This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2017/mar/01/parliament-labor-coalition-australian-politics-live

The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
George Brandis does not recall conversation with WA attorney general on Bell – politics live George Brandis does not recall conversation with WA attorney general on Bell – politics live
(35 minutes later)
9.53pm GMT
21:53
Queensland Liberal MP Karen Andrews has given a message on Sky to her fellow members. Knuckle down, she says. But she praised George Christensen for doing the right thing and stepping down as whip.
9.39pm GMT
21:39
Labor senator Murray Watt gives a physical impression of WTF.
Updated
at 9.44pm GMT
9.32pm GMT
21:32
The chairman of Universities Australia, Barney Glover, is due to make an interesting speech to the National Press Club today in defence of experts.
I know experts are passé but there is something to be said for listening to people who know stuff.
Paul Karp reports Glover will say the public square has been overrun by “extremists and polemicists” in the post-truth era. He will warn of a “creeping cynicism – even outright hostility – towards evidence and expertise”.
Who can forget British Conservative MP Michael Gove declaring after the Brexit vote that “the people of this country have had enough of experts”?
Glover will say that expertise is needed to solve problems as broad as curing cancer and preventable disease, navigating technological disruption, lifting living standards, overcoming prejudice and preventing catastrophic climate change.
What a quaint notion.
Updated
at 9.45pm GMT
9.22pm GMT
21:22
Scott Morrison: consensus is GDP figures will be positive
Paul Karp
The treasurer, Scott Morrison, has spoken on ABC’s AM about the GDP figures out today.
He says it is “certainly the consensus” that it will be a positive figure – avoiding a technical recession after the shock 0.5% contraction last quarter.
It was a surprise contraction and it’s my expectation that that will be corrected in today’s figures.
Host Sabra Lane pushes Morrison on whether the government will separate tax cuts for businesses with a turnover of $10m or less because the Senate won’t back a tax cut for big business.
The treasurer says the “Senate will decide”, implying it’s all or nothing, but doesn’t say so explicitly.
Asked about the Fair Work Commission cuts to penalty rates, Morrison repeats the mantra that it’s not the government’s decision to defend but then does back it more strongly than many of his colleagues.
You can’t get a job and you can’t get hours in a business that isn’t open.”
He said the commission had heard “case after case after case” of small business owners who said they work on Sunday because they can’t afford other workers, demonstrating a rate cut could boost employment.
Morrison cited the seat of Gilmore, which has 20% youth unemployment, as a place that could benefit from the decision.
Asked about 18C after a Senate report failed to recommend any particular method to amend the section, Morrison said that he was focused on the budget and changes to the Racial Discrimination Act would not create “one job”.
Updated
at 9.46pm GMT
8.57pm GMT8.57pm GMT
20:5720:57
Good morning blogans and blatherskites,Good morning blogans and blatherskites,
Welcome to the first day of autumn, when Canberra turns to colour and not just in the halls of parliament.Welcome to the first day of autumn, when Canberra turns to colour and not just in the halls of parliament.
Last night, after the legal and constitutional affairs senate committee managed to put off the attorney general’s statement regarding the Bell litigation for most of the day, Brandis eventually gave a statement. (He had tried earlier in the day but chair Ian Macdonald put him off.) Last night, after the legal and constitutional affairs Senate committee managed to put off the attorney general’s statement regarding the Bell litigation for most of the day, Brandis eventually gave a statement. (He had tried earlier in the day but chair Ian Macdonald put him off.)
He was required to make the statement because in November, he told the Senate that the first “personal involvement” he could recall in the matter was “on 3 March [2016], although my office had been dealing with the matter prior to that time”. He was required to make the statement because, in November, he told the Senate that the first “personal involvement” he could recall in the matter was “on 3 March [2016], although my office had been dealing with the matter prior to that time”.
But on Thursday Andrew Probyn of ABC’s 7:30 reported that Brandis spoke to Western Australian attorney-general Michael Mischin about Bell on 1 February, 2016, although Brandis said he had no recollection of it. But on Thursday Andrew Probyn of ABC’s 7.30 reported that Brandis spoke to the Western Australian attorney general, Michael Mischin, about Bell on 1 February 2016, although Brandis said he had no recollection of it.
In a joint letter demanding Brandis explain the inconsistency, signed by Penny Wong, Richard Di Natale, Derryn Hinch and Nick Xenophon, the group warned the Senate treats misleading statements “very seriously”.In a joint letter demanding Brandis explain the inconsistency, signed by Penny Wong, Richard Di Natale, Derryn Hinch and Nick Xenophon, the group warned the Senate treats misleading statements “very seriously”.
Last night, Brandis repeatedly told the committee he could not recall the exchange and it would really mislead the senate if he said he could recall. Last night, Brandis repeatedly told the committee he could not recall the exchange and it would really mislead the Senate if he said he could recall.
At the time I made my November 28 statement, I had no recollection of the exchange to which Mr Mischin refers. I still have no recollection of it. Were I to say that I recall such an exchange, I would be misleading the Senate, because I do not.At the time I made my November 28 statement, I had no recollection of the exchange to which Mr Mischin refers. I still have no recollection of it. Were I to say that I recall such an exchange, I would be misleading the Senate, because I do not.
I will have more on this throughout the morning.I will have more on this throughout the morning.
Katharine Murphy reports that former treasurer Wayne Swan is going to come out in support of the Buffett rule where high earners pay a minimum tax rate. The idea is opposed by the current shadow treasurer Chris Bowen, so that will make for some lively caucus debate. Swan says working people voted for Donald Trump “not out of any hard-right ideology or an entrenched racial intolerance, but because they no longer saw the Democrats as the party who spoke or acted for them”. Katharine Murphy reports that the former treasurer Wayne Swan is going to come out in support of the Buffett rule, where high earners pay a minimum tax rate. The idea is opposed by the current shadow treasurer, Chris Bowen, so that will make for some lively caucus debate. Swan says working people voted for Donald Trump “not out of any hard-right ideology or an entrenched racial intolerance but because they no longer saw the Democrats as the party who spoke or acted for them”.
Consider if you’re a truck driver in Logan or a steel worker in Wollongong you’re constantly told to work harder for less while tax cuts go to the top end – you might suck that up for a while because you have to,” Swan will say. Consider if you’re a truck driver in Logan or a steel worker in Wollongong, you’re constantly told to work harder for less while tax cuts go to the top end – you might suck that up for a while because you have to,” Swan will say.
All the while you see progressive social issues dominate the news. Eventually you reach a breaking point and your job is sent offshore or made casual. “All the while you see progressive social issues dominate the news. Eventually you reach a breaking point and your job is sent offshore or made casual.
Suddenly you’re tossed on the economic scrapheap and like a drum of kerosene dumped directly on the smouldering fire your frustration with progressive issues erupts in an inferno of white-hot rage. “Suddenly you’re tossed on the economic scrapheap and, like a drum of kerosene dumped directly on the smouldering fire, your frustration with progressive issues erupts in an inferno of white-hot rage.
And quite a lot of that rage might express itself with immigration, gender equity or other favoured progressive issues, not because rage by definition doesn’t contain itself very well, but very much because the right will always supply scapegoats of various types – anything to ensure the blame isn’t sheeted home where it really belongs: the policies they designed to fleece working people and redistribute the gains to the top. “And quite a lot of that rage might express itself with immigration, gender equity or other favoured progressive issues – not because rage by definition doesn’t contain itself very well but very much because the right will always supply scapegoats of various types. Anything to ensure the blame isn’t sheeted home where it really belongs: the policies they designed to fleece working people and redistribute the gains to the top.
George Christensen is feeling the anger. Phil Coorey at the Fin reports that Christensen and fellow Queensland LNP MPs are pushing for a “debranding” of the LNP to respond to it. That is, separating the brands of the Liberal and National party in a state that merged the two parties in 2008.George Christensen is feeling the anger. Phil Coorey at the Fin reports that Christensen and fellow Queensland LNP MPs are pushing for a “debranding” of the LNP to respond to it. That is, separating the brands of the Liberal and National party in a state that merged the two parties in 2008.
There is a growing view among MPs and others that there should not be a demerger but a debranding,” he said. This would include, but not be limited to, resorting to the use of separate National and Liberal Party logos on electoral material and ballot papers. There is a growing view among MPs and others that there should not be a demerger but a debranding,” he said. This would include, but not be limited to, resorting to the use of separate National and Liberal party logos on electoral material and ballot papers.
This merger crankiness has been an ongoing headache for Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce. Over the past year, he has made a number of mercy dashes to Queensland to try to sort out the angst caused by the threat of One Nation. John Howard’s view of the Nats was that they played an important function in holding the space on the right. Sucking them into the one party leaves the parking space open for parties on the right. Like One Nation. Like Cory Bernardi’s Australian Conservatives. This merger crankiness has been an ongoing headache for the Nationals leader, Barnaby Joyce. Over the past year, he has made a number of mercy dashes to Queensland to try to sort out the angst caused by the threat of One Nation. John Howard’s view of the Nats was that they played an important function in holding the space on the right. Sucking them into the one party leaves the parking space open for parties on the right. Like One Nation. Like Cory Bernardi’s Australian Conservatives.
In other news, Amy Remeikis of Fairfax reports that foreign minister Julie Bishop is recalling all Australian ambassadors for a three day meeting to map out Australia’s strategic foreign policy.In other news, Amy Remeikis of Fairfax reports that foreign minister Julie Bishop is recalling all Australian ambassadors for a three day meeting to map out Australia’s strategic foreign policy.
Mike Bowers was up late at the Brandis committee so I have more treasures to unveil. Talk to us in the thread or on the Twits @gabriellechan and @mpbowers. My Facebook page is also open for business. Walk with me.Mike Bowers was up late at the Brandis committee so I have more treasures to unveil. Talk to us in the thread or on the Twits @gabriellechan and @mpbowers. My Facebook page is also open for business. Walk with me.
UpdatedUpdated
at 9.14pm GMT at 9.21pm GMT