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Labor pursues PM over call to NSW police about Angus Taylor – question time live Labor pursues PM over call to NSW police about Angus Taylor – question time live
(32 minutes later)
More than 5,000 doctors urge Jacqui Lambie to ‘show humanity’ over medevac as Labor renews pursuit of Angus Taylor. All the day’s events, live Labor renews pursuit of Angus Taylor case as more than 5,000 doctors urge Jacqui Lambie to ‘show humanity’ over medevac. All the day’s events, live
Another dixer and we are back to the phone call Tim Watts yells out: “When are you going to appoint a horse to the Senate?”
History buffs would appreciate the Caligula reference.
Some would say it’s been done.
Leave is denied.
And we enter the 10th circle of hell
The motion:
I seek leave to move the following motion —That the House:1) notes that:
a) shortly before Question Time yesterday, the NSW Police issued a statementconfirming that detectives had launched Strike Force Garrad to investigate afraudulent document used by the Minister for Emissions Reduction;
b) the statement by the NSW Police said “as investigations are ongoing, no furtherinformation is available”;
c) despite that statement and only hours later, the Prime Minister called the NSW PoliceCommissioner and sought further information, later telling the Parliament they hadspoken “about the instigation, the nature and the substance of their inquiries”;
d) today, Malcolm Turnbull said it would have been much better had the PrimeMinister’s phone call to the NSW Police Commissioner not been made because it wasimportant the inquiry “is seen to be conducted entirely free of political influence”; and
e) when Members of his Government were the subject of a police investigation, JohnHoward said “I told my colleagues that the Federal Police should be allowed to carryout this investigation without let or hindrance from me or anybody in the federalgovernment”; and
2) therefore, the House resolves the Prime Minister acted inappropriately by:a) calling the NSW Police Commissioner when all he had in mind was his own politicalinterest and not the national interest; andb) thinking none of the usual rules of integrity and accountability apply to him.
For the second day in a row Labor’s Tony Sheldon has asked about potential changes to the unfair dismissal rules and the Better Off Overall Test for enterprise agreements.Marise Payne, representing the IR minister, noted that the small business commissioner has suggested the small business unfair dismissal code is “not achieving its original intent”.
She notes consultation through a discussion paper to discover “how it might be amended to be clearer” in relation to fairness of decisions to dismiss employees. She confirms a separate paper will examine enterprise bargaining.
When Sheldon asks why the Coalition didn’t seek a mandate for Workchoices Mark 2, Payne rejects the premise of the question and claims the Coalition was “very clear in relation to our policies”.
Murray Watt heckles to “show me the press conference where this was announced”. It’s true - none of this was announced before the election, but then, it wasn’t ruled out either.
Labor is now moving to suspend standing orders.
This will fail.
Because they all fail
Melissa Price has been allowed to take a dixer.
This is where we are at.
Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison:Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison:
My question is addressed to the Prime Minister and I refer to his previous answer. The Prime Minister in dismissing Malcolm Turnbull’s comments this morning just said that only those with all the facts can make judgements about this matter. Does the Prime Minister have any information about this matter which is not in the public domain? My question is again addressed to the Prime Minister. Isn’t it the case when the Prime Minister called the New South Wales Police Commissioner, all he had in mind was his own political interest and not the national interest? Why does this Prime Minister think none of the usual rules of integrity and accountability apply to him and his government?
Morrison:Morrison:
Albanese asks about relevance - Tony Smith says Morrison is allowed to compare and contrast. I m p a c t f u l
Morrison:
Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison:Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison:
(There is loud laughter and gaffaws from the government benches at the mention of Turnbull’s name.) My question is, again, to the prime minister. I refer to his call to the New South Wales police commissioner. Did the prime minister get any advice from the secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet prior to making that call? Were any note-takers present? If so, will the prime minister release those notes to clarify the difference between his and the police commissioner’s account of their conversation?
Morrison:Morrison:
(Albanese interrupts to say he never actually got a chance to say anything yesterday, because the debate was gagged. Tony Smith says he is not getting into a tit-for-tat) In other words, FOI it.
Morrison: Analysts at investment bank UBS, led by one of the biggest critics of Australian banks, Jonathan Mott, have upgraded their rating of Westpac after its cleaned out its executive suite following its money laundering and child exploitation crisis.
Zali Steggall has the independent question today: In a note to clients, Mott’s team said they expected Westpac to pay regulator Austrac at least $1bn to settle the case, but warned the final figure “could be significantly higher, or lower”.
Thank you, to the Prime Minister - trust in politicians is at an all-time low and it is dipping day by day. In is our responsibility to fix. Parliament is paralysed by these allegations that need to be investigated by an independent body. Could you inform the House when the government’s bill on a national integrity commission be introduced and it will include powers to investigate parliamentarians and their staff? “We believe it is now clear the Australian banks have been global laggards in addressing AML [anti-money laundering] and compliance issues since the financial crisis,” they said.
“Oh come on,” comes from the government benches. They upgraded their rating of Westpac stock from sell to neutral, not out of any confidence in the bank’s future performance but because its share price has fallen so far over the past three months that it is now close to their target price of $24.50.
Morrison:
(as the daughter of a retired police officer, I know that being related to a police officer actually means diddly squat)
Christian Porter takes the second part of the question:
Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison:Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison:
Today Commissioner Fuller said, his conversation with the Prime Minister was, I quote, “An extremely short conversation and he just wanted confirmation we’re were conducting an investigation”. My question is addressed to the prime minister: when members of his government were the subject of a police investigation, John Howard said the following: “I told my colleagues that the Federal police should be allowed to carry out this investigation without let or hindrance from me or anybody in the Federal government.”
The Prime Minister told the house they spoke about the [referral], its nature and the substance of their inquiries. How does the Prime Minister reconcile his account the parliament with Commissioner Fuller’s public statement about the nature of their conversation? Given John Howard’s example, why did the prime Minister call the New South Wales Police Commissioner and according to him, discuss the substance of the criminal investigation?
Morrison:Morrison:
I stand by all the statements I made on this matter. I note in the same press conference that a journalist asked the Police Commissioner - “Did the Prime Minister ask to be kept updated by you?” He said, “Not at all, I gave him assurance we would move the matter as quickly as possible and I didn’t say that because of any particular person”. Angus Taylor has been the focus in Senate question time.Mathias Cormann, representing the prime minister, has dismissed Labor’s suggestion that a “political” referral to the police should be the basis for Taylor to be dismissed as a “crazy proposition”. He dodged a separate question asking if the government will release the transcript of Scott Morrison’s call with the NSW police commissioner, Mick Fuller.
This is what he went on to say, “He said, to be honest with you, these types of investigations can consume an enormous amount of resources from New South Wales Police and they are a great diverter of my time”. Labor also asked Simon Birmingham, representing Taylor, where the travel figures came from. Birmingham replied it was “the advice of the minister” that it came from the City of Sydney website.
Tony Smith is having a lot of trouble controlling the House today. But, he persists. Murray Watt and others had fun with this answer, suggesting in interjections that Birmingham had thrown Taylor under a bus by not stating – as a matter of fact – that is where the figures came from.
Alan Tudge is taking a dixer, which suddenly makes the Senate super interesting.
Let’s check in with Paul Karp.
Anthony Albanese, and his hair, to Scott Morrison:
Morrison:Morrison:
I suddenly can’t stop thinking of soggy weet-bix.
Also, Michael McCormack is taking a dixer
Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison:
[Why did he talk] about the substance of an investigation on the very day it was launched?
Morrison:
I will refresh the Leader of the Opposition’s memory, it seems to be lacking this morning. Yesterday, I said this clearly - this is a very recent matter and I will be happy to take advice from the New South Wales police in relation to any matters they’re pursuing. I said this, I will take advice from the New South Wales police on any matter...
I will take advice from the New South Wales Police on any matter they’re currently looking at and form a view based on taking the advice in considering these issues.
Third time, what I will do is what I said in response to the last question - I will speak directly to the New South Wales Police Force and understand the nature of what these reports are, and then I will make the necessary assessments of that case at that time. That’s the third time.
The 4th time, as I said, Mr Speaker, I will leave the matters pursuing these issues to the New South Wales Police.
...
Then I said I am going to leave the matters of pursuing these issues to the New South Wales Police, I’ll speak directly to the New South Wales Police. I will consider the information they provide me about this matter and exercise my responsibilities under the standards once I have had the opportunity to have those discussions.
I said this on four occasions in the House yesterday in response to questions, Mr Speaker.
Now, I would suggest to the Leader of the Opposition, if he is going to ask questions, he should listen to the answers and not Mr Speaker, as the Labor Party have been in a constant for the last six months, Mr Speaker [and not just sit in here and sulk]
What I did yesterday, Mr Speakers what I told the House I would do, and then I went and did it, Mr Speaker and out of absolute courtesy, as I should to this House, I came back into this House and fully put forward those issues and the assessment I have taken. I refer, I refer the Leader of the Opposition to the comments by the commissioner today.
Mick Fuller said today in a doorstep interview, “The Prime Minister didn’t ask me any questions that were inappropriate. He didn’t ask for anything that was inappropriate and I’m comfortable with the discussion that we had over a few minutes.”
Chris Bowen is booted for interjections.
First question was on the phone call - why did the prime minister call?
Scott Morrison said he had spoken about making the call in question time and was fulfilling his commitment.
We are heading into the chamber for question time.
Gee, I wonder what it could be about?
On his Facebook page Barnaby Joyce has made an impassioned plea for people to join the Nationals - warning it will lose its registration this week if it doesn’t boost its numbers:
And the back end:
What about the task force?
Fuller: It is a very small strike force because we are looking at the technical aspects of the allegation. From my perspective the scrutiny on us means that I want the matter finished as quickly as possible but we need to do a professional job but obviously when there’s and I normal use amount of public interest I feel as though in the fairness of everyone we need to wrap this matter up as quickly as possible.
Q: You are on the record as previously saying that Scott Morrison used to bring your bins in on rubbish night. What would you say to the suggestion that, in fact, your relationship is closer than you are suggesting that you are actually mates?
Fuller: It was a joke that I had with Ben Fordham on the radio and Ben took that and probably used that. From my perspective that was just a joke.
Of course he has never brought my bins in. I never had his number in my phone so from my perspective it is right for people to judge that but I didn’t have his contact and I think that speaks volumes. I have never been to his house. I have never been to The Lodge I have never had a personal invitation from him to join his family or friends. Our relationship is a professional one.
Q: Did the Prime Minister ask to be kept updated by you?
Fuller: Not at all. I just gave him an assurance that we would move the matter as quickly as possible and I didn’t say that was because of any particular person.
To be honest with you, these types of investigations can consume an enormous amount of resources from New South Wales police and they area great diverter of my time. There is a whole range of reasons why I want the matter finished quickly but professionally and many of those are selfish.
Back to the Mick Fuller press conference:
Q: Are the police investigating the minister Angus Taylor for anything which might potentially... ?
Fuller: At this stage the allegation itself is around a complex piece of criminal law. We are unsure at this stage, even if we have reached a benchmark of it being a criminal matter, now that needs to be the first port of call, is this a criminal matter or is it not but again, I feel as though it was in the public’s interest that I acted on what was a well-constructed letter from the Shadow Attorney-General and from New South Wales police perspective I need to make sure we act openly and ethically with all members of our community.
Q: Do you think having a personal relationship with the Prime Minister played a role in him calling you directly?
Fuller:
I tell you this, I received three missed calls from a phone number I don’t have in my phone. I don’t have the prime minister’s number.
He is my local member and I have met him a few times - I have never had dinner at the Lodge with him or been to his premises. Am I proud that our local member is the Prime Minister, yes, I am, but I certainly don’t have a personal relationship with the Prime Minister.
Q: Have any other Prime Ministers talked to you directly while you are in the job?
Fuller: I have spoken to previous Prime Ministers in relation to matters of public safety and other matters of interest. From time to time the Premier calls me and from time to time Opposition Leaders and cabinet members and journalists call me as well.
Obviously, the bins are not the most important aspect of this, but I cannot stop laughing that we are having a conversation involving the highest levels of executive and police powers involving taking wheelie bins in.
Mick Fuller says he was joking when he told Ben Fordham late last year that Scott Morrison used to take his bins in.
Q: You are on the record as previously saying that Scott Morrison used to bring your bins in on rubbish night. What would you say to the suggestion that, in fact, your relationship is closer than you are suggesting, that you are actually mates?
Fuller: It was a joke that I had with Ben Fordham on the radio and Ben took that and probably used that. From my perspective that was just a joke. Of course he has never brought my bins in. I never had his number in my phone so from my perspective it is right for people to judge that but I didn’t have his contact and I think that speaks volumes. I have never been to his house. I have never been to the Lodge, I have never had a personal invitation from him to join his family or friends. Our relationship is a professional one.
BUT Ben Fordham spoke to Scott Morrison in December last year, a few days after his interview with Fuller, and Morrison confirmed he used to take the bins in.
From the PMO transcript:
FORDHAM: She’s fantastic. You have just been raised in a conversation with Mick Fuller, the NSW police commissioner.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, good bloke.
FORDHAM: Because, once upon a time when you were neighbours, according to the commissioner, and I think this has been confirmed, you used to bring his bin in. When he’d leave the bin outside, the wheelie bin outside, and he was too lazy himself to bring it in, you would collect his bin and wheel it in for him. True or false?
[Laughter]
PRIME MINISTER: That’s what good neighbours do. That’s what they do. Mick is a great bloke and that’s the Shire way.
FORDHAM: How come you don’t do it any more?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I don’t take the bins out any more.
Mick Fuller is holding a press conference:
For the sake of accuracy and fairness, I am compelled to tell you that Josh Frydenberg’s announcement about coming to terms on the business growth investment fund was on the front page of the Daily Telegraph today, and is being run on radio bulletins.
So some people care.
Scott Morrison in 2019 (when talking about people not dressing appropriately for Australia Day citizenship ceremonies):
He was asked about that statement a few days later during an ABC interview and said:
After the change of business motion which went through yesterday, the Senate will sit until midnight tonight, or until the second reading debate is done, whichever is sooner.
And Christian Porter gets to tick something off his list. He might even reward himself with a carb. He’s earned it.