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| Scott Morrison has 'every confidence' officers acted lawfully with people smugglers – question time live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 2.14pm AEST05:14 | |
| Hooray, says the prime minister, with his first Dorothy Dixer. The small business tax break has cleared the Senate. Huzzah. | |
| 2.13pm AEST05:13 | |
| Righto, off with the gloves. | |
| Labor opens by wondering whether the prime minister is concerned about leaks. Bill Shorten to the prime minister. | |
| Q: Yesterday the minister for education admitted that he didn’t trust other ministers to keep cabinet discussions confidential, saying of cabinet meetings ‘One does need to be careful what they are going to say if it is going to end up in the newspapers.’ Are you concerned by leaks on matters of national security at the highest levels of your government? | |
| The prime minister suggests there’s nothing to see here. Apart from the stock standard (unnecessary and over egged) guns and knives formulation. | |
| We’ll see that here. Again. | |
| Tony Abbott: | |
| Anyone who takes a gun or a knife to Australians because of who we are has forfeited any right to be considered one of us – and that legislation will be coming into this parliament in the next fortnight. | |
| What we are determined to do is to ensure that as far as is reasonably possible, if someone leaves this country to fight with a terrorist army in the Middle East, they aren’t coming back. As far as is humanly possible, if they leave this country to fight with a terrorist army overseas, they have committed the modern form of treason. They are not coming back because they have betrayed their Australian citizenship. | |
| This is what this government is doing and I certainly invite more questions from the opposition on this subject because this is a topic where this government’s record is very strong indeed. | |
| 2.08pm AEST05:08 | |
| Question time | |
| It being 2pm. | |
| The prime minister is rising on indulgence. He’s by the River Thames, with King John and the alchemy of history. This is, of course, the Magna Carta. | |
| Labor is protesting that it hasn’t heard question time would open with the Magna Carta. Abbott seems confused by that. He offers to stop. The Labor leader Bill Shorten waves him on. | |
| Tony Abbott: | |
| The barons were thinking of themselves, not history. The king was thinking of survival, not of fundamental rights, yet from this mix of expediency and self interest emerged a document that has echoed through history. | |
| Modern Australia has an Indigenous heritage and a multicultural character. We also have a British foundation which in small measure we honour today. We salute those whose struggles have led to our enlightenment and we acknowledge our indebtedness to a history from which we learn and to a legacy upon which we build. | |
| Shorten is a bit pointed in his contribution. None of these rights, he says, were gained lightly. | |
| They are far easier to lose than to win and today is important to celebrate the ongoing contribution of this parliament to the role of liberty and freedom in our nation and our democracy. | |
| 1.50pm AEST04:50 | |
| The shadow immigration minister Richard Marles is on his hundreth interview of the day – or that’s how it must feel for him, anyway. On Sky he’s asked whether he can guarantee today, the 800th anniversay of the Magna Carta, that Labor will ensure Australian citizens won’t have their citizenship revoked without courts being involved. Marles says Labor has to see the legislation before there’s a formal position, but that’s what the outgoing national security legislation monitor, Bret Walker says, and: | |
| That is what makes sense to me. | |
| 1.42pm AEST04:42 | |
| The American ambassador to Australia, John Berry, is currently addressing the LGBTI friendship group. Mike rather likes this shadow Berry, so I’ll share it with you all. I’ll have to chase his contribution up later. | |
| Down the road, the Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs is speaking at a Magna Carta event. We aren’t there, but the ABC is. It sounds much like the speech she delivered last week. | |
| Triggs: | |
| Prioritised government power has become routine. The separation of powers doctrine is becoming distorted. | |
| Updated at 1.51pm AEST | |
| 1.28pm AEST04:28 | 1.28pm AEST04:28 |
| Just while there’s half a minute, more from Mikearoo’s huge sprint around fifty issues this morning. Liberal MP Dennis Jensen as you’ve never seen him before, unless you are Quentin from Flames Fitness. | Just while there’s half a minute, more from Mikearoo’s huge sprint around fifty issues this morning. Liberal MP Dennis Jensen as you’ve never seen him before, unless you are Quentin from Flames Fitness. |
| And Joe’s jumper. (Look along the faces from this division picture. Lovely, right?) The first recorded instance of small business Bruce Billson – frowning. | And Joe’s jumper. (Look along the faces from this division picture. Lovely, right?) The first recorded instance of small business Bruce Billson – frowning. |
| 1.12pm AEST04:12 | 1.12pm AEST04:12 |
| From the vault marked curiouser and curiouser. I’ve just seen pictures of the attorney general George Brandis belting out of the Magna Carta event from earlier on, pursued by 20 or so of his closest media friends, who want to know whether it is legal for governments to pay people smugglers. | From the vault marked curiouser and curiouser. I’ve just seen pictures of the attorney general George Brandis belting out of the Magna Carta event from earlier on, pursued by 20 or so of his closest media friends, who want to know whether it is legal for governments to pay people smugglers. |
| George Brandis, SC: | George Brandis, SC: |
| I don’t believe that that has occurred so the question is academic. | I don’t believe that that has occurred so the question is academic. |
| Updated at 1.20pm AEST | Updated at 1.20pm AEST |
| 1.02pm AEST04:02 | 1.02pm AEST04:02 |
| A bit more cut-through logic from the Politics Live readership. | A bit more cut-through logic from the Politics Live readership. |
| @murpharoo Ruddock's logic (and the whole situation) reminds me of this exchange from The West Wing pic.twitter.com/dk3z99kWdN | @murpharoo Ruddock's logic (and the whole situation) reminds me of this exchange from The West Wing pic.twitter.com/dk3z99kWdN |
| 1.00pm AEST04:00 | 1.00pm AEST04:00 |
| Politics, el desko, el luncho | Politics, el desko, el luncho |
| She’s blowing a small gale, political Monday. | She’s blowing a small gale, political Monday. |
| Let’s do a quick stocktake. | Let’s do a quick stocktake. |
| Wonderful frame from my friend Mikearoo of this morning’s Magna Carta fest downstairs. A lawyer’s picnic – lawyer Bishop greets Brandis SC. | Wonderful frame from my friend Mikearoo of this morning’s Magna Carta fest downstairs. A lawyer’s picnic – lawyer Bishop greets Brandis SC. |
| And here’s another of the shadow attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, moving his censure motion just before. | And here’s another of the shadow attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, moving his censure motion just before. |
| To the known knowns and unknown unknowns. | To the known knowns and unknown unknowns. |
| That’s my morning. How’s yours proceeding? | That’s my morning. How’s yours proceeding? |
| Thanks for all the comments both here and elsewhere. Lovely to see you all out in such numbers. | Thanks for all the comments both here and elsewhere. Lovely to see you all out in such numbers. |
| Updated at 1.08pm AEST | Updated at 1.08pm AEST |
| 12.31pm AEST03:31 | 12.31pm AEST03:31 |
| While they are all still shouting and pointing downstairs, a couple more developments on citizenship. | While they are all still shouting and pointing downstairs, a couple more developments on citizenship. |
| 1. Greens: | 1. Greens: |
| Greens senator Sarah Hanson Young: | Greens senator Sarah Hanson Young: |
| Paying cash bribes to boat crews amounts to people trafficking. The government does not have a mandate to break the law or a blank cheque to allow handing over wads of cash in the middle of the ocean. | Paying cash bribes to boat crews amounts to people trafficking. The government does not have a mandate to break the law or a blank cheque to allow handing over wads of cash in the middle of the ocean. |
| 2. Philip Ruddock, minding his pennies: | 2. Philip Ruddock, minding his pennies: |
| Lanai Scarr, national political reporter for news.com.au, has caught up with Ruddock, father of the House and former immigration minister, who has had a busy morning. I mentioned just before he made a contribution in the marriage equality debate. | Lanai Scarr, national political reporter for news.com.au, has caught up with Ruddock, father of the House and former immigration minister, who has had a busy morning. I mentioned just before he made a contribution in the marriage equality debate. |
| Ruddock has an ... interesting ... take on paying people smugglers to take asylum seekers back to Indonesia. | Ruddock has an ... interesting ... take on paying people smugglers to take asylum seekers back to Indonesia. |
| Take it away, Lanai: | Take it away, Lanai: |
| Former immigration minister and architect of the Pacific Solution Philip Ruddock says if any payment was made to people smugglers to return to Indonesia, the government would still be saving money in the long term. | Former immigration minister and architect of the Pacific Solution Philip Ruddock says if any payment was made to people smugglers to return to Indonesia, the government would still be saving money in the long term. |
| Speaking to News Corp Australia this morning Father of The House Mr Ruddock said it cost Australia “millions and millions” of dollars to process the asylum seekers who came to our shores as a result of people smuggling activity under Labor. “The amount of money that was allegedly paid is nothing in comparison to the cost of processing the excessive amount of people who came to Australia as a result of people smuggling activity.” | Speaking to News Corp Australia this morning Father of The House Mr Ruddock said it cost Australia “millions and millions” of dollars to process the asylum seekers who came to our shores as a result of people smuggling activity under Labor. “The amount of money that was allegedly paid is nothing in comparison to the cost of processing the excessive amount of people who came to Australia as a result of people smuggling activity.” |
| 12.15pm AEST03:15 | 12.15pm AEST03:15 |
| Censures and (alleged) cover ups and gags | Censures and (alleged) cover ups and gags |
| With that transacted, the shadow attorney general Mark Dreyfus has just attempted to censure the foreign minister, the attorney general and the prime minister for misleading the House about the letter Man Monis – the perpetrator of the Sydney siege – sent to the attorney-general George Brandis. | With that transacted, the shadow attorney general Mark Dreyfus has just attempted to censure the foreign minister, the attorney general and the prime minister for misleading the House about the letter Man Monis – the perpetrator of the Sydney siege – sent to the attorney-general George Brandis. |
| The government said at first this letter was given to the joint NSW/federal inquiry into the siege. Then Julie Bishop had to come back to parliament during the last sitting period and and correct the record because the letter was not, in fact, given to the inquiry after all. | The government said at first this letter was given to the joint NSW/federal inquiry into the siege. Then Julie Bishop had to come back to parliament during the last sitting period and and correct the record because the letter was not, in fact, given to the inquiry after all. |
| Labor was cranky on the day the correction was made, because obviously providing conflicting accounts of your actions is sub optimal practice, and because the government had come at them hard when they initially asked questions about the handling of the Monis letter in parliament. | Labor was cranky on the day the correction was made, because obviously providing conflicting accounts of your actions is sub optimal practice, and because the government had come at them hard when they initially asked questions about the handling of the Monis letter in parliament. |
| Dreyfus this morning is going the shout. This cock up is appalling, he says. | Dreyfus this morning is going the shout. This cock up is appalling, he says. |
| Time and again this government has shown itself to be addicted to cover-up and secrecy. More importantly for the Australian people, the Coalition has shown itself more concerned about talking tough on national security at a press conference than running a competent government. | Time and again this government has shown itself to be addicted to cover-up and secrecy. More importantly for the Australian people, the Coalition has shown itself more concerned about talking tough on national security at a press conference than running a competent government. |
| As if to illustrate the point about secrecy, the government is going the gag. | As if to illustrate the point about secrecy, the government is going the gag. |
| 12.03pm AEST03:03 | 12.03pm AEST03:03 |
| Over in the House, private member’s business is underway. I flagged earlier on today that Labor’s deputy leader Tanya Plibersek would be speaking to Bill Shorten’s marriage equality bill. She’s just done so. | Over in the House, private member’s business is underway. I flagged earlier on today that Labor’s deputy leader Tanya Plibersek would be speaking to Bill Shorten’s marriage equality bill. She’s just done so. |
| Plibersek: | Plibersek: |
| It is time, it is well past time, that this parliament says to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex Australians – we recognise that you love. That’s more important than who you love. So, to paraphrase William Shakespeare, let us not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments. | It is time, it is well past time, that this parliament says to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex Australians – we recognise that you love. That’s more important than who you love. So, to paraphrase William Shakespeare, let us not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments. |
| Liberal MP and father of the House, Philip Ruddock is also making a contribution. He’s hacking away at Labor’s lack of politeness in bringing this legislation forward, rather than pursuing a multi-party effort, which could have examined different models for solving this problem. Bad bad Labor party. He notes in passing that he doesn’t believe that same sex folks should be discriminated against. | |
| Updated at 1.56pm AEST | |
| 11.54am AEST02:54 | 11.54am AEST02:54 |
| A tiny bit more from that Probyn QTB on toothlessness and citizenship stripping. | A tiny bit more from that Probyn QTB on toothlessness and citizenship stripping. |
| In many cases law enforcement agencies will know an Australian has been fighting with terrorist groups but will be unable to present sufficient eligible evidence to secure a conviction. | In many cases law enforcement agencies will know an Australian has been fighting with terrorist groups but will be unable to present sufficient eligible evidence to secure a conviction. |
| So if we boil down the government rationale, it’s this: we need the power to strip dual nationals of their citizenship, and we need the executive to have that power, because we won’t be able to get a result in the courts. | So if we boil down the government rationale, it’s this: we need the power to strip dual nationals of their citizenship, and we need the executive to have that power, because we won’t be able to get a result in the courts. |
| I’d say happy 800th Magna Carta but it’s too early to be gratuitous. | I’d say happy 800th Magna Carta but it’s too early to be gratuitous. |
| 11.46am AEST02:46 | 11.46am AEST02:46 |
| A law requiring a terrorist conviction would be toothless | A law requiring a terrorist conviction would be toothless |
| Andrew Probyn, political editor at the West Australian – our hard working next door neighbour in fact – has just turned up a question time brief on the citizenship laws. | Andrew Probyn, political editor at the West Australian – our hard working next door neighbour in fact – has just turned up a question time brief on the citizenship laws. |
| It’s an interesting document at a couple of levels, in no particular order: | It’s an interesting document at a couple of levels, in no particular order: |
| Andrew’s scoop and a PDF of the citizenship QTB can be found here. | Andrew’s scoop and a PDF of the citizenship QTB can be found here. |
| 11.35am AEST02:35 | 11.35am AEST02:35 |
| A little while ago, the Senate passed the Abbott government’s small business tax measures from the budget without amendments. | A little while ago, the Senate passed the Abbott government’s small business tax measures from the budget without amendments. |
| 11.15am AEST02:15 | 11.15am AEST02:15 |
| Some apt reader feedback. Thanks to Luke Miller. | Some apt reader feedback. Thanks to Luke Miller. |
| @murpharoo An 800 year-old document is beating up the Australian government and its citizenship policies today. Remarkable. #auspol | @murpharoo An 800 year-old document is beating up the Australian government and its citizenship policies today. Remarkable. #auspol |
| 11.12am AEST02:12 | 11.12am AEST02:12 |
| Magna Carta-ing. To the max. Don’t mind the fine print. | Magna Carta-ing. To the max. Don’t mind the fine print. |
| 11.10am AEST02:10 | 11.10am AEST02:10 |
| Bill Shorten’s paean to the Magna Carta turns on the notion that democratic liberalism can be bound together in common values not by war, or tumult, but by a piece of writing. (This is apparently a quote from Melvyn Bragg.) The values of the Magna Carta have been passed country to country, over centuries – England, France, America and Australia. | Bill Shorten’s paean to the Magna Carta turns on the notion that democratic liberalism can be bound together in common values not by war, or tumult, but by a piece of writing. (This is apparently a quote from Melvyn Bragg.) The values of the Magna Carta have been passed country to country, over centuries – England, France, America and Australia. |
| Shorten: | Shorten: |
| Above us, on the roof of the parliament, where any person can walk because every person is sovereign. Out the doors behind you, in the High Court, that interprets the constitution, upholds the separation of powers, and treats everyone equally under law. And across the lake, in the memorial to those Australians who’ve died in wars, fought to defend these very ideals. | Above us, on the roof of the parliament, where any person can walk because every person is sovereign. Out the doors behind you, in the High Court, that interprets the constitution, upholds the separation of powers, and treats everyone equally under law. And across the lake, in the memorial to those Australians who’ve died in wars, fought to defend these very ideals. |
| On its 800th birthday, we salute the Magna Carta. As a flickering candle, compass, a guiding star. The true beginning of rights and liberties. | On its 800th birthday, we salute the Magna Carta. As a flickering candle, compass, a guiding star. The true beginning of rights and liberties. |
| Updated at 11.26am AEST | Updated at 11.26am AEST |
| 10.59am AEST01:59 | 10.59am AEST01:59 |
| The prime minister notes that the 1952 acquisition of Australia’s copy of the Magna Carta was shrouded in controversy, as most good things are. He says Robert Menzies paid the full asking price, making it his Blue Poles moment. (Gough Whitlam was blasted for purchasing Blue Poles in 1973 for $1.3m). | The prime minister notes that the 1952 acquisition of Australia’s copy of the Magna Carta was shrouded in controversy, as most good things are. He says Robert Menzies paid the full asking price, making it his Blue Poles moment. (Gough Whitlam was blasted for purchasing Blue Poles in 1973 for $1.3m). |
| One of the fiercest critics of the Menzies investment was long-serving Labor MP and Whitlam government minister Clyde Cameron, who said that the money would’ve been much better spent sending a copy of Magna Carta to every school child in this Commonwealth of ours. | One of the fiercest critics of the Menzies investment was long-serving Labor MP and Whitlam government minister Clyde Cameron, who said that the money would’ve been much better spent sending a copy of Magna Carta to every school child in this Commonwealth of ours. |
| But Abbott suggests the aquisition of a piece of old parchment was a good investment. | But Abbott suggests the aquisition of a piece of old parchment was a good investment. |
| Some of us in this parliament are eager for smaller government, lower taxes and greater freedom. Others yearn for more equality and fairness. Yet all of us, regardless of the particular political tradition which we represent, respect the values and the institutions on which our polity rests and which have so steadfastly stood the test of time. | Some of us in this parliament are eager for smaller government, lower taxes and greater freedom. Others yearn for more equality and fairness. Yet all of us, regardless of the particular political tradition which we represent, respect the values and the institutions on which our polity rests and which have so steadfastly stood the test of time. |
| Today, we acknowledge a grand tradition of which we are today’s custodians – and we pledge to build on this magnificent legacy. | Today, we acknowledge a grand tradition of which we are today’s custodians – and we pledge to build on this magnificent legacy. |
| 10.53am AEST01:53 | 10.53am AEST01:53 |
| The Magna Carta Fest has kicked off downstairs with an opening speech by the prime minister, who notes the document was repudiated by King John, a few weeks after he signed it. | The Magna Carta Fest has kicked off downstairs with an opening speech by the prime minister, who notes the document was repudiated by King John, a few weeks after he signed it. |
| Tony Abbott: | Tony Abbott: |
| Yet it has become the foundation of liberty by establishing that no man is above the law, not even the king. | Yet it has become the foundation of liberty by establishing that no man is above the law, not even the king. |
| (In Australia’s case, no man is above the law, apart from the immigration minister, if the government proceeds with its citizenship proposal.) | (In Australia’s case, no man is above the law, apart from the immigration minister, if the government proceeds with its citizenship proposal.) |
| 10.31am AEST01:31 | 10.31am AEST01:31 |
| I did mention before today’s parliamentary celebrations noting the 800th anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta. The prime minister and the oppositon leader are due to attend a Magna Carta event in the Great Hall shortly. | I did mention before today’s parliamentary celebrations noting the 800th anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta. The prime minister and the oppositon leader are due to attend a Magna Carta event in the Great Hall shortly. |
| Updated at 10.31am AEST | Updated at 10.31am AEST |
| 10.22am AEST01:22 | 10.22am AEST01:22 |
| Updated at 10.37am AEST | Updated at 10.37am AEST |
| 10.14am AEST01:14 | 10.14am AEST01:14 |
| The social services minister, Scott Morrison, is being asked whether the government paid people smugglers to take asylum seekers back to Indonesia. Morrison is, of course, a former immigration minister. Mark Reilly from the Seven Network asks him this question. | The social services minister, Scott Morrison, is being asked whether the government paid people smugglers to take asylum seekers back to Indonesia. Morrison is, of course, a former immigration minister. Mark Reilly from the Seven Network asks him this question. |
| Q: Would the ends justify the means minister? | Q: Would the ends justify the means minister? |
| Morrison: | Morrison: |
| That’s your comment Mark. | That’s your comment Mark. |
| Morrison says the simple fact is if a boat is leaving Indonesia, it’s going back. | Morrison says the simple fact is if a boat is leaving Indonesia, it’s going back. |
| It is not my job or the government’s job to commentate on commentators. It’s our job to hold faith with the Australian people with the pledge we gave them that we would stop the boats, and that is exactly what we have done. | It is not my job or the government’s job to commentate on commentators. It’s our job to hold faith with the Australian people with the pledge we gave them that we would stop the boats, and that is exactly what we have done. |
| Morrison says he won’t get into operational matters. He didn’t when he was the minister and he won’t now. Morrison says he has every confidence that officers working as part of Operation Sovereign Borders, based on my own experience of them ... have always and will always operate lawfully. | Morrison says he won’t get into operational matters. He didn’t when he was the minister and he won’t now. Morrison says he has every confidence that officers working as part of Operation Sovereign Borders, based on my own experience of them ... have always and will always operate lawfully. |
| Morrison is then asked about citizenship revocations. | Morrison is then asked about citizenship revocations. |
| Q: Do you think as a government you should get this right before you put it before the parliament, to head off a constitutional challenge? | Q: Do you think as a government you should get this right before you put it before the parliament, to head off a constitutional challenge? |
| I have every confidence we will, in terms of what we put forward to the parliament, I think be very forthright about what we need the achieve. That is to stop the terrorists coming back to Australia. That’s what this debate is about. It’s about stopping terrorists coming back to Australia. | I have every confidence we will, in terms of what we put forward to the parliament, I think be very forthright about what we need the achieve. That is to stop the terrorists coming back to Australia. That’s what this debate is about. It’s about stopping terrorists coming back to Australia. |
| Updated at 10.36am AEST | Updated at 10.36am AEST |
| 10.00am AEST01:00 | 10.00am AEST01:00 |
| A quick mid-morning stocktake in the event you are just back from the coffee run and you are now pretending to work while reading the blog: | A quick mid-morning stocktake in the event you are just back from the coffee run and you are now pretending to work while reading the blog: |
| Monday, in national affairs, thus far, is: | Monday, in national affairs, thus far, is: |
| Updated at 10.30am AEST | Updated at 10.30am AEST |
| 9.49am AEST00:49 | 9.49am AEST00:49 |
| Back briefly to the golden toilet brush, and the awarding of this year’s prize to the treasurer, Joe Hockey. | Back briefly to the golden toilet brush, and the awarding of this year’s prize to the treasurer, Joe Hockey. |
| Joanne Schofield, the national president of United Voice, the union representing Parliament House cleaners. | Joanne Schofield, the national president of United Voice, the union representing Parliament House cleaners. |
| Mr Hockey has offended hard-working Australians. He is telling them to earn ‘good money’ while actively cutting the wages of government cleaners and freezing the wages of Parliament House cleaners. This was a closely fought contest between Mr Abbott and Mr Hockey, but despite Mr Abbott’s huge failure to support cleaners, Mr Hockey has offended too many people too often in recent months. United Voice hopes that this Golden Toilet Brush will help Mr Hockey and flush some of his recent problems away. | Mr Hockey has offended hard-working Australians. He is telling them to earn ‘good money’ while actively cutting the wages of government cleaners and freezing the wages of Parliament House cleaners. This was a closely fought contest between Mr Abbott and Mr Hockey, but despite Mr Abbott’s huge failure to support cleaners, Mr Hockey has offended too many people too often in recent months. United Voice hopes that this Golden Toilet Brush will help Mr Hockey and flush some of his recent problems away. |
| (You see what she did there, right?) | (You see what she did there, right?) |
| Updated at 10.27am AEST | Updated at 10.27am AEST |
| 9.39am AEST00:39 | 9.39am AEST00:39 |
| The shadow immigration minister, Richard Marles, speaking now on why he’s asked the auditor general to investigate the alleged payment of people smugglers. | The shadow immigration minister, Richard Marles, speaking now on why he’s asked the auditor general to investigate the alleged payment of people smugglers. |
| Marles: | Marles: |
| The first thing we want to know is, obviously, whether or not these payments were actually made so we’ve asked the auditor general to investigate that question. I think the next point is this: if, in fact, these payments were made, are they a proper expenditure of government money, of taxpayer money and, if so, how would the authorisation go in relation to that expenditure and did that authorisation actually occur? We need to know the answers to those questions very quickly because, ultimately, we need to get to the bottom of what happened here. | The first thing we want to know is, obviously, whether or not these payments were actually made so we’ve asked the auditor general to investigate that question. I think the next point is this: if, in fact, these payments were made, are they a proper expenditure of government money, of taxpayer money and, if so, how would the authorisation go in relation to that expenditure and did that authorisation actually occur? We need to know the answers to those questions very quickly because, ultimately, we need to get to the bottom of what happened here. |
| Q: Why is the auditor general the appropriate authority to investigate this? | Q: Why is the auditor general the appropriate authority to investigate this? |
| Because this goes to a question of the expenditure of Australian taxpayer money. The auditor general is precisely the right person to investigate the propriety of any government expenditure and whether or not the proper processes were gone through in respect of any government expenditure. If Australian taxpayer money has been spent by handing wads of cash over to people smugglers who have come in contact with an Australian Navy vessel, I think we need to understand, firstly did it happen, secondly, is that an appropriate expenditure? Thirdly, if it did, what process of authorisation was gone through by those who made the expenditure such that this was all done appropriately? | Because this goes to a question of the expenditure of Australian taxpayer money. The auditor general is precisely the right person to investigate the propriety of any government expenditure and whether or not the proper processes were gone through in respect of any government expenditure. If Australian taxpayer money has been spent by handing wads of cash over to people smugglers who have come in contact with an Australian Navy vessel, I think we need to understand, firstly did it happen, secondly, is that an appropriate expenditure? Thirdly, if it did, what process of authorisation was gone through by those who made the expenditure such that this was all done appropriately? |
| (The auditor general won’t be the right body to investigate this if it was Asis who made this payment.) | (The auditor general won’t be the right body to investigate this if it was Asis who made this payment.) |
| Updated at 10.12am AEST | Updated at 10.12am AEST |
| 9.23am AEST00:23 | 9.23am AEST00:23 |
| Madam Speaker and the Holy Grail | Madam Speaker and the Holy Grail |
| Madam Speaker, Bronwyn Bishop, is making a rare appearance outside the chamber to note the fact that Parliament House in Canberra is leading off worldwide celebrations for the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta on 15 June. Parliament House holds one of four surviving copies of the famed Inspeximus 1297 edition of the Magna Carta. | Madam Speaker, Bronwyn Bishop, is making a rare appearance outside the chamber to note the fact that Parliament House in Canberra is leading off worldwide celebrations for the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta on 15 June. Parliament House holds one of four surviving copies of the famed Inspeximus 1297 edition of the Magna Carta. |
| A lot of people on the Liberal side of politics are devotees of the Magna Carta, for good reason. It’s the foundation of the rule of law. I’m a devotee myself, truth be told. It’s consequently rather inconvenient for various government types to be noting this significant anniversary at a time when it is proposing to strip people of their citizenship without a court process. | A lot of people on the Liberal side of politics are devotees of the Magna Carta, for good reason. It’s the foundation of the rule of law. I’m a devotee myself, truth be told. It’s consequently rather inconvenient for various government types to be noting this significant anniversary at a time when it is proposing to strip people of their citizenship without a court process. |
| Bishop is asked about this on the ABC. | Bishop is asked about this on the ABC. |
| Q: As a student of the law yourself, do you believe that (giving a minister power to strip citizenship) sits comfortably with the principles of the Magna Carta? | Q: As a student of the law yourself, do you believe that (giving a minister power to strip citizenship) sits comfortably with the principles of the Magna Carta? |
| Madam Speaker, enjoying a quasi-religious moment as she swerves neatly around the obvious contradiction. | Madam Speaker, enjoying a quasi-religious moment as she swerves neatly around the obvious contradiction. |
| The Magna Carta is an important historical document. Some people have commented it is mystical in some ways, almost like the search for the Holy Grail. But it is a very important and significant document. It became a statute in 1300, even though it began as a charter which the King could issue and withdraw at will. | The Magna Carta is an important historical document. Some people have commented it is mystical in some ways, almost like the search for the Holy Grail. But it is a very important and significant document. It became a statute in 1300, even though it began as a charter which the King could issue and withdraw at will. |
| So to try and draw a connection between what is happening today and the precise language that was used in the 13th and 14th century – I think is to draw a long bow. | So to try and draw a connection between what is happening today and the precise language that was used in the 13th and 14th century – I think is to draw a long bow. |
| Updated at 10.09am AEST | Updated at 10.09am AEST |
| 9.06am AEST00:06 | 9.06am AEST00:06 |
| Because every home needs a giant gold toilet brush. | Because every home needs a giant gold toilet brush. |
| Including the house of the people – Parliament House. | Including the house of the people – Parliament House. |
| Some context perhaps? The cleaners in Parliament House are on strike at the present time, seeking better wages and conditions. | Some context perhaps? The cleaners in Parliament House are on strike at the present time, seeking better wages and conditions. |
| They also have an annual award – the golden toilet brush award. Yes, this is one of those ironic awards. The trophy is the brush being held aloft by Glenn Lazarus in Mike’s first picture. I gather the golden brush this year is bound for the treasurer, Joe Hockey. | They also have an annual award – the golden toilet brush award. Yes, this is one of those ironic awards. The trophy is the brush being held aloft by Glenn Lazarus in Mike’s first picture. I gather the golden brush this year is bound for the treasurer, Joe Hockey. |
| Updated at 10.06am AEST | Updated at 10.06am AEST |
| 8.58am AEST23:58 | 8.58am AEST23:58 |
| Citizenship stripping of alleged jihadists is also kicking around the corridors in the start-stop mildly chaotic fashion that has characterised this debate since its debut in January 2014. We are told the legislation will appear some time this fortnight. But seriously, who would know? A bunch of high-powered lawyers can’t quite work out how such a move would be constitutional. | Citizenship stripping of alleged jihadists is also kicking around the corridors in the start-stop mildly chaotic fashion that has characterised this debate since its debut in January 2014. We are told the legislation will appear some time this fortnight. But seriously, who would know? A bunch of high-powered lawyers can’t quite work out how such a move would be constitutional. |
| The outgoing national security legislation monitor, Bret Walker, has been on the ABC this morning. He’s told his host Fran Kelly that it never occurred to him that the Abbott government would bring forward a proposal that would allow people to have their citizenship revoked without first having been convicted of a crime. Walker says he thought it would be clear to any government that doing that would be several bridges too far. | The outgoing national security legislation monitor, Bret Walker, has been on the ABC this morning. He’s told his host Fran Kelly that it never occurred to him that the Abbott government would bring forward a proposal that would allow people to have their citizenship revoked without first having been convicted of a crime. Walker says he thought it would be clear to any government that doing that would be several bridges too far. |
| Walker, an eminent lawyer, is asked whether he thinks the government’s proposal is constitutional. He says he doesn’t know, but he’s pretty sure if the government attempts to revoke someone’s citizenship in the absence of a conviction then the high court won’t much care for that. | Walker, an eminent lawyer, is asked whether he thinks the government’s proposal is constitutional. He says he doesn’t know, but he’s pretty sure if the government attempts to revoke someone’s citizenship in the absence of a conviction then the high court won’t much care for that. |
| For people interested in this issue, when time permits have a read of this terrific piece in the London Review of Books, which goes into the use of the citizenship revocation powers in the UK, and how this ties in with intelligence and security interests of the United States. | For people interested in this issue, when time permits have a read of this terrific piece in the London Review of Books, which goes into the use of the citizenship revocation powers in the UK, and how this ties in with intelligence and security interests of the United States. |
| Updated at 10.04am AEST | Updated at 10.04am AEST |
| 8.38am AEST23:38 | 8.38am AEST23:38 |
| Sticking with boats, the government has evidently decided that attack is the best form of defence. Indonesia has said in recent days that Australia has questions to answer on the alleged payments to people smugglers. | Sticking with boats, the government has evidently decided that attack is the best form of defence. Indonesia has said in recent days that Australia has questions to answer on the alleged payments to people smugglers. |
| But the foreign minister, Julie Bishop, who normally chooses her words carefully, has decided to speak rather sharply. She’s spoken to The Australian’s foreign editor, Greg Sheridan, this morning. | But the foreign minister, Julie Bishop, who normally chooses her words carefully, has decided to speak rather sharply. She’s spoken to The Australian’s foreign editor, Greg Sheridan, this morning. |
| She thinks Indonesia needs to get with the program. | She thinks Indonesia needs to get with the program. |
| Julie Bishop: | Julie Bishop: |
| The best way for Indonesia to resolve any concerns it has about Operation Sovereign Borders is for Indonesia to enforce sovereignty over its borders. Operation Sovereign Borders is necessary because Indonesian boats with Indonesian crews are leaving Indonesia with the express intention of breaching our sovereignty, facilitated by illegal people-smuggling syndicates. | The best way for Indonesia to resolve any concerns it has about Operation Sovereign Borders is for Indonesia to enforce sovereignty over its borders. Operation Sovereign Borders is necessary because Indonesian boats with Indonesian crews are leaving Indonesia with the express intention of breaching our sovereignty, facilitated by illegal people-smuggling syndicates. |
| 8.31am AEST23:31 | 8.31am AEST23:31 |
| We don't talk about that agency, unless of course we do | We don't talk about that agency, unless of course we do |
| I mentioned in the first post there’s another security-related leak regarding the boats. The Daily Telegraph’s political editor, Simon Benson, reports this morning that a senior intelligence source has told him that Australia’s foreign intelligence service – Asis – had been engaged in covert disruption and intelligence operations, which could include paying people smugglers to take asylum seekers to Indonesia. | I mentioned in the first post there’s another security-related leak regarding the boats. The Daily Telegraph’s political editor, Simon Benson, reports this morning that a senior intelligence source has told him that Australia’s foreign intelligence service – Asis – had been engaged in covert disruption and intelligence operations, which could include paying people smugglers to take asylum seekers to Indonesia. |
| Here’s what Benson quotes his source as saying: | Here’s what Benson quotes his source as saying: |
| Put it this way, the navy doesn’t have authorisation to do such things nor do they sail around with safes full of US dollars in them. But for obvious and good reasons, we don’t talk about operations of that agency (Asis). | Put it this way, the navy doesn’t have authorisation to do such things nor do they sail around with safes full of US dollars in them. But for obvious and good reasons, we don’t talk about operations of that agency (Asis). |
| It’s one of those moderately hilarious blind quotes you read in stories from time to time. Well, apparently “we” don’t talk about the operations of that agency ... apart from when it suits us to float an idea through a newspaper. | It’s one of those moderately hilarious blind quotes you read in stories from time to time. Well, apparently “we” don’t talk about the operations of that agency ... apart from when it suits us to float an idea through a newspaper. |
| Then, apparently, “we” talk about that agency. Behind our hands. | Then, apparently, “we” talk about that agency. Behind our hands. |
| It really is amazing how much this government (or agents of this government) leaks security-related issues, either officially or unofficially. | It really is amazing how much this government (or agents of this government) leaks security-related issues, either officially or unofficially. |
| Moving forward. | Moving forward. |
| The government is under pressure on this issue. If you’ve not followed this story closely, reports emerged last week that the government might have paid people smugglers to take asylum seekers back to Indonesia. These reports were denied initially by two ministers: the immigration minister and the foreign minister. But now the prime minister is refusing to deny that payments occurred. Others are cleaning up their previous denials. | The government is under pressure on this issue. If you’ve not followed this story closely, reports emerged last week that the government might have paid people smugglers to take asylum seekers back to Indonesia. These reports were denied initially by two ministers: the immigration minister and the foreign minister. But now the prime minister is refusing to deny that payments occurred. Others are cleaning up their previous denials. |
| Tony Abbott said this yesterday: | Tony Abbott said this yesterday: |
| There’s really only one thing to say here, and that is that we’ve stopped the boats. That’s good for Australia, it’s good for Indonesia and it’s particularly good for all those who want to see a better world. | There’s really only one thing to say here, and that is that we’ve stopped the boats. That’s good for Australia, it’s good for Indonesia and it’s particularly good for all those who want to see a better world. |
| This isn’t the only thing to say of course. | This isn’t the only thing to say of course. |
| Here’s a few suggestions of other things I can say from a standing start: | Here’s a few suggestions of other things I can say from a standing start: |
| The shadow immigration minister, Richard Marles, has written to the auditor general requesting an investigation of payments, allegedly worth $40,000. | The shadow immigration minister, Richard Marles, has written to the auditor general requesting an investigation of payments, allegedly worth $40,000. |
| The Greens and crossbenchers are also demanding answers. | The Greens and crossbenchers are also demanding answers. |
| Updated at 10.02am AEST | Updated at 10.02am AEST |
| 7.59am AEST22:59 | 7.59am AEST22:59 |
| Well hello lovely people and welcome to Canberra on this Monday, which is cloudy with a high probability of nonsense. | Well hello lovely people and welcome to Canberra on this Monday, which is cloudy with a high probability of nonsense. |
| The main stories in politics early this Monday are boats (did the Australian government sanction a payment to people smugglers to take asylum seekers back to Indonesia); the new Ipsos poll (which after a brief flirtation with a budget bounce for Tony Abbott has now rejoined the published polling pack); and “will we or won’t we” finally see new laws stripping alleged jihadists of their citizenship. | The main stories in politics early this Monday are boats (did the Australian government sanction a payment to people smugglers to take asylum seekers back to Indonesia); the new Ipsos poll (which after a brief flirtation with a budget bounce for Tony Abbott has now rejoined the published polling pack); and “will we or won’t we” finally see new laws stripping alleged jihadists of their citizenship. |
| There also seems to be yet another security leak regarding the boats story this morning – but more of that in a minute. | There also seems to be yet another security leak regarding the boats story this morning – but more of that in a minute. |
| I’ll start with Ipsos because we need to, of course, note it, and doing this upfront gets it out of the way so we can press on with today’s more weighty matters of state. | I’ll start with Ipsos because we need to, of course, note it, and doing this upfront gets it out of the way so we can press on with today’s more weighty matters of state. |
| This morning’s poll, published by Fairfax Media, has Labor ahead on the two-party-preferred number on 53% to the government’s 47%. So all the major published polls are in alignment now, more or less. | This morning’s poll, published by Fairfax Media, has Labor ahead on the two-party-preferred number on 53% to the government’s 47%. So all the major published polls are in alignment now, more or less. |
| Blogans and bloganistas will remember Ipsos produced the only post-budget poll that recorded a gain for the Abbott government – the major parties were 50/50 in a survey taken immediately after the economic statement last month. As I noted at the time, if we look at Ipsos compared with the other major opinion polls, the main measures seem more volatile than other surveys. The May result was also out of step with every other poll in the field at the time. | Blogans and bloganistas will remember Ipsos produced the only post-budget poll that recorded a gain for the Abbott government – the major parties were 50/50 in a survey taken immediately after the economic statement last month. As I noted at the time, if we look at Ipsos compared with the other major opinion polls, the main measures seem more volatile than other surveys. The May result was also out of step with every other poll in the field at the time. |
| Looking at personal approval ratings, Fairfax chief political correspondent Mark Kenny notes this morning that the prime minister has lost ground on preferred prime minister in this latest survey, and “Mr Abbott’s personal approval rating has also suffered, with 40% of voters approving of his performance compared to 54% disapproving for a net rating of minus 14% – down 6 points since May. Mr Shorten is also in negative territory but less deeply with a rating of minus 6% – down 2 since May.” | Looking at personal approval ratings, Fairfax chief political correspondent Mark Kenny notes this morning that the prime minister has lost ground on preferred prime minister in this latest survey, and “Mr Abbott’s personal approval rating has also suffered, with 40% of voters approving of his performance compared to 54% disapproving for a net rating of minus 14% – down 6 points since May. Mr Shorten is also in negative territory but less deeply with a rating of minus 6% – down 2 since May.” |
| There’s also a same-sex marriage question, which puts public support for marriage equality at 68%, which from memory is similar to the recent Essential poll number on this question. As my colleague Shalailah Medhora reports this morning, Labor will keep up the pressure on the Coalition to make clear where it stands on granting a conscience vote on same-sex marriage by resuming a debate on its private member’s bill later this morning. Deputy opposition leader Tanya Plibersek and former government chief whip Philip Ruddock will each speak to the bill for five minutes during Monday’s allotment for private member’s business. | There’s also a same-sex marriage question, which puts public support for marriage equality at 68%, which from memory is similar to the recent Essential poll number on this question. As my colleague Shalailah Medhora reports this morning, Labor will keep up the pressure on the Coalition to make clear where it stands on granting a conscience vote on same-sex marriage by resuming a debate on its private member’s bill later this morning. Deputy opposition leader Tanya Plibersek and former government chief whip Philip Ruddock will each speak to the bill for five minutes during Monday’s allotment for private member’s business. |
| So let’s sprint forward into Monday. The comments thread is now wide open for your business, and you can reach Mikearoo and I on the Twits @murpharoo and @mpbowers | So let’s sprint forward into Monday. The comments thread is now wide open for your business, and you can reach Mikearoo and I on the Twits @murpharoo and @mpbowers |
| Updated at 9.59am AEST | Updated at 9.59am AEST |