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Coronavirus Australia update: Victoria reports 12 new cases as MP Adem Somyurek sacked – federal question time live Coronavirus Australia update: Victoria reports 12 new cases as MP Adem Somyurek sacked – politics live
(32 minutes later)
Victoria’s premier says minister accused of branch stacking was not given an opportunity to resign. Follow the latest updates liveVictoria’s premier says minister accused of branch stacking was not given an opportunity to resign. Follow the latest updates live
We are getting to the end of the government shutting down the attempt to suspend standing orders. Ed Husic only manages to get out “it’s a disgrace” before Christian Porter closes it down again I see the Amanda Stoker Sky News comments are getting a bit of traction.
Question time ended (I just got up from rocking under my desk) and Anthony Albanese moved to suspend standing orders (for the Australia Post regulation) which has been opposed by the government. Just your semi-regular reminder that she is locked in a battle with James McGrath for the number one Queensland Senate ticket spot.
Oh wait, he manages to whinge about the Queensland government (as we know, the collective noun for a group of Nationals is a whinge or a complaint) because there is a state election coming up in October, and let no chance for a sledge go unsledged is the new rule Stoker, McGrath and Matt Canavan are all up for re-election this coming election.
The Libs will get the first ticket spot, and the Nationals will get the second. So Canavan, if he decides to stay in the upper house, is fine. But the third spot, Gerard Rennick aside, is a pretty rare get, election wise.
So expect to see a lot from Stoker and McGrath in the coming six months, as they play for the base’s support.
Not being racist is also excellent as a beauty and general wellbeing tip, so there is that too.
Just don’t be racist or a white supremacist. I mean, it seems pretty simple, but apparently some people still struggle with it.
Here is another bit of quiet bipartisanship from Andrew Giles:
Today the parliament united to reject racism in Australia. I moved the following motion, which was seconded by Fiona Martin MP, that the house:
A. the Covid-19 crisis has seen a number of appalling racist attacks on Chinese-Australians; andB. condemns these shocking racist attacks.
I wish to thank my parliamentary colleagues, from both sides, for their contributions today: Fiona Martin MP, Chris Hayes MP, Tim Wilson MP, Clare O’Neil MP, Katie Allen MP, Graham Perrett MP and Gladys Liu MP.
We have acknowledged the problem and now we need to commit to action.
Labor supports a national anti-racism strategy and is ready to work with the government to see this progressed as a bipartisan, unifying initiative.
Ken O’Dowd is reading a speech like it is the first time he has seen words in this particular order, if you want to know what parliament looks like right now.
We are getting to the end of the government shutting down the attempt to suspend standing orders. Ed Husic only manages to get out “it’s a disgrace” before Christian Porter closes it down again.
Question time ended (I just got up from rocking under my desk) and Anthony Albanese moved to suspend standing orders (for the Australia Post regulation), which has been opposed by the government.
Oh wait, he manages to whinge about the Queensland government (as we know, the collective noun for a group of Nationals is a whinge or a complaint) because there is a state election coming up in October, and let no chance for a sledge go unsledged is the new rule.
David Littleproud then gets three minutes to talk about the government’s latest tongue twister – building back better.David Littleproud then gets three minutes to talk about the government’s latest tongue twister – building back better.
Anthony Albanese asks Scott Morrison whether he will reverse the Australia Post regulation decision (fewer postal delivery days, which the union says will mean fewer jobs)Anthony Albanese asks Scott Morrison whether he will reverse the Australia Post regulation decision (fewer postal delivery days, which the union says will mean fewer jobs)
He says he’ll get Paul Fletcher to take his remaining time, but then warms up to his theme and takes it all up (or maybe he is sparing us Fletcher’s 1950s headmaster delivery. Who knows) He says he’ll get Paul Fletcher to take his remaining time, but then warms up to his theme and takes it all up (or maybe he is sparing us Fletcher’s 1950s headmaster delivery – who knows).
Morrison:Morrison:
The Speaker has to check if we are still in question time.
Unfortunately, we are.
Or are we in purgatory?
Who can tell at this time.
Peter Dutton gets his dixer.
Nature is healing.
Joel Fitzgibbon to Scott Morrison:
My question is to the prime minister. The member for New England has called for a royal commission into the dairy sector because, he says, and I quote: “Those with markets power have utilised it at the expense of our dairy producers.” But the agriculture minister has rejected the call by the member for New England. Prime minister, who is right?
David Littleproud gets the call up:
Each and every question time brings me closer to understanding why Nurse Ratchet was the way she was.
There is another question on a VC for Teddy Sheean – for Scott Morrison mostly, I think, because it really, really annoys him.
It is extremely 2GB and conservative areas, so it is pretty uncomfortable for Morrison to explain why Sheean hasn’t got a VC and what is being done about the review.
Chris Hayes to Scott Morrison:
Today is International Cleaners’ Day. Prime minister, why has the government deliberately excluded cleaning staff at aged care facilities for retention payment, which was given to other aged care workers during the coronavirus?
Greg Hunt gets the nod:
Anthony Albanese asks Scott Morrison another question on jobkeeper (when will people learn when it is to be cut off?) but there is no new information in the answer.
The session moves on to Greg Hunt using his “Trust me, I am a health minister” voice.
Ohhhhh – this is what Bob Katter was talking about.
It seems his office has decided to put out a statement to help explain the questions. Probably a good strategy.
It is also at this point that we need to point out that in March 1905 Bob Katter’s grandfather Carl Robert Katter signed a naturalisation form, saying he was born in Assyria (which would make C R Katter a migrant).
Katter’s statement:
Bob Katter used question time today to urge the government to use the coronavirus pandemic as a lever to permanently cutback visa levels.
Mr Katter said Australia was appalled at the branch stacking and perversion of democracy by newcomers from overseas, as seen on Channel 9’s 60 Minutes last night.
He said:
Mr Katter said we are bringing in people from countries with no democracy, (and or) no rule of law, (and or) no egalitarian traditions, (and or) no industrial awards, (and or) no Judaeo-Christian beliefs.
Discourse in this country really, really, really needs a clean up.
Keith Pitt is on his feet. He’s gone with two shades of blue in his tie, so you know he means business.