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Labor slams ‘secret deal’ between Coalition and Jacqui Lambie on medevac repeal bill – politics live Jacqui Lambie breaks down, saying vote to repeal medevac was not an easy decision – politics live
(32 minutes later)
ALP fears Senate won’t have opportunity to see the deal before the vote as government moves a motion to push through bill. Plus Nationals under pressure over Murray-Darling Basin plan. Follow all the day’s political news live Tasmanian senator cites national security as reason for not divulging details as Greens and Labor lash out. Plus Nationals under pressure over Murray-Darling Basin plan. Follow all the day’s political news live
Labor has put in a whole bunch of amendments to the medevac bill. If Jacqui Lambie continues voting with the government they may not be successful, but they will trigger a series of votes after 11am that will delay its final passage.These amendments would:
Require home affairs minister Peter Dutton to make a detailed report every time a refugee or asylum seeker is settled in a third country.
Allow minors to continue to come to Australia for psychiatric and medical assessments.
Continue the work of the Independent Health Advice Panel in making independent health assessments which then must be tabled in parliament
Stipulate that where the minister fails to make a decision about a proposed transfer, the more generous medevac provisions will continue to apply.
These would, in effect, soften the blow of repeal and try to set new rules to prevent the government refusing to deal with proposed medical transfers, as occurred before the medevac provisions were introduced.
Lambie was obviously emotional during that speech.
There is fury in the chamber.
The Greens who sit close to Lambie, heckled her throughout.
A Labor senator shouted “this is undemocratic” as Lambie apologised for not revealing the detail of her conversation with the government.
As Lambie spoke, Penny Wong, Kristina Keneally and Katy Gallagher stood at the front of the chamber, in conclave, arms folded.
Richard Di Natale is furious. Mathias Cormann has just insisted there was no “secret deal”. But Lambie has just confirmed, clearly, that there is a secret deal.
Di Natale:
Lambie:
She says she cannot allow the border protection system to unravel again and have people drown.
Lambie is breaking down in tears as she says she still cannot explain why she has given her vote to the government. She again cites national security for her lack of reasoning.
Jacqui Lambie finally gets up to speak. She says the decision was not easy and apologises for taking so long.
She says the system is not as perfect as the activists would have you believe but not as bad as the “media loudmouths” would have you believe either.
Kristina Keneally points out 62% of Australians support medevac. She’s referring to this Guardian Essential Poll.
“Boy they don’t like hearing that, do they?” she says.
Keneally continues: “What you’re voting on today will deny sick people treatment,” she says. “It will deny sick people the opportunity to see a doctor and get treatment.”
A bit more activity at the back of the chamber. Penny Wong has just paid a visit to the Greens advisers. Pauline Hanson is also heckling Nick McKim.
Jacqui Lambie is looking straight ahead.
Nick McKim says it is a “dark day for the Senate”. But it’s darker still for those still on Manus and Nauru.
Pauline Hanson is repeating the fact (which we’re also seeing in a lot of newspapers) that people brought here under medevac aren’t in hospital.Pauline Hanson is repeating the fact (which we’re also seeing in a lot of newspapers) that people brought here under medevac aren’t in hospital.
It’s worth noting (again) that the purpose of medevac is to bring people to Australia for medical care or assessment which is unavailable in PNG and Nauru. That does not necessarily equal hospitalisation. And a lack of hospitalisation does not equal a scammed medevac.It’s worth noting (again) that the purpose of medevac is to bring people to Australia for medical care or assessment which is unavailable in PNG and Nauru. That does not necessarily equal hospitalisation. And a lack of hospitalisation does not equal a scammed medevac.
Hanson then says a bunch of stuff that are not facts.Hanson then says a bunch of stuff that are not facts.
Pauline Hanson is on her feet. She doesn’t seem perturbed about not knowing the nature of the deal between Lambie and the Coalition. Instead, she’s attacking Labor and claiming medevac repeal is wanted by most Australians.Pauline Hanson is on her feet. She doesn’t seem perturbed about not knowing the nature of the deal between Lambie and the Coalition. Instead, she’s attacking Labor and claiming medevac repeal is wanted by most Australians.
Katharine Murphy, who’s in the chamber, reports that a Labor interjector has given her a handy fact.Katharine Murphy, who’s in the chamber, reports that a Labor interjector has given her a handy fact.
“The majority of Australian support medevac, you silly woman.”“The majority of Australian support medevac, you silly woman.”
The current debate is on Labor’s attempt to force the government to table all documents about its deal with Jacqui Lambie before the repeal bill is voted on.
It’s expected to go for about half an hour. Labor will need an absolute majority, but if it wins, it would effectively mean the bill cannot pass until those documents are provided to the Senate.
Finance minister Mathias Cormann is up on his feet.
He continues:
While Penny Wong is in full flight, Mathias Cormann makes a brief check on Lambie, who has resumed her seat.
Jacqui Lambie is now wandering, at large, at the back of the chamber.
The government wins the vote and we’re now debating the bill. Labor is attempting to move amendments to force the government to disclose its deal with Jacqui Lambie.
Penny Wong is attempting to suspend standing orders.
She wants debate delayed until “all documents relating to negotiations between the government and Jacqui Lambie” are laid on the table.
She continues:
We’re now voting to bring on consideration of the bill immediately.
The government wins the vote to limit debate 38-36.
Mike Bowers is in the chamber.
The government wins the vote to suspend standing orders 38-37, with Lambie’s vote critical.
It is now bringing on a vote to limit the debate.
Lambie is voting with the government in this division. There is much bonohomie on that side of the chamber.
Over the other side, the two Centre Alliance senators Stirling Griff and Rex Patrick are boxed in by Kristina Keneally and Katy Gallagher.
Jacqui Lambie has just entered the chamber. She looks cheerful. Malcolm Roberts from One Nation meanwhile is engaged in conversation with the Greens senator Janet Rice.
There is some speculation from senators that Scott Morrison has agreed with Lambie to pursue the New Zealand deal but only after the US deal has been fully executed. That’s what people think.