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Labor condemns 'disgraceful' Westpac as Hartzer stands down – politics live Labor condemns 'disgraceful' Westpac as Hartzer stands down – politics live
(32 minutes later)
Westpac chief executive’s resignation draws little sympathy on all sides of politics. All the day’s events, liveWestpac chief executive’s resignation draws little sympathy on all sides of politics. All the day’s events, live
This is interesting as well
Looks like the official government response on the Westpac news is coming – Josh Frydenberg has called a press conference for 11.50am in the Mural Hall
That is 10 minutes before the parliament sits, so it limits the questioning time as well.
From AAP:
An unlikely alliance of federal politicians have joined forces to demand WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange be brought back to Australia.
The group, which includes Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie and Queensland conservative George Christensen, are concerned about Assange’s health and potential extradition from the UK to America.
The pair described his treatment as a direct attack on journalists.
“The group is unanimously and strongly of the view that the US extradition request of Mr Assange be rescinded and that he be allowed to return to Australia,” Wilkie said on Tuesday.
The politicians want to meet with the US ambassador and UK high commissioner to Australia to discuss Assange’s case.
The parliament will begin sitting at midday.
Woo. Hoo.
Penny Wong was also doorstopped about the China situation this morning. Here is some of what she had to say in the hallway:
Question: Should there be vetting of candidates before the election? And do you think Gladys Liu owes the parliament an explanation?
PW: Well in relation to the second part, Gladys Liu has refused to give a statement to the parliament. She has been protected from doing so by Mr Morrison. I do believe that in circumstances where discrepancies have been raised on the public record, where issues have been raised, parliamentarians should make a statement to the parliament. Mr Morrison has never explained why he refuses to do so.
Q: And in terms of potential vetting of candidates?
PW: Look, I think all political parties, particularly parties of government, do have to ensure that our processes are robust and that Australian sovereignty is safeguarded. You might recall that in the last parliament, Labor sought for a number of years – and the government finally reluctantly agreed – to the banning of foreign donations.
Rex Patrick has been pushing for more security vetting of candidates and MPs, and wants MPs to have security checks done, similar to what staffers and public servants undergo, with the results presented to the prime minister of the day, who can then determine the response (what, if any committees they would be eligible to sit on, cabinet positions, access etc).
So far, it has not received a lot of support from the major parties.
Chris Bowen was also asked about the government’s assertion that it was taking its time responding to the aged care royal commission interim report, because it did not want another “pink batts” situation.
This was Scott Morrison yesterday:
Bowen:
Sarah Hanson-Young has written about her defamation court victory against David Leyonhjelm in the Guardian today:Sarah Hanson-Young has written about her defamation court victory against David Leyonhjelm in the Guardian today:
Chris Bowen is responding to this story Chris Bowen is responding to this story:
(As reported by Melissa Davey)(As reported by Melissa Davey)
Bowen:Bowen:
The Greens have once again picked up their fight against political donations:The Greens have once again picked up their fight against political donations:
“The fact is that if we banned political donations and introduced election spending caps, then no foreign entity or vested interest would be able to buy their way into parliament,” Richard Di Natale said.“The additional safeguards against foreign interference supported by both major parties will fail unless real action is also taken on donations reform,” Larissa Waters said.“It’s time for Labor and the Coalition to join the Greens in calling for banning political donations from all big for-profit corporates and foreign entities so no one – not Clive Palmer and no foreign government – has more influence on Australia’s democracy than our citizens do.”“The fact is that if we banned political donations and introduced election spending caps, then no foreign entity or vested interest would be able to buy their way into parliament,” Richard Di Natale said.“The additional safeguards against foreign interference supported by both major parties will fail unless real action is also taken on donations reform,” Larissa Waters said.“It’s time for Labor and the Coalition to join the Greens in calling for banning political donations from all big for-profit corporates and foreign entities so no one – not Clive Palmer and no foreign government – has more influence on Australia’s democracy than our citizens do.”
Meanwhile, Katharine Murphy has the latest Guardian Essential poll (caveats on polls implied).Meanwhile, Katharine Murphy has the latest Guardian Essential poll (caveats on polls implied).
Medevac is still listed for debate tomorrow.Medevac is still listed for debate tomorrow.
Peter Dutton is still working on negotiating with Jacqui Lambie for her support. Kristina Keneally is working to debunk some of Dutton’s public claims on medevac:Peter Dutton is still working on negotiating with Jacqui Lambie for her support. Kristina Keneally is working to debunk some of Dutton’s public claims on medevac:
And around and around we go.And around and around we go.
There have been some reports about some of the charges some of the medevac transfers are facing. It is worth mentioning that people transferred under medevac remain in detention and under guard. And also, as you may have noticed, we still treat people who have been convicted of some pretty heinous crimes. Ivan Milat, for instance, received the necessary treatment for his cancer in the last months of his life.There have been some reports about some of the charges some of the medevac transfers are facing. It is worth mentioning that people transferred under medevac remain in detention and under guard. And also, as you may have noticed, we still treat people who have been convicted of some pretty heinous crimes. Ivan Milat, for instance, received the necessary treatment for his cancer in the last months of his life.
The argument that we should not give the necessary treatments independent doctors have decided are necessary because of either charges (and you know, innocent before being proven guilty and all that) or crimes, is a very slippery slope for a democratic and compassionate society to start wandering down.The argument that we should not give the necessary treatments independent doctors have decided are necessary because of either charges (and you know, innocent before being proven guilty and all that) or crimes, is a very slippery slope for a democratic and compassionate society to start wandering down.
The government is still attempting to extend the cashless debit card – which would include installing it across the Northern Territory.The government is still attempting to extend the cashless debit card – which would include installing it across the Northern Territory.
Labor’s NT senator Malarndirri McCarthy has been fighting against it. She had a chat to her local ABC this morning, ahead of when the bill is slated for debate:Labor’s NT senator Malarndirri McCarthy has been fighting against it. She had a chat to her local ABC this morning, ahead of when the bill is slated for debate:
MM: My hope is that if there is still concern amongst the crossbenchers, if they haven’t made a decision then that may mean the government isn’t confident enough to bring it into the House. But that’s a hopeful scenario obviously that I’m hoping for and the delegation from Central Australia is hoping for but it’s quite likely that it possibly still will go through the House.MM: My hope is that if there is still concern amongst the crossbenchers, if they haven’t made a decision then that may mean the government isn’t confident enough to bring it into the House. But that’s a hopeful scenario obviously that I’m hoping for and the delegation from Central Australia is hoping for but it’s quite likely that it possibly still will go through the House.
Question: Can you tell us who’s been there from central Australia?Question: Can you tell us who’s been there from central Australia?
MM: Yes of course. We have here in Canberra walking the halls is the Central Land Council representatives, also the NPY Women’s [Council] and also the Arnhem Land Progress Association from Arnhem Land who’ve come down as well so there’s quite a large delegation who have come down in the hope that they can stop the cashless debit card being passed.MM: Yes of course. We have here in Canberra walking the halls is the Central Land Council representatives, also the NPY Women’s [Council] and also the Arnhem Land Progress Association from Arnhem Land who’ve come down as well so there’s quite a large delegation who have come down in the hope that they can stop the cashless debit card being passed.
Q: Jacqui Lambie is seen as being the key vote in the Senate. Have you got any idea of which way she is leaning at the moment?Q: Jacqui Lambie is seen as being the key vote in the Senate. Have you got any idea of which way she is leaning at the moment?
MM: Look I’ve been working very hard with the crossbenchers and certainly with senator Lambie. What I have asked is for time to take her to the Northern Territory, to Central Australia and to Arnhem Land to actually hear from people herself. If she had that opportunity, Stuart, I do believe that she would have a better understanding of the concerns that people have and the fact that they don’t want it in the Northern Territory.MM: Look I’ve been working very hard with the crossbenchers and certainly with senator Lambie. What I have asked is for time to take her to the Northern Territory, to Central Australia and to Arnhem Land to actually hear from people herself. If she had that opportunity, Stuart, I do believe that she would have a better understanding of the concerns that people have and the fact that they don’t want it in the Northern Territory.
Kevin Rudd is in Canberra today – he will be launching Peter Hartcher’s quarterly essay (on China) at middayKevin Rudd is in Canberra today – he will be launching Peter Hartcher’s quarterly essay (on China) at midday
Tis the seasonTis the season
His face sums up how I feel seeing a Queenslander wear blue for a footy matchHis face sums up how I feel seeing a Queenslander wear blue for a footy match
And here is another indication of where question time is headed:
A group of north Queensland dairy farmers are on their way to Canberra to express their frustrations at what is happening within their industry.
That’s at the same time the Nationals are trying to get ahead of Pauline Hanson, who may have come late to the issues, but certainly has been running full steam ahead since becoming aware of it.
And Joel Fitzgibbon from Labor is very happy to poke that particular wound. This was him on Sky News this morning:
That came after Queensland LNP senator, Susan McDonald, told ABC radio that consumers should be telling supermarkets to raise the price of milk in order to pay farmers more.
Fitzgibbon says it is not up to consumers to fix the problem.
Stuart Robert is the latest MP to decide Twitter streams just really need more emojis:
He has a long way to go to catch up to Kimberley Kitching though.
The “keep medevac” advocacy is still going strong. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners is the latest to urge senators (meaning Jacqui Lambie) to stay the course:
It is party room time, so the building has gone quiet. We’ll bring you the updates from that very soon
Jim Chalmers also gave us an idea of where Labor’s attacks will be going today:
Labor, today through Penny Wong, is continuing to raise the issue of Gladys Liu never having provided a statement to parliament about her associations with groups linked to the Chinese Communist party.
It is almost impossible to separate Chinese businesses from the Chinese Communist party. And there is no suggestion Liu has any issues herself. But Labor says she should have provided a statement to the parliament to put any lingering concerns to bed.
The medevac repeal bill is still ticking away in the background. It is meant to come up for debate on Wednesday, but it is a moving feast at this stage. Jacqui Lambie will decide the bill’s fate.
There is some suggestion floating around that Lambie may seek to amend the bill to give the minister more powers. Critics say if that happens, the whole point of medevac – to give doctors more power to make independent medical decisions – will be moot.
Negotiations continue.
I think Greg Hunt really wants you to know Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg were VERY CLEAR about what they wanted to happen in terms of Westpac. Here he is after his Sky interview, where he said much the same thing:
In case you missed it yesterday, Paul Karp had a story on the latest with FOIs surrounding Angus Taylor: