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Jacqui Lambie breaks down, saying vote to repeal medevac was not an easy decision – politics live Medevac repeal bill passes after Jacqui Lambie votes with Coalition – politics live
(32 minutes later)
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 ‘Cruel, heartless’ deal provokes outrage from refugees, Greens and Labor as deal described as ‘dark day’ for Australia. Plus Nationals under pressure over Murray-Darling Basin plan. Follow all the day’s political news live
The New Zealand government has refused to confirm whether they have recently been approached by the Australian government on the Manus deal, only reiterating that the offer remained live.
“The offer to take 150 refugees is still on the table” immigration minister Iain Lees-Galloway said in a statement to the Guardian.
In November last year, the New Zealand prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, reiterated her government’s offer to take up to 150 refugees after a weeks-long standoff at Manus Island detention facility led to a desperate humanitarian situation for the remaining detainees.
New Zealand has made the same offer to the Australian government since 2013, but it has been strongly and repeatedly refused. The Australian home affairs minister, Peter Dutton, described it as a “bad option” and suggested it may encourage people-smuggling boats to intensify their efforts to reach Australia.
There is a precedent for New Zealand accepting refugees that Australia does not want. In 2001 Helen Clark’s Labour government offered asylum to 130 refugees who were rescued from the Tampa after it sunk off the Australian coast.Twenty of the 130 asylum seekers were young boys and adolescents, and became known as the “Tampa boys”.Abbas Nazari ,23, a Tampa refugee who resettled in New Zealand, recently won a Fullbright scholarship to study in the US. He says the country welcomed him with open arms.
“I can’t recall any instances of racism, and that’s the same experience for the vast majority of my family and community,” says Nazari.
“We wove naturally into the fabric of New Zealand society. So when I hear stories of prejudice and racism, I know for sure that it exists but my experience in New Zealand has been amazingly warm and welcoming.”
Reactions are flowing thick and fast after that vote. Shamindan, a refugee still in Papua New Guinea, said it was a “very dark day” that would allow politicians to deliberately deny medical care to those who need it.
Anthony Albanese said “you can be strong on borders without being weak on humanity”.
Richard Di Natale said it was clear someone had lied about the deal struck between Lambie and the Coalition. He just held a press conference:
Amnesty International Australia has described it as a “shameful day” for Australia. Advisor Graham Thom said:
Although one Labor amendment was voted on (to continue the medevac process for those with existing applications), I’m advised the rest weren’t circulated in time so the gag motion effectively prevented them being voted on.
Jacqui Lambie leaves the chamber alone. She walked past Stirling Griff and Rex Patrick, without making eye contact.
The medevac repeal bill is passed 37 votes to 35.
This is effectively the end of the medevac laws.
As they vote, Centre Alliance senator Stirling Griff has sent us this statement:
We’re now up to the final vote on this bill.
This is it. We’re expecting the repeal bill to be passed. Division in progress.
Lambie is voting against this amendment and it is defeated by one vote.
That’s a pretty grim forecast for the rest of Labor’s proposed amendments.
We’re currently voting on an amendment to allow people already in the medevac process to remain in the medevac process. Seems sane. Let’s see what our Senate thinks.
Pauline Hanson is shepherding Jacqui Lambie through these divisions.
At the moment, Lambie is penned between Hanson and the Liberal frontbencher Anne Ruston. It must be pretty intense, sitting between Hanson and Ruston right now.
We’re now into a series of votes on the second reading of the medevac repeal bill.
Labor is attempting now to move its amendments. The amendments are unlikely to be passed, but if they are, the bill will need to return to the lower house.
Kristina Keneally is using the amendments to call for government backbenchers “with some semblance of a beating heart” for support.
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: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.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.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 parliamentContinue 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.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.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.
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.
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.
“The majority of Australian support medevac, you silly woman.”