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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2017/jun/14/climate-politics-comes-back-to-haunt-coalition-with-divided-party-room-meeting-politics-live
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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) | |
| 8.12am BST | |
| 08:12 | |
| Night time politics | |
| Question time was dominated by political donations, particularly around donors with Chinese links. After Julie Bishop attacked former Labor defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon about his ties to a Chinese donor, Labor followed up with a question on the Julie Bishop Glorious Foundation. The foreign minister says she had never heard of it. | |
| Labor, including Fitzgibbon, wants an inquiry into donations and influence through the powerful parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security (PJCIS) and for the government to back its foreign donation ban currently before the house. But the prime minister said he would bring a bill to parliament in the spring session, because you could drive a truck through the Labor bill. | |
| After Network Ten went into voluntary administration, communications minister Mitch Fifield used it as an example of why his media reforms were needed, ie to allow further consolidation of Australian media companies. | |
| Malcolm Turnbull addressed the climate debate in his party room room, saying wise leadership was needed, not glib one liners on energy policy. Tony Abbott said people just wanted lower power prices and a role for coal. Bill Shorten and his environment and energy shadow said they would consider the Finkel review. A list of Coalition Finkel naysayers was leaked but two Nats who were on the list immediately rejected the characterisation. Pissants, said Mark Coultan, of the leakers. George Christensen said he would not vote for a clean energy target could he reckons it will push up power prices. That represents Turnbull’s majority of one in the house. | |
| The government was forced to settle a class action with Manus detainees alleging physical and psychological injury for $90m but Peter Dutton said it was the price of cleaning up Labor’s mess or some such. He accepted no liability. | |
| The senate’s report into the Turnbull government’s Gonski 2.0 school funding plan will land later tonight and by then we will have a clearer idea of where the Greens support is or whether the government needs to go to the crossbench for the votes. | |
| That is your lot for the night. I am off like a fish in the sun but thanks to Gareth Hutchens, Paul Karp and Katharine Murphy. Mike Bowers went above and beyond the call of duty, from the foggy start to now. | |
| See you in the same place tomorrow. | |
| Good night. | |
| 7.45am BST | |
| 07:45 | |
| Tony Abbott says China produces 20 times the emissions of Australia. His characterisation of the party room debate was MPs wanted lower power prices and a continuing role for coal. | |
| The mood of last night was one of robust common sense. | |
| 7.42am BST | |
| 07:42 | |
| Of his altercation with Craig Laundy, Tony Abbott says | |
| there was a moment of mutual bad temper. | |
| But he says the news of the altercation was not correct. | |
| The report that somebody referred me to was more fake news. | |
| 7.40am BST | 7.40am BST |
| 07:40 | 07:40 |
| Tony Abbott is doing his regular spot on 2GB. He starts on the court case to settle a claim from Manus detainees. | Tony Abbott is doing his regular spot on 2GB. He starts on the court case to settle a claim from Manus detainees. |
| He says: | He says: |
| these people took advantage of our nation’s generosity, took advantage of our nation’s good nature. | 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. | 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 1,905 who were part of the class action. | |
| Updated | |
| at 7.44am BST | |
| 7.35am BST | 7.35am BST |
| 07:35 | 07:35 |
| Liberal MP Craig Laundy does not exactly deny reports he had a conflict with Tony Abbott in the party room. | 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. | 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. | |
| Updated | |
| at 7.44am BST | |
| 7.23am BST | 7.23am BST |
| 07:23 | 07:23 |
| Senate inquiry into potential conflicts of interest in northern Australia fund | Senate inquiry into potential conflicts of interest in northern Australia fund |
| Paul Karp | Paul Karp |
| The Senate has voted up an inquiry into the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility and potential conflicts of interest on its board: | 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 | 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 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 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 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. | 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 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.” | 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: | 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; | 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; | 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; | 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; | 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; | 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 | 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. | g) any other related matters. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.28am BST | at 7.28am BST |
| 7.16am BST | 7.16am BST |
| 07:16 | 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. | 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 | 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 |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.19am BST | at 7.19am BST |
| 7.02am BST | 7.02am BST |
| 07:02 | 07:02 |
| 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. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.06am BST | at 7.06am BST |
| 6.51am BST | 6.51am BST |
| 06:51 | 06:51 |
| 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.’’ |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.56am BST | at 6.56am BST |
| 6.44am BST | 6.44am BST |
| 06:44 | 06:44 |