Donald Trump passes on chance to meet with Scott Morrison at G20 summit
Scott Morrison’s office insists the Australian/US relationship is being “well managed”, despite the revelation that the American President will not be meeting with the PM at this week’s G20 summit.
National
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Scott Morrison has embarrassingly been left off the list of world leaders scheduled to meet with Donald Trump at the G20 summit in Argentina later this week, as chaos looms back home amid Julia Banks’ defection.
In an insulting move for Australia as one of America’s closest allies and an embarrassing oversight for the new Prime Minister, President Trump’s national security adviser John Bolton has told reporters he will meet with world leaders from Argentina, Germany, South Korea and Turkey as well as Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg pulled out of the scheduled trip to the G20 world leaders meeting in Buenos Aires overnight after Julia Banks sensationally quit the Liberal Party yesterday.
Prime Minister Morrison will still attend the meeting.
“The PM will no doubt have the opportunity to touch base with President Trump during the G20 meetings,” Mr Morrison’s office told News Corp this morning.
“But given we have no pressing bilateral issues at the moment, and the PM had an extensive opportunity with VP Pence at APEC, there is no pressing need for a formal Bilateral at this stage.
“The relationship is being well managed.”
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann, who has attended three leadership summits in the past, will head to the G20 in Mr Frydenberg’s place.
LIBS THREATEN RETALIATION OVER DUTTON REFERAL
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton is also likely to face a bid to refer him to the High Court in the wake of Ms Banks’ defection, in yet another headache for the Morrison Government.
The government is threatening to retaliate by referring new independent Kerryn Phelps and Labor MPs including Tony Zappia and Anne Aly if the crossbench and Labor team up to try to refer Mr Dutton, who is not parliament this week after needing urgent surgery at the weekend for injuring his arm.
The Minister could face a bid to refer him as early as today however as Labor negotiates with the crossbench to secure the numbers to back the move.
“I think it’s quite clear that Peter Dutton has a case to answer,” crossbench MP Rebekha Sharkie told ABC radio this morning.
She added that the Solicitor General’s advice on Mr Dutton’s eligibility, considering a potential Section 44 issue over his was stake in a child care centre that receives federal government funding, was “a little unclear”.
The government has been left with 73 MPs in the House of Representatives, 74 including Speaker Tony Smith, while there are seven crossbench MPs and 69 Labor MPs.
A bid to suspend standing orders to even call the vote on whether to refer Mr Dutton needs an outright majority of 76 MPs — and unless Bob Katter backs the move or a government MP crosses the floor, it will be unsuccessful.
But if the move to suspend standing orders is successful, the Opposition only needs a majority of 75 to refer Mr Dutton to the High Court.
Dr Phelps slammed the government’s threat to refer her and others to the High Court in retaliation as “dirty tactics”, while Labor frontbencher Chris Bowen said it was a “pathetic joke”.
“They can make all the threats they like about Dr Phelps or anybody else, Mr Dutton is the one with Constitutional questions to answer, not anybody else,” he told Sky News.
BANKS DID NOT TELL ME: MORRISON
Mr Morrison has confirmed Ms Banks did not tell him before she jumped ship yesterday, saying: “Of course that’s disappointing”.
Mr Morrison told 2GB radio this morning all Liberal MPs were “disappointed” by her move, but added: “We’re not going to stop Bill Shorten by becoming Prime Minister by sitting around and being disappointed.”
Sky News reported Ms Banks told some crossbenchers weeks ago she was planning to quit the party.
“I knew enough to be in the chamber yesterday to provide support that I felt that she needed in making such a brave move,” independent Kerryn Phelps told Sky this morning.
“I think it’s reasonable that somebody in that sort of situation would reach out to people who are in the environment they are seeking to enter for advice and support,” Dr Phelps said.
News Corp has contacted Ms Banks for comment.
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann downplayed the impact of Ms Banks’ departure on the government, which will struggle to pass controversial legislation with only 73 MPs, this morning, saying: “The Morrison Government has been in minority government from day one.”
“We continue to get on with the job, building a stronger economy with more jobs and, indeed, getting the budget back into surplus as soon as possible so that funding for all the important essential services Australians expect can be guaranteed over the long term,” he told ABC.
He added that he wasn’t aware of any incidents of bullying in the Liberal Party, which Ms Banks has highlighted since the leadership spill.
GOVERNMENT ACCUSED OF SKIPPING WORK
The government is also been accused of skipping work after only scheduling the Parliament to sit for just two weeks before the budget in April next year.
It’s the fewest number of days the Parliament has before April since 2011, giving skant time for legislation to be passed before an election in May.
Malcolm Turnbull’s daughter, Daisy, was among those criticising the move today.
Shout out to all the MPs and candidates who have commented about teachers not working full time... 🤓👩â€ðŸ« https://t.co/byQyRRKYKC
— Daisy Turnbull Brown (@MrsDzTB) November 28, 2018
Opposition leader Bill Shorten slammed the government over it in Question Time, saying: “If ordinary workers skipped work like this, they’d get the sack.”
Mr Morrison defended the decision, saying the number of sitting days had been reduced because the budget had been brought forward by a month.
Earlier, Leader of the House Christopher Pyne dismissed the criticism as “a complete storm in a teacup”.
“The budget has been brought forward month and that changes the first quarter or so of the year,” he said.
“Labor is doing what it usually does, focusing on inside the bubble issues. The public are not in the least bit interested in really how many weeks the parliament sits before the budget.”
The government narrowly won a vote - 72 to 71 - yesterday against Labor’s attempt to add an extra six sitting dates in March.
Originally published as Donald Trump passes on chance to meet with Scott Morrison at G20 summit
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