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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)
Environment officials have answered some questions about the Angus Taylor grasslands saga. Specifically, they were asked about occasions when the former Minister Josh Frydenberg or his office sought information about the department about the investigation into alleged illegal land clearing by Jam Land Pty Ltd, which Minister Taylor part owns.
Labor’s Katy Gallagher has asked the questions to follow up on this story by Guardian Australia last week
Monica Collins, the department’s chief of compliance, lists some dates in July, August and October 2017.
But Gallagher is interested in some earlier requests from the Minister’s office in February 2017. As revealed by Guardian last week, an email shows staff were asked to prepare “urgent” talking points about the grasslands listing after a compliance case was raised in parliament. But searches by Guardian Australia of Hansard records found no mention of it.
Today, Collins confirms department also went looking for a Hansard record at the time and they, too, found nothing.
“I’m not sure where that request came into the office but my recollection of that document is that it was on the basis with a phone call with somebody,” she told the hearing.
“I know that staff also searched Hansard and didn’t find a direct mention of it in parliament.
Gallagher: “So they did (a search) on that date? Around the time the request came in, they did a search to see whether it had been mentioned in the parliament?”
Collins: “Yes that’s right”
Gallager: “And, could they find anything?”
Collins: No, nothing specific. Nothing specific about Jam Land and grasslands.
Collins says the information supplied to Frydenberg’s office was “very high level” in terms of “a brief update on the investigation, some information about the grasslands listing” and things of that nature.
The Greens senator Larissa Waters asks when the department conducted site visits to the Jam Land property near Delegate in NSW and when it first launched proceedings against Jam Land.
Collins says she can’t give dates of site visits because the investigation is ongoing, but there have been four site visits. She said the department received the report about alleged illegal clearing in November 2016 and first wrote to Jam Land in December 2016.
Waters asked why the investigation has taken nearly three years.
Collins says a lot of factors influence this, such as the caseload of individual officers, but “we’re hoping to conclude it very soon”.
The Senate estimate committees are all on a lunch break and the House is on the downhill slide to question time, so it’s a catch your breath moment.
The climate emergency motion debate ran out of time – it will continue tomorrow.The climate emergency motion debate ran out of time – it will continue tomorrow.
Penny Wong says she understands US senator Lindsay Graham wrote to the prime minister on 2 October ... but we go to the scheduled break before we can see if this is a question Mathias Cormann will allow the PM&C officials to answer.Penny Wong says she understands US senator Lindsay Graham wrote to the prime minister on 2 October ... but we go to the scheduled break before we can see if this is a question Mathias Cormann will allow the PM&C officials to answer.
Also, a couple of extra bits from the Albanese press conference: he addresses the rumour that Labor MP Mike Kelly might trigger a byelection in his marginal seat of Eden-Monaro, saying Kelly will be here “for a long time” and is an “important member of the team”.Also, a couple of extra bits from the Albanese press conference: he addresses the rumour that Labor MP Mike Kelly might trigger a byelection in his marginal seat of Eden-Monaro, saying Kelly will be here “for a long time” and is an “important member of the team”.
He says the only way that the government will be able to claw back the seat will be to beat him in an election.He says the only way that the government will be able to claw back the seat will be to beat him in an election.
Albanese is also asked about the Right to Know campaign, saying he agrees on the importance of a free press and commenting that it is “unacceptable” that journalists should be facing criminal prosecution.Albanese is also asked about the Right to Know campaign, saying he agrees on the importance of a free press and commenting that it is “unacceptable” that journalists should be facing criminal prosecution.
The Labor leader is also asked why only five MPs were in the chamber when the opposition introduced its climate emergency motion, saying that was “what happened in parliament” and it was no reflection of the importance of motions or legislation.The Labor leader is also asked why only five MPs were in the chamber when the opposition introduced its climate emergency motion, saying that was “what happened in parliament” and it was no reflection of the importance of motions or legislation.
Back in estimates, Penny Wong says she is just trying to work out how Australia went from “we’ll co-operate if asked”, which is what Marise Payne said, to Joe Hockey proactively sending a letter saying we would help.Back in estimates, Penny Wong says she is just trying to work out how Australia went from “we’ll co-operate if asked”, which is what Marise Payne said, to Joe Hockey proactively sending a letter saying we would help.
This is all taken on notice.This is all taken on notice.
“This is the most interventionist you’ve ever been,” Wong says.“This is the most interventionist you’ve ever been,” Wong says.
“... I’m quite relaxed, actually,” Cormann says a little later.“... I’m quite relaxed, actually,” Cormann says a little later.
Labor will vote in support of three new free trade agreements after securing a range of concessions from the government on labour market testing, worker exploitation, and outdated agreements regarding investor legal rights.Labor will vote in support of three new free trade agreements after securing a range of concessions from the government on labour market testing, worker exploitation, and outdated agreements regarding investor legal rights.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese and shadow trade minister Madeleine King have held a press conference confirming their support for enabling legislation tabled last week, saying the agreements with Indonesia, Hong Kong and Peru would be good for Australian jobs, business and the national economy.Labor leader Anthony Albanese and shadow trade minister Madeleine King have held a press conference confirming their support for enabling legislation tabled last week, saying the agreements with Indonesia, Hong Kong and Peru would be good for Australian jobs, business and the national economy.
Albanese said that, had Labor been in government, it would have made a different agreement with Indonesia that would have better dealt with labour market testing and would have excluded investor state dispute settlement clauses.Albanese said that, had Labor been in government, it would have made a different agreement with Indonesia that would have better dealt with labour market testing and would have excluded investor state dispute settlement clauses.
“This is not an agreement that Labor would have made, we would have made different provisions,” Albanese said.“This is not an agreement that Labor would have made, we would have made different provisions,” Albanese said.
“But it is an agreement the government has put forward, and one in which, overall, provides benefits for Australian workers, Australian jobs and for our national economy, which is why Labor will be supporting these three agreements.”“But it is an agreement the government has put forward, and one in which, overall, provides benefits for Australian workers, Australian jobs and for our national economy, which is why Labor will be supporting these three agreements.”
As part of its negotiations, Labor has secured from the government a commitment to bring forward criminal penalties for the worst forms of worker exploitation, which Albanese said would now occur as a “matter of urgency”.As part of its negotiations, Labor has secured from the government a commitment to bring forward criminal penalties for the worst forms of worker exploitation, which Albanese said would now occur as a “matter of urgency”.
The trade minister, Simon Birmingham, has assured the opposition that the government will seek to terminate a bilateral investment treaty signed between Indonesia and Australia, including “survival clauses”, but this will require Indonesian agreement.The trade minister, Simon Birmingham, has assured the opposition that the government will seek to terminate a bilateral investment treaty signed between Indonesia and Australia, including “survival clauses”, but this will require Indonesian agreement.
Albanese said that he believed this was a “matter of courtesy”, but he was confident that the old agreement would be scrapped.Albanese said that he believed this was a “matter of courtesy”, but he was confident that the old agreement would be scrapped.
The argument is now dissolving into who is speaking over who.The argument is now dissolving into who is speaking over who.
When did the PM&C officials become aware of our assistance with the Barr inquiry?When did the PM&C officials become aware of our assistance with the Barr inquiry?
Mathias Cormann attempts to stop this one as well.Mathias Cormann attempts to stop this one as well.
Eventually we get to someone saying it is being dealt with by foreign affairs and trade and has no involvement from PM&C.Eventually we get to someone saying it is being dealt with by foreign affairs and trade and has no involvement from PM&C.
But when did they first become aware, Wong asks Caroline Miller, who heads up the PM&C international division, once again.But when did they first become aware, Wong asks Caroline Miller, who heads up the PM&C international division, once again.
Cormann again stops the answer.Cormann again stops the answer.
I swear to JLo, this is like watching a report being redacted in real time.I swear to JLo, this is like watching a report being redacted in real time.
“Are you aware now,” Wong asks again.“Are you aware now,” Wong asks again.
“That’s a very funny question,” Cormann says.“That’s a very funny question,” Cormann says.
While this sideshow is happening in PM&C estimates, Michaelia Cash has shown up in the home affairs estimates hearing.While this sideshow is happening in PM&C estimates, Michaelia Cash has shown up in the home affairs estimates hearing.
“If it was business as usual, surely you wouldn’t be worried about answering questions,” Penny Wong asks.
“I’m not worried,” Mathias Cormann says.
And around and around we go.
“The front page of the papers is looking very accurate,” Penny Wong says, after around 1,000,000 of back and forth between her and Mathias Cormann about when officials in the prime minister’s department knew it was the government’s position to assist with the US justice department inquiry into the Mueller investigation and Alexander Downer’s role in it.
Labor’s Murray Watt has asked infrastructure and regional development department officials whether they have read any of Barnaby Joyce’s texts about the drought. Answer: no.
Agriculture minister Bridget McKenzie offers a lot of generalities about what Joyce delivered – including “a lot of correspondence about how we can better help drought affected communities”. He offered a “range of advice” which “informs our ongoing response” to the drought.
Watt then takes up the attack about the eligibility of councils for drought assistance funding. Officials revealed that Moira shire failed because only 16.9% of its workforce is in agriculture, fisheries or forestry and the cutoff is 17%.
Watt suggests that, likewise, Singleton, Kiama, Shoalhaven, Eurobadalla and Yass are “all badly drought-affected but not eligible” because of the workforce threshold. Departmental officials take on notice how far they fell short.
Officials also revealed the government made an election commitment to provide drought funding to 14 councils and the department did not apply the same criteria because it was a “decision of government” to commit funding.
Watt criticises the decision to “hand out money during an election” while “poor old Moira shire missed out”. Officials take on notice whether any of the 14 councils would have failed the eligibility test, if it were applied.
McKenzie said the decision was based on ABS and Bureau of Meteorology data, but can’t say whether they met the criteria.
Penny Wong is trying for the fourth or fifth time to find out if anyone within the prime minister’s department knew of the US justice department announcement, given Alexander Downer’s involvement.
It has now been taken on notice by Mathias Cormann, to stop Wong from asking any of the officials about it.
But apparently the senior PM and C international division officials were unaware of Joe Hockey’s letter agreeing to assist with the investigation, before it was sent.
Cormann again says it would be remarkable if we didn’t agree to assist, as is normal practice.
“There is actually nothing remarkable in this, it would be very strange if Mr Hockey, representing the Australian government, had said anything else,” Cormann says.
Cormann wants these questions to go to foreign affairs and trade.
Was the government informed about the investigation before it was publicly announced, Penny Wong wants to know?
Mathias Cormann says the Australian government “of course” seeks to co-operate with official investigations and it would be remarkable if Australia did not agree to co-operate.
He says there is only so much he can talk about.
But he doesn’t answer the question.
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.