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Labor grills Coalition over foreign donations and electricity prices – politics live Labor grills Coalition over foreign donations and electricity prices – politics live
(35 minutes later)
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07:40
Tony Abbott is doing his regular spot on 2GB. He starts on the court case to settle a claim from Manus detainees.
He says:
these people took advantage of our nation’s generosity, took advantage of our nation’s good nature.
Not for a minute is he critical of immigration minister Peter Dutton or the Turnbull government.
He doubts whether any of the detainees suffered physical or psychological injuries amongst the 1905 who were part of the class action.
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07:35
Liberal MP Craig Laundy does not exactly deny reports he had a conflict with Tony Abbott in the party room.
He says it is a place for passionate discussion so it’s all G.
Laundy says he does not agree with George Christensen (see earlier post) that government should be in the business of building and funding coal fired power stations.
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07:23
Senate inquiry into potential conflicts of interest in northern Australia fund
Paul Karp
The Senate has voted up an inquiry into the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility and potential conflicts of interest on its board:
Inquiry gets up, despite One Nation voting to protect Canavan. Spending of $5B in taxpayers funds should be free of conflicts of interest. https://t.co/4cRLJFFKPN
The Naif is the fund that the resources and northern Australia minister, Matt Canavan, wants to use to loan the Adani Carmichael mine $900m to build a rail line from the Galilee basin.
The issue of a potential perceived conflict of interest relates to a director of the independent board, Karla Way-McPhail, who runs mining labour and equipment hire companies, publicly declaring she was “very supportive” of its “vital” coal project.
The deputy leader of the Australian Greens and Queensland senator, Larissa Waters, said it was a serious concern that members of the Naif board have deep links with the coal industry, including “one board member [who has] posted hyper-partisan comments online in support of the coal industry”.
The administration of this $5bn infrastructure fund has almost zero transparency, all decisions and applications are kept secret until after they’ve been approved.
This is because the Naif isn’t about encouraging investment in northern Australia, it’s about creating a slush fund to prop up the dying coal industry and appeasing the Trumps within the Coalition.
This inquiry would flush out the truth about whether Queensland will facilitate or act as middleman [for] the $1bn publicly funded loan to Adani.”
The Labor and Greens push will see the Senate look at:
a) The adequacy and transparency of the Naif’s project assessment and approval processes;
b) The adequacy of the Naif’s investment mandate, risk appetite statement and public interest test in guiding decisions of the Naif board;
c) The adequacy of processes used to appoint Naif board members including assessment of potential conflicts of interest;
d) The adequacy and transparency of the Naif’s policies in managing perceived, actual or potential conflicts of interest of its board members;
e) The adequacy of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility Act and investment mandate to provide for and maintain the independence of decisions of the board;
f) The status and role of state and territory governments under the Naif, including any agreements between state and territories and the federal government; and
g) any other related matters.
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07:16
The human services minister, Alan Tudge, has a message for my colleague Christopher Knaus who has done some excellent work on the robo-debt scandal.
Hey @knausc @noeltowell the Minister says you've missed a huge scoop. He says he's actually doing a stellar job 😑 #auspol #notmydebt pic.twitter.com/GIoDIFvsfJ
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LNP MP George Christensen tells David Speers at Sky that he favours measures that address the issue of power affordability. He does not believe the Finkel recommendation of a clean energy target will do that. He will not vote for it.LNP MP George Christensen tells David Speers at Sky that he favours measures that address the issue of power affordability. He does not believe the Finkel recommendation of a clean energy target will do that. He will not vote for it.
Christensen favours government-funded coal-fired power stations and Josh Frydenberg’s plan to beef up and giving teeth to the energy regulator to keep a lid on prices.Christensen favours government-funded coal-fired power stations and Josh Frydenberg’s plan to beef up and giving teeth to the energy regulator to keep a lid on prices.
He says Labor always wants to go one step further on policies like Finkel’s target and Gonski school funding.He says Labor always wants to go one step further on policies like Finkel’s target and Gonski school funding.
Best not go there, seems to be George’s message.Best not go there, seems to be George’s message.
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Cameron England of the Adelaide Advertiser reported on 5 June:Cameron England of the Adelaide Advertiser reported on 5 June:
One of the Liberal party’s largest donors, Chinese mining magnate Sally Zou, previously set up a company called “Julie Bishop Glorious Foundation” which the foreign minister says she has never heard of.One of the Liberal party’s largest donors, Chinese mining magnate Sally Zou, previously set up a company called “Julie Bishop Glorious Foundation” which the foreign minister says she has never heard of.
The enigmatic Ms Zou, who is also a large financial supporter of Port Adelaide Football Club, also set a company last month called Australian Earthly Paradise.The enigmatic Ms Zou, who is also a large financial supporter of Port Adelaide Football Club, also set a company last month called Australian Earthly Paradise.
That company’s principal place of business is 19 Tallisker Rd, Deep Creek — the address of a pristine 1.5km stretch of coastal property currently on the market for $2.5 million, which is not owned by Ms Zou.That company’s principal place of business is 19 Tallisker Rd, Deep Creek — the address of a pristine 1.5km stretch of coastal property currently on the market for $2.5 million, which is not owned by Ms Zou.
It is understood she might be intending to buy the property. Julie Bishop Glorious Foundation Pty Ltd was set up in April last year, and changed its name to Glorious Foundation just nine days later.It is understood she might be intending to buy the property. Julie Bishop Glorious Foundation Pty Ltd was set up in April last year, and changed its name to Glorious Foundation just nine days later.
A spokeswoman for the minister said the existence of the company was news to her.A spokeswoman for the minister said the existence of the company was news to her.
“The foreign minister has met Ms Zou from time to time at various functions. The minister was not aware of any foundation established using her name, nor has she been approached by Ms Zou for any government assistance.’’“The foreign minister has met Ms Zou from time to time at various functions. The minister was not aware of any foundation established using her name, nor has she been approached by Ms Zou for any government assistance.’’
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There is maximum yelling in the chamber after a particularly willing question time.There is maximum yelling in the chamber after a particularly willing question time.
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Liberal MP and former assistant defence minister Stuart Robert seeks to make a personal explanation, saying all the investigations cleared him of any wrongdoing.Liberal MP and former assistant defence minister Stuart Robert seeks to make a personal explanation, saying all the investigations cleared him of any wrongdoing.
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Foreign Minister "Mr Speaker I have never heard of the Julie Bishop Glorious Foundation" @gabriellechan @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/p5Qvhj7ACXForeign Minister "Mr Speaker I have never heard of the Julie Bishop Glorious Foundation" @gabriellechan @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/p5Qvhj7ACX
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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?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.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.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.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.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.[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.