This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen
on .
It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
Same-sex marriage: Coalition party room sticks with the status quo – politics live
Same-sex marriage: Coalition party room sticks with the status quo – politics live
(6 days later)
1.43pm BST
1.43pm BST
13:43
13:43
Good night, and good luck
Good night, and good luck
Well folks what fine company you have been on an epic day in the live blogue caper. I have to go and lie down now for a brief while before I get up again and face tomorrow in national affairs in pithy ten minute increments.
Well folks what fine company you have been on an epic day in the live blogue caper. I have to go and lie down now for a brief while before I get up again and face tomorrow in national affairs in pithy ten minute increments.
Huge thanks to Mike Bowers for his magnificence throughout the day, afternoon, evening – which extended to supplying a fortifying cheese dinner for the bureau. Don’t ask. We won’t tell.
Huge thanks to Mike Bowers for his magnificence throughout the day, afternoon, evening – which extended to supplying a fortifying cheese dinner for the bureau. Don’t ask. We won’t tell.
Today, Tuesday:
Today, Tuesday:
We have tomorrow though lovelies, and I’ll be seeing you all then.
We have tomorrow though lovelies, and I’ll be seeing you all then.
1.20pm BST
1.20pm BST
13:20
13:20
Garbled political fudging in five points: a late night listicle
Garbled political fudging in five points: a late night listicle
Ok, it’s late, and I’ve entered my sixteenth hour. Bear with me.
Ok, it’s late, and I’ve entered my sixteenth hour. Bear with me.
That’s it, I think.
That’s it, I think.
Did I miss anything?
Did I miss anything?
1.11pm BST
1.11pm BST
13:11
13:11
Abbott has wrapped the press conference. Give me a minute and I’ll decode all that.
Abbott has wrapped the press conference. Give me a minute and I’ll decode all that.
PM Tony Abbott #Presser #BlueRoom #SSM @murpharoo @GuardianAus #politicslive pic.twitter.com/SQjzQxxDku
PM Tony Abbott #Presser #BlueRoom #SSM @murpharoo @GuardianAus #politicslive pic.twitter.com/SQjzQxxDku
Cheeky, that Mikearoo.
Cheeky, that Mikearoo.
1.09pm BST
1.09pm BST
13:09
13:09
Abbott is asked whether he understands the anger of colleagues given he chose to put same sex marriage to the joint party room, not the Liberal party room.
Abbott is asked whether he understands the anger of colleagues given he chose to put same sex marriage to the joint party room, not the Liberal party room.
The prime minister:
The prime minister:
There’s no easy answer here. It doesn’t matter what we did today, some people would have been disappointed.
There’s no easy answer here. It doesn’t matter what we did today, some people would have been disappointed.
1.07pm BST
1.07pm BST
13:07
13:07
Tony Abbott:
Tony Abbott:
I’m not saying the Coalition’s position is set in stone for all time.
I’m not saying the Coalition’s position is set in stone for all time.
He repeats his earlier mantra.
He repeats his earlier mantra.
The issue can be put to the people.
The issue can be put to the people.
Not now. But for the next term.
Not now. But for the next term.
1.05pm BST
1.05pm BST
13:05
13:05
Abbott says he doesn’t want to send a message that there can never be change.
Abbott says he doesn’t want to send a message that there can never be change.
1.02pm BST
1.02pm BST
13:02
13:02
The prime minister says the Coalition took a position to the last election, and the last thing you should do is dud the people who voted for you.
The prime minister says the Coalition took a position to the last election, and the last thing you should do is dud the people who voted for you.
But he acknowledges same sex marriage is very deeply personal.
But he acknowledges same sex marriage is very deeply personal.
Abbott says this is the end of the road in this respect.
Abbott says this is the end of the road in this respect.
This is the last term in which the Coalition party room can be bound, although we will definitely maintain this position for the life of this term. Our position going into the next election that this is a matter that should rightly be put to the Australian people.
This is the last term in which the Coalition party room can be bound, although we will definitely maintain this position for the life of this term. Our position going into the next election that this is a matter that should rightly be put to the Australian people.
The prime minister says the government has not finalised a post-election position.
The prime minister says the government has not finalised a post-election position.
I suppose we could have a plebiscite or a constitutional referendum.
I suppose we could have a plebiscite or a constitutional referendum.
We want to look at the ramifications of each option.
We want to look at the ramifications of each option.
12.57pm BST
12.57pm BST
12:57
12:57
Tony Abbott addresses reporters
Tony Abbott addresses reporters
The prime minister has arrived in the Blue Room to reflect on the day’s events. He’s running through a tick tock of the day thus far.
The prime minister has arrived in the Blue Room to reflect on the day’s events. He’s running through a tick tock of the day thus far.
Tony Abbott:
Tony Abbott:
It was a six hour party room meeting. I have to say I was proud of my colleagues. All of them.
It was a six hour party room meeting. I have to say I was proud of my colleagues. All of them.
Colleagues, he said, spoke with decency and compassion. The prime minister said 60 backbenchers and 30 frontbenchers spoke.
Colleagues, he said, spoke with decency and compassion. The prime minister said 60 backbenchers and 30 frontbenchers spoke.
I have to say there was strong support for the existing position, that marriage is between a man and a woman.
I have to say there was strong support for the existing position, that marriage is between a man and a woman.
12.47pm BST
12.47pm BST
12:47
12:47
There was no vote in the party room tonight, just by the by. Not sure where the various number counts are coming from when there’s no vote. Presumably from the whips count of contributions over the course of the debate – or back of the envelope counts by non-whip interested parties.
There was no vote in the party room tonight, just by the by. Not sure where the various number counts are coming from when there’s no vote. Presumably from the whips count of contributions over the course of the debate – or back of the envelope counts by non-whip interested parties.
12.40pm BST
12.40pm BST
12:40
12:40
The prime minister will address reporters in about five minutes.
The prime minister will address reporters in about five minutes.
Abbott’s sister, Christine Forster is on the ABC’s Lateline program expressing her profound disappointment about tonight’s outcome.
Abbott’s sister, Christine Forster is on the ABC’s Lateline program expressing her profound disappointment about tonight’s outcome.
12.38pm BST
12.38pm BST
12:38
12:38
Backbencher Andrew Laming has been stopped by reporters on the way out of the parliament. He’s asked whether or not the prime minister’s decision to include the National party in tonight’s deliberations made a material difference to the outcome.
Backbencher Andrew Laming has been stopped by reporters on the way out of the parliament. He’s asked whether or not the prime minister’s decision to include the National party in tonight’s deliberations made a material difference to the outcome.
Laming:
Laming:
It would have been slightly different but the end result would have been the same.
It would have been slightly different but the end result would have been the same.
He means the numbers just weren’t there to shift the current position.
He means the numbers just weren’t there to shift the current position.
12.25pm BST
12.25pm BST
12:25
12:25
Resolving to stick with the status quo is an emphatic statement to the conservative base, but it’s also an emphatic statement to the voters at large: if you care about marriage equality, vote Labor or vote Green.
Resolving to stick with the status quo is an emphatic statement to the conservative base, but it’s also an emphatic statement to the voters at large: if you care about marriage equality, vote Labor or vote Green.
Sir Humphrey Appleby might call that brave.
Sir Humphrey Appleby might call that brave.
12.18pm BST
12.18pm BST
12:18
12:18
What was I saying before about pathetic attempt at fudges?
What was I saying before about pathetic attempt at fudges?
.@ScottMorrisonMP @JoeHockey @JulieBishopMP "pushed hard" for a referendum on #samesexmarriage after the next election (@ljayes)
.@ScottMorrisonMP @JoeHockey @JulieBishopMP "pushed hard" for a referendum on #samesexmarriage after the next election (@ljayes)
12.02pm BST
12.02pm BST
12:02
12:02
A number of breaking reports suggest there will be no free vote – the word out of the party room is the numbers are two to one against.
A number of breaking reports suggest there will be no free vote – the word out of the party room is the numbers are two to one against.
BREAKING: Lib/Nats party room result. 66-33 There will be NO FREE VOTE.
BREAKING: Lib/Nats party room result. 66-33 There will be NO FREE VOTE.
Once there’s confirmation I’ll advise.
Once there’s confirmation I’ll advise.
11.55am BST
11.55am BST
11:55
11:55
Win or loss. Unless of course there’s a pathetic attempt at fudge.
Win or loss. Unless of course there’s a pathetic attempt at fudge.
Meanwhile, hang in there blogans, bloganistas.
Meanwhile, hang in there blogans, bloganistas.
I understand #partyroom will wrap in 20 min or less. Into final three speakers - Julie Bishop, Warren Entsch, then Tony Abbott @SkyNewsAust
I understand #partyroom will wrap in 20 min or less. Into final three speakers - Julie Bishop, Warren Entsch, then Tony Abbott @SkyNewsAust
11.52am BST
11.52am BST
11:52
11:52
A couple of my press gallery colleagues, Phil Coorey from The Australian Financial Review and Michelle Grattan from The Conversation are comparing tonight to the Coalition’s carbon pricing debate in 2009.
A couple of my press gallery colleagues, Phil Coorey from The Australian Financial Review and Michelle Grattan from The Conversation are comparing tonight to the Coalition’s carbon pricing debate in 2009.
It’s a useful comparison. Both fights split the party right down the middle – exposing competing liberal instincts, conservative instincts. You can’t patch over those differences. There will be a win and a loss.
It’s a useful comparison. Both fights split the party right down the middle – exposing competing liberal instincts, conservative instincts. You can’t patch over those differences. There will be a win and a loss.
11.39am BST
11.39am BST
11:39
11:39
Two insights into a contribution from frontbencher Malcolm Turnbull in tonight’s debate.
Two insights into a contribution from frontbencher Malcolm Turnbull in tonight’s debate.
.@TurnbullMalcolm advocates for a yes vote and says "the last thing we need is disunity by forcing frontbenchers to resign" #partyroom
.@TurnbullMalcolm advocates for a yes vote and says "the last thing we need is disunity by forcing frontbenchers to resign" #partyroom
Malcolm Turnbull raises the prospect of frontbenchers having to resign if and when the SSM issue comes before the parliament.
Malcolm Turnbull raises the prospect of frontbenchers having to resign if and when the SSM issue comes before the parliament.
11.26am BST
11.26am BST
11:26
11:26
We’ve just hit four-and-a-half hours for this special party room meeting.
We’ve just hit four-and-a-half hours for this special party room meeting.
No wonder Tony Abbott said at budget time that the Coalition couldn’t manage the economic statement and a debate about same sex marriage at the same time. We were wrong to scoff.
No wonder Tony Abbott said at budget time that the Coalition couldn’t manage the economic statement and a debate about same sex marriage at the same time. We were wrong to scoff.
11.18am BST
11.18am BST
11:18
11:18
Good moods and good cheer all round.
Good moods and good cheer all round.
Serjeant-At-Arms office just said Prime Minister's office has asked for media to be removed #auspol #MarriageEquality
Serjeant-At-Arms office just said Prime Minister's office has asked for media to be removed #auspol #MarriageEquality
11.14am BST
11.14am BST
11:14
11:14
Meanwhile, down in the corridor.
Meanwhile, down in the corridor.
Parliamentary security have just kicked reporters out of corridor outside coalition party room on orders from serjeant-at-arms @SkyNewsAust
Parliamentary security have just kicked reporters out of corridor outside coalition party room on orders from serjeant-at-arms @SkyNewsAust
11.13am BST
11.13am BST
11:13
11:13
If you are just tuning in ..
If you are just tuning in ..
In the event you’ve just got home, downed a glass of something, have your Lean Cuisine twirling cheerily in the microwave, logged on to the Guardian Australia and wondered, what on earth is going on in that mad house in Canberra, a quick recap:
In the event you’ve just got home, downed a glass of something, have your Lean Cuisine twirling cheerily in the microwave, logged on to the Guardian Australia and wondered, what on earth is going on in that mad house in Canberra, a quick recap:
That’s all you need for now. I’ll post a full summary of the day when we wrap later on.
That’s all you need for now. I’ll post a full summary of the day when we wrap later on.
10.58am BST
10.58am BST
10:58
10:58
So many things are hard to say, let’s face it.
So many things are hard to say, let’s face it.
The man of the moment, Warren Entsch, strides out with his Walrus like beard: "It's going very well" I mean is it? It's hard to say #auspol
The man of the moment, Warren Entsch, strides out with his Walrus like beard: "It's going very well" I mean is it? It's hard to say #auspol
10.46am BST
10.46am BST
10:46
10:46
Alan Tudge leaves, throws hands up in air when asked how much longer the #freevotemeeting will take (tip: it won't be anytime soon)
Alan Tudge leaves, throws hands up in air when asked how much longer the #freevotemeeting will take (tip: it won't be anytime soon)
Still on 7.30, Hunt is chipping away.
Still on 7.30, Hunt is chipping away.
Host Leigh Sales asks the environment minister whether the prime minister is taking a branch stacking approach to the settlement of same sex marriage. (Manager of government business Christopher Pyne said the prime minister was approaching his task like a branch stacker in the first party room meeting of today. He meant the prime minister’s decision to put the issue to a joint party room meeting, where there would be more National party ‘no’ votes, rather than putting it to the Liberal party room meeting.)
Host Leigh Sales asks the environment minister whether the prime minister is taking a branch stacking approach to the settlement of same sex marriage. (Manager of government business Christopher Pyne said the prime minister was approaching his task like a branch stacker in the first party room meeting of today. He meant the prime minister’s decision to put the issue to a joint party room meeting, where there would be more National party ‘no’ votes, rather than putting it to the Liberal party room meeting.)
Greg Hunt:
Greg Hunt:
No.
No.
10.40am BST
10.40am BST
10:40
10:40
Another minister has to see a man about a dog.
Another minister has to see a man about a dog.
.@IanMacfarlaneMP leaves meeting saying 'the work of good govt must continue... I'm off to give a speech' @abcnews
.@IanMacfarlaneMP leaves meeting saying 'the work of good govt must continue... I'm off to give a speech' @abcnews
On the ABC’s 7.30 program, the environment minister Greg Hunt is telling viewers the post 2020 emissions targets are just tip top.
On the ABC’s 7.30 program, the environment minister Greg Hunt is telling viewers the post 2020 emissions targets are just tip top.
10.12am BST
10.12am BST
10:12
10:12
Hitherto, the treasurer, freshly escaped from the party room debate to stand in for the prime minister at a South Australian showcase on this evening in parliament house.
Hitherto, the treasurer, freshly escaped from the party room debate to stand in for the prime minister at a South Australian showcase on this evening in parliament house.
Hockey, filling in for the PM, welcomes guests to South Australian wine night: "I'm sorry for this brief moment that I'm not Tony Abbott"
Hockey, filling in for the PM, welcomes guests to South Australian wine night: "I'm sorry for this brief moment that I'm not Tony Abbott"
Let that be the only apology of the night. Hopefully this function is proudly goats cheese free – if not, questions will be asked.
Let that be the only apology of the night. Hopefully this function is proudly goats cheese free – if not, questions will be asked.
10.08am BST
10.08am BST
10:08
10:08
Furthermore from the corridors.
Furthermore from the corridors.
Pyne (who is reportedly angry at how today unfolded) walks briskly away from reporters: "It's going as well as can be expected!!" #auspol
Pyne (who is reportedly angry at how today unfolded) walks briskly away from reporters: "It's going as well as can be expected!!" #auspol
10.07am BST
10.07am BST
10:07
10:07
Furthermore, from the corridors. The selection committee has done what we expected the selection committee to do with the cross party marriage equality bill.
Furthermore, from the corridors. The selection committee has done what we expected the selection committee to do with the cross party marriage equality bill.
BIO.
BIO.
.@terrimbutler co sponsor #marriage equality bill confirms Parl Selection Committee met bill be introduced Monday pic.twitter.com/8igcirsNLu
.@terrimbutler co sponsor #marriage equality bill confirms Parl Selection Committee met bill be introduced Monday pic.twitter.com/8igcirsNLu
Bring it on.
Bring it on.
10.05am BST
10.05am BST
10:05
10:05
Joe Hockey leaving party room - discussion was “very interesting”. Says there will be decision tonight @SkyNewsAust #marriageequality
Joe Hockey leaving party room - discussion was “very interesting”. Says there will be decision tonight @SkyNewsAust #marriageequality
9.59am BST
9.59am BST
09:59
09:59
I also have a chance to let you know what I think of the government’s post 2020 emissions reduction targets. Basically, I don’t think very much of the government’s emissions reduction targets.
I also have a chance to let you know what I think of the government’s post 2020 emissions reduction targets. Basically, I don’t think very much of the government’s emissions reduction targets.
I’m not quite as fired up as my esteemed colleague from The Australian Financial Review, Laura Tingle, who says this evening:
I’m not quite as fired up as my esteemed colleague from The Australian Financial Review, Laura Tingle, who says this evening:
As the Abbott government seemingly unravels before our eyes, the prime minister has released a climate policy which must be the dodgiest bit of public policy in recent years, possibly since the Coalition’s now infamous $11bn hole in its 2010 election policy costings.
As the Abbott government seemingly unravels before our eyes, the prime minister has released a climate policy which must be the dodgiest bit of public policy in recent years, possibly since the Coalition’s now infamous $11bn hole in its 2010 election policy costings.
Not quite that bad.
Not quite that bad.
But bad, certainly. It’s clearly a low ball target, and it’s not clear how we will meet it under current policy settings, which effectively transfer the costs of future emissions reductions from polluters to the taxpayer through incentive schemes (as the environment minister Greg Hunt fondly calls his direct action policy.)
But bad, certainly. It’s clearly a low ball target, and it’s not clear how we will meet it under current policy settings, which effectively transfer the costs of future emissions reductions from polluters to the taxpayer through incentive schemes (as the environment minister Greg Hunt fondly calls his direct action policy.)
9.40am BST
09:40
The longer stint does allow me to get to things that got lost in the wash of a busy day. Parliament’s joint committee on human rights tabled its 25th report earlier on today.
The committee had quite a crack at the Abbott government’s citizenship revocation proposal, which I covered briefly on Politics Live yesterday afternoon. A bunch of legal experts believe the bill as it currently stands is unconstitutional. The human rights committee is suggesting it might also breach Australia’s international obligations.
A small sample of the criticism.
Updated
at 9.56am BST
9.30am BST
09:30
Deliberations downstairs are continuing. It’s enough to drive a live blogger to goat’s cheese. But rest assured I am at my post and don’t intend to depart for creature comforts, like Love it or List it Vancouver, and a bowl of pasta on the couch.
I’m here for the duration.
Updated
at 9.57am BST
8.55am BST
08:55
Speaking of jokes, another Liberal on the yes side of the marriage equality debate: the party’s pollster, Mark Textor.
New poll for http://t.co/OPwc4mL7bX reframes the same sex marriage debate pic.twitter.com/cu2eN6WfNE
8.53am BST
08:53
Please pray ...
The Australian Christian Lobby. Firmly against rainbows.
Breaking: Coalition locked in party room debate on the future of marriage. Please pray. http://t.co/HA3s0RBqlF via @ACLobby
Speaking of praying. The Liberal senator Arthur Sinodinos cracked a little joke in the chamber before.
Sen.Sinadinos "please excuse my voice, it's not because I have been yelling at the National party" @murpharoo pic.twitter.com/XFzvzeWhgO
Sinodinos is on the yes side of the marriage debate.
Updated
at 9.46am BST
8.44am BST
08:44
Essential is giving us a static picture on the two-party preferred measure and on the approval ratings for the two leaders. Labor is comfortably in front on the TPP, and voters don’t much care for Tony Abbott or Bill Shorten.
A couple of interesting questions this week.
Bronwyn Bishop:
Adam Goodes:
Updated
at 8.55am BST
8.35am BST
08:35
Government whip Nola Marino has told colleagues the Federation Chamber won’t sit this evening given the government is ... well ... caught up with other matters.
It could be a long night.
There’s a new Essential poll out. Let me chase that up and I’ll come back to you with particulars shortly.
Updated
at 8.55am BST
8.30am BST
08:30
A bunch of lower house MPs were in the red room for the Lindgren speech, including the prime minister, Tony Abbott.
Updated
at 8.57am BST
8.27am BST
08:27
Shalailah Medhora
More from the Senate. While the Coalition was debating same-sex marriage, the Senate was debating the end of marriages. More specifically, it passed a disallowance motion to end the price hike on court services, dubbed by the opposition as “the divorce tax”. Labor, the Greens and independent senator Glenn Lazarus joined forces to disallow the regulation - the second time in less than two months that the upper house has overturned the hike.
Labor has taken the government to the Federal Court over the second price rise, saying it is unlawful to re-introduce legislation within six months of similar regulation being disallowed. Tuesday’s disallowance motion does not impact on the court case, a decision on which is due to be handed down on Thursday morning.
8.25am BST
08:25
Back to the senate. Senator Lindgren is speaking about pressing moral challenges. She nominates recognition of Indigenous people in the constitution as one.
It is the right thing to do.
The second challenge, she says, is the gender imbalance in politics. She wants to see equal representation in politics.
8.20am BST
08:20
While Lindgren is addressing the chamber, frontbencher Josh Frydenberg is on radio 2UE. He’s asked to update listeners about this evening’s discussion about same sex marriage. Frydenberg declines that kind offer.
I’ll let that one go through to the keeper. I wouldn’t be helping if I was divulging on national radio the details of those discussions.
(Frydenberg is a supporter of same sex marriage.)
8.12am BST
08:12
One of the reasons for the break in the same-sex marriage debate was so senators could attend the maiden speech of their new colleague from Queensland, Jo Lindgren.
That’s under way in the Senate now. Lindgren, the great-niece of the first Indigenous member of parliament, Neville Bonner, has replaced Brett Mason in the chamber. Just for the record, she’s no vote on same-sex marriage.
Updated
at 8.20am BST
8.00am BST
08:00
Government MPs streaming out of partyroom all look happy moving out. None will bite. @philipruddockmp: "it's always exciting!" #auspol
That it is.
For now I’ll push on with other matters parliamentary and we’ll resume with this in due course.
7.57am BST
07:57
The Coalition party room is taking a 30-minute break.
Updated
at 8.20am BST
7.52am BST
07:52
Meanwhile, outside the Coalition party room.
Me: "Any idea what's going on?" Steve Ciobo: "Nah no idea, that's the story of my life" #auspol
7.42am BST
07:42
News wire service Australian Associated Press is reporting that Liberal MP Eric Hutchinson has been appointed to the parliament’s selection committee, which determines which private member’s business is debated.
The committee will meet on Tuesday night to determine whether a bill to allow same-sex marriage should be introduced to parliament next Monday. Hutchinson – who represents the Tasmanian seat of Lyons – replaces the late West Australian MP Don Randall on the selection committee.
Updated
at 8.21am BST
7.39am BST
07:39
My colleague Shalailah Medhora is down outside the Coalition party room. She says the trade minister, Andrew Robb, has signalled to waiting reporters that there will be no final resolution on how to handle same-sex marriage today.
Updated
at 8.21am BST
7.35am BST
07:35
A quick word on Speaker Smith’s first day in the new digs. The prime minister kept calling him Madam Speaker – a habit he’ll presumably break in time.
Smith also had some difficulty distinguishing between two Labor young turks – Pat Conroy and Jim Chalmers. Chalmers, a known humanitarian, is offering some help.
To assist the new speaker in #qt, @PatConroy1 is the one on the left #auspol pic.twitter.com/n6SkZABXMm
My verdict on Smith will take some time to form. Initial thoughts: he’s much as I expected. A tidy sort of fellow.
7.24am BST
07:24
Rather than speculate and foreground endlessly about the meeting downstairs, I’ll take the opportunity to catch up on a few other issues.
Some reaction to Australia’s new post-2020 emissions reduction targets.
John Connor, Climate Institute
The government can’t pretend that this target would see us doing our bit in limiting warming to less than 2C. The maximum amount of pollution Australia can emit to 2050 to do its part in avoiding 2C is around eight to nine billion tonnes. The proposed target would see this limit breached in just 14 years’ time, by 2029. If other countries took the same approach as the government announced today, the world would warm by 3-4C. The government’s weak target is also bad for the economy. As many other nations continue to step up actions to limit emissions and modernise their economies through clean energy and other investments, this target implies that Australia will be the most pollution-intensive developed economy by 2030. This target also means we would still be the highest per capita polluter among developed economies in 2030.
Kate Carnell, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Targets should reflect the circumstances each country faces. Australia may have a lower headline target than some other countries, but we also have population growth that is almost four times faster than the OECD average. To preserve Australian jobs and competitiveness, Australia’s emissions reduction target should reflect a comparable level of effort to that made by other countries.
Archie Law, Action Aid
This government’s effective inaction on climate change is utterly incomprehensible. Targets as low as those announced today are an indication of how ignorant the government is to the scale of the crisis we are faced with, and the impacts that it is already having – here, and all over the world. In order to contribute fairly and effectively to mitigating climate change, we must cut back on our emissions by 50% by 2020 on 1990 levels, a figure widely accepted internationally. The targets announced this morning are mortifying. Australia is straying far behind the international community in what we are prepared to contribute, despite being one of the world’s wealthiest countries.
Helen Szoke, Oxfam Australia
With this provisional target the government has shown it is willing to accept a future of growing risks and hardship for the world‟s poorest communities. This is a major blow for our Pacific neighbours, who are already paying a serious price for the failure of Australia and other rich nations to act faster, with saltwater inundation, shifting seasons and extreme weather destroying homes and livelihoods.
Updated
at 8.25am BST
7.08am BST
07:08
Perhaps the prime minister didn’t have to check his phone in the Coalition party room meeting. In any case Forster is maintaining the aspiration.
Good for him. It's a pretty simple concept. Love=marriage https://t.co/yn4HRVwnUM
6.57am BST
06:57
Documented. Sorry. Not interrogated.
6.56am BST
06:56
Never has a rainbow been so interrogated.
Light broken into its rainbow coloured spectrum at Parliament House #auspol #marriageequality #equality pic.twitter.com/YoKmNX0E5t
6.45am BST
06:45
Rainbow on the side of Reps chamber in Parli House, as Coalition debates free vote for same sex marriage @murpharoo pic.twitter.com/Xrca2S8Tc2
6.42am BST
06:42
The prime minister’s sister, Christine Forster.
Hoping the @LiberalAus party room is true to its liberal roots & allows MPs a free vote on this issue of #equality before the law #auspol
6.40am BST
06:40
While the meeting is underway let’s try and consider what it all means. Here’s two pretty obvious thoughts.
6.19am BST
06:19
A rainbow has formed in the parliament wall outside where the Coalition are meeting to decide SSM @lipporocks pic.twitter.com/sRa6fBIg4Y
Rainbows are visions, but only, illusions.
6.14am BST
06:14
Further questions have been placed on the notice paper.
6.08am BST
06:08
Bill Shorten asks the prime minister about same-sex marriage. Will he allow a conscience vote?
Abbott makes the point that the Labor party has a somewhat tortured position on this issue, which is true. (Labor’s position is conscience vote for two terms and then a binding vote.)
Tony Abbott:
Members’ opposite consciences appear to have a use-by date on them.
With that small indulgence off his chest, then to the big issue of the afternoon.
Mr Speaker, I was clear before the election about our position on the matter of same-sex marriage. I said if it came up, if it came up in the next parliament, it would be dealt with by the Coalition party room in the usual way.
That’s what I said before the election and that is exactly what will happen.
(Some game of chicken we’ve got coming up in this joint party room.)
Updated
at 6.25am BST
5.55am BST
05:55
Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen to treasurer Joe Hockey.
Q: Why does the prime minister consider a 15% GST a very constructive idea and a very strong and constructive proposal when it would hit the average household budget by over $2,900?
Joe Hockey is talking about high company tax, global money, global retail, global global global. Not sure the GST gets a single mention.
When you get into government, you know you have to have have sensible discussions about the future of the tax system, otherwise if you don’t Australia will lose jobs, Australia will lose business opportunities and companies and individuals will move. They will move over time.
For example 10% of Australian workers pay almost half of all personal income tax. Twelve companies in Australia pay over 30% of all company tax. Sooner or later it is going to be unsustainable for the Australian economy and we are going to do the right thing on tax.
So if we pause for just a moment to decode the treasurer, his philosophical argument is clear. Companies pay too much tax. High wealth individuals pay too much tax. We need to spread the tax burden away from corporations and high wealth individuals to ordinary consumers by increasing a regressive tax. Can you reach any other conclusion from that answer? Amazing how well Hockey does Labor’s political work for them.
Updated
at 6.01am BST
5.44am BST
05:44
The treasurer has just finished an answer a long answer about the evils of Labor’s carbon tax. Labor leader Bill Shorten wants to know, given that, does the prime minister intend to increase the GST?
Tony Abbott:
The government hasn’t put this subject on the table.
I am not going to rule out a sensible discussion of a better tax system in this country. I am not going to rule out a sensible discussion of a better tax system in this country and frankly, if members opposite had a skerrick of real commitment to a better Australia, they wouldn’t rule it out either. I say to members opposite, let’s have a proper debate just for once. Let’s have a debate and not just a complaint.
(Unless you want to talk about super concessions or negative gearing, presumably. Then complaint is fine.)
Updated
at 6.02am BST
5.39am BST
05:39
Liberal MP John Alexander pulls a Matrix trick. He manages to tweet a picture of himself inside the chamber from a television outside the chamber. I wonder if there could be a new standing order attached to 94A – ejected for crawling.
Honoured to ask the first Government question under our new Speaker #auspol #qt pic.twitter.com/ER1Owztm00
5.37am BST
05:37
The name’s Smith. Speaker Smith.
Updated
at 5.42am BST
5.34am BST
05:34
Labor’s Tim Watts attempts to ask the prime minister why he has previously described climate change as absolute crap.
Speaker Smith would like Watts to rephrase given the description is indelicate.
Watts obliges.
Q: Why has the prime minister previously described climate change as “absolutely not real”.
Tony Abbott:
Look, Mr Speaker, there was a colourful phrase that was used by me some years ago but the quotation attributed to me by the member who asked the question is not accurate.
5.28am BST
05:28
Labor’s deputy leader, Tanya Plibersek, to Abbott.
Q: My question is to the prime minister. Is human activity the main cause of climate change?
Tony Abbott:
Climate change is important, humanity makes a very significant contribution and that’s why governments need to adopt strong and effective policies to deal with it.
5.24am BST
05:24
Question time
There is modelling, and it will shortly be released.
This is the prime minister, Tony Abbott in response to a question from Labor calling on him to release the modelling underpinning the climate targets decision.
Abbott, continuing:
Let’s be honest and up front with the people of Australia, if there is going to be significant emissions reduction, there will be a cost. There is no entirely cost-free way of significantly reducing our emissions.
(A smarty pants would say ‘could have fooled me Tony during your ridiculous campaign against the carbon “tax” where you attempted to suggest to voters there was a magical cost-free solution to dealing with the challenges of climate change’ but I’m too busy to be a smarty pants this afternoon.)
Greens deputy leader Adam Bandt suggests this is a weak and dangerous target from a weak and dangerous government.
The prime minister begs to differ.
This is a sensible target, Abbott says.
We are not going to clobber the economy to protect the environment.
5.17am BST
05:17
To the chamber now.
Speaker Smith is making his debut in the big chair.
Labor is attempting to road test the new Speaker’s limits.
Smith thus far is no fan of the cacophony.
5.12am BST
05:12
The last hour and a half, main points
Question time is underway but let’s take stock quickly because that was a break-neck hour and a half.
In case it’s not clear, putting this issue to the joint parties increases the no vote. It means a conscience vote on same sex marriage is less likely to proceed.
I’ve been saying for some time when people tell me that legalising gay marriage is inevitable – it is inevitable when there are 76 positive votes in the House.
Not before.
4.54am BST
04:54
Questions have moved on to the special party room now.
Abbott says same sex marriage will go to the full party room this afternoon, not just to the Liberal party room.
The prime minister says he telegraphed this before the last election.
Tony Abbott:
I reviewed my pre-election statements and what I said pre-election was that, if this matter, if this matter, same-sex marriage, were to come up in the next parliament, it will be dealt with by the Coalition party room in the usual way.
Now, given that the Coalition party room didn’t have time this morning to deal with it, given that the people who did briefly touch on this matter in the party room today were very much of the mind that it should be dealt with as swiftly as possible, I’ve decided that the Coalition party room will effectively reconvene at 3:15 this afternoon specifically to discuss this subject.
Apart from other parliamentary business, people will be able to focus entirely on the issue of same-sex marriage when the party room resumes this afternoon.
4.48am BST
04:48
Leaving science to scientists and numbers to ... numbers people
Sorry for the bedlam – a bit unavoidable I’m afraid.
Abbott has been asked whether he will attend the Paris talks. He says he will if the meeting turns out to be a leaders meeting, at the moment he’s not sure whether or not it is a leader’s meeting.
Q: Is your government committed to keeping climate change temperature rise under the 2 degrees? So, for instance, you go to Paris, the 26 to 28% doesn’t quite make it, will you look at further reductions in order to achieve Australia’s share of that burden?
Tony Abbott:
My view is that I will leave the science to the scientists. I will leave the statistics to the statisticians.
What I will ensure is that Australia’s actions are responsible, environmentally responsible and economically responsible.
4.40am BST
04:40
Special party room meeting to debate same sex marriage
Daniel Hurst
Excuse me elbowing out Murph.
Here’s the breaking news on same sex marriage. The Coalition has called a special joint party room meeting for 3.15pm today to debate its position on same-sex marriage, after a fresh push from advocates for a free vote.
North Queensland-based MP Warren Entsch, who is spearheading the push, raised the issue at the regular Liberal party room meeting on Tuesday morning.
It is understood the prime minister, Tony Abbott, suggested it should be a matter for Liberal and National parliamentarians to decide together at a joint meeting of the Coalition parties.
The leader of the house, Christopher Pyne, argued the Liberal party should make its own decision on its disposition towards a free vote. The ABC reported Pyne had likened the inclusion of the Nationals as akin to “branch stacking”.
The regular joint parties meeting did not make a decision this morning but a special one has now been convened for after question time today.
Entsch said in a statement that he and Labor MP Terri Butler had now submitted the notice of intention to present a bill with the table office:
Warren Entsch:
I have also put a request to the Chief Government Whip asking for the opportunity for the Bill to be introduced in the Main Chamber, due to the significance of the legislation. It is now up to the Selection Committee to determine when the Bill is brought on and the co‐ sponsors will await this decision. The issue of a free vote was raised in the Liberal Party Room today, however it was determined that more time was needed for discussion and this has been deferred to a special Joint Party Room Meeting later today. The content of the Bill will not be discussed until it is tabled in Parliament, which is the appropriate place for debate.
4.37am BST
04:37
Government leaves open the option of using international permits
There’s some breaking news on same sex marriage but I need to power on here for now.
Abbott is asked about the costs of the government’s emissions reduction fund – a mechanism which many experts believe is an extraordinarily expensive way to produce abatement.
Abbott:
We are estimating that the ongoing costs of the Emissions Reduction Fund will be in the order of $200m a year.
The prime minister characterised that cost as manageable.
Lenore Taylor asks about international permits. Given the use of international permits would significantly reduce the economic costs of reducing emissions, why not use them?
Foreign minister Bishop says the government believes it can meet its target without resort to permits, but the government will leave the option of permits on the table in the event that projection is incorrect.
Q: If you think international permits would halve the economic cost, why not allow them?
Greg Hunt:
We have, as Julie Bishop has said, reserved that position.
We have left it on the table and this process will go forward over many years. We’re able toachieve these reductions as they stand without doing that.
We have left that as an element to be determined at a future time.
4.28am BST
04:28
Climate change is real and important and significant.
Cost of living and the cost of electricity are real and important and significant for families.
Greg Hunt, environment minister, is taking his turn.
So there is a right way and a wrong way to address climate change. The right way is through incentives which improve our ability as a country to perform both economically and to take care of those who are most socially in need.
The wrong way is a massive electricity tax.
(Just bear in mind when you hear statements like this there are no cost free options to reduce emissions. The only question is who pays.)
Hunt is embarking on a power point presentation.
4.23am BST
04:23
The foreign minister Julie Bishop says 26 to 28% is an ambitious target. Bishop says Australia will halve emissions per person over the next fifteen years.
That is more than any other major economy or any other comparable country.
4.20am BST
04:20
Prime minister confirms Australia's post-2020 target – 26% cut definite, could go to 28%
The prime minister is addressing reporters in the Blue Room of parliament house about the emissions reduction targets we will take to Paris at the end of the year. Abbott says the government wants to be environmentally responsible but the environment can’t trump the economy.
Tony Abbott:
There is a definite commitment to 26% but we believe under the policies that we have got, with the circumstances that we think will apply, that we can go to 28%. It’s a good, solid economically responsible, environmentally responsible target.
Updated
at 5.47am BST
4.15am BST
04:15
Look, go and ask George.
Busy morning for Christopher Pyne.
4.13am BST
04:13
One more from Daniel on the party room.
Abbott told party room the entitlements issue had "obscured" the government's message but the fundamentals had not changed. @murpharoo
4.11am BST
04:11
Across to the ABC, drilling down into the same sex marriage debate. We know the prime minister is trying to delay and obstruct consideration of same sex marriage. According to the ABC’s report, Abbott said this morning the issue needed to be considered by both party rooms – the Liberal and the National party rooms.
The ABC has been told Mr Abbott’s statement that the whole Coalition party room, not just Liberals, should decide on the issue was met with audible gasps from gay marriage supporters who felt blind-sided. It is understood Mr Pyne described this as branch-stacking and said the issue should be decided by the Liberal party room. The decision being made by the joint party room would likely make it harder for a free vote to be granted, given so few Nationals support gay marriage.
Perhaps that’s why Pyne suggested we ask Brandis how the meeting went. (Branch stacking? Ouch.)
4.01am BST
04:01
Meanwhile, back with George.
21 Coalition MPs/senators contributed to party room debate climate targets. Gov is briefing reaction was overwhelmingly positive @murpharoo
3.59am BST
03:59
The prime minister will address reporters at 1pm on the climate targets.
My colleague Daniel Hurst has meanwhile followed Pyne’s advice and popped down to the Coalition party room briefing with Brandis.
PM to partyroom: "We have a great story to tell as a govt because we have a plan to promote jobs & growth & that plan is working" @murpharoo
And the Labor MP Tim Watts is telling me Pyne has a passion for local raw milk cheeses. He’s tended this transcript as evidence.
Christopher Pyne:
It gives me great pleasure to announce today that the Australian government has lifted the ban on Roquefort cheese. We have an exhibit of the Roquefort cheese.
3.53am BST
03:53
Daniel Hurst
Pyne met a small posse of reporters outside the Sky studio. He remained refused to say whether he had supported a conscience vote in this morning’s party room discussion about same sex marriage.
Christopher Pyne:
You get to ask me the questions and I get to answer them in the way I want to answer them and my answer is for these sorts of issues you need to wait for the briefing from George Brandis.
Pyne was asked whether or not the prime minister is trying to obstruct debate.
The prime minister is making sure we have a respectful and sensible debate about all issues of interest to the Australian public including marriage equality.
3.37am BST
03:37
Pyne has just invoked goats cheese. Labor is more interested in the goats cheese set of the voting public than the non-goats cheese set of the voting public.
I could be quite wrong, but I’d put $20 on Christopher Pyne being a secret goats cheese fan. Bit of quince paste. Some crackers. Mouth magic.
3.29am BST
03:29
Must have been lively, that party room briefing. Manager of government business Christopher Pyne is on Sky News declining to discuss this morning’s party room discussion.
3.19am BST
03:19
My colleague Lenore Taylor has updated her climate story. She’s been chasing modelling underpinning the government’s decision on the post 2020 targets.
Consider these three points.
Let’s decode those three points.
(Clap along, if you feel like a room without a roof. Because I’m haaappppy.)
3.09am BST
03:09
I’m sure the artist formerly known as Madam Speaker will be happy to provide guidance.
3.04am BST
03:04
The chambers are now in session. The new House of Representatives Speaker Tony Smith is in his new chair. I imagine there would have been considerable study of the standing orders in the Smith Canberra digs last night.
Question time underway at 2pm.
3.00am BST
03:00
Politics this (almost) lunchtime
I know this is eccentric but I’m going to post our lunchtime summary early on the basis that once the party room finishes and the climate announcement thunders out my feet aren’t going to touch earth for about five hours.
So politics, this Tuesday morning:
More. To. Come.
2.28am BST
02:28
Cross party same sex marriage bill bound for submission today
Shalailah Medhora
Back to the Labor caucus. Labor backbencher Terri Butler, who is co-sponsoring the same-sex marriage bill with Liberal MP Warren Entsch, has stood up in the Labor caucus meeting this morning saying she intends for the bill to be submitted today. It is then up to the Coalition-dominated selection committee to decide when the bill is introduced. It is possible that the bill could be presented as early as Monday, the next time that private members business can be debated.
2.02am BST
02:02
#StopTheLeak(S)
Quite a bit of touchiness around the building today. Phil Coorey from The Australian Financial Review has filed a quick news update on the brief same sex marriage debate in the Liberal party room this morning, with a marvellous concluding paragraph.
News of the push leaked while the party room meeting was underway.
This caused angry scenes inside the party room as to who was leaking, according to further leaks.
1.57am BST
01:57
Politics tragics who hang out on social media far more often than they should will know that Fairfax photographer Alex Ellinghausen snapped a picture at the Canberra Airport on Sunday night of the attorney-general George Brandis in a stylish looking jumper.
Unfortunately the jumper was offset by some sub-optimal footwear. Trainers and jeans should not be seen. It is a trap for 50-something men, a recurring fashion atrocity. Do a quick survey in any shopping mall in the country – you will see plenty a jean teamed with plenty a sand shoe.
Alex’s picture has become what my daughter would describe as “internet famous.” Here is a sample of the homages over the last day or so. Quite marvellous.
Australia's next top attorney-general. #auspol pic.twitter.com/j7W49WFB4a
Bloody hell, it’s the Very Hungry Artsminister! #BrandisJumperDay #freethearts pic.twitter.com/AdH7oPgv2d
The Australian’s David Crowe has rejected my characterisation of The Australian’s climate targets story as an “officialish looking drop.” I referenced the story first up on Politics Live this morning.
David would prefer that I characterised the story as a report for the reasons he outlines below.
@murpharoo Just a report. Drop suggests no work, just landed in our lap, PMO called, etc. That is not what happened.
I have told David that a “drop” doesn’t in my mind automatically suggest that prime minister’s office reverses the dump truck into The Australian’s bureau. I wouldn’t actually speculate on another reporter’s sources unless that was unavoidable for some reason.
But given I like and very much respect David and his work, and certainly did not mean to imply any idleness on his part – I’m looping in Politics Live readers so you can see our conversation. Out of respect for him, I shall refer to the story henceforth as a report.
1.30am BST
01:30
Meanwhile, on the twits.
Tony Abbott’s sister, Christine Forster, on this morning’s same sex marriage gee-up by Liberal Warren Entsch.
Kudos to Warren Entsch MP for taking #marriageequality to the @LiberalAus party room. It's a discussion that has to be had #WeCanDoThis
1.25am BST
01:25
Meanwhile, down the front.
1.17am BST
01:17
Back to the Coalition party room. We are chasing the extent and temper of the same sex marriage debate in the Liberal party meeting, but it looks like the substantive issue of ‘to conscience vote or not to conscience vote’ won’t be resolved this week.
Going into the morning’s discussion about climate, Western Australian backbencher Dennis Jensen is unhappy that information has been telegraphed out of cabinet before going to the party for “proper” debate. I mentioned first up this morning that some backbenchers would be spoiling for a biff on the climate targets, no matter how modest they may be.
Jensen is one government MP who disputes the climate science – at least he doesn’t buy in to the evidence that humans are contributing to the warming of the planet. He’s also niggly about the process. He’s told reporters at the doors this morning that the prime minister promised a party room debate, but this looks more like a rubber stamping episode. Bringing a pre-determined decision to the party room does not constitute a proper party room discussion.
1.09am BST
01:09
Shalailah Medhora
Quick welfare update. A Senate committee looking at the impacts of welfare measures like stopping young people from accessing the dole for four weeks, will report its findings later today, ahead of the bill being debated tomorrow. The social services minister, Scott Morrison, has told Macquarie radio tis morning that the bill’s fate is still unclear.
I’m still not confident we will see this bill passed this week.
But the National Welfare Rights Network has written to Senate crossbenchers, urging them to vote against the bill. “We are deeply concerned about the impact that these proposals will have on young people under 25 who are trying to find their footing in today’s tight labour market,” the letter said.
Updated
at 1.24am BST
1.01am BST
01:01
Now "discussion proper" on same sex marriage in Lib party room referred to later meeting @SkyNewsAust
12.55am BST
00:55
Sky News political reporter David Lipson.
I've been told there's a "level of debate" in the Lib party room now on same sex marriage. Indicates it may not be put to a vote today
12.50am BST
00:50
Sky News has a breaking news alert that Liberal MP Warren Entsch has raised same sex marriage in the Liberal party room meeting this morning. The government has to decide whether or not to allow a conscience vote. I’ll keep you posted as we learn any particulars.
Updated
at 12.58am BST
12.48am BST
00:48
Shorten tracks the caucus plane back to the ALP conference a few weeks back. This conversation should really come with a trigger warning for those of us who covered the three day event – particularly the final mad Sunday.
Shorten said the ALP conference allowed robust debate. There were goals: 50% renewable energy and 50% women in the parliament. Now everyone knows what Labor stands for, he contends.
A smart, modern and fair Australia.
National conference endorsed Labor’s values again of jobs, education, health and fairness and advance Australia.
(Job done? Don’t think so, Bill.)
Updated
at 1.22am BST
12.43am BST
00:43
The Labor leader Bill Shorten has invited fifty or so of his closest friends with cameras to this morning’s ALP caucus meeting.
What have the last six months delivered us? (This would be the six months since the leadership spill in February.)
Shorten says there’s no plan for Australia to transition out of the mining boom. There’s still cuts to pensions, family payments, hospitals and schools. Unemployment is up. There’s an anti-scientific crusade against renewable energy. There’s an attack on penalty rates.
Zing-ERRRR.
If this is what good government looks like, what on earth does bad government look like?
Updated
at 1.23am BST
12.38am BST
00:38
Useful chart to visualise the putative emissions reduction target and base years via our data guru Nick Evershed and Climate Institute data.
Aus emissions target against other countries with diff. base yrs http://t.co/GFqgCsgKkD from @climateinstitut data pic.twitter.com/rPDaq29Y87
12.34am BST
00:34
While still in the commentary space, I’ll loop in this analysis from Peter Hartcher of the Sydney Morning Herald this morning about the climate debate in the run-up to the election.
If you want to understand the frenetic claim and counter-claim you’re going to hear on this subject, you’ll find this simple, two-point guide indispensable.
The political rubric is:
1. If the argument is decided mainly on climate or environment considerations, Labor wins.
2. If it’s decided mainly on electricity prices, the Coalition wins.
So Labor will be telling us that we have to deal with dangerous climate change; it will promote its ambition to increase Australia’s renewable energy share to 50% over the next 15 years. And the government will be telling us that it is dealing responsibly with climate change, while Labor’s plan would be a giant wrecking ball shattering the economy.
The winner is not the one who can provide the best answer. It’s the one who can set the question. If the election is a referendum on the environment, Labor wins. If it’s a referendum on electricity prices, the government wins.
12.25am BST
00:25
I have mentioned the prime minister is looking a bit flat.
Dennis Shanahan in The Australian this morning notes “some Liberal MPs are again gossiping about Abbott’s leadership and reminding themselves that they gave their leader until about now to get things back on an even keel” – but – “there are many others fearful this time around of creating more damaging leadership destabilisation.” Shanahan’s thesis in his piece is things are challenging for Tony Abbott and the government six months on from the leadership spill in February, but it’s too late to do anything much about it given the proximity of the by-election in Canning and the election after that.
Andrew Bolt meanwhile has a list on his blog. At least I think this is a list, and a list that aspires to be helpful given it includes the bullet point – don’t panic.
My guess is that the Abbott team may have no more than a month to make changes without seeming completely desperate and just trading concessions for survival. The urgency with which it changed around the time of the February scare vanished, and must be resumed.
Get more and better advice.
What’s the story?
Jobs, jobs, jobs.
Optimism.
What happened to those new faces that were being touted?
Stop talking about raising taxes.
Fewer useless fights. More full-hearted good ones.
The moral dimension of voting Liberal, and don’t tell me it’s dividing us by race. In fact, tell us the opposite.
Position Abbott more among his kind of people in the media strategy.
Loyalty to team, not individual.
Tony Nutt’s long-mooted shift to Canberra from the NSW party is becoming a totemic issue for Abbott’s critics. Why hand them this stick?
Look happy.
Don’t panic.
Labor would be a disaster.
Don’t keep selling the Government as having axed the carbon tax and stopped the boats. That was yesterday. Voters always ask: what will you do for us tomorrow?
National security is what governments are expected to do. Yes, make the changes we need and highlight differences with Labor. But amping up the rhetoric risks looking like you’re short of other ideas, and makes you seem less reassuring than you need to be in this space.
Updated
at 12.35am BST
12.06am BST
00:06
Can’t beat snowy roos.
Aus target worse than Canada's 30% - prev'sly the worst industrialised nation. But here's some snowy roos (by Bernie) pic.twitter.com/L9EmCX7UT9
12.04am BST
00:04
Speaking of Lenore Taylor, she’s filed a news lead on the climate targets, with some initial reaction.
Conservationists and climate campaigners said the pledge, to be taken to the United Nations meeting in Paris in December, would be “pathetically inadequate”.
Business groups had been pushing for a promise closer to 30% below 2005 levels and have also been pleading with the Coalition to drop its opposition to buying emissions permits offshore, which would dramatically lower the cost of meeting the promise.
Modelling for the government by leading economist professor Warwick McKibbin is understood to have found the target would shave between 0.02% and 0.04% from GDP in 2030 if international permits were allowed, but at least twice that if they were not.
(The government is opposed to the use of international permits.)
11.57pm BST
23:57
It being Tuesday, the Coalition party room and the Labor caucus will meet shortly.
The shadow environment minister Mark Butler has moved on to the Sky News studio. Butler was asked whether or not Labor will lend bipartisan support to the post 2020 target if it’s weak. Butler isn’t committing one way or another until we all see the details. Wise to wait for the details before pontificating. I’m trying to follow a similar strategy.
Speaking of details, enjoy this piece from my colleague Lenore Taylor about some of the absurdities that get uttered in the carbon debate. Scary numbers, that mean very little.
11.40pm BST
23:40
Speaking of Mr Bowers, he’s been wandering about this morning to capture the traffic through the corridor.
Senate independent Jacqui Lambie revealed yesterday that her 21-year-old son is addicted to the drug ice.
Lambie raised the case of her son in a debate about welfare changes that would remove payments for people in psychiatric institutions who have been charged with a serious offence such as rape, manslaughter or murder.
It’s a gutsy thing to do, and Lambie has been in high demand to talk about an experience that, sadly, too many Australian families can relate to.
Lovely sequence from Mike.
11.26pm BST
23:26
Meet a couple of new bricks
Politics Live regulars could have predicted that political events yesterday would have prompted Mikearoo to update our #BrickParliament.
Be assured, Mr Bowers worked throughout the night to ensure we were ready for whatever parliamentary Tuesday intended to deliver. Drum roll please. We are delighted to introduce #SpeakerSmith, who will face his first question time later today.
We are also delighted to welcome our good friends from #BrickFeed.
In honour of BuzzFeed setting up shop in the parliamentary press gallery, we note here, Mark Di Stefano, hard at work in the gallery with a couple of Guardian Australia rogues, #BrickDaniel and #BrickMurpharoo.
We are the ones not wearing a beret.
Welcome, new bricks.
We salute you.
11.13pm BST
23:13
Both the ABC and Sky News are now reporting the target will have a range from 26% to 28% – rather like the US construction.
Anyone would think there was a tug of war going on in the spin stakes between folks in the government who would have preferred 30% and folks inside the government who would like it if they never had to utter the words climate change.
Pure speculation on my part.
10.54pm BST
22:54
Good morning
Hello everyone and welcome to Canberra. Given how deflated the prime minister looked yesterday I hope he’s had a seaweed smoothie and a Monte Carlo biscuit in preparation for the parliamentary day ahead, which threatens to be largish. We expect the government to unveil its post 2020 emissions reductions targets for the UN-led climate talks in Paris later this year.
An officialish looking drop in The Australian this morning reports that Abbott “is set to defy US president Barack Obama and other world leaders by releasing a post-2020 target that is lower than that of most advanced economies, on the grounds that Australia must bear the burden of stronger population growth.” (Stop scratching your head, we need to move on.) “In one scenario gaining support last night, ministers considered a 26% reduction on today’s carbon emissions by 2030.”
The paper asserts a more ambitious proposal of 30% being sought by environment minister Greg Hunt and foreign minister Julie Bishop was walked back by the prime minister. (See Andrew (Bolt), I’m holding back those warmists! See!)
Moving forward.
So how does that target compare?
As well as being a more modest contribution than many of our trading partners, 26% is well below the Climate Change Authority’s advice that Australia adopt a 30% cut by 2025 and a 40%-60% cut by 2030.
Shadow environment minister Mark Butler has told the ABC this morning would put Australia at the back of the pack and we start from a very high polluting point. Butler says this target does not look consistent with the public policy objective to keep warming a 2 degrees.
But ahead of today’s Coalition partyroom discussion, government MPs were forecasting a lively conversation about the post-2020 targets, however comparatively modest.
Many government MPs question the science of global warming.
Let’s power on. The Politics Live comments thread is wide open and waiting for your business, and give Mikearoo and I a shout on the twits if that’s your thing: I’m @murpharoo, he’s @mpbowers
