PoliticsNow: Tony Abbott hits out after Malcolm Turnbull’s big win on energy policy
PoliticsNow: The PM’s win on energy sours as Tony Abbott attacks “hostile briefing” during the party meeting.
- Turnbull scores crucial victory
- Labor’s euthanasia push
- Barnaby’s power price plea
- Early win for PM
- How the NEG works
- Euthanasia: who’s voting which way
- ‘Put Abbott back in cabinet’
Hello and welcome to PoliticsNow, The Australian’s live blog on the happenings at Parliament House in Canberra.
Malcolm Turnbull has scored a huge win in the Coalition partyroom over the final design of the national energy guarantee. It will now go to the states for further negotiations. Question Time has wrapped up.
• Top story: Abbott hits out after partyroom meeting
6.00pm: Senate censures Leyonhjelm
The Senate has voted 30-28 to censure Liberal Democrat senator David Leyonhjelm over his comments about Sarah Hanson-Young.
The government and crossbenchers Fraser Anning, Cory Bernardi, Brian Burston and Pauline Hanson voted with Senator Leyonhjelm against the motion, saying it was not warranted on this occasion, while Labor and crossbencher Derryn Hinch voted with the Greens to censure him.
4.55pm: O’Sullivan backs Bernardi
A Queensland Nationals senator has broken ranks with the government, voting with a small group of crossbenchers in support of withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement, AAP reports.
Barry O’Sullivan joined forces with a handful of conservative independent senators today to back Cory Bernardi’s motion calling on Australia to walk away from its international emissions commitments.
Senator O’Sullivan is set to leave parliament at the next election after being relegated to an unwinnable position on the LNP’s Queensland upper house ticket.
3.50pm: Labor senator to run for lower house
ACT Labor senator David Smith will run for the lower house seat of Bean at the next federal election, following Labor MP Gai Brodtmann’s decision to retire, AAP reports
Senator Smith replaced Katy Gallagher in the upper house after she was disqualified over her dual citizenship.
The move means Ms Gallagher will be preselected by Labor to return to the Senate at the next election.
3.15pm: Where to from here for the NEG?
By supporting the NEG, Labor can eliminate a possibly divisive and damaging issue from the next federal election. Read Chris Kenny’s take here.
Greg Brown 3.03pm: ‘Don’t be so reckless’
Labor’s Tanya Plibersek goes again on the donation to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
“Why is the Prime Minister so reckless with taxpayer funds?”
Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg says he made it clear to the foundation in April that any grant would be subject to negotiation, which later occurred before it was approved.
“This was money put to work with the reef, with our scientists and farmers, with indigenous communities to underpin regional jobs and the 64,000 jobs that depend on the Great Barrier Reef,” Frydenberg says.
“The Labor Party only wants to obstruct, only wants to criticise, because when they were in government they abandoned the Great Barrier Reef.”
Greg Brown 2.59pm: Flattery gets you everywhere
Speaker Tony Smith thinks he copped backchat from Labor’s Terri Butler after he allowed her to rephrase an out of order question, rather than ruling it invalid.
“What was that?” he yelled when he didn’t catch her response.
Butler repeats: “It is very kind of you.”
Smith: “Oh, that is okay”.
The House erupts with laughter.
Graham Richardson 2.54pm: Out to lunch
Having lunch while watching Question Time. I really should get a life. pic.twitter.com/HZTiFnfBKM
— Graham Richardson (@SkyNewsRicho) August 14, 2018
Greg Brown 2.42pm: ‘Where was Labor on Reef?’
Queensland Labor MP Cathy O’Toole asks about the controversy regarding the government’s $444 million grant to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
“Why is the Prime Minister privatising the protection of our most precious and fragile environmental asset?”
Fresh from a win on his energy policy, Josh Frydenberg leaps up and accuses Labor of abandoning the reef when it was in power.
“When Labor was in office, they didn’t provide the funding. When Labor was in office, they had five dredged disposal projects planned for the Marine Park,” Frydenberg says.
“In contrast, we have come in and we have got the reef with a long-term plan with the Queensland government. We have put in a $2 billion commitment with Queensland, we have made a half-a-billion dollar commitment through the foundation.”
Rosie Lewis 2.38pm: Dignity in the Senate
Senator Abetz joined Senator Williams in voicing concern about the phrase “dying with dignity”.
“I unfortunately hear some arguments in the community and sadly also in this debate about ‘dying with dignity’. That if people suffer from a particular disability, they somehow lose dignity,” he said.
“The value of a human life is not dependent upon its particular circumstances, it is an inherent value that can never be taken away from that life and we as a society should never say to a person who has come to a consideration ‘my life is not worth living’, say ‘yeah we’ll be caring and compassionate, we’ll help you get rid of your life’.
“A caring, compassionate society would say ‘we understand we’re you’re coming from but despite your disability, despite the circumstances in which you find yourself you are a valuable member of our community. We love you dearly and we will do everything we possibly can for you’.”
The debate has often gone to the issue of euthanasia rather than restoring the rights of the territories to legislate on euthanasia.
“Once you make a mistake with a death penalty, there’s no turning back. Once you make a mistake with state-supported suicide, there’s no turning back. It is final, it is over,” Senator Abetz said.
Greg Brown 2.36pm: A question of ‘gobbledygook’
Opposition energy spokesman Mark Butler asks why the public should believe Malcolm Turnbull’s promise to reduce power prices by $550.
“Promises that the member for (Tony Abbott) referred to as merchant banker gobbledygook,” he says, which wins him a laugh from the opposition benches.
The Prime Minister says Labor’s policies will drive prices higher.
“We are determined to ensure that we deliver more affordable and reliable power for Australians and we are putting the policies in place to do that. The national energy guarantee is one of them but not the only one,” Turnbull says.
Labor’s Tim Watts gets the boot for raising a vexatious point of order.
Watts’ sin was asking: “Is merchant banker gobbledygook in order?”
Cliona O’Dowd 2.27pm: Meanwhile at the bank royal commission
The self-declared “gold-medallist” for super fee mischarges is back answering royal commission questions. Follow along live as the CBA returns.
Greg Brown 2.19pm: One lump or two?
Opposition treasury spokesman Chris Bowen asks Scott Morrison if he stands by a statement last year that there was no such thing as cheap energy from a new coal-fired power station.
The Treasurer says he stands by the remark, which is why he wants existing coal stations to stay open as long as possible.
Bowen yells: “Get your lump of coal out”.
Greg Brown 2.13pm: Straight to the coal face
Labor MP Mike Kelly asks Malcolm Turnbull if he agrees a new coal-fired power station will make Snowy Hydro 2.0 unviable.
The Prime Minister says the government is technology neutral and does not favour renewables over coal.
“The market will work out what is the cheaper model and it may be that hydro will be cheaper than a new type of coal-fired power station,” Turnbull says.
Bill Shorten then asks Malcolm Turnbull if he will rule out spending government funds on a new coal-fired power station.
The Prime Minister says he is “amazed” the Opposition Leader is willing ti turn his back in coalminers.
“The Leader of the Opposition has got to get out of this ideological trap set for him and by the Greens and get on the side of hard-working Australian families and ensure they have lower power bills,” Turnbull says.
Greg Brown 1.55pm: ‘A victory for the right wing’
Opposition energy spokesman Mark Butler has lashed Malcolm Turnbull for endorsing a policy he says will smash the renewables energy sector.
“Today is a substantial victory for the right wing attack on renewal energy and Australians will pay the price for Malcolm Turnbull’s weakness on lost jobs and higher power bills,” Mr Butler said.
“Any credibility Malcolm Turnbull continued to have around having evidence -based policy and taking serious action on climate change and power prices lies in tatters today.”
Mr Butler could not say whether Labor would vote against legislation to be introduced this sitting fortnight to reduce carbon emissions by 26 per cent of 2005 levels by 2030.
“It’s our view that the emissions reduction target of 45 per cent should be put in place,” Mr Butler said.
“The government’s plan of 26 per cent is a reduction of 2 per cent over the course of a decade and will pull through absolutely no new investment, and that will be felt in higher power prices. The Labor Party will be arguing for that position in parliament.”
Rosie Lewis 1.50pm: Abetz speaks on euthanasia
Liberal senator Eric Abetz is the third senator so far today to oppose the Restoring Territory Rights (Assisted Suicide Legislation) Bill 2015:
“It deserves to be defeated on a number of grounds. First, the bill displays a sad misunderstanding of our constitutional arrangements. Secondly, it shows a complete disregard of the general basic ethical foundations of our society when every single life is valued. And thirdly it shows a disregard for the sensitivities of our indigenous community, especially in the Northern Territory,” he said.
Ben Packham 1.45pm: Partyroom numbers revealed
Thirty-four Coalition MPs spoke out on the government’s national energy guarantee in today’s party room meeting, with just four reserving their right to cross the floor.
“The overwhelming majority spoke in favour of the NEG,” a partyroom spokesman said.
Those who argued against the policy were urged by supporters to reconsider their position for the sake of Coalition unity, and to stop speaking out publicly against the NEG.
In his address to the party room, Malcolm Turnbull emphasised the NEG would lower power prices, while also committing to the competition watchdog’s recommendation that the government underwrite new dispatchable power generation.
The Prime Minister concluded the meeting by declaring there was “clear and strong support” for the policy in the party room.
He acknowledged that while a small number had reserved their position, “the intent of the party room is clear”, and NEG legislation should proceed.
Greg Brown 1.40pm: Abbott concedes party supports NEG
Tony Abbott says a dozen MPs expressed their concerns about Malcolm Turnbull’s signature energy policy but he admitted there was partyroom support for it.
The former prime minister said most MPs spoke in support of the policy but were more concerned with getting prices down.
“Unfortunately, most explanations of how the NEG (as it stands without price targets) might theoretically get prices down sound like a merchant bankers’ gobbledigook (sic),” Mr Abbott said in a statement.
He said it was a “real pity” the meeting broke up before outspoken pro-coal MP Craig Kelly was able to finish speaking.
“Yes, there were lots of pleas for unity but as one MP said, we’ve got to be loyal to our electorates and to party members too, and not show the ‘unity of lemmings’,” Mr Abbott said.
“Yes, there was lots of regard for the ‘experts’ and for ‘business leaders’ but as one MP said: ‘I’m not here for the technocrats’.
“I heard at least four lower house MPs formally reserve their position on the legislation and at least a dozen express serious concerns about the NEG, or about turning the non-binding Paris targets into law with massive penalties attached.
“This is the big question that the partyroom didn’t really grapple with: when the big emitters are not meeting Paris, why should we? Especially, as even the Chief Scientist said, the difference meeting our target would make is ‘virtually nothing’.”
I’m not going to release my own comments to the party room, because they were along the lines of my remarks to media on the way into the parliament, but the rampant hostile briefing of journalists while the meeting was underway does require a response. pic.twitter.com/YOfv9PZVQA
— Tony Abbott (@TonyAbbottMHR) August 14, 2018
Rosie Lewis 1.25pm: Leyonhjelm’s pitch
Labor senator Doug Cameron says David Leyonhjelm’s bill is about “ensuring everyone, whether you reside in a state or territory, having the same access to the law, the same access to rights as we have everywhere else”.
“We would not subject animals to the agony and pain that victims of mesothelioma go through after they contract that disease. They are treated in a more common sense approach than some of these victims of mesothelioma, of pancreatic cancer, are,” he says.
Greg Brown 1.20pm: Turnbull revels in success
Malcolm Turnbull will introduce legislation to reduce carbon emissions in the sitting fortnight as he heaped pressure on Bill Shorten to back a national energy framework.
The Prime Minister declared the policy had the overwhelming support of the Coalition partyroom after a 2.5 hour debate this morning which saw Tony Abbott and a handful of other MPs voice their opposition to the policy.
“Now is the time to provide the certainty and the investment climate that is going to see more generation and lower prices,” Mr Turnbull said.
Mr Turnbull said the government would introduce legislation by the end of next week for a target of a 26 per cent reduction on 2005 emissions levels by 2030.
He hit back at Tony Abbott who said it was a mistake to put emissions reduction targets in legislation, arguing the former prime minister had the same policy as the Opposition Leader.
“It’s the Labor Party, that wants to not legislate for the emissions reduction trajectory because they want to be able to change it and increase it with the stoke of a pen and that is exactly what they would seek to do were they ever to form government,” Mr Turnbull said.
Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg said a phone hook-up would be held with the states this evening, with draft state legislation released for feedback over a period of a month.
Mr Frydenberg said the states should legislate the required changes in the policy before the Victorian election in November.
“It’s time Daniel Andrews stopped walking both sides of the street and put the interests of Victorians first and the businesses of Victorians first and he would do that by signing up to the national energy guarantee before he goes into caretaker mode,” Mr Frydenberg said.
Rosie Lewis 1.15pm: Farmers united
Clive Palmer is sitting next to LNP maverick George Christensen.
Also present are fellow North Queensland MP Warren Entsch, and WA One Nation senator Peter Georgiou.
Pauline Hanson earlier made a brief appearance, but did not stay to hear the testimony of farmers at the event organised by One Nation defector Fraser Anning.
More than 100 farmers have travelled vast distances from all over Australia to tell their stories.
Rosie Lewis 1pm: Clive makes an appearance
As if there wasn’t enough happening in federal Parliament today, Clive Palmer has arrived to attend a briefing by dozens of farmers discussing how they’ve been treated by the banks. Katter’s Australian Party senator Fraser Anning organised the session because he believes the royal commission into the banks is “inadequate” and more farmers needed to have their say.
Former One Nation senator Brian Burston quit the party to join Palmer’s rebadged United Australia Party this year. Mr Palmer has pledged to contest every lower house seat at the next election.
Rosie Lewis 12.50pm: Euthansia debate stirs emotions
One after another, senators are speaking to David Leyonhjelm’s private senator’s bill that would give the ACT and Northern Territory powers to legislate their own laws on euthanasia. We’re six senators in and so far two - John Williams (Nationals) and Jane Hume (Liberal) - have spoken against the bill. Many have reflected on their own family experience.
Here’s Centre Alliance MP Stirling Griff, who supports the bill, says: “Like many in this place I have seen family and friends experience an excruciating end of life over their final days and weeks. I’ve also seen the opposite. 18 months ago my elder mother, who had significant health issues, made a decision that she would die at 4am the next day, and she successfully willed herself to do just that. The problem is we didn’t actually believer her at the time.”
Senator Williams tells the chamber: “In some ways I take offence of this ‘dying with dignity’. My father died at home, he had cancer, I totally supported the drugs he was using, he was on morphine, painkillers, I don’t care if it’s medicinal marijuana, I support all sorts of drugs to make more comfortable those people who are terminally ill and suffering and in pain. But to say this bill is about ‘dying with dignity’, does that infer that my father didn’t die with dignity? Or my mother, in her old age? I do take offence to some of these slogans that are tagged onto some of these bills.
“I believe where there is life, there is hope.”
Rosie Lewis 12.40pm: Kelly misses his chance
Liberal Party sources have told The Australian there was a breach of protocol in the Coalition’s partyroom meeting, as chair of the backbench energy committee Craig Kelly was not given time to address colleagues after Energy and Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg’s report.
The Australian understands Mr Kelly was pushed down the list and got just 90 seconds to speak because the bells signalling the start of sitting rang. According to protocol Mr Kelly, as the committee’s chairman, should have given his report following the Minister.
The Australian understands Liberal MP Tim Wilson was given an opportunity to speak ahead of Mr Kelly but was not on the speakers’ list.
12.35pm: Relief for Turnbull
Malcolm Turnbull has received the strong endorsement of the coalition party room for his signature energy policy, after fending off last-minute attacks from predecessor Tony Abbott, AAP reports.
It is understood Mr Abbott was one of only a handful of coalition MPs to speak against the National Energy Guarantee policy at the 2.5-hour closed-door meeting in Canberra today.
It is possible Mr Abbott and those of similar mind could cross the floor when it comes to the legislation, which could make it a tight vote in the one-seat majority parliament if Labor also opposes it.
Starting in 2020, the NEG is designed to bring down energy bills by about $550 a year and requires retailers to source electricity that meets reliability and Paris Agreement emissions reduction targets.
Mr Abbott had argued coalition MPs would be “dead wrong” to back it. Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce proposed an amendment to enforce price reductions.
The legislation setting an emissions reduction target of 26 per cent on 2005 levels by 2030 for the electricity sector is expected to be put to a teleconference of state energy ministers later on Tuesday.
The states will be asked to agree to a four-week consultation process. As well as rolling out the NEG, the Turnbull government is expected to underwrite new power generation projects, which could include coal-fired plants.
This is in line with one of 56 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission recommendations to cut power prices.
Labor leader Bill Shorten earlier told a caucus meeting the prime minister had surrendered to climate sceptics in the government.
“The only thing guaranteed to come out of today is higher power prices and less renewable energy. We have cobbled together today a Frankenstein’s monster of a policy,” he said.
“While Mr Turnbull goes around attacking Mr Abbott, Mr Turnbull is, in fact, giving in to a lot of Mr Abbott’s values when it comes to climate change and energy.”
Crossbench conservative senator Cory Bernardi believes the policy will push up prices.
“Unless they remove the barriers to nuclear power ... and until they walk away from the Paris Agreement, they won’t have my vote,” the former Liberal senator told Sky News.
Trade Minister Steve Ciobo said walking away from the Paris deal would torpedo Australia’s chances of a free trade deal with the European Union, negotiations for which are underway.
Greg Brown 12.10pm: PM secures win on energy
Malcolm Turnbull has declared the national energy guarantee has the support of the Coalition partyroom, setting up the final negotiations with the states.
The Australian has been told the Prime Minister told MPs the NEG had the clear support of the partyroom after a two-hour internal debate.
Tony Abbott was among the MPs who voiced his opposition to the policy, along with Tony Pasin, Andrew Hastie and George Christensen.
Ben Packham 11.55am: Shorten pays tribute to Husar
Bill Shorten has thanked Emma Husar for her contribution to the Labor Party in a speech to caucus recognising outgoing MPs.
Ms Husar was absent from today’s caucus meeting, but the Opposition Leader publicly recognised her decision not to stand at the next election.
The statement comes amid fears among NSW ALP officials that Ms Husar may be reconsidering her decision to leave parliament, after a report finding there was “no basis” for her to resign.
Mr Shorten also paid tribute to outgoing MPs Michael Danby, Gai Brodtmann and Claire Moore.
Greg Brown 11.50am: Minority opposed to NEG
Andrew Hastie, George Christensen and Tony Pasin joined Tony Abbott and have told the Coalition partyroom they are opposed to the national energy guarantee.
The vast majority of MPs have voiced their support for the policy.
Joe Kelly 11.45am: Conscience vote on euthanasia
The Labor caucus has agreed to give MPs a conscience vote on legislation that could restore the right of the ACT and Northern Territory to legalise euthanasia but will push for a broader inquiry if the bill passes the upper house.
Speaking at the end of an extended caucus discussion, Bill Shorten made clear that Labor would move for a joint parliamentary committee before the bill — proposed by Liberal Democratic Senator David Leyonhjelm — was considered in the lower house.
Several Labor MPs spoke to the issue, and a debate broke out on whether the parliamentary committee should be confined to assessing Senator Leyonhjelm’s bill or the broader issue of all end of life decisions.
Mr Shorten said that a decision on the terms of reference for the inquiry could be deferred until a later point, but confirmed Labor would move in the Senate to hold a joint parliamentary committee if the bill passed the upper house.
Rosie Lewis 11.30am: Greens fume over coal plan
The Greens have warned of “one hell of a campaign” if a new coal-fired power station is built in Australia, declaring the “policing costs are going to outweigh construction costs”.
The minor party is staunchly opposed to the national energy guarantee. At a partyroom briefing today the Greens demanded any “side deals” in order to legislate the policy be revealed.
“If there’s a slush fund for either refurbishing existing coal-fired power stations or building new ones, and I actually think it’s the refurbishing that is probably just as big a threat as the building of new ones, if there is a slush fund than the protest that you’ve seen, it’ll make the Franklin Dam protests look like a kid’s birthday party,” a party spokesman said.
“If there is a new coal-fired power station being built there will be people standing in front of bulldozers to stop it from happening.”
It comes after The Australian revealed a leading energy company has flagged plans to enter a partnership with specialised Japanese or Chinese developers to build a “clean-coal” power plant within five years if Malcolm Turnbull’s energy reform blueprint is implemented.
11.20am: Another MP speaks against NEG
It’s understood WA Liberal Andrew Hastie has also expressed doubts about the energy plan, and says he reserves the right to cross the floor on the issue.
Greg Brown 11.15am: Labor wants My Health probe
Labor will push for a Senate inquiry into the My Health Record rollout. Opposition health spokeswoman Catherine King said Labor was “deeply concerned” the government had bungled the “important reform”.
“While the government has agreed to a number of changes demanded by Labor and doctors’ groups, including an extension of the opt-out period and a new public information campaign, more needs to be done,” Ms King said in a statement with Labor senator Jenny McAllister.
“The inquiry will review all the laws, regulations and rules that underpin the My Health Record. It will examine the government’s decision to shift from an opt-in system to an opt-out system and whether it adequately prepared for this fundamental change from Labor’s system.
“It will examine a range of privacy and security concerns, including the adequacy of the system’s log-in procedures and default settings. It will also consider issues raised in the public domain around domestic violence and workers’ compensation.”
10.50am: Gloves off in partyroom
Greg Brown 10.45am: Qualified support from Barnaby
Barnaby Joyce has told the Coalition partyroom he supports the national energy guarantee, but wants an amendment to enforce price reductions.
The Australian has been told the former deputy prime minister has asked for changes to the policy before he agrees to back it.
With the partyroom meeting about 40 minutes in, Tony Abbott is the only MP to outright oppose the policy. MPs who have spoken in favour of the policy include Ann Sudmalis, Ted O’Brien, Jim Molan, Chris Crewther and Tim Wilson.
10.35am: How the partyroom meeting is going
Coalition party room update: Jim Molan, Tim Wilson, Ian McDonald, Warren Entsch, Rowan Ramsey all say they will support NEG. Tony Abbott opposed.
— David Speers (@David_Speers) August 14, 2018
10.20am: Bandt bangs anti-NEG drum
BREAKING: Gov has just released under Senate order their ‘full’ modelling behind the NEG & its wild claims about $550/yr power bill cuts.
— Adam Bandt (@AdamBandt) August 13, 2018
It’s a single Excel spreadsheet. That’s it.
The NEG is a toxic farce and must be rejected.#Greens
Greg Brown 10.10am: ‘I want no part of this bill’
Liberal senator James Paterson says the doctor-assisted suicide legislation passed in his home state of Victoria shows why the territories should not be given the right to legalise euthanasia.
“Although I’m sympathetic to the principles of federalism behind this bill, I have zero confidence territory parliaments could devise a framework for euthanasia that could never be abused,” Senator Paterson said.
“The Victorian legislation certainly fails that test. I don’t want any part in it being rolled out in the ACT and NT.”
Greg Brown 10am: ‘Frankenstein’s monster’
Bill Shorten has labelled the national energy guarantee a “Frankenstein’s monster of a policy” and declared Malcolm Turnbull had caved into Tony Abbott’s values.
In his address to caucus this morning, the Opposition Leader said the Prime Minister had surrendered climate policy to “people who do not believe in climate change”.
“The only thing guaranteed to come out of today is higher power prices and less renewable energy. We have cobbled together today a Frankenstein’s monster of a policy,” Mr Shorten said.
“While Mr Turnbull goes around attacking Mr Abbott, Mr Turnbull is in fact giving in to a lot of Mr Abbott’s values when it comes to climate change and energy.
“What we will see is promises to deliver new money for new coal-fired power stations, we will see less renewable energy in the system which means higher prices.”
Mr Shorten told Labor MPs the party needed to stand up for renewable energy “every day between now and the next election”.
Greg Brown 9.50am: Hanson wants NEG scrapped
With the Coalition partyroom close to starting, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson urged the government to drop the national energy guarantee:
FACT renewable energy targets drive up electricity prices. The Gov should pull out of the UN's Paris Agreement and ditch the NEG.
— Pauline Hanson 🇦🇺 (@PaulineHansonOz) August 13, 2018
Any Gov MP who doesn’t cross the floor and vote against these terrible policies is putting the UN's green agenda first and Aussie families last. -PH
Greg Brown 9.30am: Energy plan will ‘smash’ renewables
Opposition energy spokesman Mark Butler says Tony Abbott and the right of the Coalition partyroom have “won the day” on Malcolm Turnbull’s energy policy, declaring the national energy guarantee would stifle investment in renewables.
“This morning in the Coalition partyroom, Malcolm Turnbull will present an energy plan that will mean there is not a single renewable energy project built for an entire decade, that will mean the rates of installation of rooftop solar for Australian households will be cut in half,” Mr Butler said in Canberra this morning.
“We learn today that billions of dollars of taxpayers money will be directed to building new coal-fired power plants. This is a plan that will smash jobs and investment in renewables. It will fail to achieve any serious cuts in pollution from our power sector and it will also push power prices further and further up.”
9.15am: Showdown looms on euthanasia
Northern Territory leaders are urging federal politicians to give territories back the right to make their own voluntary euthanasia laws, but one ACT senator is pushing back, AAP reports.
The Senate is gearing up for a divisive showdown on whether to restore the power of the ACT and NT to legalise assisted dying.
Now the NT chief minister and territory opposition leader Gary Higgins have joined forces in a rare show of unity, demanding senators help repeal two- decades-old laws banning territories from passing such legislation. “It’s classic Canberra bubble nonsense, at the expense of Territorians who want a say over their own lives,” chief minister Michael Gunner said.
Liberal Democrats senator David Leyonhjelm’s bill to restore this power to the ACT and NT will be debated in the upper house today.
But ACT Liberal senator Zed Seselja will vote against it. “Make no mistake, this is not about territory rights, it’s about human rights,” he said.
“I fear the passage of Senator Leyonhjelm’s bill will lead to assisted suicide becoming legal in the ACT under a regime that will have minimal safeguards.”
Senator Seselja accused the ACT government of underfunding palliative care, making a link between euthanasia and medical treatment. “I will be standing up for the rights of Canberrans to not be pressured to end their lives,” he said.
The upper house will deal solely with Senator Leyonhjelm’s bill until it’s voted on.
He believes the bill has enough support to get through but it will still require the approval of the lower house before becoming law - a step that looks unlikely.
Greg Brown 9.10am: Labor wants more from NEG
Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek says the opposition is “not yet convinced” about the national energy guarantee, arguing it had a “very low ambition” on emissions reductions.
“And we are very concerned about some of the noises coming from the government that they will be using taxpayer funds to subsidise new investment in coal-fired power generation,” Ms Plibersek told Sky News.
“We don’t know what the Prime Minister will have to give away to get support from his own people for this policy.”
Ms Plibersek maintained new-coal fired power stations did not make economic sense, despite The Australian’s report this morning detailing the ambitions of Delta Electricity to build “clean-coal” stations.
“All of the information we have is that renewables are becoming cheaper than coal all the time,” Ms Plibersek said.
“Coal is going to be part of our immediate energy mix for decades to come but the decision to spend years building a new coal-fired power station that will run for decades after that, that is something that shouldn’t be attracting taxpayers support.”
Greg Brown 9am: Ciobo slaps down Abbott
Trade Minister Steven Ciobo says Australia would lose out on trade deals if it pulled out of the Paris Agreement.
Mr Ciobo slapped down Tony Abbott’s call for government to pull out of the international agreement on reducing global emissions, declaring it would ruin the chances of a trade deal with the European Union.
“We are currently in negotiations with the European Union on a free-trade agreement. I can tell you one of the very first consequences if we were to (pull out of the Paris Agreement): we could kiss goodbye to doing a trade deal with the European Union,” Mr Ciobo said.
“I mean they would walk away from it, I have no doubt about that at all. So the impact of that on Australian exports and Australian jobs would be profound.”
Greg Brown 8.35am: How numbers stack up on euthanasia
The Senate will this morning start debating David Leyonhjelm’s private-members bill to give the ACT and Northern Territory the right to legalise euthanasia. A vote is expected by Thursday.
Labor’s Kimberley Kitching is absent from parliament and opposed to the bill but will receive a pair from Labor senator Gavin Marshall, who is supportive of the reform. Liberal senator Arthur Sinodinos is also absent from parliament but he will not seek a pairing arrangement.
Here’s how we see the numbers:
LEANING YES (39)
Andrew Bartlett (Greens); Catryna Bilyk (Labor); Simon Birmingham (Liberal); Carol Brown (Labor); Brian Burston (United Australia Party); Doug Cameron (Labor); Kim Carr (Labor); Richard Di Natale (Greens); Alex Gallacher (Labor); Peter Georgiou (One Nation); Stirling Griff (Centre Alliance); Pauline Hanson (One Nation); Sarah Hanson-Young (Greens); Derryn Hinch (Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party); Kristina Keneally (Labor); David Leyonhjelm (Liberal-Democrat); Sue Lines (Labor); Ian Macdonald (Liberal-National); Gavin Marshall (Labor); Jenny McAllister (Labor); Malarndirri McCarthy (Labor); Steve Martin (Nationals); Nick McKim (Greens); Claire Moore (Labor); Rex Patrick (Centre Alliance); Louise Pratt (Labor); Lee Rhiannon (Greens); Janet Rice (Greens); Nigel Scullion (Country Liberal); Rachel Siewert (Greens); Lisa Singh (Labor); David Smith (Labor); Jordon Steele-John (Greens); Glenn Sterle (Labor); Tim Storer (independent); Anne Urquhart (Labor); Murray Watt (Labor); Peter Whish-Wilson (Greens); Penny Wong (Labor)
UNKNOWN (7)
Anthony Chisholm (Labor); Patrick Dodson (Labor); Lucy Gichuhi (Liberal); Deborah O’Neill (Labor); Marise Payne (Liberal); Bridget McKenzie (Nationals); Anne Ruston (Liberal)
PROBABLE NOES (29)
Eric Abetz (Liberal); Fraser Anning (Katter’s Australia Party); Cory Bernardi (Australian Conservatives); Slade Brockman (Liberal); David Bushby (Liberal); Matt Canavan (Liberal-National); Michaelia Cash (Liberal); Richard Colbeck (Liberal); Jacinta Collins (Labor); Mathias Cormann (Liberal); Jonathon Duniam (Liberal); Don Farrell (Labor); David Fawcett (Liberal); Mitch Fifield (Liberal); Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (Liberal); Jane Hume (Liberal) Kimberley Kitching (Labor); Chris Ketter (Labor); James McGrath (Liberal); Jim Molan (Liberal); Barry O’Sullivan (Liberal-National); James Paterson (Liberal); Linda Reynolds (Liberal): Helen Polley (Labor); Scott Ryan (Liberal); Zed Seselja (Liberal); Dean Smith (Liberal); Amanda Stoker (Liberal); John Williams (Nationals)
OTHERS
Arthur Sinodinos (Liberal) is absent with illness and will not be seeking a pair.
Greg Brown 8.10am: ‘Put Tony in cabinet’
Barnaby Joyce says Malcolm Turnbull should give Tony Abbott a cabinet position.
The former deputy prime minister said it would be good for party unity if Mr Abbott was returned to executive government.
“I would like, as much as possible, to keep everyone together,” Mr Joyce said at Parliament House this morning.
“I think that would be a smart move as we go into an election year. (But) I am not a fool, I think the chances of that (happening) are like zero.”
Greg Brown 7.40am: Barnaby’s plea on prices
Barnaby Joyce will ask the government to regulate energy prices as he weighs up supporting the national energy guarantee.
The former deputy prime minister said major power players such as AGL had taken advantage of their market power and needed to be reigned in, which could include setting a maximum price that energy retailers can charge their customers.
“You have a mechanism to deal with emissions you have a mechanism to deal with dispatchability,” Mr Joyce said this morning.
“We have gone to the community and said you are going to get in excess of $500 reduction in price, that’s what we are saying, that’s what we read.
“How are you going to enforce it?”
Mr Joyce would not say whether he was prepared to cross the floor on the NEG.
“I will certainly be having my say, I never disclose who I vote for or against, Josh (Frydenberg) should be given every right to address the concerns everyone has,” Mr Joyce said.
Greg Brown 7.20am: Early win for Turnbull
The Coalition’s backbench energy committee has endorsed Malcolm Turnbull’s signature energy policy ahead of a faceoff in the joint partyroom meeting this morning.
The committee, which is chaired by outspoken coal advocate Craig Kelly, voted in favour of the national energy guarantee by seven votes to three.
Tony Abbott voted against the policy, while Mr Kelly and Nationals MP Ken O’Dowd withheld their support and requested further information.
The policy was supported by other MPs on the committee: Trent Zimmerman, Tim Wilson, Ted O’Brien, James Paterson, Steve Irons and Rowan Ramsay.
Mr Kelly said this morning there were more details that needed to be “sorted out” on the NEG.
“Particularly how we can interweave that ACCC recommendation about the government underwriting the construction of new baseload power in Australia,” Mr Kelly told Sky News.
The committee came to its vote after a two hour cabinet briefing last night.
Liberal MPs will receive a briefing from competition watchdog boss Rod Sims at 9am, before the crucial joint partyroom meeting with the Nationals at 9.30am.
What’s making news:
• One of Australia’s leading energy companies has flagged plans to enter a partnership with specialised Japanese or Chinese developers to build a “clean-coal” power plant within five years if Malcolm Turnbull’s energy reform blueprint is implemented.
• A split within cabinet is looming over euthanasia, prompting several senior ministers to warn that the issue threatens Malcolm Turnbull with a repeat of last year’s bitter divisions inside the Coalition partyroom over same sex marriage.
• Malcolm Turnbull told parliament yesterday the NSW drought was deepening so quickly that it risked becoming worse than the terrible drought of 1965-68, which struck rural regions and country towns from Queensland to Tasmania.
• Senior NSW Labor officials fear federal MP Emma Husar may be reconsidering her decision not to recontest her seat at the next election, buoyed by the findings of a report on staff bullying and harassment allegations that there was “no basis for her to resign from the Australian parliament”.
• Labor frontbencher and former environment minister Tony Burke bought a Tasmanian bush block a year after approving $2.4 million for a green group to restore the adjacent wilderness area and upgrade a walking track 300m from his property.
• Australia’s top environmental bureaucrat has urged the Auditor-General to fast-track an investigation into the awarding of a $444 million grant without tender to a Great Barrier Reef charity, as Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg detailed the “extensive process” behind the decision.
• Centre Alliance says it could get behind the government’s remaining company tax cuts if Finance Minister Mathias Cormann convinced One Nation to support the package.
• The government department responsible for overseeing a $22.5 million political slush fund available to MPs for community projects admitted during a private briefing that the scheme needed to be improved.
• Veterans Affairs Minister Darren Chester has repeated unsubstantiated claims that an investigation is under way into an allegation of domestic violence against Australia’s most decorated soldier, Ben Roberts-Smith.
More Coverage
Miners change tune on climate change
Peak mining industry body The Minerals Council of Australia has joined the fight on climate.
Labor to turn up heat on Taylor
Labor will use the final two weeks of parliament to heap pressure on Energy Minister Angus Taylor.