Australian politics live: Pauline Hanson accsued of racist attack on Muslims
The One Nation leader has been accused by a Labor senator of a ‘racist rant’ for saying Muslims are reliant on welfare.
The day in Australian politics: The Turnbull government was forced to adopt its Plan B on same-sex marriage, a postal vote, after the Senate rejected a second bid for a compulsory plebiscite. Penny Wong has slammed a “divided and weak Liberal Party’’ during an impassioned speech to the upper house while Tony Abbott has urged Australians to “vote no’’ in the postal vote if they don’t like “political correctness”.
• Bronywn Bishop’s polygamy warning
• Xenophon to back Robert’s motion
That’s where we’ll leave our live coverage of the day in politics, join us again tomorrow for all the latest from Canberra.
8pm: Hanson’s ‘racist rant’ attacked
Pauline Hanson has been scolded for a “racist rant” against Muslims, and told she does not deserve her seat in federal parliament, AAP reports.
Labor frontbencher Doug Cameron was due to speak about homelessness following a speech by Senator Hanson on Wednesday, but changed his mind, insisting it was important he challenged her “racist nonsense”.
The One Nation leader, fresh from announcing she would move to refer one of her own senators to the High Court over his eligibility, launched a tirade against Muslim Australians in the Senate.
She accused major political parties of hiding evidence of high unemployment and social welfare dependence among Muslims.
Instead of working or joining the defence force, Muslims preferred to “fight for ISIL in Syria and Iraq”.
“Australian Muslims are a significant drain on the public purse,” she told parliament.
She accused Labor of selling its soul for the Muslim vote.
“A small but fast growing group opposed to our way of life is bending Labor to its will.” Senator Cameron said Muslims made contributions to Australia that Senator Hanson would never make.
Her “rubbish speech” risked the cohesion of Australian society, he said, calling for her to apologise.
“That racist speech, that speech that will divide Australia, and make us a poorer nation,” he told parliament.
“You do not deserve to be in here, running that sort of racist nonsense. “Muslims make contributions to this country that you will never make.”
Rachel Baxendale 5.30pm: Abbott hits back at his sister
Tony Abbott has hit back after his sister, City of Sydney councillor Christine Forster, sent a series of tweets attacking his position on same sex marriage.
Ms Forster, who has been in a committed same sex relationship with her partner Virginia Edwards for many years, tweeted: “If you value mutual respect, vote yes. If you want all Australians to be equal, vote yes. If you believe in free speech, vote yes,” after her brother urged Australians to vote no in the name of freedom of religion and speech.
Asked how he explained to his sister and her partner that he did not believe they should be allowed to celebrate their relationship in the same way as he and his wife Margie have, Mr Abbott said they were “wonderful” people.
“Chris and I agree to disagree,” he told 2GB.
“We agreed to disagree quite a few years ago on this subject.”
Mr Abbott said his sister had not always supported same sex marriage.
“She joked years ago that she’d just got herself out of one marriage, why would she be rushing into another one, but look, the gay activists that I knew at university, the last thing they wanted was same sex marriage because they thought marriage was a bourgeois patriarchal institution, so a lot of people are quite late converts to this thing which they are now absolutely passionate about,” he said.
“Now I’m not saying for a second that there is anything inferior about the relationship of a man for a man or a woman for a woman.
“I just think that we should maintain the traditional definition of marriage, which is a man and a woman, preferably for life, and open, preferably to children.”
Mr Abbott also singled out Labor Senator Penny Wong, who has two children with her female partner, and spoke passionately this morning about her anger at the children of same sex couples being described as another “stolen generation” by the Australian Christian Lobby.
“We heard in the Senate today, a Labor senator saying that it was somehow wrong to suggest that ideally children should grow up with a mother and a father,” Mr Abbott said.
“Now people don’t like the attacks on common sense that we are seeing time and time again in our society.”
Asked whether he was saying that children with same sex parents were getting a “second-best deal”, Mr Abbott said families came in all shapes and sizes these days.
Look at what activists did to Cooper’s brewery when they sponsored a debate on this subject, look what activists have done to businesses that have hosted the Australian Christian Lobby, who’ve had conferences and things.
“Single parents, same sex parents obviously do the best they can for their kids, but there is nothing wrong with saying that ideally kids should have a mother and a father,” he said.
“Now sometimes they won’t for all sorts of reasons, but what sort of a path have we come to if what is self-evident common sense can no longer be stated any more?
“This is why so many people are anxious about what they think is the war on our way of life that politically correct activists have been prosecuting for years now.”
4.30pm: Online gambling faces harsh penalties
Offshore gambling companies that offer bets to Australians will face harsher penalties under reforms passed in the federal parliament.
The Turnbull government’s online gambling reforms passed through the Senate today, with the law changed to make it clear it is illegal for overseas gambling companies to offer products to Australians.
Under the changes, the Australian Communications and Media Authority will be given the stronger powers to charge offenders with civil penalties.
Offending company directors will be tracked by local authorities and could be disrupted if they travel to Australian.
Minister for Human Services Alan Tudge said the reforms would keep money and jobs in Australia.
“We are presently losing hundreds of millions of dollars to illegal offshore gambling providers, some of which are connected to crime syndicates. These changes will help keep this money in Australia,” he said.
“Online gambling has three times the rate of problem gambling than other forms and is growing the fastest. Unless we put in sensible consumer protections now, the problems of the future will be in this area.”
4.00pm: Roberts referred to High Court
The Senate has unanimously referred the election of One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts to the High Court, after his leader Pauline Hanson conceded the case surrounding his citizenship had become “very complex”.
Senator Hanson asked the Senate to back the referral hours after it became clear the Greens had enough votes from Labor and the crossbench to carry its motion, which would have also sent his election to the court.
Attorney-General George Brandis pointed out the 45th parliament had now referred six of the 76 senators elected last year (Senator Roberts, Nationals MP Matthew Canavan, former Greens senators Scott Ludlam and Larissa Waters, Formder Family First senator Bob Day and former One Nation-turned-indpendent senator Rod Culleton).
“One might be forgiven for thinking that being a senator is one of the most hazardous occupations in Australia at the moment,” Senator Brandis said.
Motion referring @SenatorMRoberts to High Court passes on voices #auspol
— Rachel Baxendale (@rachelbaxendale) August 9, 2017
Greens @SenatorSurfer asks whether @SenatorMRoberts will be required to refrain from voting. President says it's a matter for Roberts
— Rachel Baxendale (@rachelbaxendale) August 9, 2017
.@SenatorMRoberts says he loves Section 44 because he knows he's done the right thing #auspol
— Rachel Baxendale (@rachelbaxendale) August 9, 2017
Derryn Hinch says he believes Malcolm Roberts has been "very economical with the truth", will support referral motion #auspol
— Rosie Lewis (@rosieslewis) August 9, 2017
Remy Varga 3.29pm: Family feud
Tony Abbott’s sister Christine Forster has slammed the former PM’s stance on same-sex marriage, saying she “fundamentally disagrees with him.”
Tony Abbott urged Australians to vote no in the plebiscite on same-sex marriage this morning, stating “If you don’t like same-sex marriage, vote ‘no’. If you’re worried about religious freedom and freedom of speech, vote ‘no’. If you don’t like political correctness, vote ‘no.”
The City of Sydney councillor, who is gay, hit Twitter with a series of Tweets directly attacking her brother’s statements.
If you value mutual respect: vote yes. If you want all Australians to be equal: vote yes. If you believe in free speech: vote yes #auspol
— Christine Forster (@resourcefultype) August 8, 2017
If this is about the people: vote yes #marriageequality #auspol
— Christine Forster (@resourcefultype) August 9, 2017
If you want the person you love to be in every sense a part of your family: vote yes #marriageequality #auspol
— Christine Forster (@resourcefultype) August 9, 2017
If you don't believe your relationships (or anyone else's) are second rate: vote yes #marriageequality #auspol
— Christine Forster (@resourcefultype) August 9, 2017
Councillor Forster told The Australian she stood by her tweets, that legalising same-sex marriage had nothing to do with political correctness, and that the private members bill was “very careful to protect religious freedoms.”
She also said a decision on same-sex marriage should be made in parliament. “I disagree with what he says quite strongly, this change is simply about all Australians being equal before the law.
“It is to do with freedom of speech, in the sense there is nothing that goes to the heart of freedom of speech more than me being able to say I do to Virginia.” Virginia Edwards is Councillor Forster’s long term partner.
Councillor Forster said while her and Abbott’s relationship as siblings transcended their different political stances, that “there’s no doubt having strong differences of opinions can cause tension in families.”
3.15pm: Banks commission ‘unnecessary’
Labor’s Jim Chalmers asks why Turnbull won’t establish a royal commission into the banks given the recent allegations surrounding the Commonwealth Bank.
Turnbull says the government is already implementing policies that would likely be recommended by a royal commission.
“Our focus is not on slogans, on action. We want action. And that is what our measures are doing. If the honourable member doubts me, he should ask a few bank executives how they feel about the changes,” Turnbull says.
“They’re not very worried about a royal commission. What they’re concerned about is the real action we’re taking in the here and now.”
3.10pm: Dreyfus: ‘vote yes on SSM’
Mark Dreyfus says it’s time to get behind the “yes” campaign and turn out to vote in the same-sex marriage postal ballot.
“We might not like it, but the marriage equality postal vote is happening - and we have to win it. Enrol now!” the shadow attorney-general tweeted
We might not like it, but the marriage equality postal vote is happening - and we have to win it. Enrol now! https://t.co/4ZooEDjk1E
— Mark Dreyfus (@markdreyfusQCMP) August 9, 2017
3.07pm: ‘Have you dined with mafia boss?’
Dreyfus asks Turnbull if he has ever dined with an alleged mafia boss.
Speaker Tony Smith rules the question out of order.
3.06pm: ‘Federal authorities to examine Matthew Guy claims’
Labor legal affairs Mark Dreyfus spokesman brings up the scandal engulfing Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy.
Turnbull says the reports about the Victorian Liberal leader will be examined by “federal authorities”.
Dreyfus asked: “Victorian Liberal leader Matthew Guy is engulfed in a scandal for dining with a mafia boss. The Victorian Liberals conspired to split his political donations into smaller amounts. Has the government asked the Australian Federal Police to investigate whether any criminal offences were committed under Commonwealth law?”
Turnbull: “I can assure the honourable member that those reports will be carefully examined by federal authorities.”
3.03pm: N Korea nuke ‘unaccepted threat’
There are South Korean delegates in the public gallery as Foreign Minister Julie Bishop updates the House on recent developments in the Korean peninsula.
She says reports North Korea has acquired the ability to develop a miniaturised nuclear device, that could be placed on an intercontinental ballistic missile, are “deeply unsettling”.
“If a North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile is capable of reaching the United States, such a weapon is capable of reaching Australia and it poses an unacceptable existential threat to our country.
“Australia is constantly reviewing and extending our autonomous sanctions regime to complement Security Council sanctions. The best prospect for stability on the Korean peninsula and peaceful resolution to this challenge is for Pyongyang to abandon their illegal programs.”
Bill Shorten associates Labor with Ms Bishop’s remarks.
3.00pm: Why no CET?
Labor environment spokesman Mark Butler asks Turnbull why the government won’t implement a clean energy target despite its support from the energy sector.
Turnbull ducks the question and blames rising energy costs on the Labor Party’s gas policies.
“On the east coast, a federal Labor government and a Queensland state Labor government together allowed a massive export facility to be built at Gladstone, without any regard for the consequences for the domestic market,” Turnbull says.
“And the consequence of that has been the domestic market was short of gas because the exporters were taking gas out of the domestic market.”
2.53pm: Energy v SSM
Government backbencher questions keep the focus on energy while Labor tries to keep the heat on the Coalition about same-sex marriage.
2.50pm: Macklin, PM argue over pensioners
Jenny Macklin asks the PM why his government wants to cut the energy supplement for pensioners amid rising electricity prices. She cites analysis which found NSW pensioners would be $600 worse off a year if the supplement is repealed.
Mr Turnbull says some of the people who are most vulnerable and most in need of the “protections that we secured for them today” are pensioners.
2.48pm: ‘Hopeless delays’ on NDIS
Independent MP Andrew Wilkie asks a question about the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
He says his constituents complain it has problems.
“They talk about an intractable bureaucracy, as well as hopeless delays with internal reviews that lead to unnecessary distress and frustration,” he says.
Social Services Minister Christian Porter says that 90 per cent of Tasmanian participants were satisfied with the scheme.
“It’s a good figure, but I’m not pretending there aren’t people who have experienced the highly consistent level of performance,” Porter says
He says the NDIS were constantly looking to improve the scheme.
2.43pm: Protesters interrupt Senate
Question Time in the Senate has briefly been interrupted by two young female protesters who yelled from the public gallery about funding cuts as Industry Minister Arthur Sinodinos was addressing a question from South Australian crossbench Senator Nick Xenophon about the automotive industry.
The protesters unfurled a banner and yelled expletives and chants such as “no cuts, no fees, no corporate universities” before rapidly being removed by security.
Senator Sinodinos soon continued his answer, joking that perhaps the protesters had mistaken him for Education Minister Simon Birmingham who was sitting next to him.
2.40pm: ‘Respectful debate unlikely?’
Shorten asks Turnbull if Tony Abbott’s comments about SSM marriage today show a respectful debate is unlikely.
“Today the Member for Warringah warned Australians to vote no in the plebiscite for reasons unrelated to marriage equality, claiming if you’re worried about religious freedom and free speech, vote no,” says Shorten.
Turnbull says he would urge participants in the debate to act with “responsibility and respect”.
“In any debate, there will be statements made that are offensive, which many will regard as extreme, which many regard as wrong,” he says.
If we’re seriously at the point where the Labor Party is saying you cannot have a vote on this issue because people will say outrageous things, then how can we have a referendum on any of the issues discussed? How could you have a parliamentary election?”
2.32pm: ‘Postal vote could fund 1800 aged care places’
Labor again links cost of plebiscite with bread and butter issues.
Deputy leader Tanya Plibersek asks: “Is the Prime Minister aware that the $122 million that he is wasting on his voluntary, non-binding postal plebiscite could instead fund over 1800 aged care places, or support over 2.7 million bulk billed GP places?”
Turnbull wouldn’t bite.
“The government is giving every Australian a say on the issue of marriage, because we promised to do so, at the election, and we keep our promises,” he said.
2.30pm: Energy spruiked
Turnbull gets a Dorothy Dixer on the agreement the government reached with energy retailers today.
The Prime Minister spruiks the government “securing real reforms” in the sector which will force retailers to advise customers if they can get a better deal.
“Too many Australian households and businesses are paying more for their electricity than they need to, because they are on discounted plans which have expired, and they have gone back onto standing offers and they’re paying far too much for their electricity and we’re not talking about small amounts,” Mr Turnbull said.
2.25pm: ‘Spend plebiscite money on pensioners’
Bill Shorten links electricity prices to same sex plebiscite in his first question in QT.
“Why is the Prime Minister wasting $122 million of taxpayers money on a pointless and unnecessary postal plebiscite when he could use that money to help fund this year’s energy supplement for 334,000 pensioners?”
Turnnull hits back saying the “anti-business” Labor Party has no plan on reducing energy prices.
“What is their plan for energy prices? Huge renewables targets, closing down base load power, no plans for storage, no plans for anything and if you want to know what it would look like across Australia, South Australia is right there,” Turnbull says.
2.22pm: Postal vote ‘risks politicising ABS’
The union representing Australian Bureau of Statistics staff says their members are worried the postal vote on same-sex marriage could politicise the independent agency, AAP reports.
The ABS has been assigned the job of running the postal ballot because the government could not get its compulsory plebiscite through parliament. A task force has been set up within the ABS to conduct the ballot under the Census and Statistics Act.
Public sector union deputy secretary Melissa Donnelly said the agency was already under massive pressure, shown in the 2016 Census failure and issues with employment and other economic data.
The union had been contacted by a number of ABS staff concerned about the agency’s ability to conduct a plebiscite, given its regular work and capacity constraints, and how the highly political process would undermine the independence of the agency, she said on Wednesday.
More than 160 ABS staff have lost their jobs in the past nine months.
2.05pm: Tributes to ‘wonderful’ Betty
Malcolm Turnbull kicks of Question Time paying tribute to running great Betty Cuthbert, who died on Sunday.
“Her strength of spirit and dedication to others, her love for others, was inspiring,” Mr Turnbull said.
“She was a wonderful human being, she had a very, very deep faith, (was) humble, gracious, down to earth.”
Rachel Baxendale 1.55pm: ‘Cashless welfare works’
A group of indigenous and community leaders from Western Australia led by businessman and philanthropist Andrew Forrest visited parliament today to highlight the horrifying levels of domestic violence and sexual abuse being fuelled by drug and alcohol abuse in indigenous communities and call for a more widespread roll-out of the cashless welfare card.
The Turnbull government has done trials of the card in Ceduna, in South Australia, and in East Kimberley in WA, and has plans to trial the card in several other communities.
East Kimberley indigenous leaders Bianca Crake and Jean O’Reeri said the welfare quarantining was the most powerful tool their community and others like it could be given to address alarming statistics, such as children as young as eight committing suicide.
“It is working in the East Kimberley,” Ms Crake said.
“We’ve got fathers. They’ve got children. They’re taking their children to supermarkets and spending their money. They would never do that before this card came out.
“It’s because of this cashless welfare card that this has been happening. We’ve never seen those things before.”
Mr Forrest, Ms Crake, Ms O’Reeri and Port Hedland Mayor Camilo Blanco are in Canberra to meet with Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten and urge them to back a broader roll-out of the card.
As part of their campaign, they’ve produced a graphic video showing footage of children being attacked on the streets of communities across WA, with WA Police Commissioner Karl O’Callaghan describing the situation as a “war zone” with children the key victims.
According to the video, in one town of 500 children, 184 have been sexually abused.
In another, 36 men are facing 300 charges of child abuse, while another 124 men are considered suspects.
Mr Forrest urged the Labor Party to fully support welfare quarantining and hit out at politicians such as the Greens who oppose it.
“We have a situation now where people who do not visit these towns, are not part of these communities, are on welfare and they’re concerned that their party pills or their drugs might one day be taken away from them and they don’t care what is happening to vulnerable Australians,” he said.
“They might not be vulnerable, but their lack of care for their own fellow Australians who are vulnerable I find amazing.
“I’d like our political leaders across the spectrum, the independents, crossbenchers, Labor, Liberal, to listen to the children, listen to these elders.”
1.40pm: ‘CET to cut electricity prices’
Origin Energy chief executive Frank Calabria said a Clean Energy Target was needed for electricity prices to drop in Australia.
Mr Calabria put pressure back on the government after electricity retailers this morning promised they would give customers more information about their electricity plans in a meeting with Malcolm Turnbull in Canberra.
“To deliver a genuine reduction in prices for Australians we must also find a way through on energy policy, including a Clean Energy Target,” Mr Calabria said.
“This is necessary to unlock investment in much needed new supply to replace our ageing coal-fired power stations, and transition us to a cleaner, more modern energy system.”
A Clean Energy Target is the only recommendation in the Finkel energy review that the government has not adopted as policy.
With the government this morning trumpeting new regulations on the three biggest energy retailers, Mr Calabria said Origin already had some of those policies in place.
He said Origin already notified customers when its discounted rates come to an end and provided them alternative rates.
“Origin already notifies customers when their discounts are coming to an end and outlines new offers available, and on the front page of a customers’ bill we clearly state the details of their offer and timeframe for the benefits ending,” Mr Calabria said.
“We commit to continue doing this, and to making our communication even clearer in terms of what will happen if customers do nothing.”
David Crowe 1.35pm: High Court challenge for postal vote
The first High Court challenge to the postal vote on same-sex marriage has been launched in a bid to prevent ballot papers being mailed to Australians next month, arguing Malcolm Turnbull’s new plan breaches the constitution.
Marriage equality advocate Rodney Croome said the challenge would be filed in the High Court as soon as Wednesday afternoon to have the postal vote rejected, in the hope of ensuring a conscience vote in parliament within weeks.
12.50pm: One Nation to refer Roberts
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson will personally ask the Senate to refer the election of her senator Malcolm Roberts to the High Court, as she concedes the case surrounding his citizenship status is “very complex”.
In a train wreck press conference that failed to clear up many unanswered questions over Senator Roberts’ eligibility to sit in parliament, he conceded he was a “citizen of the UK and colonies” when he applied to become an Australian in 1974.
The admission follows repeated statements from Senator Roberts and One Nation that he was never British or chose to believe he was never British.
Senator Roberts was born in India to a Welsh father and said his British renunciation was registered by the UK government in December last year — six months after nominations closed and five months after the election.
While the Greens had received enough Senate support to refer his election to the High Court, sitting as the Court of Disputed Returns, Senator Hanson said she had decided it was best that she put a motion to the chamber.
“As the leader of One Nation I have always made it quite clear that there should be the highest level of openness, transparency and accountability in government,” Senator Hanson said.
“With that in mind, One Nation will be supporting Senator Malcolm Roberts in his plan to refer himself to the High Court. It was always Senator Roberts’ intention to submit his citizenship documents for public scrutiny and, in light of the major parties decision not to hold a full inquiry into the citizenship of senators, it was deemed that the High Court would provide
.@SenatorMRoberts: 'I am looking forward to tendering my documents to the High Court' MORE: https://t.co/M0e3vziyHU pic.twitter.com/0V6dLkU8JG
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) August 9, 2017
Senator Roberts the best opportunity to prove he has complied with the Australian Constitution and is a lawfully elected senator of the Australian parliament.
“The people of Australia have a right to know if their representatives are elected according to the Constitution of Australia and we hope these actions taken by Senator Roberts serve as an example to all parliamentarians that the onus is on them to prove to the people of Australia that they were legitimately elected under section 44 of the Australian Constitution.”
Senator Roberts argues he took “reasonable steps” to renounce any dual citizenship before he nominated to become a One Nation candidate.
The Senate will ask the court to determine if Senator Roberts should be disqualified from parliament under section 44 of the Constitution, which says a citizen of a foreign country is incapable of running for parliament.
12.30pm: PM’s power deal: what it means for you
Electricity company chiefs have met with the PM this morning and agreed to give their customers more information about power plans. Here’s what it means for consumers.
• Retailers will write to customers who have reached the end of a discounted plan and outline, in plain English, alternative offers that are available.
• The letter will direct them to the Australian Energy Regulator’s Energy Made Easy comparison website or another independent comparison website.
• Retailers will outline to the government and to the competition watchdog steps they are taking to help customers, particularly what they are doing for families and individuals under a hardship program.
• It will include a commitment that those customers will not lose any benefit or discount for late payment.
• Retailers will produce clear user-friendly facts sheets on terms, late payment penalties and early-termination payments.
• Retailers will regularly report to the Australian Energy Regulator how many customers are on offers where the discount period has expired — AAP
You can read more about the deal between the PM and power giants here.
12.15pm: Cormann’s respect for Wong
Mathias Cormann says he holds Penny Wong in “very high regard” after she delivered an impassioned speech against the government’s gay marriage plebiscite and warned it would expose gay Australians’ children to hatred.
Senator Cormann, the Acting Special Minister of State, said he wanted the postal plebiscite debate that unfolds over the next three-and-a-half months to be respectful. “I’ve got a very high regard for Penny Wong, we are fierce competitors but we have a very good personal relationship and I agree with her, it’s going to be very important for this debate to be conducted with courtesy and respect,” he told Sky News. “If we now were just to vote in the parliament without letting the Australian people have a say on this, without them being part of the decision making process, we believe that the losing side of the argument across the community will still not accept the outcome. We believe that giving people the Australian people to have a say offers the opportunity of a more permanent resolution of this issue.”
Senator Cormann confirmed all Australians enrolled on the electoral roll — including those living overseas — would receive papers to vote in the postal plebiscite.
11.50am: Abbott’s sister says ‘vote yes’
Christine Forster, a City of Sydney councillor and Tony Abbott’s sister, has ramped up her campaign in favour of gay marriage after her brother advocated for a “no’’ vote, saying it would stop political correctness in its tracks.
If you value mutual respect: vote yes. If you want all Australians to be equal: vote yes. If you believe in free speech: vote yes #auspol
— Christine Forster (@resourcefultype) August 8, 2017
If you believe your own marriage is a good thing: vote yes! #marriageequality #auspol
— Christine Forster (@resourcefultype) August 9, 2017
Ms Forster said the outcome of Monday’s special Liberal party room meeting and subsequent Coalition party room meeting, in which the government agreed to hold a postal vote if the original plebiscite bill failed, was “just plain depressing”. She wants to marry her long-term partner Virginia Edwards.
Joe Kelly 11.30am: Labor attacks citizenship overhaul
Labor has reignited its attack on the government’s proposed citizenship overhaul, saying the changes will create a permanent class of people who are prevented from becoming Australians for their entire working lives. Speaking in the lower house, Opposition citizenship spokesman Tony Burke said the Immigration Department had briefed him on the shake-up and confirmed the government’s changes were not recommended by any security or intelligence agency — including the AFP and ASIO. Read the full story here.
11.25am: ‘Power back to consumers’
Treasurer Scott Morrsion said today’s agreement with the electricity retailers would give power back to consumers. “The tools that we are putting in place here for customers to be stronger in the market, to take control over things that I know Australians feel frustrated about ...(that) they are at the mercy of big energy companies,” Mr Morrison said. “What we are doing here is giving them more power back on their power prices. And I think that is one of the key issues that needs to be addressed — consumers having more opportunity to get a better deal, but also better understand how they are using energy themselves and how they can reduce their energy bills and have the tools and decisions that they could make to give effect to that.
“That was the outcome of today’s meeting, that we are putting millions of Australians in the position to get a better deal on electricity prices. The strongest markets are the markets where the consumer has the maximum possible strength in that market.”
Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg said the reforms were “significant” and “substantive”. He said families would have better information about how their energy bill compares with offers from other companies. “And consumers now won’t be subject to losing all of their discount for a late payment if they are a hardship customer. That is going to help thousands of Australian families. It is a significant set of reforms,” he said.
Mr Frydenberg said energy retailers would write to most of their customers to inform them how their deal compares with the market. “It represents eight million customers,” he said. “So they will be contacting most of their consumer base to let them know now what alternative offers are available and put them in touch with the comparable website. This is a significant course of action on behalf of the companies.”
11.15am: ‘Better deal for customers’
The PM says his government has sought to “cut a better deal” for Australian families after meeting with energy retailers this morning. The retailers will report back to the PM by August 18 on progress on the following:
• Agree they will write to customers who have reached the end of a discounted plan and outline, in plain English, alternative offers that are available;
• Outline to the government and to the ACCC steps they are taking as individual companies to help customers to better offers, particularly what they are doing for families and individuals under a hardship program, including a commitment that those customers will not lose any benefit or discount for late payment;
• Commit to producing clear user-friendly facts sheets on terms, late payment penalties, early termination payments, and to work with us and the Australian Energy Regulator on key components of this;
• Agree to regularly report to the Australian Energy Regulator how many customers are on offers where the discount period has expired.
Mr Turnbull is asked if a Clean Energy Target was discussed with the energy companies. The government has still not decided whether to adopt a CET, as recommended by Chief Scientist Alan Finkel. The PM says energy policy was discussed and concedes a “certain investment climate is required for long-term investment”, but goes no further. “Australian families are hurting now. They want protection and support now. They want their government to stand up for them now.”
Mr Turnbull says the government expects a report from the Australian Energy Market Operator on September 1, which will help the government firm up its position on the CET. In the meantime, he says, the government is taking “immediate action” to address rising electricity prices.
“If, as a result of the commitments we have today, and this will undoubtedly happen, you will see families being alerted to the fact that they are paying more for their electricity than they need to and they will get on to the right plan and they will be paying less for their electricity and that will happen now,” he says.
“That is an example of immediate action.”
.@TurnbullMalcolm: Retailers have agreed to outline steps they're taking to help customers get better offers. MORE https://t.co/QYwUudUpqD pic.twitter.com/3W0KhXC9fE
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) August 9, 2017
10.50am: Plebiscite bill fails
The government’s compulsory-attendance plebiscite bill has been killed off for a second time by the Senate, clearing the way for a postal vote. The Coalition failed to restore the original bill to the notice paper, with the Senate voting 31-31 not to hold a second reading debate on the legislation.
Jacqui Lambie, Derryn Hinch, Lucy Gichuhi, David Leyonhjelm, Cory Bernardi and One Nation voted with the government to restore the bill, while Labor, the Greens and Nick Xenophon opposed.
The government will now proceed with a $122 million postal vote which does not require legislation. A postal vote will see ballot papers in mailboxes from September 12 and a result declared on November 15. There will be no publicly funded “yes” and “no” campaigns.
Liberal backbencher Dean Smith, whose attempt to initiate a parliamentary vote on gay marriage was stymied by his party colleagues this week, supported the government but chose to sit with the crossbench, reports AAP.
10.45am: Greens leader speaks
Greens leader Richard Di Natale says the only reason the parliament is being asked to vote on a compulsory-attendance plebiscite again is because the government is “divided” and making decisions in its own self-interest. “We’re paid good money in this joint, we’ve got a job to do, we’re legislators, we should just get on and do it,” he tells the chamber. “We’ll oppose this motion because far from being a unifying moment, it will unleash hatred, bigotry within our community, totally unnecessary and expose people to the sort of debate they should never be exposed to.”
10.30am: Wong’s Senate speech
Labor senate leader Penny Wong has delivered an impassioned plea to the Senate crossbench to block government legislation for a compulsory-attendance plebiscite on gay marriage.
Senator Wong said a plebiscite campaign would unleash a tirade of hurtful comments towards the gay community. She pointed to the Australian Christian Lobby claiming children of gay parents were a “stolen generation” and urged the government not to expose her children with her female partner to hate.
“We love our children and I object, as does every person who cares about children ... to being told our children are a stolen generation,” she said.
“It is exposing our children to that kind of hatred and I wouldn’t mind so much if (the government was) prepared to speak out on it, if the Prime Minister was prepared to stand up against it and say that is wrong. We know the sort of debate that is already there and let me say for many children in same-sex families and for many young LGBTI kids, this ain’t a respectful debate already.”
Senator Wong said the plebiscite was about the “division and weakness” of the Liberal Party. “This motion is about a government so divided and so leaderless it has to handball a hard decision to the community to make because they can’t make it in the party room,” she said. “This is a government without a leader, utterly divided on this issue.”
10.10am: Cormann puts plebiscite before Senate
Senator Mathias Cormann has moved to table legislation in the Senate to allow for a compulsory-attendance plebiscite on same-sex marriage. Senator Cormann told the upper house the government would “keep faith” with its election commitment and push forward with a postal vote if the Senate blocked the plebiscite. He urged the Senate to pass legislation allowing for the compulsory-attendance plebiscite, saying it was the best option to resolve the issue.
.@MathiasCormann: The best way forward is to give people the opportunity to have a say on gay marriage. More: https://t.co/C5IzPJPB6x pic.twitter.com/sJ4Ryl7Dqr
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) August 9, 2017
10.05am: Lambie wins ballot
Tasmanian independent senator Jacqui Lambie has beaten One Nation’s Brian Burston to become a member of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade legislation and references committees. The contested spot meant a ballot was required, with Senator Lambie coming out on top.
RACHEL BAXENDALE 10am: Multi-faith breakfast
Malcolm Turnbull, Bill Shorten and Greens leader Richard Di Natale all began today addressing a multi-faith breakfast at the National Press Club hosted by the Australian Catholic University. While Mr Turnbull gave an uncontroversial speech about the benefits of multiculturalism, Mr Shorten and Senator Di Natale took a more political approach, calling for a free vote on same sex marriage and a charter of rights respectively. Mr Turnbull said breaking bread together was at the heart of many faiths. “It is such a human thing to share food, to share company, to take that opportunity to sustain each other, and in doing so, to help each other, to understand each other, to demonstrate in a very practical and tangible way, love,” he said.
In introducing Mr Shorten, ACU Vice-Chancellor Greg Craven observed that he had first met the Opposition Leader 30 years ago when the young Mr Shorten was wearing a Xavier College school uniform and Craven was adjudicating a debating competition. “I do promise not to deliver a scorecard on this occasion,” Professor Craven said.
One wonders how he would have scored Mr Shorten’s speech, which began on a collegial note, honouring the life and faith of athlete and devout Christian Betty Cuthbert who died on Monday, and ended politically, with a call legalise same sex marriage. “If we can agree that our duty is to help the vulnerable, to speak up for the powerless, to gather in those who feel marginalised and excluded, how can we continue to draw a line based on who we love?” Mr Shorten said. “How can compassion and charity, love, recognition and endorsement continue to be restricted to heterosexual Australia? I believe in God and I believe in marriage equality under the civil law of the Commonwealth of Australia. I know that some do not share this view and I recognise that for some people of faith this is a most vexed question. It was one of the reasons I believe we should have a free vote in the parliament.”
9.50am: Labor attacks PM on power prices
Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek has ridiculed Malcolm Turnbull for claiming the government will clamp down on electricity retailers. “We’ve got the power company heads down to Canberra and what is the Prime Minister proposing? He’s going to get them into his office and wag his finger at them again,” Ms Plibersek said. “Since this government has been in power, wholesale power prices have doubled. And every time the Prime Minister gets the power companies down to Canberra to wag his finger at them Australians can be sure of one thing — their next power bill is going to have a higher number at the bottom of it than the last one did.”
Ms Plibersek said adopting a clean energy target would put downward prices of electricity. “One of the most important things we could do as a nation to put downward pressure on power prices is put certainty into the market. To generate new electricity by giving certainty to generators who are looking to invest,” she said.
“The government’s now had the Finkel report for some time, they refuse to commit to the most important recommendation of the Finkel review, that would give certainty to new investors to invest in clean energy.”
9.40am: ‘Protect religious freedom’
Liberal frontbencher Alex Hawke says political correctness is “real” in Australia, as he defends Tony Abbott’s declaration that people who want to stop political correctness should vote against gay marriage in a plebiscite. “It’s not my view exactly but it is relevant and this view overseas … where people are suing people for their lifelong religious beliefs is part of political correctness gone crazy, nobody wants to see that here,” Mr Hawke told Sky News. “I’m conservative on this issue and my concerns relate to another set of issues, and that is religious freedom and the religious conscience and practice and I don’t want to see people sued in Australia for expressing their religious freedom. That is a very big concern of people in the parliamentary Liberal Party as well.
“We don’t want to see that in Australia where people who have genuine religious beliefs, who’ve always practised them, suddenly in court.”
Mr Hawke said he believed his Liberal colleague Dean Smith’s bill to legalise gay marriage did not have adequate religious protections.
.@AlexHawkeMP: I'm conservative on marriage, I don't want to see people sued for expression of religious freedom. https://t.co/C5IzPJPB6x pic.twitter.com/7FPRAtwI2P
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) August 8, 2017
9.35am: Australian Christian Lobby campaigns
The Australian Christian Lobby has claimed a same-sex marriage plebiscite would be a referendum on freedom of speech and controversial Safe Schools program. ACL managing director Lyle Shelton has sought to link the plebiscite with other issues in his call for a “no’’ vote this morning. He said that people who were “concerned about their freedom and what their children will be taught” should vote “no’’ in the ballot. “There is no greater threat to freedom of conscience and freedom of speech than same-sex marriage,” Mr Shelton said. “Who people love is not a matter for the government but the consequences of redefining marriage are matters for all Australians.”
Caroline Overington 9.30am: ‘Aussies will bring SSM home’
Same sex marriage is a debate we’ve been having for way, way too long. But now, today, the real debate — the national conversation, the true campaign — begins, writes The Australian’s associate editor, Caroline Overington. Read her plea for an orderly debate on the issue of gay marriage here.
9.25am: Australia should ‘not be held hostage’
Labor frontbencher Ed Husic says Australia should “not be held hostage” by the Coalition party room on gay marriage. “Because they can’t get their act together we’re forced down these paths of spending this amount of money, frustrating a decision, instead of doing something that the parliament should,” he told Sky News. “Not only is this a non-binding opinion poll, there are so many questions as well about … how would people overseas be included on this? How would the roll be updated? Would the ABS after its remarkable management of the census actually be able to do this too? There are a lot of questions about how this is going to be managed instead of just getting on with the decision.”
.@edhusicMP says the nation should not be held hostage to the Coalition partyroom on the issue of same-sex marriage. https://t.co/C5IzPJPB6x pic.twitter.com/cujRWYYPQH
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) August 8, 2017
9.20am: Power price caps ‘won’t work’
Trade Minister Steven Ciobo has rejected the Greens’ call to put a cap on electricity prices, arguing it would hit investment in the sector. “You can’t do that because you would create a massive disincentive for investment and a whole range of things,” he said. “What we need to do is empower the consumer so they can make better choices about where they are putting their business, which energy retailer is giving them a better discount, (this) is actually going to pass savings onto their housing.
“We are taking concrete action in respect to the retail (side of the sector) because we are not going to stand by, we are not going to sit on our hands while we watch Australian families often struggle to meet to cost on these every day essentials.”
Moving to his portfolio, Mr Ciobo attacked Queensland Premier Anna Palaszczuk for her ‘Queensland first’ trade policy. “Labor’s so called Queensland first policy will put Queensland last. We can’t open overseas markets if we are not prepared to open our own market,” he said.
“The Premier herself boasted that she would not be bound by these (international) trade agreements. I don’t want to see Australian exporters being locked out of markets overseas because we’ve got a reckless state Labor premier who is too arrogant to admit she has got this wrong.”
.@StevenCiobo says putting a cap on power prices would create a disincentive for ongoing investment in the sector. https://t.co/QYwUudUpqD pic.twitter.com/CUURyXbz1s
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) August 8, 2017
9.10am: ‘Compulsory plebiscite best’
Trade Minister Steven Ciobo has put pressure on the Senate to allow the “best option” of a compulsory-attendance plebiscite to decide same-sex marriage. “This is a decision for the Senate, we can have a compulsory-attendance plebiscite where all Australians have their say and if we don’t have that it is for one reason and for one reason alone, it is because the Senate has rejected it,” Mr Ciobo told Sky News. “I’m really hopeful the Senators will recognise the best option is to have, on November 25th, a compulsory attendance plebiscite.”
Mr Ciobo rejected Labor’s argument a plebiscite would be damaging for gay youths. “This is what I find perverse about this whole discussion, this could have happened in February,” he said.
“This could all have been finished in February this year, but for Bill Shorten and the Labor Party who are attempting every single thing they can to try and drop every wreak every drop of political capital out of this. This isn’t about what is best for people as far is Labor is concerned, this is about what is smart politics for Bill Shorten.”
9am: Inquiry into the eligibility of all senators
The Greens and independents Derryn Hinch and Jacqui Lambie will put a motion to the Senate today that, if carried, would establish an inquiry into the eligibility of all senators to sit in parliament. The government and Labor don’t want the inquiry, so it’ll be voted down. Here’s the motion:
Senators Di Natale, Hinch and Lambie: To move—
(1)The following matters be referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 14 September 2017:
(a) the eligibility of senators in the 45th Parliament under section 44 of the Constitution, in so far as it relates to being “a subject or a citizen or entitled to the rights or privileges of a subject or a citizen of a foreign power’’;
(b) the legal liability of senators who know, or have grounds to suspect, that they are ineligible for office but do not come forward with that information, and whether they are defrauding the Commonwealth; and
(c) any other related matters.
(2) For the purposes of carrying out the inquiry, the committee must, as soon as practicable, with the approval of the President, appoint an independent auditor, or auditors, with expertise in migration, citizenship and constitutional law to assist the committee.
(3) The independent auditor or auditors will be able to request the committee to use its powers to order the production of documents from senators and order them to appear as witnesses and answer questions.
(4) On behalf of the committee, the independent auditor or auditors may present to representatives of foreign governments in Australia and seek information.
8.45am: Bishop’s polygamy warning
Bronwyn Bishop says many Australians are alarmed that the institution of marriage “is being tampered with’’ which could lead to polygamy.
“The institution of marriage, that is a thousand years old, is being tampered with. And if it can be changed from having a man and a woman to any two people why not three, as it is in Colombia,’’ the former speaker told Sky News.
She went on to say that many voters were troubled by the arguments of progressives. “You’ve got Professor Peter Singer, who believes that children if they are disabled should be put to death at birth. And also if there is sex between humans and animals, that is fine as long as they are both satisfied.
“People are suspicious of the so-called progressive movement and at the end of the day the Australian people get it right. The Australian people should be trusted.’’
Bronwyn Bishop: The institution of marriage is being tampered with, it could led to polygamy. MORE: https://t.co/LYFg2QuCWb #pmlive pic.twitter.com/HOQdghjTSo
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) August 8, 2017
8.30am: Plibersek slams Abbott
Deputy Labor Leader Tanya Plibersek has hit back at Tony Abbott for claiming a vote against gay marriage in a postal plebiscite would be a vote against political correctness. Ms Plibersek also criticised Mr Abbott for claiming a no vote would protect religious freedom, arguing the two issues were not linked. “It is exactly the sort of thing I would expect Tony Abbott to say,” Ms Plibersek told ABC radio. “On religious freedom, we have been very clear from day one that no religion would be forced to solemnise a marriage that goes against their religious (beliefs). We could not have been clearer about that from day one.
“And the idea of political correctness: why is it that when a minority group in the Australian community, that have been denied a right for as long as they can remember, ask politely for that right these accusations of political correctness are levelled against them?’’
She said the comments showed why a plebiscite would be damaging for gay youths. “Why should one group in the community have their rights subject to this debate and this campaign and this sort of language, when I don’t have to have my relationship, my marriage, discussed by the Australian community at large?” she said.
8.12am: Xenophon to back Roberts’ motion
BREAKING: Nick Xenophon has just confirmed to The Australian’s Rosie Lewis that he’ll support the Greens referral motion of Roberts. One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts will have his election referred to the High Court as early as today after the Greens won enough Senate support to test his eligibility to sit in parliament. The three Nick Xenophon Team senators, Jacqui Lambie, Cory Bernardi, Labor and the Greens will support the referral motion, which the Greens plan to put to the Senate.
Senator Xenophon told The Australian his party had decided there was sufficient evidence warranting Senator Roberts’ election being sent to the High Court. The Senate will ask the court to determine if Senator Roberts should be disqualified from parliament under section 44 of the Constitution, which says a citizen of a foreign power is incapable of running for parliament.
Senator Roberts was born in India to a Welsh father and claims he was never British, despite saying his renunciation was registered by the UK government in December last year — six months after nominations closed and five months after the election.
Senator Roberts also argues he took “reasonable steps” to renounce any dual citizenship before he nominated to become a One Nation candidate.
Senator Roberts’ spokesman said he would make a statement in the upper house. Read the full story.
8.10am: Roberts has ‘serious questions to answer’
Greens MP Adam Bandt has accused One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts of misleading people over his citizenship status, as his party prepares to ask the Senate to refer the Queenslander’s election to the High Court. Senator Roberts was born in India to a Welsh father but claims he was never British, despite revealing his renunciation was registered by the UK government in December last year. Mr Bandt said former Greens senators Larissa Waters and Scott Ludlam “did the right thing” and quit parliament when they discovered they were citizens of Canada and New Zealand respectively, but Senator Roberts had not.
“Malcolm Roberts has some serious questions to answer. He went out publicly and said he’s never been a citizen of any other country and now there’s document that suggests the opposite,” Mr Bandt told ABC radio. “He’s been given enough time to make this situation clear, he’s refused to do so, the only place this can be sorted out now is in the High Court and we’re hopeful that there’ll be support of the Senate to do that.
“The Greens did the right thing when it became apparent because Greens senators knew about their own personal history. Malcolm Roberts clearly knows and he’s clearly not being upfront about it.”
Department of Immigration records obtained by Buzzfeed surfaced yesterday showing Senator Roberts signed a document stating he was a British citizen when he applied for Australian citizenship as a 19-year-old in 1974. The Australian revealed last month that a Malcolm I. Roberts born in Disergarh, India, in 1955, appears on the General Register Office’s Register of British Nationals Born Overseas 1818-2005, which cites the British High Commission Birth Indices as its source.
8am: Greens’ energy price regulation call
Greens MP Adam Bandt has called on the Commonwealth to regulate energy prices. Mr Bandt said the government should give energy retailers until the end of the year to regulate their own prices before the government steps in. “It is not about whether you have a renewable energy target or not it is about whether you are regulated or not,” Mr Bandt said.
“If you ever need proof that the government is captured by the big companies just look not further than your power bill, in some parts of NSW you can be paying up to $2000 more for your average household than your counterpart in the ACT (where prices are regulated).
“When you look at what is happening in NSW, Victoria and in Queensland and South Australia you are paying more than in the United Kingdom, more than the EU, they are the states where electricity prices have been deregulated and it is time to admit that its been a failure.” Mr Bandt said a big part of electricity price increases was due to retailers who “sit at the end of the chain”. “(Retailers) really do no more than take the electricity which has been generated somewhere else, transmitted by the poles and wires somewhere else and sell it onto consumers, that makes up now about 35 per cent of your power bill and a massive amount of that is profit,” he said.
7.45am: ‘Stop political correctness in its tracks’
Tony Abbott has begun his own campaign ahead of a likely postal plebiscite, telling Australians to “vote no” in the gay marriage people’s vote if they don’t want change or “political correctness”. The former prime minister voiced some concern earlier this week that a postal vote lacked authoritativeness but today said he believed the process was legitimate.
“Well done to Malcolm Turnbull and the government for making sure that this is going to happen,” Mr Abbott said. “It’s important that all of us make the most of the opportunity that we now have. Obviously I’ll be voting ‘no’ but in the end this is not about the politicians, this is about the people and your view.
“I say to you, if you don’t like same-sex marriage, vote ‘no’. If you’re worried about religious freedom and freedom of speech, vote ‘no’. If you don’t like political correctness, vote ‘no’, because voting no will help to stop political correctness in its tracks.”
.@TonyAbbottMHR says 'well done' to @TurnbullMalcolm for sticking with a plebiscite on same-sex marriage. More: https://t.co/C5IzPJPB6x pic.twitter.com/WDLTdcksXj
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) August 8, 2017
Mr Abbott said he would respect the result of the plebiscite, meaning he will vote in parliament according to the outcome, and hoped all his colleagues would do the same. “I call on both sides of this debate to respect whatever result the plebiscite gives us,” he said. “The whole point of going to a people’s vote rather than just a politician’s vote is to get an absolutely authoritative result and that I believe is what we should get, an absolutely authoritative result which will decide this matter once and for all.”
7.30am: Power to the people
Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg has written an impassioned opinion article in The Australian putting energy company chiefs on notice over power prices ahead of their meeting in the PM’s office today. “In a time of rising energy prices, all players, including government, industry and consumer groups, need to act as one in pursuit of policies that alleviate the household burden,’’ Mr Frydenberg writes.
7.15am: The day ahead
• The Turnbull government will put its doomed same-sex marriage plebiscite back before parliament for debate. However, the bill is almost certain to fail for a second time in the Senate after which the government will move to a postal vote, which does not require legislation. Labor will keep pushing back on the postal plebiscite plan, as a new legal threat looms over the $122 million vote.
• The government’s focus will also be on energy prices as Malcolm Turnbull puts company chiefs on notice to prepare for tougher electricity market rules. Electricity company chiefs are being hauled into the prime minister’s office to outline how they can help lower the power bills of Australians. Energy Australia, Momentum Energy, Simply Energy, Alinta Energy, Origin Energy, AGL and Snowy Hydro are expected to front up, together with peak body the Australian Energy Council.
• And the Greens will put a motion to the Senate as early as today to refer the election of One Nation’s Malcolm Roberts to the Court of Disputed Returns but it is not yet clear if it has enough support to be carried. The Greens want the court to determine if Senator Roberts was eligible to be elected under section 44 of the Constitution, which disqualifies dual citizens from sitting in parliament.
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