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Joe Hockey offered to assist in Barr inquiry without official request – politics live Joe Hockey offered to assist in Barr inquiry without official request – politics live
(30 minutes later)
Christian Porter gets walking in privileges with Scott Morrison today.
It’s the last question time for a month (senate QT doesn’t really count, sorry not sorry)
We are heading into the chamber for what, I am sure, will be the Angus Taylor hour.
Because how could it not be.
Here is a bit of where Chris Bowen is going on the Greg Hunt attack:
Under questioning from the Labor party last night the department confirmed that in fact only 227 new medicines have been listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme on this Government’s watch.
1,354 listings were at no cost to government. So every time Scott Morrison and Greg Hunt say ‘we can only list this medicine because of the strong budget’ the truth is the listings were made at zero impact on the budget and 316 listings have actually just been price changes for normal business of Government.
Greg Hunt says he’s listed 2,200 medicines in fact it’s 227, around 10 per cent of what he claimed. 10 per cent of what he said. 10 per cent of what Scott Morrison boasts about.
Facebook is still grappling with what role it plays in monitoring election misinformation which is being put on its platform.Facebook is still grappling with what role it plays in monitoring election misinformation which is being put on its platform.
Australia was dragged into that in May. The US is dealing with it once again. Andrew Leigh says more needs to be done:Australia was dragged into that in May. The US is dealing with it once again. Andrew Leigh says more needs to be done:
In the most recent election, Facebook was used as a platform to disseminate misinformation by not only political parties, but also actors associated with them.” In the most recent election, Facebook was used as a platform to disseminate misinformation by not only political parties, but also actors associated with them.
“Australians should be able to see what political advertisements are being run on these platforms. Australians have a right to know what misinformation is being propagated. Facebook should not allow itself to become a platform for propagating mistruths.” Australians should be able to see what political advertisements are being run on these platforms. Australians have a right to know what misinformation is being propagated. Facebook should not allow itself to become a platform for propagating mistruths.
“Politics should be a contest of ideas, not a war of falsehoods. I call on Facebook and other social media platforms to do the right thing.” Politics should be a contest of ideas, not a war of falsehoods. I call on Facebook and other social media platforms to do the right thing.
Anne Davies and Christopher Knaus have new information on one of the weirdest stories of the year so far:Anne Davies and Christopher Knaus have new information on one of the weirdest stories of the year so far:
The City of Sydney has produced evidence to back up its insistence that it never altered a document to introduce the false figures used by Angus Taylor in an attack on the lord mayor over her travel-related emissions.The City of Sydney has produced evidence to back up its insistence that it never altered a document to introduce the false figures used by Angus Taylor in an attack on the lord mayor over her travel-related emissions.
The evidence places further pressure on the office of the energy minister to explain how the false figures came to be in the document he used to launch the extraordinary attack on Clover Moore last month. On Thursday Taylor labelled the affair a “conspiracy theory being perpetrated by the lord mayor” and accused her of “hollow virtue-signalling” on emissions.The evidence places further pressure on the office of the energy minister to explain how the false figures came to be in the document he used to launch the extraordinary attack on Clover Moore last month. On Thursday Taylor labelled the affair a “conspiracy theory being perpetrated by the lord mayor” and accused her of “hollow virtue-signalling” on emissions.
The Guardian revealed on Wednesday that Taylor sent Moore a letter, which was received on 30 September, criticising what he said was a $15m travel bill during 2017-18 and suggesting she could reduce the council’s carbon emissions by cutting down on international travel.The Guardian revealed on Wednesday that Taylor sent Moore a letter, which was received on 30 September, criticising what he said was a $15m travel bill during 2017-18 and suggesting she could reduce the council’s carbon emissions by cutting down on international travel.
Right.Right.
After the flurry of the morning, it is now the dead zone before question time.After the flurry of the morning, it is now the dead zone before question time.
To recap, the bipartisan joint committee on intelligence and security cannot tick off on a government surveillance bill, and has sent it back to be withdrawn. It’s the first time since 2002 it has taken this step. The government doesn’t have to do it but it probably will, because to ignore this sort of response would be a pretty big deal which would have ongoing ramifications.To recap, the bipartisan joint committee on intelligence and security cannot tick off on a government surveillance bill, and has sent it back to be withdrawn. It’s the first time since 2002 it has taken this step. The government doesn’t have to do it but it probably will, because to ignore this sort of response would be a pretty big deal which would have ongoing ramifications.
Angus Taylor will have a lot of questions to answer over how his office came to have vastly different travel costs for the City of Sydney council, which were provided to a News Corp journalist.Angus Taylor will have a lot of questions to answer over how his office came to have vastly different travel costs for the City of Sydney council, which were provided to a News Corp journalist.
And we are finally getting some answers on Australia’s involvement in the William Barr investigation into the Mueller report – which we are involved in because of Alexander Downer.And we are finally getting some answers on Australia’s involvement in the William Barr investigation into the Mueller report – which we are involved in because of Alexander Downer.
From AAP:From AAP:
Private schools will be able to spend $1.2bn of taxpayer funds however they see fit, regardless of how much money they rake in from fees and donations.Private schools will be able to spend $1.2bn of taxpayer funds however they see fit, regardless of how much money they rake in from fees and donations.
Education bureaucrats told senators on Thursday they would have no role in assessing applications for money from the special fund, set up in a side deal with Catholic and independent schools a year ago to ease their transition to new funding arrangements.Education bureaucrats told senators on Thursday they would have no role in assessing applications for money from the special fund, set up in a side deal with Catholic and independent schools a year ago to ease their transition to new funding arrangements.
The department will publish guidelines for the funds but it will be up to the Catholic Education Commission and associations of independent schools in each state and territory to dole them out.The department will publish guidelines for the funds but it will be up to the Catholic Education Commission and associations of independent schools in each state and territory to dole them out.
“The department itself won’t be assessing any applications for funding under the fund,” deputy secretary Alex Gordon told the estimates committee hearing in Canberra.“The department itself won’t be assessing any applications for funding under the fund,” deputy secretary Alex Gordon told the estimates committee hearing in Canberra.
The guidelines will set out the kinds of priorities the funds should be used for, but won’t set eligibility for individual schools.The guidelines will set out the kinds of priorities the funds should be used for, but won’t set eligibility for individual schools.
And Joel Fitzgibbon has responded to the Nationals backbench drought plan:And Joel Fitzgibbon has responded to the Nationals backbench drought plan:
The National Party backbench hasn’t produced a national drought plan, just a plan to save the Nationals,” he saidThe National Party backbench hasn’t produced a national drought plan, just a plan to save the Nationals,” he said
The Nationals are in revolt within the Coalition because the prime minister doesn’t have a drought plan.”The Nationals are in revolt within the Coalition because the prime minister doesn’t have a drought plan.”
Chris Bowen is starting to speak up a lot more in his new shadow portfolio (health)Chris Bowen is starting to speak up a lot more in his new shadow portfolio (health)
He just held a press conference on this:He just held a press conference on this:
Last night in Senate Estimates the department confirmed, out of the 2200 medicines the minister claims to have listed on the PBS, only 1 in 10 of those represents a new medicine.Last night in Senate Estimates the department confirmed, out of the 2200 medicines the minister claims to have listed on the PBS, only 1 in 10 of those represents a new medicine.
In an exchange with Senator Murray Watt, the department confirmed, since 2013 only 227 new medicines have been listed by the Abbott, Turnbull, and Morrison Governments.In an exchange with Senator Murray Watt, the department confirmed, since 2013 only 227 new medicines have been listed by the Abbott, Turnbull, and Morrison Governments.
Department of Health Official: “New PBS listings which mean a brand new molecule listed for the first time on the PBS or listed for the first time as a new indication, 227.”Department of Health Official: “New PBS listings which mean a brand new molecule listed for the first time on the PBS or listed for the first time as a new indication, 227.”
And last night in Senate Estimates the Department of Health confirmed out of the 2200 medicines the minister claims to have listed, 316 are actually just price changes, and 1354 listings were at no cost to government at all.And last night in Senate Estimates the Department of Health confirmed out of the 2200 medicines the minister claims to have listed, 316 are actually just price changes, and 1354 listings were at no cost to government at all.
Department of Health Official: “Price changes, 316. And we have a number of listings that are all with nil financial cost, 1,354.”Department of Health Official: “Price changes, 316. And we have a number of listings that are all with nil financial cost, 1,354.”
This government has been misleading Australians on how many affordable medicines they have listed on the PBS.This government has been misleading Australians on how many affordable medicines they have listed on the PBS.
Greg Hunt claims improving access to medicines is one of his four pillars of health.Greg Hunt claims improving access to medicines is one of his four pillars of health.
Over in the house, the education amendment which deals with the state funding allocationsOver in the house, the education amendment which deals with the state funding allocations
Well done @MichaelSukkarMP. The last thing we need is more government-sanctioned gender confusion. Let’s hope the @ScottMorrisonMP government keeps pushing back on this nonsense. https://t.co/JcgFcMGkMe
Shadow assistant treasurer Stephen Jones and shadow cabinet secretary Jenny McAllister have gone on the attack over the “deeply concerning” revelation Michael Sukkar’s office had input into the ABS decision not to ask about gender and sexuality in the census test:
“Australians should feel let down that their government are more interested in playing politics than doing the job Australians expect and deserve.
“The minister’s objection to a community or their sexual orientation is no reason to refuse to collect import information to help guide government service delivery.
“Even after years of progress, there are still significant health and wellbeing disparities that effect Australia’s LGBTI community.
“LGBTI Australians have been ignored in Australian policy planning for too long.
“All Australians deserve to be counted in the census.”
Another piece of legislation has been sent to vibe in the senate, waiting for it to reconvene
The Treasury Laws Amendment (International Tax Agreements) Bill 2019 has been read a third time. It will now be transmitted to @AuSenate for consideration.
Back to estimates. DFAT officials are reluctant to provide an immediate answer about how many meetings there have been with the Barr investigation.
Labor’s Senate leader Penny Wong has counted four referenced in evidence this morning.
Have there been more than four? Officials want to take it on notice to ensure the answer is accurate.
Wong wants an answer today. Officials signal that’s likely possible. Wong says she believes that she’s being reasonable.
Marise Payne accepts Wong’s professed reasonableness, but she still doesn’t intend to answer the questions.
Oh, hang on, here are a couple of straight answers.
Payne says she has not discussed the Barr inquiry with Alexander Downer and neither has Scott Morrison “to my knowledge”.
DFAT secretary Frances Adamson says she has. But now we are back to the brick wall. No-one will answer a question about whether Downer reported his insights about possible Russian intelligence on Hillary Clinton to his American counterpart in London.
(I reported a few weeks ago Downer did have a conversation with his American diplomatic counterpart in London, and he did that without reference to senior colleagues in Canberra.)
Wong asks Payne whether she has confidence that Downer acted appropriately. “Yes senator,” the foreign minister says.
In general terms, Adamson says diplomats in the Australian service are allowed to interact with their colleagues in foreign services without seeking permission.
The DFAT secretary stresses she is not speaking about any particular head of mission.
Back to mysteriesBack to DFAT, officials will not answer a question about whether Australia has handed over diplomatic cables to the Barr investigation.
They say it would be prejudicial to answer that question, given the ongoing inquiry, and the backdrop of foreign relations. DFAT secretary Frances Adamson says Australia is working to assist the Barr inquiry in Australia’s national interest.
Labor’s Senate leader Penny Wong says she doesn’t really understand that answer. She wants to know who makes the decision about what is in Australia’s national interest. Wong wants to know what decisions Marise Payne has made.
Have you made any decision to release material, Wong wonders?
Payne says it’s not appropriate to provide a “running commentary” on these matters.
Wong asks whether Alexander Downer is getting support from the government, either legal or financial, and hits a brick wall.
Officials tell her they can’t answer.
“Why is that a secret?” Wong asks. “This is public money. This really is overly secretive.”
Payne says, “We are dealing with an active investigation in the United States.”
The foreign minister says the inquiry is the sensitivity, so she can’t answer.
Wong defaults to sarcasm. “Nobody understood that,” she says.
Wong is not happy.
It is now clear that the Minister’s office has interfered with the ABS Census process.20,000 questionnaires were pulped.They didn’t want to ask questions on Sexual Orientation.Did this come from the PM?#estimates
DFAT secretary Frances Adamson has just told estimates she is the Australian government’s point of contact for the Barr inquiry, as well as Joe Hockey. This has been a mystery up until this moment.
Officials from PMC declined to answer this question on Monday. Adamson also explains that Donald Trump called Scott Morrison ahead of the US visit to request a point of contact for the Barr inquiry because Hockey was away at the time.
Another mystery solved this morning.
Adamson says she’s had one meeting with William Barr, on September 21 (which is I think when we were in the US on the Trump visit, but will need to check).
Worth noting that Amanda Stoker is engaged in a Senate ticket battle with James McGrath at the moment – Matt Canavan has one of the two spots and unless he makes the jump to the house, either Stoker or McGrath will miss out. Even if Canavan does decide the grass, as well as the carpet, is greener on the other side (there are a couple of safe LNP central seats he could move to, if so inclined and the branch was onside) it is still a Nationals spot, so there would need to be more negotiations.
Either way, right now there is one Liberal LNP spot on the top of the ticket and Stoker and McGrath are fighting for it. Stoker has certainly stepped up her profile in recent months and shows no signs of slowing down. In the end, she only needs the LNP members to pay attention, and quite a few in central and north Queensland eat this up.
Amanda Stoker seems, in her own words "hung up" on DFAT preparing an incoming brief and some IT infrastructure for a potential Labor government, to a certain amount of forbearance from Frances Adamson #auspol
That really was a strange line of questioning, suggesting DFAT could be partial for preparing for all eventualities #auspol
Expect to hear this sort of thing a lot more often from the prime minister and others so inclined, during their introductions.
Scott Morrison last night:
Can I also acknowledge the Ngunnawal people tonight, their elders past and present, and future, can I acknowledge if there are any members of the Australian Defence Forces here tonight, any veterans who may be with us and simply say to you on behalf of a very grateful nation, thank you very very much for your service.
And our migration community over generations have made up those numbers certainly, those who’ve served in uniform to defend the very country that they’ve come to call home. And so particularly tonight, those members of our defence forces those who’ve served, as veterans, who’ve come from other places and called, not only this nation home. But then turned up to defend it as well in our uniform.
In the midst of the temporary exclusion order debate (where the government refused to accept all of the committee’s recommendations, a rare slip of bipartisanship with this committee), Peter Dutton had this to say about Mark Dreyfus on ABC radio on July 24:
He has watered down pieces of legislation to a point where they can become ineffective, and we’re not going to tolerate that any longer. We will accept the recommendations from the committee where they are in a national interest to do so.”
In parliament, the day before that AM interview, Dutton had said this:
We are going to work with the committee. We will look at the recommendations made by the committee in relation to the relevant legislation that they might explore, and we will ultimately decide, in our country’s interests, in an attempt to keep Australians safe, which of those recommendations we accept. Ultimately, the government has been elected on a mandate to provide legislation to this parliament to protect Australians from a very real threat.”
Given the government did not take on all of the committee’s recommendations then (something Labor had also done once while in government) there were fears that the PJCIS would be treated “just like any other committee” so the government response to this will be interesting.