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| Sydney siege gunman's letter to Brandis 'anything but routine' – politics live | Sydney siege gunman's letter to Brandis 'anything but routine' – politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 9.58am AEST00:58 | |
| Labor senator Jacinta Collins wants to know if the process for the next appointment of the sex discrimination commissioner has begun. Minister Simon Birmingham, for Brandis, is not giving any info about the process. | |
| The current commissioner Elizabeth Broderick is retiring in September and questions have been raised over when the replacement process will begin. Disability commissioner Graeme Innes, you might remember, was not replaced. | |
| 9.48am AEST00:48 | |
| The president of the Human Rights Commission, Gillian Triggs, is before the senate estimates with minister George Brandis. | |
| Triggs is talking about the last estimates, when senators wanted specific information about three cases investigated by the Commission, including that of John Basikbasik. | |
| Triggs believes she should not disclose certain information on the grounds of public interest immunity and believes if she were compelled to do so, it could lead to other statutory bodies having to disclose certain information. | |
| Brandis said it’s a matter for the committee, in this case the senate legal and constitutional affairs legislation committee. But he goes on to say: | |
| If you look at the relevant provisions of the Human Rights Commission act, in particular section 49, there is no self sufficient power vested in the president to make a public interest immunity claim. | |
| With that, Brandis has to leave the committee. | |
| Labor senators suggest that they have different advice. Triggs tells the chair the HRC did consult AG’s department and they were advised the way the submission was presented was appropriate. | |
| It all gets too hard and committee chair Ian Macdonald defers that particular debate until more advice is sought. | |
| 9.18am AEST00:18 | 9.18am AEST00:18 |
| Now to gay marriage. | Now to gay marriage. |
| There are a couple of interpretations around this morning about whether Tony Abbott’s language in parliament yesterday represents a shift. Or not. | There are a couple of interpretations around this morning about whether Tony Abbott’s language in parliament yesterday represents a shift. Or not. |
| Here is what he said: | Here is what he said: |
| I can’t foresee the future. I don’t know how our society will develop. I don’t know how this parliament will proceed in the months and years ahead. I do just make this one point, though, Madam Speaker. If our parliament were to make a big decision on a matter such as this, it ought to be owned by the parliament and not by any particular party. | I can’t foresee the future. I don’t know how our society will develop. I don’t know how this parliament will proceed in the months and years ahead. I do just make this one point, though, Madam Speaker. If our parliament were to make a big decision on a matter such as this, it ought to be owned by the parliament and not by any particular party. |
| Here is Michelle Grattan in The Conversation: | Here is Michelle Grattan in The Conversation: |
| Tony Abbott’s opposition to marriage equality won’t change, but one gets the impression he’s realising this tide can’t be held back for much longer. | Tony Abbott’s opposition to marriage equality won’t change, but one gets the impression he’s realising this tide can’t be held back for much longer. |
| Abbott might be thinking about how to avoid personally looking too bad in defeat – and also the way to prevent Shorten or the Greens taking all the kudos on a popular issue if a vote is carried before the election. | Abbott might be thinking about how to avoid personally looking too bad in defeat – and also the way to prevent Shorten or the Greens taking all the kudos on a popular issue if a vote is carried before the election. |
| As usual, David Rowe in the Fin is worth a look. | As usual, David Rowe in the Fin is worth a look. |
| RSVP ...bill ant tony's nuptials @FinancialReview #MarriageEquaility #auspol @PoliticsFairfax pic.twitter.com/bdm9JpM3mP | RSVP ...bill ant tony's nuptials @FinancialReview #MarriageEquaility #auspol @PoliticsFairfax pic.twitter.com/bdm9JpM3mP |
| More breaking news. Barnaby Joyce was asked about it this morning. | More breaking news. Barnaby Joyce was asked about it this morning. |
| I believe in traditional marriage and that never gets you friends. | I believe in traditional marriage and that never gets you friends. |
| But the last word to Mark Di Stefano of Buzzfeed. | But the last word to Mark Di Stefano of Buzzfeed. |
| The most perfect sign Australia's marriage equality "debate" is now done and won pic.twitter.com/KFxmmFYtPf | The most perfect sign Australia's marriage equality "debate" is now done and won pic.twitter.com/KFxmmFYtPf |
| 8.58am AEST23:58 | 8.58am AEST23:58 |
| A couple of other things coming up for your viewing pleasure. | A couple of other things coming up for your viewing pleasure. |
| Mike Bowers will be heading out to see the swearing in at Government House of the new special somethings, Philip Ruddock and Concetta Fierravanti-Wells. | Mike Bowers will be heading out to see the swearing in at Government House of the new special somethings, Philip Ruddock and Concetta Fierravanti-Wells. |
| I mean no disrespect. They are leading the national conversation on citizenship and “community harmony”. Tony Abbott referred to Ruddock as a special envoy. Others call them ministers. I’m slightly confused. | I mean no disrespect. They are leading the national conversation on citizenship and “community harmony”. Tony Abbott referred to Ruddock as a special envoy. Others call them ministers. I’m slightly confused. |
| Abbott said: | Abbott said: |
| Phillip Ruddock as my Special Envoy for Citizenship and Community Engagement. | Phillip Ruddock as my Special Envoy for Citizenship and Community Engagement. |
| and: | and: |
| Parliamentary Secretary Connie Fierravanti-Wells, in addition to her current role as Parliamentary Secretary for Social Services, Connie will also become Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General. | Parliamentary Secretary Connie Fierravanti-Wells, in addition to her current role as Parliamentary Secretary for Social Services, Connie will also become Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General. |
| 8.50am AEST23:50 | 8.50am AEST23:50 |
| Instant asset write on. | Instant asset write on. |
| Agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce is pretty happy. He has had a win in a cabinet. | Agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce is pretty happy. He has had a win in a cabinet. |
| The issue was over the tax write-offs for business spending to prepare for drought at a time when 80% of Queensland in drought-declared. | The issue was over the tax write-offs for business spending to prepare for drought at a time when 80% of Queensland in drought-declared. |
| Before I go into the detail, I declare my own interest. My family owns a farm. | Before I go into the detail, I declare my own interest. My family owns a farm. |
| On budget night, instant asset write-offs were available to small businesses with a turn-over less than $2m. The farm write-offs, for things like fencing, water infrastructure and fodder storage, were not available until the following year - 2016-17. Which was kinda weird because the drought is happening now. | On budget night, instant asset write-offs were available to small businesses with a turn-over less than $2m. The farm write-offs, for things like fencing, water infrastructure and fodder storage, were not available until the following year - 2016-17. Which was kinda weird because the drought is happening now. |
| The whole budget treatment of taxable items caused immense confusion because I’d hazard a guess that a lot of farms are under the $2m turnover. So could they “have a go” and buy a silo or not? Accountants were sending out information, saying hold off. The day after the budget, Joyce was asked about it. I’m trying to fix it, said Barnaby. | The whole budget treatment of taxable items caused immense confusion because I’d hazard a guess that a lot of farms are under the $2m turnover. So could they “have a go” and buy a silo or not? Accountants were sending out information, saying hold off. The day after the budget, Joyce was asked about it. I’m trying to fix it, said Barnaby. |
| Yesterday, the policy was released. Joyce’s explanation then and this morning on radio, was that the measures were part of the agriculture white paper, which I’m told is sitting on the minister’s desk. Joyce is under pressure to unveil the thing, which is long overdue. It would appear the hold up is the prime minister’s office, which has the ultimate say. | Yesterday, the policy was released. Joyce’s explanation then and this morning on radio, was that the measures were part of the agriculture white paper, which I’m told is sitting on the minister’s desk. Joyce is under pressure to unveil the thing, which is long overdue. It would appear the hold up is the prime minister’s office, which has the ultimate say. |
| Joyce wasn’t going into that but he was unapologetic about the budget rethink. | Joyce wasn’t going into that but he was unapologetic about the budget rethink. |
| I don’t think its a crime if you make something work better. | I don’t think its a crime if you make something work better. |
| He released a few new figures on drought. When the government came to office (in the first year of drought) 367 people were on interim farm family payment - the equivalent of a Newstart payment. Now there are 4300 receiving it. | He released a few new figures on drought. When the government came to office (in the first year of drought) 367 people were on interim farm family payment - the equivalent of a Newstart payment. Now there are 4300 receiving it. |
| Michael Brissenden on AM asked Joyce, given the PM’s comments about the “lifestyle choices” of isolated Indigenous communities, aren’t rural communities in the same boat? | Michael Brissenden on AM asked Joyce, given the PM’s comments about the “lifestyle choices” of isolated Indigenous communities, aren’t rural communities in the same boat? |
| The weather is not a lifestyle choice. | The weather is not a lifestyle choice. |
| 8.14am AEST23:14 | 8.14am AEST23:14 |
| Good morning, | Good morning, |
| Welcome to the final sitting day of the week. The news this morning is dominated by two different ball games, notably FIFA and the State of Origin. In politics though, the senate estimates continue to yield interesting tidbits that would have otherwise remained unearthed. | Welcome to the final sitting day of the week. The news this morning is dominated by two different ball games, notably FIFA and the State of Origin. In politics though, the senate estimates continue to yield interesting tidbits that would have otherwise remained unearthed. |
| It turns out the Sydney siege gunman Man Haron Monis sent a letter to attorney general George Brandis to ask whether he was allowed to write to the head of the Islamic State. The letter, signed Sheik Haron, said: | It turns out the Sydney siege gunman Man Haron Monis sent a letter to attorney general George Brandis to ask whether he was allowed to write to the head of the Islamic State. The letter, signed Sheik Haron, said: |
| I would like to send a letter to Caliph Ibrahim, the leader of the Islamic State, in which making some comments and asking some questions. Please advise me whether the communication is legal or illegal. | I would like to send a letter to Caliph Ibrahim, the leader of the Islamic State, in which making some comments and asking some questions. Please advise me whether the communication is legal or illegal. |
| It came to Brandis in his parliamentary office and the AG told the estimates hearing that he passed it on to the department as it was considered routine. Here’s Brandis: | It came to Brandis in his parliamentary office and the AG told the estimates hearing that he passed it on to the department as it was considered routine. Here’s Brandis: |
| I’m bound to say the tone of the letter is not obviously threatening, nor does the letter apparently contain any endorsement or indication of favourability towards Islamic State. It merely, in a neutral tone, asks a question about whether to communicate with this individual by making comments and asking questions is (it) legal or illegal. | I’m bound to say the tone of the letter is not obviously threatening, nor does the letter apparently contain any endorsement or indication of favourability towards Islamic State. It merely, in a neutral tone, asks a question about whether to communicate with this individual by making comments and asking questions is (it) legal or illegal. |
| Labor’s Mark Dreyfus described the letter as “anything but routine”. | Labor’s Mark Dreyfus described the letter as “anything but routine”. |
| When the prime minister very publicly, at press conferences, pleaded with Australians to refer to agencies anything out of the ordinary, this was something that should have been referred. | When the prime minister very publicly, at press conferences, pleaded with Australians to refer to agencies anything out of the ordinary, this was something that should have been referred. |
| The other interesting story around today comes via Nikki Savva in The Australian around the senate voting changes. These are the reforms that the major parties and the Greens have been talking about since the last senate result, which has seen a crew of minor parties and independents take their seats on the crossbenches. The majors considered the result, that saw senators like Ricky Muir get in on 1700 votes, a travesty of democracy. Fancy having ordinary people in parliament. | The other interesting story around today comes via Nikki Savva in The Australian around the senate voting changes. These are the reforms that the major parties and the Greens have been talking about since the last senate result, which has seen a crew of minor parties and independents take their seats on the crossbenches. The majors considered the result, that saw senators like Ricky Muir get in on 1700 votes, a travesty of democracy. Fancy having ordinary people in parliament. |
| A subsequent report recommended the elimination of group ticket voting and the introduction of optional preferential voting above the line, lessening the ability of minor players to game preferences. | A subsequent report recommended the elimination of group ticket voting and the introduction of optional preferential voting above the line, lessening the ability of minor players to game preferences. |
| But having supported the recommendations originally, Savva reports Labor senators are cooling on the idea. Senate leader Penny Wong and her deputy Stephen Conroy are against the changes, Savva reports. NSW senator Sam Dastyari, who comes from a state with optional preferential voting above the line, is agin it. He told Savva: | But having supported the recommendations originally, Savva reports Labor senators are cooling on the idea. Senate leader Penny Wong and her deputy Stephen Conroy are against the changes, Savva reports. NSW senator Sam Dastyari, who comes from a state with optional preferential voting above the line, is agin it. He told Savva: |
| Frankly I can’t find a single Labor senator that supports any of this. It would be complete madness for Labor to support any proposal that would risk forever preventing a progressive Senate. I can’t see Labor doing that. If the Greens want to sign their own suicide note and do a deal with the Liberals, good luck to them. Let’s see them explain to their supporters why they are prepared to give up control of the Senate for their own jobs. | Frankly I can’t find a single Labor senator that supports any of this. It would be complete madness for Labor to support any proposal that would risk forever preventing a progressive Senate. I can’t see Labor doing that. If the Greens want to sign their own suicide note and do a deal with the Liberals, good luck to them. Let’s see them explain to their supporters why they are prepared to give up control of the Senate for their own jobs. |
| But in the lower house, Labor MP Alan Griffin has supported the changes, as has George Wright, the party’s national secretary. | But in the lower house, Labor MP Alan Griffin has supported the changes, as has George Wright, the party’s national secretary. |
| After the Abbott government’s last budget, the second this senate reform package is introduced into the parliament, a little flag goes up for the election. | After the Abbott government’s last budget, the second this senate reform package is introduced into the parliament, a little flag goes up for the election. |
| So stick around. I’ll get to marriage equality in a minute. Follow the @mpbowers and me @gabriellechan. | So stick around. I’ll get to marriage equality in a minute. Follow the @mpbowers and me @gabriellechan. |