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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2015/sep/08/tony-abbott-under-pressure-to-take-more-syrian-refugees-politics-live
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| Version 19 | Version 20 |
|---|---|
| John Howard says refugee crisis is different from when he offered Kosovars safe haven – as it happened | John Howard says refugee crisis is different from when he offered Kosovars safe haven – as it happened |
| (17 days later) | |
| 8.45am BST | 8.45am BST |
| 08:45 | 08:45 |
| And so are the days of our lives | And so are the days of our lives |
| It’s time to bid you all so long, farewell. Thank you as always for your very fine company. | It’s time to bid you all so long, farewell. Thank you as always for your very fine company. |
| Let’s wrap today, Tuesday: | Let’s wrap today, Tuesday: |
| As we go to bed Canberrans are rallying in the city in support of refugees. Mike Bowers is down there in the cold, snapping away. Bless him. And we’ll be back in the morning, same bat time, same bat channel. It’s goodnight from me, and good night from him. | As we go to bed Canberrans are rallying in the city in support of refugees. Mike Bowers is down there in the cold, snapping away. Bless him. And we’ll be back in the morning, same bat time, same bat channel. It’s goodnight from me, and good night from him. |
| 8.12am BST | 8.12am BST |
| 08:12 | 08:12 |
| Syria isn't Kosovo: Howard | Syria isn't Kosovo: Howard |
| Michael Safi | Michael Safi |
| Former prime minister John Howard has distinguished his government’s 1999 decision to offer safe haven to 4,000 Kosovars from the question facing Tony Abbott over Syrian refugees. | Former prime minister John Howard has distinguished his government’s 1999 decision to offer safe haven to 4,000 Kosovars from the question facing Tony Abbott over Syrian refugees. |
| “That safe haven was offered in the genuine belief ... it would be a temporary thing only and that the aggressors would be taken out and the Kosovars could go back to their homeland,” Howard told reporters in Sydney. “I don’t know that the circumstances now are exactly similar.” | “That safe haven was offered in the genuine belief ... it would be a temporary thing only and that the aggressors would be taken out and the Kosovars could go back to their homeland,” Howard told reporters in Sydney. “I don’t know that the circumstances now are exactly similar.” |
| He would not be drawn on suggestions by senator Eric Abetz that Christians should be given priority. “Christians and other minorities are very badly treated, very badly, and I can understand the calls that have been made for some priority to be given to those minorities,” Howard said. “All I can say is that Christians and other minorities are being particularly singled out for very harsh treatment. I’m not in a position to do anything except note the reality, and the question of whether one group or another should be given priority is a matter entirely for the government,” he said. | He would not be drawn on suggestions by senator Eric Abetz that Christians should be given priority. “Christians and other minorities are very badly treated, very badly, and I can understand the calls that have been made for some priority to be given to those minorities,” Howard said. “All I can say is that Christians and other minorities are being particularly singled out for very harsh treatment. I’m not in a position to do anything except note the reality, and the question of whether one group or another should be given priority is a matter entirely for the government,” he said. |
| Speaking at an event for Gun Control Australia, Howard said it would be “a huge mistake” if the Abbott government failed to ban imports of a rapid-fire shotgun, the Adler A110, which could be legally imported in 12 months under a deal struck with Liberal Democrat senator David Leyonhjelm. “If the government ends up letting this in, and not treating it as it should be ... then I’d be very critical,” Howard said on Tuesday. | Speaking at an event for Gun Control Australia, Howard said it would be “a huge mistake” if the Abbott government failed to ban imports of a rapid-fire shotgun, the Adler A110, which could be legally imported in 12 months under a deal struck with Liberal Democrat senator David Leyonhjelm. “If the government ends up letting this in, and not treating it as it should be ... then I’d be very critical,” Howard said on Tuesday. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.24am BST | at 8.24am BST |
| 7.38am BST | 7.38am BST |
| 07:38 | 07:38 |
| Perhaps not constitutional mayhem after all. The attorney general, George Brandis, just now, on the Heydon motion, on Sky News. | Perhaps not constitutional mayhem after all. The attorney general, George Brandis, just now, on the Heydon motion, on Sky News. |
| It wouldn’t have made any practical difference but it would have embarrassed the governor general. | It wouldn’t have made any practical difference but it would have embarrassed the governor general. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.10am BST | at 8.10am BST |
| 7.36am BST | 7.36am BST |
| 07:36 | 07:36 |
| The Australian’s Chris Kenny has chided me (quite correctly) for a tweet updating the live blog in which I said Dyson Heydon remains at the head of the trade union royal commission courtesy of the tied vote in the Senate. | The Australian’s Chris Kenny has chided me (quite correctly) for a tweet updating the live blog in which I said Dyson Heydon remains at the head of the trade union royal commission courtesy of the tied vote in the Senate. |
| Of course the Senate vote, had it been affirmative rather than tied, would not have removed the commish. The motion asked the governor general to revoke the letters patent (which one feels the GG would not have done, given that would put him at odds with instructions from the government). | Of course the Senate vote, had it been affirmative rather than tied, would not have removed the commish. The motion asked the governor general to revoke the letters patent (which one feels the GG would not have done, given that would put him at odds with instructions from the government). |
| Rather like the show by the government on the China FTA at midday, the move against Heydon in the Senate was more about symbol than substance – although the attorney general clearly thought constitutional mayhem lurked uncomfortably around the corner. Just as well we were all keeping a close eye on proceedings. Thank you Chris. It’s good to know you’ve got my back. I do hope to return the favour some day. What’s the hashtag? #youknowitmakessense | Rather like the show by the government on the China FTA at midday, the move against Heydon in the Senate was more about symbol than substance – although the attorney general clearly thought constitutional mayhem lurked uncomfortably around the corner. Just as well we were all keeping a close eye on proceedings. Thank you Chris. It’s good to know you’ve got my back. I do hope to return the favour some day. What’s the hashtag? #youknowitmakessense |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.49am BST | at 7.49am BST |
| 7.17am BST | 7.17am BST |
| 07:17 | 07:17 |
| Tracking back to the Heydon motion for some visuals – kicking off with a reading from the book of Sir Isaac Isaacs by George Brandis. | Tracking back to the Heydon motion for some visuals – kicking off with a reading from the book of Sir Isaac Isaacs by George Brandis. |
| 7.12am BST | 7.12am BST |
| 07:12 | 07:12 |
| Cory Bernardi has dropped by the Sky News studio to further expand on his theme of less worthy and more worthy refugees. He’s back on the subject of the drowned Syrian child. | Cory Bernardi has dropped by the Sky News studio to further expand on his theme of less worthy and more worthy refugees. He’s back on the subject of the drowned Syrian child. |
| This family was safely in Turkey, by the family’s own admission they were seeking better health care in Turkey. They were seeking to better themselves of course. | This family was safely in Turkey, by the family’s own admission they were seeking better health care in Turkey. They were seeking to better themselves of course. |
| Bernardi is asked whether Australia should take more refugees. | Bernardi is asked whether Australia should take more refugees. |
| The mood in public sentiment is probably yes, but within limits. | The mood in public sentiment is probably yes, but within limits. |
| 7.01am BST | 7.01am BST |
| 07:01 | 07:01 |
| Labor's Heydon motion fails | Labor's Heydon motion fails |
| We have yes from the ALP and the Greens and Glenn Lazarus and Jacqui Lambie and no from the Coalition, Nick Xenophon, Bob Day and Ricky Muir. | We have yes from the ALP and the Greens and Glenn Lazarus and Jacqui Lambie and no from the Coalition, Nick Xenophon, Bob Day and Ricky Muir. |
| David Leyonhjelm and Dio Wang are not in the chamber. | David Leyonhjelm and Dio Wang are not in the chamber. |
| So that vote is 34 ayes, 34 no’s – a tie resolves the issue in the negative. | So that vote is 34 ayes, 34 no’s – a tie resolves the issue in the negative. |
| 6.57am BST | 6.57am BST |
| 06:57 | 06:57 |
| Senate Opposition Leader Penny Wong now moving this motion regarding Royal Commissioner Dyson Heydon #auspol #turc pic.twitter.com/NNwlpG8K2e | Senate Opposition Leader Penny Wong now moving this motion regarding Royal Commissioner Dyson Heydon #auspol #turc pic.twitter.com/NNwlpG8K2e |
| 6.55am BST | 6.55am BST |
| 06:55 | 06:55 |
| South Australian senator Nick Xenophon says he thinks Heydon should go and he has concerns about the conduct of the commission, but he can’t support this motion because only the executive should instruct the Governor-General. | South Australian senator Nick Xenophon says he thinks Heydon should go and he has concerns about the conduct of the commission, but he can’t support this motion because only the executive should instruct the Governor-General. |
| Division is underway now. | Division is underway now. |
| 6.53am BST | 6.53am BST |
| 06:53 | 06:53 |
| Wong says it is clear the government is presiding over a politically charged, a politically biased inquiry. | Wong says it is clear the government is presiding over a politically charged, a politically biased inquiry. |
| You know this stinks. You know this royal commission is a politically biased witch hunt. | You know this stinks. You know this royal commission is a politically biased witch hunt. |
| She says the government has been lobbying cross benchers to prevent this motion succeeding. | She says the government has been lobbying cross benchers to prevent this motion succeeding. |
| The attorney-general George Brandis says this motion is contemptible. | The attorney-general George Brandis says this motion is contemptible. |
| He says the motion asks the Governor-General to act unconstitutionally. He says the Governor-General would be acting against the advice of the government and the disposition of the other chamber, the House of Representatives. | He says the motion asks the Governor-General to act unconstitutionally. He says the Governor-General would be acting against the advice of the government and the disposition of the other chamber, the House of Representatives. |
| Labor’s deputy senate leader Stephen Conroy is shouting. Doug Cameron is shouting. Rubbish. | Labor’s deputy senate leader Stephen Conroy is shouting. Doug Cameron is shouting. Rubbish. |
| George Brandis: | George Brandis: |
| This is plainly an effort to use the senate to achieve an unconstitutional end. | This is plainly an effort to use the senate to achieve an unconstitutional end. |
| 6.45am BST | 6.45am BST |
| 06:45 | 06:45 |
| Labor attempts to have Dyson Heydon removed from the trade union royal commission | Labor attempts to have Dyson Heydon removed from the trade union royal commission |
| Labor’s senate leader Penny Wong is on her feet now with the motion about Dyson Heydon. She says the government has failed to act on the commissioner, so now the senate must act. | Labor’s senate leader Penny Wong is on her feet now with the motion about Dyson Heydon. She says the government has failed to act on the commissioner, so now the senate must act. |
| 6.42am BST | 6.42am BST |
| 06:42 | 06:42 |
| Liberal senator Cory Bernardi is on his feet in the red place objecting to certain characterisations of his comments on Monday about the Syrian toddler who drowned, and about the refugee crisis underway in Europe. | Liberal senator Cory Bernardi is on his feet in the red place objecting to certain characterisations of his comments on Monday about the Syrian toddler who drowned, and about the refugee crisis underway in Europe. |
| At no time did I say that all migration in Europe at he moment is opportunistic. | At no time did I say that all migration in Europe at he moment is opportunistic. |
| Bernardi says people have responded to his remarks with slurs rather than with facts. He thinks senators should strive to be accurate in their representations of others. | Bernardi says people have responded to his remarks with slurs rather than with facts. He thinks senators should strive to be accurate in their representations of others. |
| 6.37am BST | 6.37am BST |
| 06:37 | 06:37 |
| To borrow from a certain agriculture minister, you don’t have to be Pythagoras to know I have failed to post a single summary today. | To borrow from a certain agriculture minister, you don’t have to be Pythagoras to know I have failed to post a single summary today. |
| Very quickly, in keeping with my pre question time pinkie promise: | Very quickly, in keeping with my pre question time pinkie promise: |
| They are the big ticket items. Senate fire and brimstone on Dyson Heydon coming very shortly. | They are the big ticket items. Senate fire and brimstone on Dyson Heydon coming very shortly. |