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Labor pushes for climate emergency motion to pass House – politics live Labor pushes for climate emergency motion to pass House – politics live
(32 minutes later)
Penny Wong is now moving on to the investigation the US justice department has ordered into how the Mueller inquiry came about – you may remember that Alexander Downer is wrapped up in that.
Penny Wong says Mathias Cormann is attempting to make assertions about what is in “my mind and heart” about the motives in her questions (about what Australia thinks is the risk of Da’esh coming back).
Cormann says the imputations were clear. Wong says she just wants answers.
“I am actually just asking about consequences ... about the current situation in northern Syria,” she says.
Cormann can’t let go of what he thinks the imputations.
Now Jacqui Lambie is pissed with how it’s all going, and she just wants to know if there is a risk assessment – telling Cormann the problem is “you have no plan”.
“The Australian public would like to know,” she says.
“You have nothing on paper ... there are a lot of unanswered questions here.”
Wong lets her go.
Lambie says given Cormann and Scott Morrison said Donald Trump’s actions didn’t come as a surprise, since Trump had spoken about it in the past, what conversations did Australia have about protecting Australian troops, given there was a risk of the US withdrawing its own troops.
“When did you actually open up dialogue about this – was it just the day [he announced it]?”
Cormann just says Australia has a good relationship with the US, and we have “ongoing and consistent” dialogue with the US.
Lambie still wants to know when Australia first discussed this with the US.
“We have answered this question,” Cormann says.
Which means, based on these answers, the first conversation was after Trump publicly announced the withdrawal.
“So in other words, Australia had no idea, and Trump just walked over the top of them and you just went, ‘that’s it, we can’t do anything’, because you left your run too late,” Lambie says.
Cormann disputes this, but we still don’t get any answers.
While supportive of the #YourRightToKnow campaign, I would hope there's some quiet reflection amongst the media in the role that they have played in allowing the surveillance state to flourish.
Another 10 minutes have passed and we still don’t have any more idea of whether the Australian government has made any sort of risk assessment over whether there is likely to be a re-emergence or strengthening of the Da’esh terror group, given the Syria situation.
Amnesty Australia has responded to the AFP’s apology to Hakeem al-Araibi:
An apology, albeit belated, is the very least Hakeem should expect for the ordeal he and his family endured,” Amnesty International Australia campaigner Tim O’Connor said.
It’s a welcome acknowledgement of systemic failure in the AFP and Department of Home Affairs processes.
We look forward to the Department of Home Affairs also offering an apology to Hakeem and his family. The evidence we have garnered through Freedom of Information clearly shows it is the failure of Home Affairs systems and communications that led to Hakeem’s detention in Thailand.
It is troubling that more than 10 months after these Australian government departments failed Hakeem, that their systems are still not fixed. What happened to Hakeem could happen to someone else, which is why Australian taxpayers should receive an independent and transparent inquiry so we can all have trust in our government’s systems.
In rural and regional affairs, infrastructure department officials have revealed just 430 public service jobs have been decentralised from the ACT, central Sydney and central Melbourne.
Labor’s Murray Watt makes Bridget McKenzie read out the whole list, making wise cracks about the fact that Adelaide, Brisbane and Parramatta are hardly regional centres. Watt also wants more detail about which jobs are due to move or have moved already.
Some 239 jobs moved in 2018 including:
The Unique Student Identifier Registrar moved 40 positions from Canberra to Adelaide
The office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations moved 10 from Canberra to Darwin
The Indigenous Affairs group in PMC moved 32 jobs, including 25 from the Sydney CBD to Parramatta
The office of the Rural Health Commissioner moved 4 new positions to Adelaide.
The infrastructure department moved 12 including 3 to Perth and 9 in the Inland Rail division
Australian Maritime Safety Authority – moved “up to 69 new positions”
Australian Law Reform Commission – 12 positions from Sydney to Brisbane.
Aboriginal Hostels Limited moved 40 new positions
The Australian space agency will move 20 from Canberra to Adelaide.
And another 191 jobs moved in 2019, including:
The regional programs branch of the infrastructure department is moving from Canberra to Orange
The Australian Financial Security Authority moved 15 positions to Hobart, Perth and Brisbane
Comcare will relocate some positions and establish offices in Darwin and Launceston
The National Indigenous Australians Agency moved 35 from Canberra to Alice Springs, Coffs Harbour and Broome.
The Murray Darling Basin Authority moved 76 to Albury, Wodonga, Grififth, Mildura, Murray Bridge and Goondiwindi.
Labor’s Glenn Sterle has asked about suggestions up to 1,700 jobs would be moved. McKenzie and departmental officials suggest the bigger number reflects jobs moved before the April 2017 launch of the decentralisation agenda and an ongoing commitment. The precise breakdown has been taken on notice.
“These are the front pages today, the front pages today, and you won’t even answer a question about whether or not there was a note taker,” Penny Wong says, holding up the Adelaide Advertiser front page.
“Oh the cameras are going, you’ve got them all lined up,” Mathias Cormann says.
I mean first of all, no, we are all able to work out that Wong and Cormann in estimates will lead to an argument, because this is not our first time at the rodeo. It’s not even our second.
And secondly, this whole place is a theatre. It’s how it works.
Anthony Albanese has just called a press conference in the next five minutes.
It’s Penny Wong v Mathias Cormann in Senate estimates.
They both seem happy to be back on familiar ground.
Ten minutes into the hearing, Cormann is talking over Wong, Wong is telling him why she believes he is wrong, and James Paterson is trying his best to keep order.
Wong is trying to find out about how Australia found out about the Syria US troop withdrawal (through the public announcement) and whether in follow-up phone calls between Australian and US officials, notes were taken. Sarah Martin is listening for you, and will have more for you soon.
As far as Reece Kershaw knows, the AFP is not planning any more raids on journalists, he tells the Labor senator Raff Ciccone.As far as Reece Kershaw knows, the AFP is not planning any more raids on journalists, he tells the Labor senator Raff Ciccone.
“But it’s something that we’d obviously be having a look at.”“But it’s something that we’d obviously be having a look at.”
Penny Wong has just entered Senate estimates for the first time.Penny Wong has just entered Senate estimates for the first time.
She is in the finance and public administration committee, to question the prime minister’s department.She is in the finance and public administration committee, to question the prime minister’s department.
From AAP:From AAP:
Australia’s new top cop has personally apologised to refugee footballer Hakeem al-Araibi for the months he spent behind bars in Thailand.Australia’s new top cop has personally apologised to refugee footballer Hakeem al-Araibi for the months he spent behind bars in Thailand.
Al-Araibi, a permanent Australian resident, was locked up in Bangkok after Bahraini officials pursued him over vandalism charges.Al-Araibi, a permanent Australian resident, was locked up in Bangkok after Bahraini officials pursued him over vandalism charges.
Australian federal police commissioner Reece Kershaw, who has been in the job 19 days, acknowledged a trail of bureaucratic bungles led to his detention.Australian federal police commissioner Reece Kershaw, who has been in the job 19 days, acknowledged a trail of bureaucratic bungles led to his detention.
Kershaw said he was now working with the Department of Home Affairs to address a “lack of connectivity” between border security systems and the Interpol database.“I have delivered a letter to Mr al-Araibi to extend AFP’s apology for his unfortunate detention in Thailand,” he told a Senate committee in Canberra on Monday.Kershaw said he was now working with the Department of Home Affairs to address a “lack of connectivity” between border security systems and the Interpol database.“I have delivered a letter to Mr al-Araibi to extend AFP’s apology for his unfortunate detention in Thailand,” he told a Senate committee in Canberra on Monday.
“And to reassure Mr al-Araibi that the AFP is continuing to review and improve processes in consultation with other relevant agencies to ensure we respond appropriate to these matters in the future.“And to reassure Mr al-Araibi that the AFP is continuing to review and improve processes in consultation with other relevant agencies to ensure we respond appropriate to these matters in the future.
“The AFP is working closely with the department to resolve the overarching policy and legal questions arising from this matter.”“The AFP is working closely with the department to resolve the overarching policy and legal questions arising from this matter.”
The chamber is still debating Mark Butler’s motion to declare a climate emergency.The chamber is still debating Mark Butler’s motion to declare a climate emergency.
There is an inevitable end to this – the government does not support it, so it won’t pass.There is an inevitable end to this – the government does not support it, so it won’t pass.
Pauline Hanson has made an appearance at the estimates committee grilling the AFP. She wants to know about pill testing. Hanson asks the police commissioner whether pill testing is encouraging the drug trade in Australia.Pauline Hanson has made an appearance at the estimates committee grilling the AFP. She wants to know about pill testing. Hanson asks the police commissioner whether pill testing is encouraging the drug trade in Australia.
The commissioner says he doesn’t believe organised criminal syndicates would be influenced by whether pill testing exists or doesn’t.The commissioner says he doesn’t believe organised criminal syndicates would be influenced by whether pill testing exists or doesn’t.
“It’s a global business,” the commissioner says, of the drug trade. Pill testing isn’t relevant.“It’s a global business,” the commissioner says, of the drug trade. Pill testing isn’t relevant.
The Greens have just spent a good 10 minutes or so asking about their climate emergency hot air balloon which they wanted to launch over Parliament House last week.The Greens have just spent a good 10 minutes or so asking about their climate emergency hot air balloon which they wanted to launch over Parliament House last week.
Senate president Scott Ryan has explained that when approval was sought, he learned that it was up to Casa to control the airspace above parliament, and a request was then made by DPS to have the access denied.Senate president Scott Ryan has explained that when approval was sought, he learned that it was up to Casa to control the airspace above parliament, and a request was then made by DPS to have the access denied.
Larissa Waters asked about a balloon that was seen above parliament this morning and why it had been allowed when its climate emergency protest balloon had not been.Larissa Waters asked about a balloon that was seen above parliament this morning and why it had been allowed when its climate emergency protest balloon had not been.
Ryan says that regardless of the cause, the presiding officers did not believe that any balloon should be allowed access to the airspace above Parliament House.Ryan says that regardless of the cause, the presiding officers did not believe that any balloon should be allowed access to the airspace above Parliament House.
He said it was a matter for Casa to police the current exclusion zone and added that they wanted to make the no-fly zone permanent.He said it was a matter for Casa to police the current exclusion zone and added that they wanted to make the no-fly zone permanent.
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.
“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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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/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.
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.
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.
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 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 #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.
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.
“We were not in a position to make a judgment.”