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Australian politics live: Wednesday December 5

Queensland has angrily hit back at a threat from Prime Minister Scott Morrison and indicated it is ready to go to “war” with the Prime Minister.

Sam ClenchSam Clench
@SamClench
31 min read
December 5, 2018 - 6:32PM
New encryption laws mean the end to private messaging

Welcome to news.com.au’s live politics blog.

It’s the penultimate day of parliament this year and all sides of politics are scrambling to get things done. Follow all the latest news live.

6:20pm

WHAT HAPPENED TODAY

Here is a summary of the day’s major events:

• The effort to stop discrimination against LGBTQI students at religious schools hit an impasse. Scott Morrison proposed his own bill on the subject, and pushed for a conscience vote. Labor said his legislation would actually lead to more discrimination, not less;

• Protesters took over the foyer of Parliament House to call for more action on climate change. High school students were among them. A Liberal senator called them “selfish gits” who “don’t have jobs”;

• The Greens accused the government of “blinding stupidity” over its encryption laws, and lashed out at Labor for being “weak enough” to do a deal;

• A leaked draft of Malcolm Turnbull’s speech from yesterday showed he almost cast serious doubt on the government’s claims about Labor’s emissions reduction target driving up power prices;

• We also learned Mr Turnbull had been speaking to Bill Shorten about the National Energy Guarantee;

• The economy grew by a disappointing 0.3 per cent in the latest quarter, well below the 0.6 per cent economists were predicting;

• Kristina Keneally spoke about Australia’s tragic failure to reduce stillbirths, which claim more lives each day than the road toal;

• Snubbed Labor MP Emma Husar gave the strongest indication yet that she could quit the party and recontest her seat as an independent.

Join us again tomorrow for all the action from the last day of parliament this year.

5:55pm

PM’S ‘WAR’ WITH QUEENSLAND

During Question Time today, Scott Morrison accused the Queensland state government of “gouging” its constituents, and indicated he could force state-owned energy generators to sell their assets if they’re caught manipulating power prices.

Premier Annastacia Palaszcuk is not impressed.

“If we wants to start a war with Queensland, well he’s got one, because we are not selling our assets,” Ms Palaszczuk told the Courier-Mail.

“If we have to get legal advice we will.

“It just goes to show they have no idea when it comes to a national energy policy.”

The state’s LNP opposition has also said it doesn’t support Mr Morrison’s plan.

5:40pm

PUSH FOR VOTER ID LAWS

Meanwhile, the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters has tabled its report on the 2016 election, and it includes a surprise.

The report recommends that voters should be required to show ID on election day, such as a drivers licence, passport, proof of age card, senior’s card or Medicare card.

“In Australia we do not treat elections with the same gravity as a visit to a surf club or entering a Brisbane CBD pub after 10pm on a Friday night,” it says.

Labor and the Greens both dissented, suggesting voter ID would be “a pathway to voter suppression”.

“We are especially concerned that those citizens most likely to be disenfranchised through such changes include First Nations Australians, people affected by family and domestic violence, younger Australians, homeless people and itinerant people,” Labor wrote.

5:30pm

VOTES GALORE IN THE HOUSE

We just had a series of close votes in the House, as the government tried to bring on a debate on its “big stick” energy bill - you know, the one that would give it the power to force big energy companies to divest their assets.

Labor attempted to stop that from happening.

There was a lot of parliamentary procedure happening, but eventually the government succeeded. The debate on this bill will start now and continue throughout the evening.

5:15pm

BARNABY OPPOSES SCHOOLS BILL

Barnaby Joyce has indicated he doesn’t support the effort to stop discrimination against LGBTQI students at religious schools, placing him in opposition to Scott Morrison.

During an interview on Sky News, Mr Joyce said the ability to disagree with the Prime Minister was “one of the joys of being on the backbench”.

“Catholics should be able to practice the Catholic faith and not have someone say, ‘Well I have a different view, because your bible says this, I don’t agree with your bible, therefore I find it discriminatory and I find it an affront.’

“The right of the school and the right of a vast majority of the parents is a right that must be respected. And I think that it’s going to create too many - it usurps the rights of other people,” he said.

5:00pm

ABBOTT’S SUBTLE DIG AT TURNBULL

Why should Malcolm Turnbull have all the fun?

Tony Abbott was just on Ben Fordham’s radio show, where he was asked about the Liberal Party’s new rules making it harder to take down a sitting prime minister.

“If we had been better they wouldn’t be necessary. But because we are what we are, because we’re very frail and fallible and because, from time to time, even members of parliament can have character deficits and conviction deficits, sometimes these rules are necessary,” Mr Abbott said.

“When I became PM back in 2013, I thought that we would have well and truly learnt the lesson of the previous government, but it turned out that we hadn’t learnt that lesson. We’ve now learnt it the very hard way.”

The former prime minister weighed in on the party’s preselection controversies.

“If I’d been a preselector, Jim Molan would have been my number one choice,” he said. Mr Molan has been relegated to an unwinnable position on the Liberals’ Senate ticket.

Mr Abbott also stuck up for Craig Kelly, who was saved from a preselection battle by Scott Morrison’s intervention earlier this week.

“We need more people like Craig Kelly in parliament,” he said.

But Mr Abbott had no warm words for the man who took his job, Mr Turnbull.

“The less I say about him, the better.”

Tony Abbott. Picture: Kym Smith
Tony Abbott. Picture: Kym Smith

4:20pm

ASYLUM SEEKER DEBATE LOOMS

Greens Senator Nick McKim and independent Tim Storer have passed a motion to bring on debate on a migration bill proposed by the government.

Why? Because they want to add Kerryn Phelps’ bill, which seeks to transfer asylum seekers in need of medical attention off Nauru and Manus Island, to the government’s legislation as an amendment, then pass it.

Shenanigans are happening.

There will be a vote on the bill by 1:50pm tomorrow.

4:00pm

‘BLINDING STUPIDITY’

Jordon Steele-John has eviscerated the government’s proposed encryption leglislation again, this time in the Senate - and taken particular aim at “an opposition weak enough to let it happen”.

“You do not understand that which you are doing,” the Greens Senator said.

“You are following along blindly in the wake of public servants who have for years schemed, waiting for a minister and an administration stupid enough to put this legislation through. And haven’t they found it in this government.

“The result is legislation which will see Australia an outlier in the world, with one of the weakest, one of the most decrepit systems of internet privacy protection in the world.

“You don’t understand what you’re doing, you haven’t stepped back, and as a result we will all be harmed.”

Mr Steele-John warned the legislation was “the best Christmas present” any government could give hackers.

“There will be no one to blame apart from yourselves, your cowardice and your blinding stupidity.”

Senator Steele-John.
Senator Steele-John.

3:45pm

TURNBULL’S EXPLOSIVE NOTES LEAKED

The Guardian’s Katharine Murphy reports a draft of Malcolm Turnbull’s speech to the Smart Energy Summit yesterday included the suggestion that Labor's 45 per cent emissions reduction target would not drive up energy prices.

“Labor has announced it will adopt the NEG (National Energy Guarantee) but with a higher emissions target,” the draft read.

“Ours, as you know, was 26 per cent, which was only just above business as usual, so it obviously had no adverse impact on prices.”

Mr Turnbull’s draft pointed to modelling from Frontier Economics saying Labor’s target “will not result in higher prices”.

“That assertion deserves sceptical assessment, but it is also important regularly to review these models in the light of the latest technology and market information,” it read.

The draft contradicts the government’s consistent attacks on Labor’s emissions target, which Prime Minister Scott Morrison argues will lead to dramatically higher power prices.

Mr Turnbull told The Guardian it had obtained an “incomplete” draft.

“The notes were obtained by The Guardian without my authority,” he said.

“The only remarks released with my authority were the speech that I gave at the conference, a transcript of which is on my website.”

The final version of the speech was controversial enough. Mr Turnbull urged the government to revive the National Energy Guarantee, a policy that was ditched amid the Liberal Party’s leadership turmoil. He also lashed out at “idiocy” inside the party.

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull. Picure: AAP
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull. Picure: AAP

3:20pm

HERE WE WE GO AGAIN

Labor has released legal advice concluding Liberal MP Chris Crewther is ineligible to sit in parliament.

3:10pm

ONE MORE DAY

We are all Julie Bishop in this video.

3:05pm

SOMEONE GETS BORED

Michael McCormack, of all people, fires up and starts shouting across the chamber in the middle of an answer.

Rebekha Sharkie asks when a promised upgrade to the southeastern freeway in South Australia will actually happen.

Ten seconds into the Nationals leader’s response, he takes exception to a remark from Labor’s side of the House.

“If it’s boring for you, it’s certainly not boring for the member for Mayo’s residents!” Mr McCormack says.

“It is irresponsible of you. There are people in Australia who want to know about our infrastructure.”

In case you're interested in the actual answer, he said the South Australian government was “finalising the scope” of the project”.

3:00pm

JULIA BANKS’ NEW TEAM

Former Liberal Julia Banks is still enjoying life on the crossbench.

2:55pm

QUESTION SHOT DOWN

Clare O’Neil asks how many victims of financial misconduct Assistant Treasurer Stuart Robert has met with.

“Or does the Assistant Treasurer only share his ministerial assessments with LNP donors?”

After a lengthy explanation, Speaker Tony Smith rules the question out of order because it is not asking about Mr Robert’s ministerial responsibilities.

2:45pm

CUSTOMERS ‘GOUGED’

Bill Shorten asks about this story in the Courier-Mail, suggesting state-owned electricity generators in Queensland could be forced to sell assets if they manipulate prices.

“The Courier-Mail says the Morrison government is threatening Queenslanders with the forced privatisation of their state-owned power assets,” Mr Shorten says.

“Why does the Prime Minister support this?”

“As is his habit, the leader of the Labor Party is not telling the truth. One truth he can point to, though, is the Queensland electricity industry is owned by the Queensland government,” the Prime Minister says.

“The Queensland government has been dividend stripping out of the Queensland electricity industry to prop up their financial mismanagement. You know who’s been paying for it? Queenslanders.

“Why our power prices higher in Queensland for Queenslanders? Because the Queensland government is gouging them.”

In case you were wondering, there is a Labor government in Queensland.

2:35pm

DEJA VU

Mark Butler adopts a similar line of attack, highlighting former Liberal MP Julia Banks’ comments that the government’s divestment policy “is totally counter to the values of free enterprise” and “wont' lower energy prices but will in fact have the reverse effect”.

“The Liberal Party members in this chamber want to see electricity prices come down, and we are going to side with the customers who have been paying too much and have been taken advantage of by big electricity companies,” Mr Morrison says.

“Why would the Labor Party not want there to be a power to take action against price gouging and the sorts of conduct that would be anti-competitive and could lead to an increase in prices?”

2:25pm

BISHOP’S WARNING

Chris Bowen gets a question.

“Can the Treasurer confirm reports this morning that the member for Curtin (Julie Bishop) told the government that its discredited forced divestment policy could be regarded as a sovereign risk and was inconsistent with Liberal values?” he asks.

“I can confirm to the member for McMahon that we on this side of the House have introduced legislation today to reduce people’s power prices,” Mr Frydenberg says.

“To reduce people’s power prices, because we are on the side of the Australian consumer.”

2:15pm

‘THAT’S WHO WE’RE FIGHTING FOR’

Back in the House, Tanya Plibersek quotes the Business Council of Australia’s criticism of the government’s “big stick” policy to punish big energy companies. The council has called the policy “ill-conceived” and “rushed”.

“The Labor Party spends most of their time saying we’re the champions of big business,” Scott Morrison says.

“I’ll tell you who is sitting in bed with big businesses that want to rip off Australian customers and their electricity prices. The Labor Party, that’s who it is.

“When Robert Menzies said we stand up for the forgotten people, that didn’t mean forgotten energy company executives. It meant mums and dads and people paying electricity prices, Mr Speaker. That’s who we are fighting for.”

2:10pm

PROTESTER BLOW-UP CONTINUES

Senator James McGrath is still arguing about the protesters who took over parliament’s foyer this morning.

He’s pushing back against people telling him high school students were among the “selfish gits” who “don’t have jobs” he sledged earlier.

Some of the protesters were indeed students. Others were not. It’s really quite simple.

2:05pm

QUESTION TIME BEGINS

Bill Shorten starts Question time by talking about today’s growth figures.

“Over the last quarter, Australia’s economic growth rate has gone down and living standards have fallen. Growth in household consumption is the weakest in five years, and over the last five years, corporate growth has grown five times faster than wages. Everything is going up except people’s wages,” he said.

“The economy is still growing strongly,” Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says.

“At 2.8%, it is faster than the OECD average, and faster than any G7 country except the United States. That’s our economic record.

“Over 1.1 million new jobs are being created. We’re one of only 10 nations in the world to have a AAA credit rating from the three leading credit rating agencies. Unemployment

has come down to 5%, the lowest level since 2012.

“That is our record. Compared to those opposite, when they were in government, debt was rising, unemployment was rising, Mr Speaker, and they had no plan for the economy of Australia.”

1:45pm

‘LET’S HAVE A VOTE NOW’

Liberal MP Tim Wilson has fired up in defence of the Prime Minister’s school discrimination bill during a rowdy segment on Sky News.

“We are prepared to have a conscience vote on this today,” he said.

“Let’s have a conscience vote right now.”

Mr Wilson rejected the charge, put to him by Labor’s Pat Conroy, that Mr Morrison’s bill would replace one form of discrimination against students with another.

“That’s false. That’s just a lie,” he said.

“The whole point of what we are trying to do today is to remove discrimination against LGBTQI students.

“What we’ve had is bad faith from the opposition at every point.

“If you allow a conscience vote today, we can make sure it can happen today.”

1:20pm

‘TAKE OFF THE L-PLATES’

The procession of press conferences continues.

Reacting to today's growth figures, Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen lamented the “slowest growth in household consumption in six years” and the “lowest household savings rate in a decade”.

“I saw the Treasurer rather bizarrely claim that was a sign of confience,” Mr Bowen said.

“Take off the L-plates and have a think.”

1:10pm

‘FORCED THROUGH ON A LIE’

Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John just spoke about the encryption legislation, which is set to pass today with bipartisan support from Labor and the government.

“It is being forced through based on a lie, the lie that it is needed to keep us safe. This is not true,” he said.

“The government and the opposition do not understand the technology they are dealing with.”

1:05pm

PRESS CONFERENCE CUT SHORT

While that press conference was happening, Greens MP Adam Bandt moved to suspend standing orders to bring on debate on a series of crossbench bills.

One of them is to stop the government from underwriting new coal-fired power. Another is Kerryn Phelps’ asylum seeker legislation. And the final one is a bill to establish a national integrity commission.

Bill Shorten and Tanya Plibersek had to cut their media appearance short to vote in the division.

The ayes won 73-72, but since the motion required an absolute majority, it failed.

1:00pm

‘DESCENDING INTO FARCE’

Here are some more quotes from Mr Shorten and Ms Plibersek’s press conference.

“A lot of Australians would be looking at the parliament right now and saying - why is it that when it comes to these issues, the parliament sort of disappears into finger pointing and recrimination? It really is hopeless,” Mr Shorten said.

“Senator Cormann said that the government and the opposition needed more time to progress the discussions to make sure that we get it right. Ten minutes later, the Prime Minister bounds out and says let’s have a different way of doing it.

“So we are deeply frustrated, because this isn’t just about discrimination against kids. Although that’s the number one issue. What we have here is yet again, the parliament set a test by the people of Australia, and it’s descending into high farce.”

The Labor leader said he was “not prepared to give up” on removing discrimination but there was no viable solution yet.

“The question is, when you don’t have a solution, do you just engage in a trainwreck? Or do you draw breath?”

Ms Plibersek fired up over Mr Morrison’s “offer” of a conscience vote.

“What nonsense. What is he offering? He’s not offering a single thing,” she said.

“No, listen to me, this is really important. Labor members of parliament do not support discrimination against children. We don’t need to take the temperature of the party to know that.

“We have had this discussion again and again. We do not support the discrimination against school children and no Australian with a conscience should support discrimination against children.”

She compared the Prime Minister’s tactics to the same-sex marriage debate.

“Just as with marriage equality, every effort to complicate it is designed to delay and prevent this simple reform from occurring.”

12:50pm

LABOR REJECTS MORRISON’S BILL

Bill Shorten and Tanya Plibersek have announced they will not support Scott Morrison’s bill on discrimination in religious schools.

“It’s very disappointing that the governmen in the House has chosen to put forward a proposal that will replace one form of discrimination with another,” Mr Shorten said.

“This morning in the Senate Senator Cormann and Senator Penny Wong, the crossbench parties, all agreed that while we want to remove discrimination against kids, the mechanisms to do so weren’t agreed, and therefore the matter should be deferred until there was more considered discussion.

“Ten minutes later, our Prime Minister enthusiastically bounded out to a press conference and said that he wanted to deal, in a controversial fashion, with the very measures which the government in the Senate had decided to defer.

“Unfortunately, the Prime Minister has sought to weaponise this dispute and I do think that rather hand looking for the angle, the Prime Minister should look for the outcome.”

Mr Shorten and Ms Plibersek rubbished Mr Morrison’s suggestion of a conscience vote.

“Labor doesn’t need a conscience vote because every member of the Labor Party agrees it’s wrong to discriminate against children. I don’t understand how anyone without a conscience thinks it’s OK to discriminate against children,” Ms Plibersek said.

“There is a very nasty scare campaign being run by the right wing of the Liberal Party saying that this somehow undermines religious freedoms, when it doesn’t.

“This is simple. Do we support discrimination against children? Or do we not? If we don’t support discrimination against children in our schools, then we move the simple bill, support the simple bill that removes the right to discriminate.”

12:45pm

‘SELFISH GITS’

Liberal Senator James McGrath had some harsh words for the protesters, calling them “selfish gits” who “don’t have jobs”.

It was quickly pointed out to him that some of the protesters were high school students.

“Some of these so-called ‘school students’ even have grey hair!” he replied.

Mr McGrath said they had “no respect for police or parliament”.

12:40pm

PROTESTERS REMOVED

The protesters who took over the foyer of Parliament House have been removed by police and security, but are still in good spirits.

12:25pm

‘VERY DISAPPOINTING’

Chris Bowen has taken a swing at the government over those surprisingly weak growth numbers.

We will hear Bill Shorten’s response to the Prime Minister’s bill on discrimination in schools within the next few minutes.

12:15pm

CENTRE ALLIANCE RESPONDS

Senators Rex Patrick and Stirling Griff have released a statement explaining there support for that controversial government amendment.

“Centre Alliance is absolutely opposed to discrimination against students or teachers on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” the party says.

“We were today prepared to vote for Labor’s bill, and to support a government amendment designed to give assurance to faith-based schools that they can continue to teach according to their religious tenets.

“We wanted to strike the right balance.”

12:05pm

‘BREAK THE DEADLOCK’

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie supports Scott Morrison’s idea for a conscience vote.

12:00pm

Those protesters we mentioned earlier have grown in number and moved into the foyer of Parliament House, where they are being closely watched by security and police.

The group, which includes a large number of high school students, wants more action on climate change.

Kerryn Phelps, Julia Banks, Adam Bandt and a group of Greens Senators all popped down to take a look at the protest.

Students and activists, protesting climate change, stage a sit-in in the marble foyer at Parliament House. Picture: AAP
Students and activists, protesting climate change, stage a sit-in in the marble foyer at Parliament House. Picture: AAP
Greens Senators Richard Di Natale, Mehreen Faruqi, Larissa Waters and Sarah Hanson-Young observe. Picture: AAP
Greens Senators Richard Di Natale, Mehreen Faruqi, Larissa Waters and Sarah Hanson-Young observe. Picture: AAP
Protesters in foyer. Picture: Kym Smith
Protesters in foyer. Picture: Kym Smith

11:55pm

LABOR REJECTS ACCUSATION IT ‘CAVED’

Earlier this morning, Tanya Plibersek responded to accusations that Labor has “caved” to the government by doing a deal on its encryption legislation.

“The other way of seeing it is parliament actually working together to get something important done,” Ms Plibersek told Radio National.

“The Attorney-General has sought middle ground with Labor and we’ve been prepared to do that. We think we have won some very important protections in this legislation.”

11:50pm

‘WE WILL FIGHT THIS’

The Greens say they will oppose Scott Morrison’s bill. They claim it would actually expand discrimination against LGBTQI students.

That won’t make a heck of a lot of difference in the House, where the Greens only have one vote.

We haven’t heard from Labor yet, but Bill Shorten is holding a press conference at 12:30, so I expect he will outline his party’s decision then.

11:45am

PENNY WONG ‘DISAPPOINTED’

The Prime Minister’s press conference diverted my attention away from the Senate, where Penny Wong was speaking about the failure of her own effort to pass legislation stopping discrimination against LGBTQI students.

“It is a disappointing outcome because it means LGBTIQ kids now face the prospect of returning to school next year knowing that they could be expelled or discriminated against because they are gay,” Ms Wong said.

“Centre Alliance Senators Griff and Patrick have made public that they will support the government’s amendment to insert a new provision that exempts teaching activity in religious schools from the Sex Discrimination Act.

“The advice from legal experts is clear. This amendment, passed with the support of Senators Griff and Patrick, would destroy the intent of the bill — that is, to remove discrimination against LGBTIQ students.

“Worse still, the advice is that the government’s amendment, which would pass with the support of Centre Alliance, would worsen discrimination against LGBTIQ students, allowing positive discrimination by staff and even allowing teachers to refuse to teach LGBTIQ students.

“Our position is clear. Labor’s position is clear. We want to lessen discrimination, not increase it. We want to protect our kids, not exclude them from class.”

Speaking for the government, Mathias Cormann said there was “a desire from all parties to find a sensible way forward”.

“I think that there is broad consensus around this chamber to remove inappropriate discrimination against kids in schools and other education institutions based on their sexual orientation and other related matters,” he said.

“But there is also a desire, so far unresolved, among many good people around Australia to see appropriate and reasonable protection remain in place for religious schools enabling them to conduct their affairs consistent with the tenets of their respective religions.”

One of the Centre Alliance Senators, Rex Patrick, rose to defend his decision.

“I just want to make it very clear that Centre Alliance’s position is that we do not support discrimination against students or teachers on the basis of gender identity or, indeed, sexual orientation,” Mr Patrick said.

“Stop lying!” Ms Wong interjected. Mr Patrick protested, and she withdrew the remark.

“In the last 24 hours, one thing that has also arisen is the fact that there is a problem with the Labor Party’s bill,” Mr Patrick said.

“This is what happens when you rush legislation. I understand the importance of this legislation, but when you rush things, you end up making mistakes.”

Senator Penny Wong. Picture: Kym Smith
Senator Penny Wong. Picture: Kym Smith

11:35am

ECONOMIC GROWTH FALLS SHORT

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released data showing the economy grew by 0.3 per cent in the latest quarter, well below the 0.6 per cent economists were expecting.

That takes the growth rate for the year to 2.8 per cent.

“The household sector drove domestic growth with increased consumption supported by moderate rises in household income,” Chief Economist Bruce Hockman said.

“The drag on GDP growth has come from the fall in new business investment, particularly what’s happened in the mining sector,” Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said.

11:20am

KEY QUESTIONS

Here are some of the most important questions Mr Morrison was asked.

“Should any religion be able to teach in their schools that it’s not alright to be gay?”

“My understanding of my faith and other religious teachings goes to people’s behaviour, not who they are.”

“So they can teach that it’s not OK to live a gay life?”

“These matters would be dealt with by courts in specific circumstances. I’m not geting into that now. As they are now. These issues are settled in courts.”

“Isn’t the point of legislating here trying to clear up whether it’s OK for a religious school to teach that it’s not OK to be gay?”

“Let me give you a less controversial example, OK? In some churches, according to some religious faiths, they believe in Tithing. They actually believe that you should tithe a percentage of your incomes to support the church you go to. In other Christian churches, they don’t teach that.

“It should be OK to teach those sorts of things in your school if that’s the religious practice of your school and you shouldn’t be able - people might say, well, you know, you’re discriminating against people who don’t want to do that. No. I don’t think so.

“It’s a common religious teaching that can find its root in a religious text and it’s reasonable for it to be taught.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Picture: AAP
Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Picture: AAP

11:05am

‘IT’S NOT UNREASONABLE’

Here is some more from the Prime Minister’s press conference.

“It’s very simple. I said I would deal with the issue of children in schools. That’s what I said I would deal with, that was the commitment I made and that’s what I’m following through on,” Mr Morrison said.

“I think members should vote their conscience on this. I don’t think that they should, on something as fundamental as what someone believes as a matter of religious faith, that that should be whipped against them, against their will.”

He rejected the charge that his bill, particularly the part about religious schools being able to teach in accordance with their beliefs, could increase discrimination against students.

“Discrimination is against a person for who they are,” he said.

“No Australian, frankly, because of their sexual identity or their sexuality, their faith, their race, their ethnicity, should be discriminated against. That’s my view. Because of who they are.

“But it’s not unreasonable that if you go along to a synagogue or a temple or you go to a church or a mosque, that someone would actually teach what that religion teaches.

“Take, for example, a reasonable rule in a school, which says you go to chapel on Tuesday morning. That applies to the child whether they are gay or not gay. It has no bearing on their identity or their sexuality whatsoever. It’s a general rule, which is applied equally to everybody. It doesn’t discriminate.”

10:55am

MORRISON’S SHOCK MOVE

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has held a press conference to announce a shock intervention in the school discrimination debate.

Mr Morrison plans to introduce his own proposal in the House today, and wants both major parties to allow their MPs to vote with their conscience.

“It’s disappointing that we have been unable to reach agreement between the parties, but I’m prepared to give it one more go,” Mr Morrison said.

“Yesterday, I wrote again to the Leader of the Opposition. And I put forward a proposal that did three things. The complete removal of the ability to discriminate against students based on gender or sexual orientation or relationship status or pregnancy.

“Secondly, a clarification that in deciding whether a school rule is reasonable, the Human Rights Commission and courts should take into account the religious nature of the school and

whether the school considered the best interests of the child.

“Three, a clarification that nothing in the act prevents a religious school teaching in accordance with their own religious beliefs.

“These should be uncontentious principles. The removal of discrimination and the upholding of religious freedom.”

The motion will need a 76-vote majority to pass.

“If the Labor Party and Bill Shorten are prepared to back this bill, we will vote for it today and we will get this done,” he said.

The Prime Minister said he was prepared to make it a conscience vote, freeing MPs to vote without being bound by party discipline, and called on Mr Shorten to do the same.

Scott Morrison brandishing his bill. Picture: AAP
Scott Morrison brandishing his bill. Picture: AAP

10:40am

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION BILL COLLAPSES

Penny Wong’s push to pass a bill stopping discrimination against LGBTQI students in religious schools has collapsed.

Labor and the Greens have supported a motion in the Senate which will delay it until next year, because crossbench senators from the Centre Alliance were going to support the following amendment:

Educational institutions established for religious purposes

(1) Nothing in this Act renders it unlawful to engage in teaching activity if that activity:

(a) is in good faith in accordance with the doctrines, tenets, beliefs or teachings of a particular religion or creed; and

(b) is done by, or with the authority of, an educational institution that is conducted in accordance with those doctrines, tenets, beliefs or teachings.

(2) In this section:

teaching activity means any kind of instruction of a student by a person employed or otherwise engaged by an educational institution.

Labor has cited legal advice saying the amendment could actually lead to more discrimination, not less.

“There can be little doubt, in my opinion, that Amendment KQ149 has the potential to permit discrimination against students in schools, both direct and indirect,” the advice states.

“The proposed section 7F would exempt the engagement in any ‘teaching activity’ so long as undertaken in good faith in accordance with the doctrines, tenets, beliefs or teachings of a religion or creed.

“Such a provision would permit any discrimination in the provision of instruction in an educational institution.”

The opposition has concluded it is better to pass no bill at all than to pass the current bill with that amendment.

10:20am

HANSON SLAMS THE GOVERNMENT

Pauline Hanson has blasted the government for failing to consult the Senate before signing the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement.

“It is just wrong that these free trade agreements are not reviewed in the Senate,” Ms Hanson said.

“I am not opposed to free trade agreements, but make sure they are in the national interest of this country, and don’t hold the Senate to contempt as they have done.”

The One Nation leader is an outspoken critic of the TPP.

“One Nation rejects the views of globalists like Malcolm Turnbull who want us to surrender our hard-won freedom,” she said.

“In my view the risks in the TPP outweigh the benefits.”

10:05am

STUDENTS DEMAND TO MEET PM

A group of high school students gathered outside parliament this morning to call for emergency action on climate change.

They also demanded to meet the Prime Minister, who has previously criticised students for skipping school to protest.

“I think it’s worthwhile because nothing I have now is going to mean anything if I don’t have a future in this world,” one student, 14-year-old Tully Bowtell-Young, told AAP.

“We have been trying so much for the possibility of meeting with (Morrison) but if we don’t get that opportunity after coming so far and going through so much to be here, I think we will bea bit disheartened,” said 16-year-old Aisheeya Huq.

Kerryn Phelps went out to meet the group. So did Greens Senator Jordan Steele-John.

Speaking to reporters this morning, Mr Morrison said he would sit down with the students.

“I’m always happy to listen. I respect everybody’s views,” Mr Morrison said.

“We don’t always have to agree on everything, you know, but we do have to respect each other and we do have to take each other’sviews seriously.”

Dr Kerryn Phelps spoke with the students. Picture: Gary Ramage
Dr Kerryn Phelps spoke with the students. Picture: Gary Ramage
Dr Phelps with some additional protesters. Picture: Gary Ramage
Dr Phelps with some additional protesters. Picture: Gary Ramage

9:45am

‘MAKES ME SPEW’

Malcolm Turnbull is really copping it today.

Liberal MP Warren Entsch has slammed the former prime minister, suggesting Mr Turnbull has no right to lobby Scott Morrison to revive the NEG when he himself put it on ice in an effort to save his leadership.

“I just listen to what he says and I shake my head in disbelief,” Mr Entsch said, according to The Australian.

“It just makes me spew when I see this. He scrambled the NEG because he didn’t have the courage to stand up to a few.”

9:25am

AUSTRALIA’S TRAGIC FAILURE

Labor Senator Kristina Keneally just spoke to ABC Radio in Sydney about the Senate stillbirth inquiry’s report, which was tabled last night.

“This is the first time we have had a national examination of stillbirth, which happens six times every day in Australia. It’s higher than the road toll,” she said.

It is an issue Ms Keneally is tragically familiar with.

“My daughter Caroline was stillborn in 1999. And this year marks the 19th anniversary of her birth,” she said.

“One of the infuriating things going through this inquiry is that the rate of stillbirth hasn’t changed in those 20 years, despite all the advances that have been made.”

She said the Senate committee had heard some “absolutely appalling stories” from parents, many of whom were completely unaware of the dangers they were dealing with.

“There are things we know can help and we are simply not telling parents about them,” Ms Keneally said.

“How is it the case that in Australia, where we are relatively economically well off — other countries like us have managed to drive the rate down in recent decades, and we just simply haven’t done it?”

You can read the report here. Its recommendations include the development of an education kit to help health professionals discuss strategies for preventing stillbirth, a public awareness campaign to demystify the issue, and a concerted effort to better investigate the causes of stillbirth.

Senator Kristina Keneally. Picture: Kym Smith
Senator Kristina Keneally. Picture: Kym Smith

9:10am

TURNBULL ‘NOT MUCH OF A BLOKE’

2GB radio host Ray Hadley is not buying the “no collusion” story.

Responding to the news that Malcolm Turnbull has been speaking to Bill Shorten about the National Energy Guarantee, Hadley accused the former prime minister of wanting the government to lose the election so he can “say I told you so” in “some narcissistic way”.

“This bloke won’t be happy until he sees Bill Shorten as prime minister,” Hadley said.

“All he’s doing is alienating people who thought he was a good bloke. I knew he wasn’t a good bloke. He’s never been much of a bloke. Never.

“I’ve been in contact with people who know him particularly well who say he’s not a very nice person.”

Yesterday Hadley lashed out at Mr Turnbull’s son Alex over a snide comment he’d made about columnist Janet Albrechtsen’s personal life.

“He’s entitled to say what he likes about his dad,” Hadley said.

“But he’s really gone beyond that now.

“He’s a young man saying dumb things and I’ve cut him some slack, because it’s mainly been about his father, but now he’s entered the debate in the most unsavoury, disgusting way. And for that he should be condemned.”

Radio broadcaster Ray Hadley. Picture: AAP
Radio broadcaster Ray Hadley. Picture: AAP

8:50am

‘NO COLLUSION’

No, you haven’t just wandered into a story about Donald Trump and the Russia investigation. This time Bill Shorten is the one being accused of “collusion”.

The Australian reports Mr Shorten has had private phone conversations with Malcolm Turnbull since he was ousted as prime minister, in which the pair discussed Mr Turnbull’s ditched energy policy, the National Energy Guarantee.

In a speech yesterday, Mr Turnbull urged the government to revive the NEG and hit out at the “ideology and idiocy” plaguing its energy policy.

Labor then used Mr Turnbull’s comments to hammer Scott Morrison during Question Time.

“I’m not a commentator on Malcolm Turnbull. Malcolm Turnbull’s a private citizen. He’s not even a member of parliament. If he wants to make comments about the National Energy Guarantee or energy policy, good luck to him,” Christopher Pyne told Sky News this morning.

“Bill Shorten has contacted Malcolm Turnbull to make sure he’s OK. That’s a good thing to do, as far as I’m concerned. And Malcolm has taken his calls. He is not colluding with Bill Shorten.”

Mr Pyne’s counterpart, Shadow Defence Minister Richard Marles, was in rare agreement with him.

“There is no collusion between Bill Shorten and Malcolm Turnbull,” Mr Marles said.

“Bill was showing the courtesy and the grace that you would expect a leader to show. Which he showed to Tony Abbott when he left the role of prime minister.

“This is a difficult business, but it’s a business where there is a place for grace, and Bill has shown that. All he’s done is what he did in relation to Tony Abbott, and that is extend a hand of friendship to a foe who has now departed.”

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull. Picture: AAP
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull. Picture: AAP

8:40am

SNUBBED LABOR MP GOES ROGUE

Labor MP Emma Husar defied her party on Monday when she deliberately missed a motion moved by Deputy Leader Tanya Plibersek condemning Prime Minister Scott Morrison for “abandoning women”.

“I was not elected to play politics or be played by agendas of others,” Ms Husar told the Sydney Morning Herald.

She has also missed both Labor party room meetings during this sitting fortnight, citing illness, but had no trouble playing in a parliamentary basketball game yesterday.

Ms Husar is clearly disillusioned with her party — so disillusioned, in fact, that she is considering defecting to the crossbench.

“I have lots of friends around this building,” she told the SMH. “I haven’t made any decision.”

Ms Husar has endured a tumultuous year. She’s faced allegations of workplace misconduct, including bullying and sexual harassment. Just last week, four of her former staffers wrote to NSW Labor’s general secretary accusing her of “sustained inappropriate conduct” that “made our positions untenable”.

A party investigation earlier this year found no evidence to support the claims.

In August, Ms Husar announced she would quit politics at the next election. But she has since backflipped and decided she wants to recontest her marginal Sydney seat, Lindsay.

There’s just one problem — Labor no longer seems to want her. The party reportedly prefers former NSW state MP Diane Beamer, and last week Bill Shorten indicated he would not intervene to save Ms Husar.

Which leaves Ms Husar with the rather drastic option of quitting Labor and contesting the seat as an independent.

“I love my job, so I would consider doing whatever I needed to do to stay there,” she told Sky News last week, saying the interests of her community had to come before those of her party.

Emma Husar. Picture: ABC
Emma Husar. Picture: ABC

8:30am

SUBMARINE BLOWOUT ‘COMPLETELY FALSE’

Defence Minister Christopher Pyne is unhappy about this story claiming Australia’s new submarines, which are being built by the French shipbuilder Naval Group, could take years longer and cost far more than expected.

The company has reportedly demanded a three-year extension and a 30 per cent increase in delivery costs.

“The story is completely false,” Mr Pyne told Sky News this morning.

“There is nothing true about that story.

“There is zero cost blowout and absolutely no delay as part of the negotiations for the strategic partnering agreement, or for the submarine project.”

8:15am

CAPTAIN’S CALL

Scott Morrison visited a Rural Fire Service brigade this morning, where he spoke about his controversial decision to intervene and save Craig Kelly — and by extension, other sitting NSW MPs — from a preselection battle.

“As the party leader I made it pretty clear I wanted them endorsed, and I wanted them on the ground fighting the next election, and not getting distracted by anything else,” Mr Morrison said.

“That’s my main mission, that’s their mission, and as leader I made a call. I said I want them endorsed, and the party backed me.”

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/australian-politics-live-wednesday-december-5/news-story/af3549810769980830f81923686c897f