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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2015/may/26/tony-abbott-plans-frontbench-role-to-combat-radicalisation-politics-live
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Tony Abbott plans frontbench role to combat radicalisation – politics live | Tony Abbott plans frontbench role to combat radicalisation – politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 10.04am AEST01:04 | |
| Senator Cory Bernardi is chairing the finance and public administration estimates committee. It may not sound exciting but finance minister Mathias Cormann is in the chair defending the government’s backflip on paid parental leave. Penny Wong and new Labor senator (former ACT chief) Katy Gallagher are questioning. | |
| Cormann is going through the reasons for overturning the policy - that there was widespread opposition in the parliament to throwing out the Abbott signature scheme. (Among the government’s own backbench as well as Labor.) He explained the government’s judgement was that it was not appropriate for the taxpayer to fund women for government PPL if they have it from their employer. | |
| DOUBLE DIPPERS! | |
| He dead bats questions on the language of rorts. | |
| 9.53am AEST00:53 | |
| Thanks to James. | |
| I understand Ruddock's role will be separate to Fieverranti-Wells - ping @gabriellechan | |
| 9.45am AEST00:45 | |
| The whole reaching out to the Muslim community is a great idea. The problem is that the government’s language in this debate has been inflammatory. The message the communities keep getting is that they are feared and not to be trusted, making the conditions ripe for radicalisation . | |
| There is no doubt it is a tricky line the government is walking, particularly after the Martin Place siege. | |
| But Islamic leaders have been warning for the past two years that more needed to be done on community programs and de-radicalisation and the combating violent extremism program was poorly funded to begin with and then slow to roll out. | |
| Just before he retired last year, the former head of Asio David Irvine said: | |
| I can say this on behalf of the whole Australian government, and I suspect all state governments as well, the message is we are not fighting Islam. | |
| And Tony Abbott has said similar things. But at the same time, we have the Team Australia rhetoric, with Abbott the self-declared captain. | |
| Then in February, the prime minister called on immigrants to Australia to “be as tolerant of others as we are of them” and called on Muslim leaders to proclaim Islam as a religion of peace “more often, and mean it”. | |
| And the rhetoric keeps ramping up. | |
| There was “spot the Jihadi” on the weekend, revealing federal plans for teachers and students to be taught how to spot potential jihadis in schools and including lessons in the school curriculum. | |
| Labor’s Jason Clare, whose western Sydney electorate has a high Muslim population, said this morning that police officers find the government’s rhetoric is making their job more difficult. | |
| Connie can’t fix that, only the prime minister can fix that. | |
| 9.20am AEST00:20 | 9.20am AEST00:20 |
| Concetta or Philip Ruddock? Two roles. One role? | |
| Father of the house @philipruddockmp will be given a new role in community consultation about citizenship @SkyNewsAust | Father of the house @philipruddockmp will be given a new role in community consultation about citizenship @SkyNewsAust |
| So justice minister Michael Keenan has a new role. And counter terrorism coordinator Greg Moriarty. | So justice minister Michael Keenan has a new role. And counter terrorism coordinator Greg Moriarty. |
| At this rate there will be a sizeable national security faction. | At this rate there will be a sizeable national security faction. |
| Updated at 9.52am AEST | |
| 9.05am AEST00:05 | 9.05am AEST00:05 |
| Attorney general George Brandis is the carrier of the message this morning. | Attorney general George Brandis is the carrier of the message this morning. |
| He has been on Sky News and at the senate doors, discussing the government plans for a conversation with the Muslim community regarding the citizenship laws. Kieran Gilbert asks him about plans to follow the UK model and remove Australian citizenship, even when they don’t have guaranteed citizenship with another country. | He has been on Sky News and at the senate doors, discussing the government plans for a conversation with the Muslim community regarding the citizenship laws. Kieran Gilbert asks him about plans to follow the UK model and remove Australian citizenship, even when they don’t have guaranteed citizenship with another country. |
| We are not going to render anyone stateless. Nobody has proposed that. Everything we do will be compliant with the rule of law and proper rule of law principles. Heavens above, in the next fortnight we are celebrating the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta. | We are not going to render anyone stateless. Nobody has proposed that. Everything we do will be compliant with the rule of law and proper rule of law principles. Heavens above, in the next fortnight we are celebrating the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta. |
| Brandis is asked about the proposed frontbench role to reach out to the Muslim community. | Brandis is asked about the proposed frontbench role to reach out to the Muslim community. |
| The government does intend to lead a conversation with the Australian community about what are the rights and obligations that are attached to citizenship and what are the consequences for people who do things that are basically a violation of their obligation and loyalty to Australia. | The government does intend to lead a conversation with the Australian community about what are the rights and obligations that are attached to citizenship and what are the consequences for people who do things that are basically a violation of their obligation and loyalty to Australia. |
| Here is one take from a young Australian Muslim, Fahim Khondaker, who organised a Walk Together community cohesion event in Brisbane. | Here is one take from a young Australian Muslim, Fahim Khondaker, who organised a Walk Together community cohesion event in Brisbane. |
| @gabriellechan it's because they love us more. | @gabriellechan it's because they love us more. |
| 8.39am AEST23:39 | 8.39am AEST23:39 |
| Another door opens on superannuation | Another door opens on superannuation |
| The government has been keen to make superannuation an issue after Labor unveiled their policy to wind back generous concessions for high income earners, which would raise $14bn in revenue over 10 years. | The government has been keen to make superannuation an issue after Labor unveiled their policy to wind back generous concessions for high income earners, which would raise $14bn in revenue over 10 years. |
| Abbott was asked about it in question time yesterday and he maintained his opposition to any changes. Joe Hockey, however, was a little more open last night on Q&A. | Abbott was asked about it in question time yesterday and he maintained his opposition to any changes. Joe Hockey, however, was a little more open last night on Q&A. |
| Our view is, in the current environment, given you have got very low returns on superannuation, it is not the time to introduce new taxes on superannuation, it is not the time to change the rules for superannuants. We want to give stability and certainty. That is a stark contrast with our political opponents who want to impose a new tax on super. | Our view is, in the current environment, given you have got very low returns on superannuation, it is not the time to introduce new taxes on superannuation, it is not the time to change the rules for superannuants. We want to give stability and certainty. That is a stark contrast with our political opponents who want to impose a new tax on super. |
| Semantics? | Semantics? |
| 8.09am AEST23:09 | 8.09am AEST23:09 |
| Double shot morning politics | Double shot morning politics |
| Good morning drivers, | Good morning drivers, |
| It’s all about national security again today and you can reasonably expect it will continue in this vein for the next two weeks that parliament sits. This morning’s News announce-able is a frontbench role – coming within days – to combat Islamic radicalisation. It would appear from the entrails that the Coalition have cottoned on to the fact that the Muslim community feel a tad cranky and marginalised. So there are lots of television shots around of Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, who is a parliamentary secretary and is the go-to woman in the government on multicultural affairs. It might be a sign. It might not be. | It’s all about national security again today and you can reasonably expect it will continue in this vein for the next two weeks that parliament sits. This morning’s News announce-able is a frontbench role – coming within days – to combat Islamic radicalisation. It would appear from the entrails that the Coalition have cottoned on to the fact that the Muslim community feel a tad cranky and marginalised. So there are lots of television shots around of Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, who is a parliamentary secretary and is the go-to woman in the government on multicultural affairs. It might be a sign. It might not be. |
| In the meantime, we are still waiting for the details on the new citizenship laws. No one is actually providing any facts but it is reported on ABC radio that the laws are expected today. Like they were yesterday. The latest iteration is that the government wants to strip dual nationals of their Australian citizenship and is also looking for a way to deal with the citizenship of those without dual passports. Without leaving them stateless. But it sounds like it leaves them stateless. Luckily, my better self, Katharine Murphy, analysed these issues last week. | In the meantime, we are still waiting for the details on the new citizenship laws. No one is actually providing any facts but it is reported on ABC radio that the laws are expected today. Like they were yesterday. The latest iteration is that the government wants to strip dual nationals of their Australian citizenship and is also looking for a way to deal with the citizenship of those without dual passports. Without leaving them stateless. But it sounds like it leaves them stateless. Luckily, my better self, Katharine Murphy, analysed these issues last week. |
| The other moving part this morning is the budget. Remember that? The social services minister, Scott Morrison, has opened the door – just a crack – on Senate negotiations. David Crowe at the Oz reports that he will consider lifting the age of children at which the family tax benefit B cuts out. The government plan last year was when the youngest child turns six, instead of the current age of 16. The Senate knocked it back. Morrison is talking 10-12 now. Who said he was the hard man of the Abbott government? | The other moving part this morning is the budget. Remember that? The social services minister, Scott Morrison, has opened the door – just a crack – on Senate negotiations. David Crowe at the Oz reports that he will consider lifting the age of children at which the family tax benefit B cuts out. The government plan last year was when the youngest child turns six, instead of the current age of 16. The Senate knocked it back. Morrison is talking 10-12 now. Who said he was the hard man of the Abbott government? |
| We are turning over the ignition on this frosty morning in Canberra and the engine is warming up slowly. Stick with me @gabriellechan and @mpbowers. It’s Tuesday! | We are turning over the ignition on this frosty morning in Canberra and the engine is warming up slowly. Stick with me @gabriellechan and @mpbowers. It’s Tuesday! |
| Updated at 8.27am AEST | Updated at 8.27am AEST |