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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2015/aug/12/tony-abbott-says-same-sex-marriage-bill-may-not-come-to-a-vote-politics-live
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| Labor says Australia has only two choices: Tony Abbott or marriage equality – politics live | Labor says Australia has only two choices: Tony Abbott or marriage equality – politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 11.51am AEST02:51 | |
| Well Christopher has a wonderful turn of phrase .. | |
| Liberal senator Simon Birmingham on his South Australian colleague, Christopher Pyne’s observation yesterday that the prime minister was behaving like a branch stacker in pushing the resolution of same sex marriage into the joint party room rather than the Liberal party room. | |
| "Well Christopher has a wonderful turn of phrase sometimes and he is very witty and clever" - Birmingham on FiveAA pic.twitter.com/KiGCFSnmTi | |
| 11.45am AEST02:45 | |
| .@mpbowers's photo from Queanbeyan this morning reminds me of a scene from WALL-E pic.twitter.com/mhktXZ3Wqq | |
| 11.41am AEST02:41 | |
| Hello, young people pursuing practical environmentalism that doesn’t club the economy. | |
| How delightful to meet you. | |
| 11.33am AEST02:33 | |
| Is this a sapling I see before me? | |
| Mike Bowers on the photographic trail in Queanbeyan. | |
| 11.31am AEST02:31 | |
| Abbott makes it clear he does not expect the cross party bill to come to a vote. He also repeats his line from this morning – ministers need to abide by the government’s position on marriage. Don’t think about crossing the floor. | |
| I would expect the usual rules to apply. | |
| 11.27am AEST02:27 | |
| The prime minister says the contrast between the government and Labor on marriage equality is the Coalition wants a people’s vote and Labor wants a parliamentary vote. | |
| 11.26am AEST02:26 | |
| Abbott rejects the Entsch push to have a plebiscite at the coming election | |
| Questions open on the plebiscite on same sex marriage. Why not have it at the next election? Liberal Warren Entsch has called for that this morning, via my colleague Daniel Hurst. | |
| Abbott pushes the plebiscite out past the next election and into the next term of parliament. The next election needs to be a contest between two political movements and then we can all have a conversation about marriage equality, the prime minister says. | |
| 11.21am AEST02:21 | |
| They work rain, hail or shine. | |
| That’s Greg Hunt, praising the green army, who must be like drowned rats in Queanbeyan. | |
| 11.18am AEST02:18 | 11.18am AEST02:18 |
| Feral animals, and weeds, to be clear. | Feral animals, and weeds, to be clear. |
| The prime minister wants to get back on the environment and his climate targets and practical environmentalism that doesn’t club the economy. | The prime minister wants to get back on the environment and his climate targets and practical environmentalism that doesn’t club the economy. |
| 11.17am AEST02:17 | 11.17am AEST02:17 |
| Tony Abbott addresses reporters in Queanbeyan | Tony Abbott addresses reporters in Queanbeyan |
| The prime minister is speaking about ferals in Queanbeyan, where the winter rain is hammering down. Unfortunate today’s event is held in a park. | The prime minister is speaking about ferals in Queanbeyan, where the winter rain is hammering down. Unfortunate today’s event is held in a park. |
| 11.06am AEST02:06 | 11.06am AEST02:06 |
| It continues to be open season on MPs and travel entitlements. The Daily Telegraph has a story about the attorney-general George Brandis and a $6,000 water taxi in Venice. | It continues to be open season on MPs and travel entitlements. The Daily Telegraph has a story about the attorney-general George Brandis and a $6,000 water taxi in Venice. |
| The 12-hour water limo ride around the city was commissioned by Australia’s embassy in Rome, according to documents obtained under Freedom of Information. It claimed that it was the only boat left for hire in the entire archipelago. | The 12-hour water limo ride around the city was commissioned by Australia’s embassy in Rome, according to documents obtained under Freedom of Information. It claimed that it was the only boat left for hire in the entire archipelago. |
| “All travel arrangements in Venice were a matter for the Australian embassy in Italy,” a spokesman for Mr Brandis said. “Neither I nor my office requested a water taxi. I note that the embassy advised my department that a water taxi was the only transport option in Venice.” | “All travel arrangements in Venice were a matter for the Australian embassy in Italy,” a spokesman for Mr Brandis said. “Neither I nor my office requested a water taxi. I note that the embassy advised my department that a water taxi was the only transport option in Venice.” |
| 10.45am AEST01:45 | 10.45am AEST01:45 |
| Mike Bowers brings you a sequence of the suspension motion. | Mike Bowers brings you a sequence of the suspension motion. |
| Updated at 11.35am AEST | |
| 10.30am AEST01:30 | 10.30am AEST01:30 |
| Eric Abetz: I am not a clown | Eric Abetz: I am not a clown |
| Perhaps stung by the Labor leader, Bill Shorten, describing him as a “clown” for telling colleagues in the party room last night that Dolce & Gabbana didn’t want to get married, Eric Abetz has issued a statement. | Perhaps stung by the Labor leader, Bill Shorten, describing him as a “clown” for telling colleagues in the party room last night that Dolce & Gabbana didn’t want to get married, Eric Abetz has issued a statement. |
| The statement doesn’t explicitly reference Italian fashion designers and their lifestyle choices. | The statement doesn’t explicitly reference Italian fashion designers and their lifestyle choices. |
| Eric Abetz: | Eric Abetz: |
| Reports in the media today that I said that “gay men did not want to get married” are simply false. My view is well known. As I said at a public forum in Hobart last week, not all members of the gay community have the same view on this question. | Reports in the media today that I said that “gay men did not want to get married” are simply false. My view is well known. As I said at a public forum in Hobart last week, not all members of the gay community have the same view on this question. |
| Basing a story on second- or third-hand reports of a party room discussion without any verification with me or my office is extremely poor journalism. It is even worse that the Labor leader, without knowing what was actually said, has chosen to accept this false report. But, of course, he has form in this approach. | Basing a story on second- or third-hand reports of a party room discussion without any verification with me or my office is extremely poor journalism. It is even worse that the Labor leader, without knowing what was actually said, has chosen to accept this false report. But, of course, he has form in this approach. |
| Updated at 11.12am AEST | Updated at 11.12am AEST |
| 10.25am AEST01:25 | 10.25am AEST01:25 |
| Tracking back, the prime minister, addressing reporters, earlier this morning. | Tracking back, the prime minister, addressing reporters, earlier this morning. |
| Updated at 11.10am AEST | Updated at 11.10am AEST |
| 10.23am AEST01:23 | 10.23am AEST01:23 |
| The division is under way now. Because there was a cross-current there at the start, let me quickly recap. | The division is under way now. Because there was a cross-current there at the start, let me quickly recap. |
| The suspension motion will be defeated in a minute. | The suspension motion will be defeated in a minute. |
| Updated at 11.46am AEST | |
| 10.18am AEST01:18 | 10.18am AEST01:18 |
| I don’t deny this is a stunt but there are plenty of stunts in this place. | I don’t deny this is a stunt but there are plenty of stunts in this place. |
| LDP senator David Leyonhjelm, a supporter of marriage equality. | LDP senator David Leyonhjelm, a supporter of marriage equality. |
| The Senate president, Stephen Parry, tells him he has 44 seconds. | The Senate president, Stephen Parry, tells him he has 44 seconds. |
| Leyonhjelm says if Liberals denied a conscience vote over the past 12 hours need a new home, there is another place that champions liberalism. | Leyonhjelm says if Liberals denied a conscience vote over the past 12 hours need a new home, there is another place that champions liberalism. |
| My party will welcome you. | My party will welcome you. |
| Updated at 10.55am AEST | Updated at 10.55am AEST |
| 10.02am AEST01:02 | 10.02am AEST01:02 |
| The press conference has wrapped. The suspension in the Senate seems to have broken down into a procedural wrangle. The Greens have led the suspension effort this morning. Labor is objecting to a lack of consultation before moving the motion. | The press conference has wrapped. The suspension in the Senate seems to have broken down into a procedural wrangle. The Greens have led the suspension effort this morning. Labor is objecting to a lack of consultation before moving the motion. |
| Labor senator Claire Moore: | Labor senator Claire Moore: |
| The Labor party will not be supporting this methodology, to bring forward a debate that could happen in another way. The Greens will be trying to say we do not want to debate this issue. We have a clear record. | The Labor party will not be supporting this methodology, to bring forward a debate that could happen in another way. The Greens will be trying to say we do not want to debate this issue. We have a clear record. |
| Updated at 10.54am AEST | Updated at 10.54am AEST |
| 9.53am AEST00:53 | 9.53am AEST00:53 |
| I’ll tune in to the suspension shortly but am sticking with the press conference for now. | I’ll tune in to the suspension shortly but am sticking with the press conference for now. |
| Q: Do you support the Climate Change Authority’s target of 40 to 60% reduction? | Q: Do you support the Climate Change Authority’s target of 40 to 60% reduction? |
| Mark Butler: | Mark Butler: |
| We have significant respect for the authority but there are other pieces of work that we will look to as well. | We have significant respect for the authority but there are other pieces of work that we will look to as well. |
| Updated at 10.53am AEST | Updated at 10.53am AEST |
| 9.51am AEST00:51 | 9.51am AEST00:51 |
| While Shorten and Butler are talking, the Greens are attempting to suspend the standing orders in the Senate to debate the following motion: that this parliament should act to end discrimination in the Marriage Act 1961. | While Shorten and Butler are talking, the Greens are attempting to suspend the standing orders in the Senate to debate the following motion: that this parliament should act to end discrimination in the Marriage Act 1961. |
| Updated at 10.50am AEST | Updated at 10.50am AEST |
| 9.48am AEST00:48 | 9.48am AEST00:48 |
| Good question. | Good question. |
| Q: What is your emissions reduction? How can you criticise the Coalition’s target when Labor itself won’t commit to one? | Q: What is your emissions reduction? How can you criticise the Coalition’s target when Labor itself won’t commit to one? |
| Shorten throws to Mark Butler. | Shorten throws to Mark Butler. |
| What Bill and I and others have said about the targets released yesterday is they would squarely put Australia right at the back of the pack. There is no question about that. | What Bill and I and others have said about the targets released yesterday is they would squarely put Australia right at the back of the pack. There is no question about that. |
| All of the countries to which we usually compare ourselves have targets significantly higher than Australia’s. The US over 2030 would be 41%, not 26%. The United Kingdom 48%. Germany 46%. There is no question Australia coming from the point of being the heaviest polluting country per head of population in the OECD is still going to be right at the back of the pack. | All of the countries to which we usually compare ourselves have targets significantly higher than Australia’s. The US over 2030 would be 41%, not 26%. The United Kingdom 48%. Germany 46%. There is no question Australia coming from the point of being the heaviest polluting country per head of population in the OECD is still going to be right at the back of the pack. |
| As Bill said, we want to see the modelling, the data on which they have taken this decision and can convince the Australian people that this is in accordance with the commitment we made with 194 other countries to keep global warming to no more than 2 degrees celsius. | As Bill said, we want to see the modelling, the data on which they have taken this decision and can convince the Australian people that this is in accordance with the commitment we made with 194 other countries to keep global warming to no more than 2 degrees celsius. |
| We need to see the modelling. We [also] need Tony Abbott to recognise that whatever the target is, Direct Action will not get us there. | We need to see the modelling. We [also] need Tony Abbott to recognise that whatever the target is, Direct Action will not get us there. |
| Handing billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money to big polluters will not get us there. | Handing billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money to big polluters will not get us there. |
| Updated at 10.50am AEST | Updated at 10.50am AEST |
| 9.43am AEST00:43 | 9.43am AEST00:43 |
| Q: What do you make of reports that Eric Abetz argued to the party room last night that gay men don’t want to get married and citing the example of the Italian fashion designers Dolce and Gabbana? | Q: What do you make of reports that Eric Abetz argued to the party room last night that gay men don’t want to get married and citing the example of the Italian fashion designers Dolce and Gabbana? |
| Bill Shorten: | Bill Shorten: |
| Senator Eric Abetz is a clown. | Senator Eric Abetz is a clown. |
| 9.40am AEST00:40 | 9.40am AEST00:40 |
| Q: Would Labor support a plebiscite on same-sex marriage? | Q: Would Labor support a plebiscite on same-sex marriage? |
| Bill Shorten: | Bill Shorten: |
| There hasn’t been a plebiscite held in this country since 1976. It is a strategy to delay marriage equality. The quickest and best way to achieve marriage equality, if Mr Abbott continues on his path to oppose it, is to vote Labor at the next election. | There hasn’t been a plebiscite held in this country since 1976. It is a strategy to delay marriage equality. The quickest and best way to achieve marriage equality, if Mr Abbott continues on his path to oppose it, is to vote Labor at the next election. |
| I promise all Australians within 100 days of being elected Labor will introduce a bill for marriage equality, and I am confident if we win the election there will be sufficient votes in this country to finally remove discrimination against people. | I promise all Australians within 100 days of being elected Labor will introduce a bill for marriage equality, and I am confident if we win the election there will be sufficient votes in this country to finally remove discrimination against people. |
| Q: Would it be best to have a plebiscite at the same time as the next election to save money? | Q: Would it be best to have a plebiscite at the same time as the next election to save money? |
| Can I make a sporting bet with you? Mr Abbott will never support marriage equality. When it comes time, if he gets re-elected at the next election, you can forget about marriage equality. | Can I make a sporting bet with you? Mr Abbott will never support marriage equality. When it comes time, if he gets re-elected at the next election, you can forget about marriage equality. |
| The choices in this country: you either have Mr Abbott or you have marriage equality. | The choices in this country: you either have Mr Abbott or you have marriage equality. |
| But you can’t have both. | But you can’t have both. |
| Updated at 10.48am AEST | Updated at 10.48am AEST |
| 9.34am AEST00:34 | 9.34am AEST00:34 |
| The Labor leader, Bill Shorten is at an event at the Australian National University with his climate spokesman, Mark Butler. | The Labor leader, Bill Shorten is at an event at the Australian National University with his climate spokesman, Mark Butler. |
| Bill Shorten: | Bill Shorten: |
| The Liberals are lurching from crisis to crisis, not dealing with the issues that a modern Australia thinks are important. They have no plan for jobs, no plan for renewable energy. It is time that Mr Abbott and the Liberals started to be a good government instead of the crisis-ridden circus that we have seen in the last 24 hours. | The Liberals are lurching from crisis to crisis, not dealing with the issues that a modern Australia thinks are important. They have no plan for jobs, no plan for renewable energy. It is time that Mr Abbott and the Liberals started to be a good government instead of the crisis-ridden circus that we have seen in the last 24 hours. |
| Updated at 10.46am AEST | Updated at 10.46am AEST |
| 9.26am AEST00:26 | 9.26am AEST00:26 |
| Entsch to Abbott: plebiscite with the next election | Entsch to Abbott: plebiscite with the next election |
| Daniel Hurst | Daniel Hurst |
| The Liberal MP Warren Entsch has called on Tony Abbott to allow a public vote on same-sex marriage to occur at the same time as the next election, despite the prime minister’s suggestion that such a plebiscite would not occur until some time in the next parliamentary term. | The Liberal MP Warren Entsch has called on Tony Abbott to allow a public vote on same-sex marriage to occur at the same time as the next election, despite the prime minister’s suggestion that such a plebiscite would not occur until some time in the next parliamentary term. |
| Entsch met Abbott on Wednesday morning and told him he still planned to introduce his private member’s bill to allow same-sex marriage to parliament next week, undeterred by the Coalition’s decision during six hours of talks on Tuesday to not grant MPs a free vote. | Entsch met Abbott on Wednesday morning and told him he still planned to introduce his private member’s bill to allow same-sex marriage to parliament next week, undeterred by the Coalition’s decision during six hours of talks on Tuesday to not grant MPs a free vote. |
| The prime minister signalled on Wednesday that the cross-party legislation may not even come to a vote on the floor of parliament, given that private members’ bills routinely lapse. | The prime minister signalled on Wednesday that the cross-party legislation may not even come to a vote on the floor of parliament, given that private members’ bills routinely lapse. |
| Abbott conceded after the lengthy party room meeting that this was the last term when the Coalition could bind its MPs and senators to oppose same-sex marriage, and that it would formulate a policy ahead of the next election that could include a plebiscite or referendum. | Abbott conceded after the lengthy party room meeting that this was the last term when the Coalition could bind its MPs and senators to oppose same-sex marriage, and that it would formulate a policy ahead of the next election that could include a plebiscite or referendum. |
| Entsch said he had asked to be involved in the policy development process and would like the public vote to occur at the same time as the next election, which is due in 2016. | Entsch said he had asked to be involved in the policy development process and would like the public vote to occur at the same time as the next election, which is due in 2016. |
| Entsch: | Entsch: |
| I think we need to do it as quickly as possible and not have it drag on. These sorts of issues have a tendency to be very emotive and whilst you see the best of both sides you also see the worst and the longer you let it go the more you’re going to see that type of attack from both sides. So let’s move, short and sharp, and let’s have it dealt with. We drag it on, it just festers there ... Let’s move quickly. Let’s do it. Let’s make the decision, and whoever wins the next election will be bound by it. | I think we need to do it as quickly as possible and not have it drag on. These sorts of issues have a tendency to be very emotive and whilst you see the best of both sides you also see the worst and the longer you let it go the more you’re going to see that type of attack from both sides. So let’s move, short and sharp, and let’s have it dealt with. We drag it on, it just festers there ... Let’s move quickly. Let’s do it. Let’s make the decision, and whoever wins the next election will be bound by it. |
| Entsch said having the vote at the same time as the next election would also “save us a lot of money” and ensure everyone was voting. | Entsch said having the vote at the same time as the next election would also “save us a lot of money” and ensure everyone was voting. |
| People are going to have to vote one way or the other ... otherwise we end up with a situation where you have those that say no in Australia somehow demeaning the Irish vote running around with percentages saying as to how many actually voted, somehow suggesting it was a lesser outcome than it was. If it’s tacked on to a national vote that means everyone is voting. | People are going to have to vote one way or the other ... otherwise we end up with a situation where you have those that say no in Australia somehow demeaning the Irish vote running around with percentages saying as to how many actually voted, somehow suggesting it was a lesser outcome than it was. If it’s tacked on to a national vote that means everyone is voting. |
| Abbott has set out a longer timeframe, suggesting the plebiscite could occur some time after the next election during the subsequent three-year term. “There is the prospect of change in the next term of parliament if that is the will of the Australian people,” he told the ABC. | Abbott has set out a longer timeframe, suggesting the plebiscite could occur some time after the next election during the subsequent three-year term. “There is the prospect of change in the next term of parliament if that is the will of the Australian people,” he told the ABC. |
| Updated at 10.40am AEST | Updated at 10.40am AEST |
| 9.23am AEST00:23 | 9.23am AEST00:23 |
| I’ve already noted that it was odd of the prime minister to suggest (during his radio interview this morning) the coal industry won’t go backwards under policies that are designed specifically to constrain carbon emissions. The argument is counter-intuitive. | I’ve already noted that it was odd of the prime minister to suggest (during his radio interview this morning) the coal industry won’t go backwards under policies that are designed specifically to constrain carbon emissions. The argument is counter-intuitive. |
| Lenore Taylor has been chasing the materials underpinning the government’s new emissions targets for several days, and this morning has a scoop drawn from yet-to-be-released modelling on the impact of the targets. | Lenore Taylor has been chasing the materials underpinning the government’s new emissions targets for several days, and this morning has a scoop drawn from yet-to-be-released modelling on the impact of the targets. |
| Her insight makes Abbott’s observation even odder. | Her insight makes Abbott’s observation even odder. |
| Coal will be hit hardest by the Abbott government’s new greenhouse gas targets and global climate action – with a 14% cut in the value of coal production in 2030 due to the new Australian target and an 8% cut due to the policies of other countries. | Coal will be hit hardest by the Abbott government’s new greenhouse gas targets and global climate action – with a 14% cut in the value of coal production in 2030 due to the new Australian target and an 8% cut due to the policies of other countries. |
| The forecasts for the sector that Tony Abbott has insisted is “good for humanity” and has “a big future as well as a big past” are contained in yet-to-be-released modelling provided to the government as it made the decision to promise that Australia would reduce emissions by between 26% and 28% of 2005 levels by 2030. | The forecasts for the sector that Tony Abbott has insisted is “good for humanity” and has “a big future as well as a big past” are contained in yet-to-be-released modelling provided to the government as it made the decision to promise that Australia would reduce emissions by between 26% and 28% of 2005 levels by 2030. |
| Go. Figure. | Go. Figure. |
| Updated at 10.36am AEST | Updated at 10.36am AEST |
| 9.13am AEST00:13 | 9.13am AEST00:13 |
| From ABC24. Liberal senator Cory Bernardi on tricky tactics in yesterday’s party room meeting. | From ABC24. Liberal senator Cory Bernardi on tricky tactics in yesterday’s party room meeting. |
| Q: Did you and your conservative colleagues organise to bring this issue of same-sex marriage to a head yesterday during the party room meeting? | Q: Did you and your conservative colleagues organise to bring this issue of same-sex marriage to a head yesterday during the party room meeting? |
| Cory Bernardi: | Cory Bernardi: |
| It was initially raised by Warren Entsch, an advocate for change, who said he wanted to have a discussion on the free vote. You can either allow them to drag on and [keep] haemorrhaging, it starts and lasts a long time. Or you can deal with them and cauterise whatever open wound is there. | It was initially raised by Warren Entsch, an advocate for change, who said he wanted to have a discussion on the free vote. You can either allow them to drag on and [keep] haemorrhaging, it starts and lasts a long time. Or you can deal with them and cauterise whatever open wound is there. |
| Updated at 10.35am AEST | Updated at 10.35am AEST |
| 9.07am AEST00:07 | 9.07am AEST00:07 |
| A couple of must-reads about the past 12 hours or so. | A couple of must-reads about the past 12 hours or so. |
| Phil Coorey and Laura Tingle in the Australian Financial Review. Dolce & Gabbana didn’t get married so why should anyone else? | Phil Coorey and Laura Tingle in the Australian Financial Review. Dolce & Gabbana didn’t get married so why should anyone else? |
| There were bitter fights between minsters. Eric Abetz and Michaelia Cash said ministers who supported gay marriage should resign their positions. Abetz contended that gay men didn’t really want to get married and pointed out that the Italian fashion designers Dolce & Gabbana never wed. | There were bitter fights between minsters. Eric Abetz and Michaelia Cash said ministers who supported gay marriage should resign their positions. Abetz contended that gay men didn’t really want to get married and pointed out that the Italian fashion designers Dolce & Gabbana never wed. |
| Malcolm Turnbull, whose leadership was destroyed in 2009 when Abbott and others resigned on him to protest against his support for a carbon price, lashed back, saying it was “a good idea to keep the team together” given the Coalition’s poor standing in the polls. | Malcolm Turnbull, whose leadership was destroyed in 2009 when Abbott and others resigned on him to protest against his support for a carbon price, lashed back, saying it was “a good idea to keep the team together” given the Coalition’s poor standing in the polls. |
| Turnbull said cabinet should have discussed the issue first and the assistant treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, said the refusal to change policy to a conscience vote flew in the face of the spirit of the party’s founder, Robert Menzies. | Turnbull said cabinet should have discussed the issue first and the assistant treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, said the refusal to change policy to a conscience vote flew in the face of the spirit of the party’s founder, Robert Menzies. |
| Lenore Taylor, reflecting on the wash-up: | Lenore Taylor, reflecting on the wash-up: |
| Even when he wins, he also loses. Same-sex marriage would have been a difficult issue for any Coalition prime minister, but Tony Abbott played it more like a factional warrior than a leader. | Even when he wins, he also loses. Same-sex marriage would have been a difficult issue for any Coalition prime minister, but Tony Abbott played it more like a factional warrior than a leader. |
| After six hours of debate his preferred position won the night, but he didn’t resolve the issue, because he is on the wrong side of public opinion on this (a Crosby Textor poll showed 72% support) and, looking at global trends, the wrong side of history. | After six hours of debate his preferred position won the night, but he didn’t resolve the issue, because he is on the wrong side of public opinion on this (a Crosby Textor poll showed 72% support) and, looking at global trends, the wrong side of history. |
| The government is veering towards chaotic process and open insurrection, with angry confusion and divisions in the cabinet and leadership group about strategy and direction. The prime minister’s judgment and authority is, once again, under question. | The government is veering towards chaotic process and open insurrection, with angry confusion and divisions in the cabinet and leadership group about strategy and direction. The prime minister’s judgment and authority is, once again, under question. |
| Updated at 10.34am AEST | Updated at 10.34am AEST |
| 8.56am AEST23:56 | 8.56am AEST23:56 |
| Tiny Tony Tapes | Tiny Tony Tapes |
| The prime minister harking back to his student days this morning in the AM interview has prompted Kate Doak, a long-time contributor to my various live blog projects, to remind me about the wonderful Tiny Tony Tapes that hit the public domain courtesy of Kate while I was still at Fairfax Media. | The prime minister harking back to his student days this morning in the AM interview has prompted Kate Doak, a long-time contributor to my various live blog projects, to remind me about the wonderful Tiny Tony Tapes that hit the public domain courtesy of Kate while I was still at Fairfax Media. |
| This recording is of an interview Abbott did in 1979 with the University of New England when he was president of the Sydney University SRC. | This recording is of an interview Abbott did in 1979 with the University of New England when he was president of the Sydney University SRC. |
| At about the eight-minute mark, just after a reflection about whether the study of punk rock is a Marxist activity, Abbott is asked about representation for minority groups on campus. | At about the eight-minute mark, just after a reflection about whether the study of punk rock is a Marxist activity, Abbott is asked about representation for minority groups on campus. |
| The future prime minister of Australia tells his host that minorities don’t need special representation. | The future prime minister of Australia tells his host that minorities don’t need special representation. |
| Young Tony: | Young Tony: |
| I’m very wary, I find it a little alarming, that people today tend to think of themselves not as members of the community but as women, blacks, migrants, homosexuals or whatever. | I’m very wary, I find it a little alarming, that people today tend to think of themselves not as members of the community but as women, blacks, migrants, homosexuals or whatever. |
| Abbott says if the community is represented then so are minority groups. | Abbott says if the community is represented then so are minority groups. |
| The whole conversation is a gem. Do have a listen if your day permits. | The whole conversation is a gem. Do have a listen if your day permits. |
| Thanks muchly to Kate. | Thanks muchly to Kate. |
| Updated at 10.31am AEST | Updated at 10.31am AEST |
| 8.29am AEST23:29 | 8.29am AEST23:29 |
| Shalailah Medhora | Shalailah Medhora |
| Brisk business in the corridor. We’ve had the prime minister, the treasurer, Joe Hockey, and Labor’s Senate leader, Penny Wong, hitting the airwaves in the past hour. | Brisk business in the corridor. We’ve had the prime minister, the treasurer, Joe Hockey, and Labor’s Senate leader, Penny Wong, hitting the airwaves in the past hour. |
| Wong told Radio National the battle was not done and dusted. | Wong told Radio National the battle was not done and dusted. |
| “I suspect the Senate is where some Liberals are going to have to decide if they have the courage to show their convictions. What we saw yesterday was an exercise in raw power by a man who is prepared to do anything, including dividing his cabinet, to get his own way,” she said of Tony Abbott, who she described as “yesterday’s man”. | “I suspect the Senate is where some Liberals are going to have to decide if they have the courage to show their convictions. What we saw yesterday was an exercise in raw power by a man who is prepared to do anything, including dividing his cabinet, to get his own way,” she said of Tony Abbott, who she described as “yesterday’s man”. |
| Wong said that divisions within the Coalition would continue to fester. “There will be moves, because so many people in this parliament think it’s time. I think the majority of Australians think it’s time.” | Wong said that divisions within the Coalition would continue to fester. “There will be moves, because so many people in this parliament think it’s time. I think the majority of Australians think it’s time.” |
| She thought that the issue should be settled via legislation. “This is the job for parliament,” she said. “A plebiscite is simply the parliament refusing to do its job. There will be a vote on this – it’s the next election.” | She thought that the issue should be settled via legislation. “This is the job for parliament,” she said. “A plebiscite is simply the parliament refusing to do its job. There will be a vote on this – it’s the next election.” |
| Updated at 10.30am AEST | Updated at 10.30am AEST |
| 8.24am AEST23:24 | 8.24am AEST23:24 |
| The back half of the AM interview was concerned with the government’s other big policy issue from Tuesday – new emissions reductions targets post-2020 – and with the government’s political fortunes more generally. | The back half of the AM interview was concerned with the government’s other big policy issue from Tuesday – new emissions reductions targets post-2020 – and with the government’s political fortunes more generally. |
| Abbott was asked about the polls. Polls go up and polls go down, the prime minister said. Isn’t your problem the polls haven’t gone up for 15 months, Brissenden inquired? Abbott said he was confident the government was doing exactly what it was elected to do. | Abbott was asked about the polls. Polls go up and polls go down, the prime minister said. Isn’t your problem the polls haven’t gone up for 15 months, Brissenden inquired? Abbott said he was confident the government was doing exactly what it was elected to do. |
| Sure there’s a lot of political static. The intensity of politics seems to be increasing all the time. | Sure there’s a lot of political static. The intensity of politics seems to be increasing all the time. |
| But Abbott says if you want competence and stability, stick with the Coalition. | But Abbott says if you want competence and stability, stick with the Coalition. |
| He defended the post-2020 target as responsible and achievable, a target that won’t clobber jobs and growth. | He defended the post-2020 target as responsible and achievable, a target that won’t clobber jobs and growth. |
| Abbott told his host constraining emissions won’t hurt the coal industry (which seems a contradiction in basic logic). | Abbott told his host constraining emissions won’t hurt the coal industry (which seems a contradiction in basic logic). |
| We are not expecting a reduction in the coal industry. Some mines will close and others will open. | We are not expecting a reduction in the coal industry. Some mines will close and others will open. |
| Abbott reasons that expanding Australia’s coal industry helps developing countries reduce their emissions intensity because our coal is better than theirs. | Abbott reasons that expanding Australia’s coal industry helps developing countries reduce their emissions intensity because our coal is better than theirs. |
| Renewables? Jobs of the future? | Renewables? Jobs of the future? |
| Well, Michael, they are highly subsidised jobs. Without the subsidy we wouldn’t have renewables on anything like the scale we do. | Well, Michael, they are highly subsidised jobs. Without the subsidy we wouldn’t have renewables on anything like the scale we do. |
| (What have renewables done for anyone lately?) | (What have renewables done for anyone lately?) |
| Updated at 10.28am AEST | Updated at 10.28am AEST |
| 7.58am AEST22:58 | 7.58am AEST22:58 |
| Good morning, good people | Good morning, good people |
| Good morning blogans, bloganistas and welcome to the morning after the night before. Last night the Coalition met for six hours to thrash out its position on same-sex marriage and resolved to preserve the status quo, with fine print. | Good morning blogans, bloganistas and welcome to the morning after the night before. Last night the Coalition met for six hours to thrash out its position on same-sex marriage and resolved to preserve the status quo, with fine print. |
| The prime minister told reporters about 10pm that the Coalition would defend heterosexual marriage for this term of parliament but the government may take a reform position to voters at the next election, which may be either a conscience vote, a plebiscite or a constitutional referendum. This is known in the trade as speaking out both sides of your mouth. Here you are voters: take our same-sex marriage smorgasbord. | The prime minister told reporters about 10pm that the Coalition would defend heterosexual marriage for this term of parliament but the government may take a reform position to voters at the next election, which may be either a conscience vote, a plebiscite or a constitutional referendum. This is known in the trade as speaking out both sides of your mouth. Here you are voters: take our same-sex marriage smorgasbord. |
| This morning, the prime minister presented himself to the ABC bright and early to explain the smorgasbord to Australia’s commuters. In so doing Abbott told his host, Michael Brissenden, the cross-party same-sex marriage bill, which is on its way to federal parliament next week, may not come to a vote. | This morning, the prime minister presented himself to the ABC bright and early to explain the smorgasbord to Australia’s commuters. In so doing Abbott told his host, Michael Brissenden, the cross-party same-sex marriage bill, which is on its way to federal parliament next week, may not come to a vote. |
| Tony Abbott: | Tony Abbott: |
| Let’s see where things go. We don’t actually know what the bill provides at this point. | Let’s see where things go. We don’t actually know what the bill provides at this point. |
| He’s indicated that if the bill hits the house and manages to come to a vote, backbenchers are entitled to exercise their personal views. | He’s indicated that if the bill hits the house and manages to come to a vote, backbenchers are entitled to exercise their personal views. |
| There’s a but though. | There’s a but though. |
| I would be disappointed if they went against the party position. | I would be disappointed if they went against the party position. |
| Abbott told listeners it was reasonable to wait a bit longer to legalise same-sex marriage given that it’s really only this generation that has ever thought of this. He says when he was at university, the idea of gay people wanting something as bourgeois as marriage would have been laughable. | Abbott told listeners it was reasonable to wait a bit longer to legalise same-sex marriage given that it’s really only this generation that has ever thought of this. He says when he was at university, the idea of gay people wanting something as bourgeois as marriage would have been laughable. |
| Brissenden presented the prime minister with polling that suggests a clear majority of voters support marriage equality. Yes, sure, the prime minister said, but legalising same-sex marriage is a subject on which many people have very deep feelings. Abbott said he was respecting those deep feelings. | Brissenden presented the prime minister with polling that suggests a clear majority of voters support marriage equality. Yes, sure, the prime minister said, but legalising same-sex marriage is a subject on which many people have very deep feelings. Abbott said he was respecting those deep feelings. |
| Well the prime minister is certainly resolved to respect some deep feelings in the debate, and frustrate the deep feelings that don’t conform with his deep feelings. | Well the prime minister is certainly resolved to respect some deep feelings in the debate, and frustrate the deep feelings that don’t conform with his deep feelings. |
| That’s actually the truth of the matter and it’s the danger for Abbott in this. I don’t think same-sex marriage will define the outcome of the next federal election, but Abbott’s ambivalence about the future and his discomfort with contemporary community attitudes can easily reinforce a feeling that this prime minister governs for a tetchy minority of special interests that reflect his world views, not for the political centre. | That’s actually the truth of the matter and it’s the danger for Abbott in this. I don’t think same-sex marriage will define the outcome of the next federal election, but Abbott’s ambivalence about the future and his discomfort with contemporary community attitudes can easily reinforce a feeling that this prime minister governs for a tetchy minority of special interests that reflect his world views, not for the political centre. |
| That’s his vulnerability here. | That’s his vulnerability here. |
| Quite a lot more in that interview. I’ll get to that in the next few posts but first let’s get cracking with our politics live conversation. The thread is open for your business. You can also reach Mikearoo and me on the twits @murpharoo and @mpbowers | Quite a lot more in that interview. I’ll get to that in the next few posts but first let’s get cracking with our politics live conversation. The thread is open for your business. You can also reach Mikearoo and me on the twits @murpharoo and @mpbowers |
| Buckle up. Here comes Wednesday. | Buckle up. Here comes Wednesday. |
| Updated at 10.26am AEST | Updated at 10.26am AEST |