Politics Live: July 8, 2014

Now, we're off to read up on the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement fact sheet.

Before that, what did we learn today?

• It takes a High Court hearing for the government to confirm the existence of a boat; 
• Which means we've now got one asylum seeker group still on the high seas as another arrives back in Sri Lanka;
• Australia and Japan have a special relationship. Both Tony Abbott and Shinzo Abe say so;
• Dawn Fraser is great for speeches;

 

Many thanks for tuning in. Alex Ellinghausen and I will see you tomorrow.

 

 

Michael Gordon and Ben Doherty have an updated file on the High Court case and the 153 asylum seekers.

As they write, the asylum seekers, including around 40 children, "face being in limbo on the high seas for weeks in an Australian customs vessel while their fate is decided in the High Court".

Under a timetable agreed by lawyers for the asylum seekers and the Abbott government, "a directions hearings will be held within three weeks, raising the question of where the asylum seekers will be held in the interim ..."

The carbon tax repeal debate also continues.

But is due to wind up this evening at 6.50pm, before the Senate considers some government documents for a spell and then has a general adjournment debate.

We can expect more Senate debate on the repeal tomorrow.

 

The hectico schedule for Shinzo Abe continues.

He and his travelling party have met the Abbott cabinet in the cabinet room.

Abe then has a meeting with Bill Shorten, before a dinner in the Great Hall of Parliament House at 7pm.

 

Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a Cabinet room meeting at Parliament House on Tuesday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Lambie says that her vote to repeal the carbon tax (with the PUP amendments) will ensure that savings are passed to "everyday Australians".

"I know that this course of action will provide hope for [my] Tasmanian community."

PUP Senator Jacqui Lambie is now speaking in the Senate on the carbon tax repeal debate, her first speech to the Senate.

While she notes this is not her official maiden speech, she begins by acknowledging indigenous Australians, Australia's military and the Governor of Tasmania Peter Underwood, who has died.

Then, she gets into the carbon tax repeal.

She says that Labor and the Greens deceived Australia by introducing a carbon tax.

"The Labor-Greens carbon tax has failed to deliver any environmental benefits ..."

PUP Senator Jacqui Lambie during the debate on the Carbon Tax Repeal Bill. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Over in the Senate, the carbon tax repeal bills are being debated again.

Labor's Doug Cameron has the floor.

And he is using it to heckle Liberal senator Cory Bernardi, who is in the president's chair.

"I know that you're a climate change denier ..."

Why did Shinzo Abe talk so much about peace and the rule of law today in Parliament?

John Garnaut explains in this comment piece.

(Complete with a Lord Voldemort connection.)

 

 

Jason has a full report on the asylum seekers facing court here.

 

Back in Sri Lanka, Jason Koutsoukis reports that the 41 asylum seekers who have just arrived will be given bail.

Jason has talked to Anthony Fernando who was on the boat and said he was "ill treated" by Australian authorities.