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Labor blasts treasurer for 'lying' over negative gearing report – politics live Labor blasts treasurer for 'lying' over negative gearing report – politics live
(35 minutes later)
2.02am GMT
02:02
Reports today have quoted Malaysian officials saying debris washed up in Mozambique may be from a Boeing 777 – the same type of aircraft as the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which disappeared two years ago.
Transport minister Darren Chester has issued a statement.
A piece of metal, approximately one metre in length, has been found on a beach in Mozambique. The debris is to be transferred to Australia where it will be examined by officials from Australia and Malaysia, as well as international specialists.
The location of the debris is consistent with drift modelling commissioned by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and reaffirms the search area for MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean.
MH370 disappeared on 8 March 2014 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people aboard. As we approach the second year anniversary, our thoughts remain with the loved ones of those on board and in particular those who have called Australia home.
1.53am GMT
01:53
Laments. I've got a few.
I missed this earlier on today but I’m told Labor’s Gary Gray is still rattling around the place unhappy about Senate voting reform. Readers on board the Politics Live express yesterday will remember that Gray is no longer the shadow special minister of state. Those responsibilities have been transferred to Brendan O’Connor.
Gray (who will retire at the coming election) has recently been embroiled in hand-to-hand combat with the Senate leadership of the ALP over the government’s proposal to change Senate voting rules. He supports the government, while Penny Wong and Stephen Conroy do not support the government.
In a statement to the federation chamber today, Gray was still fighting the good fight.
The bill that the House of Representatives will deal with is an amended bill that was pretty darn good. The amendments that will be put forward in the House of Representatives will improve that bill even further.
I regret I won’t vote for that bill. I won’t vote for that bill because my party won’t vote for the bill.
I think that’s sad, I’ve lamented on that matter before ...
1.35am GMT
01:35
Politics this lunchtime
Keep calm and grip and grin.
Let’s take stock of Thursday’s cabaret.
Onwards and upwards to 2pm.
Updated
at 1.37am GMT
1.16am GMT1.16am GMT
01:1601:16
Just before I post the summary, my colleague Lenore Taylor has some news.Just before I post the summary, my colleague Lenore Taylor has some news.
The former defence minister Kevin Andrews sought to appoint a long-serving adviser to a key defence force position during the time between the Turnbull leadership coup and the new leader announcing Andrews would be losing his ministerial position, Guardian Australia has been told.The former defence minister Kevin Andrews sought to appoint a long-serving adviser to a key defence force position during the time between the Turnbull leadership coup and the new leader announcing Andrews would be losing his ministerial position, Guardian Australia has been told.
Senior sources said Andrews, a loyal supporter of the former prime minister Tony Abbott who was widely tipped to lose his ministerial spot after the leadership change, sought to appoint his long-term adviser to the position of inspector general of the Australian defence force during the six days between the September 14 leadership ballot and the September 20 announcement of the new Turnbull ministry.Senior sources said Andrews, a loyal supporter of the former prime minister Tony Abbott who was widely tipped to lose his ministerial spot after the leadership change, sought to appoint his long-term adviser to the position of inspector general of the Australian defence force during the six days between the September 14 leadership ballot and the September 20 announcement of the new Turnbull ministry.
(I did tell readers yesterday two tribes in the government have gone to war. If you plan on visiting parliament house in the near future, perhaps bring some body armour. Might be a reasonable precaution. Just saying.) (I did tell readers yesterday two tribes in the government have gone to war. If you plan on visiting Parliament House in the near future, perhaps bring some body armour. Might be a reasonable precaution. Just saying.)
Updated
at 1.36am GMT
1.07am GMT1.07am GMT
01:0701:07
Various ministers from the government of Papua New Guinea are in town.Various ministers from the government of Papua New Guinea are in town.
Peter O’Neill, the PNG prime minister, is due to address the National Press Club in just a little while. I’ll take stock of the morning in the next post.Peter O’Neill, the PNG prime minister, is due to address the National Press Club in just a little while. I’ll take stock of the morning in the next post.
Updated
at 1.35am GMT
12.51am GMT12.51am GMT
00:5100:51
Quite obviously honeymoons don't go on forever ..Quite obviously honeymoons don't go on forever ..
Earlier today, on the wireless, Joyce thought it was time for a truce between Turnbull and Abbott. Primrose Riordan from the Australian Financial Review has a couple of quotes from the interview.Earlier today, on the wireless, Joyce thought it was time for a truce between Turnbull and Abbott. Primrose Riordan from the Australian Financial Review has a couple of quotes from the interview.
Barnaby Joyce:Barnaby Joyce:
I think we’ve got to all get to get together as one, we’ve got to go to the election unified there will be an election this year. Quite obviously honeymoons don’t go on forever. Ultimately the press want a competition, it’s in their interest. The press have a role and responsibility to be the critical arbitrators of the forth estate and that’s precisely what they do.I think we’ve got to all get to get together as one, we’ve got to go to the election unified there will be an election this year. Quite obviously honeymoons don’t go on forever. Ultimately the press want a competition, it’s in their interest. The press have a role and responsibility to be the critical arbitrators of the forth estate and that’s precisely what they do.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.34am GMTat 1.34am GMT
12.35am GMT12.35am GMT
00:3500:35
Down in another courtyard, the agriculture minister, Barnaby Joyce.Down in another courtyard, the agriculture minister, Barnaby Joyce.
Q: Has the government ruled out negative gearing?Q: Has the government ruled out negative gearing?
Um, good try.Um, good try.
We’ll follow a methodical process.We’ll follow a methodical process.
There’s budget coming up. The budget itself is a tax plan.There’s budget coming up. The budget itself is a tax plan.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.34am GMTat 1.34am GMT
12.13am GMT12.13am GMT
00:1300:13
Release the ferrets! All the ferrets!Release the ferrets! All the ferrets!
Terrific picture from Mike Bowers of the shadow treasurer in full flight.Terrific picture from Mike Bowers of the shadow treasurer in full flight.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.23am GMTat 12.23am GMT
12.11am GMT12.11am GMT
00:1100:11
Wrong on a family blog, but I’ll share it anyway.Wrong on a family blog, but I’ll share it anyway.
@murpharoo the reverse ferret comes before or after the squirrel grip?@murpharoo the reverse ferret comes before or after the squirrel grip?
12.09am GMT12.09am GMT
00:0900:09
On reflection it’s not so much reversing the ferret as picking up the ferret and shoving it in the face of your opponent.On reflection it’s not so much reversing the ferret as picking up the ferret and shoving it in the face of your opponent.
I know it’s obvious but I’ll say it anyway: overstatement tends to exist in close proximity to election campaigns. The closer the campaign, the greater the tendency for over reach.I know it’s obvious but I’ll say it anyway: overstatement tends to exist in close proximity to election campaigns. The closer the campaign, the greater the tendency for over reach.
Let’s cut through here.Let’s cut through here.
Morrison shouldn’t have presented a report that didn’t even look at the Labor policy on negative gearing as a savage condemnation of Labor’s policy. That’s any port in a storm behaviour unworthy of the office he holds. Desperate, tabloid and dumb.Morrison shouldn’t have presented a report that didn’t even look at the Labor policy on negative gearing as a savage condemnation of Labor’s policy. That’s any port in a storm behaviour unworthy of the office he holds. Desperate, tabloid and dumb.
But this nonsense from Morrison is just garden variety intra-day political opportunism. Utegate was on a whole other level.But this nonsense from Morrison is just garden variety intra-day political opportunism. Utegate was on a whole other level.
11.54pm GMT
23:54
Down in the courtyard, the shadow treasurer Chris Bowen is out declaring Scott Morrison is shrinking before our eyes. Bowen says Morrison needs to stop lying and release his own tax policy.
This goes to Scott Morrison’s character and credibility as treasurer.
Labor is busy attempting to reverse the ferret on the BIS Shrapnel report, given the consultancy has now clarified that the report being pushed by the government today is not, actually, an analysis of Labor’s negative gearing policy.
Bowen is attempting to liken this episode to the Godwin Grech affair, where fakery damaged Malcolm Turnbull when he was opposition leader.
11.43pm GMT
23:43
Back in the Senate, the Family First senator Bob Day is now fretting about children in the Netherlands.
Day says safeguards in euthanasia legislation are not safe. [Brief pause].
Nor are they guards.
Updated
at 12.06am GMT
11.40pm GMT
23:40
Word around the building is the prime minister isn’t sold on the idea of going to a double-dissolution election, despite all the groundwork the government is putting in to set one up.
Various ministers, including Christopher Pyne, have been lunging out of the blocks on the double D point, presenting it as a near certainty from the government’s point of view – leading John Howard to note somewhat archly over the last couple of days that public statements about elections really should reside with prime ministers.
With Turnbull’s cool feet in mind, it’s interesting to read Niki Savva in the Australian today making a vigorous case for him pulling the double dissolution trigger. Just get on with it Malcolm is her analysis.
If he waits and allows a double dissolution to slip away, he runs the risk that he will not be able to fully capitalise on measures to combat union corruption that will provide his trigger.
He also runs the risk his tax policy and the budget will disappear into the 24-hour media vortex, and that the drumbeat will begin again after a brief respite for another new agenda for the election. There is much to fear from a long campaign but, given it is already effectively under way, there is little to gain by waiting and the campaign becomes longer still.
Waiting will also ensure the survival through another term of most of the crossbenchers, some of whom have earned the right to spend more time at home with their families, where they can eat Maccas whenever they like and we won’t have to pay for it.
Sooner rather than later, Turnbull needs to put his agenda to the people and he has to stamp his authority on the party and on the policies he puts forward. Last time I checked neither Tony Abbott nor Cory Bernardi won last year’s leadership ballot.
Updated
at 12.06am GMT
11.26pm GMT
23:26
Q: Are any changes to negative gearing under consideration? Or is it in the GST ‘too hard’ basket?
Turnbull starts with the history of the tax review. He says nothing under his prime ministership has been kicked into the long grass for political reasons. He says the government looked at the GST very carefully before determining action wasn’t worth it. He says when the government has completed the rest of the process it will let the public know.
Q: Negative gearing prime minister?
Turnbull says there are dangers rushing into policy that hasn’t been thought through. He says the government respects the intelligence of the Australian people by looking at the evidence and then making announcements.
Q: So it’s still on the table?
We are not going to be providing a running commentary on our own processes.
Updated
at 11.38pm GMT
11.21pm GMT
23:21
The prime minister is asked whether he believes Tony Abbott when he says he didn’t leak sensitive cabinet material to the Australian. The prime minister says he isn’t interested in personalities.
Q: Do you believe Tony Abbott is undermining you?
My focus is on ensuring we have great jobs for our children and grandchildren ...
Updated
at 11.38pm GMT
11.19pm GMT
23:19
The prime minister has bobbed up at today’s off campus event. Right now Malcolm Turnbull is extolling the benefits of walking. Walking prevents people from becoming obese.
11.05pm GMT
23:05
Once you draw a line in the sand, there are always demands for the line to be moved. It’s human nature.
Cory Bernardi, still talking about people being killed because they have anorexia.
11.03pm GMT
23:03
Shalailah Medhora
Outside the chamber, the number of children in immigration detention has fallen to 58, according to the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, who revealed the figure during his weekly radio interview with Ray Hadley. “We’re getting the number closer to zero,” Dutton said. He acknowledged that the legal wrangling over Baby Asha will likely continue, labelling it a “stalling tactic” by lawyers. “We’re likely to be back in the high court,” Dutton said.
Updated
at 11.25pm GMT
11.00pm GMT
23:00
In the Senate, the Liberal Cory Bernardi is speaking about the “slippery slope” in the event that euthanasia laws clear the parliament. I mentioned earlier in the week there’s a cross-party group attempting to get a euthanasia bill through the parliament. He’s worried about children in the Netherlands, who he says are permitted to die under the prevailing regime in that country. Or the elderly, who may feel under pressure. Or depressed people who want to die, but then get treatment and subsequently recover. He’s speaking about a 44-year-old woman who died because she had anorexia. Euthanasia is dangerous, he says.
Updated
at 11.24pm GMT
10.53pm GMT
22:53
There’s another NBN leak this morning. Earlier in the week there was an internal document suggesting delays and cost blow-outs in the rollout, now, Fairfax reports, the company building the national broadband network has “quietly trialled a new, low-cost fibre-to-the-premises technology that could achieve the speed and reliability of an all-fibre system to the home, as originally intended by Labor, but at a reduced construction price. But despite the promising results, NBN Co has so far declined to release them, as the government defends its preferred model, which relies principally on copper phone connections for the final link from the neighbourhood cabinet – or node – to the premises.”
I suspect we’ll hear a little of this in question time later on.
Updated
at 11.02pm GMT