Parliament Live: Peter Dutton accused of using child abuse for political gain

Peter Dutton has been accused of using child sex abuse as a political weapon by peak Indigenous organisations.

Peter Dutton has been accused of exploiting Indigenous child abuse for political gain by peak health groups and a Liberal MP after a royal commission into the issue was shot down.

The Opposition Leader opened question time on Thursday by grilling Anthony Albanese on why he won’t agree to holding a royal commission into child abuse in remote Indigenous communities.

Shortly after, over two dozen Indigenous organisations signed a statement blasting Mr Dutton for “politicising Aboriginal women and children‘s safety.”

“These calls for a royal commission into the sexual abuse of Aboriginal children have been made without one shred of real evidence being presented,” the statement read.

“They play into the basest negative perceptions of some people about Aboriginal people and communities.”

Peter Dutton used the last sitting of the week day to push for a royal commission and an audit into Indigenous spending. Picture: Martin Ollman/NCA NewsWire.

The statement, which was endorsed by 36 Indigenous and child safety groups, called for a national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children's commissioner instead of a federal probe.

Speaking to the Australian, Indigenous businessman Warren Mundine labelled any organisations opposition to a royal commission as “disgusting”.

Liberal MP Bridget Archer, who controversially crossed the floor to reject the original motion, told the Guardian that Mr Dutton had politicised child sexual abuse for “some perceived political advantage.”

“We don’t want to divide the country by race, yet we are singling out abuse in Indigenous communities,” she said.

“It’s very difficult to see [this motion] as anything other than weaponising abuse.”

Silence on Voice: Albo

Earlier, Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley grilled Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on wehen the second components of the Uluru Statement From the Heart – truth and treaty — would begin.

For the fourth day in a row, Mr Albanese declined to answer the question.

He has previously said he’d respect the wishes of Indigenous leaders, who have fallen silent as they grieve the Voice referendum result, and will wait for their input.

Anthony Albanese declared that he accepted responsibility for the No Voice vote on Monday. Picture: Martin Ollman/NCA NewsWire.

“We said we would respect the outcome of the referendum,” he said. “We said we would listen to Indigenous Australians and we will continue to do so.

“We said that we would make a practical difference to the lives of Indigenous Australians, and that is precisely what we will do.”

Mr Albanese was also asked whether the referendum working group suggested to his chief of staff that the referendum be delayed beyond October 14.

“No I can’t confirm that,” Mr Albanese said.

Archer ‘made a mistake’: Dutton

Mr Dutton refused to be drawn on whether Ms Archer should be kicked out of the Liberal Party after she crossed the floor to vote against the Coalition on the child abuse royal commission.

Appearing on Ray Hadley’s show on 2GB, Mr Dutton was asked how long the Bass MP could stay in the party room given she repeatedly broke ranks.

Mr Dutton was incredulous that anyone could vote against setting up a royal commission into child abuse in Indigenous communities, what he sees as one of the country’s most “serious issues”.

Bridget Archer crossed the floor to vote against the motion. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Hadley pushed Mr Dutton to answer the question, saying it was “embarrassing” that Ms Archer continued to cross the floor and asked the Opposition Leader when she would be forced to leave the party.

Mr Dutton said he would have a “private conversation” with Ms Archer, but wouldn’t discuss those on air.

“In the Liberal Party, you’ve got the ability to cross the floor,” he said.

“I think she’s made a mistake, it’s the wrong decision, and most importantly from my perspective, it takes away from the Prime Minister’s culpability here because he’s the one, along with the other 80 odd who voted against what I think is a pressing need, and he’s the one who should be in focus at the moment.”

Aussie leaders split on Israel

Back in the Senate, Liberal senator Simon Birmingham has asked Penny Wong who the government holds responsible for a deadly explosion at a hospital in Gaza.
Senator Wong said her thoughts were with civilians killed and their loved ones and that respect for international humanitarian law was paramount.

“Assessments are difficult, I think it’s appropriate to refer to the US Security Council,” Senator Wong said.

“Our current assessment is that Israel is not responsible for the explosion in a hospital in Gaza.

Senator Wong said she had no updates on the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas and acknowledged there were “serious concerns” for Australians living in Lebanon.

She also confirmed a repatriation flight ferrying more than 50 Australian citizens from Israel arrived in Sydney on Wednesday night, the last rescue flight “for the foreseeable future”.

It comes as Mr Albanese affirmed Labor’s support of a two-state solution.

“We saw the tragic consequences of Hamas’s decision to cross into Israel and to murder young people attending a concert,” he said.

“I have long advocated a two-state solution where both Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security and that remains my position today.”

Mr Albanese confirmed that he stood by a motion passed on Monday that “unequivocally condemned the attack on Israel by Hamas”.

Earlier, Australia’s first two Muslim ministers, Ed Husic and Anne Aly have called on Israel to stick to international law, accusing the state of collectively punishing Palestinians for the barbarism of Hamas.

Mr Husic and Ms Aly both condemned Hamas’ attack on Israel.

“I feel very strongly that Palestinians are being collectively punished here for Hamas’ barbarism,” he told ABC Radio.

“Governments are different to terrorist organisations; (for) governments there is a higher expectation that there will be a protection of innocent lives.

“Israelis have paid a high price, but I’m also worried about the price that Palestinians are paying and are going to pay.”

Ms Aly said it was “difficult to argue” that the Palestinian people were not being collectively punished.

Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley denounced Mr Husic’s comments, arguing his stance raised questions about the government’s position on the conflict.

Labor’s Ed Husic expressed his view on Thursday morning. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Anne Aly backed Mr Husic. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Ms Ley said Mr Husic’s claims “exposed Labor’s deep division on the question of Israel” and “raised serious questions” about the official stance of the Albanese Government.

“Anthony Albanese must immediately clear up the confusion and explain whether he agrees with his Cabinet Minister or not,” she said.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers backed in Mr Husic, seeking to dispel talk of division, saying the Industry Minister had expressed a view that “we cannot see innocent lives on one side of this worth any more or less than innocent lives on the other side of this”.

“We are all making the same point about the need for innocent civilian lives to be respected and protected, consistent with humanitarian law.

“Whether it’s Ed Husic, the Prime Minister … or myself, we are all incredibly concerned about the violence and the bloodshed. We have all condemned the actions of the terrorist group Hamas and we have all expressed our concern for the loss of human life

Jewish community with family ties to Israel ‘traumatised’: Spender

A teal independent representing an electorate home to one of Australia’s biggest Jewish communities says it was disappointing the Greens did not vote to condemn Hamas.

Earlier this week, the minor party attempted to alter the government’s motion to remove “Australia stands with Israel and recognises its right to defend itself”.

In its place, the Greens wanted the parliament to condemn “war crimes perpetrated by the state of Israel, including the bombing of Palestinian civilians”, and call for an immediate ceasefire.

The amendment was defeated after it only won support from the Greens, Sydney’s Sophie Scamps and Kylea Tink and Tasmania’s Andrew Wilkie.

Allegro Spender hit out at the Greens. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The Greens voted against the government’s original statement.

Speaking with Sky News, Wentworth MP Allegra Spender said the saga was “most disappointing”.

“Whatever your position on that is, you absolutely have to condemn the Hamas attack because it was a terrorist attack on civilians,” she said.

Ms Spender said much of the Jewish community in Australia was “traumatised” by the effect of the October 7 attack by Hamas.

“There are very deep connections there and they are traumatised by that but also by some of the hate that has gone on in Australia,” said.

“Because it's not consistent with (the) government’s position.”

Twiggy Forrest stumps up $10m in aid for Gaza

Andrew and Nicola Forrest have donated $10m in humanitarian aid for Gaza, matching the federal government’s commitment.

The funding from the Minderoo Foundation will be provided to United Nations agencies and Médecins Sans Frontières.

Mr Forrest said the foundation “will do all within our power to ensure this aid reaches those that need it as quickly as humanly possible”.

“The people of Gaza are already suffering greatly. We feel a responsibility with the Australian government to do what we can to avert the rapid acceleration of this humanitarian tragedy, where innocent families are caught in a deadly crossfire that is not of their making,” Dr Forrest said.

“Minderoo continues to provide assistance to the people of Ukraine and will do the same for the civilians of Gaza who are being deprived of basic necessities due to the cruelties of conflict. We all agree that innocent children, mums and dads should be protected as much as possible.

“We support the Australian government’s $10 million package and will match it.”

‘Get on the coke’: Rage over drug laws

Liberal Senator Michaelia Cash wants to know if Canberra police will tote around scales and meth purity testing kits when controversial new drug laws kick in later this month.

Senator Cash had introduced a private members bill, that would neutralise the ACT’s easing of penalties for people possessing small quantities of illicit drugs, which are set to come into effect at the end of October.

Under the changes, if a police officer believes a person has committed a small drug offence, they may issue a small notice or paid penalty instead of sending them to court.

Making a fiery case to the Senate on Thursday, the Coalition‘s legal affairs spokeswoman accused Chief Minister Andrew Barr of creating a “cruise ship drug charter” and warned partygoers will soon flock to the nation’s capital to “get on the coke.”

Greens Senator David Shoebridge argued the ACT’s drug laws were “backed by pretty much every public health advocate and expert.” Picture: Martin Ollman/NCA NewsWire.

“The first people to pay [for the drug reforms] will be the people travelling down the Hume Highway hoping to experience Canberra night-life, who will pay in addiction or death,” Senator Cash said.

“The bitter reality is that parking offences in Canberra are going to be treated more seriously than drugs.”

Labor Senator Tim Ayres said states and territories had the right to make their own drug laws.

“Each approach of the states and territories comes with risks, advantages, and disadvantages,” Senator Ayres said Thursday.

Greens Senator David Shoebridge, also opposing the motion, said Senator’s Cash’s push was a “highly-emotive” attack on “sensible, evidence based law reform” on drugs.

“The federal Liberal Party use its Trumpian-style, evidence free, angry form of divisive politics and in this case, try and tear down self-government in the ACT.”

The bill, which was not endorsed by the government, was voted down.

A draft sitting calendar has frustrated the Coalition. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Furore over proposed sitting calendar

A draft parliamentary sitting calendar has been panned as “seriously embarrassing” as the Coalition accuses the government of trying to avoid scrutiny.

The government put forward a motion in the Senate to consider dates in which parliament may sit in 2024. If adopted, it would have the upper house sitting for 54 days next year — down from 66 this year — with the bulk of the dates in the back half of the year.

The proposed calendar has the Senate sitting for just four weeks prior to the 2024 Budget. Another week would be dedicated to estimates hearings. In total, the draft calendar has allocated four weeks to estimates and an additional two weeks for supplementary hearings.

Manager of opposition business Anne Ruston accused Labor of “continuing its pattern of avoiding parliamentary scrutiny”.

“It is seriously embarrassing that they have already been forced to add an additional week, because clearly they have been caught out trying to hide from transparency and accountability,” the senator said.

“For a government who was elected on a platform of increased transparency, all they seem to focus on is ways to run away from actually having to provide details to the parliament and the Australian public.

“This government continues to show contempt for Australians and contempt for the processes of the parliament.”

Last year, the government was forced to add an extra week of Senate estimates to the calendar amid furore from the Coalition.

The Senate agreed to both motions.