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| Labor grills Coalition over foreign donations and electricity prices – question time live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 6.28am BST | |
| 06:28 | |
| 6.25am BST | |
| 06:25 | |
| Updated | |
| at 6.28am BST | |
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| There is maximum yelling in the chamber after a particularly willing question time. | |
| 6.10am BST | |
| 06:10 | |
| Liberal MP and former assistant defence minister Stuart Robert seeks to make a personal explanation, saying all the investigations cleared him of any wrongdoing. | |
| Updated | |
| at 6.12am BST | |
| 6.09am BST | |
| 06:09 | |
| Foreign Minister "Mr Speaker I have never heard of the Julie Bishop Glorious Foundation" @gabriellechan @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/p5Qvhj7ACX | |
| 6.07am BST | |
| 06:07 | |
| Shorten to Turnbull: If the Prime Minister really opposes foreign donations, why has the Coalition voted against banning foreign donations three times and will the prime minister agree to bring Labor’s private member’s bill for a vote in the house today so we can ban foreign donations once and for all? | |
| Turnbull says you could drive a truck through Labor’s legislation on foreign donors. | |
| He promises to bring a bill to the spring sitting of parliament. | |
| It is important in the light of findings that any such ban is comprehensive. It is not simply limited to political parties. It applies to other political organisations like Get Up, like unions, and is a comprehensive ban,so that only Australians andAustralian businesses have the ability to have a say through donations into the political contest. | |
| Turnbull says no one would take Shorten seriously after Sam Dastyari’s case. | |
| [Dastyari] solicited money from a foreign donor. He accepted it. It was given to him. Not because he was a nice guy, not because he was hard up but because he was a Senator. He got that privileged payment. He used his position to get that payment. And then he switched the policy, the long standing policy of the Labor Party on a vitally important issue of national security. And for all of that, he was in the sin bin for six months. The Leader of the Opposition has a long way to go before anyone will take him seriously on foreign donations. | |
| 6.03am BST | |
| 06:03 | |
| Christopher Pyne takes a Dixer, which then goes to Shorten’s donations from Australian Super and the AWU. | |
| Then Mark Dreyfus to Malcolm Turnbull: The member for Fadden (Stuart Robert) was forced to resign after it was revealed while he was assistant defence minister he promoted a deal between a major Liberal party donor and Chinese-government owned mining company. Has the prime minister obtained advice about whether the disgraced former assistant defence minister’s comment disgraced the industry and will the prime Minister rule out reappointing him to the frontbench? | |
| Turnbull rejects what he calls the shabby smear from Dreyfus. | |
| I maintain the maintenance of those ministerial standards, and all, as far as future ministerial appointments, the honorable member should understand that I will always ensure that ministerial standards are complied with, both prospectively and of course in the past and dealt with appropriately in accordance with those standards.I reject the shabby smear that the honorable member chose to use his question for. | |
| Updated | |
| at 6.05am BST | |
| 5.55am BST | 5.55am BST |
| 05:55 | 05:55 |
| Wow, we are really digging in deeper to donations. | |
| Labor to foreign affairs minister Julie Bishop: I refer to reports the former minister for trade, Andrew Robb, began working for a Chinese company before the last election, a part-time position that earns him $880,000 a year. Has the foreign minister sought advice from the secretary of her department about whether Mr Robb breached the prime minister’s statement of ministerial standards which imposes restrictions on post ministerial employment and if not, why not? | |
| Leader of the House Christopher Pyne objects as it is not in the foreign minister’s purview. | |
| Labor’s Tony Burke argues the point. | Labor’s Tony Burke argues the point. |
| First of all, in terms of the tenor of question time, I think it’s a bit late for the leader of the House to get precious on a day like this. | |
| Speaker Smith rules that the question is more rightly directed to the prime minister who is responsible for the ministerial code of conduct. | Speaker Smith rules that the question is more rightly directed to the prime minister who is responsible for the ministerial code of conduct. |
| Ask him the question and you will be OK, Smith says not in so many words. But Labor loses the question. | |
| Updated | |
| at 6.01am BST | |
| 5.50am BST | 5.50am BST |
| 05:50 | 05:50 |
| Labor to Peter Dutton: Can the minister please advise the House whether any Coalition MPs have made representations about immigration matters to the department, or the minister on behalf of the Liberal or National party donors? If so, will he advise the House which Coalition MPs have made these recommendations? | Labor to Peter Dutton: Can the minister please advise the House whether any Coalition MPs have made representations about immigration matters to the department, or the minister on behalf of the Liberal or National party donors? If so, will he advise the House which Coalition MPs have made these recommendations? |
| Dutton says presumably he is referring to reports about Sam Dastyari’s inquiries about citizenship for an Australian Chinese resident seeking citizenship. Dutton says MPs often make representations. No biggie. | Dutton says presumably he is referring to reports about Sam Dastyari’s inquiries about citizenship for an Australian Chinese resident seeking citizenship. Dutton says MPs often make representations. No biggie. |
| If the honourable member has specific case, I am happy to investigate them ... but if he’s just attempting to throw mud, then I think he should look first to Senator Sam Dastyari in the Senate. | If the honourable member has specific case, I am happy to investigate them ... but if he’s just attempting to throw mud, then I think he should look first to Senator Sam Dastyari in the Senate. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.52am BST | at 5.52am BST |
| 5.44am BST | 5.44am BST |
| 05:44 | 05:44 |
| The art of war: Chinese donations and major political parties | The art of war: Chinese donations and major political parties |
| The foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop, answers a Dixer on Labor’s Chinese-linked donation, attacking Bill Shorten for not seeking a security briefing on revelations of close links between former Labor defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon. | The foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop, answers a Dixer on Labor’s Chinese-linked donation, attacking Bill Shorten for not seeking a security briefing on revelations of close links between former Labor defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon. |
| Then Labor asks Julie bishop: What are the consequences for Australia standing on the world stage of one of the Liberal party’s biggest donors, mining magnate, establishing a company called Julie Bishop Glorious Foundation. (LAUGHTER) Does the minister seriously expect the house for a Liberal donor she knows, set up a company in the minister’s name, the Julie Bishop Glorious Foundation, but never raised it with her on the many occasions they met? | Then Labor asks Julie bishop: What are the consequences for Australia standing on the world stage of one of the Liberal party’s biggest donors, mining magnate, establishing a company called Julie Bishop Glorious Foundation. (LAUGHTER) Does the minister seriously expect the house for a Liberal donor she knows, set up a company in the minister’s name, the Julie Bishop Glorious Foundation, but never raised it with her on the many occasions they met? |
| Bishop is visibly furious. | Bishop is visibly furious. |
| All donations to the Liberal party are declared in accordance with the [Australian Electoral Commission] obligations. (LAUGHTER) Mr Speaker, until the matter was raised with me by the media a week ago. I had never heard of such a foundation. (JEERS) I say that in the solemnity of this parliament. I had never heard of such a foundation. Third point, Mr Speaker, at no time have I ever compromised government policy in relation to foreign affairs. | All donations to the Liberal party are declared in accordance with the [Australian Electoral Commission] obligations. (LAUGHTER) Mr Speaker, until the matter was raised with me by the media a week ago. I had never heard of such a foundation. (JEERS) I say that in the solemnity of this parliament. I had never heard of such a foundation. Third point, Mr Speaker, at no time have I ever compromised government policy in relation to foreign affairs. |
| (I will leave the Tveeder descriptors in capitals to give you a flavour of what the House sounds like at the minute.) | (I will leave the Tveeder descriptors in capitals to give you a flavour of what the House sounds like at the minute.) |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.48am BST | at 5.48am BST |
| 5.33am BST | 5.33am BST |
| 05:33 | 05:33 |
| Labor to Turnbull: Is the prime minister aware that the finance minister told Fran Kelly, I quote, the price of electricity is projected to go up and up and up if we do nothing? And also he said, I quote again, “We need to embrace this blueprint that’s been put forward by Dr Finkel.” Does the prime minister agree if the energy policy paralysis continues, power price also continue to go up and up and up under this government? | Labor to Turnbull: Is the prime minister aware that the finance minister told Fran Kelly, I quote, the price of electricity is projected to go up and up and up if we do nothing? And also he said, I quote again, “We need to embrace this blueprint that’s been put forward by Dr Finkel.” Does the prime minister agree if the energy policy paralysis continues, power price also continue to go up and up and up under this government? |
| Turnbull flicks the question to energy and environment minister Josh Frydenberg. | Turnbull flicks the question to energy and environment minister Josh Frydenberg. |
| Frydenberg does not answer the question directly. | Frydenberg does not answer the question directly. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.35am BST | at 5.35am BST |
| 5.31am BST | 5.31am BST |
| 05:31 | 05:31 |
| The immigration minister, Peter Dutton, gets a Dixer on boat policy and notes the court decision which the government settled on for damages for Manus detainees. | The immigration minister, Peter Dutton, gets a Dixer on boat policy and notes the court decision which the government settled on for damages for Manus detainees. |
| He mentions that the “ambulance-chasing” law firm Slater and Gordon – which has strong links to Labor – pocketed $20m in costs. | He mentions that the “ambulance-chasing” law firm Slater and Gordon – which has strong links to Labor – pocketed $20m in costs. |
| There is a little bit of objection from opposite because there are many of those who worked for Slater and Gordon and others, of course, who received benefits from Slater and Gordon. To this very day Slater and Gordon is a significant Labor party donor. I think it is worth noting as part of this discussion, because it is reality. | There is a little bit of objection from opposite because there are many of those who worked for Slater and Gordon and others, of course, who received benefits from Slater and Gordon. To this very day Slater and Gordon is a significant Labor party donor. I think it is worth noting as part of this discussion, because it is reality. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.34am BST | at 5.34am BST |
| 5.26am BST | 5.26am BST |
| 05:26 | 05:26 |
| Indi independent Cathy McGowan to Malcolm Turnbull: Australian Textile Mills is facing a 141% increase in energy costs and the timber manufacture D&R Henderson tells me they will pay $1m more for electricity in 2017 than last year. There are over 20,000 people in Indi employed in manufacturing sector and the loss of these jobs is a real threat. Industry is willing the parliament to get on with good policy, combining affordability and sustainability. And while the Finkel review provides an opportunity to deliver long-term energy security, what practical steps will the government take to address the immediate impacts of ballooning energy costs and the demand for renewables, particularly in my electorate of Indi? | Indi independent Cathy McGowan to Malcolm Turnbull: Australian Textile Mills is facing a 141% increase in energy costs and the timber manufacture D&R Henderson tells me they will pay $1m more for electricity in 2017 than last year. There are over 20,000 people in Indi employed in manufacturing sector and the loss of these jobs is a real threat. Industry is willing the parliament to get on with good policy, combining affordability and sustainability. And while the Finkel review provides an opportunity to deliver long-term energy security, what practical steps will the government take to address the immediate impacts of ballooning energy costs and the demand for renewables, particularly in my electorate of Indi? |
| Turnbull again says the electricity price increase is a result of a shortage of gas and he again blamed Labor for supply problems, both through state moratoriums and allowing export of gas through Queensland. | Turnbull again says the electricity price increase is a result of a shortage of gas and he again blamed Labor for supply problems, both through state moratoriums and allowing export of gas through Queensland. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.29am BST | at 5.29am BST |
| 5.22am BST | 5.22am BST |
| 05:22 | 05:22 |
| Shorten to Turnbull: “As the prime minister knows, wholesale electricity prices have doubled under the Liberal government. The Australian Energy Council has said, I quote, “The lack of national policy certainty is now the biggest driver of higher electricity prices. Does the prime minister agree and will the government commit to working with Labor to end four years of policy paralysis under this government, which has led to higher prices and instability in the energy market?” | Shorten to Turnbull: “As the prime minister knows, wholesale electricity prices have doubled under the Liberal government. The Australian Energy Council has said, I quote, “The lack of national policy certainty is now the biggest driver of higher electricity prices. Does the prime minister agree and will the government commit to working with Labor to end four years of policy paralysis under this government, which has led to higher prices and instability in the energy market?” |
| Turnbull says the high electricity prices are all the fault of state Labor governments because of lack of gas exploration. | Turnbull says the high electricity prices are all the fault of state Labor governments because of lack of gas exploration. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.24am BST | at 5.24am BST |
| 5.14am BST | 5.14am BST |
| 05:14 | 05:14 |
| Jenny Macklin to social services minister Christian Porter: On 1 July, AGL electricity prices in NSW will go up by 16%. With power going up, why is the prime minister cutting the $365-a-year energy supplement for pensioners, a cut that will make it harder for pensioners to stay warm in the wintertime? | Jenny Macklin to social services minister Christian Porter: On 1 July, AGL electricity prices in NSW will go up by 16%. With power going up, why is the prime minister cutting the $365-a-year energy supplement for pensioners, a cut that will make it harder for pensioners to stay warm in the wintertime? |
| Porter: | Porter: |
| It was meant to compensate for tax that didn’t go ahead. What the member fails to tell the House is that the savings that are achieved from that measure, the Labor party has banked and spent. | It was meant to compensate for tax that didn’t go ahead. What the member fails to tell the House is that the savings that are achieved from that measure, the Labor party has banked and spent. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.16am BST | at 5.16am BST |
| 5.10am BST | 5.10am BST |
| 05:10 | 05:10 |
| The first Dixer is on the NDIS. AKA practical love, as Turnbull says. | The first Dixer is on the NDIS. AKA practical love, as Turnbull says. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.13am BST | at 5.13am BST |