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PoliticsNow: Encryption laws by Christmas as Labor drops amendments

PoliticsNow: Encryption laws will now be in place for Christmas, after Labor dropped proposed amendments so they could clear parliament.

Richard Ferguson and Ben Packham
32 min read
4:53PMDecember 06, 2018.
Updated 9:06PMDecember 06, 2018
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Scott Morrison in Question Time this week. Picture: Kym Smith.
Scott Morrison in Question Time this week. Picture: Kym Smith.

Hello and welcome to PoliticsNow, The Australian’s live blog on the happenings at Parliament House in Canberra.

It is the last sitting day of the parliamentary year and Bill Shorten and the crossbench are aiming to make it a difficult one for Scott Morrison and his minority government but the government may seek to delay a historic legislative defeat on Nauru evacuations by proposing their own amendments.

Joe Kelly 7.10pm: Last-gasp deal on encryption

Bill Shorten has confirmed Labor will pass “vital encryption” laws through the Senate this evening, but outlined his expectation for the Morrison government to accept amendments in the first sitting week of next year.

“I will not sacrifice the safety of Australians because Mr Morrison doesn’t have the courage to deal with issues in the house of representatives,” he said.

“We are not going to go home and leave the Australian people on their own over Christmas with inferior laws of national safety”.

“I’m not prepared to go home when I know we can pass laws that make Australians safer,” Mr Shorten said.

“What’s happened — and I think it’s incumbent for it to be explained clearly and calmly — is that the legislation which would have got kids off Nauru had to be dealt with first before the security laws. The government ran down the clock in the Senate, so they didn’t have to get the kids off Nauru ... They were willing to sacrifice therefore the encryption laws which they know have to be amended”.

New encryption laws likely before Christmas

Greg Brown 6.16pm: “Big stick” vote a long way off

Scott Morrison’s “big stick” legislation faces being stuck in parliament until April because it has been referred to a Senate inquiry.

Opposition Treasury spokesman Chris Bowen said the bill would not get to a Senate vote until April because the legislation was today referred to the Senate Standing Committees on Economics. The committee’s report will be handed down on March 18, meaning the bill will be stalled in parliament until budget week.

The Senate voted in favour of the bill being referred to the committee and dooming the legislation for at least six months with such little opposition it passed the upper house without a vote, but merely on voices.

Richard Ferguson 5.05pm: House of Representatives rises for 2018

The House of Representatives has risen for the year. It will return on February 12 next year.

The Senate is still sitting and is due to pass the encryption legislation with further Labor amendments. It will now not make the House until next year.

Richard Ferguson 5.05pm: Encryption bill failure ‘disappointing’

Attorney General Christian Porter says he is “very disappointed” by the failure to pass encryption laws before the summer break.

“It appears that the reason that deal was broken, was because this bill was due to a tactical ploy,” he told reporters in Canberra.

“In the process of breaking a deal and leaving legislation that would have protected and made Australians safer … breaking a deal on that important national security legislation was something Labor was willing to do.”

Richard Ferguson 4.55pm: Nauru push fails

The Nauru amendments have passed the Senate 31-28. The government has now voted against its own Home Affairs legislation due to the amendments.

But it will not face the House of Representatives until after the summer break as the lower chamber will rise at 5pm.

Primrose Riordan 4.25pm: Encryption delay blame game

Basically there is a situation now where both sides are blaming each other for delaying the passage of the encryption bill.

The Coalition is blaming Labor, saying they are refusing to drop amendments to the bill so it can be passed through the Senate even though the house sitting hours will not be extended.

“If Labor holds the Encryption Bill as a hostage in the Senate for their cheap political games on border protection, it is on their heads. We will not be waiting for the Senate to pass superfluous amendments on the Encryption Bill,” Liberal frontbencher Christopher Pyne said.

“Labor has chosen to allow terrorists and paedophiles to continue their evil work in order to engage in point scoring,”.

Primrose Riordan 3.55pm: Govt won’t extend sitting hours

It is now possible the encryption legislation will not pass today after the government decided not to extend the sitting hours for today.

They have done this to avoid an embarrassing lower house vote on offshore detention.

This means it may not pass before Christmas, as the government had been pushing for.

“Extraordinary. The government has decided to not move the resolution on notice from Pyne to keep sitting. After everything the Libs said they decided the security legislation wasn’t as important as going home,” Labor’s Tony Burke said.

“So after all we heard all week the government decided to give up on encryption and divestment if it meant keeping the parliament going. Why? Because they were that determined to not have legislation that forced Dutton to listen to doctors.”

Richard Ferguson 3.45pm: Husar suing for defamation

Labor MP Emma Husar tells the house that she is pursuing defamation against Buzzfeed and journalist Alice Workman over an article they published detailing bullying allegations.

Ms Husar told the house that she was misrepresented by a series of articles published in August that detailed bullying accusations against her by former staff.

“ They didn’t give me any notice in advance,” she tells the house.

“They didn’t give me the opportunity to seek release from my confidentiality obligations so that I could respond.

“They didn’t give me the opportunity to use our legal system to preserve the confidential process until it had properly played out.

“I will fight for my integrity, for my family, and for Lindsay, which is full of battlers just like me.”

Ms Husar denies the bullying allegations against her.

Emma Husar says she is suing a media outlet over allegations

Richard Ferguson 3.37pm: Standing orders motion fails

The motion to suspend standing orders has failed, 72 votes to 68.

The four female independents — Cathy McGowan, Rebekha Sharkie, Kerryn Phelps and Julia Banks — abstained.

Greens MP Adam Bandt and independent MP Andrew Wilkie voted with Labor.

Bob Katter voted with the government.

Richard Ferguson 3.27pm: Katter defends … everyone

Kennedy MP Bob Katter is now speaking on the attempted suspension of standing orders.

“I rise to defend the ALP and LNP … In a rare phenomenon, this parliament, I am left with no alternative but to go to this ugly scenario,” he says.

He has said the ALP has got everything right on energy policy, but also says Josh Frydenberg is also right and “played a straight bat.”

Ben Packham 3.25pm: Nauru ‘housekeeping’ bill

The original bill which Senators Storer and McKim are trying to amend, with Labor support, is the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2018.

The bill, described as a “housekeeping bill” by Senator Bernardi, was originally designed to bar “unlawful non-citizens” from making valid applications for Australian visas when they are subject to an aborted removal to another country.

Richard Ferguson 3.20pm: ‘A cheap political stunt’

Attorney General Christian Porter calls the attempt to suspend standing orders a “cheap political stunt.”

“They suspended standing orders at the time they did in Question Time, because they didn’t want to face another question on border protection,” he says.

“There will be a price for that stunt. It won’t be cheap. That is why they are here trying to divert the attention away from the fact that their own stunt is blowing up in their face.”

Richard Ferguson 3.10pm: Government ‘falling apart before our eyes

Chris Bowen says he moving to suspend standing orders because the government is falling apart “before our very eyes.”

“ There has been a lot of intemperate language in the house and in the building today from the Prime Minister,” he says.

“We have a clear and present danger. He has swallowed one too many Tom Clancy novels.

“What we see here is what happens when the government policy agenda falls apart before our very eyes and nowhere is it more evident than in energy policy.”

Ben Packham 3.07pm: Meanwhile, in the Senate

The government and its supporters are doing everything possible in the Senate to prevent the passage of Labor-backed amendments that would streamline medical evacuations from Nauru and Manus Island.

Senator Cory Bernardi and Senator Pauline Hanson have made procedural motions to slow the progress of the amended migration bill.

The government also has nine amendments listed to the amendments put by Senators Storer and McKim, which are backed by Labor.

Richard Ferguson 3.05pm: Bowen seeks to suspend standing orders

Opposition treasury spokesman Chris Bowen is seeking to suspend standing orders on a motion condemning the government’s energy policies.

“I move … that the The House notice that the government has failed to provide a consistent energy policy for Australia,” he says.

“That they have had six different versions of the National Energy Guarantee and three versions of divestments asked this week before each policy was abandoned.

“And condemns the government for their complete failure in energy policy.”

Richard Ferguson 2.50pm: No privatisation in WA either

Labor MP Anne Aly asks if the big stick divestiture policy will lead to WA state assets being privatised.

Josh Frydenberg says no state electricity assets will be sold in WA.

Richard Ferguson 2.50pm: NSW privatisation their decision: PM

Bill Shorten asks Scott Morrison why he signed off on the sale of NSW electricity poles if he does not support the privatisation of state assets.

“That was a decision of the New South Wales State Government that was taken after an election when they went to the people of New South Wales,” the Prime Minister responds.

“In New South Wales they have a government that understands that to have a strong economy means you can pay for hospitals, that you can pay for schools, that you can pay for essential services.”

Bill Shorten during Question Time today. Picture: Gary Ramage
Bill Shorten during Question Time today. Picture: Gary Ramage
The Prime Minister Scott Morrison during Question Time. Picture: Gary Ramage
The Prime Minister Scott Morrison during Question Time. Picture: Gary Ramage

Richard Ferguson 2.47pm: No privatisation in Tasmania

Labor MP Justine Keay asks Scott Morrison if the “big stick” divestiture policy will force Tasmania to sell state energy assets.

Josh Frydenberg responds as says the best way Ms Keay can support her electorate is by voting against negative gearing changes proposed by Labor, and support the big stick.

“No state assets will be privatised in the state of Tasmania,” he says

Richard Ferguson 2.43pm: PM quizzed on privatisation

Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek asks if promised privatising NSW electricity assets would bring prices down but “they went up and up”.

The Prime Minister responds by saying that the only state energy asset sale he has been involved in is the government purchase of Snowy Hydro.

“So my form and track record as Prime Minister and Treasurer is to put those types of assets into public ownership,” he says.

Richard Ferguson 2.40pm: Pyne warns on bodies at sea

Defence Minister Christopher Pyne says he does not ADF members to have to save asylum seekers who travel to Australia by sea.

“As the Minister for Defence, I don’t want the servicemen and women of the ADF, in particular the Navy, recovering dead bodies on the sea north of Australia,” he says.

“People who have paid people smugglers to come to this country on dangerous boats and vessels. They are prepared to make our service men and women at the ADF to do that work again — it is disgraceful.”

Richard Ferguson 2.35pm: Opposition unnaturally quiet

Opposition treasury spokesman Chris Bowen asks Scott Morrison why the big stick divestiture policy will not privatise assets when the government’s electricity report recommends Queensland sell such assets.

“We have made it very clear we don’t support privatisation of the Queensland assets,” Josh Frydenberg says.

The Opposition are unnaturally quiet today. No jeers to any questions so far.

Richard Ferguson 2.30pm: Katter’s ‘big stick’ amendments

Bill Shorten asks why Kennedy MP Bob Katter “had to” add amendments to the “big stick” divestiture policy to ensure state electricity assets are not privatised.

“The real question is, why doesn’t the Leader of the Opposition stand up for the consumers,” Josh Frydenberg responds.

“There are lots of questions, and this is a question for the Leader of the Opposition. He needs to stand up for energy consumers.”

Richard Ferguson 2.25pm: Big stick and privatisation

Bill Shorten asks Scott Morrison what clause in its big stick divestiture bill prevents the privatisation of state energy assets.

Josh Frydenberg responds: “the legislation makes very clear that when there is a divestments of a government asset, it will go to another government entity.”

“Section four, schedule one, item one, page 25, lines paragraph 18, he made it very clear that if the body corporate is an authority of the Commonwealth or an authority of the state or territory, the court may order the body corporate to dispose of those assets.”

Richard Ferguson 2.20pm: PM ‘sceptical’ on Voice to Parliament

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie asks Scott Morrison when he will move on constitutional recognition and a Voice to Parliament for indigenous Australians.

The Prime Minister says he is still sceptical about a Voice to Parliament and wants to build up local government processes for indigenous Australians.

“We have always supported giving indigenous people more of a say at a local level,” he says.

“We support constitutional recognition but maintain our reservations about a voice, but we

prefer to establish local bodies in the first instance and then build on a successful model to perform a regional and then national governance model.”

Richard Ferguson 2.13pm: ‘Not a time to stand with energy companies’

Opposition environment spokesman Mark Butler asks Scott Morrison if Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is right when she says he has “no idea” about energy policy.

Josh Frydenberg responds and says Labor were “disgraceful” to earlier shut down debate of the “big stick” divestiture policy.

“Labor shamefully and disgracefully today used at tactic to shut down debate on our

legislation to prevent misconduct in the energy sector, a tactic that hasn’t been used for 30 years,” he says.

“This is a very serious matter. This is not a time to stand with the energy companies. This is the time to stand with Australian families and business.”

Richard Ferguson 2.13pm: We are not in step: PM

Scott Morrison continues his attack on Bill Shorten on national security and the delay of the encryption bill in response to a Dorothy Dixer.

“Don’t tell us the Labor Party is in lockstep with the government when it comes to national security, Mr Speaker, we are not in step, we are not even on the same page,” the Prime Minister says.

Labor has passed the encryption bill through the house, and it will be sent to the senate where the Opposition will pursue further amendments. It will then return to the house.

Richard Ferguson 2.10pm: Big stick critics

Bill Shorten asks Scott Morrison about Queensland Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington’s criticisms of the big stick divestiture policy.

“Isn’t the leader of the Queensland Party correct when she says the Prime Minister’s plans are completely out of touch?” he asks.

Josh Frydenberg answers, and pulls out a new statement by Ms Frecklington.

“I would share with their house a statement: ‘LNP leader Deb Frecklington has welcomed confirmation that the Federal Government’s legislation to prohibit misconduct in the energy sector will not allow Queensland’s electricity assets to be sold. We welcome efforts to stamp out misconduct and ensure the lowest possible prices for consumers’.”

“This is the most relevant statement from Deb Frecklington for the Leader of the Opposition, because she says Bill Shorten’s, the Leader of the Opposition’s, reckless 45% emissions reduction target will, according to Queensland’s Labor’s expert panel on renewable energy, court early closures of Queensland coal fired power stations”

Richard Ferguson 2.05pm: PM has lost himself: Burke

Manager of opposition business Tony Burke opens up question time saying Scott Morrison has lost his parliamentary majority and “himself” after a fiery press conference this morning where he attacked Bill Shorten over national security.

“The Labor Party lost control of our borders and they should be ashamed of it,” the Prime Minister responds.

“The carnage and the horror of what the Labor Party allowed to happen on our borders to the north should be to their eternal shame.

“So when we came to government, we did what we said we would do. We said we would stop the boats, Mr Speaker, and end this horrific tragedy, and that is exactly what we did.”

Ben Packham 1.55pm: Cormann bid to adjourn debate fails

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has tried to adjourn debate on the Nauru amendments.

Labor has opposed and a division has been called.

The proposed adornment of the debate failed 30 votes to 32.

Ben Packham 1.53pm: ‘What smugglers have been waiting for’

Labor-backed legislation to streamline medical evacuations from Nauru and Manus Island would only allow the immigration minister to veto such transfers if they were deemed to be “prejudicial to security” under ASIO legislation.

The amendments to a government bill, which are set to pass the Senate today with crossbench support, would require an independent health advice panel to review any refusal by the immigration minister of medical transfers initiative on the advice of two doctors.

The panel would have to report back within 24 hours on the clinical basis of the transfer, approving the transfer or confirming the minister’s decision.

According to the proposed amendment, the minister must follow the advice of the medical panel “unless the Minister reasonably believes that the transfer of the person to Australia would be prejudicial to security within the meaning of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979, including because an adverse security assessment in respect of the person is in force under that Act”.

The minister would also have to approve the transfer of the sick person’s family members unless there was a reasonable belief that a family member constituted a security risk.

The amendment was moved by independent Senator Tim Storer and Greens Senator Nick McKim, and is backed by Labor.

Concetta Fierravanti-Wells said the government had hijacked a government omnibus bill.

“This is what the people smugglers have been waiting for,” Senator Fierravanti-Wells said.

Richard Ferguson 1.50pm: Show heart for those waiting longer: Abetz

Coalition senator Eric Abetz says in the Nauru amendments debate that asylum seekers who arrive by boat are displacing others trapped in refugee camps for up to 20 years.

“Be concerned about people who have waited for five years, but where is your heart for people who have waited four times that,” he tells the Senate.

“The Australian people want to support refugees but not those who are not genuinely in need.”

Ewin Hannan 1.35pm: Enterprise agreement approval made easier

Legislation giving the Fair Work Commission more discretion to approve enterprise agreements has been enacted by parliament after the ALP dropped proposed amendments seeking to reverse cuts to Sunday penalty rates.

The legislation, which passed last night with the support of the ALP, seeks to address business frustration at the commission overturning non-union enterprise agreements because of what employers have called farcical technicalities.

It also scraps the commission’s four yearly review of modern award process, a position backed by unions and employers who expressed fatigue at the drawn out complex review process.

Read the story in full here.

Richard Ferguson 1.25pm: Motion to delay Nauru bill

The government has circulated a motion in the Senate to send the Home Affairs Legislation bill and the Nauru amendments to the joint parliamentary intelligence committee until the end of March next year.

Richard Ferguson 1.15pm: ‘Greens don't give a hoot’

Australian Conservatives senator Cory Bernardi says the Home Affairs legislation was a technical bill which is being hijacked by the Nauru medical evacuations amendments.

“The Greens are at the forefront of it, and we know what they think about restarting the boat smuggling trade,” he tells the Senate.

“They don’t give a hoot.”

Richard Ferguson 1.10pm: ‘Act now’

Independent senator Tim Storer is now speaking in the Nauru debate. He is moving the amendments which would allow the medical evacuation of asylum seekers from Nauru.

He says the situation has gone on “too long” and Australia “must act now” to bring children and sick adults to Australia.

Senator Storer says his amendments can block the medical evacuation of refugees on national security.

Richard Ferguson 1.00pm: ‘Nauru comparable to Sydney’

Coalition senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells is using her speech on the Home Affairs legislation to defend Nauru and the standard of living for asylum seekers there.

“They all travel on the same school bus … they do not distinguish between Nauruans and non-Nauruans,” she tells the Senate.

“These facilities are comparable to those I’ve seen in Sydney.”

Ben Packham 12.55pm: ‘Stop playing politics’

Bill Shorten has hit back Scott Morrison over the Prime Minister’s claims that Labor was weakening national security, amid a parliamentary brawl over legislation to allow easier medical evacuations from Nauru and Manus Island.

“I’ve co-operated with three different Liberal Prime Ministers over the last five years to improve, amend and pass 15 sets of national security legislation,” the Opposition Leader said.

“That important work is continuing in the parliament today.

“Last night, the Liberal chair of the Joint Security and Intelligence Committee praised Labor members for the bipartisan way we have contributed to laws that will help keep Australians safe.

“I’m disappointed by the Prime Minister’s behaviour today but I won’t be distracted.

“I’ve always taken the view that when it comes to keeping Australians safe, we are all in this together.

“I urge the Prime Minister to stop playing politics and start showing some leadership.”

Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten earlier today. Picture: Getty Images.
Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten earlier today. Picture: Getty Images.

Richard Ferguson 12.50pm: Nauru debate begins

Debate has begun in the Senate on Home Affairs legislation which could challenge Scott Morrison’s authority over the parliament.

Labor and the crossbench will move amendments which would allow refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus Island to be transferred to Australia on the advice of two doctors.

In a surprise tactical move, Labor, the Greens and crossbenchers teamed up last night to set up a vote by 1.50pm today on a government immigration bill, which they will seek to amend to include the medical evacuation provisions proposed by House of Representatives independent Kerryn Phelps.

Coalition Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells is the first person to speak. She says Labor’s amendments are “extraordinary” and that any weakening of border protection policies will lead to deaths at sea.

Richard Ferguson 12.30pm: Labor ‘playing games’

The encryption bill is on its way to the Senate where Labor will pursue further amendments to ensure it comes back to the House.

Attorney General Christian Porter told the house that this was a tactic by Labor to play parliamentary games on “another matter of national security.”

Primrose Riordan 12.05pm: Encryption bill passes

The government’s bill to increase security services’ access to encrypted messaging apps has been approved by the House. Only Greens MP Adam Bandt and crossbench MP Andrew Wilkie voted no.

Attorney General Christian Porter is now introducing amendments, agreed on with Labor, in the house.

Dennis Shanahan 11.55am: PM plays best political game

Scott Morrison has grabbed an opportunity to play to the Coalition’s strength on border protection, target Bill Shorten as “risky” on national security and underline that a Labor government’s plans won’t be blocked in the Senate.

The Prime Minister has also been able to make declarations and take stands on border protection and immigration that Malcolm Turnbull could never have adopted.

Read the article in full here.

Richard Ferguson 11.00am: Hinch, Sharkie, Banks refuse briefings

The Australian understands Derryn Hinch, Rebekha Sharkie and Julia Banks have not taken up the offer of top security briefings on the consequences of medical evacuations from Nauru.

Wentworth MP Kerryn Phelps, the architect of the plan to get two doctors to approve the evacuation of asylum seekers, received a security briefing yesterday.

Indi MP Cathy McGowan will receive a briefing today, as will independent senator Tim Storer and Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick (representing the party including lower house MP Rebekha Sharkie, who will not attend a briefing.)

Pauline Hanson, One Nation’s Peter Georgiou, and independent senator Fraser Anning are also being briefed.

Ex-Liberal Ms Banks has not responded to the government’s offer for briefings from Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo and Operation Sovereign Borders commander Stephen Osbourne so far.

Bob Katter, Cory Bernardi and David Leyonhjelm have not attended briefings as they already back the government’s position.

Richard Ferguson 10.48am: ‘We’ve got policy that works’

Scott Morrison dismisses Labor claims that they would retain ministerial oversight over any medical recommendations to evacuate asylum seekers from Nauru under the amendments.

“Which is all reviewable. You know what — I’m not going to see an arrangement put in place that could ever see potentially, and I hope a long way down the track, a Labor minister being responsible for a decision like that,” he told reporters in Canberra.

“We’ve got a clear policy — it’s working. It is worked for five years.

“Why would you change something that has — demonstrably worked so successfully, so hard won, and at great cost. Why on earth would Bill Shorten sell all of that out for a cheap day in politics?”

Richard Ferguson 10.43am: ‘I’ll do whatever I can’

Scott Morrison confirms he will do “whatever he can” to prevent the Nauru medical evacuation amendments from getting to the floor of the House of Representatives.

He told reporters in Canberra he will not let the amendments “see the light of day.”

Richard Ferguson 10.40am: ‘Green light for boats’

Scott Morrison says he will fight attempts to legislate the medical evacuation of asylum seekers on Nauru and that Bill Shorten is giving the “green light” to restarting the boats.

“There’s about 12,000 people sitting in Indonesia right now who would happily get on a boat if they thought they had the green light,” the Prime Minister told reporters in Canberra.

“And what Labor is doing today is showing even now the opposition, with the cockiness that thinks they will just walk into government, they can give into these things.

“There are 10 children on Nauru today. So, don’t let them tell you this is about getting children off Nauru. That’s a con. That’s happened. And it happened under the government’s border protection arrangements.

“This is about getting rid of offshore processing. They never believed it in the first place.”

Richard Ferguson 10.35am: ‘Shorten doesn’t have mettle’

Scott Morrison says Bill Shorten does “not have the mettle” to handle national security and that he is trying to undermine border security to cause chaos in the House of Representatives.

“In the Senate, the Labor Party is playing games with crossbenchers and others to try and introduce laws that completely undermine the successful border protection framework that has been saving lives for the last five years,” he told reporters in Canberra.

“For what purpose are they doing this? To seek a cheap win in the House of Representatives.

“The Labor Party have shown Australians today that when it comes to national security, and border protection, they will trade it all for politics.

“Bill Shorten’s mettle has been tested on national security today, and border protection, and has been found untrue.

“Bill Shorten does not have the mettle to deal with national security. He does not have the mettle to deal with border protection. Our government has demonstrated that we do.”

Richard Ferguson 10.32am: Labor ‘isn’t helping on encryption’

Scott Morrison says the Labor Party is not helping to pass encryption legislation in the House.

“The Labor Party is not co-operating to pass important encryption legislation that would ensure that police, ASIO, other agencies, they won’t have the powers to access encrypted messages which can help them thwart a terrorist attack,” he told reporters in Canberra.

“They are delaying the passage of those bills to play games in the parliament with national security.”

Ben Packham 1 0.29am: PM attempt to delay Nauru bill

The Australian understands the government may seek to delay a historic legislative defeat on Nauru evacuations by proposing their own amendments on the Home Affairs bill in the Senate.

This could delay its referral back to the House and putting off a final vote till next year.

Richard Ferguson 10.00am: ‘Wide consultation’

Opposition finance spokesman Jim Chalmers has declined to identify specific advice for backing the medical evacuation of asylum seekers on Nauru today.

Mr Chalmers told Sky News that Labor was backing amendments in the House of Representatives today based on consultations with “the broader community.”

“We consult with the broader community, with the medical community, with experts in the field, we listen to people’s views,” he told Sky News.

“We’ve been consulting via Shayne Neumann our Immigration Shadow Minister and others to make sure that we get this right — that’s how we do all of our policy; whether it be on border protection or other areas of policy.”

Richard Ferguson 9.55am: ‘I’m protecting kids’

Justice Party senator Derryn Hinch says he is backing the medical intervention of refugees from Nauru because he was elected to “protect kids” but still supports offshore processing.

“I’m copping criticism for supporting legislation to get refugee children off Nauru. I have supported, and still support, Labor and Liberal governments on offshore processing.” he tweeted.

“And border protection. But, I was elected on a policy of protecting kids. That’s what I’m doing here.”

Senator Hinch was a key vote last night in the Senate to bring on a vote on amendments to a government bill today, which would allow refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus Island to be transferred to Australia on the advice of two doctors.

9.50am: Playing ‘pathetic games’

More on the Prime Minister’s savage criticism of the push to legislate faster medical treatment for asylum seekers on Manus Island and Nauru, which he warns will “completely crumble” border protection.

Mr Morrison warned the changes would “completely abandon offshore processing as we know it”.

“It is a green light coming from Labor teaming up with the Greens to basically completely crumble offshore processing in this country,” Mr Morrison told 2GB earlier today.

“They’re doing it for one pathetic reason — to try and play some pathetic games in the House of Representatives.

“It shows a complete and total lack of commitment in the need for strong border protection in this country.”

Liberal deputy leader Josh Frydenberg said the issue at hand was not the government’s authority.

“This is not about us … what it’s about is what the Labor Party is doing, it is ripping up their commitment to a strong border protection policy,” he told Sky News.

“If this was to go through, it would make the offshore processing that has been such a successful component of the government’s policy, much more unlikely to be effective.”

AAP

Richard Ferguson 9.30am: Encryption bill introduced

A bill giving security services greater access to encrypted apps to tackle terrorists and pedophiles is being introduced into the House of Representatives.

Attorney General Christian Porter struck a deal with Labor over the encryption laws, after the Opposition was initially reluctant to back them and Scott Morrison said Bill Shorten was “happy” to allow terrorists to use the secure messaging apps.

Cartoon: Jon Kudelka.
Cartoon: Jon Kudelka.

Richard Ferguson 9.19am: ‘Looking after sick people’

Labor are backing the evacuation of asylum seekers off Nauru to “make sure sick people get treatment”, opposition finance spokesman Jim Chalmers says.

“This is fundamentally about making sure sick people get the treatment that they need,” he told Sky News.

“And we’re in discussions with the crossbenchers about the best way to ensure that.

“We don’t want to see the functions and the powers of the immigration minister given to someone who’s not the immigration minister … (but) we can do better.”

Key crossbenchers will receive briefings from Home Affairs Secretary Mike Pezzullo and Operation Sovereign Borders commander Stephen Osbourne, as the government tries to dissuade them from supporting the medical evacuation of asylum seekers from Nauru in parliament today.

Nauru's medical facilities. Picture: Department of Home Affairs.
Nauru's medical facilities. Picture: Department of Home Affairs.

Richard Ferguson 9.15am: No Labor timeline for negative gearing

Opposition finance spokesman Jim Chalmers has refused to reveal when a Shorten Government would implement changes to negative gearing.

When asked what the timeline was for tightening the number of investment properties Australians can negatively gear, Mr Chalmers said Labor had room to “update” the timing.

“We’ve only just found out the timing of the budget and the timing of the election,” he told Sky News.

“It’s entirely reasonable for us to update the costings and the timings of our policies once we get the most recent figures.

“We’ll get the mid-year update in a couple of weeks. We’ll be in Adelaide at our national conference. We’ll respond to that then.”

Ben Packham 8.50am: Crossbenchers to be briefed on Nauru

Key crossbenchers will receive top security briefings to dissuade them from backing the medical evacuation of sick adults from Nauru in parliament today.

The Australian understands that the government has organised briefings from Home Affairs Secretary Mike Pezzullo and Operation Sovereign Borders commander Stephen Osborne.

They will arrive at Parliament House for talks with crossbench MPs soon.

Scott Morrison faces the prospect of a humiliating defeat on key border protection changes in the parliament, as Labor and the Greens team up with key independents to allow refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus Island to be transferred to Australia on the advice of two doctors.

In a surprise tactical move, Labor, the Greens and crossbenchers teamed up on Wednesday evening to set up a vote by 1.50pm today on a government immigration bill, which they will seek to amend to include the medical evacuation provisions proposed by House of Representatives independent Kerryn Phelps.

A medical ward at Nauru. Picture: Department of Home Affairs
A medical ward at Nauru. Picture: Department of Home Affairs

Richard Ferguson 8.25am: McCormack: don’t discriminate against kids

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has broken with his predecessor Barnaby Joyce and says he does not back discrimination against transgender students.

Mr Joyce told Sky News last night single-sex schools should not be able to refuse students “on the premise that you’re gay, but on the premise that self evidently your genetic makeup is that you’re female or male.”

Mr McCormack said this morning he did not want to see “any children” discriminated against.

“And I don’t want to see any child discriminated against, and quite frankly I think what Scott Morrison has put forward will make sure no child is discriminated against,” he told Sky News.

Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten have failed to secure a deal to protect gay school students from discrimination after clashing over how best to preserve the core freedoms of faith-based educators.

Richard Ferguson 8.10am: Labor’s new scare campaign

Josh Frydenberg says the “big stick” divestiture policy would not be privatisation by stealth, and says Labor is trying to run a scare campaign on state-owned assets “a la Mediscare.”

“This is a Labor scare campaign. a la Mediscare,” he told Sky News, ”It’s absolute rubbish.”

The Treasurer told Sky News if state electricity assets were broken up using the “big stick”, it would be sold to another government entity.

Scott Morrison has warned state-owned electricity companies could be among the first targets of his “big stick” divestment powers, particularly those in Queensland where he accused Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk of “dividend stripping” from power companies to prop up the state’s budget.

Richard Ferguson 8.00am: ‘Ask yourself the question’

Josh Frydenberg has dismissed threats from energy companies that they could challenge the “big stick divestiture policy” in the High Court.

“You have to ask yourself the question — why are they so opposed to this legislation?” he told Sky News.

“The truth is because it’s going to shine a very bright spotlight on misconduct in the sector.”

The government’s proposed legislation to allow the breakup of big power companies for market manipulation looks set to pass the House of Representatives, after four key crossbench MPs sided with the government tonight in repeated votes as Labor attempted to stifle debate on the bill.

Richard Ferguson 7.52am: ‘Nothing to say’ to Turnbull

Scott Morrison says he has not talked to Malcolm Turnbull in “some weeks” despite his predecessor’s extraordinary interventions this week into Liberal party preselection, election scheduling and energy policy.

“I haven’t really had anything to say to him for some weeks. There hasn’t been much contact,” the Prime Minister told 2GB.

“I’m sure there’s been a lot of messaging going on in those directions.”

The Australian reveals today that Mr Turnbull’s closest confidant in parliament, Craig Laundy, has urged the former prime minister to stay out of the spotlight, warning he is damaging his legacy with ill-judged public comments.

Scott Morrison with Christopher Pyne in Canberra yesterday. Picture: Gary Ramage.
Scott Morrison with Christopher Pyne in Canberra yesterday. Picture: Gary Ramage.

Richard Ferguson 7.50am: PM won’t save Molan

Scott Morrison has confirmed he will not save Liberal senator Jim Molan’s place in parliament despite calls from conservatives to ensure the former major-general has a winnable senate ticket spot.

“Jim stood for that spot and it was the largest Senate selection there ever was,” the Prime Minister told 2GB.

“There was a whole bunch of people in the very conservative side of our party who didn’t show up. It’s strange why they didn’t turn up.

“Where there’s an opportunity for Jim to serve, I’m sure he’ll put his hand up for something like this. I was the one who introduced him into the Liberal Party.

“I’m a big supporter of Jim but he’s got to be elected in accordance to the party processes.”

Senator Molan was delegated to the third unwinnable spot on the NSW Liberal senate ticket behind disability support advocate Hollie Hughes and former Liberal Party official Andrew Bragg, angering conservatives who want him to be saved due to his military expertise.

In an opinion piece in the Australian today, the former major-general launched a blistering attack on the state ­division’s “poisonous” factional system.

Richard Ferguson 7.38am: Nauru critics ‘potentially racist’

Scott Morrison says some critics of Nauru’s offshore refugee processing centre are “potentially racist.”

Labor and the crossbench are set to force through amendments in parliament today which would allow refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus Island to be transferred to Australia on the advice of two doctors.

The Prime Minister said this morning that it was a “destructive move” and that criticism of Nauru as a dangerous place for asylum seekers to be held was “terribly offensive.”

“It is terribly offensive and it’s actually potentially racist. That’s why I’ve never understood why Australians would be so disrespectful to Nauruans,” he told 2GB.

“We’re not talking about kids here. We’re talking single adult males … we’re not talking about people you’d happily have live here.

“This is an absolutely destructive, and irresponsible, and reckless move by the Labor Party. And it tells you everything you need to know about them and border protection. They cannot be trusted.

“They’re weak as.”

7.10am: Factions poison Libs

illustration: Eric Lobbecke.
illustration: Eric Lobbecke.

There has been plenty of commentary about the Liberal Party being in crisis, writes Jim Molan. There can be no doubt the party faces huge challenges. Since the 2013 election we have lost more than a million votes. Recent elections in Sydney’s Wentworth and in Victoria have seen us lose seats thought impregnable. Although many commentato­rs claim the party no longer reflects conservative opinions, or that it has a particular problem with women, there is a much simpler explanation for at least part of the problem — the poisonous influence of factions.

Read the article in full here.

Richard Ferguson 7.10am: ‘We’re on right path’

Josh Frydenberg says there will no change in economic direction despite mixed national accounts figures yesterday.

“We know that we are on the right path and that are our economic plan is working,” he told Sky News.

“The Prime Minister can take a lot of credit for that … I inherited a pretty good set of numbers.”

The Reserve Bank could be forced to cut official interest rates deeper into “emergency” levels after ­unexpectedly soft figures ­revealed Australian consumers were pulling back on spending amid ­accelerating house-price falls, sluggish wages growth and rising bills.

Scott Morrison may now be forced to downgrade the economic outlook in this month’s mid-year economic and fiscal outlook after the Australian ­Bureau of Statistics yesterday revealed the economy had slowed to its weakest pace in two years.

Richard Ferguson 7.00am: ‘We legislated tax cuts’

Josh Frydenberg has not ruled out accelerated tax cuts before the next federal election to combat low wages growth.

There has been speculation that accelerated tax cuts would be a key plank of a pre-election budget.

When asked if tax cuts could combat low wages growth, the Treasurer would not “speculate” on such a plan and noted that wages were set to increase despite lower-than-expected national accounts yesterday.

“I’m not speculating on tax cuts … my responsibility is to proceed very carefully,” Mr Frydenberg told Sky News.

“The Wages Price Index, which is an indicator for wages growth, had its biggest jump in three years just a couple of weeks ago and the Reserve Bank governor of Australia has said that wages will continue to rise as the economy.

“We’ve actually legislated tax cuts. Labor wants to roll those tax cuts back.”

What’s making news:

Malcolm Turnbull’s closest confidant in parliament, Craig Laundy, has urged the former prime minister to stay out of the spotlight, warning he is damaging his legacy with ill-judged public comments.

Scott Morrison faces the prospect of a humiliating defeat in parliament on key border protection changes, as Labor and the Greens team with key independents to allow refugees and asylum-seekers on Nauru and Manus Island to be transferred to Australia on the advice of two doctors.

Liberal insiders say Julie Bishop will retire from parliament just before the next election, despite speculation she might consider a career as opposition leader should the government lose the election, and despite the fact she has been re-endorsed for her seat of Curtin.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton appears set to survive the year without being referred to the High Court, as Labor tries to raise fresh doubt over the eligibility of Liberal MP Chris Crewther.

Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten have failed to secure a deal to protect gay school students from discrimination after clashing over how best to preserve the core freedoms of faith-based educators.

Several ALP MPs have internally raised concerns about the details of a deal between Labor and the Liberal Party on encryption, pushing for even stronger safeguards.

Tony Abbott has recommended boosting pay and conditions for teachers in remote schools, including wiping out their HECS debt, as the key to ensuring indigenous children can have the same health, income and education achievements as all other Australians.

Scott Morrison has warned state-owned electricity companies could be among the first targets of his “big stick” divestment powers, particularly those in Queensland where he accused Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk of “dividend stripping” from power companies to prop up the state’s budget.

Australia is expected to join a US-led resolution today condemning the militant Palestinian organisation Hamas for firing rockets into Israel, in a further demonstration of the hawkish shift in Middle-East policy under Scott Morrison.

Bill Shorten’s foreign policy ­agenda is set to come under attack at Labor’s national conference, with a push for a future Labor government to sign a UN treaty banning the development, storage and use of nuclear weapons.

Labor’s national conference does not have before it a proposal to ­incorporate into the party’s constitution rules that seek to safeguard Bill Shorten from a future leadership challenge.

Labor MP Emma Husar is considering court action against her party as she fights to keep her western Sydney seat, dismissing head office boss Kaila Murnain’s view she is no longer an ALP-­endorsed candidate for next year’s election.

James Jeffrey’s Sketch: The stoically thin blond line between parliament and the abyss.

Niki Savva writes that as Morrison steps up, Turnbull really must back off.

More Coverage

Keating offers slim hope to ScoMo
DENNIS SHANAHAN
Read related topics:Bill ShortenScott Morrison

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/politicsnow-live-news-video-from-house-of-representatives-senate/news-story/ad92d304c5f38f0f376cb38f18b72553