducted by John Lawler into sensitive investigations will better inform the AFP on how to deal with these matters.
I look forward to working with you and your parliamentary colleagues to ensure the review takes into account the deliberations of other parliamentary inquiries currently under way.
On the review the AFP commissioner has ordered, Reece Kershaw said:
Further, in light of my public commitment to improve the processes around the recent investigations involving News Corp and the ABC, I have enlisted the services of former CEO of the Australian Crime Commission, Mr John Lawler AM, APM to conduct a review into all sensitive investigations.
This incorporates matters relating to unauthorised disclosure; the application of parliamentary privilege; espionage and foreign interference; and war crimes.
• The review will not be an audit into the current matters at hand but rather a holistic approach to ensure we have in place investigative policy and guidelines that are fit for purpose.
Mr Lawler will provide my office with options around opportunities for interventions and strategies to ensure the AFP is best placed to address sensitive investigations in the future. This will include:
• Baselining of what constitutes a sensitive investigation
• Articulation of the human resources, skills, training, technology and facilities required
• Reformation of governance and business processes (including alternative mechanisms for referring entities beyond the AFP)
• Organisational structures.
Over in the House, Greens MP Adam Bandt plans on introducing a private members’ bill to have the voting age lowered to 16.
A parliamentary inquiry looked into this last year, and said no.
But Bandt says Gen Z have proved their worth:
Most of the world’s young people, including Australian teenagers are denied the right to vote and determine their country’s and therefore the world’s future.
That is why they have taken to the streets. The Greens believe this reality of the climate crisis is one of the most profound reasons why our longstanding policy of enfranchising young people should finally once and for all be implemented.
And that is why today I am proud to introduce to the House this bill to give 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote.
Senate estimates for the environment portfolio is under way.
The first questions for the session are from Labor, who have gone straight to questions about Angus Taylor and the grasslands saga. But the right people from the department aren’t in the room to answer questions, according to the department’s deputy secretary, Dean Knudson.
There’s talk of calling them up early, including Geoff Richardson, who was one of the senior officials at a meeting with Taylor, the then minister Josh Frydenberg’s office, and the department on 20 March 2017.
More likely we will hear more about this when the department’s biodiversity and compliance divisions are up later today.
From Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee, where the Department of the Senate is first up.
Senate president Scott Ryan is being grilled by Labor senator Jenny McAllister about the government’s failure to comply with a Senate order regarding meetings with lobbyists and advocacy groups. McAllister says the government has claimed that it complies with ministerial standards and therefore is not providing further information.
McAllister says this does not appear to be a public interest immunity reason for not complying with the request and says the response is “contemptuous”.
Ryan says he has not followed up the possibility of noncompliance and would only do so if the Senate moved a motion calling on him to do so.
AFP commissioner Reece Kershaw takes on notice a question about whether or not there was a third day of raids planned, and then takes on notice a question on, if there was, when it was scrapped, and why.
Kristina Keneally is asking Reece Kershaw if he has seen the front page of any newspaper today.
He has not.
Because “the bit of software I had said there was no front page today”, he said, when asked the first time.
Asked for the similarities, Kershaw says they seem to all have “big black marks through them”.
But as an “evidence-based police officer”, Kershaw says “I haven’t turned my mind” to why the media campaign may be going on.
Keneally says the AFP raids on journalists probably have something to do with it, but Kershaw says he would like to speak to the editors of the papers to see if that is what they think, before commenting.
The senator then asks why Kershaw mentioned press freedom in his opening statement, if it’s not something he had turned his mind to as yet. He says he is aware it has been an issue.
#righttoknow pic.twitter.com/h6SFia5fzo
The new AFP commissioner, Reece Kershaw, is facing his first estimates hearing since taking on the role, following Andrew Colvin’s retirement.
He is announcing a review “into sensitive investigations/disclosures” to be conducted by John Lawler – but it is not going to be looking at the current investigations (that’s the press freedom stuff).
Home affairs estimates has begun – we were expecting Michaelia Cash to be in with the AFP, but Marise Payne has been sent in her place.