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Sports rorts back in the spotlight after PM drawn further into controversy – politics live Sports rorts back in the spotlight after PM drawn further into controversy – politics live
(32 minutes later)
Sport Australia will front the Senate inquiry as the government maintains it did nothing wrong with its sports grant program. All the day’s events, live Sport Australia fronts Senate inquiry as the government maintains it did nothing wrong with its sports grant program. All the day’s events, live
The baboons live on.
However his baby making abilities, do not
And the hearing ends.
It will resume tomorrow, where the department of health and Kate Palmer, the former chief executive of Sport Australia, will appear.
Sports Australia’s Luke McCann tells Katy Gallagher he met with the minister’s office and the department of health ahead of today’s appearance, where the Anao report was discussed.
He says it was a general discussion.
Sport Australia witnesses have said in the third and final round of the community sport infrastructure grant program, it recommended 225 projects on 3 April, the minister approved 228, but there were only 61 projects in common.
This explains why the Australian National Audit Office found a massive discrepancy, with 73% of projects funded by the minister but not recommended by Sport Australia.
There’s also more detail on timing. The final list went to the prime minister’s office on 10 April.
On 11 April, Sport Australia received a signed brief from Bridget McKenzie’s office, signed and dated 4th April.
Labor is trying to establish:
Why there were lots of changes at the last minute
Whether the minister waited for input from the prime minister
Why the minister dated the approval 4 April, if it was only provided to Sport Australia at 8:46am 11 April, 17 minutes after the government entered caretaker mode.
Ian Thorpe has joined the campaign against the religious discrimination bill. Thorpe says his preference is the bill be scrapped, to ensure protections for LGBTI people are maintained.
The federation chamber was shut down for “disorderly behaviour” – which was Labor moving to shut down government MPs from speaking.The federation chamber was shut down for “disorderly behaviour” – which was Labor moving to shut down government MPs from speaking.
At least according to the deputy speaker, Trent Zimmerman:At least according to the deputy speaker, Trent Zimmerman:
Ed Husic, who may now be able to call himself a regional MP, given that North Sydney has received a grant from a regional fund (with the justification from the mayor being, well, the pool is used by regional people) managed to bring some Husic humour to the situation in the chamber this morning:Ed Husic, who may now be able to call himself a regional MP, given that North Sydney has received a grant from a regional fund (with the justification from the mayor being, well, the pool is used by regional people) managed to bring some Husic humour to the situation in the chamber this morning:
Leftwing warrior Peter Dutton (leftwing is all things, according to the home affairs minister, who once said annoying “dirty lefties” was “too easy”, has bolstered his leftwing credentials by backing a change to the national anthem.Leftwing warrior Peter Dutton (leftwing is all things, according to the home affairs minister, who once said annoying “dirty lefties” was “too easy”, has bolstered his leftwing credentials by backing a change to the national anthem.
Cathy Freeman has backed changing “we are young and free” to “we are one and free”, given that Australia’s Indigenous people represent one of the oldest cultures in the world.Cathy Freeman has backed changing “we are young and free” to “we are one and free”, given that Australia’s Indigenous people represent one of the oldest cultures in the world.
Dutts is into it. WITHIN REASON.Dutts is into it. WITHIN REASON.
But then reverts back to full Dutts.But then reverts back to full Dutts.
Yup. THAT’S the outrage.Yup. THAT’S the outrage.
Sarah Hanson-Young won the Greens hunger games and retains environment as one of her portfolio areas. (There was some scuttlebutt she may have lost it following the leadership change.)Sarah Hanson-Young won the Greens hunger games and retains environment as one of her portfolio areas. (There was some scuttlebutt she may have lost it following the leadership change.)
So the redacted portfolio change is ... dental health.So the redacted portfolio change is ... dental health.
So the SA senator will now have responsibility for environment, water, and dental health.So the SA senator will now have responsibility for environment, water, and dental health.
The more you know.The more you know.
Turns out there have been a few instances of “covering your arse” entered into the hansard over the years. Which makes sense. This is Australia after all.Turns out there have been a few instances of “covering your arse” entered into the hansard over the years. Which makes sense. This is Australia after all.
09 Jun 1999 – Stephen Conroy09 Jun 1999 – Stephen Conroy
Mr Spier —We do not, senator. I think that is playing with semantics. We cannot say in all cases or in no cases —Mr Spier —We do not, senator. I think that is playing with semantics. We cannot say in all cases or in no cases —
Senator Conroy — You are covering your arse I know. I am now asking you to tell us in which cases you consider the introduction of a GST will see an increase of 10%. And if you are saying there are not any, then why do you qualify it in the letter?Senator Conroy — You are covering your arse I know. I am now asking you to tell us in which cases you consider the introduction of a GST will see an increase of 10%. And if you are saying there are not any, then why do you qualify it in the letter?
29 Apr 2011- TURNER, Ms Robin Leslie, Member, Apology Alliance Australia29 Apr 2011- TURNER, Ms Robin Leslie, Member, Apology Alliance Australia
Chair: Of your son?Chair: Of your son?
Ms Turner : Of my son. I think in today’s world that is called covering your arse.Ms Turner : Of my son. I think in today’s world that is called covering your arse.
Mike Bowers has attempted to show you the shut down Federation Chamber, but we can’t, because – p a r l i a m e n t.Mike Bowers has attempted to show you the shut down Federation Chamber, but we can’t, because – p a r l i a m e n t.
This was the official response to the request:This was the official response to the request:
That doesn’t include when the government has cancelled proceedings, apparently.That doesn’t include when the government has cancelled proceedings, apparently.
Some interesting evidence just now about how the program evolved over time:Some interesting evidence just now about how the program evolved over time:
In the first round, Sport Australia provided Bridget McKenzie with the raw scores of 1,924 projects it had assessed, and a list of projects that already reflected projects the minister was “supportive of”. That is, it did not provide an independent list of its own recommendations.In the first round, Sport Australia provided Bridget McKenzie with the raw scores of 1,924 projects it had assessed, and a list of projects that already reflected projects the minister was “supportive of”. That is, it did not provide an independent list of its own recommendations.
Luke McCann: “The minister was advising us which grant applications she was supportive of.”Luke McCann: “The minister was advising us which grant applications she was supportive of.”
But by round three, Sport Australia provided “a list of our recommendations”.But by round three, Sport Australia provided “a list of our recommendations”.
McCann: “In our view, as we worked through the iterative process, we needed to be better at providing our advice, to be consistent with better practice.”McCann: “In our view, as we worked through the iterative process, we needed to be better at providing our advice, to be consistent with better practice.”
So, in the first round Sport Australia was accommodating the minister’s wishes, and by the last round, it wanted it ON RECORD what their independent view was.So, in the first round Sport Australia was accommodating the minister’s wishes, and by the last round, it wanted it ON RECORD what their independent view was.
Sport Australia witnesses reject the suggestion they had worked out the program was a “rort” and wanted their view on record.Sport Australia witnesses reject the suggestion they had worked out the program was a “rort” and wanted their view on record.
A petition to evacuate the remaining 200 or so Australians still trapped in Wuhan has collected more than 600 signatures in less than a day.A petition to evacuate the remaining 200 or so Australians still trapped in Wuhan has collected more than 600 signatures in less than a day.
Earlier, Guardian Australia broke the story of the 18-month toddler, Chloe Luo, who is still trapped in the locked-down Hubei province, as well as 78-year old Garry Ridder and many more.Earlier, Guardian Australia broke the story of the 18-month toddler, Chloe Luo, who is still trapped in the locked-down Hubei province, as well as 78-year old Garry Ridder and many more.
This is despite the evacuation flights supposedly prioritising “the isolated and vulnerable”, according to Scott Morrison.This is despite the evacuation flights supposedly prioritising “the isolated and vulnerable”, according to Scott Morrison.
So far more than 500 Australians have already been evacuated out of Wuhan, across two Australian government flights, and 170 have been evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan.So far more than 500 Australians have already been evacuated out of Wuhan, across two Australian government flights, and 170 have been evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan.
But the government says there are no plans for a third evacuation flight out of Wuhan.But the government says there are no plans for a third evacuation flight out of Wuhan.
“These people should be treated the same as those Australians from Hubei and 170 from [the] Japan cruise who have already safely returned home,” the petition says.“These people should be treated the same as those Australians from Hubei and 170 from [the] Japan cruise who have already safely returned home,” the petition says.
The Greens are making a portfolio reshuffle announcement at 11.30.The Greens are making a portfolio reshuffle announcement at 11.30.
This is how they announced it.This is how they announced it.
WHO: - Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt MP- Australian Greens Spokesperson for █████████ Sarah Hanson-YoungWHO: - Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt MP- Australian Greens Spokesperson for █████████ Sarah Hanson-Young
The federation chamber has been adjourned for the rest of the day (it’s the chamber where overflow speeches from debates go) after it was shut down by Labor motions seven times yesterday.The federation chamber has been adjourned for the rest of the day (it’s the chamber where overflow speeches from debates go) after it was shut down by Labor motions seven times yesterday.
I know this seems a little inside baseball, but a parliamentary chamber has been closed down over a debate about parliamentary debate.I know this seems a little inside baseball, but a parliamentary chamber has been closed down over a debate about parliamentary debate.
Labor is moving to close down a member speaking in the House of Representatives.Labor is moving to close down a member speaking in the House of Representatives.
It’s Gladys Liu this time.It’s Gladys Liu this time.
That brings a division, which means all the MPs have to file into the House.That brings a division, which means all the MPs have to file into the House.