New boats law creates a problem, Peter Dutton says
PoliticsNow | Peter Dutton says people-smugglers are aware it is now easier to order the medical transfer of refugees to Australia.
- People-smugglers on alert: Dutton
- Shorten ‘ignored security advice’
- Medivac bill passes Senate
- PM orders Christmas Island to reopen
- Katter wants action on banks
Hello and welcome to PoliticsNow, The Australian’s live blog on the happenings at Parliament House in Canberra. As the Medivac bill passed the Senate, Peter Dutton warned people-smugglers are aware of the legal changes in Australia making it easier for doctors to order medical transfers of refugees from Nauru and Manus Island to Australia.
And he said a ‘reckless’ Bill Shorten ignored advice from security officials in backing the medivac legislation.
Greg Brown 6.30pm: ‘ Wacka’ pulls up stumps
It was goodbye from the “Wacka” as Nationals senator John “Wacka” Williams has “pulled up stumps” with tears in his eyes and in front of the chief executive of the bank he brought untold damage to in exposing its practices and leading the charge for a banking royal commission.
The NSW senator delivered his valedictory speech in front of a packed Senate, including Commonwealth Bank chief executive Matt Comyn, whistleblower Jeff Morris, ASIC deputy chair Daniel Crennan and Scott Morrison.
Ben Packham 4.45pm: Dutton: people-smugglers on alert
Peter Dutton says people-smugglers are aware of the legal changes in Australia making it easier for doctors to order medical transfers of refugees from Nauru and Manus Island to Australia.
The Home Affairs Minister said while the Phelps-inspired medivac bill, which passed the parliament this morning, would not apply to new arrivals, this was unlikely to be understood by would-be boat people.
“It doesn’t apply to new arrivals according to the law,” he told Sky News.
“It creates a problem though … in the marketing in Indonesia and elsewhere.”
Mr Dutton, who met with Cabinet’s National Security Committee this morning after a briefing from security agencies, said it was well known that would-be asylum-seekers and people-smugglers followed Australian parliamentary debates.
“It should come as no surprise to people that people smugglers have heard what is going on.” he said.
Mr Dutton said the Christmas Island processing centre had been placed on “hot contingency” alert to take new arrivals, and suggested there was “a possibility” the facility could be used to treat sick refugees.
Earlier, Labor frontbencher Brendan O’Connor, a former immigration minister, accused Scott Morrison of seeking to restart the boats.
“It is sending a message — he is advertising like the ad-man he is — to people smugglers that business is open. And that is an outrageous act,” Mr O’Connor said.
“That is a treacherous act. It is an act that should not be conducted by a prime minister, but clearly under pressure he has gone the low road.”
Richard Ferguson 3.18pm: Labor raises Wilson and franking credits
After Question Time, manager of opposition business Tony Burke raises a matter of privilege about Liberal MP Tim Wilson’s conduct as chair of a parliamentary inquiry into franking credits.
Mr Burke details recent reports of Mr Wilson’s relationship with Wilson Asset Management, who had a petition carried by a taxpayer-funded website set up by Mr Wilson.
Mr Wilson has shares managed by the company, and is a distant cousin of its owner Geoff Wilson. Mr G. Wilson is a leading critic of Labor’s plan to change franking credits.
“It’s a ham act,” leader of the house Christopher Pyne calls out when Mr Burke speaks.
Richard Ferguson 3.05pm: Help for bushfire-ravaged Tasmania
Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie asks Scott Morrison about federal support for Tasmania after devastating bushfires there.
“Our government stands ready to assist Tasmania with any assistance that may be required in relation to the ongoing bushfires,” the Prime Minister says.
“In this context, I have offered Premier (Will) Hodgman the assistance of Emergency Management Australia’s recovery liaison officer.
“I have committed to fast track any request for assistance as a matter of priority to aid the recovery of Tasmanian communities.
“The best way you can help Tasmania as well is go to Tasmania. It is beautiful. The people are just as friendly, the coffee is just as good, the food is just as fantastic and large areas of Tasmania that have not been affected by those fires and I would encourage, encourage very much, Australians to take the opportunity.”
Richard Ferguson 3.05pm: Still not biting on banks
Another female Labor backbench MP is asking Scott Morrison about the banking royal commission. This time it is Cowan MP Anne Aly.
Josh Frydenberg responds.
“I just say to the member for Cowan that if she was really interested in focusing on those people across her electorate,” he says.
“The 3173 people who will be hit by Labor’s retirees’ tax and the 9443 people in Cowan who will be hit by Labor’s housing tax.
“If she really cared for her constituents, she would tell the Labor Party to drop those bad policies and produce a formal response to the banking royal commission.”
Richard Ferguson 3pm: ‘We have commenced reopening Christmas Island’
Barnaby Joyce asks Scott Morrison what he is doing to deal with the consequences of the medivac bill.
The Prime Minister says he will strengthen Operation Sovereign Borders and re-open Christmas Island.
“Last night, the Minister for Home Affairs and the Minister for Immigration met with the Operation Sovereign Borders personnel, as I understand,” he says.
“This morning the national security of Cabinet was convened to address this very question.
“We took the advice and recommendations of our security and border protection agencies, something that the leader of the Labor Party failed to do when he came into this place yesterday and wilfully weakened Australia’s border protection regime.
“The recommendations we have taken to strengthen the posturing and positioning and resources of Operation Sovereign Borders, as required by those who advised us to do so.
“Secondly, we have commenced the process of reopening Christmas Island, as recommended we should do so, to deal with the issue of any possible future arrivals as well as any transfers that may now take place.”
Richard Ferguson 2.58pm: ‘Listen to the Law Council’
Labor MP for Longman Susan Lamb asks why Scott Morrison won’t schedule extra sitting days to deal with the banking royal commission. Josh Frydenberg responds.
“The member for Longman might want to listen to the advice of the Law Council of Australia,” the Treasurer says.
“The member for Longman might want to support legislation currently before the parliament to implement the Hayne Royal Commission findings.
“The member for Longman might want to apologise to the 4356 constituents in her electorate who the member for McMahon said, “Don’t vote for Labor” because they don’t want a retirees’ tax.”
Richard Ferguson 2.54pm: Forget banks, what about floods?
Labor MP for Herbert Cathy O’Toole asks Scott Morrison why he will not apologise for the banking royal commission.
“I refer her to my answer on this yesterday,” he says.
“But I am very surprised that the member for Herbert would not come in here and ask me about what we are doing to support the people of Townsville (who live in Ms O’Toole’s electorate) during the floods.”
Richard Ferguson 2.48pm: Frydenberg won’t bite on banks
Opposition treasury spokesman Chris Bowen asks Scott Morrison was the last minister in the Turnbull Government to back the banking royal commission.
Josh Frydenberg responds for the Prime Minister again.
“Mr Speaker, can the member for McMahon confirm there are 3000 retirees in his electorate that he has told “don’t vote for Labor” because the reality is the member for McMahon has had an opportunity to provide to the Australian people a comprehensive formal response to the banking royal commission,” the Treasurer says.
“Despite all the huff and the puff of how important this is, he’s been left wanting, Mr Speaker. He’s been left wanting with empty hands. With empty hands.
“What is the member for McMahon saying to the 17,000 mortgage brokers across the country, including his electorate, employing 26,000 people?
“The reality is the member for McMahon, not only was a complete failure as the Minister for Border Protection with 25,000 boats but now as Shadow Treasurer, has come up with a genius of a plan to slug Australians with $200 billion of taxes.”
Richard Ferguson 2.45pm: Labor back on banks
Opposition financial services spokeswoman Clare O’Neil asks Scott Morrison if he regrets calling the banking royal commission “a populist whinge.” Josh Frydenberg responds.
“Does the member for Hotham regret hitting 5000 people in her electorate with a retirees’ tax? Does the member for Hotham regret that?” the Treasurer says.
“The fact of the matter is we are the only side of politics in this place that have provided a formal and comprehensive response to the royal commission.
“What do you say to the 17,000 mortgage brokers across this country, including in your
electorate, and the 26,000 people that they employ? When do you start doing their business? When do you put them out of work? When do you give a big free kick to the banks?”
Richard Ferguson 2.42pm: Porter’s medivac fears
Attorney General Christian Porter tells parliament the medivac bill could lead to people accused of serious crimes, but not convicted, being transferred to Australia.
“We are well aware of the reporting of a potential transferee on Manus Island charged with four counts of sexual penetration of a minor under the PNG summary offences and crimes against the Children’s Act,” he says.
“We are aware of another potential transferee who has been charged with an indecent act with a child under 16, detained in Nauru and yet to have their first court appearance.
“There is another potential transferee charged with assault of a treating psychiatrist. None of those cases could result in the minister exercising the discretion to stop the transfer.”
Richard Ferguson 2.36pm: ‘600 day’ bank royal commission delay
Bill Shorten asks Scott Morrison how many Australians “suffered” mistreatment by banks and financial services firms during the “600 day” period he opposed the banking royal commission. Josh Frydenberg responds.
“We are waiting for the Leader of the Opposition’s response to the banking royal commission,” the Treasurer says.
“So are 25 million Australians because they’re sick and tired of your stunts, Mr Speaker. They’re sick and tired of these stunts.
“The member for McMahon is desperate for us to put out the banking royal commission report so that he can respond. A week later, we’ve seen nothing. Absolutely nothing.”
Richard Ferguson 2.32pm: Labor’s extra sitting day ‘stunts’: Frydenberg
Opposition treasury spokesman Chris Bowen asks Scott Morrison why he won’t schedule extra sitting days to deal with the recommendations of the banking royal commission. Josh Frydenberg responds.
“When we talk about extra sitting weeks, none other than the Law Council of Australia said, ‘Parliament must hasten slowly. We must take time to get this right. We must ensure a real opportunity to set this right through meaningful reform is not lost in the race to the election.’” the Treasurer says.
“That’s the Law Council of Australia sending the Labor Party a message about their stunts.
“We are taking action, the Labor Party can’t even be bothered with a response.”
.@ScottMorrisonMP highlights the 'wide contrast' between the Coalition and @AustralianLabor plans for national security, saying @LiberalAus plans to protect Australian borders and not 'weaken them as Labor did' in backing the medivac bill.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) February 13, 2019
MORE: https://t.co/YIvYYAkMyD #qt pic.twitter.com/GTN9eNNNMl
Richard Ferguson 2.29pm: Friends face ‘higher character test’ than refugees
Immigration Minister David Coleman says friends and relatives of Australians face a higher character test than that faced by refugees under the medivac bill.
“At the moment, Mr Speaker, you might have relatives or friends or family who want to come to Australia,” he says.
“They’re assessed under the Migration Act character test, skilled employees, tourists, students, everyone — an extensive list of criteria are applied before those people enter Australia.
“Under Amendment 14 (of the medivac bill), the people coming from Manus and Nauru, those criteria to do not apply.
“Somebody’s relative coming to visit them from overseas will have a higher character standard than someone under this bill. It is another failure.”
Richard Ferguson 2.22pm: Labor wants a ‘sorry’ for banks
Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek asks Scott Morrison why he won’t say sorry to victims of the banks for not voting for a banking royal commission sooner.
Josh Frydenberg responds and says Labor should apologise for bank scandals which took place when the last Labor government was in power.
“Mr Speaker, it’s the Labor Party that needs to say sorry to the victims of Opus Prime. It’s the Labor Party that needs to say sorry to the victims of Storm Financial, Mr Speaker,” he says.
“The Leader of the Opposition was proudly saying, when he was the Financial Services Minister, that we have the best regulators and the best banks in the world and he did not call a royal commission when they were in office for six years.”
Richard Ferguson 2.17pm: McGowan pushes regional development
Independent MP for Indi Cathy McGowan asks whether Scott Morrison will back a regional Australia white paper, after a parliamentary report into regional development.
“ My government is committed to taking a strategic and long-term approach to regional development,” the Prime Minister says.
“That’s demonstrated in the policies that we have pursued as a government and continue to implement.
“The regions at the ready, investing in Australia’s future report canvassed a range of issues from population, economic growth, employment and liveability.
“The Minister for Regional Services will table the government response in the Senate later today.”
Richard Ferguson 2.15pm: Shorten tries banks, ScoMo switches to boats
Bill Shorten asks why Scott Morrison won’t apologise for not backing a royal commission into the banks sooner.
The Prime Minister asks why the Opposition Leader won’t apologise for deaths of asylum seekers at sea under the last Labor government.
“On the subject of sorries, when will the Labor Party apologise for 50,000 people turning
up on 800 boats?” he says.
“When will the Labor Party apologise for 1200 deaths at sea? When will the Labor Party apologise for destroying the border protection regime? Simple question.”
Richard Ferguson 2.13pm: Shorten ‘ignored security advice’: Dutton
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton answers a dixer about border security, and says Bill Shorten ignored advice from security officials in backing medivac legislation.
“He was given certain advice in relation to the bill proposed by he and the Greens and he chose to ignore the specific advice given to him by the Director-General of ASIO. By the chief of the Defence Force. By the General in charge of Operation Sovereign Borders. By the head of my department,” he says.
“He has shown a reckless course of action that will see people coming from Manus Island who have been accused of being in sexual relationships with 14-year-old girls. There is a person who stands accused of murder in Iran who, under the Labor Party’s proposal, will have a right of entry into our country.
“This Leader of the Opposition has demonstrated that he is even worse, that he is even weaker, Mr Speaker, than Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard combined.”
Richard Ferguson 2.10pm: AWU raids question out of order
Manager of opposition business Tony Burke asks Human Services Minister Michael Keenan if he would give the same answers on AWU raids outside parliament with parliamentary privilege, or under sworn testimony.
Speaker Tony Smith rules the question out of order.
.@ScottMorrisonMP says a govt's first responsibility is to 'keep Australian's safe and secure' arguing the Coalition prioritises those values, while @billshortenmp failed to do so when he backed the offshore detention medivac bill for refugees.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) February 13, 2019
MORE: https://t.co/YIvYYAkMyD #qt pic.twitter.com/4HRXCctYco
Richard Ferguson 2.07pm: ScoMo on attack again
Scott Morrison lays out his security agenda in parliament, for the first time since parliament passed medivac legislation he says will dismantle offshore processing of refugees.
“Our government is discharging that duty of responsibility and what we saw in this chamber yesterday was the leader of the Labor Party fail to discharge his responsibilities for
national security and protecting our borders in this country,” he says.
“So there is a clear contrast. But the contrast goes wide when it comes to national security.
“The Labor Party did less in six years than we did in last year alone, Mr Speaker. As they let bikies and criminals and rapists and others stay in the country because they simply don’t have the mettle to make the decisions to protect Australia and to keep Australians safe.”
Richard Ferguson 2.05pm: Keenan quizzed on AWU raid
Opposition employment spokesman Brendan O’Connor opens up question time.
He asks Human Services Minister Michael Keenan about statements in court today revealing his former media adviser leaked details of a police raid on the Australian Workers Union to journalists, and whether he stands by his previous statements neither he or his journalists were involved.
“The answer to the question is yes, I do stand by those statements,” Mr Keenan replies.
“I was Justice Minister for 4.5 years. Every single day, myself and my office dealt with sensitive information. We had protocols associated with dealing with that information and we continue to make sure those protocols were adhered to in all circumstances.
“The AWU offices were raided in search of documents about wrongdoing by the Leader of the Opposition when he was in charge of that union.
“Now, let me remind the House what this investigation is actually about.”
Richard Ferguson 1.47pm: Libs consider Turnbull invite
Liberal senator Arthur Sinodinos says he will consider inviting Malcolm Turnbull to campaign in Wentworth at the next election.
The former prime minister angered Liberals last years when he was absent from the campaign to retain his old seat, which was ultimately lost to independent Kerryn Phelps.
Senator Sinodinos, a key driver of Mr Turnbull’s coup against Tony Abbott in 2015 who has just come back to parliament after a months-long battle with cancer, defended Mr Turnbull’s actions.
“The danger was that he would end up becoming the distraction, the centre of attention, in the whole campaign,” he told Sky News today.
“I’m now patron senator for Wentworth. I’m now working with (Liberal candidate) Dave Sharma to get the electorate back. And we will pull out all stops.
“And if there’s a potential role there for Malcolm, and it’s popular with voters, that’s a card I’m happy to see played.”
Richard Ferguson 1.35pm: Labor disputes Husar snub
Federal Labor has disputed rogue MP Emma Husar’s claim she was not invited to a key party caucus meeting.
Ms Husar caused a minor ruckus in parliament when she did not turn up to a marathon Monday night meeting of Labor MPs and then did not arrive at Parliament until later yesterday, just before key votes on the medivac bill. She was ultimately present for those votes.
For the record, I was not at the Caucus meeting as I was not made aware of it. A correction would be the fair and right thing to do. #auspol
— Emma Husar MP (@emmahusarmp) February 13, 2019
Sources close to Labor have told The Australian all caucus members were invited to the meeting in the usual way.
Ms Husar will not be running as Labor’s candidate for her NSW seat of Lindsay after the party selected former state minister Diane Beamer.
The current Lindsay MP is currently suing youth website BuzzFeed for a series of stories on her alleged mistreatment of staff, which has labelled “slut-shaming.”
Rosie Lewis 1.22pm: Wilkie ends Labor’s push for extra sitting weeks
EXCLUSIVE
Labor will fail in its bid to extend parliament’s sitting to deal with the banking royal commission’s recommendations, after key Tasmanian independent MP Andrew Wilkie rejected the push saying it would not achieve “any meaningful progress”.
Mr Wilkie told The Australian extra sitting days in March could even be counter-productive because they would be “so soon, and so few, as to not allow time to properly prepare, scrutinise and debate the necessary bills in both houses of parliament”.
“I’m sceptical that adding six days to the parliamentary sitting calendar would achieve any meaningful progress on legislating the bank royal commission recommendations,” he said.
1.10pm: Christmas Island reopening ‘disappointing’: NZ
The Morrison government ‘s decision to reopen Christmas Island been called “disappointing” by New Zealand’s government.
“The conditions aren’t satisfactory,” New Zealand Justice Minister Andrew Little told reporters in Wellington when asked about Wednesday’s announcement that the island’s detention facilities would be reopened.
“It’s disappointing to see that happening.”
While in opposition, Mr Little and his Labour Party were critical of the treatment of New Zealand-born detainees on island, describing the conditions as “horrific”.
AAP
Richard Ferguson 12.32pm: Phelps backs Operation Sovereign Borders
Independent MP Kerryn Phelps has voiced her support for boat turnbacks and Operation Sovereign Borders, after Scott Morrison revealed he was boosted security measures in response to her medivac bill.
“It’s very important that Operation Sovereign Borders continue because, like most Australians, I do not want to see the people smuggling trade continued or increased,” she said in Canberra.
“We know the boats have never stopped. It’s just that Operation Sovereign Borders, and the policy of boat turnbacks and boat towbacks, have been a deterrent for people not to start out on that journey.
“So I would certainly support that continuing.”
Richard Ferguson 12.28pm: Phelps wants fast-tracked security tests
Independent MP Kerryn Phelps says she wants security tests on refugees awaiting medical transfers fast-tracked as the bill she helped create passes parliament.
“Bearing in mind, that the vast majority of people who are on Manus Island and Nauru have already been through screening as refugees and they’ve had security assessments done,” she said in Canberra today.
“That part of that process should be fast-tracked.
“And if there is a medical concern, it should be based on the urgency of the need and stop this obstructive behaviour of running cases, that are genuine cases of need, through the courts unnecessarily just to insert delays and to create obstructions.”
Richard Ferguson 12.03pm: Marles coy on medivac walk back
Opposition defence spokesman Richard Marles has refused to say multiple times if Labor would walk back the medivac policy if people-smuggling boats start up again.
“The government are the ones in power,” he told Sky News.
When asked again if he would reverse the medivac policy if a boat arrived, Mr Marles still did not answer.
“It’s not about this (boats returning). The idea that what’s happened in the past 48 hours will have any bearing on it is patently ridiculous given the behaviour of the government in the past two years,” he told Sky News.
“If medical transfers are as big a deal as what they’ve been saying, then what the hell have they been doing for the last two years?
“We will turn around boats and we will maintain a system of offshore processing.”
Greg Brown 11.49am: Aboriginal activists launch foyer protest
A group of Aboriginal activists has launched a protest inside the foyer of Parliament House in Canberra.
There are also non-indigenous Australians in the protest group.
Dozens of people have overrun the public area of parliament to voice their outrage about environmental issues, claiming to speak on behalf of First Nations people.
They are protesting against the Murray Darling Basin Plan, coal-seam gas mining and coal mining.
Richard Ferguson 11.33am: Why Hinch backed medivac bill
Justice Party senator Derryn Hinch said he decided to back the medivac bill in the senate, guaranteeing it passed the upper house, because it only applied to those asylum seekers already on Nauru and Manus Island.
The key crossbench senator had earlier demanded a security briefing before deciding which way he would vote. Senator Hinch, who supported the changes late last year, had been wavering before the draft laws returned to the upper house for final approval. He wanted a guarantee the legislation is constitutionally sound and sought an assurance its security checks are strict enough to stop serious criminals coming to Australia.
“I have been briefed by both sides of this Parliament,’’ he said. “I had a half-hour briefing with security forces this morning. I do have some doubts about some aspects of it.
“What really swayed me was the amendment that I’m surprised the Greens agreed to, that is the one that will apply only to people who are currently on Nauru or on Manus.”
Richard Ferguson 11.27am: Burney’s portrait unveiled
Labor frontbencher Linda Burney’s official portrait has been unveiled in parliament today.
The finished product! This portrait of @LindaBurneyMP is by artist Jude Rae and is the latest addition to the Australian Parliament's Historic Memorials Collection. pic.twitter.com/xKAJX6YhPE
— Australian House of Representatives (@AboutTheHouse) February 13, 2019
Ms Burney was the first indigenous woman elected to the House of Representatives in 2016.
Very moving ceremony unveiling my dear friend â¦@LindaBurneyMPâ© portrait as the 1st indigenous woman elected to the House of Reps on the Anniversary of the Apology to Stolen Generations #Respect pic.twitter.com/326MXepm6u
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) February 13, 2019
The portrait was by artist Jude Rae and was commissioned by Malcolm Turnbull in 2017.
Richard Ferguson 11.09am: Medivac bill passes Senate
The medivac legislation has passed the Senate 36 votes to 34. There is applause in the senate chamber when it passes.
Richard Ferguson 10.57am: ‘We secured the borders, we can do it again’
Liberal senator Jim Molan, a key architect of the Coalition’s border security policy, says in the senate the medivac bill will restart the boats and that the Coalition.
“The level of naivety is incredible,” he says.
“Back in 2013 I was appointed the Prime Minister’s special envoy on Operation Sovereign Borders … I was a co-author of the policy before the election.
“We secured the borders and we can do it again.”
Richard Ferguson 10.47am: Hinch pledges support for medivac bill
Justice Party senator Derryn Hinch has confirmed he will support the medivac bill in the senate, all but guaranteeing it will pass in 15 minutes.
“I think it’s the right decision. It’s a humanitarian position,” he said.
“The Justice Party is about protecting young people, old people, and sick people.”
Richard Ferguson 10.43am: PM to rescind bill if re-elected
Scott Morrison says he will rescind the medivac bill if he is re-elected.
“We’re re-elected it won’t apply to anybody because I will reverse it,” he says.
“I can only say what the law says. It’s not my law. I think it’s a foolish law. It’s a foolish law and it’s not one that I support.”
Richard Ferguson 10.39am: No early election: PM
Scott Morrison says he will not go to an election to ensure his border protection position is reinstated.
“We’ll go to the election in May. I’m not going to be intimidated by the Labor Party from
handing down a surplus budget in April,” he said.
“I’m not going to be intimidated by the Parliament from distracting my attention from the things that need to be attended to, which I got to tell you right now in addition to cleaning up the mess on our borders that Labor Party created yesterday,
“I’m not going to be distracted by all the frankly … bubble nonsense of people going on about all sorts of (parliamentary) precedents, all the rest of it. Frankly, not interested. I ‘ve got too many other important things to focus on.”
Richard Ferguson 10.35am: Bill protections won’t stop smugglers: PM
Scott Morrison says any protections in the medivac bill will not stop people smugglers encouraging refugees as the laws have “weakened”.
“People smugglers don’t deal with the nuance of the Canberra bubble,” he says.
“They deal with the psychology of messagings of whether things are stronger or whether things are weaker.
“It might be all fine and nice to talk about these nuances here in this courtyard but when you’re in a village in Indonesia and someone is selling you a product, there’s no protections or truth in advertising laws for people smugglers. They just sell the message.”
Richard Ferguson 10.32am: ‘Thank Labor for boat arrivals’
Scott Morrison says he will do everything he can to stop boats coming to Australia, but if they do return “you can thank the Labor Party and Bill Shorten.”
“The people smugglers know my resolve. They know Peter Dutton’s resolve. They know we will do everything in our power to stop them at every point,” he said.
“And we remain standing here to ensure that they don’t come. So if they don’t come, it will be because of the work and the decisions we are now taking and the actions we are putting in place.
“If they do come, you can thank the Labor Party and Bill Shorten because he is the one who has led this process.
“Bill Shorten has done what he has done out of manifest weakness, an inability to stand up to the left wing of his own party, the Greens and others who have piled pressure to him.”
Richard Ferguson 10.29am: PM orders Christmas Island to reopen
Scott Morrison says he expects the medivac bill will pass the Senate and he has approved the reopening of the Christmas Island detention centre.
“Not surprisingly, I understand the Senate will be passing the bill that went through the house yesterday,” he said in Canberra today.
“Earlier today, I convened a meeting of the National Security Committee to take the decisions that were necessary following on from the contingency planning that had been put in place over the last couple of weeks.
“We have approved putting in place the reopening of the Christmas Island detention facilities, both to deal with the prospect of arrivals as well as dealing with the prospect of transfers.”
Richard Ferguson 10.27am: Labor moves to limit debate
Labor is now trying to limit debate on the medivac bill to 30 minutes.
Justice Party senator Derryn Hinch has voted on every motion to fast track Senate proceedings to a vote. It is not yet clear whether he will side with the medivac supporters, or with the government.
Richard Ferguson 10.16am: Labor brings medivac vote forward
The motion to suspend standing orders in the Senate has passed, 32-31.
The Senate will move to vote on the medivac bill. Labor senator Jacinta Collins moves to go to straight to a vote without debate or further amendments.
Richard Ferguson 10.12am: ‘Possible consequences’ of medivac bill
Opposition legal affairs spokesman Mark Dreyfus says there will be “possible consequences” of passing the medivac bill, based on the advice of security agencies.
“There’s advice about possible consequences,” he told ABC Melbourne radio today.
“But just wrong to suggest that it takes months to do security checks, it’s already all being done.
“We don’t disregard the advice of our security agencies. We’ve had advice from the security agencies, that’s what led to the strengthening of the Minister’s discretion that we put in this bill.”
Richard Ferguson 10.05am: Labor acting on security officials’ advice: Wong
Labor senate leader Penny Wong says the Opposition acted on the advice of security officials in their amendments to the medivac bill.
“There are lies being told by those opposite and they are desperate,” she told the senate.
“We will continue to be responsible while you play politics with national security.”
Richard Ferguson 9.59am: Move ‘against parliamentary convention’
Communications Minister Mitch Fifield says the suspension of standing orders is against parliamentary convention.
“It is the core business of the elected executive government of the day to protect our borders,” he tells the Senate.
“It should never be outsourced to anyone … it is governments who are elected to fulfil that duty.”
Richard Ferguson 9.53am: ‘I fear that this bill still is not certain to pass’
Greens leader Richard Di Natale stands on the suspension of standing orders.
“I fear that this bill still is not certain to pass. We will find that out in the coming moments,” he tells the Senate.
“It (the bill) is about injecting some fundamental decency.”
Senator Di Natale told ABC radio earlier today that he expected “several hundred” people would be transferred from Nauru if the medivac bill passes the Senate today.
Primrose Riordan 9.43am: Labor attempts to bring vote forward
Labor is moving quickly, and is attempting to suspend orders to bring on a vote on the medical transfers bill in the Senate.
Labor Senator Jacinta Collins spoke on the motion.
Liberal Senator Mathias Cormann accused Labor of trying to “ram through the senate legislation which will weaken border protection”.
9.31am: Hanson accuses senator of harassment
A married senator sexually harassed at least six staff in his office in this term of parliament, Pauline Hanson claims.
The One Nation leader used parliamentary privilege to accuse an unnamed senator of harassing the women, and alleged taxpayer funds were used for payouts to keep some of them silent.
“This gutless wonder we call senator should hang his head in shame,” Senator Hanson told the upper house on Tuesday night.
AAP
Richard Ferguson 9.24am: Bill to end offshore processing: Coleman
Immigration Minister David Coleman says the medivac bill will end offshore processing if it passes parliament later today.
“They have deliberately sought to end offshore processing … it’s very clear if you look at the bill that this is what it’s designed to do,” he told Sky News.
.@J_C_Campbell: For five years @billshortenmp made sure there wasn’t a cigarette paper’s difference between the Labor Party and the government on border protection. He had several opportunities to walk away from this, and he pressed on.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) February 12, 2019
MORE: https://t.co/qYIYdhkaPp #amagenda pic.twitter.com/YVQHrccOj5
“The entire structure of the bill … this has been put forward by the people who destroyed Australia’s border security in the past.”
Mr Coleman denied Labor’s accusations the government was encouraging people smugglers by talking about a significant change in border policy.
Richard Ferguson 9.00am: ‘Several hundred’ refugees could come from Nauru: Greens
Greens leader Richard Di Natale says “several hundred” refugees could come to Australia from Nauru if the medivac bill passes the Senate today.
“I would say the number, there would be several hundred,” he told ABC radio this morning.
“I can’t give you an exact number. That would be an assessment on the island by the doctors on a case-by-case basis.
“The medical community is speaking with one voice and one thing we do is we put the needs of people above everything else.”
Richard Ferguson 8.51am: PM encouraging people smugglers: Albanese
Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese has accused Scott Morrison of encouraging people smugglers and said the Opposition still supports offshore processing despite the medivac bill.
“We ensured with the amendments that we put in the legislation yesterday that this doesn’t apply to anyone else (other than current refugees on Manus and Nauru), so there’s no pull factors here,” he told Sky News.
.@AlboMP: The only people encouraging people smugglers are Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton, who seem to be sending a signal out there that somehow our borders have been weakened. That is not the case, and they know it.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) February 12, 2019
MORE: https://t.co/qYIYdhkaPp #amagenda pic.twitter.com/UDxxIcJXMv
“The only people encouraging people smugglers to take up their trade are Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton, who seem to be sending a signal out there that our borders have been weakened.
“That is not the case and they know it.”
Richard Ferguson 8.40am: Shorten ‘benefited’ from briefings
Bill Shorten says he “benefited” from security officials’ advice on the medivac bill but they did not forge the amendments he ultimately added.
.@billshortenmp on the medivac bill: The experts know this legislation only applies to people who are already in detention.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) February 12, 2019
MORE: https://t.co/qYIYdhkaPp #amagenda pic.twitter.com/FTOlyXIOXe
“There’s no doubt that I benefited from talking to the security agencies. I think the major concern which was put is not so much for the people currently there (on Nauru),” he said.
“The security agencies explain their operations. They didn’t offer amendments. They explained their point of view and I, for one, have got enough respect to take that on board.”
Richard Ferguson 8.37am: ‘It’s up to Senator Hinch’
Bill Shorten says Derryn Hinch’s concerns about the medivac bill have been assuaged by his amendments, but it is “up to him what he does.”
“It’s up to Mr Hinch, Senator Hinch, what he does. What I would say is that what we have done is got the balance right,” he said.
“In terms of Senator Hinch, the bill before him is now stronger and provides for stronger borders than indeed what was initially contemplated last December.”
Richard Ferguson 8.18am: Plibersek defends medivac backing
Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek has defended the Opposition’s backing of the medivac bill despite Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton accusing Labor of ignoring security officials.
“Well, we did meet with security agencies,” she said.
“We made some very important changes to this legislation.
“For example, we gave greater ministerial discretion to refuse transfer on criminal grounds. We have given a longer time frame for the minister to make a determination.
“And very importantly we have confined these new arrangements to people who are already on Manus Island or Nauru to make sure that there’s not even the suggestion that people should risk their lives to get on a boat thinking they can take advantage of these new arrangement.”
Labor did make amendments to the medivac bill after security briefings, but they were further changes to appease the Greens and independents late yesterday.
Richard Ferguson 8.15am: Labor rules out no confidence motion
Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek says there are no plans for a motion of no confidence, despite the Opposition’s historic win on the floor of the House of Representatives yesterday.
“We were very clear that we didn’t see the issues yesterday as an issue of confidence,” she told ABC News.
“This is only about getting sick people on Manus Island and Nauru the medical treatment that they need and that we owe them given how long they have been essentially in Australia’s care.
“We don’t have any plans to do that (move a motion of no confidence), but I think Australians looking on this divided and incompetent rabble of a Government would be hoping for an election sooner rather than later.”
Richard Ferguson 8.08am: Labor to sit down with Hinch
Manager of opposition business Tony Burke says Labor will talk to Derryn Hinch to assuage his concerns about the medivac bill.
“I understand there are two issues to be worked through in particular,” he said in Canberra today.
“One of them is the constitutional game the government played yesterday and that can be easily explained.
“The second is what shift there might be on security grounds and certainly the security test now is stricter than the security test that was passed in the senate last year.
“It will be for him to decide whether it’s (Labor senate leader) Penny Wong, or (opposition legal affairs spokesman) Mark Dreyfus, or whoever he wants to talk to.”
Richard Ferguson 8.04am: ‘Hinch showing the leadership Shorten lacks’
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has praised Derryn Hinch’s turnaround on the medivac bill and said he will provide him with a briefing with top security officials this morning.
“Derryn Hinch is showing the leadership that Bill Shorten lacks,” he said.
.@PeterDutton_MP on the medivac bill: Derryn Hinch is showing the leadership that @billshortenmp lacks. Mr Hinch has asked for a briefing, we’ll provide that very shortly. He wants to be informed by the experts.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) February 12, 2019
MORE: https://t.co/sIV5TA43yY #firstedition pic.twitter.com/f5SyeflQkh
“Mr Hinch has asked for a briefing, he will receive that briefing very shortly.
“It will be a briefing where we have the heads of our agencies and there assembling now to provide a briefing to Mr Hinch, as they did to Mr Shorten.
“I hope that Mr Hinch, as I’m sure he will because he’s a responsible person and he is showing leadership, will heed the advice of the agency heads.”
Richard Ferguson 7.47am: Hinch confirms briefings
Justice Party senator Derryn Hinch has confirmed he wants to get security and legal briefings before voting on the medivac bill. It cannot pass the Senate this morning without his vote.
“Last December I voted mainly get kids off of Nauru, and the kids are all off Nauru,” he said.
“I’ve made it quite clear I still believe offshore processing. But I just want to see before I make any decision where everything is at.
“On the one side you’ve got the humanitarian idea with the doctors and the doctors’ panel, which I think is a good one.
.@HumanHeadline on the medivac bill: I have not seen the amendments to this bill. I want to see it before making a decision
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) February 12, 2019
MORE: https://t.co/sIV5TA43yY #FirstEdition pic.twitter.com/2qKasoEL45
“But you’ve also got maybe others coming off, the government now says you’ll get people off who wouldn’t want others coming off.”
Senator Hinch says he did not get a security briefing before he voted for the bill last December. “Maybe we should have,” he said.
Richard Ferguson 7.36am: Katter wants action on banks
Rogue MP Bob Katter says he is “very, very reluctant” to let parliament rise until it has considered new banking laws he is working on with Nationals MP George Christensen.
“I’m personally very, very reluctant to allow this parliament to rise without some action,” he told ABC radio.
“We’re discussing new laws, I’m not comfortable with that at all (parliament rising without considering them). I can see no reason why the government can’t and shouldn’t look at some things.”
Mr Katter told The Australian yesterday he would not support Labor’s bid to extend parliament’s sitting days to deal with the recommendations of the banking royal commission which he considered “worthless”.
When asked directly this morning if he wanted to extend sitting days at all, Mr Katter told ABC radio: “I’m not giving you an answer on that.”
Richard Ferguson 7.23am: ‘Think again about the consequences’
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham has welcomed news Justice Senator Derryn Hinch is seeking security briefings on the medivac bill, and urged senate crossbenchers to rethink their support for the legislation.
.@Birmo on the medivac bill: We will be open to providing any necessary security information to @HumanHeadline
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) February 12, 2019
MORE: https://t.co/qYIYdhkaPp #FirstEdition pic.twitter.com/iyo1Xwfksv
“We’ve managed to deal with that backlog, every child has been moved off of Nauru or just about to go,” he told Sky News
“I would urge Derryn Hinch and indeed every other senate crossbencher, and frankly Bill Shorten and the Labor Party to think again about the consequences of this.”
It will take 39 votes in the Senate for the medivac legislation to pass.
Richard Ferguson 7.07am: Medivac battle not over yet
The battle over the medivac bill is not over. The legislation will now head back to the Senate, due to Labor’s new amendments, and Justice Party senator Derryn Hinch appears to be the key vote.
Multiple reports say Senator Hinch, who backed the bill last December, is now asking for security briefings before backing the legislation a second time.
Legislation in the Senate needs 39 votes to pass. Labor will need the Greens, the two Centre Alliance senators, Independent senator Tim Storer and Senator Hinch.
Senator Hinch originally backed medivac out of concern for sick child refugees, but now all children have either been removed from offshore detention or will soon leave for the United States.
If Senator Hinch decides to rescind his support for the bill, it could imperil the legislation despite the historic loss for the government yesterday in the House.
Richard Ferguson 7.00am: What’s making news
Fresh from a historic defeat on the floor of parliament, Scott Morrison sets out his attack on Bill Shorten on border security.
What’s making news:
• Scott Morrison has declared every new people-smuggling boat arrival will be “on Bill Shorten’s head” after the Coalition lost control of the parliament, allowing Labor to join the Greens and independents to push through a bill that hands doctors greater powers to bring asylum-seekers to Australia.
• Government MPs hoped bombshell legal advice provided by Solicitor-General Stephen Donaghue on the Kerryn Phelps inspired medivac bill would sink the proposed changes on constitutional grounds.
• Labor’s national security credentials will be tested further tomorrow when parliament’s intelligence and security committee is expected to green-light the government’s proposed new laws to make it easier to strip dual national terrorists of Australian citizenship.
• Labor and the Coalition are locked in a fresh fight over new laws that give authorities greater access to terrorists’ messages sent via encrypted apps, with the opposition now saying they went too far.
• Maverick independent MP Bob Katter has rejected Labor’s push to sit in March and deal with the banking royal commission’s recommendations, handing Scott Morrison a temporary reprieve.
• Small and Family Business Minister Michaelia Cash is under fresh scrutiny after her former media adviser yesterday gave evidence about his advance knowledge of raids on the Australian Workers Union that appeared to contradict her previous statement to a Senates estimates hearing.
• The former chief of staff to Michaelia Cash has lodged defamation proceedings in the Federal Court against the Australian Workers Union National Secretary Daniel Walton, listicle orientated news website BuzzFeed as well as journalist Alice Workman.
• Liberal MP Ian Goodenough promoted on his official Facebook and Twitter accounts a cafe that leases space from a shopping centre he part-owns.
• The Morrison government’s stalled superannuation legislation clamping down on fee-gouging and consolidating zombie accounts is at risk of not being put to a vote this week amid uncertainty over which minister has carriage of the bills.
• Labor has moved to restart the nation’s water wars, flagging a parliamentary bid to eliminate a cap on irrigation water buybacks from the Murray-Darling Basin.
• James Jeffrey’s Sketch: Calamity, as parliament reminded us yesterday, has two preferred speeds — swift and inexorably drawn out. Before Scott Morrison starred in a textbook example of the quick version, it fell to Bob Katter to demonstrate the latter.
• Dennis Shanahan writes Bill Shorten has taken the huge step of changing Australia’s border protection from opposition and now runs the risk that any people-smuggling venture between now and the election will be his fault.
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