PoliticsNow: Scott Morrison gets medivac win, Labor reverts to Angus Taylor attack
After failing to prevent medivac bill repeal, Labor switched its focus to a familiar target.
- PM: Medivac loophole closed
- Tearful Lambie seals medivac repeal
- ‘There is no secret deal’
- Keneally attacks medivac deal
- ‘Alarm bells should be ringing’
Hello and welcome to PoliticsNow, The Australian’s blog on the happenings at Parliament House in Canberra. Live coverage has ended, join us again tomorrow. Catch up on how the day unfolded below:
Olivia Caisley 5pm: What we learned in QT
Labor continued its pursuit of Angus Taylor in Question Time on Wednesday, with the embattled Energy Minister revealing he had established an “administrative point of contact” with NSW Police over its investigation into his office’s use of a “doctored document” to attack Clover Moore over her travel expenses.
Mr Taylor defended question after question from Labor over the source of the documents, explaining he stood by his previous statement that his office downloaded the document with the inflated figures from the City of Sydney office’s website.
Opposition energy spokesman Mark Butler seized on the issue to call on the Energy Minister to explain where he sourced the figures.
“Does the minister seriously expect Australians to believe a report with correct figures was available on the website and inexplicably replaced with a report that his office downloaded and then the correct report was put up for everyone else to see?”
After some two-ing and fro-ing about whether the question would interfere with an active police investigation, Mr Taylor repeated a statement he had made previously.
“I made a statement on this which I have tabled in the house, while there are ongoing police inquiries as a result of those opposite, I have nothing more to add,” he said.
Labor also seized on the poor school performance results released Wednesday morning that show Australian school students are falling behind the rest of the world.
Scott Morrison described the results as “deeply concerning” but said education funding was at “record levels”.
“Our education funding is at record levels, and the reason we can fund our schools at record levels is because we know how to manage money,” the Prime Minister said.
A dixer saw Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton spruik the Morrison government’s recent political victory, having successfully repealed the medivac legislation earlier on Wednesday.
“It was never about providing support to people who needed medical attention it was always a backdoor way into our country,” Mr Dutton said. “Yet again we see Labor and the Greens unite to weaken our borders.”
A follow-up question from Deputy Labor leader Richard Marles, saw him ask Mr Morrison to explain why the government claimed it not done a deal with crossbencher Jacqui Lambie to pass the legislation when she had suggested to the Senate they had.
But Mr Morrison said Senator Lambie had simply supported government policy.
“I can assure you Senator Lambie is fully aware of the government policies and supports those policies,” Mr Morrison said of the repeal legislation.
He then attacked Labor for sending women and children to Manus Island, which prompted jeers from Labor.
“This leader of the Labor Party in particular is weak on border protection, and he confirmed that today with his reaction to the repeal of the medivac bill,” Mr Morrison said. “Our government policies were supporting people who required medical attention and they were brought to Australia for that medical attention. It was our government that got every single child off Nauru.”
For the second day in a row a dixer saw Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack exchange verbal blows with opposition agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon over the drought and farmers.
“He wouldn’t know a farmer if he met one,” Mr Fitzgibbon said before leaving the dispatch box.
That’s it from Question Time today, join me tomorrow for the final parliamentary sitting day of 2019.
4.45pm: Business raises warning flags
Scott Morrison is pleased with the pick-up in annual economic growth, but business groups are far from happy, saying it should be seen as “a call for action”, AAP reports.
The latest national accounts released on Wednesday showed the economy expanded by 1.7 per cent in the year to September compared to a previously reported 1.4 per cent as of June - a decade low.
Growth in the September quarter was weaker than economists had expected at just 0.4 per cent after an upwardly revised 0.6 per cent in the June quarter.
Economic growth is still well short of the 2.75 per cent predicted for the financial year when Mr Frydenberg handed down his pre-election budget in April.
Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott said productivity growth also remains weak and business investment is still in the doldrums.
“Political leaders must now double down to deliver reforms that deliver strong and sustained economic growth through a vibrant private sector economy,” Ms Westacott said in a statement.
Australian Chamber of Commerce Industry chief economist Ross Lambie agreed. “Businesses need policies that assist them to lift productive capacity through investing in skills, technology and infrastructure,” he said.
Australian Bureau of Statistics chief economist Bruce Hockman said the rate of growth remains “well below the long run average”.
The main contributions to growth in the quarter came from exports and government spending, while the household sector remained subdued despite three interest rate cuts and billions of dollars worth of income tax cuts.
— AAP
Rosie Lewis 4.30pm: ‘I don’t like holding things back’
What was the Jacqui Lambie proposal that secured the medivac repeal? She told the Senate “national security” issues prevented her revealing all.
3.55pm: Freed hostage meets PM
Timothy Weeks has met Scott Morrison after spending more than three years as a Taliban hostage, AAP reports.
Mr Weeks sat down with the Prime Minister at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and Foreign Minister Marise Payne were also at the meeting.
He later received a standing ovation while attending Question Time.
— AAP
3.30pm: Taylor staffer named as leaker
Angus Taylor staffer Josh Manuatu distributed wrong information on the City of Sydney that triggered a police investigation.
Olivia Caisley 3.20pm: ‘Doctored document’ drama
Opposition energy spokesman Mark Butler again seizes on the Angus Taylor “doctored document” scandal to call on the Energy Minister to answer how he came to source an annual report from the City of Sydney website, which overestimated Clover Moore’s travel expenses.
“Does the minister seriously expect Australians to believe a report with correct figures was available on the website and inexplicably replaced with a report that his office downloaded and then the correct report was put up for everyone else to see?”
Opposition education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek is booted from the House for heckling.
After some to-ing and fro-ing about whether the question would interfere with an active police investigation, Mr Taylor says:
“I made a statement on this which I have tabled in the house, while there are ongoing police inquiries as a result of those opposite, I have nothing more to add.”
Speaker Tony Smith reminds the House that when ministers are ejected from the chamber they must not re-enter.
He says Ms Plibersek was seen in the public gallery despite being suspended for an hour.
Olivia Caisley 3.10pm: Taylor: ‘I will co-operate’
Opposition energy spokesman Mark Butler zeros in again on Energy Minister Angus Taylor, asking him if he or his office has provided any metadata or records to NSW Police as part of their investigation into the source of a “doctored document” used to blast City of Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore over her travel expenses.
Mr Taylor repeats that he will always cooperate with police matters.
He says his office has established an “administrative point of contact” with NSW Police, who last week launched Strike Force Garrard after a referral from the Labor Party.
“I don’t propose to comment any more while police inquiries are continuing,” Mr Taylor says.
Olivia Caisley 3.05pm: Labor reverts to Taylor attack
Opposition energy spokesman Mark Butler calls on embattled Energy Minister Angus Taylor to answer why he didn’t comply with a Senate request to table documents explaining why he used doctored documents to lash City of Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore over her travel expenses.
Before Mr Taylor has an opportunity to walk up to the despatch box, Speaker Tony Smith steps in to say there is “absolutely no rule” to comply with a Senate order.
“The Senate has no business seeking members of this house to comply with a Senate order,” Mr Smith says.
Mr Taylor repeats the claim he has previously told the lower house that he “absolutely rejects” the allegations and will always comply with police requests.
3pm: Folau, Rugby Australia reach settlement
Away from the bearpit of Question Time, resolution has been reached in the hard-fought legal battle between Rugby Australia and Israel Folau.
Olivia Caisley 2.55pm: Liu question ruled out
A question from Deputy Labor leader Richard Marles, asking what steps the Prime Minister has taken to investigate reports that Liberal MP Gladys Liu had helped a Chinese-owned company secure access to federal politicians, is ruled out of order.
Olivia Caisley 2.50pm: ‘No secret deal’
Deputy Labor leader Richard Marles calls on Scott Morrison to provide the details of the government’s “secret deal” with crossbencher Jacqui Lambie.
The Prime Minister refers to Senator Lambie’s statement to the upper house, declaring she made no reference to a “secret deal”
“I can assure you Senator Lambie is fully aware of the government policies and supports those policies,” Mr Morrison says of the repeal legislation.
Olivia Caisley 2.44pm: ‘Economy continues to grow’
Opposition Treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers calls on Josh Frydenberg to address the nation’s floundering economic results, which he says is “well below the record” and what was promised at the time of the May election.
The Treasurer steps up to the despatch box to defend his economic management.
“We will continue to make updates to our forecasts at MYEFO but the bottom line is the Australian economy continues to grow,” he says.
He blasts Labor for “talking down” the Australian economy and for putting Australian jobs at risk.
Mr Frydenberg says the latest national account figures shows the “remarkable resilience” of the Australian economy.
Olivia Caisley 2.40pm: Dutton revels in borders win
A dixer sees Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton spruik the Morrison government’s recent political victory, having successfully repealed the medivac legislation earlier on Wednesday.
“It was never about providing support to people who needed medical attention it was always a backdoor way into our country,” Mr Dutton says.
“Rubbish,” someone from Labor’s backbench calls out.
“Yet again we see Labor and the Greens unite to weaken our borders.”
Olivia Caisley 2.36pm: Called to account
Labor leader Anthony Albanese calls on Scott Morrison to answer why he “got it so wrong” when he predicted the national account figures would improve this quarter on the previous quarter.
It comes as Josh Frydenberg revealed softer than expected results of 0.4 per cent growth, which remains below the long-term average. Economists had been expecting growth between 0.5 and 0.6 per cent.
“Given it has slowed in the September quarter to 0.4 from 0.6 per cent how did the Prime Minister get it so wrong?”
“Misleading again”, someone from the Labor backbench calls out. “September this year is higher than September last year,” the Prime Minister fires back. “I know the leader of the opposition is not economically literate.”
Mr Morrison says Labor likes to talk the economy down but Australians have a different view.
“It would have to take an economic illiterate like the leader of the opposition to think you need to increase taxes,” Mr Morrison says.
Olivia Caisley 2.31pm: A show of unity
The high drama is suspended for a brief minute as the entire House rises to give a standing ovation to Australian academic Timothy Weeks, who was freed by the Taliban in a prisoner swap two weeks ago after three long years in captivity.
Olivia Caisley 2.26pm: McCormack goes off again
Another day, another firework display. For the second day in a row a dixer sees Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack exchange a fiery war of words with opposition agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon over the drought and farmers.
“He wouldn’t know a farmer if he met one,” Mr McCormack says before leaving the Dispatch Box.
Olivia Caisley 2.18pm: PISA leanings
Opposition education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek fires off another question about Australia’s slipping education standards.
The 2018 PISA results comparing the academic performance of 79 countries, released on Tuesday night, reveal Australia’s long-term declining academic achievement had continued, with average scores now at record lows across all three tested domains.
Education Minister Dan Tehan defends the government’s policies and track-record on schools funding.
“Not only are we providing record funding, we are also turning that record funding into better outcomes and better results.”
Mr Tehan says next week’s Education Council meeting will be the most important of the year, where he will call on the states and territories to commit to lifting the results of Australian students.
Olivia Caisley 2.07pm: School ‘falling behind’
Question Time kicks off with Labor leader Anthony Alabanese who calls on Scott Morrison to address the recent PISA results that show Australian school students are falling behind the rest of the world.
“Our education funding is at record levels, and the reason we can fund our schools at record levels, is because we know how to manage money,” the Prime Minister says.
Rosie Lewis 1.45pm: ‘Our borders have been strengthened’
Scott Morrison has declared the “only undertaking” his government gave crossbench senator Jacqui Lambie in order to gain her vote to repeal the controversial medivac laws was to implement the Coalition’s border protection policies, amid claims of a “secret deal”.
However the Prime Minister did not rule out revisiting the New Zealand government’s longstanding offer to take 150 refugees held by Australia offshore once the resettlement deal with the US is completed.
The US has agreed to take up to 1250 refugees from Manus Island and Nauru, with 654 already in America and another 251 given provisional approval.
“The only undertaking we’ve given is to implement our policies, that’s it,” Mr Morrison said.
“The government is always looking at ways in which it can resettle those who are on Nauru and I want to particularly pay credit to the Minister for Home Affairs who has not only got every single child off Nauru, and I know who put every single child on Nauru, it was the Labor Party and their failed border protection policies and it was under our government that we got every single child off.
“We will continue to use the arrangements that we have in place to be able to resettle people and that is the assurance that we have provided.”
Ben Packham 1.30pm: Sanctions for human rights offenders
The Morrison government will consider introducing a new sanctions regime that would allow human rights offenders to be banned from entering the country and their assets seized, amid a growing outcry over abuses in China’s Xinjiang region.
Olivia Caisley 1.04pm: Treasurer explains growth figures
Josh Frydenberg has revealed softer than expected results of 0.4 per cent growth for the September quarter, which remains below the long-term average. Economists had been expecting growth between 0.5 and 0.6 per cent.
“Australia is back in black and back on track,” the Treasurer said on Wednesday when delivering the national account figures. “Importantly, the labour market remains, with 1.4 million new jobs being created since we came to government, participation rates around record levels and the annual jobs growth is at 2 per cent, more than double the OECD average and nearly three times of what we inherited when we came to government.”
When asked about the “subpar” state of the economy Mr Frydenberg said the nation had done well in spite of domestic and international headwinds, with the economy growing by 1.7 per cent.
He said major infrastructure spending as well as industrial relations reforms, such as the Ensuring Integrity Bill and tax cuts, would further stimulate the economy going forward.
Olivia Caisley 12.46pm: Crossbencher ‘appalled’ at Lambie
Centre Alliance has taken aim at fellow crossbencher Jacqui Lambie, declaring he is “appalled” by her decision to support the government’s controversial medivac repeal legislation.
“Centre Alliance is appalled at Senator Lambie’s deal with the government to repeal the medivac laws,” Senator Stirling Griff said in a statement on Wednesday. “Senator Lambie said her decision had been a difficult one, but it should not have been.”
Senator Griff said the crossbencher should have stood up for the hundreds of men and women in offshore detention and protected their right to timely medical treatment.
He said the repeal would mean that Australia would return to the pre-existing arrangement where requests for medical transfers were often stalled by legal challenges brought by this heartless government.
“These are life-saving laws and no deal can justify over-turning them,” Senator Griff said. “Prior to medivac there were 12 deaths in detention. There have been none since medivac came into force. Because of this government, Australia is slowly losing its heart.”
Olivia Caisley 12.30pm: How medivac repeal unfolded
The laws, which made it easier for refugees in offshore detention to be brought to Australia to receive medical treatment, were scrapped during a tense debate in the Senate on Wednesday.
Olivia Caisley 12.20pm: Greens vow to uncover ‘deal’
Greens leader Richard Di Natale has vowed to find-out the terms of the Morrison government’s secret deal with crossbencher Jacqui Lambie to secure her support to successfully repeal the medivac legislation.
“This is a dark day not just for the Australian Parliament, but for the people who have been locked up in those offshore hellholes,” Senator Di Natale tweeted on Wednesday. “Someone is lying about this secretive deal. The Greens will work to find out what’s been negotiated.”
This is a dark day not just for the Australian Parliament, but for the people who have been locked up in those offshore hellholes.
— Richard Di Natale (@RichardDiNatale) December 4, 2019
Someone is lying about this secretive deal. The @Greens will work to find out what’s been negotiated. #Medevac #auspol pic.twitter.com/VxqiKe0hxP
Olivia Caisley 12.10pm: Lifeline ‘ripped away’
The Executive Director of the Human Rights Council Hugh de Kretser has accused Scott Morrison of “ripping away” a vital lifeline for sick people detained offshore.
“By repealing medivac the Morrison government has ripped away a vital lifeline for sick people detained offshore to get the care they needed,” Mr de Kretser wrote on Twitter.
“500 men and women are still held offshore after six long years. We will not stop until every single one of them is safe and free.”
By repealing #Medevac the Morrison Govt has ripped away a vital lifeline for sick people detained offshore to get the care they needed. 500 men & women are still held offshore after 6 long years. We will not stop until every single one of them is safe & free.
— Hugh de Kretser (@HughdeKretser) December 4, 2019
Dennis Shanahan 12pm: Vital win steadies Coalition
The repeal of the medivac laws was messy. But it was an essential victory for the Morrison Government as it waves goodbye to a scrappy Parliamentary year.
Patrick Commins 11.50am: Exports rescue growth
The economy enjoyed a mild acceleration through the three months to September, pointing to a gentle recovery driven in large part by booming exports and government spending.
Olivia Caisley 11.38am: Greens cane ‘cruel’ repeal
Greens leader Richard Di Natale has blasted the “cruel” and “heartless” repeal of the medivac legislation, accusing the government of lying about the nature of its secret negotiations with crucial crossbencher Jacqui Lambie.
During a brief press conference after the vote, Senator Di Natale said it was clear someone had lied about the deal struck between Senator Lambie and the Coalition.
“Either Senator Lambie is lying, or the government is lying. It’s very clear,” he said. “According to Senator Lambie there was a proposal put to the government that was negotiated in secret, yet the government denies it.”
“It is cruel, it is heartless, it is absolutely an assault on the parliament.”
Olivia Caisley 11.25am: Medivac repeal sealed
The Coalition’s controversial medivac repeal legislation has passed the upper house after crucial crossbencher Senator Jacqui Lambie voted with the government.
The final vote was 37 to 35.
Within seconds of the medivac bill passing Labor leader Anthony Albanese took to Twitter to accuse the government of not having a heart.
“You can be strong on borders without being weak on humanity. And on every issue, that’s what’s missing from this government – humanity,” Mr Albanese tweeted. “From robodebt, to the aged care crisis, to medevac. This mob has no heart.”
You can be strong on borders without being weak on humanity. And on every issue, that’s what’s missing from this Government – humanity.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) December 4, 2019
From robodebt, to the aged care crisis, to medevac.
This mob has no heart.
Olivia Caisley 11.17am: Labor pushing amendments
If you’re wondering where we’re up to in the Medivac repeal legislation, Labor’s attempt to delay the vote until details of the government’s deal with crossbencher Jacqui Lambie are tabled has been unsuccessful.
Now we are into a series of votes on the second reading of the bill.
Labor is trying to move amendments and if any of them are successful, which is unlikely, the bill will need to return to the House of Representatives.
Ewin Hannan 11am: Meanwhile, in the House of Reps ...
Attorney-General Christian Porter has agreed to a Greens proposal to subject the government’s proposed union-restricting laws to a review after two years of operation.
Olivia Caisley 10.55am: Cormann ‘misleading’ Senate
A furious Richard Di Natale blasts Finance Minister Mathias Corman for “misleading” the parliament after he claimed a “secret deal” had not been struck with crucial crossbench Senator Jacqui Lambie.
“We’ve just heard conflicting accounts. We had Minister Cormann say that there was no deal. Now we’ve just heard Senator Lambie say there is a deal. Who’s lying?,” the Greens leader says.
“Someone is misleading the Senate. Someone is misleading the Senate about one of the most important pieces of legislation that has been before this Parliament.”
Olivia Caisley 10.53am: ‘Matter of conscience’
Crucial crossbench Senator Jacqui Lambie says she is voting to repeal medivac because it is a “matter of conscience” and she is satisfied that the conditions that led to the legislation being passed aren’t the same today.
“The world in which this vote takes place is different and I thank the Government for working productively with me to get that. I get that this vote will disappoint many and I apologise for that,” Senator Lambie says.
“This is a matter of conscience. I can’t let the boats start back up and I can’t let refugees die, whether it’s sinking into the ocean or waiting for a doctor and I am voting to make sure that neither of these things happen.”
Olivia Caisley 10.50am: Lambie brought to tears
Senator Lambie has been brought to tears as she explains her decision to support the Morrison government in repealing the legislation.
“I’m not being coy or silly when I say I genuinely can’t say what I proposed. I know that’s frustrating to people. And I get that,” she says. “I don’t like holding things back like this but when I say I can’t discuss it publicly due to national security concerns, I am being 100 per cent honest to you.”
“My hand is on my heart and I can stand here and say that I would be putting at risk Australia’s national security and national interest if I said anything else about this.”
Olivia Caisley 10.48am: Senator Lambie explains stance
The woman of the hour, crucial crossbench Senator Jacqui Lambie is up and the chamber falls silent.
“I’m quite sure many people have known in here this has been a really hard decision for me to make,” Senator Lambie says. “Sorry, everybody, for taking this long to make it, but we’re getting there.”
She says medivac is a national security threat and there are “real problems” with the way it is operating.
“There are problems that sit at the centre of its operation. They cannot be amended away,” Senator Lambie says. “The Labor Party and the Greens might think everything is A-OK, but I’m not comfortable with it and I’ll tell you – they know as well as anybody else that this isn’t right.”
Olivia Caisley 10.45am: Keneally demands detail
Labor Senator Kristina Keneally is arguing for the vote to be delayed until details of the deal between the Morrison government and crucial crossbench Senator Jacqui Lambie are laid on the table.
“If you know, put it on the table, put it on the table. Let us all see it. If it’s so wonderful, if it is so fantastic, why can’t the whole of the Parliament know? Why can’t the whole of the Australian people know?,” Senator Keneally says.
“Understand this. When we vote later on this morning, there are going to be members of the government backbench who have no idea what they’re voting on or what they’re voting for.”
Olivia Caisley 10.42am: Greens: A ‘shameful detention regime’
Greens Senator Nick McKim is up again and he takes aim at the Morrison government for its track record on transparency.
“Let’s be clear about something about Australia’s shameful offshore detention regime, this dark, foul and bloody chapter in our country’s history,” he says. “It was designed with secrecy in mind. It was designed to be secret. It was designed to put people onto Manus Island and Nauru, out of sight of the Australian people.”
He argues that details of the Morrison government’s deal with crossbencher Senator Jacqui Lambie should be made public.
“The people in offshore detention need our help. They desperately need our help and Senator Lambie and the government today are going to vote to put decisions on whether people should be transferred for medical conditions back in the hands of the minister who repeatedly has shown that he will fight tooth and nail, including in our courts, to prevent people getting the treatment they need, and deaths have resulted.”
Olivia Caisley 10.38am: ‘You’re happy to open gates’
One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson is up and is throwing her support behind the repeal legislation, she accuses Labor of taking the Australian people for a ride over the “ridiculous” “Kerryn Phelps bill.”
“One Nation strongly supports this repeal of the medivac legislation that’s been brought in and if the Labor Party had any common sense about this, you would listen to how the Australian people feel about this,” she says. “This legislation has brought in 179 people into the country. On top of that, only 19 were hospitalised.”
Senator Hanson says negotiations between the Coalition and Senator Lambie are not of her concern and she’s in the chamber to vote on a bill that is going to tighten national security.
“These people are not of good character. They’re rapists. These people are thugs. They don’t belong here in Australia,” Senator Hanson says of those detained offshore. “They’ve gone through the process, but you’re quite happy to open up the gates and allow them in here. So are you going to take responsibility if these people turn on us and they are actually going to be a threat in our society? Is that what you really want?”
“I reckon that if Labor ever gets control of this country, you will be the worst thing for our border control.”
She accuses Labor of lying to the Australian people.
This procedural debate over whether the government should be forced to table all documents about its negotiations with crossbencher Jacqui Lambie before the repeal bill is voted on is expected to go for about half an hour.
Labor will need an absolute majority to delay the vote.
Olivia Caisley 10.31am: ‘There is no secret deal’
Finance Minister Mattias Cormann is now up and is disputing Labor Senator Penny Wong’s characterisation of the government’s negotiations with crossbencher Jacqui Lambie as a “secret deal.”
“There is no secret deal,” he says. “There is no secret deal. There is no secret. the Australian people know extremely well the work that we have done to strengthen our border protection arrangements.
“You should be ashamed of yourselves,” Senator Cormann says. “We are continuing to clean up your mess.”
“Let me tell you, the government is hopeful that we were able to satisfy a majority of Senators in this place, that Labor’s weak medivac laws need to be repealed, that it is necessary and that we are doing all the appropriate things to deal with the legacy caseload, without compromising our border security and national security arrangements already.”
Olivia Caisley 10.28am: Final push to delay a vote
The government wins the vote and debate over the bill begins.
Labor is now moving to suspend the final vote on the bill until the government discloses its deal with crucial crossbencher Jacqui Lambie.
Senator Penny Wong says the vote should be delayed until Australians know the details of the “secret deal” and negotiations between the government and Jacqui Lambie.
She says cabinet ministers are voting on legislation “like lemmings” based on a deal they haven’t seen.
“What sort of cabinet government is that? What sort of process of democracy is that?,” Senator Wong says.
“You should require of this government some disclosure. You should require of this government some disclosure. You should require something more than secret deals done in the shadows.”
Olivia Caisley 10.24am: An 11am deadline for debate
“The motion to suspend standing orders was successful and the Senate has agreed to the rearrangement,” the Australian Senate’s Twitter account says. “The time for considering the Migration Amendment (Repairing Medical Transfers) Bill will expire at 11am today.”
The motion to suspend standing orders was successful and the #Senate has agreed to the rearrangement. The time for considering the Migration Amendment (Repairing Medical Transfers) Bill will expire at 11am today
— Australian Senate (@AuSenate) December 3, 2019
Olivia Caisley 10.19am: Bid to bring on vote
The bells are ringing again as the chamber votes whether to bring on the immediate consideration of the bill.
Olivia Caisley 10.08am: Vote close
The chamber is now voting on the suspension of standing orders. A division is required and the bells are ringing. If this passes, the government will be able to effectively force a vote on the repeal of the medivac legislation.
The Coalition is successful in winning the vote to suspend standing orders, 38-37.
Jacqui Lambie votes with the government to bring on Medevac repeal, as 📸 by @kymbo9 pic.twitter.com/PuObqemG8H
— Alice Workman (@workmanalice) December 3, 2019
Aye - 38
— Alice Workman (@workmanalice) December 3, 2019
No - 37
Mathias Cormann now bringing on Medevac vote
Olivia Caisley 10.07am: Appeal to ‘straight shooter’
Labor Senator Penny Wong is up and uses the last minutes of the suspension of standing orders to make one last appeal to “straight shooter” and crucial crossbench, Senator Jacqui Lambie.
“I have a lot of respect for her,” Senator Wong says of Senator Lambie. “She’s a straight shooter. We don’t always agree but she is a straight shooter. I would say this to you. Do not make them to require you to vote for legislation with the requirement of secrecy around it. It is not a reasonable proposition.”
She says the back-door deal is consistent with the government’s attitude on transparency.
“This legislation is about the lives of vulnerable and sick people and it appears to have been decided in secret and out of public view away from any scrutiny certainly and that’s consistent with the way this government operates,” Senator Wong says.
Olivia Caisley 10.05am: Di Natale chimes in
Greens leader Richard Di Natale slams the Morrison government, saying the Senate is being asked to repeal laws that enshrine a “fundamental human right” on the basis of a back-door deal.
“What we’ve got is we’ve got a government working with Senator Lambie to repeal laws that provide people access to healthcare, that’s all this does,” Senator Di Natale says. “Medivac says if you are sick, you have a right to see a doctor, and it is a doctor who has the right to decide what kind of healthcare you receive. That is a fundamental human right.”
“That’s all the medivac laws do. Now we know that those laws that enshrine what we all understand to be a basic right afforded to every citizen, are going to be repealed but repealed on the basis of a secret deal.”
He slams the Morrison government for having no integrity.
“If this government had a shred of integrity, it would allow this parliament to scrutinise the basis for the repeal of a law that protects what is a fundamental human right.”
Olivia Caisley 10am: Government ‘mean, disgraceful’
Labor Senator Katy Gallagher is up and she lashes the “disgraceful” and “mean” Morrison government for seeking to repeal the contentious medivac legislation that passed without the Coalition’s support in March of this year.
“This legislation, if it passes today, will ensure that those 535 people that are still in PNG on Nauru, the majority of whom have been found to be refugees, held for seven years, will not be able to access the processes that have been put in place under the medivac law for doctor consideration about their health needs,” Senator Gallagher says.
She calls for more detail about the deal before such a critical debate commences.
“That’s what we’re doing today. And this chamber has every right to stand up and demand that any details of the deal that’s been done should be provided to this chamber.”
Crossbencher Jacqui Lambie, who holds the crucial vote and is expected to speak next, is sitting in her chair with her arms crossed.
9.55am: Deal struck?
The Coalition is trying to push legislation to repeal medical evacuation laws through parliament, sparking speculation the government has struck a deal with the Senate crossbench, AAP reports.
Government Senate leader Mathias Cormann has moved a motion to put the medivac repeal bill to a vote on Wednesday morning.
“We believe it’s in the national interest for this legislation to come to a vote, to be resolved and for us to leave here this week with the strong border protection and national security arrangements that this government has put in place being restored,” he told federal parliament.
— AAP
Mathias Cormann just gave One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts four 👠and put his hand on his shoulder during a quiet word in the Senate.
— Alice Workman (@workmanalice) December 3, 2019
Olivia Caisley 9.50am: Greens condemn reprehensible deal
Greens Senator Nick McKim says the debate is “literally a life and death” situation and lashes Jacqui Lambie for striking a “reprehensible” secret deal with the Coalition over the Medivac legislation.
“It will make such a difference such an impact on so many people,” he says. “It is literally a life and death debate.”
Things are getting pretty heated in the chamber.
Senator McKim says such a critical debate cannot be allowed without Senators knowing the details of the “secret deal.”
“How can we have this debate when the majority of the Senate is in the dark about what that agreement is? How can we have a debate that is actually going to determine whether some people live, or whether some people die without the full knowledge of the facts at our disposal,” he says.
Olivia Caisley 9.41am: Keneally attacks ‘secret’ medivac plan
Labor Senator Kristina Keneally is up in the Senate accusing the government of striking a “secret deal” with Jacqui Lambie on the controversial medivac legislation.
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has suspended standing orders to try and move the legislation through the Upper House.
Senator Keneally asks Senator Lambie whether she can trust whatever promise the government has made to her.
“Do you trust this prime minister?,” she says. “I say to Senator Lambie, think about this prime minister he will say anything to get himself out of a bind.”
Senator Keneally and her party colleague Katy Gallagher will speak for Labor.
Debate on the suspension of standing orders will happen for 30 minutes.
Olivia Caisley 9.22am: Labor turns up heat on Liu
Labor has signalled a fresh pursuit of Gladys Liu after it emerged the Liberal MP helped a Chinese-owned company secure access to federal politicians.
It has been reported that Ms Liu secured access to the government for a company endorsed by the Chinese Communist Party and later implicated in a major organised crime probe into $1 million in suspected drug money.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese renewed calls for Ms Liu to explain herself in federal parliament.
“We need to be diligent about ensuring that the parliament looks after these issues,” he told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.
Olivia Caisley 9.15am: Albanese wants a refresh
Speaking after his ABC Radio interview Mr Albanese called on the Morrison government to refresh its “stale” agenda.
“This is a government that needs an agenda for the 2020s. We’ve now just got a few weeks of this decade left. Their agenda for next year is that it’s the same as last year ... they’ve just got old stuff, that’s all they’ve got.”
Olivia Caisley 9.10am: Another crack at anti-thug laws
The Morrison government will today re-introduce the Ensuring Integrity Bill less than a week after the bill was defeated in the Senate.
Attorney-General Christian Porter is gearing up for a fresh round of consultation with cross bench senators after One Nation opposed the Coalition’s bill in a humiliating defeat for the government.
Pauline Hanson insisted on Monday she voted last week to defeat the Ensuring Integrity Bill because it was “poor law” and denied telling the government she would back the bill.
Mr Porter is prepared to make further amendments to win their support.
“Since the bill was voted on last week in the Senate, issues have been raised which were not raised with the government during consultations on the bill,” Mr Porter said on Wednesday.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said even with further changes, the bill would still represent an attack on ordinary workers.
“The fact is this is not in the interests of working people,” he told ABC radio on Wednesday. “Every time this government sees a nurse or sees a teacher, what they see is a trade unionist who they deride as being a thug.”
The bill makes it easier to deregister unions and ban officials for repeated law-breaking.
“Anyone who looks at this bill objectively and rationally can see it in no way prevents organisations from continuing to work in their members’ interests where they do so lawfully,” the Attorney-General said.
Olivia Caisley 9am: A ‘big F for the government’
Labor leader Anthony Albanese has described Australia’s slipping education standards as a “big F” for the Morrison government.
Speaking on ABC Radio this morning Mr Albanese said the fact Australian teens are performing at a record low standard in reading, maths and science should be a “huge wake up call” for Scott Morrison.
“This is a huge wake up call for the government that’s in its seventh year and it’s pretending it was elected yesterday,” Mr Albanese told ABC Radio. “This is a big F, a big F for failure and it will be of concern to every parent out there.”
“The fact that we are going backwards by a year in maths, but also in literacy in English and science is a shocker of result.”
Mr Albanese accused the government of ripping money out of education despite the additional $20bn funnelled into schools over that period.
“We’re falling so far behind our competitors. We live in a globalised world, we can’t afford to be going backwards,” Mr Albanese said.
Olivia Caisley 8.38am: Education results ‘not acceptable’
Opposition education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek has seized on the nation’s slipping results in global education rankings, accusing the Morrison government of turning its back on Australian students.
Speaking on ABC Radio this morning, Ms Plibersek accused Education Minister Dan Tehan of palming off the issue to the states and territories when a national approach was needed.
Australia has plunged in global education rankings, with the nation’s 15-year-olds performing at a significantly lower standard in reading, maths and science than 10 years ago, despite taxpayer funding for schools rising by more than $20bn over that period https://t.co/kdQ8okT3xj
— The Australian (@australian) December 3, 2019
“These are the worst results since these tests began — our kids are falling behind by ... up to three years against the highest-performing countries. It’s just not acceptable,” she told ABC Radio.
“There are so many examples around Australia where the early extra funding made a difference and the Liberals came in and they junked all of that and turned their backs on it.
“We’ve had no school improvement for years we’ve had funding cuts for years, and then they scratch their heads and (wonder) why we’ve got the worst results since testing began.”
This should be a huge wake-up call for Scott Morrison and the Liberals. School test scores have plummeted on their watch. #auspol pic.twitter.com/VMFK66fqIG
— Tanya Plibersek (@tanya_plibersek) December 3, 2019
Ms Plibersek said part of the problem was the fact universities had dropped their entry standards for teaching degrees, which was having a flow-on effect for students.
“We need to work with the universities to make sure we’re attracting our best and brightest into teaching degrees but then we also need to make sure our experienced teachers stay in the classroom.”
Who is to blame for the decline in Australian students' academic performance? Teachers? Politicians? Unions? The test itself? @RurbsOz writes.https://t.co/lSYWN6zVvC
— Australian Opinion (@AusOpinion) December 3, 2019
Olivia Caisley 8.20am: Farmers’ concerns ‘well-grounded’, Joyce says
Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce has described the concerns held by angry farmers that protested on the lawns of parliament house this week as “well-grounded.”
Speaking on ABC Radio this morning, Mr Joyce said the government’s handling of water was a “vexed issue” that needed to be addressed.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and Nationals MP Damian Drum yesterday faced a hostile reception from farmers who gathered on the lawns of Parliament House to push for the Murray-Darling Basin plan to be scrapped.
“This is not a mirage, this is actually happening and there’s going to be consequences if we don’t do something to placate these people’s well grounded concerns,” Mr Joyce said as he called on the government to consider amendments to the Commonwealth and Environmental Water Holder section of the Water Act 2007, which stipulates how the nation manages water.
When asked about a heated confrontation between a Victorian protester and Mr McCormack, who was accused of not having a backbone, Mr Joyce said: “This is what you have, you have got to face up to your constituents, you have got to make sure that you hear the message that’s what democracy is.”
Olivia Caisley 7.15am: ‘Alarm bells should be ringing’ on education
Education Minister Dan Tehan has warned that “alarm bells should be ringing” over the nation’s “very disappointing” result in a global study that revealed Aussie students’ scores had plummeted and were lagging behind Chinese and Singaporean counterparts.
The 2018 PISA results comparing the academic performance of 79 countries, released on Tuesday night, reveal Australia’s long-term declining academic achievement had continued, with average scores now at record lows across all three tested domains.
Speaking on ABC Radio this morning, Mr Tehan said the results would be the first item on the agenda when the Education Council met next week.
“The alarm bells should be ringing those [results] are very disappointing. Let’s call a spade a spade, these are not good outcomes and that’s why I say to all my state tertiary education ministers across the nation,” Mr Tehan said.
“All of us need to put our heads together, be ambitious refocus the agenda and make sure we start to turn around these results.”
The education minister said the figures showed that despite a rise in government investment in schools over the past decade, funding had not translated to better results.
“The focus for the last few years has been all about money, but what these results clearly show is that countries that spend half as much as we do, their students end up getting better results,” he said.
Olivia Caisley 7am: What’s making news in Canberra
Australia has plunged in global education rankings, with the nation’s 15-year-olds performing at a significantly lower standard in reading, mathematics and science than a decade ago.
An investigation into the century old agreement on how water is shared among the states is expected to shake up management of the Murray-Darling Basin.
The Department of Home Affairs has warned the stability of liberal democracies is under threat from new challenges to social cohesion, growing foreign interference and declining public trust in institutions.
Booming iron ore and coal exports have raised hopes the national accounts will show improved growth, easing pressure on Josh Frydenberg for an economic stimulus.
A final vote on Scott Morrison’s election pledge to repeal the medivac bill is expected on Wednesday, as the government continued efforts to secure the crucial vote of Jacqui Lambie.
The European Union’s top representative in Australia says the Coalition’s climate change policies are unlikely to get in the way of an EU-Australia free-trade agreement, amid French calls for “highly ambitious” action on climate change as part of the deal.
The Morrison government is concerned about forcing digital giants to pay media companies for using their journalism out of fear they could be interpreted as new taxes, as it moves to respond to the ACCC’s landmark report into digital platforms’ impact on journalism.
Federal and state governments must support a national vision for cities, break down institutional silos and increase funding to combat transport congestion, inflated housing markets and the loneliness crisis.
Angry farmers have berated Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack over the government’s handling of the Murray-Darling Basin, calling on the Nationals to cross the floor to force Scott Morrison’s hand in scrapping the current water management plan.
Scott Morrison has left the door open to a royal commission into veterans’ suicide amid a push from Labor leader Anthony Albanese for an inquiry into why some former soldiers are taking their own lives.
Dennis Shanahan writes: The image of Michael McCormack standing stony-faced as a large, angry, protesting farmer tears strips off him outside Parliament House is the epitome of the Coalition’s problems with the drought and rural Australia.
Attorney-General Christian Porter has signalled the government is willing to make further changes to the Ensuring Integrity Bill in a bid to convince the Senate crossbench to back the union-restricting laws.
Alice Workman’s Sketch: The Ghost of Christmas Past had come knocking for Angus Taylor. “Take heed!” the ghost cried, as it clasped the Energy Minister gently by the arm and wound back the clock to his first speech on December 10, 2013.
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