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No lifeline as PM digs in over Molan; Libs at odds over ‘big stick’ policy

Scott Morrison won’t act to keep Liberal senator Jim Molan in parliament, despite intervening to save Craig Kelly.

Ben Packham and Richard Ferguson
26 min read
4:41PMDecember 04, 2018.
Updated 6:54PMDecember 04, 2018
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Julie Bishop. Picture: AAP
Julie Bishop. Picture: AAP

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

Scott Morrison moves to stop the decade-long churn of prime ministers, as the prime minister he replaced, Malcolm Turnbull, fails to force him to an early election.

Ben Packham 4.30pm: Deal on gay student law close

Legislation to protect gay students in religious schools from discrimination could yet be passed before the end of the year after the two Centre Alliance Senators said they were close to doing a deal.

Senator Rex Patrick today said he and Senator Stirling Griff were ready to vote on the Labor bill.

“We will support the bill but with amendment,” Senator Patrick said.

“I spent from 4am reading committee reports and getting briefings. I have landed in a place that best meets the balance between no discrimination and respect for religious freedom.”

It’s unclear whether this will assure passage of the bill, as Centre Alliance will insist on at least one government amendment.

Labor has so far declared it will not support the government’s amendments, which would explicitly safeguard the freedom of religious schools to operate according to their faith.

The Centre Alliance Senators yesterday voted to send the Labor bill off to a committee, which would have put off a vote until February at the earliest.

Today, Senator Griff said: “Our position was we needed time to properly evaluate the proposed amendments and if we couldn’t do in short time, refer to inquiry. We are keen like all to have this dealt with prior to break and are close to finalising our support on an amendment.”

Primrose Riordan 3.50pm: ‘In-principle’ encryption deal

Labor and the government have come to an “in-principle agreement” today on the encryption laws so they can pass parliament this week.

Mark Dreyfus, the opposition legal affairs spokesman, has said Labor has negotiated concessions from the government which need to still be agreed to by parliament’s intelligence committee.

Richard Ferguson 3.30pm: PM won’t save Molan

Scott Morrison will not act to keep Liberal senator Jim Molan in parliament, despite intervening to save backbench MP Craig Kelly yesterday.

“This afternoon, I have been told that I can expect no special intervention from the Prime Minister regarding the order on the Senate ballot,” Senator Molan said in a statement today.

“I will continue to work hard for veterans, national security, and the people of Australia.

“I intend to run as a Liberal in the next election so that those that support me can vote for a Liberal from a conservative base.”

Senator Molan was delegated to the unwinnable fourth spot on the Coalition senate ticket for the next federal election, behind disability support advocate Hollie Hughes and former Liberal Party official Andrew Bragg.

Conservatives have argued Senator Molan should be saved from losing his seat due to his experience as a former major general in the Australian Army.

The Prime Minister intervened to save Mr Kelly and all sitting House MPs in NSW after reports Mr Kelly could move to the crossbench and reduce the government’s house numbers.

Richard Ferguson 3.15pm: Journo was right to bare arms

Speaker Tony Smith addresses the removal of ABC journalist Patricia Karvelas from the press gallery over her clothing yesterday.

Mr Smith says the rules of the press gallery state that reporters should show “professional attire”.

Mr Smith says Ms Karevelas should not have been ejected in “hindsight” and that there should be a change in the definition of professional attire.

Leader of the House Christopher Pyne apologises on behalf of the government to Ms Karvelas.

Richard Ferguson 3.10pm: Encryption leak ‘not criminal’

Opposition legal affairs spokesman Mark Dreyfus asks Attorney General Christian Porter if AFP commissioner Andrew Colvin allowed a submission on encryption laws to the joint parliamentary intelligence committee to be made public.

Mr Porter says Commissioner Colvin told him the document was not security sensitive and was distributed before it was submitted to the committee. And therefore it would appear the leak is not criminal.

Mr Porter then asks why Mr Dreyfus will not help to pass encryption laws sooner.

Richard Ferguson 2.50pm: Fundraiser question out of order

Opposition justice spokesman Claire O’Neill asks if Stuart Robert is holding a fundraiser to “exploit victims of bank misconduct.”

Nine’s Sydney Morning Herald reports today that the Assistant Treasurer will headline a Liberal Party fundraiser that promises insight into the government’s response into the Banking Royal Commission.

Leader of the House Christopher Pyne says it is a “smear.” Speaker Tony Smith rules out Ms O’Neill’s question but says her other question on whether Mr Robert voted against the royal commission is in order.

“To put any doubt about the issue …” Mr Robert begins to respond, concerning the fundraiser.

The Speaker tells him to sit down.

“If the assistant minister wants to refer to the matter is that I’ve ruled out of order, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he says.

Mr Robert gets back up and says the government established the royal commission.

Richard Ferguson 2.50pm: ‘Government is united’

Opposition treasury spokesman Chris Bowen asks Scott Morrison if Liberal MPs, including Julie Bishop, asked him to dump the “big stick” divestiture policy.

“That’s something coming from the biggest wet newspaper in the parliament, Mr Speaker,” the Prime Minister responds.

“Measuring up the curtains to the treasurer’s suite, thinking he’s already there. Mr Speaker”

Mr Morrison says he is backing “tough new laws” to stop energy companies price gouging.

“Our government is united, Mr Speaker,” Mr Morrison says, to cheers and claps from the Opposition.

Richard Ferguson 2.45pm: ‘Weak and worst option’

Labor MP Ged Kearney asks about climate policy and why he has chosen the “weak and worst option.”

“The weakest and worst option for the Australian economy is the Australian Labor Party. That is the weakest and worst option,” the Prime Minister responds.

“Captain Risky (Bill Shorten) when it comes to the Australian economy over here, Mr Speaker.”

“We’re going to fight for those Australians who haven’t got the time to go around and get on Twitter and turn up at protests, Mr Speaker.”

Richard Ferguson 2.35pm: Watts booted for ‘goose’ comment

Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek asks Scott Morrison if he regrets abandoning the national energy guarantee, as Malcolm Turnbull says “nearly everyone in the federal government does.”

The Prime Minister responds by saying components of the NEG remain.

“There was an emissions reduction target and it was to ensure there was a reliability guaranteed to increase the amount of contracting of reliable power supply

in our electricity market,” he says.

“That’s the components of what the mechanism for the National Energy Guarantee was designed to achieve. Mr Speaker, this hasn’t changed in terms of where we stand. A 27 per cent emissions reduction target remains the government policy.”

Labor MP Tim Watts is thrown out of the house for calling Mr Morrison a “goose”.

Richard Ferguson 2.30pm: ScoMo touts big stick

Opposition environment spokesman Mark Butler asks Scott Morrison if he agrees with Malcolm Turnbull that coal cannot compete with renewables.

The Prime Minister responds that the government is spending record amounts on renewables.

“We have a 26 per cent emissions reductions targets, which sets out clearly our plan and policy, backed by initiatives, which means we have the lowest rates of emissions per capita in 28 years,” he says.

“We are meeting our emissions reductions targets, putting in place the policies, which is already getting the results, of the big energy companies, reducing their electricity prices, particularly for the most vulnerable customers.”

He also touts the government’s “big stick” divestiture policy of breaking up energy companies which price gouge.

Josh Frydenberg announced today that those powers will be watered down, and will be given to the Federal Court instead of the Treasurer.

Rosie Lewis 2.21pm: MPs bare arms into QT

Rebel Labor MP Emma Husar has worn short sleeves into question time “in solidarity” with ABC journalist Patricia Karvelas, who yesterday was kicked out of the chamber because she was not wearing a jacket.

The scrutiny of the chamber dress code has also not dissuaded former foreign minister Julie Bishop wearing no sleeves into the House of Representatives.

Richard Ferguson 2.20pm: PM calls in Turnbull support

Bill Shorten again asks about the national energy guarantee.

“Does the current Prime Minister agree with the recently retired former Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, who said today, there’s never been a national energy policy that has had more universal support than the national energy guarantee?,” he asks.

“And why won’t the Prime Minister implement a national energy guarantee with his own energy targets?”

The Prime Minister reads a tweet just sent out by Malcolm Turnbull.

“I have not endorsed “Labor’s energy policy”. They have adopted the NEG mechanism … but have not demonstrated that their 45% emissions reduction target will not push up prices. I encouraged all parties to stick with Coalition’s NEG which retains wide community support,” Mr Turnbull tweeted.

Mr Shorten says he is asking if Mr Morrison will enact a NEG with his own emissions reduction target, not Labor’s higher one.

Richard Ferguson 2.10pm: NEG by numbers

Bill Shorten asks Scott Morrison if he agrees with Malcolm Turnbull that a minority of Coalition MPs scuppered the national energy guarantee.

The Prime Minister responds again that the difference is Labor’s NEG would come with a 45 per cent emissions reduction target.

2.07pm: Waters back for Greens

Queensland senator Larissa Waters has returned to the co-deputy leadership of the Greens, a position she held before she lost her seat over dual citizenship. At a party room meeting in Canberra on Tuesday, Rachel Siewert stood aside to allow Senator Waters to return to the deputy’s role, which she shares with lower house MP Adam Bandt, AAP reports.

Senator Waters returned to parliament in September, making her the first politician to make a comeback after being booted from parliament for being in breach of the constitution for holding Canadian citizenship.

Richard Ferguson 2.05pm: ‘Answer, you muppet’

Bill Shorten opens question time by asking if Scott Morrison agrees with Malcolm Turnbull about reviving the national energy guarantee.

The Prime Minister responds that Mr Turnbull’s NEG did not have a 45 per cent emissions reductions target like Labor’s current plan.

“It will force up electricity prices, whether you’re a pensioner, householder, raising kids, small or family business,” he says.

“Labor’s policies will mean Australians will pay more.”

Someone from the Opposition yells out: “Answer the question, you muppet.”

Ben Packham 1.55pm: Revised ‘big stick’ powers inconsistent with Liberal values: Bishop

Julie Bishop warned the Coalition joint party room today that Scott Morrison’s revised “big stick” powers of forced divestment over energy companies were a threat to investment, could be regarded as a sovereign risk, and were inconsistent with Liberal values.

Other MPs speaking out strongly against the policy — which has been revised to include judicial oversight — included Craig Laundy, Jason Falinski and Russell Broadbent.

The four MPs were among 20 to speak out in the joint Coalition party room today on the controversial bill to force the breakup of energy companies in cases of “unacceptable and unsustainable” market conduct.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Energy Minister Angus Taylor today outlined changes to the so-called “big stick” powers which are a centrepiece of the government’s energy policy following its abandonment of the national energy guarantee.

Under amendments to the government’s legislation, the government — on the advice of the competition watchdog — would be able to recommend the Federal Court issue divestiture orders relating to misconduct in the wholesale market.

“Where energy companies deliberately manipulate the market to distort prices, there will be a power of divestment,” Mr Frydenberg said.

“The federal court will then be empowered to make that judicial order.”

Primrose Riordan 1.38pm: Husic’s encryption fears

Labor’s digital economy spokesman Ed Husic has voiced his concerns about the encryption bill as negotiations continue between the two major parties.

He said the parliament needed to make sure the bill did not have unintended consequences or create systemic weaknesses in technology.

Mr Husic said the technological solution the agencies were attempting to use to access encrypted messages was very difficult to achieve and it was important to get it right.

Meanwhile, one Coalition backbencher raised concerns in the party room meeting about the government’s sales pitch over the legislation.

The MP said it would be better to have a clearer response to constituent inquiries about the laws.

Richard Ferguson 1.35pm: ‘Corruption or maleficence’

It would take “corruption or maleficence” to remove a Liberal prime minister in future under new party rules, Human Services Minister Michael Keenan says.

“If our leader goes the election and wins the election, they will serve that full term unless there are the most extraordinary circumstances you can imagine,” he told Sky News.

“It would obviously have to be a very serious case of corruption or maleficence.”

Mr Keenan also said the leadership changes would give future Coalition prime ministers more room to be bold on policy.

“We need to give prime ministers some leeway to able to go out there and make decisions and provide the leadership we ask them to provide,” he said.

Richard Ferguson 12.54pm: Frydenberg dismisses NEG revival

Josh Frydenberg has brushed off Malcolm Turnbull’s call for a revival of the national energy guarantee, as he announced a watered-down “big stick” divestiture policy.

The former prime minister said today in Sydney that Scott Morrison and the Treasurer should revive his energy policy.

Mr Frydenberg was energy minister under Mr Turnbull and a key architect of the NEG.

“We’ve made it clear that the NEG is not government policy,” he told reporters in Canberra.

The Coalition’s policy to break up energy companies who were found to be price gouging will now give that power to the Federal Court, rather than the Treasurer.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg with Energy Minister Angus Taylor. Picture: Gary Ramage
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg with Energy Minister Angus Taylor. Picture: Gary Ramage

Reports have emerged that Liberal MPs spoke up against the policy in the party room because it was too interventionist.

Labor is celebrating the treasurer and energy minister being “humiliated” into watering down the extraordinary divestiture powers after copping flack from coalition colleagues.

“This ridiculous policy, this Venezuelan-style intervention, this intervention in the economy which would chill investment, has collapsed under its own weight,” Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen said in Canberra on Tuesday. “Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison energy policy 27.0 has been destroyed by their own party.

“They are pathologically incapable of delivering the country an energy policy.”

With AAP

Richard Ferguson 12.21pm: Coalition fights suspension of standing orders

The government is fighting off Labor’s suspension of standing orders because it says it has too much government business to deal with debating a bill establishing a high speed rail planning body.

Special Minister of State Alex Hawke says it wants to focus on amendments to the Fair Work Act covering domestic violence victims and encryption laws.

Mr Hawke says he respects Anthony Albanese’s “passion for policy”.

“It is refreshing … compared to the Leader of the Opposition,” he tells the house.

“This is not to say we oppose high speed rail.”

Richard Ferguson 12.15pm: ‘Show us you really get rural Australia’

Independent MP Cathy McGowan is seconding Labor’s move to suspend standing orders and establish a High Speed Rail Authority.

“In 50 years, we are going to look back at this parliament and see so many lost opportunities,” she tells the house.

“Show us you really get rural and regional Australia … this authority is just the beginning.

“The parliament has had two inquiries that basically support what we want to do.”

Ben Packham 12.13pm: Labor to back Phelps on Nauru

Labor will support independent MP Kerryn Phelps’ bill to allow refugees and asylum-seekers on Manus Island and Nauru to be evacuated to Australia on the advice of two doctors, with amendments to retain ministerial oversight of transfers.

Labor would amend the bill to require ministerial approval of all medevacs under the proposed legislation, and require a ministerial statement to parliament if a person was refused a medical evacuation recommended by two doctors.

It would also require an independent health advice panel to be established to advise the immigration minister on medical transfers.

With Labor and crossbench support, the bill could come close to passing in the House of Representatives. However, the government could prevent it from being debated.

The decision, endorsed by caucus today, was welcomed by Labor backbenchers who praised Bill Shorten and opposition immigration spokesman Shayne Neumann for coming up with the position.

One welcomed the amendments to preserve the role of the minister as the final say on medical evacuations, while another said it was good the bill applied to adults as well as children.

Ms Phelps introduced the bill into the House of Representatives this week, which would require the signatures of two doctors to bring offshore detainees from Manus Island or Nauru to Australia for “temporary” medical treatment.

Dr Phelps said the transfers could in some cases become permanent, while the security status of detainees should not prevent them being medically evacuated.

“It’s based on medical need. I mean, some people will need permane­nt psychiatric treatment,” she said.

Immigration Minister David Coleman said the government would not tolerate bringing anyone under a security cloud to Australia.

“Our first priority is to keep Australians safe. Suggesting we bring individuals to Australia with adverse security assessments is dangerous,” Mr Coleman told The Australian.

Richard Ferguson 12.12pm: Albo moves into high gear

Labor are again trying to test their numbers on the house floor and suspend standing orders.

This time, opposition infrastructure spokesman Anthony Albanese is trying to pass his High Speed Rail Planning Authority Bill.

Mr Albanese tells the house that high speed rail is widely used throughout the world and that planning has to start on high speed rail “right now.”

Primrose Riordan 12.10pm: Labor ‘yet to agree’ on encryption

Three Labor backbenchers raised concerns or made comments about the controversial encryption laws the Coalition are attempting to pass by Christmas in a caucus meeting on Tuesday.

The government and the opposition are locked in negotiations over the bill which is still being considered by parliament’s intelligence committee.

The laws would give security agencies more access to messages terrorists send using encrypted apps and devices.

Labor has offered to pass an “interim” version of the bill in order to hand some agencies the powers before the end of the year, but the government wants the laws passed in full.

Labor’s Legal Affairs Spokesman Mark Dreyfus told the caucus meeting that he was yet to reach agreement with the government, however.

Yesterday Victorian Labor MP Tim Watts wrote a long social media “thread” highlighting a number of issues with the laws and accusing the government of starting a fight over the bills to offset their political difficulties.

Richard Ferguson 11.43am: ‘Big stick no substitute for NEG’

Malcolm Turnbull says he backs the government’s “big stick” divestment policy but that it would not help to drive down prices without a national energy guarantee.

“I said, and we said, the government’s decision was that we would be prepared to use the power of divestiture to break up vertically integrated energy companies,” he told reporters in Sydney.

“There’s obviously legislation been drafted now and the devil will be in the detail. But, you know, that … with great respect, that’s not a substitute for the national energy guarantee.

“Ensuring a competitive market and the protection of consumers is very important. That is vitally important.

“But you’ve also got to have the certainty of integrated climate and energy policy so that you get the investment.”

Richard Ferguson 11.40am: ‘Everyone saw how NEG failed’

Malcolm Turnbull has defended his attacks on the Liberal Party’s right wing in a Sydney speech, and says there is “no point pretending” the national energy guarantee wasn’t a Liberal policy.

“The events around the national energy guarantee everybody saw. They played out in public gaze. So, you know, there’s no point pretending it didn’t happen,” he told reporters in Sydney today.

“There’s no point pretending the national energy guarantee wasn’t a policy of the government that had just about universal support in industry and business, had overwhelming support of the party room.

“And there’s no point denying the fact that it was derailed by a determined minority who are not prepared to go along with the views of the majority.

“If you have a group who are prepared to threaten to blow the show up if they don’t get what they want, then it becomes very hard to work. And the NEG was a casualty of that.”

Ewin Hannan 11.32am: Coalition MPs back unions’ push for casuals

A Coalition-dominated committee chaired by Barnaby Joyce has backed the union movement’s push to guarantee casuals the legal right to convert to permanent employment after a set time.

The committee has also called for an inquiry into the use of casual and labour hire employees, backing changes to the Fair Work Act to ban the replacement of directly employed workers with long-term casuals.

Read more here

Richard Ferguson 11.23am: ‘PM right to save Kelly’

John Howard has publicly backed both Scott Morrison’s changes to Liberal Party leadership rules and his decision to save backbench MP Craig Kelly’s preselection.

Mr Howard, along with former prime minister Tony Abbott and former deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop, were consulted by the Prime Minister about the changes.

When asked if Malcolm Turnbull should have been consulted, Mr Howard told Sky News he had no comment.

Former prime minister John Howard. Picture: Gary Ramage
Former prime minister John Howard. Picture: Gary Ramage

He did say that Mr Morrison had every right to save Mr Kelly’s preselection in the seat of Hughes.

“There is nothing unusual about a prime minister getting involved in an appropriate way in the procedures of preselection,” he told Sky News.

“It happened years ago with Bob Menzies, I was aware of it when I sat on the NSW state executive of the Liberal Party. It happened when I was prime minister.

“What Scott has done is not in any way out of the ordinary.”

Richard Ferguson 11.15am: Turnbull’s swipe at energy split

Malcolm Turnbull has taken a swipe at Scott Morrison’s decision to separate the energy and environment portfolios in government.

“There is an impasse in terms of the politics of the federal Coalition and I think everyone understands that,” he said.

“Politically it is vitally important for every political party, including the Liberal Party, to have a coherent, integrated policy that addresses energy and climate together.”

“And it has to be one that will help us transition to a lower emissions future.”

When he came to power in August, the Prime Minister separated responsibilities for energy and climate change in cabinet. They are now held by Energy Minister Angus Taylor and Environment Minister Melissa Price respectively.

They were previously held by one minister, Josh Frydenberg, under Turnbull’s government.

Richard Ferguson 10.55am: ‘I didn’t abandon NEG’

Malcolm Turnbull says he gave the national energy guarantee “his best shot” but that his policy was scuppered by a minority of Coalition MPs.

“It is very, very hard to reach a resolution on this,” he told the Smart Energy Summit in Sydney.

Mr Turnbull said the party room and cabinet overwhelmingly backed the NEG but a couple of Coalition MPs were prepared to cross the floor and “blow up the government.”

“I did not abandon the NEG,” he said.

Richard Ferguson 10.52am: Higher prices without NEG: Turnbull

Malcolm Turnbull says Australians face higher carbon emissions and higher power prices without the national energy guarantee.

“My concern is that the absence of the NEG is that we will end up with higher emissions and higher energy prices,” he told the Smart Energy Summit in Sydney today.

He said he wished Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg “well” in trying to bring down electricity prices, and that renewables were an important part of bringing prices down.

Richard Ferguson 10.47am: Turnbull urges Coalition to revive NEG

Malcolm Turnbull has urged his colleagues to revive the national energy guarantee and has denied he ever walked away from his energy policy.

Mr Turnbull says most Coalition MPs were dismayed the policy was dropped and that he “did not abandon” the NEG, but cabinet decided to drop it.

“I strongly urge my colleagues to revive the national energy guarantee,” he told the Smart Energy Summit in Sydney today.

Remy Varga 10.27am: Sleeping Giants return Turnbull’s donation

Activist group Sleeping Giants has handed back $500 donated by Alex Turnbull after he sent an unsavoury tweet to columnist Janet Albrechtsen.

The former PM’s son has deleted the tweet and issued a backhanded apology to Ms Albrechtsen.

Sleeping Giants, which encourages consumer boycotts against media companies, released a statement early this morning distancing themselves from the “offensive comments” and “inadequate apology” made by Mr Turnbull.

Richard Ferguson 10.05am: Abbott backs rule change

Tony Abbott has backed in Scott Morrison’s new Liberal Party leadership rules this morning.

“It’s a very sensible move by the Prime Minister and he’s got my full support,” he told reporters in Canberra.

When asked if he wished he had established these leadership rules, Mr Abbott said: “That was then, this is now.”

The Prime Minister has ruled that any elected Liberal prime minister cannot be removed by the party room unless there is two-thirds support for a change. Under this rule, Tony Abbott would have stayed in power. Mr Morrison discussed the leadership rule changes with Mr Abbott, John Howard and former deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop. He did not consult Malcolm Turnbull.

Tony Abbott has welcomed the Liberal party rule changes around the leadership. Picture: Kym Smith
Tony Abbott has welcomed the Liberal party rule changes around the leadership. Picture: Kym Smith

Richard Ferguson 9.27am: Morrison is ‘hopeless’: Labor

Labor Senator Doug Cameron says the Opposition is happy the Liberal Party has changed its leadership rules if it means Scott Morrison remains leader up to the election.

“I think it’s great having Scott Morrison there right up to the next election is fantastic,” he told reporters in Canberra this morning.

“This is the guy that on 26 occasions refused to have a Royal Commission into the banks, this is the same guy that wanted to hand $12 billion to the banks and $80 billion to the big end of town.

“He is just hopeless and no one can trust this guy and that’s why he needs this rolled gold position that he maintains is leadership because I don’t think he would last too long if that wasn’t there.”

Richard Ferguson 9.11am: Turnbull welcomes leadership rule change

Malcolm Turnbull has welcomed changes to the Liberal Party leadership rules but says “time will tell” if they will be effective in stopping the decade-long churn in prime ministers.

“The prospect of there being fewer, less of the sort of revolving-door prime ministership as Scott Morrison put it. It’s a welcome reform,” he told reporters in Sydney this morning.

“Of course, how effective it will be, time will tell.”

Under the new rules, two thirds of the party room are needed to remove a Liberal Prime Minister who has won an election.

In this scenario, Mr Turnbull would never have been able to depose Tony Abbott in September 2015. And he would not have been ousted in August this year.

Richard Ferguson 8.55am: ‘Never too late’ for rule change

Liberal MP Tony Pasin says it is “never too late” to change leadership rules, despite the government dumping two prime ministers since it came to power.

“We need to do this because we need to re-establish trust with the Australian people,” he told Sky News.

“It is never too late. The reality is we’ve responded to public sentiment … we are denying ourselves which is one of the strongest instruments in this place and that is the ability of the party room to choose its leader.”

8.50am: Turnbull talks en route to energy summit

Stopped by reporters en route to an energy summit in Sydney, Malcolm Turnbull has attempted to turn the tables on the waiting press.

“I will now be criticised today for talking to you, and the alternative would be for me to walk down the street with you chasing me, looking like I’m afraid of the media,” he told reporters. “I hope your viewers understand the position you’ve chosen to put me in today.

“I just want everyone to understand that I’m making my way to the ferry and you’re accompanying me, and I don’t have a lot of choice in talking to you. I’m not having a doorstop, I’m just going to the ferry.”

Earlier this morning, Mr Turnbull flagged he would be attending the conference — and his route there.

Richard Ferguson 8.42am: No symbolism in leadership change: Ciobo

The Liberal Party leadership changes are not symbolism and Malcolm Turnbull will determine his role in a future election campaign, Defence Industry Minister Steven Ciobo says.

“It is certainly not symbolism, this is a significant change in terms of the way the party room operates,” he told Sky News.

“This is something we can do, in a very constructive way and consultative way.

“It’s up to Malcolm to make decisions about whether or nor he wanting to intervene on a regular basis on public discussion.”

Richard Ferguson 8.24am: Phelps gathers Coalition support

Independent MP Kerryn Phelps says she is talking to Coalition MPs to cross the floor on a flurry of crossbench bills put up this week on issues such as evacuating children off Nauru and establishing a federal anti-corruption watchdog.

Kerryn Phelps at Parliament House this morning. Picture Kym Smith
Kerryn Phelps at Parliament House this morning. Picture Kym Smith

“We realistically hope that at least some of these bills will get bipartisan support or get the numbers to get across,” she told ABC radio.

“Obviously in some of those cases we would need someone to cross the floor from the Liberal Party.

“We are talking to whoever we can talk to convince them about the merits of each individual issue.”

Richard Ferguson 8.03am: ‘Not Malcolm’s finest hour’

Malcolm Turnbull has “responsibilities” to the Liberal Party and his intervention into internal NSW preselections was not “his finest hour”, federal Liberal Party President Nick Greiner says.

“Malcolm clearly has rights, the same as anyone, but I also he has responsibilities I think, as former leader of the most successful Australian political party,” he told ABC radio.

“I’d like to think he’ll remember those responsibilities when he exercises his right to speak.

“I don’t think it was his finest hour. I think on reflection he will agree with that.

“Malcolm will obviously have lots of opportunity, as every former prime minister does, to protect his legacy … I think his legacy sits pretty well. I don’t think it’s helped by these sorts of things.”

Richard Ferguson 7.57am: ‘A clear admission we got it wrong’

The new Liberal Party leadership rules are a “clear admission we got it wrong” on removing Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull, Federal Liberal Party President Nick Greiner says.

“I think there almost no circumstances you could possibly imagine in which there would be a move to change an elected prime minister,” he told ABC radio.

Liberal Party Federal President Nick Greiner. Picture: AAP
Liberal Party Federal President Nick Greiner. Picture: AAP

“I don’t know that it helps us a lot to go back, but certainly I think this is a clear admission we got it wrong.

“It’s not about ‘is Abbott better than Turnbull’, or vice versa. It’s not about the individual, it’s about the processes.”

Richard Ferguson 7.36am: Turnbull to front energy summit

Malcolm Turnbull is out of favour with senior Liberals after his extraordinary intervention into backbench MP Craig Kelly’s preselection battle, but the former prime minister is keeping busy.

He will give a speech and participate in a Q&A at the NSW Smart Energy Summit in Sydney today.

“Looking forward to the Smart Energy Council conference today — conveniently held at Pyrmont a short walk from a ferry wharf,” he tweeted.

“So after enjoying Gladys Berejiklian public transport service can then hear her energy minister Don Harwin on NSW plans for transition to cleaner more affordable power. “

Mr Turnbull’s focus on NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian in his tweet is of particular note. He argued yesterday that Scott Morrison should go to an early federal election to protect the premier’s chances at the next state election.

The Australian understands Mr Turnbull’s presence at the summit has angered senior government figures, with Smart Energy Council chief executive John Grimes considered one of the key pro-renewable agitators who attacked his national energy guarantee.

“His (Grimes’s) comments about the NEG are on the public record,” a senior MP said.

Richard Ferguson 7.18am: ‘We can’t change the past’

Mathias Cormann says Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull would have been safe under the Liberal Party’s new leadership rules, but he would not be drawn on why the party did not act sooner.

“I supported Tony Abbott remaining in the position (of prime minister) and Tony Abbott would have remained in the position under those rules,” Senator Cormann told the Nine Network this morning.

“And I suspect Malcolm Turnbull, under those rules, would not have initiated a surprise leadership ballot.

“We are where we are, we can’t change the past. We certainly can change the future.”

Richard Ferguson 6.50am: What’s making news

Scott Morrison has moved to end the leadership crisis within the government by implementing sweeping changes to party rules aimed at preventing a sitting Liberal prime minister from being challenged.

Malcolm Turnbull finds himself isolated from the Liberal Party’s most influential powerbrokers and senior MPs after his attempt to embarrass the Prime Minister failed.

Liberal MPs are bewildered Malcolm Turnbull has come out against cancelling preselections for sitting MPs in his home state of NSW, given the former prime minister voiced no opposition to the same process in Victoria.

Alex Turnbull has publicly donated to an online activist group which has been targeting mainstream media organisations by threatening their advertisers with consumer boycotts on the same day his father called for Scott Morrison to bear the brunt of the Liberal Party’s “brand damage” with an early election.

Two NSW Liberal Senate candidates endorsed to run in next year’s federal election have flatly refused to step aside for dumped former army general Jim Molan as he intensifi­es pressure on Scott Morriso­n to intervene and save his political career.

The head of the country’s criminal spy organisation, Mike Phelan­, has criticised Labor’s compromise offer to provide securit­y agencies only temporary powers to access terrorists’ encryp­ted messages.

Scott Morrison has been given extra time to come up with a legislative solution to protect gay stud­ents from discrimination in faith-based schools while safeguarding religious freedom after a Labor bill to deal with the issue was deferred until at least February.

Labor’s chances of sending Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton to the High Court by year’s end appear to be fading after key independent MP Cathy McGowan declared she had not “even thought about” whether to support any referral motion.

Emma Husar has shown Labor she is prepared to go rogue as the western Sydney MP attempts to hold on to her seat but has failed to win the support of Bill Shorten, who believes it is not in her interest to contest the next election.

A growing anti-immigration sentiment in Australia is overwhelmingly grounded in pragmatic concerns about overcrowding in major cities, house prices and poor government management rather than ideological opposition to multiculturalism.

The Morrison government is set to expand a new “import tax” to cover every international cargo vessel entering Australia — includi­ng empty ships — in what industry has labelled a blatant cash grab and Australia’s “first salvo in the global tariff war”.

James Jeffrey’s sketch: well-heeled Bishop in focus as Kelly puts the boot in.

Caroline Overington writes that Malcolm Turnbull is ruthless, vengeful, malicious and malevolent. But we already knew that.

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/politicsnow-morrison-ends-pm-merrygoround/news-story/5470943fb6279e4763297261535cd837