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/2019/jul/24/peter-dutton-misses-deadline-to-hand-over-manus-paladin-document-politics-live
The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 16 | Version 17 |
|---|---|
| Repealing medevac would be 'a wicked thing', Centre Alliance says – politics live | Repealing medevac would be 'a wicked thing', Centre Alliance says – politics live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A little of how Mike Bowers saw the day: | |
| Katharine Murphy has written about Andrew Bragg’s speech here - along with the context of what it means for the debate, within the Liberal party room. | |
| Andrew Bragg finishes with a message for some of his colleagues: | |
| A First Nations voice would not be a third chamber. It will not have the standing, scope or power of the Senate or the House of Representatives. | |
| Further, the campaign that “race has no place” in the constitution may sound good but it is a campaign that should have been run in the 1890s, as we crossed that Rubicon in 1901. | |
| Yes, our present constitution already contains race in several places. It has a history which has been both good and bad. | |
| Today, the races power provides the constitutional authority for the Native Title Act. | |
| Although some would extend Native Title rights and others would wind them back, everyone agrees this parliament should retain this authority and power. | |
| The issue of proper recognition in the constitution will not go away. It shouldn’t. | |
| If recognition fails, more radical concepts could be proposed such as reserved seats as already exist in New Zealand and the US state of Maine for first peoples. | |
| Or we could face a bill of rights, which would be a terrible transfer of power from elected persons to unelected judges. | |
| We want all Australians to be proud of our great nation. All Australians will always be equal but we cannot have Indigenous people feel estranged in the land of their ancestors. | |
| Almost every comparable nation has landed some form of legal recognition of first peoples. We should not wait any longer. | |
| The Liberal party is used to opening the batting on difficult issues. | |
| That’s why we made the first moves to abolish White Australia, opened trade with Japan in 1957 and delivered the Indigenous referendum of 1967. We are the party of Senator Neville Bonner. | |
| We Liberals are good at big changes because we take the Forgotten People or Quiet Australians on the journey. | |
| As one of my political heroes John Howard said: | |
| Australian liberalism has always been evolving and developing. It always will be. | |
| We are constantly relating liberalism’s enduring values to the circumstances of our own time. Enduring values such as the commitment to enhance freedom, choice and competition, to encourage personal achievement, and to promote fairness and genuine sense of community in Australian society. | |
| I look forward to writing the next chapter in the rich history of Australian liberalism. | |
| Andrew Bragg continues: | |
| But I would not support constitutional recognition at any price. | |
| I offer five principles if we are to succeed. Any proposal must: | |
| 1. Capture broad support of the Indigenous community | |
| 2. Focus on community level improvements | |
| 3. Maintain the supremacy of parliament | |
| 4. Maintain the value of equality | |
| 5. Strengthen national unity | |
| I know my colleagues share strong feelings about this. | |
| Mr President, constitutional recognition is both desirable and achievable if the design work reflects these principles. | |
| A workable framework was outlined by John Howard’s chief justice Murray Gleeson in a recent address for Uphold & Recognise – the brainchild of the brilliant Damien Freeman and my colleague Julian Leeser MP. | |
| In Gleeson’s words: ‘What is proposed is a voice to parliament, not a voice in parliament ... It has the merit that it is substantive, and not merely ornamental.’ | |
| Mr President, recognition should also be a bottom-up process. | |
| As the governor general said in the opening of this parliament, we should ‘develop ground-up governance models for enhanced, inclusive and local decision-making on issues impacting the lives of Indigenous Australians.’ | |
| This must be a unifying project because the Australian constitution belongs to all Australians. | |
| It must also be a bipartisan project and I acknowledge the critical role Indigenous senators will play in the years ahead. | |
| The first Indigenous person to serve as minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt, said a few weeks ago: | |
| ‘Indigenous Australians [want] to be recognised on the birth certificate of our nation because we weren’t there when it was written but we were ensconced in it in two sections, 51-26 and 127.’ | |
| Mr President, I will walk with Indigenous Australians on this journey. | |
| The former deputy director of the federal Liberal party, Andrew Bragg, is delivering his first speech in the Senate. | The former deputy director of the federal Liberal party, Andrew Bragg, is delivering his first speech in the Senate. |
| He comes out very strongly in support of constitutional Indigenous recognition and a voice to parliament: | |
| Mr President, I am worried our country has not been able to reconcile with Indigenous Australians. | |
| As Noel Pearson has reminded me, “Andrew, this is my country too”. | As Noel Pearson has reminded me, “Andrew, this is my country too”. |
| It is time for us all to complete this task. | It is time for us all to complete this task. |
| Pearson offers a way of thinking about Australia that I love. | Pearson offers a way of thinking about Australia that I love. |
| His Declaration of Recognition presents Australia as a unified nation drawing on three great heritages: the Indigenous as first peoples, the British as creators of institutions which underpin the nation, and the multicultural gift that has enriched us all. | |
| The constitution does a great job of securing these institutions. That’s why I am constitutional conservative. I regard the constitution as an incredibly successful document. | |
| But I am also a supporter of constitutional recognition. The latest chapter in this long journey is the Uluru Statement. It offers a challenge to our country. | |
| The Uluru Statement says: “we seek constitutional reforms to empower our people and take a rightful place in our own country.” | |
| It imagines a constitution where Indigenous Australians are guaranteed a say on laws made under the races and territories powers which affect them. | |
| Uluru asks legislators to consult Indigenous people on the laws which are relevant to them. | Uluru asks legislators to consult Indigenous people on the laws which are relevant to them. |
| This is a good idea. This is a fair idea. | This is a good idea. This is a fair idea. |
| Plus, also, there are the actual numbers of unemployed people versus the number of job ads. | Plus, also, there are the actual numbers of unemployed people versus the number of job ads. |
| Number of job advertisements in Australia in June: 159,700.Number of unemployed people: 711,500.#auspol #newstart | Number of job advertisements in Australia in June: 159,700.Number of unemployed people: 711,500.#auspol #newstart |
| Plus, the definition of employed in this country, according to the ABS, is anyone who performed one hour of work or more for pay or profit (or in kind remuneration). | |
| Worked an hour and got paid? You’re employed! | Worked an hour and got paid? You’re employed! |
| Asked about wage theft, in the wake of the George Calombaris ruling, James McGrath says the government has a “full legislative agenda” but it is something he would like to look into at some point. | Asked about wage theft, in the wake of the George Calombaris ruling, James McGrath says the government has a “full legislative agenda” but it is something he would like to look into at some point. |
| Ed Husic still has some words saved up though: | Ed Husic still has some words saved up though: |
| Do you know what the agenda is? It was we need to vote on tax cuts today for tax cuts in the future. We need to vote on drought relief today that won’t be delivered for a year. We need to vote on national security laws. | Do you know what the agenda is? It was we need to vote on tax cuts today for tax cuts in the future. We need to vote on drought relief today that won’t be delivered for a year. We need to vote on national security laws. |
| But wage theft does not get a mention because there is another political priority, trying to basically beat up unions instead of looking at the employers who are ripping off workers, ordinary workers who deserve to have their wages paid properly, and that is not being, based on the senator’s response, you can see the government has a full agenda because they don’t think this is something that should be high on the agenda but all the politicking is. | But wage theft does not get a mention because there is another political priority, trying to basically beat up unions instead of looking at the employers who are ripping off workers, ordinary workers who deserve to have their wages paid properly, and that is not being, based on the senator’s response, you can see the government has a full agenda because they don’t think this is something that should be high on the agenda but all the politicking is. |
| Once again, it is not as easy as just packing up and moving towns to find a job. Moving costs money. The reason everyone from church leaders to the business council are talking about raising Newstart, is because those who are on the payment do not have money. In so many cases they don’t have enough money to properly job hunt. Because guess what? That too costs money! | Once again, it is not as easy as just packing up and moving towns to find a job. Moving costs money. The reason everyone from church leaders to the business council are talking about raising Newstart, is because those who are on the payment do not have money. In so many cases they don’t have enough money to properly job hunt. Because guess what? That too costs money! |
| Every politician sitting in this place gets more travel allowance each day they are in Canberra than someone on Newstart gets in a week. That’s just the travel allowance. That is not their salary. | Every politician sitting in this place gets more travel allowance each day they are in Canberra than someone on Newstart gets in a week. That’s just the travel allowance. That is not their salary. |
| On Newstart, James McGrath had this to say to Patricia Karvelas: | On Newstart, James McGrath had this to say to Patricia Karvelas: |
| I’m one of those people who think that the best thing the government should do in relation to Newstart is to create jobs, and the government is creating an environment for businesses to employ people. | I’m one of those people who think that the best thing the government should do in relation to Newstart is to create jobs, and the government is creating an environment for businesses to employ people. |
| I do not think Newstart is something that can be increased at the moment. | I do not think Newstart is something that can be increased at the moment. |
| We all acknowledge that it is not easy being on Newstart but it is not a long-term solution to long-term unemployment but the best thing you can do for people who are unemployed is to create an environment to get a job. | We all acknowledge that it is not easy being on Newstart but it is not a long-term solution to long-term unemployment but the best thing you can do for people who are unemployed is to create an environment to get a job. |
| Should it ever be on the agenda? | Should it ever be on the agenda? |
| No, I think that the best thing generally is that the government can create an environment to create jobs to employ people. | No, I think that the best thing generally is that the government can create an environment to create jobs to employ people. |
| So should people just move, like Michael McCormack says? | So should people just move, like Michael McCormack says? |
| Look around Australia, there are jobs available in regional Australia. The reason why we have the Pacific Islander program, which I support one million per cent, is because we cannot get people to pick fruit up in Queensland. | Look around Australia, there are jobs available in regional Australia. The reason why we have the Pacific Islander program, which I support one million per cent, is because we cannot get people to pick fruit up in Queensland. |
| Sometimes you may have to move to find a job, but the best thing a government can do is create an environment, whether in the city or country, for businesses to grow and also that means employ people. | Sometimes you may have to move to find a job, but the best thing a government can do is create an environment, whether in the city or country, for businesses to grow and also that means employ people. |
| Remember how I said Ed Husic had more words saved up? | Remember how I said Ed Husic had more words saved up? |
| He just let some of them loose on ABC TV: | He just let some of them loose on ABC TV: |
| I think the government very much has stuffed the process up [on] national security and as I’ve said elsewhere, Peter Dutton cannot be trusted on the process. He has taken four years to put this together and there are problems with how it has been put forward, very sloppy in terms of this. | I think the government very much has stuffed the process up [on] national security and as I’ve said elsewhere, Peter Dutton cannot be trusted on the process. He has taken four years to put this together and there are problems with how it has been put forward, very sloppy in terms of this. |
| There are other pieces of legislation that will be debated in the House of Reps shortly, where the security agencies, detention and in regards to warrants and how they are held, they have said we need to reform and the government has done nothing. | There are other pieces of legislation that will be debated in the House of Reps shortly, where the security agencies, detention and in regards to warrants and how they are held, they have said we need to reform and the government has done nothing. |
| Peter Dutton has been more interested in doing the numbers for himself last year and during that period of time failed to get these type of things done right, and more and more the focus will come on the sloppiness and incompetence of Peter Dutton, as it should be. | Peter Dutton has been more interested in doing the numbers for himself last year and during that period of time failed to get these type of things done right, and more and more the focus will come on the sloppiness and incompetence of Peter Dutton, as it should be. |
| The government themselves play politics with national security. This should not happen at all and they are breaking the trust as to whether or not they can be trusted on the safety of Australians because they keep playing politics with national security. | The government themselves play politics with national security. This should not happen at all and they are breaking the trust as to whether or not they can be trusted on the safety of Australians because they keep playing politics with national security. |
| James McGrath, who is on the same panel, comes to his defence: | James McGrath, who is on the same panel, comes to his defence: |
| I need to go back to what Ed Husic just said in terms of Peter Dutton. Peter has probably been the best minister we have had in this area in terms of border security so I strongly disagree with his analysis, if you want to call it that, in terms of Peter Dutton’s tenure as home affairs minister and before that immigration minister. | I need to go back to what Ed Husic just said in terms of Peter Dutton. Peter has probably been the best minister we have had in this area in terms of border security so I strongly disagree with his analysis, if you want to call it that, in terms of Peter Dutton’s tenure as home affairs minister and before that immigration minister. |
| I’m very comfortable with the minister, someone who was elected to parliament to make these decisions. I’m particularly happy and comfortable it is Peter Dutton, an ex-Queensland copper. | I’m very comfortable with the minister, someone who was elected to parliament to make these decisions. I’m particularly happy and comfortable it is Peter Dutton, an ex-Queensland copper. |
| On medevac, Rex Patrick said Centre Alliance and Jacqui Lambie (they have a loose alliance) met with Peter Dutton today to discuss the temporary exclusion orders, but they have not discussed the medevac repeal as yet. Lambie is the swing vote. | On medevac, Rex Patrick said Centre Alliance and Jacqui Lambie (they have a loose alliance) met with Peter Dutton today to discuss the temporary exclusion orders, but they have not discussed the medevac repeal as yet. Lambie is the swing vote. |
| Rex Patrick: | Rex Patrick: |
| I sat down with Jacqui and Peter Dutton today to discuss the foreign fighters bill and that is because we have some common ground. In other situations where there is no common ground Jacqui will go off and negotiate and discuss with the minister on her own as we do. | I sat down with Jacqui and Peter Dutton today to discuss the foreign fighters bill and that is because we have some common ground. In other situations where there is no common ground Jacqui will go off and negotiate and discuss with the minister on her own as we do. |
| ... It [the medevac repeal] has not arrived. It is not on the radar. | ... It [the medevac repeal] has not arrived. It is not on the radar. |
| ... We understand the bill very well. If there were some difficulties that the government had, in terms of people who have been repatriated for that medical attention, we would be happy to discuss that with Peter Dutton and happy to do that with Jacqui. If there are problems with the bill we would happily tweak it. But our understanding is that I think it is something like 21 or 22 people have been back to Australia for medical attention and then sent back to Papua New Guinea. | ... We understand the bill very well. If there were some difficulties that the government had, in terms of people who have been repatriated for that medical attention, we would be happy to discuss that with Peter Dutton and happy to do that with Jacqui. If there are problems with the bill we would happily tweak it. But our understanding is that I think it is something like 21 or 22 people have been back to Australia for medical attention and then sent back to Papua New Guinea. |
| On the ensuring integrity bill, Rex Patrick says there are political elements to the bill it can’t support: | On the ensuring integrity bill, Rex Patrick says there are political elements to the bill it can’t support: |
| The aim was to deal with misconduct and there is no question that has been in the union movement. | The aim was to deal with misconduct and there is no question that has been in the union movement. |
| I have seen the fairly significant sheet of judicial rulings against some of the unions and in some instances we have some very conservative, considered judicial officers stating things like this union is simply using the fines, treating the fines, as the cost of business. | I have seen the fairly significant sheet of judicial rulings against some of the unions and in some instances we have some very conservative, considered judicial officers stating things like this union is simply using the fines, treating the fines, as the cost of business. |
| We cannot have that situation, so we must have a bill that deals with that sort of egregious behaviour and it must also be fair and you cannot have misconduct in the corporate sector and we saw a lot of that was revealed in the royal commission, and do without it the same time. | We cannot have that situation, so we must have a bill that deals with that sort of egregious behaviour and it must also be fair and you cannot have misconduct in the corporate sector and we saw a lot of that was revealed in the royal commission, and do without it the same time. |
| We are asking the government to make sure that whatever is in the bill is consistent with the corporate world. An example: under the current union bill, ensuring integrity bill, the minister can make a referral to make a deregistration. That does not happen in the corporate world. | We are asking the government to make sure that whatever is in the bill is consistent with the corporate world. An example: under the current union bill, ensuring integrity bill, the minister can make a referral to make a deregistration. That does not happen in the corporate world. |
| There is a political element today that we are uncomfortable with – and [we] would like to see it removed. | There is a political element today that we are uncomfortable with – and [we] would like to see it removed. |
| But if the legislation applies to all, then Centre Alliance will support it. If the government doesn’t amend it, it will weigh up its options then. | But if the legislation applies to all, then Centre Alliance will support it. If the government doesn’t amend it, it will weigh up its options then. |