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Labor steps up its campaign against Senate voting reform – politics live Tony Abbott urges Malcolm Turnbull to slash spending to fund tax cuts – politics live
(35 minutes later)
1.40am GMT
01:40
Politics, this lunchtime
That’s some pincer movement: preference whisperer Glenn Druery wedged between Green Lee Rhiannon and Family First Senator Bob Day.
This is my one and only shot at a lunchtime summary, so let’s crack on before the government unveils its media reform legislation before question time.
Today, Tuesday.
To media reform and more besides.
1.21am GMT
01:21
Through the actions of my mum and others, I think I avoided a monster ..
Shorten is asked about this morning’s evidence from Cardinal George Pell to the royal commission. (I haven’t caught up with that yet, but we have been covering it live.)
The Labor leader says the evidence is personal. He feels he “avoided a monster” in his Melbourne parish.
Bill Shorten
In terms of some of the specific matters which have been asked of Pell, Cardinal Pell, it very personal because one of the terrible cases was a story from Sacred Heart and Oatley church in Melbourne and that used to be my parish.
The priest who went to jail who did terrible things which have caused such tragedy in the lives of families was my parish priest and through the actions of my mum and others, I think I avoided a monster.
So I think that the church does need to respond fully.
1.17am GMT
01:17
The Shorten press conference is being replayed now. He’s been asked several questions on Senate voting reform. Shorten contends the Greens have been duped by the government, and he warns of the risks of the Coalition getting control or defacto control of the Senate.
1.12am GMT
01:12
To Labor. Bill Shorten has held a media conference about Linda Burney, the current deputy leader in NSW, running for the federal parliament at the coming election.
I haven’t got to this news yet, but this development was reported somewhere this morning, and Burney’s plan to run for Barton has been confirmed now.
If Burney succeeds she’ll be the first Aboriginal woman to sit in the House of Representatives.
1.06am GMT1.06am GMT
01:0601:06
JSCEM has finished its hearings. I’ll sum that up when I get to the lunch time summary (she says, optimistically, knowing the tidal wave about to hit between now and question time.) Now I need to catch up with various things in a more comprehensive way. Give me a minute, and I’ll be back.JSCEM has finished its hearings. I’ll sum that up when I get to the lunch time summary (she says, optimistically, knowing the tidal wave about to hit between now and question time.) Now I need to catch up with various things in a more comprehensive way. Give me a minute, and I’ll be back.
1.04am GMT1.04am GMT
01:0401:04
More from party room. As we predicted ..More from party room. As we predicted ..
Complaints raised in Coalition party room about the tax reform process. Tony Abbott also urged lower taxes through lower spendingComplaints raised in Coalition party room about the tax reform process. Tony Abbott also urged lower taxes through lower spending
1.02am GMT1.02am GMT
01:0201:02
There’s been a brief barney in JSCEM over whether Druery should have to disclose whether or not he’s paid for his advice on preference deals. A question about income was ruled out of order earlier, but government MPs on the committee think they’d like an answer to the question.There’s been a brief barney in JSCEM over whether Druery should have to disclose whether or not he’s paid for his advice on preference deals. A question about income was ruled out of order earlier, but government MPs on the committee think they’d like an answer to the question.
12.58am GMT12.58am GMT
00:5800:58
Back to JSCEM, Druery is insisting the Senate reform package will give the Coalition a blocking majority of 38 in some elections – as well as snuffing out the micro-parties. He thinks Nick Xenophon has taken an unfortunate decision in naming his political movement after himself: that increases the likelihood that the movement will extinguish itself once he retires.Back to JSCEM, Druery is insisting the Senate reform package will give the Coalition a blocking majority of 38 in some elections – as well as snuffing out the micro-parties. He thinks Nick Xenophon has taken an unfortunate decision in naming his political movement after himself: that increases the likelihood that the movement will extinguish itself once he retires.
12.55am GMT12.55am GMT
00:5500:55
Just by the by, the first reports, post Coalition party room, are beginning to lob in. Phil Coorey from the Financial Review.Just by the by, the first reports, post Coalition party room, are beginning to lob in. Phil Coorey from the Financial Review.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott has raised the temperature inside the Coalition over tax reform by calling on Malcolm Turnbull to make tough decisions to cut spending if he wanted to fund tax cuts.Former prime minister Tony Abbott has raised the temperature inside the Coalition over tax reform by calling on Malcolm Turnbull to make tough decisions to cut spending if he wanted to fund tax cuts.
Mr Abbott, who as prime minister opposed tinkering with superannuation, negative gearing and the GST, told Tuesday’s weekly Coalition party room meeting “the only credible way to reduce taxes is to reduce spending”.Mr Abbott, who as prime minister opposed tinkering with superannuation, negative gearing and the GST, told Tuesday’s weekly Coalition party room meeting “the only credible way to reduce taxes is to reduce spending”.
During discussion on tax reform, he said it was “time for the leadership to take on the savings challenge again”.During discussion on tax reform, he said it was “time for the leadership to take on the savings challenge again”.
12.42am GMT12.42am GMT
00:4200:42
Lee Rhiannon is pressing Druery on the appropriateness of his conduct. Druery is inclined to give as good as he gets.Lee Rhiannon is pressing Druery on the appropriateness of his conduct. Druery is inclined to give as good as he gets.
Glenn DrueryGlenn Druery
As I recall it was this so-called flawed electoral system that put you there in the first place.As I recall it was this so-called flawed electoral system that put you there in the first place.
The reality is you benefitted from a form of electoral subsidy – and now you want to pull up the draw bridge.The reality is you benefitted from a form of electoral subsidy – and now you want to pull up the draw bridge.
12.38am GMT12.38am GMT
00:3800:38
Green Senator Lee Rhiannon would like to know how many parties Druery has helped to set up. How many before the NSW election?Green Senator Lee Rhiannon would like to know how many parties Druery has helped to set up. How many before the NSW election?
Glenn DrueryGlenn Druery
Look that was a long time ago, I don’t recall how many people I advised. It was a lot.Look that was a long time ago, I don’t recall how many people I advised. It was a lot.
Pressed, he thinks about 40 parties.Pressed, he thinks about 40 parties.
Lee RhiannonLee Rhiannon
Q: Were you paid to set up parties to funnel votes in group voting tickets?Q: Were you paid to set up parties to funnel votes in group voting tickets?
The JSCEM chair rules that question out of order.The JSCEM chair rules that question out of order.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.59am GMTat 12.59am GMT
12.34am GMT12.34am GMT
00:3400:34
Druery says the current system has delivered diversity in the Senate. He says Ricky Muir is a real person and now he’s a senator. That trend should continue.Druery says the current system has delivered diversity in the Senate. He says Ricky Muir is a real person and now he’s a senator. That trend should continue.
He’s challenged by the JSCEM chair, who says the reason people like Muir are in the Senate is a consequence of a bunch of highly complex preference deals. That’s right, isn’t it? Druery concedes the point.He’s challenged by the JSCEM chair, who says the reason people like Muir are in the Senate is a consequence of a bunch of highly complex preference deals. That’s right, isn’t it? Druery concedes the point.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.59am GMTat 12.59am GMT
12.30am GMT12.30am GMT
00:3000:30
Scott Mitchell has been excused at JSCEM and replaced by Glenn Druery, the artist both formerly and currently known as the preference whisperer. He says he starts up small parties, that’s his business. The major parties now seem to have a problem with smaller parties getting elected, he says.Scott Mitchell has been excused at JSCEM and replaced by Glenn Druery, the artist both formerly and currently known as the preference whisperer. He says he starts up small parties, that’s his business. The major parties now seem to have a problem with smaller parties getting elected, he says.
Glenn DrueryGlenn Druery
It’s almost a form of school yard bullying.It’s almost a form of school yard bullying.
He says the changes mean the only party that will be able to control the Senate in the future will be the Coalition. Labor, he contends, has no chance. This set of reforms will force Labor into a formal coalition with the Greens.He says the changes mean the only party that will be able to control the Senate in the future will be the Coalition. Labor, he contends, has no chance. This set of reforms will force Labor into a formal coalition with the Greens.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.31am GMTat 12.31am GMT
12.22am GMT12.22am GMT
00:2200:22
Tony Basil Nutt.Tony Basil Nutt.
12.19am GMT12.19am GMT
00:1900:19
Scott Mitchell, the director of the National party, has replaced Nutt in the chair at JSCEM. David Leyonhjelm wants to know whether Mitchell is worried about the implications for the National party in the event it wants to run a separate Senate ticket to the Liberal party in some states, like it currently does in West Australia. You people might poll like a micro-party in that event, is Leyonhjelm’s point. Mitchell says he isn’t worried.Scott Mitchell, the director of the National party, has replaced Nutt in the chair at JSCEM. David Leyonhjelm wants to know whether Mitchell is worried about the implications for the National party in the event it wants to run a separate Senate ticket to the Liberal party in some states, like it currently does in West Australia. You people might poll like a micro-party in that event, is Leyonhjelm’s point. Mitchell says he isn’t worried.
12.08am GMT12.08am GMT
00:0800:08
The minister who is not in the hearing, the special minister of state, Mathias Cormann, chimes in with the fob off from the Twitterverse.The minister who is not in the hearing, the special minister of state, Mathias Cormann, chimes in with the fob off from the Twitterverse.
People voting below the line already have the power to direct their preferences according to their wishes. Above the line they don't. #JSCEMPeople voting below the line already have the power to direct their preferences according to their wishes. Above the line they don't. #JSCEM
12.07am GMT12.07am GMT
00:0700:07
Nick Xenophon is persisting in the hearing this morning asking witnesses whether or not the voting reform package could be amended to fix the current disparity between voting above the line and below the line.Nick Xenophon is persisting in the hearing this morning asking witnesses whether or not the voting reform package could be amended to fix the current disparity between voting above the line and below the line.
Given he’s a supporter of the government’s proposal, it’s interesting how persistent he’s being with these questions. Nutt fobs him off, politely.Given he’s a supporter of the government’s proposal, it’s interesting how persistent he’s being with these questions. Nutt fobs him off, politely.
12.05am GMT12.05am GMT
00:0500:05
Labor senator Kim Carr asks Nutt whether there have been preference negotiations between the Liberal party and the Greens for inner city seats in the House of Representatives.Labor senator Kim Carr asks Nutt whether there have been preference negotiations between the Liberal party and the Greens for inner city seats in the House of Representatives.
Nutt answers with a general formulation. It’s an election year ... parties have those discussions, he says.Nutt answers with a general formulation. It’s an election year ... parties have those discussions, he says.
Carr says this answer confirms preference negotiations have been a factor here.Carr says this answer confirms preference negotiations have been a factor here.
Tony Nutt:Tony Nutt:
I’m not confirming anything, senator. That’s you trying to get something for the 12 o’clock news. Senator Faulkner used to do that too, he was just much better at it.I’m not confirming anything, senator. That’s you trying to get something for the 12 o’clock news. Senator Faulkner used to do that too, he was just much better at it.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.14am GMTat 12.14am GMT
11.58pm GMT11.58pm GMT
23:5823:58
All the channel surfing required this morning is preventing me from catching some of the best lines of various proceedings. In the JSCEM, David Leyonhjelm has just asked a question about Antony Green. I think he was trying to discount one of his points on the basis of a legal action (but I didn’t hear the full exchange.)All the channel surfing required this morning is preventing me from catching some of the best lines of various proceedings. In the JSCEM, David Leyonhjelm has just asked a question about Antony Green. I think he was trying to discount one of his points on the basis of a legal action (but I didn’t hear the full exchange.)
Tony Nutt brushes this off. He notes that Green works for the ABC ..Tony Nutt brushes this off. He notes that Green works for the ABC ..
... which, last time I looked, was not a lickspittle apologist for my party.... which, last time I looked, was not a lickspittle apologist for my party.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.14am GMTat 12.14am GMT