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Labor attacks government's wages record – question time live Labor attacks government's wages record – politics live
(30 minutes later)
How Mike Bowers saw the rest of the Michael McCormack snaps hour:
When you ask for meat and three veg, and get onion.
Question time ends.
As does my will to keep typing.
But Oma didn’t raise no quitter, so we keep on.
For a visual of what is not happening in question time today
PM Scott Morrison is asked about the member for Chisholm Gladys Liu after reports about her ties to bodies linked to the Communist party #qt pic.twitter.com/Xw1C8yT6gk
All of this
Just to cut a long story short. No one wants to get to the bottom of anything today, (apart from the chum bucket) #qt
Mark Dreyfus to Scott Morrison:Mark Dreyfus to Scott Morrison:
Did the minister for Home affairs’ actions meet the high standards expected of ministers under ministerial standards, given an ABC report that the minister for home affairs had a lunch with a man arranged by a lobbyist who called the minister one of his best friends, and said he could arrange access to the minister’s office for $20,000, and has the Prime Minister taken any steps to investigate that report? Doesn’t matter, it is ruled out of order.
Someone is feeling a bit more comfortable
Labor senator Nita Green has continued to push the Coalition on the Biloela Tamil family, noting in Senate question time that Nationals MPs Ken O’Dowd and Barnaby Joyce, independent Helen Haines and conservative broadcaster Alan Jones have all called for the family to stay.
The government leader in the Senate, Mathias Cormann, responded by arguing Labor has been inconsistent on the point:
“I refer to the statement of the deputy prime minister [Anthony Albanese] in 2013 that nobody who arrives in Australia by boat without a visa will be permanently settled. We are committed to protecting the integrity of our borders, and preventing vulnerable people being subjected to the vile trade of the people smugglers.”
So that was a no, they won’t be allowed to stay.
As my colleague Helen Davidson has noted in this factcheck, the idea that nobody after the July 2013 deadline would be allowed to stay is demonstrably false – as Guardian Australia reported in July, Peter Dutton himself has allowed at least one accompanied minor refugee to stay. But, as Cormann notes, the Biloela family have been found not to be refugees.
Anthony Albanese asks Christian Porter when the government will introduce its national integrity commission legislation.
Porter says the government is making its way through it. He then says the phrase “flip flop” about a million times (time moves slowly in this place) in relation to Albanese. That’s one of Peter Dutton and Scott Morrison’s favourites as well, as they try and get it happening.
I don’t have enough can’ts to even. All I can say is student politics has a lot to answer for.
Mark Dreyfus to Scott Morrison:
Did the minister for home affairs’ actions meet the high standards expected of ministers under ministerial standards, given an ABC report that the minister for home affairs had a lunch with a man arranged by a lobbyist who called the minister one of his best friends, and said he could arrange access to the minister’s office for $20,000, and has the prime minister taken any steps to investigate that report?
Morrison:Morrison:
Thank you, Mr Speaker. The declarations that are made in relation to donations are set out on the public record. I want to make something very clear. When I was talking about money changing hands, I wasn’t talking about donations. I was talking about expenses that were picked up personally by Senator Dastyari, by Senator Dastyari personally, his legal expenses and his travel expenses. I have made no reference, Mr Speaker, to donations. Donations should be declared in the ordinary course of business, and they are, and they should be transparent, and that is the case here, Mr Speaker.Thank you, Mr Speaker. The declarations that are made in relation to donations are set out on the public record. I want to make something very clear. When I was talking about money changing hands, I wasn’t talking about donations. I was talking about expenses that were picked up personally by Senator Dastyari, by Senator Dastyari personally, his legal expenses and his travel expenses. I have made no reference, Mr Speaker, to donations. Donations should be declared in the ordinary course of business, and they are, and they should be transparent, and that is the case here, Mr Speaker.
Mark Dreyfus to Scott Morrison:Mark Dreyfus to Scott Morrison:
Can the prime minister explain why it was proper for the Liberal National party to accept a donation from the CEO of Brisbane-based company Canstruct which resulted in a lucrative contract.Can the prime minister explain why it was proper for the Liberal National party to accept a donation from the CEO of Brisbane-based company Canstruct which resulted in a lucrative contract.
It is ruled out of order. Tony Smith says it is about the third one in a row, and if he thinks that this is an attempt to raise issues Labor knows will be out of order, he will cut off the question.It is ruled out of order. Tony Smith says it is about the third one in a row, and if he thinks that this is an attempt to raise issues Labor knows will be out of order, he will cut off the question.
One of the points that is well-established is that ministers and prime ministers are not responsible for political parties’ statements by members, by ministers, obviously, occurrences and party rooms, and a range of statements. I won’t keep repeating myself, it is clear. The question is out of order.One of the points that is well-established is that ministers and prime ministers are not responsible for political parties’ statements by members, by ministers, obviously, occurrences and party rooms, and a range of statements. I won’t keep repeating myself, it is clear. The question is out of order.
Tony Burke says the prime minister opened the door for the question, by giving an answer to the House yesterday about donations, which should allow the question.Tony Burke says the prime minister opened the door for the question, by giving an answer to the House yesterday about donations, which should allow the question.
Smith says the question didn’t actually address that.Smith says the question didn’t actually address that.
Certainly members’ statements can be referred to. I mean, that’s a well-established precedent, I couldn’t stop that. But just because the prime minister has made a statement, it doesn’t allow the member for Isaacs to ask whatever he feels like.Certainly members’ statements can be referred to. I mean, that’s a well-established precedent, I couldn’t stop that. But just because the prime minister has made a statement, it doesn’t allow the member for Isaacs to ask whatever he feels like.
And let’s be frank here, we are all politicians. I am ruling the question is out of order, and there doesn’t seem to be, you know, any upset or outrage from my left. I mean, let’s just call a spade a spade.And let’s be frank here, we are all politicians. I am ruling the question is out of order, and there doesn’t seem to be, you know, any upset or outrage from my left. I mean, let’s just call a spade a spade.
Sorry, I should have corrected that. I don’t...Sorry, I should have corrected that. I don’t...
(The government side goes nuts.)(The government side goes nuts.)
Let me correct my statement. There doesn’t seem to be any outrage or upset from those on my left to know what they are doing.Let me correct my statement. There doesn’t seem to be any outrage or upset from those on my left to know what they are doing.
Awwwww Peter Dutton gets another opportunity to smile, with another lickspittle on JUST HOW SAFE ARE WE.Awwwww Peter Dutton gets another opportunity to smile, with another lickspittle on JUST HOW SAFE ARE WE.
tl;dr – VERY. BUT JUST IMAGINE IF PETER DUTTON AND THE MORRISON GOVERNMENT DIDN’T WIN THE ELECTION.tl;dr – VERY. BUT JUST IMAGINE IF PETER DUTTON AND THE MORRISON GOVERNMENT DIDN’T WIN THE ELECTION.
Mark Dreyfus to Scott Morrison:Mark Dreyfus to Scott Morrison:
I refer to his comments in the House yesterday and today, the front page headline of the Daily Telegraph... Why does he promise to go over the top when he sees political advantage, but go into hiding when there is Liberal party corruption in his own party members are breaking the law? (he holds up a front page)I refer to his comments in the House yesterday and today, the front page headline of the Daily Telegraph... Why does he promise to go over the top when he sees political advantage, but go into hiding when there is Liberal party corruption in his own party members are breaking the law? (he holds up a front page)
Tony Smith:Tony Smith:
The member for Isaacs will not use props, the question is out of order, it offends. Ministers could stop interject! The member for Sydney is warned. If the member for Isaacs is having difficulty, I suggest he acquaint himself with pages 553 and 554, a practice that outlines a whole list of elements that ministers can’t be question on, and he offended five of them.The member for Isaacs will not use props, the question is out of order, it offends. Ministers could stop interject! The member for Sydney is warned. If the member for Isaacs is having difficulty, I suggest he acquaint himself with pages 553 and 554, a practice that outlines a whole list of elements that ministers can’t be question on, and he offended five of them.
At the National Press Club, Mark Dreyfus gave some hints about his thinking on press freedom – which is significant because he is a Labor member of the parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security examining the issue.At the National Press Club, Mark Dreyfus gave some hints about his thinking on press freedom – which is significant because he is a Labor member of the parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security examining the issue.
Dreyfus suggested the raids on the ABC and Annika Smethurst were “a product, not of the laws which have been in place for very, very many years, but of the way that this government has chosen to go about demanding that leaks are investigated”.Dreyfus said:Dreyfus suggested the raids on the ABC and Annika Smethurst were “a product, not of the laws which have been in place for very, very many years, but of the way that this government has chosen to go about demanding that leaks are investigated”.Dreyfus said:
I’ve been a bit concerned about some of the public commentary in this area because it’s been so focused on black letter law. I think some of it needs to be focused on what you call unwritten law on the exercise of discretions on the conventions which have surrounded the way in which, just to take a simple example, section 70 and 79 of the Crimes Act 1914, have been there since the first world war, have manifested. What’s happened to them? On the face of them, they criminalise a lot of journalistic activity. They criminalise the publication when the journalist know that is it is a leak from government. But no journalist has been prosecuted for that in the more than 100 years which have gone past. And you have to ask the question is why is that so? It’s so because of the way in which governments exercise discretions and apply conventions to make sure that journalists and ordinary media work in this country is protected.I’ve been a bit concerned about some of the public commentary in this area because it’s been so focused on black letter law. I think some of it needs to be focused on what you call unwritten law on the exercise of discretions on the conventions which have surrounded the way in which, just to take a simple example, section 70 and 79 of the Crimes Act 1914, have been there since the first world war, have manifested. What’s happened to them? On the face of them, they criminalise a lot of journalistic activity. They criminalise the publication when the journalist know that is it is a leak from government. But no journalist has been prosecuted for that in the more than 100 years which have gone past. And you have to ask the question is why is that so? It’s so because of the way in which governments exercise discretions and apply conventions to make sure that journalists and ordinary media work in this country is protected.
So Dreyfus seems to be suggesting instead of changing laws, governments should just stop complaining to the cops about some non-critical leaks.So Dreyfus seems to be suggesting instead of changing laws, governments should just stop complaining to the cops about some non-critical leaks.
Dreyfus also opposed a blanket exemption for journalists to national security disclosure laws. He downplayed expectations around the PJCIS review, suggesting the report would likely be “rather securitised”, by which I assume he meant opaque, technical or not expansive. He suggested a separate Senate review might be more fruitful.Dreyfus also opposed a blanket exemption for journalists to national security disclosure laws. He downplayed expectations around the PJCIS review, suggesting the report would likely be “rather securitised”, by which I assume he meant opaque, technical or not expansive. He suggested a separate Senate review might be more fruitful.
Christian Porter delivers the ‘unions are terrible’ lickspittle.Christian Porter delivers the ‘unions are terrible’ lickspittle.
Mark Dreyfus to Scott Morrison:Mark Dreyfus to Scott Morrison:
I refer to the prime minister’s previous answer where he said the test was whether money had changed hands. I refer to the responsibility for the AEC and its role in political parties, and I refer to the article in the Herald Sun by James Campbell that the Liberal party returned $300,000 in donations from dinner guests associated with the member for Chisholm because of security concerns, and to the member for Chisholm’s statement last night that the donation and its return was all made up. Prime minister, is she correct?I refer to the prime minister’s previous answer where he said the test was whether money had changed hands. I refer to the responsibility for the AEC and its role in political parties, and I refer to the article in the Herald Sun by James Campbell that the Liberal party returned $300,000 in donations from dinner guests associated with the member for Chisholm because of security concerns, and to the member for Chisholm’s statement last night that the donation and its return was all made up. Prime minister, is she correct?
Tony Smith moves to rule the question out of order, given the PM doesn’t have any responsibility for the AEC.Tony Smith moves to rule the question out of order, given the PM doesn’t have any responsibility for the AEC.
Morrison wants to answer it. “On indulgence?” he asks Smith.Morrison wants to answer it. “On indulgence?” he asks Smith.
Tony Burke and Christian Porter both make their arguments – Porter, seeing that Morrison wants to answer the question, just asks for a small tweak.Tony Burke and Christian Porter both make their arguments – Porter, seeing that Morrison wants to answer the question, just asks for a small tweak.
Smith rules the question out of order.Smith rules the question out of order.
Peter Dutton has waited very patiently for almost 24 hours and now gets to give the answer to the lickspittle he had lined up yesterday, after Andrew Hastie says the magic words “alternative approaches”.Peter Dutton has waited very patiently for almost 24 hours and now gets to give the answer to the lickspittle he had lined up yesterday, after Andrew Hastie says the magic words “alternative approaches”.
“Give us a smile,” Labor backbenchers call out. It is, after all, a year after Dutton told us all he wanted was to smile more.“Give us a smile,” Labor backbenchers call out. It is, after all, a year after Dutton told us all he wanted was to smile more.
But Dutton is never happier than when he gets to talk about how terrible Labor is, unless of course it is talking about how terrible unions are.But Dutton is never happier than when he gets to talk about how terrible Labor is, unless of course it is talking about how terrible unions are.
He gives the answer he prepared yesterday.He gives the answer he prepared yesterday.
Mark Dreyfus to Scott Morrison:
When Sam Dastyari failed to support the bipartisan position on the South China Sea, the prime minister said Sam Dastyari has been caught betraying his country, and that means he is betraying every patriotic Australian in this country. Does the prime minister stand by that statement, and the standard it sets? Will the prime minister apply this test to the member for Chisholm?
Tony Smith allows the question.
I further comment on the statement by the member for Chisholm today which makes it very clear her support for the government’s position.
The prime minister can pause for a second. I have made it clear I need to listen to the question, because I need to make rulings on these matters. I am going to listen to the answer without interjection. Prime minister.
Morrison:
Thank you, Mr Speaker. So I refer the member to her statement which makes it very clear about her support for the government’s position in the long-standing position we have taken in relation to those matters. What the member has raised with me is the conduct of the former senator, Sam Dastyari.
Now, what he will remember about Senator Sam Dastyari is, not only, Mr Speaker, not only was he a minister, shadow minister, I should say, in the executive of the opposition at that time, he seems to forget the fact that money changed hands between then senator Sam Dastyari... Money changed hands...
... And his position was bought by that, Mr Speaker, with a concession alone, with alone, I should say, to off his legal expenses, and he was caught in his own web of corruption, Mr Speaker. He should have resigned, and he did.
Goodness. Michael McCormack just got so worked up during that previous lickspittle, he shifted from 11-4001 TPG to 11- 4801 TPG on the Pantone colour chart.
Deputy PM Michael McCormack gets a little heated during and answer to a dixer when Labor’s Joel Fitzgibbon interjected @AmyRemeikis @GuardianAus #PoliticsLive https://t.co/Ll819z9AWU pic.twitter.com/MJInEVaChh
Mark Dreyfus to Scott Morrison:
What steps did the prime minister take to ensure that the member for Chisholm is a fit and proper person to sit in the Australian parliament?
Tony Smith immediately rules it out of order, before Christian Porter is even fully out of his seat.
That question is out of order. It doesn’t go to the prime minister’s responsibilities at all.
We move to another lickspittle, which Josh Frydenberg is very excited to answer, particularly about whether or not he knows of any “alternative policies”.
He still doesn’t seem to realise that the Liberals won the election. And have been in power since 2013.
It’s been 116 or so days – can someone please tell Josh Frydenberg he won the election?
Tanya Plibersek to Scott Morrison:
The Australian Industry Group warns the nation has a skills crisis, 75% of businesses struggling to find qualified Australians to fill jobs. Why has this government ripped $3bn from Tafe in training and done nothing to stop the loss of 150,000 apprenticeships and traineeships?
Morrison:
Mr Speaker, between 2011 and 2013, when the member for Sydney was sitting around a cabinet table, Labor cut employer incentives to businesses, nine times, that totalled 1.2 million. The member would be fully aware Tafe is funded by state government, not commonwealth governments. That is why last year, I initiated a review conducted by Stephen Joyce. That review found the funding and spending going into skills education, every year, was not getting the results, the results they were not getting was that people weren’t being trained with the skills, for the skills needed by the employers who wanted to employ them.
That’s because of the outdated funding model, the process is put in place over many years, run by previous governments, these other things we need to fix and this is what we intend to fix.
Michael McCormack appears to have sprinkled too much sugar on his Weet-Bix this morning, as he gets very worked up at Joel Fitzgibbon over not caring about farmers. He screams that Fitzgibbon is “a disgrace”. Fitzgibbon gets upset. The chamber is upset, but at different things.
It’s amazing what happens when salt is added to bland carbohydrates.
Michael McCormack is attempting to act like a politician.
It’s going about as well as you would expect.
Tanya Plibersek to Scott Morrison:
As Plibersek is announced, a small cheer goes up from the government benches:
The number of Australians doing an apprenticeship or traineeship is lower than it was a decade ago. Why has this government cut $3bn from Tafe and training?
Morrison:
I have learnt when the member for Sydney puts forward figures they can never be taken at face value. At the last election our government committed to 80,000 new apprentices, as the government program has been wound out, 2000 people have taken up the program. We look forward to further success.
Plibersek attempts to table the document which shows the cuts, but is denied.
Luckily, there is already a press release on that lickspittle, for those who need the information (and given the fires, there will be some of you), so here it is:
Disaster-hit communities will be back on their feet faster, with the Government introducing legislation for a new $4 billion future fund.
The Emergency Response Fund will grow to up to $6.6 billion over the next decade.
...The type of assistance provided could include, but is not limited to, recovery project grants, service provision, adoption of technology helping recover and resilience or economic aid packages for affected communities or industry sectors to help build their resilience to future natural disasters.
The Fund will be managed by the Future Fund Board of Guardians. The Board has a proven track record of managing investment portfolios on behalf of Government and maximising returns over the long term.
Phil Thompson gets the first lickspittle of the day, but given he has tomato sauce on his bacon and egg roll instead of barbecue (and hot sauce if you are me), I can’t listen to anything he says.