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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2015/aug/13/security-committee-chair-says-bomb-syria-politics-live
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| Version 20 | Version 21 |
|---|---|
| Labor probes Dyson Heydon link to Liberal fundraiser – as it happened | Labor probes Dyson Heydon link to Liberal fundraiser – as it happened |
| (30 days later) | |
| 8.53am BST | 8.53am BST |
| 08:53 | 08:53 |
| That's all folks! | That's all folks! |
| It’s been some week, but like all good birds, I must fly. If you are in Canberra tonight, I’ll be at the Paperchain bookstore in an hour with my good friend Bernard Keane, the Crikey correspondent, who has written his first novel. If you are at loose end, do pop along an have a word. | It’s been some week, but like all good birds, I must fly. If you are in Canberra tonight, I’ll be at the Paperchain bookstore in an hour with my good friend Bernard Keane, the Crikey correspondent, who has written his first novel. If you are at loose end, do pop along an have a word. |
| Let’s sum up today, and another week in Numptyville. | Let’s sum up today, and another week in Numptyville. |
| A few observations, dare I say, from the helicopter. | A few observations, dare I say, from the helicopter. |
| That’s the week, viewed from my perch. | That’s the week, viewed from my perch. |
| And we’ll leave you a very special farewell from our #BrickParliament. | And we’ll leave you a very special farewell from our #BrickParliament. |
| The Fixer fixes the artist formerly known as Madam Speaker by taking her to a conveyance to ferry her home after a tough week. | The Fixer fixes the artist formerly known as Madam Speaker by taking her to a conveyance to ferry her home after a tough week. |
| And Speaker Smith is fixed up with a hot ride to take the famous rev head down the road to Melbourne. | And Speaker Smith is fixed up with a hot ride to take the famous rev head down the road to Melbourne. |
| All kind of fabulous. | All kind of fabulous. |
| The wonderful Gabrielle Chan will be driving the Politics Live bus next week. Thanks to that giant slaying photographic legend Mike Bowers and to my colleagues and our incredibly loyal readers. Have a good weekend. | The wonderful Gabrielle Chan will be driving the Politics Live bus next week. Thanks to that giant slaying photographic legend Mike Bowers and to my colleagues and our incredibly loyal readers. Have a good weekend. |
| 8.17am BST | 8.17am BST |
| 08:17 | 08:17 |
| The day is strange enough to be closing out with the defence minister Kevin Andrews chasing comments this morning from government backbencher Dan Tehan. You might recall that’s where we started this morning, with Tehan saying Australia should bomb IS targets in Syria. | The day is strange enough to be closing out with the defence minister Kevin Andrews chasing comments this morning from government backbencher Dan Tehan. You might recall that’s where we started this morning, with Tehan saying Australia should bomb IS targets in Syria. |
| The defence minister is telling ABC radio in Melbourne that the first he knew of the Tehan intervention was when he read it in the newspaper. Andrews says he has spoken to his Victorian colleague since. (Good that, I dare say.) Andrews says the case for intervention in Syria is IS doesn’t respect borders. | The defence minister is telling ABC radio in Melbourne that the first he knew of the Tehan intervention was when he read it in the newspaper. Andrews says he has spoken to his Victorian colleague since. (Good that, I dare say.) Andrews says the case for intervention in Syria is IS doesn’t respect borders. |
| 7.55am BST | 7.55am BST |
| 07:55 | 07:55 |
| Not enough time for pictures today. A terrific shot of Tony Burke mid censure motion from Mr Bowers. | Not enough time for pictures today. A terrific shot of Tony Burke mid censure motion from Mr Bowers. |
| 7.26am BST | 7.26am BST |
| 07:26 | 07:26 |
| I can't imagine there will be a referendum on same sex marriage | I can't imagine there will be a referendum on same sex marriage |
| Shalailah Medhora | Shalailah Medhora |
| It got lost in the wash of a hectic question time, but George Brandis did not back away from his criticism at lunchtime of holding a referendum on same-sex marriage. In fact, he’s going even further. “I can’t imagine that there will be a referendum on this question,” he said during Senate question time. “If there were a public vote, it clearly would be a plebiscite.” | It got lost in the wash of a hectic question time, but George Brandis did not back away from his criticism at lunchtime of holding a referendum on same-sex marriage. In fact, he’s going even further. “I can’t imagine that there will be a referendum on this question,” he said during Senate question time. “If there were a public vote, it clearly would be a plebiscite.” |
| 7.05am BST | 7.05am BST |
| 07:05 | 07:05 |
| Paul Osborne from AAP connects some interesting dots between the Sir Garfield Barwick address and parliamentary entitlements. | Paul Osborne from AAP connects some interesting dots between the Sir Garfield Barwick address and parliamentary entitlements. |
| Here’s Paul: | Here’s Paul: |
| Attorney-general George Brandis claimed over $1000 in taxpayer expenses to attend a Liberal Party fundraiser in 2010. When he was shadow attorney-general, Senator Brandis delivered the inaugural Sir Garfield Barwick address in Sydney on June 28, 2010. The funds from the $90-a-head function were payable to the Liberal Party’s NSW division. | Attorney-general George Brandis claimed over $1000 in taxpayer expenses to attend a Liberal Party fundraiser in 2010. When he was shadow attorney-general, Senator Brandis delivered the inaugural Sir Garfield Barwick address in Sydney on June 28, 2010. The funds from the $90-a-head function were payable to the Liberal Party’s NSW division. |
| The annual address is in the headlines on Thursday after unions royal commissioner Dyson Heydon pulled out of speaking over its potential to compromise his independence. Senator Brandis told reporters in Canberra on Thursday he was aware the event was organised by the Liberal party. The senator’s travel entitlements records show that he took a domestic flight from Brisbane to Sydney on June 28, 2010, at a cost of $531.60. In Sydney he used two comcars totalling just over $100 and his Brisbane comcars cost $93. The return flight to Brisbane on the same night cost $408.18. | The annual address is in the headlines on Thursday after unions royal commissioner Dyson Heydon pulled out of speaking over its potential to compromise his independence. Senator Brandis told reporters in Canberra on Thursday he was aware the event was organised by the Liberal party. The senator’s travel entitlements records show that he took a domestic flight from Brisbane to Sydney on June 28, 2010, at a cost of $531.60. In Sydney he used two comcars totalling just over $100 and his Brisbane comcars cost $93. The return flight to Brisbane on the same night cost $408.18. |
| (Perhaps that’s why the attorney-general was so keen today to define the function as not a political event?) | (Perhaps that’s why the attorney-general was so keen today to define the function as not a political event?) |
| 6.53am BST | 6.53am BST |
| 06:53 | 06:53 |
| Couple of insights on timeline | Couple of insights on timeline |
| The other thing that is implied through this email correspondence is Heydon more than likely agreed to appear at this event in the first instance because he expected the royal commission to be over by that time. Remember, the government extended the commission earlier this year. | The other thing that is implied through this email correspondence is Heydon more than likely agreed to appear at this event in the first instance because he expected the royal commission to be over by that time. Remember, the government extended the commission earlier this year. |
| Again from the correspondence. | Again from the correspondence. |
| Gregory Burton: In the absence of hearing from you we have proceeded on the basis you are happy to go ahead even though the commission is still in hearing. | Gregory Burton: In the absence of hearing from you we have proceeded on the basis you are happy to go ahead even though the commission is still in hearing. |
| The response early this morning from Dyson Heydon’s assistant indicates the commissioner still intended to come. | The response early this morning from Dyson Heydon’s assistant indicates the commissioner still intended to come. |
| But there’s a qualification – he could not come while still royal commissioner if there is any possibility that the event could be described as a Liberal party event. | But there’s a qualification – he could not come while still royal commissioner if there is any possibility that the event could be described as a Liberal party event. |
| 6.30am BST | 6.30am BST |
| 06:30 | 06:30 |
| This is not a fundraiser but people will disclose if they hit the state threshold: go figure | This is not a fundraiser but people will disclose if they hit the state threshold: go figure |
| The email released just by the royal commission suggests commissioner Heydon was told on August 12 (that would be yesterday) by Gregory Burton, who is one of the organisers – that the event wasn’t a fundraiser. (“This is not a fundraiser.”) | The email released just by the royal commission suggests commissioner Heydon was told on August 12 (that would be yesterday) by Gregory Burton, who is one of the organisers – that the event wasn’t a fundraiser. (“This is not a fundraiser.”) |
| The language describing the arrangements for the evening is ambiguous, however. The note to Heydon from Burton says the costs charged for the event cover dinner and a small contingency for fixed costs in case numbers collapse, but “of course people will disclose if they go over the state donation limit.” | The language describing the arrangements for the evening is ambiguous, however. The note to Heydon from Burton says the costs charged for the event cover dinner and a small contingency for fixed costs in case numbers collapse, but “of course people will disclose if they go over the state donation limit.” |
| That does imply that people would make donations at the event. | That does imply that people would make donations at the event. |
| 6.19am BST | 6.19am BST |
| 06:19 | 06:19 |
| The royal commission has released some correspondence concerning the fundraiser. Give me a minute to read them and I’ll update you. | The royal commission has released some correspondence concerning the fundraiser. Give me a minute to read them and I’ll update you. |
| 6.14am BST | 6.14am BST |
| 06:14 | 06:14 |
| Couple more. | Couple more. |
| 6.11am BST | 6.11am BST |
| 06:11 | 06:11 |
| Just while the divisions are underway – time for a few chamber shots. The two managers of business manage their business behind the Speaker’s chair. | Just while the divisions are underway – time for a few chamber shots. The two managers of business manage their business behind the Speaker’s chair. |
| 6.07am BST | 6.07am BST |
| 06:07 | 06:07 |
| Pyne, continuing. | Pyne, continuing. |
| So Labor find themselves on the side of bashing the umpire in this occasion. Of taking out a political baseball bat and attacking the umpire, attacking the head of the royal commission rather than recognising his reputation for seriousness, for fairness. | So Labor find themselves on the side of bashing the umpire in this occasion. Of taking out a political baseball bat and attacking the umpire, attacking the head of the royal commission rather than recognising his reputation for seriousness, for fairness. |
| They decided, because they are so obsessed with the union movement, that they want to find themselves on the side of attacking the royal commissioner, attacking former justice Dyson Heydon. | They decided, because they are so obsessed with the union movement, that they want to find themselves on the side of attacking the royal commissioner, attacking former justice Dyson Heydon. |
| He points across the dispatch box. | He points across the dispatch box. |
| He’s called him a bagman. One of the members of the front bench has just called Dyson Heydon a bagman! | He’s called him a bagman. One of the members of the front bench has just called Dyson Heydon a bagman! |
| My eye sight might not be good but my hearing is very good and he should withdraw that statement. | My eye sight might not be good but my hearing is very good and he should withdraw that statement. |
| Labor’s Jason Clare withdraws the characterisation. | Labor’s Jason Clare withdraws the characterisation. |
| 6.01am BST | 6.01am BST |
| 06:01 | 06:01 |
| Manager of government business, Christopher Pyne. | Manager of government business, Christopher Pyne. |
| Delighted. With chum bucket. | Delighted. With chum bucket. |
| Mr Speaker, on this my 48th birthday, I was thinking I wasn’t going to get a birthday present. | Mr Speaker, on this my 48th birthday, I was thinking I wasn’t going to get a birthday present. |
| But I was wrong, Mr Speaker! Because the opposition has provided me with a lovely birthday present which is the most spectacular own goal I have seen in this parliament, in this 44th parliament. | But I was wrong, Mr Speaker! Because the opposition has provided me with a lovely birthday present which is the most spectacular own goal I have seen in this parliament, in this 44th parliament. |
| What a spectacular own goal from the opposition! | What a spectacular own goal from the opposition! |
| The very subject that they want hidden from the public view – namely, their tawdry relationship with the Australian union movement – they have decided to place front and centre of the Australian political debate here in question time and all day in parliament! | The very subject that they want hidden from the public view – namely, their tawdry relationship with the Australian union movement – they have decided to place front and centre of the Australian political debate here in question time and all day in parliament! |
| 5.57am BST | 5.57am BST |
| 05:57 | 05:57 |
| Burke, continuing. | Burke, continuing. |
| You would have thought that the former Justice Heydon would have known (appearances of neutrality were important) given that these are the words of a judgment he himself delivered in the British American Tobacco Australia Services Limited case in 2011 – not that long ago. | You would have thought that the former Justice Heydon would have known (appearances of neutrality were important) given that these are the words of a judgment he himself delivered in the British American Tobacco Australia Services Limited case in 2011 – not that long ago. |
| And I quote from paragraph 139. ‘It is fundamental to the administration of justice that the judge be neutral. It is for this reason that the appearance of departure from neutrality is a ground of disqualification. It is the perception of the hypothetical observer that provides the yard stick.’ | And I quote from paragraph 139. ‘It is fundamental to the administration of justice that the judge be neutral. It is for this reason that the appearance of departure from neutrality is a ground of disqualification. It is the perception of the hypothetical observer that provides the yard stick.’ |
| Be in no doubt that if a juror behaved this way they would be off the jury immediately. They would be gone. But somehow this prime minister reckons that a royal commissioner can behave this way and that’s fine. And the reason goes to the very character of this prime minister and why he started this royal commission to begin with. | Be in no doubt that if a juror behaved this way they would be off the jury immediately. They would be gone. But somehow this prime minister reckons that a royal commissioner can behave this way and that’s fine. And the reason goes to the very character of this prime minister and why he started this royal commission to begin with. |
| Because he wanted someone who would be partisan. He wanted someone who would be biased. | Because he wanted someone who would be partisan. He wanted someone who would be biased. |
| Mark Dreyfus, coming after Burke, steps back from that. Dreyfus says it can’t be known whether Heydon is biased. The problem is the appearance of bias. | Mark Dreyfus, coming after Burke, steps back from that. Dreyfus says it can’t be known whether Heydon is biased. The problem is the appearance of bias. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.01am BST | at 6.01am BST |
| 5.48am BST | 5.48am BST |
| 05:48 | 05:48 |
| Labor’s Tony Burke: | Labor’s Tony Burke: |
| We had no choice but to suspend standing orders, Mr Speaker, when we have a situation when we try to pursue it by questions and the prime minister can’t even maintain the same answers for a space of thirty minutes. | We had no choice but to suspend standing orders, Mr Speaker, when we have a situation when we try to pursue it by questions and the prime minister can’t even maintain the same answers for a space of thirty minutes. |
| What is the point trying to pursue this issue through question time when we have a prime minister who can’t agree with his attorney-general or with himself and his between his first answer and his most recent answer. | What is the point trying to pursue this issue through question time when we have a prime minister who can’t agree with his attorney-general or with himself and his between his first answer and his most recent answer. |
| We have someone in front of us who is willing to mislead this parliament, who is willing to think that he will get away with saying one thing and then the exact opposite only thirty minutes later and think maybe no-one will notice. | We have someone in front of us who is willing to mislead this parliament, who is willing to think that he will get away with saying one thing and then the exact opposite only thirty minutes later and think maybe no-one will notice. |
| Well, people will notice and people need to. | Well, people will notice and people need to. |