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Nick Xenophon: Australia faces recession unless energy policy tackled - politics live Nick Xenophon: Australia faces recession unless energy policy tackled - politics live
(35 minutes later)
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AAP reports Pauline Hanson has launched legal action to have the ABC and former party treasurer Ian Nelson permanently restrained from dealing in any way with recorded conversations about One Nation.
Last week, the NSW Supreme Court made an interim restraining order on Nelson until the hearing today, but no orders were made regarding the ABC.
12.15am BST12.15am BST
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So we have party room meetings from all sides this morning at the start of this last sitting fortnight before the long winter recess.So we have party room meetings from all sides this morning at the start of this last sitting fortnight before the long winter recess.
That means we have seven sitting days in which to get a shedload of legislation through the senate. The pointy bits relate to schools funding, native title and citizenship changes. The Finkel Farnarkling will bubble away in the background. That means we have seven sitting days in which to get a shedload of legislation through the Senate. The pointy bits relate to schools funding, native title and citizenship changes. The Finkel farnarkling will bubble away in the background.
Therefore. Education minister Simon Birmingham continues to talk up his Gonski 2.0 schools funding plan. Gonski panellist Ken Boston has told Matthew Knott at Fairfax that it would be a tragedy if the school funding reforms are voted down in the senate. Therefore the education minister, Simon Birmingham, continues to talk up his Gonski 2.0 schools funding plan. Gonski panellist Ken Boston has told Matthew Knott at Fairfax that it would be a tragedy if the school funding reforms were voted down in the Senate.
Five years after the release and subsequent emasculation of the Gonski Report, Australia has a rare second chance. The progressive elements in Australian education need to recognise that their argument has been won. There are no grounds for opposition to the schools funding bill in principle, and every reason to work collaboratively towards its successful implementation and further refinement in the years ahead. It will be a tragedy if the school funding bill is voted down in the Senate. Five years after the release and subsequent emasculation of the Gonski report, Australia has a rare second chance. The progressive elements in Australian education need to recognise that their argument has been won. There are no grounds for opposition to the schools funding bill in principle and every reason to work collaboratively towards its successful implementation and further refinement in the years ahead. It will be a tragedy if the school funding bill is voted down in the Senate.
The schools bill is currently getting a quick once over in a senate committee which will report by tomorrow. The schools bill is currently getting a quick once over in a Senate committee, which will report by tomorrow.
The native title bill changes the law after a federal court decision which put in doubt Indigenous Land Use Agreements (Iluas) between traditional owners and mining companies, including Adani’s Carmichael mine. Labor is supporting the bill. The native title bill changes the law after a federal court decision that put in doubt Indigenous land use agreements (Iluas) between traditional owners and mining companies, including Adani’s Carmichael mine. Labor is supporting the bill.
Around midday, the Wangan and Jagalingou (W&J) Family Council traditional owners Adrian Burragubba and Murrawah Johnson, who oppose Adani’s coal project, will speak about the bill.Around midday, the Wangan and Jagalingou (W&J) Family Council traditional owners Adrian Burragubba and Murrawah Johnson, who oppose Adani’s coal project, will speak about the bill.
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Never mind the Finkel, join us patriotsNever mind the Finkel, join us patriots
As the Coalition party room prepares to arkle, Malcolm Turnbull has previewed a national security update to parliament.As the Coalition party room prepares to arkle, Malcolm Turnbull has previewed a national security update to parliament.
He will urge Labor to support the government’s proposed overhaul of citizenship requirements with rather colourful language.He will urge Labor to support the government’s proposed overhaul of citizenship requirements with rather colourful language.
And we should make no apology for asking those who seek to join our Australian family to join us as Australian patriots – committed to the values that define us, committed to the values that unite us.And we should make no apology for asking those who seek to join our Australian family to join us as Australian patriots – committed to the values that define us, committed to the values that unite us.
The new laws will give the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, the power to reject decisions on citizenship applications made by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal if he doesn’t believe they are in the national interest.The new laws will give the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, the power to reject decisions on citizenship applications made by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal if he doesn’t believe they are in the national interest.
The package will also extend permanent residency from one year to four before people can apply for citizenship, toughen English language competencies, introduce a values test and require people to demonstrate they have integrated into Australian society.The package will also extend permanent residency from one year to four before people can apply for citizenship, toughen English language competencies, introduce a values test and require people to demonstrate they have integrated into Australian society.
Labor has not said whether it will support the full package.Labor has not said whether it will support the full package.
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First up, Finkel farnarklingFirst up, Finkel farnarkling
Good morning dear blogans,Good morning dear blogans,
As Canberra’s big frost thaws, the Coalition party room will farnarkle on Finkel – as in the review by the chief scientist, Alan Finkel, into electricity policy.As Canberra’s big frost thaws, the Coalition party room will farnarkle on Finkel – as in the review by the chief scientist, Alan Finkel, into electricity policy.
But let’s start from the beginning.But let’s start from the beginning.
Finkel has recommended a clean energy target across all sectors in which energy users subsidise cleaner forms of electricity generation.Finkel has recommended a clean energy target across all sectors in which energy users subsidise cleaner forms of electricity generation.
The argument will be around the rate, which Finkel has recommended at 28% reduction in emissions from the electricity sector by 2030.The argument will be around the rate, which Finkel has recommended at 28% reduction in emissions from the electricity sector by 2030.
Yesterday Finkel told Katharine Murphy that he didn’t know if Australia could meet its Paris commitments under the 28% emissions reduction target. He also told Murph that it would be surprising if governments ultimately implemented a new clean energy target that incentivised building new coal-fired power stations (though the conservatives wants a target to allow higher efficiency coal to sneak in).Yesterday Finkel told Katharine Murphy that he didn’t know if Australia could meet its Paris commitments under the 28% emissions reduction target. He also told Murph that it would be surprising if governments ultimately implemented a new clean energy target that incentivised building new coal-fired power stations (though the conservatives wants a target to allow higher efficiency coal to sneak in).
Last night, Finkel told Q&A the target was designed so future governments could ratchet up the ambition of the emissions cuts.Last night, Finkel told Q&A the target was designed so future governments could ratchet up the ambition of the emissions cuts.
This will play into the scare campaign by the likes of Tony Abbott et al.This will play into the scare campaign by the likes of Tony Abbott et al.
In the meantime, key crossbencher Nick Xenophon has warned that, if the parliament does not get energy policy right, it will be a tipping point for the economy and the country.In the meantime, key crossbencher Nick Xenophon has warned that, if the parliament does not get energy policy right, it will be a tipping point for the economy and the country.
Xenophon has long been a supporter of an emissions intensity scheme (EIS), right back to the days of Malcolm Turnbull’s first ill-fated go at the Liberal leadership in 2009.Xenophon has long been a supporter of an emissions intensity scheme (EIS), right back to the days of Malcolm Turnbull’s first ill-fated go at the Liberal leadership in 2009.
He still prefers an EIS over a CET, TBH.He still prefers an EIS over a CET, TBH.
But Xenophon’s main message is we need to get it sorted.But Xenophon’s main message is we need to get it sorted.
The Xen Master has spoken to two companies that currently have a gas bill of $50m a year and have been given quotes of $100m for future gas prices.The Xen Master has spoken to two companies that currently have a gas bill of $50m a year and have been given quotes of $100m for future gas prices.
It will be unsustainable for those companies to survive with thousands of employees and that is replicated across the country. Unless we tackle this head-on and get a result, we will be seeing our economy going into a recession given the number of jobs that will be lost in the next 12 months.It will be unsustainable for those companies to survive with thousands of employees and that is replicated across the country. Unless we tackle this head-on and get a result, we will be seeing our economy going into a recession given the number of jobs that will be lost in the next 12 months.
That’s a pretty big scare campaign you are raising already, says AM’s Sabra Lane.That’s a pretty big scare campaign you are raising already, says AM’s Sabra Lane.
It’s not a scare campaign.It’s not a scare campaign.
Xenophon is waiting for the modelling to be released later this week, which has the CET slightly ahead of the EIS. But all of it depends on the inputs.Xenophon is waiting for the modelling to be released later this week, which has the CET slightly ahead of the EIS. But all of it depends on the inputs.
My fear is there are literally hundreds if not thousands of companies that simply cannot cope with an increase in power prices particularly gas prices. The Finkel review wasn’t asked to look at gas prices and that is the immediate crisis we are facing in this country for energy intensive uses.My fear is there are literally hundreds if not thousands of companies that simply cannot cope with an increase in power prices particularly gas prices. The Finkel review wasn’t asked to look at gas prices and that is the immediate crisis we are facing in this country for energy intensive uses.
Bear in mind the energy and environment minister, Josh Frydenberg, will not take an actual hard proposal to the party room. He is just going to brief them on What Finkel Said.Bear in mind the energy and environment minister, Josh Frydenberg, will not take an actual hard proposal to the party room. He is just going to brief them on What Finkel Said.
Let the conversation begin.Let the conversation begin.
Stick with me and the Man With The Lens @mpbowers. Talk on the thread, on the Twits @gabriellechan or on Facebook.Stick with me and the Man With The Lens @mpbowers. Talk on the thread, on the Twits @gabriellechan or on Facebook.
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