Australian Politics live: Bill Shorten utterly devious on citizenship, Julie Bishop says
PoliticsNow: Turnbull says the WA senator’s proposal is a ‘good bill to start with’, but indicates he expects there will be amendments.
We’ll wrap up PoliticsNow here.
Main events from today are:
● One Nation senator sworn-in, defects
● Pauline Hanson torpedoes SSM
● Cormann defends PM’s leadership
● The government and Labor have a deal on MP citizenship disclosure
• Top story: Bill Shorten devious on citizenship, Julie Bishop says
Rachel Baxendale 5.10pm: Smith SSM bill ‘good to start with’: Turnbull
Malcolm Turnbull says WA senator Dean Smith’s same-sex marriage private member’s bill is a “good bill to start with”, but has indicated he expects there will be amendments, in response to questions regarding Victorian Liberal senator James Paterson’s alternative that was floated today.
The Prime Minister hailed the “extraordinarily high” participation rate in the same-sex marriage postal survey, the results of which will be revealed on Wednesday.
“We said, if the result is yes - everyone seems to assume it is, hope they’re right - if it’s yes, we said we’ll facilitate a private member’s bill,” Mr Turnbull said.
“We’re going to have a free vote, and the Senate, if it’s going to be moved in the Senate, the senators will work out which bill they want to deal with first.”
Asked if he supported Senator Smith’s bill, Mr Turnbull said it was “clearly a good bill to start with”.
“In a sense, in a situation like this when a bill is presented, it’s like the first draft, and so that gets put up, and there’ll no doubt be plenty of amendments, debated no doubt for hours on end, and at the end of it they’ll come to a conclusion on an amended bill.”
4pm: Brandis foreshadows scrutiny of Labor MPs
Attorney-General George Brandis has all but confirmed the government will seek to refer two suspected dual national Labor MPs to the High Court to test their eligibility.
The government reached a deal with Labor today to set a December 1 deadline for all senators to disclose details of their family history and any dual citizenship renunciation, in a bid to end the fiasco.
The lower house is expected to pass a similar motion on November 27. Senator Brandis told parliament there were serious doubts - backed by legal opinion - about the constitutional eligibility of Labor MPs Justine Keay and Susan Lamb who were still British citizens when nominations for the 2016 election closed.
“The cases are just so clear,” he said.
Labor insists its two MPs took “reasonable steps” to renounce their citizenship before the 2016 election.
It has released legal advice which argues there is no basis Ms Keay, Ms Lamb and independent MP Rebekah Sharkie are incapable of being MPs under the constitution.
Each of them lodged a declaration of renunciation of British citizenship with the relevant UK authority before submitting their nomination for election, senior counsel Peter Hanks said.
Greg Brown 2.57pm: Cash, Kitching face off
Meanwhile, back in Senate question time, Labor’s Kimberly Kitching follows up with a question about Employment Minister Michaelia Cash’s office tipping off media about the police raid on the Australian Workers Union despite the minister telling the Senate five times it didn’t.
Senator Cash hits back that it is a bit rich of Senator Kitching, considering “a royal commission and the fair work commission found that you broke the law”. “I will not take lectures of honesty and propriety from Senator Kitching,” she says.
Labor didn’t like that one.
But Cash won’t answer a question on whether the Prime Minister knew about the media tip-off, saying it is now the subject of an investigation by the Australian Federal Police.
Primrose Riordan 2.55pm: Turnbull meets Abe and Trump
Malcolm Turnbull has met US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Manila, in a powerful statement between the three democracies facing increasing Chinese power in the region.
“We’ve got the same values and the same focus,” Mr Turnbull said.
Mr Abe said the three men were very close partners that share “fundamental values” and “strategic interests”.
Mr Turnbull and Mr Abe said they were focused on the North Korean missile crisis.
Mr Trump said as a result of his meetings, including the one with the Japanese and Australian leaders, there would be statement from the White House likely on trade and North Korea.”
“We’ve made some very big steps in respect to trade,” he said. “We have deficits with almost everybody. Those deficits will be cut very quickly and very substantially”
“Except us!” Mr Turnbull chimed in.
Greg Brown 2.50pm: Labor yells over Cash
Labor pipes up when Employment Minister Michaelia Cash ties to answer a question on stopping the boats.
Labor’s Doug Cameron yells: “Can’t trust a word you say”, while senator Penny Wong says: “She is a serial misleader of the Senate”.
And the yells of condemnation continue throughout Senator Cash’s answer and overshadows her answer, much to the displeasure of Senate President Scott Ryan, on his first day.
Greg Brown 2.40pm: Scrutiny on who Parry told
Labor senator Don Farrell points to reports of Liberal former senate president Stephen Parry saying he told several senior members of the Coalition about his citizenship concerns.
Senator George Brandis says he only told Mitch Fifield and reports otherwise were merely speculation.
Opposition Senate leader Penny Wong tables a report of Mr Parry being quoted as saying he had told “various ministers” of his predicament.
Senator Brandis allows her to table it and immediately starts reading it.
Greg Brown 2.30pm: Blood on whose hands
Greens senator Nick McKim asks about the unfolding situation on Manus Island. He asks when the government is going to restore essential services to the de\-commissioned detention centre and when the government will either bring the refugees home or resettle them in a safe country.
Attorney-General George Brandis says Senator McKim must have forgotten it was Labor who started the camp.
“A little history is relevant here: let us remember who started the Manus detention centre, it was the Labor government of Kevin Rudd,” he said.
Senator McKim yells out: “You’re the one who is killing them”, and asks Senator Brandis in a supplementary question if he accepts the government has “blood on its hands”.
Senator Brandis labels Senator McKim’s actions on Manus as “despicable” and contemptible” for encouraging asylum-seekers to stay in the detention centre, which has incited violence.
“You should be ashamed of yourself,” he says. “The people with blood on their hands are the people who stood by when 1200 or more men, women and children drowned.”
Greens leader Richard Di Natale calls those “extraordinary allegations” and asks for them to be withdrawn.
Senate president Scott Ryan does not force a withdrawal, saying he didn’t hear the allegations of inciting violence and he will review the Hansard.
Senator Di Natale yells out at the new speaker: “That is a bad start”.
Greg Brown 2.15pm: Adani loan veto ‘an act of betrayal’
Resources Minister Matt Canavan uses a question from a government backbencher to attack the Queensland government for vetoing a concessional loan to the Adani mine.
“An act of betrayal on the people of Queensland,” he calls it.
He accuses the government of inventing reasons for pulling support for the loan when it was simply pressured by the Greens.
“There is now only one major party that supports jobs in the Galilee Basin,” he says. “These are areas of Queensland with high levels of unemployment.”
Greg Brown 2.10pm: MPs ‘admitted’ dual citizens on nomination
Senate leader George Brandis uses a Dorothy Dixer on the government’s proposals to deal with the citizenship issues to attack Labor for refusing to refer its MPs Justine Keay and Susan Lamb to the High Court. He said both had admitted they were dual citizens at the time they nominated to sit in parliament.
Greg Brown 2.05pm: Wong goes after Fifield
Opposition Senate leader Penny Wong opens up Senate question time grilling Communications Minister Mitch Fifield about when he found out about Stephen Parry’s citizenship concerns.
He refused to answer the question beyond the statement he delivered to the Senate earlier today.
Rosie Lewis 2pm: Labor stance ‘unacceptable’
Attorney-General George Brandis has sharpened the government’s attack against Labor members under a citizenship cloud, saying the fact they “will not budge” and agree to be referred to the High Court is “unacceptable”.
After unveiling the new citizenship disclosure rules to the Senate, Senator Brandis outlined the timelines of steps taken by Labor’s member for Braddon Justine Keay and Labor’s member for Longman Susan Lamb to renounce their British citizenship.
He said they were preselected by Labor on June 26, 2015 and July 10, 2015 respectively, but waited 11 months and 10 months to begin their renunciation processes.
It should be noted here that Coalition MPs already disqualified under section 44 of the Constitution, Barnaby Joyce and Fiona Nash, took no steps to renounce their foreign citizenship and never clarified whether they could be New Zealand and British by descent of their parents before nominating.
“Under no circumstances could anybody possibly maintain if they were being honest that to delay for almost a year after you were preselected ... even to initiate the process is taking reasonable steps to renounce the foreign citizenship,” Senator Brandis said.
“Yet Mr Shorten expects us to believe that these two members took all reasonable steps to renounce their UK citizenship? The facts, the chronology of events, plainly suggest that they did not.
“The member for Longman and the member for Braddon are certainly in no more favourable position ... than is the member for Bennelong, Mr (John) Alexander, or the former member for New England Mr Joyce.
“Mr Shorten continues to protect the member for Braddon, the member for Longman, and we do not know how many others he continues to protect.”
Greg Brown 1.50pm: Shorten ‘hiding evidence’ on MPs
Acting Prime Minister Julie Bishop has accused Bill Shorten of “seeking to undermine the integrity of the parliament” by “hiding evidence” about Labor MPs who may be ineligible to sit in parliament.
Ms Bishop said the Opposition Leader had been “utterly devious” on the citizenship issue and “had to be dragged into accepting” the government’s plan to deal with it.
“For months Mr Shorten has been trying to protect his members of parliament who have serious questions about citizenship applying one rule to his members and another to everybody else,” Ms Bishop said in Redcliffe today.
“The Labor Party is not above the law. Mr Shorten has been seeking to undermine the integrity of the parliament by calling out Coalition members, yet hiding the evidence about his own members of parliament who have serious questions to answer about their citizenship.”
Ms Bishop said she does not “have any information to suggest” there are any other Coalition MPs that could be ineligible
She said today’s woeful Newspoll for the Coalition was “not surprising” given the citizenship chaos.
“But we have a plan to resolve this issue. We’ve had no support from the Labor Party. They have been working hard to destabilise the government and destabilise the parliament. What we have now is a plan to resolve this issue. Then we can continue to govern for the Australian people,” Ms Bishop said.
Joe Kelly 1.35pm: Lambie may resign
Tasmanian crossbench Senator Jacqui Lambie has revealed she could resign from parliament because she might be a British citizen by descent through her Scottish-born father, Thomas.
Senator Lambie has told media today she will resign immediately if advice from British authorities proves she is a dual citizen and is expecting confirmation in the next 24 hours.
Earlier today, Australian Conservatives Senator Cory Bernardi suggested the government was aware of another Senator who had concerns over their eligibility to sit parliament.
The Australian revealed last week the indigenous identifying crossbench Senator had already held discussions with her father and a lawyer about whether she could be a dual British national -- which would disqualify her from sitting in federal parliament.
After the Australian obtained records showing that her father, Thomas, had arrived in Australia from Scotland as a child on the RMS Ormonde passenger liner in 1952, Senator Lambie argued she was still confident she was a sole Australian citizen but did not produce any documents to support her claim.
She released a statement saying that she was “proud” of her Scottish ancestry and had only discovered more about her father’s background in recent weeks as she worked on her autobiography to be published next year.
She said her grandfather came to Australia with his family to enlist in the army and argued a citizenship audit would “clear the air once and for all.”
Senator Lambie said she would present documents to support her case only when she was required.
Senator Lambie was first elected to parliament at the 2013 election for the Palmer United Party and had previously talked of taking her father back to Scotland.
In her maiden speech, she claimed indigenous heritage through her mother’s bloodline, saying that her family traced its history over six generations to the “celebrated Aboriginal chieftain of the Tasmanian east coast, Mannalargenna.”
She broke away from PUP and became an independent Senator in late 2014 before establishing her own political party, the Jacqui Lambie Network in May 2015. Steve Martin was next on the Jacqui Lambie Network Senate ticket for Tasmania and received 233 first-preference votes, according to the Australian Electoral Commission.
Greg Brown 1.20pm: Dual attack
Senate leader George Brandis has moved a motion in the Senate requiring MPs to update the register of members’ interests with proof they are not dual citizens.
He uses the time to attack Labor over its refusal to agree to refer Justine Keay and Susan Lamb to the High Court due to their citizenship concerns.
Greg Brown 1.10pm: Fifield reveals Parry details
Communications Minister Mitch Fifield has spoken out about his conversation with former Senate president Stephen Parry three weeks before he resigned from parliament.
Senator Fifield rejected suggestions he directed the former senator to stay silent until the decision of the High Court in the citizenship seven case.
In a prepared statement delivered to the Senate, Senator Fifield said the responsibility was solely Mr Parry’s and he had no duty to inform the Prime Minister or parliament.
“He indicated he was endeavouring to check his family’s own records, former senator Parry always recognised it was the responsibly of each senator and member to determine and be satisfied about their own circumstances and I encouraged him to do so,” Senator Fifield said.
“This duty is individual and personal, it cannot be abrogated, outsourced or transferred and former Senator Parry never sought to do so.
“Suggestions I directed the former senator are wrong, I did not speak to others about the private discussion with a colleague on a matter of their responsibility about which they had not, to my knowledge, reached a concluded view.”
Primrose Riordan 1pm: Turnbull, Trump one-on-one cancelled
A planned bilateral meeting between Donald Trump and Malcolm Turnbull will not go ahead this morning, it is understood.
The leaders will instead meet as part of a trilateral meeting with Mr Trump, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Mr Turnbull.
The three nations have close military and defence ties.
Greg Brown 12.45pm: Tony Abbott chimes in
Tony Abbott says the government can still win the election and hailed the achievements of the Turnbull government.
The former prime minister said it was good the government had struck a deal with Labor to resolve the issue and supported moves to refer Labor MPs to the High Court.
“I think that it is good that the Prime Minister is hitting home to the Labor Party the fact that it is completely hypocritical on this citizenship issue,” Mr Abbott told Sydney radio station 2GB.
He said the government could “certainly” win the next election.
“I think that this is a government which, despite everything, we are getting the deficit down slowly, we are protecting our borders, we are reforming the welfare system, we are trying to encourage business and get the Adani mine opened,” Mr Abbott said.
“We are trying to ensure that the lights are on this summer and the air conditioning is on this summer because we aren’t having anything to do with Labor’s crazy 50 per cent renewable energy target.
“I think we are getting on with things the best we can and that’s what the government has to do.”
Greg Brown 12.05pm: ‘One of the senators is not eligible’
Australian Conservatives Cory Bernardi has suggested the government is aware of another senator who has concerns over their eligibility to sit in parliament and is keeping the matter a secret.
Senator Bernardi, who has been calling for parliament to be suspended until the citizenship issue is resolved, attempted to move a point of order in the Senate to question whether all seated in the upper house were eligible.
“One of the senators knows they are not eligible to be here because of the constitutionality and it would concern me deeply about the integrity of this institution if we consider formal business knowing that one of the people hasn’t fully informed the chamber of their status,” Senator Bernardi said.
His point of order was supported by crossbench senator Derryn Hinch.
Senate leader George Brandis issued a point of order to silence Senator Bernardi’s “assertion”.
“No member of this chamber has indicated to the chamber that the situation he describes is in fact the case,” he said.
Senator Bernardi then went on to claim the government was told about a potential ineligible senator, although he did not reveal who it was.
“Perhaps it would facilitate things if the government would respond to the suggestion that they are advised or have been advised by a senator that the constitutionality of their position is in question and if that be the case then the government is part of undermining this process,” he said.
Senate President Scott Ryan ruled Senator Bernardi’s question to the government should be asked in question time and dismissed his point of order.
11.55am: A wrap on the citizenship arrangements
Senators will be set a December 1 deadline to disclose details of their family history and any dual citizenship renunciation, in a bid to clear up any eligibility problems.
A deal was struck between Labor and the coalition today for a motion to force all senators to publicly disclose the information.
The Senate would then decide if anyone else will be referred to the High Court, which has already disqualified five members of parliament over their dual citizenship in breach of section 44 of the Constitution.
The House of Representatives does not resume sitting until November 27 and is expected to pass a similar resolution.
Leader of the House Christopher Pyne says the agreed process reflects that which the government proposed last week and is a “good outcome”.
However, Labor sources say the shorter deadline and extra information to be disclosed go beyond that proposed by the cabinet.
“All senators will be asked to make a declaration to the Senate by December 1 as to their citizenship status,” Mr Pyne told reporters in Canberra. “If there is a doubt or if they have a reason in the past, a parent for example with the citizenship of another country, then they have to clear that doubt up by showing how they went about relinquishing that citizenship or what the laws are that show they aren’t entitled to any dual citizenship.”
He called on Labor Leader Bill Shorten to settle on a resolution for the House. Another victim of the citizenship fiasco, Stephen Parry, who will be referred to the court on Monday, was replaced by Liberal colleague Scott Ryan as Senate President in a secret ballot on Monday.
The Greens, who proposed their own senator Peter Whish-Wilson as president, argued a crossbench president would restore integrity to parliament. “This government and the way it has handled this citizenship crisis is a disgrace,” Senator Whish-Wilson said.
The Greens may prove to be the key to whether in-doubt Labor MPs are referred to the High Court.
Greens Leader Richard Di Natale confirmed the minor party’s sole MP Adam Bandt would provide the government with the crucial vote it needs in the lower house. “If the government decides to refer someone, if the opposition decides someone should be referred, we think we should honour that,” Senator Di Natale told the ABC today.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at the weekend vowed to refer any Labor MPs facing dual citizenship questions to the High Court, accusing the opposition of flouting the law.
That’s brought a “declaration of war” response from Labor.
Cabinet minister Mathias Cormann would not say whether the government would act when the House of Representatives returns or wait until the disclosure system reports back.
Mr Pyne says there is “clear evidence” which would justify Labor MPs Justine Keay and Susan Lamb being referred to the High Court.
Labor insists its two MPs took “reasonable steps” to renounce their citizenship before the 2016 election.
It has released legal advice which argues there is no basis Ms Keay, Ms Lamb and independent MP Rebekah Sharkie are incapable of being MPs under the Constitution.
Each of them lodged a declaration of renunciation of British citizenship with the relevant UK authority before submitting their nomination for election, senior counsel Peter Hanks said.
Greg Brown 11.30am: New role for Mathias
Malcolm Turnbull has confirmed Finance Minister Mathias Cormann will take on the responsibilities of Special Minister of State after Scott Ryan leaves the ministry for the role of Senate president.
The Prime Minister congratulated Senator Ryan for his move the Senate presidency.
“The Senate presidency is a vital role in our parliament. The Senate president represents all Senators, ensures the smooth running of the Senate chamber and works with the speaker to ensure the parliament is resourced, secure and able to conduct its business,” Mr Turnbull said in a statement released this morning.
“Senator Ryan will make a fine Senate president, just as he has been effective, capable and successful in his service as Special Minister of State for which I thank him.”
David Crowe 11.25am: Dates to remember
Key dates in December 16 Bennelong by-election. Nominations close November 23. pic.twitter.com/cjbpvQpdUT
— David Crowe (@CroweDM) November 13, 2017
Rosie Lewis 11am: More on the citizenship deal
“That’s a good outcome and Mathias Cormann has been working on that with Penny Wong as I understand it over the last week,” Leader of the House Christopher Pyne said.
“It’s a sensible way forward and I hope that in the House of Representatives a similar approach will be taken now by Mr (Bill) Shorten and Tony Burke, who have ... not been cooperating in terms of bringing about an outcome in the House of Representatives.”
10.40am: Deal reached on citizenship
Members of the federal parliament will need to publicly disclose family history and any steps taken to renounce dual citizenships under a motion expected to go to the Senate today.
The federal government has agreed to Labor’s request for a December 1 disclosure date and for more details to be disclosed.
It’s understood the deal was negotiated between cabinet minister Mathias Cormann and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.
Labor had been pushing for a December 1 deadline, while Malcolm Turnbull wanted a deadline of December 7.
Rosie Lewis 10.35am: An explanation
Senator Leyonhjelm’s office said he was invited to vouch for Senator Anning at the invitation of the One Nation MP.
“Senator Leyonhjelm did so with pleasure,” a spokeswoman said.
Greg Brown 10.35am: Senate chief elected
Liberal senator Scott Ryan has been elected the 25th president of the Senate.
He won a ballot against Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson by 53 votes to 11. There was one vote which was invalid.
Senators line up in the chamber to congratulate him.
Greg Brown 10.30am: Seating plan
Liberal senators James Patterson and Dean Smith are seated next to each other in the Senate as both will ask Coalition MPs to support their different bills to legalise same-sex marriage if the Yes vote wins the postal survey.
They are not engaged in conversation as the ballot for Senste president ensues, preferring the sight of their phones.
Rosie Lewis 10.25am: Labor pokes One Nation
Labor has already seized on the new One Nation senator not being escorted in by Pauline Hanson, questioning if One Nation was “imploding”.
Hanson not here and other One Nation Senators don’t walk in their new colleague. One Nation imploding before he even arrives? https://t.co/kkx9wF0P4W
— Senator Murray Watt (@MurrayWatt) November 12, 2017
Greg Brown 10.20am: Vote on senate president
Leader of the Senate George Brandis nominated Scott Ryan as senate president, while the Greens nominated senator Peter Whish-Wilson.
Senator Ryan, who resigned as special minister of state to apply for the role, said he knew it was unusual for a minister to resign to become Senate president.
But he said it was “not unprecedented” with eight former Senate presidents having previously been a minister.
Senator Whish-Wilson said there was no rule for the role to go to a government member, although he acknowledged it was convention.
He said the government handled the resignation of former Senate president Stephen Parry without integrity and they should not be rewarded with another Senate president.
Greens leader Richard Di Natale told Labor the position should not be a “gift” automatically given to the government.
He said Senator Parry was a good president but the government was wrong to conceal his concerns about his eligibility to sit in parliament.
“I say to Labor, we have an opportunity to break this deadlock to return some decency to this chamber and to appoint someone in an independent role,” he told the Senate.
A ballot is held.
Michael Owen 10.10am: ‘I’ve always supported every Liberal’
Senior Turnbull government minister Christopher Pyne has again today repeated denials that he tried to undermine Liberal MP Tony Pasin and separately threatened to take pre-selection from first-term Liberal MP Nicolle Flint.
But Mr Pyne and senior Liberal officials in South Australia are refusing to disclose how the party is handling the allegations and whether any internal probe into his conduct has been launched.
Mr Pyne told ABC radio this morning that, in relation to any investigation, “I am not talking about internal party matters”. “I’ve dealt with this issue - it’s over,” he said.
Asked if the party would deal with it before the next South Australian election on March 17, Mr Pyne said: “There are much more important matters to deal with than that.”
Liberal Party state director Sascha Meldrum told The Australian that, “I am sure you will understand, but I won’t comment on internal party matters”.
Mr Pyne this morning reiterated his position - stated in separate interviews last week with Adelaide’s 5AA radio and Sky News - that, “I’ve always supported every endorsed Liberal candidate”.
The Minister for Defence Industry and Leader of the House is the most senior Liberal in South Australia and head of the moderate faction. He is facing internal calls for the state executive to investigate allegations revealed exclusively last month in The Australian.
Mr Pyne faced claims that he rang Wattle Range Council mayor Peter Gandolfi on June 22, 2013, and asked him to run as an independent in the federal election against Mr Pasin, a conservative, who was the preselected Liberal candidate.
Last week Mr Pyne told Adelaide radio that, “I refuted that claim (about Pasin) and I continue to stand by that. I’ve always supported every endorsed Liberal candidate in every seat. I spent a lifetime doing it.”
Mr Pyne said that Mr Pasin, who this month criticised him, was a “very valued colleague”.
In regards to potentially challenging Ms Flint for pre-selection in her seat of Boothby, if a redistribution disadvantaged him in his seat of Sturt, Mr Pyne also rejected that allegation.
“That never happened,” he said.
“I think you’ll find that story is a complete and utter fabrication.”
Greg Brown 10.15am: Youngest member
The Greens’ second new senator, Jordon Steele-John has become the youngest member of parliament, aged 23.
He came into the chamber on a wheelchair and was escorted by party leader Richard Di Natale.
Rosie Lewis 10.10am: One Nation senator added
One Nation’s newest senator Fraser Anning has been sworn in without leader Pauline Hanson present. He was walked into the chamber by Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm and Australian Conservatives Cory Bernardi.
Comments from Labor and the Greens benches included:
“Cory did you get another one (senator)?”
“Where’s your great leader?”
Senator Anning shook the hands of his One Nation colleagues Brian Burston and Peter Georgiou when he took his seat.
Greg Brown 10.05am: Bartlett’s back
Incoming Greens senator Andrew Bartlett has been sworn in to the Senate. He was escorted into the chamber by Greens leader Richard Di Natale. Mr Bartlett was leader of the Australian Democrats in a previous parliament.
Greg Brown 10am: Labor outlines Bennelong tactics
Labor is set to use the Coalition’s “increasing and disturbing closeness” with One Nation as its campaign pitch at the Bennelong by-election.
Bill Shorten said this morning Labor was the underdog in the by-election due to the Liberal Party’s 10-point margin but added the opposition would campaign strongly in the seat in Sydney’s northwest.
He said people who vote Liberal were “endorsing” One Nation’s extreme views.
“One point we will be making in Bennelong is that because of the increasing and disturbing closeness and proximity between One Nation and the Liberal Party, that a vote for the Liberal Party in Bennelong is effectively a vote for One Nation on the national stage,” Mr Shorten told caucus in Canberra this morning.
“When you look at One Nation’s voting record in the Senate, nearly 90 per cent of the time they are voting with the Liberals.
“So for the voters who think they are voting for One Nation as a protest against the government - they are not.
“For people who vote Liberal because they don’t agree with some of One Nation’s extreme views, they are, in fact, endorsing them.”
Greg Brown 9.50am: Shorten’s warning on SSM poll
Bill Shorten says the nation will “throw up its hands and give up on the parliament” if the Yes vote is successful but same-sex marriage is not legalised by the end of the year.
The Opposition Leader told caucus in Canberra this morning there should be no moves by the government to delay the vote as conservative MPs propose a new bill with stronger religious protections.
“I believe that the nation expects us to move on with the legislation for marriage equality and be done with it this year,” Mr Shorten said this morning.
“I notice that the elements of the Government are again peeling off and saying that there needs to be delays and new conditions put on it.
“If Australians vote Yes on marriage equality, the one question they were asked was on marriage equality and I think if we were not to implement a decision on marriage equality, the nation would throw up its hands and give up on the parliament.”
Bill Shorten has warned the government Labor will vigorously pursue Employment Minister Michaelia Cash over revelations her office tipped off media before a police raid on the headquarters of the Australian Workers Union.
“We do need to find out what she knew, when she knew it and we need to find out when she told Malcolm Turnbull,” Mr Shorten told caucus in Canberra this morning.
“This is a minister who for years has traded out and dined out on lecturing unions on transparency and accountability. It is about time she lived up to the standard that she so rigorously tries to set for others.”
Greg Brown 9.40am: Pyne rejects doubts over Lib MPs
Defence Industry Minister Chris Pyne “does not believe” there are any more Liberal MPs under an eligibility cloud as he upped the government’s threats to refer Labor MPs Justine Keay and Susan Lamb to the High Court.
Mr Pyne said Liberal MPs Ann Sudmalis and Nola Marino were not under an eligibility cloud. He said Ms Sudmalis was not British because she was born before 1983 so she was too old to have citizenship conferred on her by descent while he also rejected Ms Marino could have become a dual citizen when she married her Italian husband.
“The High Court made it very clear you had to be registered to be an Italian citizen in the case of Matt Canavan, none of those members are registered to be an Italian citizen and the same rules apply with those with connections to Greece,” Mr Pyne told ABC radio.
“So the Labor Party is really clutching at straws with these claims.”
Mr Pyne said there was “clear evidence” Ms Keay and Ms Lamb were British citizens when they nominated to run for parliament.
“Where we have clear evidence that a member is ineligible to sit in parliament, their party won’t refer them then the parliament will have to do so, that is the responsibility for the parliament,” he said.
“You cant have Mr Shorten protecting his members from being referred to the High Court simply because he wants to play politics with citizenship.”
Mr Pyne said today’s woeful Newspoll for the government was due to the citizenship drama.
“There is no doubt that the last fortnight has been messy from the government’s point of view because of this issue around dual citizenship,” he said.
“The cabinet and the members of the Coalition’s team are getting on with representing their electorates and doing their job in their portfolio’s obviously the media has been full of this issue and that would have affected peoples thinking about the government.”
9.15am: Counselling offered over SSM result
Victorian public servants will be offered specialist counselling when the result of the national same-sex marriage postal survey is announced.
A state government spokeswoman said two existing public service specialist LGBTQI counsellors will be available for all staff on Wednesday. “The plebiscite is unnecessary, expensive and hurtful. It has been a long, damaging and divisive campaign that has affected many in our community,” she said in a statement today.
“This counselling is available to all VPS staff at all times to support them if they need it - the marriage equality survey has provided an opportunity to remind staff of this service.” Victorian Equality Minister Martin Foley said it was up to everyone to decide how to support staff when the result is announced.
“We make no apologies for making sure we have a safe and supportive workplace for all our employees,” he told 3AW today.
8.40am: Bandt on citizenship support
More federal MPs are likely to face the High Court over their citizenship status after the Greens committed to unilateral referrals from the major parties. Greens leader Richard Di Natale confirmed the minor party’s sole MP Adam Bandt would provide the government with the crucial vote it needs in the lower house. “If the government decides to refer someone, if the opposition decides someone should be referred, we think we should honour that,” Senator Di Natale told the ABC on Monday. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at the weekend vowed to refer any Labor MPs facing dual citizenship questions to the High Court, accusing the opposition of flouting the law. That’s brought a “declaration of war” response from Labor.
Senator Di Natale said no-one was stepping up to resolve the issue. “Ultimately the way to resolve it is to have doubtful cases tested in the High Court and that’s exactly what should happen and quickly,” he said. When that might happen is not yet clear.
Sam Buckingham-Jones 8.24am: ‘No binding position on SSM bill’
The government would not have a binding position on which same-sex marriage bill — that of Senator James Paterson or Senator Dean Smith — to support, with MPs to instead have a free vote if Yes wins, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said this morning.
“It is important, if there is a Yes outcome out of the marriage law survey, it’s important that the parliament act swiftly to keep faith with the verdict of the Australian people and legislate to allow same sex couples to marry — but it’s also important we have appropriate religious protections in place.
“From my point of view, obviously the Smith bill has been subject to a cross party senate committee process already, if that is to be the starting position I would expect there to be amendments to strengthen religious protections as appropriate, but obviously it’s up to the parliament. There won’t be a government position, there won’t be a formal party room position.
“What we said when we initiated the marriage law survey process, is that on the other side of having given people across Australia the opportunity to have their say, is that every Liberal and National member will have a free vote and determine according to their own conscience and how they would like to deal with this matter.”
Sam Buckingham-Jones 8.11am: Cormann defends Turnbull
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann this morning addressed Malcolm Turnbull’s record low preferred Prime Minister rating in the latest Newspoll, saying the citizenship issue that has played out over recent weeks has had an impact on the government’s image.
“Clearly the Australian people want us to work through this issue, in the meantime, I’m not surprised the messiness of the last few weeks is reflected in the latest Newspoll,” he said.
“Malcolm Turnbull is providing strong and effective leadership to our team; we’re getting on with it. Since the last election, we’ve got a strong record of achievement, there’s still a way to go between now and the next election.
“Once we get to the next general election we’ll be putting forward our record of achievement as well as our plan for the future and we’ll be pointing out very clearly why a change to a Labor-led socialist government would be bad for the economy, bad for jobs and bad for people’s wages.”
Greg Brown 8.05am: ‘Parliament should be suspended’: Hanson
Pauline Hanson has indicated One Nation senators will not support same-sex marriage laws this year, torpedoing Turnbull government attempts to quickly win parliamentary support for the historic social reforms if a yes vote is carried in the postal survey. The One Nation leader says her party will not help pass any “controversial legislation” through the Senate until the citizenship drama is resolved.
Senator Hanson said parliament should be suspended while there were doubts on the eligibility of MPs and indicated her party would not help pass a bill in support of same-sex marriage if the Yes vote prevails when the results are handed down on Wednesday.
The move also puts the government’s citizenship and superannuation reforms in further doubt given the crucial numbers One Nation holds in the upper house.
“I have taken a stance ... that I will not be passing any controversial legislation until we know the citizenship status of everyone in parliament,” Senator Hanson said.
“We are getting pushed to pass the superannuation, which I don’t fully agree with anyway. But the fact is we cannot pass this legislation if we don’t know if the people should be there or not.
“There was talk about a citizenship bill, there was superannuation (bill) that could be coming through and other bills that could have come through the lower house.”
Senator Hanson also vowed to never again appear on the Seven Network’s Sunrise with Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young after the two argued over passing a same-sex marriage bill and the racism endured by Labor senator Sam Dastyari.
“I actually have to say to her (Senator Hanson-Young) does she need to work at being a nasty piece of work or does it just come naturally?” Senator Hanson told Seven. “I’ve had enough of you and I can tell Channel Seven now on air, I am not interested in coming on your program anymore with Sarah Hanson-Young because I am not putting up with this rubbish.”
7.45am: Pyne on Newspoll
Cabinet minister Christopher Pyne has blamed a “messy” fortnight dominated by the dual-citizenship saga for the Coalition’s poor standing with voters and a sharp fall in the Newspoll rating of the prime minister. Labor increased its lead — 55-45 per cent — over the Coalition in the latest Newspoll. Voters cut Malcolm Turnbull’s standing as preferred prime minister from 41 per cent to a new low of 36 per cent, narrowing his lead over Bill Shorten to just two points.
But the worst Newspoll result for the coalition since February did not surprise Mr Pyne. “There’s no doubt the last fortnight has been messy from the government’s point of view because of this issue around dual citizenship” he told ABC radio. “Obviously the media has been full of this issue and that would have affected people’s thinking about the government.”
Mr Pyne noted an election was not due until July 2019. “Polls come and go and people should remain unfazed by them.” The Newspoll, if repeated at an election now, indicates a 20 seat loss for the coalition. Labor is in its strongest overall position since Mr Turnbull replaced Tony Abbott as prime minister in September 2015.
7.15am: The week ahead
Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove will today add some decorum to what is expected to be a messy Senate-only sitting week that will start with the election of a new president and possibly end debating a bill to permit same-sex marriage. Liberal senators will choose a new president on Monday — the upper house’s equivalent to a Speaker — to replace Stephen Parry who resigned after becoming a victim of the citizenship debacle.
The four candidates are Special Minister of State and Victorian senator Scott Ryan, South Australian senator David Fawcett, Queensland senator Ian Macdonald and Western Australian senator Dean Smith.
Senator Smith said each candidate brings a unique set of skills. “Senators are blessed with a wide range of choice ... any one of the four candidates will make an exceptional president,” he told Sky News. While the Greens will also nominate Peter Whish-Wilson, it is expected Senator Ryan is likely to take over the prestigious role.
Sir Peter will kick off proceedings by swearing in three new senators, including Australia’s youngest-ever upper house member, 23-year-old West Australian Jordon Steele-John.
Joining him will be Queenslanders Andrew Bartlett from the Greens and Fraser Anning from One Nation.
The trio replace Scott Ludlam, Larissa Waters and Malcolm Roberts, who were disqualified by the High Court on the basis of their dual citizenship. The government will be down one senator because former minister Fiona Nash’s replacement, Liberal Hollie Hughes, is facing a hearing in the High Court to assess her eligibility.
Labor will also be down a number with Gavin Marshall on secondment to the United Nations until December 7.
In a bid to solve the citizenship crisis, the Greens will seek the Senate’s support for an independent audit, however, it is unlikely to be supported. Instead, the government will move to have all 76 senators lodge documents proving they are Australian citizens and, if relevant, have taken all necessary steps to renounce any foreign citizenship.
Labor wants senators to provide a greater level of detail and want the deadline to be December 1 instead of the prime minister’s preferred December 7. Rex Patrick, the replacement for resigned senator Nick Xenophon, is due to be formally endorsed by the South Australian parliament on Tuesday, paving the way for his swearing-in as early as Wednesday.
Wednesday will also see the Australian Bureau of Statistics announce the result of marriage equality survey.
Senator Smith, who has a bill ready to go should the ‘yes’ vote prevail, believes debate can start this week and continue in the final two sitting weeks of the year, starting November 27 when both houses sit.
“Australians will not tolerate delay,” Senator Smith said.
The government has made it a priority to pass draft laws aimed at helping first- home buyers get into the market, but will need to get crossbench support. Inquiry reports are due on the future of rugby union and changes to the law to make “Medicare”-style campaigns a criminal offence.
AAP
Miners change tune on climate change
Peak mining industry body The Minerals Council of Australia has joined the fight on climate.
Labor to turn up heat on Taylor
Labor will use the final two weeks of parliament to heap pressure on Energy Minister Angus Taylor.