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Coalition reignites climate war over Labor's emissions policy – politics live Coalition reignites climate war over Labor's emissions policy – politics live
(32 minutes later)
Government MPs have lashed out at Labor over its emissions target, while question time has begun with statements over the murder of Hannah Clarke and her children. All the days events, live Government MPs have lashed out at Labor over its emissions target, while question time begins with statements over the murder of Hannah Clarke and her children. All the days events, live
The National Farmers’ Federation assures me it will be sending through a statement on what its carbon neutrality position actually is.
Question time is still going for some reason.
There has been way, way too much Michael McCormack for anyone’s liking. Including his own side of the chamber, if there faces are any indication.
He’s back again.
I read in one of Sharri Markson’s columns that he doesn’t believe he deserves to be called boring because he brings the house down when he does speeches, and dresses as Elvis.
Wow. I take it all back. He can make people who buy tickets to see him and want to court his influence laugh, and dresses up as Elvis. What. A. Great. Leader.
John Anderson wasn’t showy. Tim Fischer wasn’t either. Warren Truss was also pretty solid and staid.
You know what they did though? They did their job. They represented their constituents.
Spot the difference?
Stop with the ridiculous slogans and culture wars, the pitting of city and country voters against each other and just be better.
Oh god. Now Labor is summoning Michael McCormack:
Why did 94% of the central coast package from the urban congestion fund go to one seat, the marginal Liberal seat of Robertson? Is traffic congestion in the rest of the central coast not a problem?
McCormack:
He keeps going, but I just hear Edvard Munch’s The Scream.
Tony Burke is not playing with his point of orders after Catherine King was kicked out, and he brings up that McCormack has not raised anything to do with the central coast.
Then Anthony Albanese pops up to say these weren’t election commitments, they were in the budget.
McCormack has another go at speaking:
How do you stop livestock from passing wind?
The CSIRO is working on that.
These are the same people who helped give us Twisties (among, you know, some other pretty important things) so I think they know what they are doing.
I am now rocking under my desk, so to discover just how awe-smackingly stupid this latest “debate” is, read this.
Catherine King is booted from question time for making a “political point during a point of order”.
Greens senator Larissa Waters has asked the minister for women, Marise Payne, about Pauline Hanson’s comments on domestic violence that “these things happen” in relation to the murder of Hannah Clarke and her three children by her former partner.Payne replied:
Payne avoided Waters’ question about whether the government would seek to remove Hanson as deputy chair of the family law inquiry.
Asked about funding for domestic violence services, Payne had a shot at the Greens by noting that the Coalition and Labor “will not be politicising the events of last week”, then spruiked the benefits of the $340m fourth action plan on domestic violence.
Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison:
So far in this parliament the prime minister has used his numbers to shut down debate with me on 42 occasions. If the prime minister is so confident of his position, will he agree to a climate change debate at the National Press Club before the climate change conference in Glasgow this year?
Morrison:
Just for the record, here is what Morrison said when he returned from Hawaii during the bushfire crisis:
Oops, spoke too soon.
David Littleproud:
He’s told to pull his head in when it comes to his analogies. And rightly so. Ugh.
David Littleproud has settled on yelling at people as a political persona, but at least his sentences make some sort of sense.
Mark Butler to Scott Morrison:
Morrison:
More slogans, but no answer.
The new favourite:
What’s that?
Oh, I think it’s the ghost of Tony Abbott.
Michael McCormack is now watching David Littleproud do his job.Michael McCormack is now watching David Littleproud do his job.
Angus Taylor answers a lickspittle on how amazing the government is on climate, because it is not worried at all, nope, no need to talk about this, because it is totally across it all.Angus Taylor answers a lickspittle on how amazing the government is on climate, because it is not worried at all, nope, no need to talk about this, because it is totally across it all.
He is called back by Jim Chalmers with this question:He is called back by Jim Chalmers with this question:
Taylor:Taylor:
It’s not just me It’s not just me.
Joel Fitzgibbon to Michael McCormack (yet another of his sins) Joel Fitzgibbon to Michael McCormack (yet another of his sins):
Is the government aware that both the National farmers Federation and Meat and Livestock Australia have plans for their sectors to be carbon neutral by 2030? Only McCormack can make this three minutes stretch to four years. The election has come and gone. No one noticed because the climate wars have become so serious, Australian society is now divided by tribes, only recognisable by the shibboleth of how they pronounce “ideological”.
Only McCormack can make this three minutes stretch to four years. The election has come and gone. No one noticed because the climate wars have become so serious, Australian society is now divided by tribes, only recognisable by the shibboleth of how they pronounce “ideological” Oh – McCormack didn’t answer the question, because he is seemingly incapable of answering anything, unless it includes some made-up country homily that played well in front of his shaving mirror.
Oh – McCormack didn’t answer the question, because he is seemingly incapable of answering anything, unless it includes some made up country homily that played well in front of his shaving mirror.
Accidentally letting out his secrets on how he makes policy decisions, Michael McCormack advises Labor to “look a steer in the eye” and ask it how it will stop its methane.Accidentally letting out his secrets on how he makes policy decisions, Michael McCormack advises Labor to “look a steer in the eye” and ask it how it will stop its methane.
I tell you what, methane emissions could drop right now if the deputy prime minister shut his mouth.I tell you what, methane emissions could drop right now if the deputy prime minister shut his mouth.
For the record, the National Farmers’ Federation and Meat and Livestock Australia are both aiming for carbon neutrality by 2030.For the record, the National Farmers’ Federation and Meat and Livestock Australia are both aiming for carbon neutrality by 2030.
Michael McCormack has been summoned.Michael McCormack has been summoned.
It’s something that happens when you place white bread in a toaster and hit the lever three times.It’s something that happens when you place white bread in a toaster and hit the lever three times.
Zali Steggall asks Scott Morrison about the cost of climate inaction.Zali Steggall asks Scott Morrison about the cost of climate inaction.
She receives a bunch of slogans for her troubles.She receives a bunch of slogans for her troubles.
Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison:
Does the prime minister agree with the liberal premier of New South Wales that her government’s target of net zero emissions by 2050 is consistent with both the Paris agreement and the federal government’s own commitment to the Paris agreement?
Morrison:
It continues in this vein.
Another “how amazing are we when it comes to climate” dixer (so far, it has been Jason Falinski and Dave Sharma asking the questions – two of the self-declared “modern Liberals” – so you know the government is *serious* about this, because here are two people who can say the words “climate change action” without choking).
Anthony Albanese to Angus Taylor:
Isn’t it the case cabinet committed to net zero emissions by 2050 when it signed up to the Paris agreement?
Taylor:
Taylor to Sky News this morning:
The first dixer is on how amazing the government’s climate policy is.
SO, SO amazing. It’s basically as if Blue Ivy grew up to take her rightful place as the ruler of us all, it is that amazing and special.
And it’s all been achieved without a carbon price, says Scott Morrison.
Except ... it counts emissions reductions from when Labor was in power and had a carbon price, so that’s not entirely right.
Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison:
Can the prime minister confirm he suggested to the New South Wales premier that the scope of the bushfire recovery cleanup funding proposal by NSW was not consistent with the black Saturday framework, in a bid to reduce the costs to the federal government?
Morrison:
There is a moment of silence for Hannah Clarke and her family.
Then the questions begin.
Anthony Albanese:
No one is saying Baxter represents all men.
That Pauline Hanson pulls out that card, at this time, is abhorrent.
Pauline Hanson’s statement in the Senate is long on condemnation on Rowan Baxter but its ultimate conclusion was simply this: not all men.
Hanson described the murders as the “ultimate act of betrayal” and a “calculated, cowardly and evil act”.
The incident has “further added fuel to an already twisted and difficult family law debate”, she said, adding that “many decent men are deprived of their parental rights”.
She concluded:
In the Senate, the MPs are also taking time to honour Hannah Clarke and her children.