PoliticsNow: PM Scott Morrison concedes error in Taylor defence
Scott Morrison has conceded he incorrectly attributed a statement to a detective after being accused of misleading the House.
- PM stumbles in defending Taylor
- PM defends call during fiery QT
- ‘Who did they think I was going to call?’
- Turnbull rubbishes Rudd’s China claims
- Police call ‘not one I would’ve made’
- ‘Utter mockery of ministerial standards’
Hello and welcome to PoliticsNow, The Australian’s live blog on the happenings at Parliament House in Canberra.
TOP STORY: Scott Morrison appears to have blundered in his defence of Angus Taylor and his phone call to NSW police commissioner Mick Fuller.
Rosie Lewis 6.36pm: Morrison corrects his mistake
Scott Morrison has conceded he incorrectly attributed a statement to a Victorian detective after being accused by Anthony Albanese of misleading the House.
In a letter to the Speaker of the House Tony Smith, tabled by Attorney-General Christian Porter, the Prime Minister said he has been advised the quote he used in question time was in fact from journalist Ben Fordham “reporting on” an investigation into former prime minister Julia Gillard and the AWU slush fund scandal.
Ms Gillard has always denied any wrongdoing and the royal commission into trade union governance and corruption found in 2014 there were no grounds for prosecuting her.
Mr Morrison did not make the correction in person because he has left Canberra for a family commitment.
A senior government source said Mr Albanese knew Mr Morrison would not be able to make the correction himself.
“It’s an act of bastardry,” they said.
Mr Albanese acknowledged Scott Morrison had “absolute legitimate reasons” for not being in the House to correct the record in person but said he expected the Prime Minister do so at 9.30am on Thursday.
Rosie Lewis 6.20pm: PM accused of misleading parliament
Anthony Albanese has accused Scott Morrison of misleading parliament after the Prime Minister – under pressure over the Angus Taylor document doctoring scandal - wrongly attributed quotes to a Victorian detective instead of a journalist.
The blunder was first reported in this blog.
The Opposition Leader said it was clear the quotes, about former prime minister Julia Gillard and the AWU slush fund saga, was made by radio host Ben Fordham and not the police detective.
“In attempting to defend a Minister who has deliberately misled this parliament, the Prime Minister has today misled this parliament,” Mr Albanese said.
“This scandal just keeps getting deeper. This was a prepared statement by the Prime Minister today where he put the words of Ben Fordham into the mouth of a Victorian police officer. The fact is this just continues.
“This government in trying to protect this Minister is bringing down the Prime Minister.”
Ewin Hannan 5.16pm: One Nation hints at backing bill
One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts has lashed “rogue” union officials and welcomed government changes to the Ensuring Integrity Bill, in comments that hint at the minor party giving the Coalition the numbers to pass its proposed union-restricting laws.
Rosie Lewis 4.33pm: PM stumbles in defending Taylor
Scott Morrison appears to have blundered in his defence of Energy Minister Angus Taylor and his phone call to NSW police commissioner Mick Fuller.
While defending his decision not to stand Mr Taylor aside during a police investigation into allegations the Minister’s office doctored documents, the Prime Minister attributed quotes to a Victorian detective stating that then prime minister Julia Gillard was under investigation over the AWU slush fund scandal.
In fact, the quotes belonged to radio presenter Ben Fordham.
Mr Morrison told parliament: “I refer to March 2013. Ross Mitchell, a detective in Victoria’s police fraud squad, stated the prime minister Julia Gillard was under investigation over her role in the creation of an AWU slush fund.
“‘Let me make it perfectly clear’, he said, ‘the prime minister of Australia, Julia Gillard is under investigation by police. This is fact’.
“’I hadn’t planned to add to what I yesterday said out of respect for detectives of the case, that if the prime minister’s office wants to deny she’s been investigated as has been reported last night, then today I will once again correct that record’.”
Mr Morrison continued in his own words: “The prime minister (Gillard) obviously didn’t stand aside in relation to those matters. I remember the press conference.”
It was Fordham who made the quotes attributed to Mr Mitchell, as reported in The Australian in April 2013.
The Australian has sought clarification from the Prime Minister’s office.
Mr Morrison also sought to deflect increasing pressure over the Taylor saga by drawing in Bill Shorten, who was investigated and cleared of rape allegations by police.
“According to the Herald Sun, while Labor leader the member for Maribyrnong was the subject of a nine-month police investigation which concluded in August 2014,” the Prime Minister said.
“He continued to serve over that entire period. I don’t remember the Labor Party suggesting that the fact he was under police investigation at the time was a matter that should cause him to stand aside.
“I know the Leader of the Opposition (Anthony Albanese) was desperately trying at that time to get him to stand aside, but only for his own political purposes while he was knifing him. But if the proposition which is being put forward by the Leader of the Opposition is the press report of someone being investigation (sic) is caused to stand aside, well those on that side just don’t measure up.”
Rosie Lewis 3.58pm: Lambie’s medivac ultimatum
Key crossbench senator Jacqui Lambie has revealed she has delivered an ultimatum to the Morrison government in order to get her support to repeal the controversial Medivac laws, but won’t say what that “condition” is.
The independent Tasmanian senator said the Medivac laws were not undermining the government’s Operation Sovereign Borders platform but she acknowledged concerns with the way the legislation was working.
“In recognition, I have proposed to the government the only condition on which I will support the repeal of the Medivac legislation. If that condition is met, I will vote in favour of the repeal of Medivac,” she said.
“If that condition is not met, I will oppose the repeal of Medivac. The condition I have put to the government is a sensible and reasonable proposition, that I have arrived at through extensive consultation. I am aware that it is within the capacity of the government to accept it.
“I am of the firm and conclusive view that the continuing operation of the Medivac provisions cannot be disrupted without this condition being met. I will not entertain any alternative.”
One Nation and South Australian independent senator Cory Bernardi support repealing the Medivac laws, which were passed by Labor, the Greens and some crossbenchers in February, but Scott Morrison and his Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton must win over Senator Lambie to succeed in scrapping them.
Olivia Caisley 3.40pm: PM defends his call during another fiery QT
Scott Morrison has again defended himself over claims he had overstepped the mark by contacting his former neighbour, NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller, over the Angus Taylor “doctored documents” saga.
Labor ratcheted up pressure on the Coalition during a fiery Question Time on Wednesday, accusing Mr Morrison of breaching ministerial standards.
Mr Albanese asked Mr Morrison why he thought “none of the usual rules of integrity and accountability apply to him and his government”.
“That’s more of a smear than a question,” the Prime Minister quipped.
“I had to inform myself of the matter which he raised,” Mr Morrison said of his decision to call Mr Fuller.
“So, my answer to him is that you asked me to exercise these responsibilities. I exercised them, and I have provided my answers clearly to this House.”
Mr Albanese called on Mr Morrison to release notes of the call to “clarify the difference” between Mr Morrison and Mr Fuller’s account of the conversation.
“I obviously don’t accept the assertion that the Leader of the Opposition just made about the nature of that call,” Mr Morrison said. “The normal processes apply for accessing that information in relation to those matters.”
Another attempt by Mr Albanese to extract further information about the fated call saw Mr Morrison attack Labor over former prime minister Julia Gillard and former Labor leader, Bill Shorten, over separate police investigations into the pair.
“The Leader of the Opposition is seeking to prosecute a case here that says if the media have reported that a matter is under investigation by a law enforcement body, then the ministerial standards should be that that person should stand aside.”
After being called-out on relevance by Mr Albanese, Mr Morrison was allowed to continue.
“According to the Herald Sun, the Labor leader (Mr Shorten), the member for Maribyrnong was the subject of a nine-month police investigation which continued in 2014. He continued to serve over that entire period,” Mr Morrison said. “I don’t remember the Labor Party suggesting that the fact he was under police investigation at the time was a matter that should cause him to stand aside.”
Olivia Caisley 3.13pm: QT ends with series of divisions
For the second day in a row Labor tries to suspend standing orders over the Angus Taylor “dodgy documents” saga.
The move will inevitably lead to a series of divisions as the government moves to gag Anthony Albanese and then the seconder of the motion.
It will ultimately fail because Labor don’t have the numbers.
Mr Albanese’s motion:
“I seek leave to move the following motion — That the House:
1) notes that:
a) shortly before Question Time yesterday the NSW Police issued a statement confirming that detectives had launched a strike force to investigate a fraudulent document used by the Minister for Emissions Reduction.
(b) The statement by the New South Wales Police said, ‘As investigations are ongoing, no further information is available’.
(c) Despite that statement and only hours later, the Prime Minister called the NSW Police Commissioner and sought further information later, telling the parliament they had spoken about the instigation, the nature and the substance of their inquiries.
(d) Today Malcolm Turnbull said it would have been much better had the Prime Minister’s phone call to the NSW Police Commissioner not been made because it was important the inquiry is seen to be conducted entirely free of political influence and
(e) when members of his government were the subject of a police investigation, John Howard said, ‘I told my colleagues that the Federal Police should be allowed to carry out this investigation without let or from me or anybody in the Federal Government.’
And (2) therefore, the House resolves the Prime Minister acted inappropriately by
(a) calling the New South Wales Police Commissioner when all he had in mind was his own political interest and not the national interest, and
(b) thinking none of the usual rules of integrity and accountability apply to him.”
Olivia Caisley 2.59pm: ‘That’s more of a smear’
Labor leader Anthony Albanese asks Scott Morrison why he thinks “none of the usual rules of integrity and accountability apply to him and his government”.
“That’s more of a smear than a question,” the Prime Minister quips.
“I had to inform myself of the matter which he raised,” Mr Morrison says of his decision to call NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller over the Angus Taylor “dodgy document” saga.
“So, my answer to him is that you asked me to exercise these responsibilities. I exercised them, and I have provided my answers clearly to this House.”
Olivia Caisley 2.52pm: Albanese demands PM release call transcript
Labor leader Anthony Albanese brings up that phone call with NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller again.
Mr Albanese calls on the Prime Minister to release notes of the call to “clarify the difference” between Mr Morrison and Mr Fuller’s account of the conversation.
“I obviously don’t accept the assertion that the Leader of the Opposition just made about the nature of that call,” Mr Morrison says. “Secondly, the normal arrangements applied for those calls, and the normal processes apply for accessing that information in relation to those matters.”
Olivia Caisley 2.49pm: Albanese raises Howard quote
Labor leader Anthony Albanese quotes former prime minister John Howard, who said: “I told my colleagues that the Federal Police should be allowed to carry out this investigation without let or hindrance from me or anybody in the federal government.”
“Given John Howard’s example, why did the Prime Minister call the NSW Police Commissioner and according to him, discuss the substance of the criminal investigation?” Mr Albanese asks.
Scott Morrison says he “feels comfortable” with the conversation he had with his former neighbour, NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller.
“As Prime Minister I have to make assessments about how they (ministerial standards) apply in these circumstances when investigations of this matter arise,” Mr Morrison says. “So I informed myself of those matters, as I told this House I would, as I then went and did, and then reported back to this House as I should have.”
Olivia Caisley 2.40pm: PM flags double standards
Labor leader Anthony Albanese asks Scott Morrison whether he has any “further information” about the NSW Police investigation into the Angus Taylor saga beyond what is already in the public domain.
The Prime Minister seizes on the question to call-out Labor over former prime minister Julia Gillard, who he says was “investigated over her role in the creation of an AWU slush fund”.
“The Leader of the Opposition is seeking to prosecute a case here that says if the media have reported that a matter is under investigation by a law enforcement body, then the ministerial standards should be that that person should stand aside.”
After being called-out on relevance by Mr Albanese, Mr Morrison is allowed to continue.
“According to the Herald Sun, the Labor leader, the member for Maribyrnong (Bill Shorten) was the subject of a nine-month police investigation which continued in 2014”.
“He continued to serve over that entire period,” Mr Morrison says. “I don’t remember the Labor Party suggesting that the fact he was under police investigation at the time was a matter that should cause him to stand aside.”
Olivia Caisley 2.27pm: PM dismisses Turnbull’s comments
Labor leader Anthony Albanese asks Scott Morrison whether he agrees with former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, who told Sky News on Wednesday that he wouldn’t personally have called the NSW Police Commissioner over the Angus Taylor saga if he was still leader.
“Only those in possession of all of the facts in relation to this matter can make any real judgment about the call I made,” the Prime Minister quips.
“As I said yesterday, I advised the House I would make the contact. No objection was raised by the Leader of the Opposition yesterday, I note, on four separate occasions.”
Mr Albanese accuses Mr Morrison of misleading the house but is overruled.
Labor MP Ged Kearney is booted from the House for interjecting.
Olivia Caisley 2.19pm: ‘Who did they think I was going to call?’
Labor leader Anthony Albanese calls on Scott Morrison to answer why NSW Commissioner Mick Fuller’s recollection of his phone call is slightly different to the Prime Minister’s own account.
But Mr Morrison says he stands by the statements he made in the House on Tuesday and notes Mr Fuller told reporters in Sydney that these types of investigations can “consume an enormous amount” of police resources.
“As I told the House four times yesterday I would talk to the New South Wales Police, I don’t know who they thought I was going to call,” Mr Morrison says.
“Did they think I was going to call the Parking Infringements Officer at the Southern Police Station? Or maybe I would call the Water Police or the Dog Squad, or perhaps the Commander of the Police Band.”
“I spoke to the Police Commissioner because I needed to know, to exercise my responsibilities, both to this House, and under the Ministerial Standards to exercise the assessment required of me on those matters.”
Olivia Caisley 2.10pm: PM's Taylor refresh
Labor leader Anthony Albanese fires-off another question regarding the “appropriateness” of Scott Morrison’s phone call to NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller regarding the Angus Taylor saga.
“I will refresh the Leader of the Opposition’s memory,” the Prime Minister says. “It seems to be lacking this morning. Yesterday, I said this clearly – this is a very recent matter and I will be happy to take advice from NSW Police in relation to any matters they’re pursuing. I said I would take advice from NSW Police.”
Opposition health spokesman Chris Bowen is ejected from the House for interjecting.
Olivia Caisley 2.04pm: QT begins on Fuller call
Labor leader Anthony Albanese kicks off Question Time by calling on Scott Morrison to answer why he contacted NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller over the Angus Taylor “doctored documents” scandal.
The Prime Minister defends his decision, saying he would not make serious assessments regarding ministerial standards based on media reports or comments made by the Labor Party.
“The commissioner considered it appropriate to inform me on the nature, substance and incitation of the investigation,” Mr Morrison says.
Olivia Caisley 2.00pm: Nats rally to keep SA branch alive
Former deputy prime minister John Anderson has launched an impassioned plea for people to join the Nationals warning the South Australian branch will lose its registration this week if it doesn’t boost its members.
“The South Australian branch of the National Party could soon fall short of its required members to remain a registered political entity,” Mr Anderson wrote in a statement on Wednesday. “Can you ask your friends and family in South Australia if they can help, by signing up as a free supporter member?”
Mr Anderson was joined in his appeal by another former deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, who posted a similar plea on his Facebook page.
Olivia Caisley 1.19pm: Jail Westpac execs: Labor senator
Labor senator Glenn Sterle has called for Westpac executives to be jailed over the major bank’s money laundering and child exploitation funding scandal.
In parliament on Wednesday Senator Sterle singled out the bank’s departing chairman Lindsay Maxsted as an “absolute disgrace”, before spraying his colleagues for lacking the “intestinal fortitude” and “decency” to own-up to the bank’s failings.
“Not one of you have got the intestinal fortitude, let alone the decency, to say ‘you know what, we really have got caught with our fingers in the cookie jar’,” Senator Sterle said.
“Whether the previous sycophants or human tapeworms or parasites set it up, you oversaw it.”
Westpac has been accused of breaking money laundering and counter-terror financing laws 23 million times, with the scandal also claiming the scalp of chief executive Brian Hartzer.
During debate on a bill making it easier to deregister unions and ban officials, Senator Sterle called for urgent legislation for tougher criminal penalties for white collar crime.
“I tell you what should happen to the executives of the Westpac Bank, you should be jailed,” the WA senator said.
He also took aim at the federal government’s response to the scandal. “You’re looking after these human tapeworms in the Westpac Bank.”
Senator Sterle said he wasn’t optimistic Treasurer Josh Frydenberg would come down hard on the banks.
With AAP
Rosie Lewis 1.18pm: PM ‘threw his integrity into question’
Labor’s Senate leader Penny Wong says Scott Morrison “threw his own integrity into question” by calling NSW Police commissioner Mick Fuller about the strikeforce investigating allegations Energy Minister Angus Taylor’s office doctored a document to attack Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore.
The Prime Minister said he called the commissioner, who was once his neighbour, to find out about the instigation of the investigation – triggered after opposition legal affairs spokesman Mark Dreyfus referred the allegation to the police – and the nature and substance of the police inquiry.
“We have a Minister of the Crown being investigated by the police, by a special strikeforce, for a criminal offence,” Senator Wong said in the Senate.
“You’d think that the principles of our democracy and our Westminster system would mean that this Minister would stand aside. But he didn’t. Instead, if the Prime Minister had some integrity, he would ensure that Minister Taylor stood aside. But he didn’t stand him down. In fact, he didn’t show integrity. He just showed nothing but a contempt for parliament and the principles of ministerial integrity and accountability.
“Mr Morrison even threw his own integrity into question by a personal call to the NSW police commissioner to discuss details of the investigation.”
Andrew Clennell 12.00pm: Police chief defends PM’s call on Taylor
Exclusive
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller has defended his conversation with Prime Minister Scott Morrison about the investigation into Energy Minister Angus Taylor telling The Australian: “At the end of the day, he received no more or less information than what was in the media release”.
He has also described the conversation as “extremely short”.
Olivia Caisley 11.25am: Fuller call ‘entirely inappropriate’
Centre Alliance Senator Rex Patrick has lashed a phone call between Scott Morrison and his friend NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller as “entirely inappropriate”.
Speaking on Sky News on Wednesday Senator Patrick said the optics of the phone call were “even worse” considering the pair were once neighbours.
“I think it’s entirely inappropriate when you’ve got a minister being investigated by the police. The Prime Minister should not be making a call. The question needs to be asked ‘what did they talk about?’,” Senator Patrick said.
He told Sky News it was “even more inappropriate” because of the pair’s friendship.
“As we know in politics it’s not only about being clean source but being seen to be clean.”
Olivia Caisley 9.52am: ‘Factually wrong’: Turnbull rubbishes Rudd’s China claims
Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has taken a shot at Kevin Rudd, who on Tuesday accused him of being “uncritical” of China’s rising influence during the first two years of his leadership.
Speaking on Sky News on Wednesday, Mr Turnbull lashed the claim as “factually wrong”, saying he found it disturbing that Mr Rudd had not shown much solidarity with the country he had once led when the government had stood up to pressure from Beijing on “many occasions”.
Mr Turnbull also defended his track record on foreign interference, declaring he was always “very clear eyed and objective” when it came to China during his leadership.
“I don’t know why Kevin is so bitter and hypercritical in this way, but my track record in working with, working in China, and writing and speaking about it has been very objective very clear eyed and very consistent.”
Mr Turnbull confirmed he had never been informed of an alleged plot to plant a Chinese spy in federal parliament while he was leader, but described the reports of alleged interference as “very disturbing”.
“There may be specific cases that are new but the problem, the syndrome, we have been aware of for some time,” Mr Turnbull said on Wednesday.
Bo “Nick” Zhao was found dead in a Melbourne motel room in March, about a year after he was allegedly approached by a Chinese businessman who offered to front him $1m to run as a candidate in the federal seat of Chisholm, reportedly as an agent of influence of the Chinese Communist Party.
Mr Turnbull told Sky News he hoped the foreign interference laws he introduced in June 2018 are being enforced by the current Morrison government.
“There’s no point having these strong laws if they are not enforced,” Mr Turnbull said.
Olivia Caisley 9.40am: Police call ‘not one I would’ve made’: Turnbull
Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has questioned Scott Morrison’s decision to contact the NSW Police Commissioner over the Angus Taylor “doctored documents” saga, declaring it was a call he would not have made.
Speaking on Sky News on Wednesday Mr Turnbull said it was vitally important that any police inquiry was seen to be conducted “entirely free of political influence.”
“Now, I am sure the call that the Prime Minister made to the NSW Police Commissioner was innocuous, but it would have been much better if it had not been made,” Mr Turnbull said.
“It is a call – being blunt about it – it is a call I would not have made,” he said.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese raised similar concerns during an interview on ABC News this morning, where he cautioned that it was Mr Morrison role to “act in the national interest” rather than his personal interest when speaking to the authorities.
Olivia Caisley 8.55am: PM’s call to police chief ‘unprecedented’
Labor leader Anthony Albanese has raised concerns regarding Scott Morrison’s “unprecedented” phone call to the NSW Police Commissioner over the Angus Taylor “doctored documents” saga.
Speaking on ABC News on Wednesday Mr Albanese ramped up Labor’s demands for Mr Taylor to step aside while the police investigate the source of documents used to lash City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore over her travel expenses and carbon emissions.
“What he reported to the parliament was something much, much more concerning because he indicated he had a discussion with the Police Commissioner about the nature of the investigation which he has a direct interest in,” Mr Albanese said of the Prime Minister’s phone call.
“His job is to act in the national interest when he talks to authorities, not in his own personal interest, and I found it pretty unprecedented, frankly, that he would suggest that there had been a discussion about details of an investigation that was only launched hours beforehand.”
Mr Albanese said he believed Mr Taylor “knew” where the document, which had grossly inflated figures, came from but wouldn’t say.
“What he has said is wrong, which is it came from the City of Sydney website and that is a statement he has repeated,” Mr Albanese said. “It is clearly not the case from the metadata that’s there. That alone is enough – if you deliberately mislead parliament, you cannot remain a minister under the Westminster system.”
Last month, Mr Taylor conceded that he used incorrect numbers to attack Ms Moore, but strongly denies his office forged a false document.
The incorrect numbers were written in a letter to the council and given to The Daily Telegraph.
Mr Taylor’s letter said City of Sydney councillors had spent $1.7m on international travel and $14.2m on domestic travel.
However, the council’s 2017-18 annual report, available online, shows Ms Moore’s international out-of-pocket travel costs were only $1727.77 and domestic costs were $4206.32.
Labor referred the matter to police.
Olivia Caisley 8.44am: ‘This can never happen again’
Labor leader Anthony Albanese has said it is “extraordinary” the money laundering scandal involving claims Westpac facilitated transactions enabling child exploitation in The Philippines had gone on for such a long period of time.
“It is appropriate that we find out exactly how this happened, not to the point of just an academic exercise, but to the point of making sure that it can never happen again,” Mr Albanese told ABC News on Wednesday.
Mr Albanese seized on the issue to lash the Coalition’s delay in rolling-out the royal commission into the banks.
“One would have thought that the scrutiny that the banks were under when Labor was calling for a royal commission on 26 occasions and Scott Morrison was defending the banks, that they would have got their act together,” Mr Albanese said. “Quite clearly they haven’t.”
Labor is calling on the bank’s executives to front a parliamentary inquiry to answer how the alleged 23 million failures that were identified by Austrac occurred.
Olivia Caisley 8.14am: ‘Utter mockery of ministerial standards’
Opposition energy spokesman Mark Butler has accused Angus Taylor of “deliberately misleading” the parliament, while calling on the embattled Energy Minister to step aside to allow NSW Police to carry out their investigation into the “doctored documents” saga.
Mr Butler told ABC Radio on Wednesday Scott Morrison’s decision to stand by his minister was “absolutely baffling” and “completely out of line” with the way in which previous Prime Ministers had operated ministerial standards.
“The idea that Angus Taylor can continue in office while a strike force has been launched
into the possible commission of three very serious criminal offences makes an utter mockery of ministerial standards and ministerial accountability under this Prime Minister,” Mr Butler said.
He told ABC Radio that Labor would continue its pursuit of Mr Taylor in parliament on Wednesday, a day after the revelations dominated Question Time on Tuesday.
Mr Butler threw cold water over the Energy Minister’s claims he had directly downloaded the figures he used in a letter to lash City of Sydney Mayor Clover Moore from the council’s own website, saying it was “utterly inconsistent with all of the evidence on the public record”.
“I am very much saying he misled the parliament and he repeated that mislead this week,” Mr Butler said.
Olivia Caisley 7am: What’s making news today
Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe has insisted that monetary policy remains effective, declaring the bank is still two rate cuts away from implementing more unorthodox monetary policies.
The $170bn Future Fund has joined major Westpac investors in threatening to force a spill of the entire board unless more directors follow chief executive Brian Hartzer out of the bank and senior management guarantees the child exploitation scandal cannot happen again.
Westpac will be ruled out as a major bank lender for the Morrison government’s first home loan deposit scheme over reputational risk concerns.
The Australian Defence Force is devising a strategy to develop hi-tech soldiers and weaponised robots under a new program to “modernise levels of protection and lethality” for frontline troops.
Energy Minister Angus Taylor’s office is under police investigation over allegations it doctored a document used to attack Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore.
China has overtaken the US to establish the world’s largest diplomatic network, as Xi Jinping pushes to expand his country’s economic footprint through the Belt and Road Initiative.
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham has urged India to open its agricultural markets, saying its trade barriers to protect small farmers are stifling progress and hurting Australian producers.
Lower wage rises “have become the new normal” and workers should expect annual increases of 2 to 3 per cent, the Reserve Bank has warned, triggering calls from business for an urgent lift in productivity.
A vote on the government’s medivac repeal bill — a key election promise — is likely to be put off until next week at the earliest.
Alice Workman’s Sketch: On the political strife scale, Energy Minister Angus Taylor sits somewhere between “embattled” and “former”.
Dennis Shanahan writes: Scott Morrison has put his integrity on the line in a fight with Anthony Albanese. What was a minor and little-understood political mistake has turned into a full-blown test of leadership.
Labor’s migration target to be overshot by 100,000
With arrivals outstripping expectations and departures less than anticipated, economists and immigrations experts say Labor will oversee a net migration intake as high as 495,000.
Israel a ‘miracle’, says Labor senator
Labor Senator Deborah O’Neill has condemned the rise of anti-Semitism, as politicians from both sides of politics paused to commemorate October 7 in Canberra.