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Yang Hengjun should have access to family and treatment, PM says – politics live Yang Hengjun should have access to family and treatment, PM says – politics live
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Peter Dutton restates that Scott Morrison’s call to NSW police commissioner, Mick Fuller, was ‘entirely appropriate’. All the day’s politics – livePeter Dutton restates that Scott Morrison’s call to NSW police commissioner, Mick Fuller, was ‘entirely appropriate’. All the day’s politics – live
Greens senator Nick McKim is on his feet to speak on the medevac bill. He says the debate boils down to a simple question:
McKim said the old regime had led to deaths, because it denied asylum seekers the care they needed.
The government has turned offshore processing into indefinite detention, Keneally said. This, she said, was what made medevac such a critical piece of legislation.
Keneally says there is widespread public support for the medevac bill. But the government has made “brazen, desperate, and dishonest” attempts to discredit the law. That includes leaking national security advice to the Australian newspaper, and the dissemination of private and personal details of asylum seekers.
Just a reminder: we still don’t know which way the votes will fall on this repeal bill. It all hinges on Jacqui Lambie, and we are yet to discover if she has won the concessions she sought from the Coalition.
Debate has begun on the medevac repeal bill – formally known as the migration amendment (repairing medical transfers) bill 2019 – in the Senate. Labor’s Kristina Keneally is on her feet.
Keneally speaks of a letter she received from a doctor formerly on Nauru, named Chris Jones. She quotes Jones’s letter:
Keneally says the current system allowed bureaucrats with no medical qualifications to overrule doctors on the ground. She said successive ministerial directions greatly discouraged the transference of asylum seekers to Australia for treatment.
Consumer advocates have welcomed the introduction of a bill to crack down on exploitative payday loans, a form of short-term, high-interest lending that can trap vulnerable consumers in debt. The bill was introduced to the Senate with the support of Labor and Centre Alliance. It would, among other things, ban payday lenders from making unsolicited offers encouraging individuals to repeatedly take out payday loans.Consumer advocates have welcomed the introduction of a bill to crack down on exploitative payday loans, a form of short-term, high-interest lending that can trap vulnerable consumers in debt. The bill was introduced to the Senate with the support of Labor and Centre Alliance. It would, among other things, ban payday lenders from making unsolicited offers encouraging individuals to repeatedly take out payday loans.
The Consumer Action Law Centre chief executive, Gerard Brody, said the bill would protect hundreds of thousands of Australians exploited by payday lenders. The Consumer Action Law Centre’s chief executive, Gerard Brody, said the bill would protect hundreds of thousands of Australians exploited by payday lenders.
“There is a broad consensus across the community that stronger consumer protections for payday loans are needed. Why, then, are prime minister Scott Morrison and treasurer Josh Frydenberg letting payday lenders and consumer lease providers escape legislative reform?” he said. “There is a broad consensus across the community that stronger consumer protections for payday loans are needed. Why then are prime minister Scott Morrison and treasurer Josh Frydenberg letting payday lenders and consumer lease providers escape legislative reform?” he said.
The government has previously promised action to regulate the payday loan industry. A draft of small amount credit contract legislation to increase protections for vulnerable consumers was released by the government in 2017, but despite promising it would introduce the bill by the end of that year, it failed to do so.The government has previously promised action to regulate the payday loan industry. A draft of small amount credit contract legislation to increase protections for vulnerable consumers was released by the government in 2017, but despite promising it would introduce the bill by the end of that year, it failed to do so.
“In the three years that these reforms have stalled, payday lenders have profited to the tune of some $550m,” Brody said. Recent data from the Stop the Debt Trap Alliance’s report on payday lending uncovered a booming market, projecting that it would reach a staggering $1.7bn in gross payday lending stock by the end of this year.“In the three years that these reforms have stalled, payday lenders have profited to the tune of some $550m,” Brody said. Recent data from the Stop the Debt Trap Alliance’s report on payday lending uncovered a booming market, projecting that it would reach a staggering $1.7bn in gross payday lending stock by the end of this year.
Mike Bowers has been roaming the corridors of parliament this morning and has all the colour from the prime minister’s press conference and, earlier, an event launching the Friends of our Pacific Family.Mike Bowers has been roaming the corridors of parliament this morning and has all the colour from the prime minister’s press conference and, earlier, an event launching the Friends of our Pacific Family.
A little earlier this morning, Greens MP Adam Bandt introduced a bill that would compel the Climate Change Authority to report on the impact of three degrees or more of global warming on the Australian environment, economy and society.A little earlier this morning, Greens MP Adam Bandt introduced a bill that would compel the Climate Change Authority to report on the impact of three degrees or more of global warming on the Australian environment, economy and society.
“The Australian people need to know that the Morrison government’s current climate targets will take us into a three-degree world, with catastrophic consequences for Australia,” he said. “We’re already seeing the severe impacts of a one-degree world with the climate crisis driving the fire emergency and the record drought. The Australian people need to know what the prime minister’s targets will do to the country when they take us to three degrees.”“The Australian people need to know that the Morrison government’s current climate targets will take us into a three-degree world, with catastrophic consequences for Australia,” he said. “We’re already seeing the severe impacts of a one-degree world with the climate crisis driving the fire emergency and the record drought. The Australian people need to know what the prime minister’s targets will do to the country when they take us to three degrees.”
There’s not a lot of bipartisanship on display in Canberra this morning. But there’s one thing Labor and Liberal MPs are both happy to put their names to: an invitation to the industry-sponsored “parliamentary friends of resources” Christmas drinks.There’s not a lot of bipartisanship on display in Canberra this morning. But there’s one thing Labor and Liberal MPs are both happy to put their names to: an invitation to the industry-sponsored “parliamentary friends of resources” Christmas drinks.
The invitation has just been jointly sent out by Labor’s Joel Fitzgibbon and the Liberal party’s Craig Kelly. The event is to be held in parliament house on 4 December. It is sponsored by the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association.The invitation has just been jointly sent out by Labor’s Joel Fitzgibbon and the Liberal party’s Craig Kelly. The event is to be held in parliament house on 4 December. It is sponsored by the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association.
It is described thusly:It is described thusly:
Sounds like fun.Sounds like fun.
We know Jacqui Lambie is critical to the government’s plans to repeal medevac. For “national security” reasons, Lambie has been coy about what she wants in exchange, though one report has suggested she wants Australia to accept New Zealand’s offer to take 150 refugees from offshore detention.We know Jacqui Lambie is critical to the government’s plans to repeal medevac. For “national security” reasons, Lambie has been coy about what she wants in exchange, though one report has suggested she wants Australia to accept New Zealand’s offer to take 150 refugees from offshore detention.
Morrison appeared to shut down that option in his press conference. Asked whether he would be prepared to take New Zealand’s offer, Morrison said simply: “Those policies on those matters haven’t changed.”Morrison appeared to shut down that option in his press conference. Asked whether he would be prepared to take New Zealand’s offer, Morrison said simply: “Those policies on those matters haven’t changed.”
The organisers of the Murray-Darling basin protest are expecting about 200 trucks to descend on Canberra today. They plan to encircle Federation Mall, the strip between the new and old parliament houses.The organisers of the Murray-Darling basin protest are expecting about 200 trucks to descend on Canberra today. They plan to encircle Federation Mall, the strip between the new and old parliament houses.
Organiser Carly Marriott, who lives on property just north of the Murray river, says the plan has grossly restricted her access to water, something she likens to having “your hands tied behind your back”. She spoke to the ABC a little earlier:Organiser Carly Marriott, who lives on property just north of the Murray river, says the plan has grossly restricted her access to water, something she likens to having “your hands tied behind your back”. She spoke to the ABC a little earlier:
Peter Dutton has said he believed it was entirely appropriate for the prime minister to call the NSW police commissioner, Mick Fuller, about the active investigation into Angus Taylor’s office.Peter Dutton has said he believed it was entirely appropriate for the prime minister to call the NSW police commissioner, Mick Fuller, about the active investigation into Angus Taylor’s office.
Dutton, a former police officer, was asked whether he would have appreciated such a call.Dutton, a former police officer, was asked whether he would have appreciated such a call.
“I said at the time last week I thought the prime minister’s call was entirely appropriate,” he said. “The prime minister has obligations under the ministerial code of conduct and the alternative view would have been that he didn’t avail himself of the information and, therefore, he couldn’t fulfil his obligation under the ministerial code of conduct.”“I said at the time last week I thought the prime minister’s call was entirely appropriate,” he said. “The prime minister has obligations under the ministerial code of conduct and the alternative view would have been that he didn’t avail himself of the information and, therefore, he couldn’t fulfil his obligation under the ministerial code of conduct.”
He said nobody had “sought to impede” NSW police’s investigation.He said nobody had “sought to impede” NSW police’s investigation.
The phone call has been criticised by Labor and integrity experts, including a former anti-corruption commissioner and judge, David Ipp, who said it appeared to be an attempt to use the office to further party political interests.The phone call has been criticised by Labor and integrity experts, including a former anti-corruption commissioner and judge, David Ipp, who said it appeared to be an attempt to use the office to further party political interests.
Morrison is asked about Nick Xenophon’s new job with Huawei and whether he should place himself on the government’s new foreign influence register.
“He needs to comply with the law like everybody else,” Morrison says.
Huawei was not directly targeted in the government’s decision to restrict involvement in the 5G network, Morrison says.
“Look, I wish Nick all the best in his new employment and sounds like he’s prosecuting his case. It’s a free country.”
The prime minister also speaks about China’s detention of Yang Hengjun, an author and Australian citizen. The latest consular report suggests he is being interrogated daily, sometimes in shackles. He says:
The prime minister, Scott Morrison, and the home affairs minister, Peter Dutton, are holding a press conference on the government’s new $87.8m taskforce to detect and disrupt foreign interference. The taskforce, which brings together intelligence and policing capabilities, has been announced after extraordinary revelations about China’s efforts to plant a candidate in Australia’s parliament and the defection of a man who claims to be associated with Chinese intelligence.
“Foreign interference comes from many, many different sources and it’s important that we have the capacity to deal with it,” Morrison says. “It’s an evolving threat and it’s also been a building and evolving response.”
I mentioned a little earlier that bushfire survivor Melinda Plesman had travelled to parliament to call for climate action. Her home was lost in the bushfires that devastated the east coast in recent months. She has brought the remains of her home to parliament as a gift to Scott Morrison.
Plesman spoke to reporters a little earlier:
Richard Di Natale, the Greens leader, is responding to Wong’s attack. He says Labor’s criticism of events 10 years ago are a “distraction” from the “coal hugging Liberals”.
“You’re supposed to be here to fight the Tories, not the Greens,” he says.
Di Natale said today was the first day Labor had wanted to talk about climate change since the devastating fires on the east coast.
“What are the Labor party doing? Turning their attention to the Greens. We had half the country on fire last week. We have had the east coast burning. We have had people losing their homes. You know what the response was from the Labor party? Well, again they joined the Liberal party: now is not the time to talk about climate change.”
Di Natale says the Greens were the only party to take a carbon price policy to the election.
“If you are so desperate to have a climate price introduced, let’s get together and work on one,” he said.
Still in the Senate, Labor’s Penny Wong is speaking about the 10-year anniversary of the defeat of the carbon pollution reduction scheme, which was voted down by the Liberals and Greens.
Wong isn’t wasting the opportunity to lay the boot into the Greens. She describes the Liberals and Greens as an “unholy alliance” that derailed Australia’s action on climate change.
“The Greens political party voted against cumulative reduction of Australia’s carbon emissions by 280m tonnes over the last decade,” she says.
Wong says the Greens justified their decision by complaining the targets were inadequate and industry assistance was too great.
“Just two years later they voted for the clean energy future package, which had the same emissions targets for 2020 and more industry assistance,” Wong says.
Finance minister Mathias Cormann describes Wong’s statement as a “political stunt”.
“This is just all about a tiff between the Labor party and the Greens,” he says.
For his part, Cormann says he stands by the decision to vote down the CPRS.
Cormann says the CPRS would never have helped reduce emissions, but simply just shifted Australia’s emissions to another part of the world.
Over in the Senate, One Nation’s Pauline Hanson is attempting to have her bill protecting dairy farmers debated today. The bill is an attempt to require that fair prices be paid for milk. Hanson wants it debated in private senators’ time, just after midday.
Labor has supported attempts to bring on debate on the bill, and has previously challenged the Nationals to do the same. But the government is resisting and just won a vote denying One Nation the ability to debate the bill. That is slightly unusual, in that the government does not typically use its numbers to dictate what bills can be debated during private senators’ time.
One Nation will bring on the bill anyway, but further debate has been adjourned.
Nick Xenophon has just been on Sky News, talking about his new role as “strategic counsel” with Chinese telecommunications behemoth Huawei. Huawei was banned from any role in Australia’s 5G network over concerns of potential foreign influence, a decision that infuriated the Chinese government and the company.
Xenophon is asked how much he is being paid, and whether he is selling out his good name to act as a mouthpiece for a company associated with the Chinese Communist party.
“We are being paid on an hourly rate, it’s about the same as any other client that I’m acting for,” Xenophon said. “So there’s no premium, there’s no danger rate.”
He said all he wants is to “shut down false, unfair attacks on Huawei”.
“In my view this decision to ban Huawei was a decision that was ill-considered. It was highly political, in my view,” he said.
Xenophon said it was wrong to suggest he was acting as a mouthpiece for a CCP-linked company.
“It’s wrong. Wrong on so many levels. Huawei is a private company, it’s owned by its employees, its owned by its key executives, it’s been fiercely independent.”
Melinda Plesman has arrived in Canberra with a present for the prime minister Scott Morrison. Plesman lost her home in bushfires that swept through Nymboida, on the NSW north coast near Grafton.
She has brought the ashes of her property down to gift Morrison to highlight the Coalition’s lack of climate action.
Foreign minister Marise Payne has issued a statement on China’s treatment of Yang Hengjun, an Australian writer detained on unspecified criminal charges. The Guardian reported this morning that Dr Hengjun is being subjected to daily interrogations with his arms and legs shackled, as Chinese security officials try to “break” him, and have him confess to unspecified allegations of espionage that potentially carry the death penalty.
Payne said the Australian government was “very concerned” by reports from a recent consular visit to Hengjun. She described his treatment as “unacceptable”.