Politics Live: May 26, 2014

As we head out into the Canberra eve, to fix a sandwich before fixating on the estimates night session, what did we learn today?

• Bill Heffernan is a man of surprises. Not only can he get a "pipe bomb" into the building, he can appear at three different parliamentary committees in one morning;
• But John Faulkner is somehow a more terrifying prospect;
• Particularly when he is angry about maybe being spied on; 
• Labor is going to dine out on Bronwyn Bishop using her parliamentary suite for party fundraising; and
• There should have been better security at Manus Island in February.

 

Thanks for tuning in, Alex Ellinghausen, Andrew Meares and I will snap and type you tomorrow morning.

Until then, voting public.

 

Speaker Bronwyn Bishop during a division as Manager of Opposition Business Tony Burke moves a motion to refer the Speaker to the privileges committee. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Before we sign off, can we point you to a James Massola report out of the Rural and Regional Affairs Committee hearing.

During evidence from Infrastructure Australia, we learned that the government has committed to hand over $1 billion to Victoria for the construction of the western stage the East West link without a full business case or a finalised route.

A Talking Heads moment, perhaps?

This day has had so many issues breaking that it now seems like a long time ago that Scott Morrison released the report into the violence at Manus Island.

But we return to some of the reaction that has been filtering in throughout the afternoon.

Labor's immigration spokesman Richard Marles has said that the Manus Island should be providing safe accommodation to asylum seekers.

"There were numerous warnings provided to the department but most importantly to the Minister himself."

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young says Morrison needs to take some blame.

"Scott Morrison's attempt to blame the victims of this violent attack is shameful," she said.

The Salvation Army has expressed its sympathy to Reza Barati's family, given the report's finding that a PNG national Salvos employee had hit the Iranian asylum seeker in the attack before he died.

If you don't have any plans tonight, or want to avoid doing the vacuuming that you were supposed to do on the weekend, there is a solid session of budget estimates viewing coming up this evening.

This includes the Office of National Assessments, Operation Sovereign Borders, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and Clean Energy Regulator.

You can tune in here.

 

With all that talking and talking at going on, a bit of calm analysis is called for:

The SMH's economics editor Ross Gittins writes that he is "not convinced" about the structural reforms that are supposed to be contained in the budget; and

Chief political correspondent Mark Kenny, writes on the hard sell of the budget sell. Bottom line? We're paying for it.

We you've got to vote, you've to vote.

Luke Hartsuyker votes in his gym gear during the division. Photo: Andrew Meares

While the result of the vote is no surprise, given the Coalition's easy majority, it would appear that some MPs were not expecting to have to vote.

As news.com.au political editor Malcolm Farr noted below, Deputy Leader of the House, Luke Hartsuyker turned up for the vote in his work out gear.

Luke Hartsuyker votes in his gym gear during a division seeking to refer the Speaker to the Privileges Committee. Photo: Andrew Meares

The Labor move to refer Bronwyn Bishop to the Privileges Committee over the use of her speaker's dining room for Liberal Party fundraising is voted down, 83 no to 54 yes.

But I'd be willing to bet a smoked salmon and cucumber canape that this isn't the last we hear of this issue.

The Clerk of the House and Christopher Pyne stand behind the Speaker Bronwyn Bishop as the Opposition move a motion to refer her to the Privileges Committee. Photo: Andrew MearesCredit: Andrew Meares

When it rains ...

The bells now ring in the House to herald a vote about referring Bishop's dining room activities to the Privileges Committee.

While that happens, a few other updates:

Immigration correspondent Sarah Whyte writes of Scott Morrison's regret over the Manus Island security failures;

Heath Aston reports on John Faulkner's claim he is being "spied on" by the Department of Parliamentary Services;

Political correspondent James Massola also has an updated version of Bill "the bomb" Heffernan's appearance in estimates this morning.