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Labor condemns 'disgraceful' Westpac as Hartzer stands down – politics live
Government to move forward with banking royal commission response following Westpac – politics live
(30 minutes later)
Westpac chief executive’s resignation draws little sympathy on all sides of politics. All the day’s events, live
Frydenberg promises legislation inspired by recommendations after Westpac chief executive’s resignation draws little sympathy on all sides of politics. All the day’s events, live
Andrew Leigh had a chat to Adelaide radio 5AA this morning, which included this exchange:
Television?!
“I’d like to see the banks reigned in a lot more ... I am not saying where I stand on the integrity bill, I still need to have more discussions with the unions,” Pauline Hanson says.
Hanson says she was busy on the weekend, so has only just had a chance to look over the amendments Christian Porter released on the bill late on Friday.
“I will not be rushed on this,” Hanson says.
Pauline Hanson is on Sky, saying she believes there is “a place for unions in Australia, by all means” but by the sound of things, she is close to agreeing to the bill.
There are whispers around that the government will seek to re-order business in the Senate this afternoon to bring on the ensuring integrity debate – but not the vote.
We’ll keep an eye on that.
Josh Frydenberg:
The Greens also want to cap banking executive pay.
That comes after the news Brian Hartzer will get a year’s payout – just over $2.6m.
Just picking up from Paul Karp’s tweet a bit earlier about the Labor caucus, the main development was the opposition bracing for the religious freedom debate. In his leader’s report, Anthony Albanese told the troops that Labor ended the year with “a clear strategic plan”.
He said the campaign review had been handed down, and that drew a line over looking at the past.
He said the next of his vision statements would be delivered on 7 December. Albanese has done two of these thus far, the first on jobs and the second on the economy. The next one will be on the theme of democracy.
Labor has begun the process of selecting members of the national policy forum ahead of the party’s national conference, which will be held in Canberra at the end of next year.
There was a briefing for caucus members about the constitutional recognition of Indigenous people and the voice to parliament.
Albanese also said it was “beyond belief” that Angus Taylor remained a minister of the crown after the botched criticism of the Sydney lord mayor, and he signalled Labor would continue to pursue Taylor.
Asked if he, or the government put pressure on Brian Hartzer to resign, Josh Frydenberg says:
Josh Frydenberg says more legislation inspired from the banking royal commission recommendations will be coming this week, as he officially responds to the Westpac news:
For some reason, I am reminded of Edgar Allan-Poe’s line of
In other news, the parliament bells are ringing.
This is interesting as well
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
Looks like the official government response on the Westpac news is coming – Josh Frydenberg has called a press conference for 11.50am in the Senate Courtyard-Mural Hall- Senate Courtyard*
That is 10 minutes before the parliament sits, so it limits the questioning time as well.
That is 10 minutes before the parliament sits, so it limits the questioning time as well.
*Seems like there has been some moving around of the press conference at the last minute, but they’ve decided on the Senate courtyard
From AAP:
From AAP:
An unlikely alliance of federal politicians have joined forces to demand WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange be brought back to Australia.
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 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 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 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 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.
The parliament will begin sitting at midday.
Woo. Hoo.
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:
Chris Bowen is responding to this story:
(As reported by Melissa Davey)
Bowen:
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.”
Meanwhile, Katharine Murphy has the latest Guardian Essential poll (caveats on polls implied).
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Kevin Rudd is in Canberra today – he will be launching Peter Hartcher’s quarterly essay (on China) at midday
Tis the season
His face sums up how I feel seeing a Queenslander wear blue for a footy match
