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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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| Tony Abbott under pressure to take more Syrian refugees – politics live | Tony Abbott under pressure to take more Syrian refugees – politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 12.59am BST00:59 | |
| A blissful silence falls on the parliament this time every Tuesday when MPs are locked up in their various party room meetings. I have a recurring fantasy that I could do a yoga session during this time and then spring up, back to the desk, refreshed. It’s one of those thoughts that repeat because .. well .. it’s the lure of the impossible. In any case Tuesday morning is always calm before the storm. When they emerge, generally bedlam ensues. First world problems. I know. | |
| 12.49am BST00:49 | |
| Is Milner the answer? | |
| It’s been mooted for some weeks that the Labor leader Bill Shorten intended to appoint Cameron Milner – a former Queensland state party secretary – as his new chief of staff. The post has been vacant for some months. Shorten has told caucus this morning that Milner has the gig, according to Fairfax Media. | |
| There is a deal of low level grumbling about the Shorten office around the opposition. Complaints vary. A quick sample I’ve heard include too short term in thinking; ineffective policy development processes; too many staff quartered in the leader’s office at the expense of staff deployed to the ministry and outer ministry. | |
| Milner has a big job to do. There will be a number of Labor people who hope he’s up to it. | |
| 12.39am BST00:39 | |
| For the stats inclined. | |
| Refugees per 1,000 people Lebanon: 232 Jordan: 87 Turkey: 21 Canada: 5 Germany: 2.4 UK: 1.9 Australia: 1.4 US: 0.9 pic.twitter.com/pArEK0HZOA | |
| 12.37am BST00:37 | |
| The China FTA motion is not the only parliamentary game in town. The independent MP Andrew Wilkie says he plans the move a motion on refugees during question time today. | |
| His number is 30,000. | |
| Here is the Wilkie motion. | |
| I move that this House: | |
| 1) expresses its deep concern that there are now more than 50 million endangered people displaced or on the move globally, including more than four million Syrians on account of the current conflict; | |
| 2) calls on the government to act immediately to quickly resettle in Australia 30,000 affected Syrians, all in addition to the current humanitarian intake of 13,750; and | |
| 3) further calls on the government to permanently double Australia’s humanitarian intake from its current figure of 13,750 to 28,000. | |
| 12.25am BST00:25 | 12.25am BST00:25 |
| Some thoughts on Syria and refugees from the former Liberal premier of Victoria, Jeff Kennett. | Some thoughts on Syria and refugees from the former Liberal premier of Victoria, Jeff Kennett. |
| Yes to 50,000 more refugees from Syria properly processed from camps in agreed places overseas. NO NO to Aus bombing strikes in Syria | Yes to 50,000 more refugees from Syria properly processed from camps in agreed places overseas. NO NO to Aus bombing strikes in Syria |
| Labors call 10,000 extra refugees a start not enough over 3 years. Extra $100m suggested 4 aid better spent setting up processing camps | Labors call 10,000 extra refugees a start not enough over 3 years. Extra $100m suggested 4 aid better spent setting up processing camps |
| Bill Shorten calls for bi partisan approach to refugees, then becomes political particularly Marles and Plebiseck. What a pity. opp lost | Bill Shorten calls for bi partisan approach to refugees, then becomes political particularly Marles and Plebiseck. What a pity. opp lost |
| 12.10am BST00:10 | 12.10am BST00:10 |
| Just for the record, here’s the text of the motion on the China free trade agreement we expect at midday. | Just for the record, here’s the text of the motion on the China free trade agreement we expect at midday. |
| Notice of motion | Notice of motion |
| 7 September 2015 | 7 September 2015 |
| I give notice that on the next day of sitting I shall move that the House: | I give notice that on the next day of sitting I shall move that the House: |
| 1) Record the enormous economic potential of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) to deliver Australian jobs, growth and investment; | 1) Record the enormous economic potential of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) to deliver Australian jobs, growth and investment; |
| 2) Acknowledge that for benefits to flow to Australian businesses and workers without delay, it must be passed by the Parliament this year; and | 2) Acknowledge that for benefits to flow to Australian businesses and workers without delay, it must be passed by the Parliament this year; and |
| 3) Fully support the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement in its negotiated form. | 3) Fully support the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement in its negotiated form. |
| 12.07am BST00:07 | 12.07am BST00:07 |
| I’ve just seen a full playback of the Ewen Jones/Bernardi burn in the corridor. At the end, with a twinkle in his eye, the Liberal MP asks: | I’ve just seen a full playback of the Ewen Jones/Bernardi burn in the corridor. At the end, with a twinkle in his eye, the Liberal MP asks: |
| Is this being recorded? | Is this being recorded? |
| 11.53pm BST23:53 | 11.53pm BST23:53 |
| More from the corridor crawl this morning. | More from the corridor crawl this morning. |
| 11.44pm BST23:44 | 11.44pm BST23:44 |
| Remarkable. In the not good way. | Remarkable. In the not good way. |
| One thing I forgot to reference in the morning catch up was a story in The Australian today about the trade union royal commission. | One thing I forgot to reference in the morning catch up was a story in The Australian today about the trade union royal commission. |
| Investigative reporter Pam Williams says this morning lawyers working for the trade union royal commission “personally gave union whistleblower-turned-fraudster Kathy Jackson detailed advance knowledge of the issues to be covered during her appearances at the inquiry, including tips on the topics to prepare and suggestions that she use her time on the stand to tackle media critics.” | Investigative reporter Pam Williams says this morning lawyers working for the trade union royal commission “personally gave union whistleblower-turned-fraudster Kathy Jackson detailed advance knowledge of the issues to be covered during her appearances at the inquiry, including tips on the topics to prepare and suggestions that she use her time on the stand to tackle media critics.” |
| If true, that’s pretty remarkable, and not in a good way. | If true, that’s pretty remarkable, and not in a good way. |
| Given we expect Labor to move a motion in the senate at some stage today about Dyson Heydon – calling on the Governor-General to remove him from TURC after the controversy over his planned appearance at a Liberal party event – I suspect we’ll hear more of this story today. | Given we expect Labor to move a motion in the senate at some stage today about Dyson Heydon – calling on the Governor-General to remove him from TURC after the controversy over his planned appearance at a Liberal party event – I suspect we’ll hear more of this story today. |
| Labor postponed this motion yesterday. | Labor postponed this motion yesterday. |
| 11.36pm BST23:36 | 11.36pm BST23:36 |
| Mike Bowers (morning Mike) tells me the Liberal MP Ewen Jones was just outside in our corridor. Jones has called for the refugee intake to be 50,000. He got a question about the Bernardi remarks in the senate yesterday. | Mike Bowers (morning Mike) tells me the Liberal MP Ewen Jones was just outside in our corridor. Jones has called for the refugee intake to be 50,000. He got a question about the Bernardi remarks in the senate yesterday. |
| Jones: | Jones: |
| What do you expect from someone like Cory (Bernardi)? He plays to his constituency and that’s the hard part. | What do you expect from someone like Cory (Bernardi)? He plays to his constituency and that’s the hard part. |
| Updated at 12.02am BST | Updated at 12.02am BST |
| 11.27pm BST23:27 | 11.27pm BST23:27 |
| Shorten is asked about the parliamentary motion at midday on the China FTA. The Labor leader is asked whether Labor will stop playing politics on the FTA and get on with supporting it. Shorten says its the government playing politics. This motion is being brought on before the enabling legislation has even been sighted. | Shorten is asked about the parliamentary motion at midday on the China FTA. The Labor leader is asked whether Labor will stop playing politics on the FTA and get on with supporting it. Shorten says its the government playing politics. This motion is being brought on before the enabling legislation has even been sighted. |
| Shorten says Labor supports the agreement and wants CHAFTA plus. He’s brought a wad of papers into the AM studios and attempts to drill into the detail, which doesn’t go so well. There is the noise of shuffling papers and half sentences which don’t entirely make sense. It often goes this way when Shorten ventures into detail. | Shorten says Labor supports the agreement and wants CHAFTA plus. He’s brought a wad of papers into the AM studios and attempts to drill into the detail, which doesn’t go so well. There is the noise of shuffling papers and half sentences which don’t entirely make sense. It often goes this way when Shorten ventures into detail. |
| Michael Brissenden, the AM host, wants to cut through the blather. My question remains – without these changes – you won’t support it? | Michael Brissenden, the AM host, wants to cut through the blather. My question remains – without these changes – you won’t support it? |
| Bill Shorten: | Bill Shorten: |
| Michael, I’ve been in many negotiations standing up for Australian workers. It’s what I’ve been doing my whole adult life. | Michael, I’ve been in many negotiations standing up for Australian workers. It’s what I’ve been doing my whole adult life. |
| Nothing Labor is saying is a deal killer. What we need is the government not to assume that you either have to 100% agree with them or they take their bat and ball and go home. | Nothing Labor is saying is a deal killer. What we need is the government not to assume that you either have to 100% agree with them or they take their bat and ball and go home. |
| This nation has had a gutful of Mr Abbott’s stubbornness on so many issues. Let’s sit down, work through the issues. That’s how we get better outcomes when we work together, not against each other. | This nation has had a gutful of Mr Abbott’s stubbornness on so many issues. Let’s sit down, work through the issues. That’s how we get better outcomes when we work together, not against each other. |
| 11.18pm BST23:18 | 11.18pm BST23:18 |
| Shorten says Labor could support more than 10,000 refugees from Syria | Shorten says Labor could support more than 10,000 refugees from Syria |
| The Labor leader Bill Shorten has followed Julie Bishop in the AM studio. He’s asked whether accepting 10,000 Syrian refugees (Labor’s proposal from yesterday) is enough? | The Labor leader Bill Shorten has followed Julie Bishop in the AM studio. He’s asked whether accepting 10,000 Syrian refugees (Labor’s proposal from yesterday) is enough? |
| Bill Shorten says 10,000 is a “start.” | Bill Shorten says 10,000 is a “start.” |
| Q: So it could go higher? | Q: So it could go higher? |
| Shorten: | Shorten: |
| Let’s see what Mr Abbott says. | Let’s see what Mr Abbott says. |
| 11.15pm BST23:15 | 11.15pm BST23:15 |
| Toast, eggs, bacon, mushrooms – with a side of Cory | Toast, eggs, bacon, mushrooms – with a side of Cory |
| From Bernardi’s contribution in the senate on Monday, just because I suspect you’ll want further and betters. | From Bernardi’s contribution in the senate on Monday, just because I suspect you’ll want further and betters. |
| The facts remain that that terrible image was not brought about by recent events in Syria or Iraq. That boy and his family had lived in Turkey for three years. The money for that boy’s father to pay the people smugglers was sent from Canada. The father sent them on that boat so the father could get dental treatment. They were in no fear, they were in no persecution and they were in no danger in Turkey. | The facts remain that that terrible image was not brought about by recent events in Syria or Iraq. That boy and his family had lived in Turkey for three years. The money for that boy’s father to pay the people smugglers was sent from Canada. The father sent them on that boat so the father could get dental treatment. They were in no fear, they were in no persecution and they were in no danger in Turkey. |
| At this stage, I do not believe there is any need for hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people to be ditching their identification and trying to get into Europe for reasons of safety. Many of these people have been very safely ensconced, working and housed in places like Turkey for many years. | At this stage, I do not believe there is any need for hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people to be ditching their identification and trying to get into Europe for reasons of safety. Many of these people have been very safely ensconced, working and housed in places like Turkey for many years. |
| This seems to me to be becoming an opportunistic cycle which is masking the true humanitarian need that is the responsibility of all Western nations. That is the challenge for us — to distinguish between those who are being opportunistic and those are truly in need. | This seems to me to be becoming an opportunistic cycle which is masking the true humanitarian need that is the responsibility of all Western nations. That is the challenge for us — to distinguish between those who are being opportunistic and those are truly in need. |
| Australia will back those truly in need. | Australia will back those truly in need. |
| Meanwhile, Julie Bishop is on interview number four. She’s being asked on AM about conducting a military offensive and a humanitarian strategy at the same time in Syria. If the military offensive intensifies in Syria won’t the flow of refugees increase? | Meanwhile, Julie Bishop is on interview number four. She’s being asked on AM about conducting a military offensive and a humanitarian strategy at the same time in Syria. If the military offensive intensifies in Syria won’t the flow of refugees increase? |
| Julie Bishop: | Julie Bishop: |
| We are not dropping bombs on civilians we are targeting terrorists. | We are not dropping bombs on civilians we are targeting terrorists. |
| Q: What’s the endgame of this mission? | Q: What’s the endgame of this mission? |
| When the terrorist organisation is prevented from carrying attacks on civilian populations. | When the terrorist organisation is prevented from carrying attacks on civilian populations. |
| Updated at 11.32pm BST | Updated at 11.32pm BST |
| 11.00pm BST23:00 | 11.00pm BST23:00 |
| Good morning and welcome to Tuesday in Canberra, and a marvellous Tuesday it is. As we go live this morning the foreign minister Julie Bishop is doing the rounds of the television studios talking about Syria and refugees, which remains the dominant story this morning. | Good morning and welcome to Tuesday in Canberra, and a marvellous Tuesday it is. As we go live this morning the foreign minister Julie Bishop is doing the rounds of the television studios talking about Syria and refugees, which remains the dominant story this morning. |
| Tony Abbott faces calls from colleagues to take a larger cohort of people seeking safe haven. NSW premier Mike Baird reasoned on Q&A last night Australia could take more than 10,000 (the number Labor nominated yesterday), Liberal backbencher Ewen Jones thought 50,000 and there’s the calls from Bishop and assistant treasurer Josh Frydenberg for a one-off boost like John Howard did with refugees from Kosovo. | Tony Abbott faces calls from colleagues to take a larger cohort of people seeking safe haven. NSW premier Mike Baird reasoned on Q&A last night Australia could take more than 10,000 (the number Labor nominated yesterday), Liberal backbencher Ewen Jones thought 50,000 and there’s the calls from Bishop and assistant treasurer Josh Frydenberg for a one-off boost like John Howard did with refugees from Kosovo. |
| But Liberal senator Cory Bernardi saw “opportunism” in the current people movements. Bernardi told the senate on Monday (presumably having read Andrew Bolt’s blog) the little Syrian boy Aylan Kurdi pictured washed up on a beach, drowned, had boarded the boat not to seek asylum but for more practical reasons. “The father sent them on that boat so the father could get dental treatment,” Bernardi said. Readers with me on Politics Live yesterday will also know that Queensland Liberal Ian Macdonald read on Facebook that Middle Eastern countries weren’t doing anything on Syria. | But Liberal senator Cory Bernardi saw “opportunism” in the current people movements. Bernardi told the senate on Monday (presumably having read Andrew Bolt’s blog) the little Syrian boy Aylan Kurdi pictured washed up on a beach, drowned, had boarded the boat not to seek asylum but for more practical reasons. “The father sent them on that boat so the father could get dental treatment,” Bernardi said. Readers with me on Politics Live yesterday will also know that Queensland Liberal Ian Macdonald read on Facebook that Middle Eastern countries weren’t doing anything on Syria. |
| Bishop has been asked to disavow Bernardi on Sky News this morning. She’s obliged in mild terms, observing that “opportunistic” folks don’t meet UNHCR criteria. She’s said Bernardi can’t have been talking about people leaving Syria, since it is obvious that people are pouring out of Syria to flee a brutal conflict. “I don’t believe he could be talking about people leaving Syria,” she said. | Bishop has been asked to disavow Bernardi on Sky News this morning. She’s obliged in mild terms, observing that “opportunistic” folks don’t meet UNHCR criteria. She’s said Bernardi can’t have been talking about people leaving Syria, since it is obvious that people are pouring out of Syria to flee a brutal conflict. “I don’t believe he could be talking about people leaving Syria,” she said. |
| Later in the corridor, Bishop was asked about the Ewen Jones call for 50,000 asylum seekers from Syria. The foreign minister notes that anyone can come up with any figure they wish, but Australia needs to be able to provide services. That’s what the government is currently considering. | Later in the corridor, Bishop was asked about the Ewen Jones call for 50,000 asylum seekers from Syria. The foreign minister notes that anyone can come up with any figure they wish, but Australia needs to be able to provide services. That’s what the government is currently considering. |
| In addition to refugees the two main obvious news lines early are the China FTA – and continuing controversy over advice given to a cruise operator by federal officials about lowering operating costs. | In addition to refugees the two main obvious news lines early are the China FTA – and continuing controversy over advice given to a cruise operator by federal officials about lowering operating costs. |
| Trade first. Tony Abbott will move a motion at midday today calling on the parliament to “fully support the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement in its negotiated form.” Given Labor’s quibbles with the agreement, the politics of that are pretty obvious. Is Bill for the CFMEU or is Bill for economic progress? Given it can be hard to predict what anyone in this building is for or against at any given moment – and sometimes people can be both for and against something at the same time – I can only suggest we all stay tuned. | Trade first. Tony Abbott will move a motion at midday today calling on the parliament to “fully support the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement in its negotiated form.” Given Labor’s quibbles with the agreement, the politics of that are pretty obvious. Is Bill for the CFMEU or is Bill for economic progress? Given it can be hard to predict what anyone in this building is for or against at any given moment – and sometimes people can be both for and against something at the same time – I can only suggest we all stay tuned. |
| Now to cruise operators. Nationals leader Warren Truss has some explaining to do after telling parliament on Monday his officials had not advised a cruise operator to replace his workforce with a foreign crew (and if they had, the advice didn’t count because that couldn’t actually happen.) Last night Australian government bureaucrats admitted to a senate committee they discussed options with cruise operator Bill Milby which could have involved him hiring foreign crew under a foreign flag. | Now to cruise operators. Nationals leader Warren Truss has some explaining to do after telling parliament on Monday his officials had not advised a cruise operator to replace his workforce with a foreign crew (and if they had, the advice didn’t count because that couldn’t actually happen.) Last night Australian government bureaucrats admitted to a senate committee they discussed options with cruise operator Bill Milby which could have involved him hiring foreign crew under a foreign flag. |
| Oops. I don’t think I need to be a fortune teller to know we’ll hear something of that inconsistency today. | Oops. I don’t think I need to be a fortune teller to know we’ll hear something of that inconsistency today. |
| The Politics Live thread is open for your business, so do get amongst it. We are open for business on the twits. Mikearoo is @mpbowers and I’m @murpharoo | The Politics Live thread is open for your business, so do get amongst it. We are open for business on the twits. Mikearoo is @mpbowers and I’m @murpharoo |
| Buckle in. Collect $200 as you pass go. Try to avoid jail. Here comes Tuesday. | Buckle in. Collect $200 as you pass go. Try to avoid jail. Here comes Tuesday. |