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Minister 'intervention' in Newstart report 'very dangerous precedent', Labor says – politics live Coalition 'can't be trusted on national security', Labor says – politics live
(32 minutes later)
Reece Kershaw has been named the new AFP Commissioner. Peter Dutton concludes with this:
I just remind you that we have now had three vessels in only a short period of weeks, there were boats on the water anticipating a Labour government being elected in May, we have a very significant concern about some of the messages in Sri Lanka at the moment and we are working in a way that won’t restart boats but to get people off Manus and Nauru as quickly as possible.
I have never ruled out the New Zealand option but I have made the point and I make it again today, now is not the right time for us to be sending people to New Zealand because New Zealand is being marketed in Sri Lanka, as it is elsewhere, as essentially the same destination as Australia.
Same welfare system, education, government support, all of that is marketed in a similar way.
There may be a time when we can exercise the New Zealand option, we are grateful for it, but we will exercise that option when and if it is in our national interest and it will not restart boats because under both the Labor Party and the coalition at the moment, if there is a boat that successfully gets through tonight with 30 kids on board, they are all going to Nauru.
President Obama and President Trump have been clear they are not able to access the US arrangement and if they are come from Iran, cannot send them back to Iran.
Let’s be realistic. If the problem starts again, what happens, what will happen is this.
Nauru will overflow and then you have the problem of where people go after that .
We have work to get 585 people off Manus and Nauru. When they need medical attention, we provide medical attention.
That has always been the case. But I will not make decisions that will encourage people ‘s smugglers in Sri Lanka who are encouraging innocent people to pay money to get onto those boats.
We are not going back to Labor’s days, having people in detention and I will not allow our country to be held ransom by people who are evil criminal syndicates taking money [from innocent people]
Peter Dutton:
The other point you made which he emphasised that he was here which I respect greatly is the fact that the people on Manus have been treated very poorly by many people including some in the press here in Australia, they are islanders, peace loving people, very accommodating and they have been portrayed as somebody different than that.
PNG is quite aggrieved by that, as I am, and I have made this point in a number of occasions. And I am going to work with the PNG government to reframe that because there are people that have been presented in a way that they shouldn’t have.
I am happy to come to that point. If I can get it down to zero tonight, I would. If I could bring those people to Australia, I would have done it by now.
I am not putting a deadline on it because to go to the point before about people travelling, there are Iranians on PNG, Tehran will not issue travel documents for those people.
They will not go to the United States, they will not accept a position to go to the US. No other country in the world will take them and they are holding out to come to Australia.
In that circumstance, I am not taking those people and I have been clear about it. We have provided resettlement assistance for people to go back to the country of origin, there are 107 people on Manus who have been found not to be refugees and we will continue to work with authorities up there to get the number down to zero
Peter Dutton on why he won’t be accepting every recommendation from the joint parliamentary committee on intelligence and security - which is led by the Liberal MP Andrew Hastie and has a majority of government MPs:
I believe that for a long time, Labor has effectively managed Mark Dreyfus through the process. I think they have done the job that the Labor caucus should do. The Labor caucus, I suspect, people because they are compelled to sit there, find it excruciating to listen to long lectures from Mr Dreyfus because as you know, he is the smartest person in any room, at least by his own account.
So I think we need to recognise that, like any committee to the government, they provide recommendations … we have accepted 17 … we have been advised that the bill would be in a better form if we didn’t accept those but noted them and that is the advice we have taken.
In the end, the government will look at the recommendations of the bill or any other, we’re not going to get ourselves into [the] position that we were in at the last parliament where Mark Dreyfus waters down [legislation], we’re not going to allow [that] to happen because what ends up happening is that we end up with a bill that is ineffective and these matters are too important for that.
So Anthony Albanese can manage Mark Dreyfus in a different process but we are not going to allow a national security agency to be stifled by Mark Dreyfus and his ability to water down legislation.
Incoming AFP commissioner Reece Kershaw on the potential prosecution of journalists:
Look, it is about process. And I’ve said this before, where you can ask for a second opinion or a third opinion about the process and get those opinions and then make that decision but it’s got to be informed, with all the facts, or the legalities addressed and so on and that’s my style, I will get as much information as I can to see where it’s it.
On whether children of foreign fighters who may have been forced to fight will be repatriated, Peter Dutton had this to say:
I need to take into account those considerations, I also need to consider the rights of the 5-year-old Australian child at a school here in Australia because we can’t just take somebody having been over in the Middle East and put them into Year 5 or Year 6.
“... We don’t want media attention in some immediate cases, I don’t want cameras parked out the front, and scrutiny of people going to mosques, we want to work with the, particularly in New South Wales and Victoria, the family services authorities in those states … put a bespoke arrangement – and for some individuals and we don’t know whether or not some of these children are Australian citizens or not.
We don’t know because we don’t have DNA testing and we don’t know. I am not going to provide a running commentary on this family or that, individual circumstances, given the way in which we are approaching this, which I think is reasonable. I think the threat level is different with some of the women and what they are posing, I want to be clear about this, the advice to me about some of these women is they are as bad as any of the men and what we have seen.
So let’s be realistic about that. Others, as I have said before, have been in violent relationships or have been sold or traded into some other relationship and horrific circumstances. That’s is what we are dealing with.
Reece Kershaw has been named the new AFP commissioner.
He is the current Northern Territory police commissioner. He’ll start in October, when Andrew Colvin officially stands down.He is the current Northern Territory police commissioner. He’ll start in October, when Andrew Colvin officially stands down.
Peta Murphy:Peta Murphy:
As I now know, cancer is not just indiscriminate, it’s sneaky.As I now know, cancer is not just indiscriminate, it’s sneaky.
Two weeks ago, a week after being sworn in as the member for Dunkley, I received the unexpected news that my cancer had returned.Two weeks ago, a week after being sworn in as the member for Dunkley, I received the unexpected news that my cancer had returned.
You might say ‘Murphy’s Law strikes again.’ But my mother, Jan, who is a Murphy by marriage, not birth, and therefore able to adopt a less pessimistic personal motto, would say ‘everything happens for a reason’. You might say Murphy’s Law strikes again. But my mother, Jan, who is a Murphy by marriage, not birth, and therefore able to adopt a less pessimistic personal motto, would say ‘everything happens for a reason’.
I am neither unique nor alone in the fight I am about to take on. Cancer Australia estimates that in 2019, just over 19,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 145,000 people will be diagnosed with cancer.I am neither unique nor alone in the fight I am about to take on. Cancer Australia estimates that in 2019, just over 19,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 145,000 people will be diagnosed with cancer.
I am neither unique nor alone, but I am someone who has a platform that I can use to benefit others.I am neither unique nor alone, but I am someone who has a platform that I can use to benefit others.
“And as long as the people of Dunkley continue to vote for me to represent them in this place, I intend to use it. And as long as the people of Dunkley continue to vote for me to represent them in this place, I intend to use it.
I am going to start by saying this today. Ladies, check your breasts.I am going to start by saying this today. Ladies, check your breasts.
Men, don’t ignore what your body is telling you.Men, don’t ignore what your body is telling you.
Fellow members of parliament, listen to experts who warn that the promise of universal health care is under threat. Fellow members of parliament, listen to experts who warn that the promise of universal healthcare is under threat.
Commit to the reform and funding that our heath system needs, and do whatever is required to ensure that Australia trains, retrains and invests in the health care professionals and researchers who make our system great.” Commit to the reform and funding that our heath system needs, and do whatever is required to ensure that Australia trains, retrains and invests in the healthcare professionals and researchers who make our system great.
The contest to replace Mitch Fifield as a Victorian senator is shaping up as a two-horse race between Sarah Henderson and Greg Mirabella.The contest to replace Mitch Fifield as a Victorian senator is shaping up as a two-horse race between Sarah Henderson and Greg Mirabella.
Fifield is jetting off to be Australia’s ambassador to the United Nations.Fifield is jetting off to be Australia’s ambassador to the United Nations.
Henderson was defeated at the May election in the marginal lower house seat of Corangamite, after six years in federal parliament. She had risen to the ranks of assistant minister for social services and disabilities.Henderson was defeated at the May election in the marginal lower house seat of Corangamite, after six years in federal parliament. She had risen to the ranks of assistant minister for social services and disabilities.
Mirabella, a former army officer, is married to former federal minister Sophie Mirabella, who lost the blue ribbon Liberal seat of Indi in north-eastern Victoria in 2013 to Cathy McGowan. Some insiders say he’s got a solid standing and identity within the party, separate to that of his polarising wife.Mirabella, a former army officer, is married to former federal minister Sophie Mirabella, who lost the blue ribbon Liberal seat of Indi in north-eastern Victoria in 2013 to Cathy McGowan. Some insiders say he’s got a solid standing and identity within the party, separate to that of his polarising wife.
“He’s his own man,” a source told the Guardian.“He’s his own man,” a source told the Guardian.
Party insiders expect a tight race and the push is on for a regional-based senator because the other Liberal senators live in Melbourne.Party insiders expect a tight race and the push is on for a regional-based senator because the other Liberal senators live in Melbourne.
Mirabella is from Wangaratta, while Henderson lives in Geelong.Mirabella is from Wangaratta, while Henderson lives in Geelong.
Nominations for preselection close on Friday and 600-odd party members will vote on 8 September.Nominations for preselection close on Friday and 600-odd party members will vote on 8 September.
Prime minister Scott Morrison has endorsed Henderson for the Senate spot but party insiders don’t believe that will make much difference in the minds of rank and file members.Prime minister Scott Morrison has endorsed Henderson for the Senate spot but party insiders don’t believe that will make much difference in the minds of rank and file members.
“I just think back to when [Victoria premier] Denis Napthine wrote a letter supporting [cabinet minister] Mary Wooldridge in [the state seat of Kew 2014]. [Then 30-year-old former mayor] Tim Smith won resoundingly,” the insider told the Guardian.“I just think back to when [Victoria premier] Denis Napthine wrote a letter supporting [cabinet minister] Mary Wooldridge in [the state seat of Kew 2014]. [Then 30-year-old former mayor] Tim Smith won resoundingly,” the insider told the Guardian.
“I’m not sure branch members like to be told what to do.”“I’m not sure branch members like to be told what to do.”
Asked about whether gender and the party’s push for more female talent will be a factor in the contest, the insider said: “No.”Asked about whether gender and the party’s push for more female talent will be a factor in the contest, the insider said: “No.”
“I just don’t think it will swing votes one way or the other.”“I just don’t think it will swing votes one way or the other.”
Other names in the mix are former Liberal senate candidates Kyle Hoppitt and Karina Okotel, former federal MP for Dunkley Chris Crewther and former state upper house MP Inga Peulich.Other names in the mix are former Liberal senate candidates Kyle Hoppitt and Karina Okotel, former federal MP for Dunkley Chris Crewther and former state upper house MP Inga Peulich.
Another party insider says the two favourites may not necessarily win the room on the day.Another party insider says the two favourites may not necessarily win the room on the day.
The last time there was a Victorian Senate casual vacancy, former veterans affairs minister Michael Ronaldson retired from politics and James Paterson, a then 28-year-old from the Institute of Public Affairs, won the spot.The last time there was a Victorian Senate casual vacancy, former veterans affairs minister Michael Ronaldson retired from politics and James Paterson, a then 28-year-old from the Institute of Public Affairs, won the spot.
“I can’t recall James Paterson being the favourite in 2016. He performed really strongly and impressed delegates,” the party insider said.“I can’t recall James Paterson being the favourite in 2016. He performed really strongly and impressed delegates,” the party insider said.
“Delegates to a Senate preselection are often more focused on ideology.”“Delegates to a Senate preselection are often more focused on ideology.”
Peta Murphy, the new Labor MP for Dunkley, is delivering her first speech in the chamber now.Peta Murphy, the new Labor MP for Dunkley, is delivering her first speech in the chamber now.
The home affairs minister, Peter Dutton, was asked on Sky about the commonwealth ombudsman’s report, which revealed a litany of breaches of metadata laws, including that the Western Australian police obtained invalid warrants targeting journalists and ACT police accessed data 116 times without proper authorisation.The home affairs minister, Peter Dutton, was asked on Sky about the commonwealth ombudsman’s report, which revealed a litany of breaches of metadata laws, including that the Western Australian police obtained invalid warrants targeting journalists and ACT police accessed data 116 times without proper authorisation.
Asked if this showed the law’s safeguards don’t work, Dutton replied:Asked if this showed the law’s safeguards don’t work, Dutton replied:
No it’s not, there are many cases now where Asio and the AFP have relied on those laws particularly in relation to serious matters including counter terrorism matters to keep Australians safe. There are mechanisms in place, safe checks and they should be adhered to, and if not there are consequences for that. So, take the protections very seriously but in the end the vast majority of cases – 99% of the use of these laws – will be appropriate, and they’ll be used in a way that will result in protecting Australians, that’s the reality.No it’s not, there are many cases now where Asio and the AFP have relied on those laws particularly in relation to serious matters including counter terrorism matters to keep Australians safe. There are mechanisms in place, safe checks and they should be adhered to, and if not there are consequences for that. So, take the protections very seriously but in the end the vast majority of cases – 99% of the use of these laws – will be appropriate, and they’ll be used in a way that will result in protecting Australians, that’s the reality.
The ombudsman’s report didn’t detail any consequences that accrued from the breaches by WA Police or ACT Policing – aside from a polite request to quarantine the data which in ACT Policing’s case was not immediately adhered to.The ombudsman’s report didn’t detail any consequences that accrued from the breaches by WA Police or ACT Policing – aside from a polite request to quarantine the data which in ACT Policing’s case was not immediately adhered to.
From our report:From our report:
The ombudsman recommended the AFP quarantine all telecommunications data obtained under the 116 authorisations, which the AFP accepted. ‘However it did not act to quarantine the affected data at that time, which resulted in additional use and communication of the data,’ the report said.The ombudsman recommended the AFP quarantine all telecommunications data obtained under the 116 authorisations, which the AFP accepted. ‘However it did not act to quarantine the affected data at that time, which resulted in additional use and communication of the data,’ the report said.
Despite the quarantine process beginning in February 2018, the data had still not been fully quarantined by April 2018.Despite the quarantine process beginning in February 2018, the data had still not been fully quarantined by April 2018.
So we’ll have to hear from Dutton what the unspecified “consequences” might be!So we’ll have to hear from Dutton what the unspecified “consequences” might be!
Kristina Keneally and Alan Jones have joined forces.
Yes, you read that correctly.
They have come together to try and reverse the decision which has seen a Sri Lankan family who made a home in Biloela, but who are now in detention after they were judged not to be refugees.
So far, the government has not budged on the case, despite multiple appeals from the Queensland community to bring them home.
And now, it has seen Jones and Keneally team up.
That’s how serious it is.
Why is it an issue, for Labor, that the government hasn’t taken on board all of the recommendations of the joint parliamentary security and intelligence committee on the temporary exclusion orders bill?
Ed Husic told Sky News:
Because the committee basically drops the politics, drops the politicking, thinks deeply about the advice that is given, not just from the security agencies, but from others who have a considered opinion in the community, the Law Council and others, and then frames its recommendations with a lot of consideration attached to them.
And if they say, as a result of their considerations, it would be better to strengthen the law in this way, I think the government should be made to work double time to explain why those recommendations aren’t good enough to follow.
I just think Peter Dutton has a lot to answer for, as to why so many people left, why he hasn’t brought the regime in the way that he should, why has he taken so long.
I think the other thing is the government just can’t be trusted on national security. They prioritise politics over the safety of the country, and in Peter Dutton’s case, you have to ask, if his colleagues couldn’t bring themselves to put him in a leadership position, couldn’t trust him in a leadership position, why is he being trusted with national security when so many things are going off the rails under his watch.
Rex Patrick also has concerns about the temporary exclusion order bill:
.@Senator_Patrick says it’s ‘disturbing’ the recommendations from the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security haven’t been adopted in full in relation to the foreign fighters bill. MORE: https://t.co/ykweMevBOK #amagenda pic.twitter.com/Bp2yPYKshb
Peter Dutton was on ABC radio this morning talking about why the government rejected some of the recommendations of the security and intelligence committee:
There were 19 recommendations. We accept 17. And we’ll implement their recommendations, but the government, at the end of the day, relies not only on the advice from the committee, made up of Labor and Liberal members, but also, of course – and predominantly – the agencies, including Asio, Asis, my own intelligence units within Home Affairs, and we make decisions that we believe are in the best interests of the country.
And excluding people on a temporary basis from coming back to our country to cause harm is an absolute priority of the government.
So, we look at all of that information, and we make decisions that we believe are in the best interest. There is an ability for the minister to make a decision under legislation.
Each decision, every decision, is reviewed by a retired judge or a member of the AAT. That process is in place. There is also an ability for matters to be heard right up to the high court, but the federal court to start with.
So, there are checks and balances in place now. But you don’t have faith in a retired judge to make these decisions? Our judgement is, particularly in cases where you need to make an urgent decision, that that case is best considered by the minister, and then reviewed. We’re happy for the review to take place.
It’s an important check and balance. But as is the case with passport cancellations, for example, where the foreign minister might make a decision, that decision is made by the minister, and that’s consistent with legislation and practice under both Liberal and Labor over a long period of time.
Peter Dutton will hold a press conference at 11.45pm in the blue room - the second most fancy press conference location.
There is a lot of aqua in the public gallery as Zali Steggall delivers her first speech and a pretty big cheer from that same quarter when she mentions defeating Tony Abbott
Liberal backbench senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells continues to make her push for a broader “religious freedom act” than the defensive religious discrimination act currently being developed by attorney general Christian Porter.
In the adjournment debate in the Senate on Tuesday night, she detailed nine cases of apparent religious discrimination, as she saw it.
The cases included those already publicly aired, including a wedding photographer sued for refusing to provide services to a same-sex wedding (the case was dropped), a student being investigated for comments about not agreeing with the “lifestyle” of a gay friend (the case was dropped), a teacher who was investigated during the postal survey for posting on social media articles about “homosexual marriage” (the case was dropped).
There was also a case about a Christian family being rejected for fostering children because of their beliefs.
“This is no dream; it is a reality. For those involved it has become a nightmare,” Fierravanti-Wells said. “This is supposed to be modern-day Australia, supposedly democratic and free. But this was not the case and isn’t the case for these people. You or I could be the next victims.”
It should be noted many of these situations are something gay people also face from religious organisations. For example, the Perth case where a teacher lost employment after revealing on social media he was in a same-sex relationship
Craig Kelly has a friend in the Australian Taxpayers’ Association:
Allowing wealthy individuals who live in multi-million dollar palatial mansions to claim handouts funded by hardworking middle and working class taxpayers is an unconscionable rort that must end now if our pension system is to be sustainable in the decades to come [ ATA director of policy Satya Marar said in a statement].
The pension isn’t some entitlement you get simply because you pay into the system over your working life. It’s meant to provide a safety net for those who genuinely need it. There’s nothing cruel or unfair about requiring wealthy Australians to support themselves with their own wealth by downsizing before depending on the government.
Means-tested welfare is a shrewd, fair principle and pension eligibility is no exception.
Both major parties have baulked at this commonsense change out of fear of political consequences. But the consequences of doing nothing and ratcheting up billions more in tax bills or unsustainable public debt to fund those who don’t need it are far worse. We commend Craig Kelly MP for recognising the need for this timely and taxpayer-friendly reform.
Jim Chalmers on Rob Harris’s story that Paul Fletcher, the then social-services minister, intervened to remove a recommendation Newstart be raised from a bipartisan parliamentary committee report before the election.
I don’t involve myself in the goings on of that committee, but I think what is clear from the reports that have come out today, is that the report was going to recommend working towards an increase to Newstart, the government intervened at the last minute.
“They seem to be the only ones who don’t recognise the need for consideration for a need for change here.”
Linda Burney:
“Not only the minister, but the then minister for social services, intervened and that is a very, very, very dangerous precedent”.
Zali Steggall is delivering her first speech in the chamber.