PoliticsNow: David Sharma under fire over Wentworth campaign flyer
PoliticsNow: Foreign Minister Marise Payne has been hit by a serious leak after text messages sent to her by her Indonesian counterpart were published.
- Jewish leader takes aim at Sharma
- Phelps tipped for gold
- Backflip government ‘fools’
- Embassy ‘not about Jewish voters’
- Joyce leadership bid ‘rubbish’
Hello and welcome to PoliticsNow, The Australian’s live blog on the happenings at Parliament House in Canberra.
Here’s how today played out.
Primrose Riordan 6.51pm: ‘This will affect bilateral relations’
Foreign Minister Marise Payne has been hit by a serious leak after text messages sent to her by Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi warning of a “blow” to bilateral ties were published by Channel Seven.
In the messages the Indonesian Foreign Minister warned Senator Payne that Scott Morrison’s comments opening the door to moving the Australian embassy to Jerusalem were very damaging.
“Is this really necessary to do this on Tuesday?” the minister said.
“It will be a really big blow. It will slap Indonesia’s face on the Palestine issue. This will affect bilateral relations.”
On Tuesday the Indonesian government was hosting the Palestinian Foreign Minister, Riyad al-Maliki.
A spokesman for the minister declined to confirm the contents of the text message exchange but simply said her discussion with Retno Marsudi was “constructive”.
“Minister Payne and her Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi had a constructive discussion on Tuesday regarding Australia’s announcement,” the spokesman said.
“Minister Payne emphasised that there had been no change to Australia’s commitment to the Middle East peace process and to a durable and resilient two-state solution that allowed Israel and a future Palestinian state to exist side by side, within internationally recognised borders.”
“We are aware of Indonesia’s views on the Middle East peace process and as the Prime Minister said we will continue to engage with our close partners on these issues, including at the upcoming EAS, APEC and G20 summits.”
Ben Packham 4.53pm: No apology for diplomatic setback
Environment Minister Melissa Price has expressed regret, but failed to apologise, after telling a senior Pacific leader and Nobel Peace Prize nominee that he was visiting Australia “for the cash”.
Ms Price made the comment when she was introduced to former Kiribati President Anote Tong in a Canberra restaurant on Tuesday night, in a diplomatic setback to Australia’s attempts to improve vital strategic relationships in the region.
“I know why you’re here,” she told President Tong, a prominent global campaigner against climate change.
“It’s for the cash. For the Pacific it’s always about the cash. I have my chequebook here. How much do you want?”
President Tong was dining with Labor Senator Patrick Dodson, and Edmund Rice Centre director Phil Glendenning, and Oxfam climate change expert Simon Bradshaw, at Canberra’s La Rustica restaurant, in Kingston.
Mr Glendenning confirmed the exchange, declaring “that is absolutely what I heard”. He said he was embarrassed Mr Tong had been treated in such a manner by an Australian government Minister.
“President Tong is a very important world figure who is in Australia on very serious business,” Mr Glendenning said.
Senator Dodson wrote to Ms Price to protest at what he described as “your discourteous and offensive behaviour towards my dinner guest”.
Ms Price told parliament she had not intended to offend President Tong.
“I am very concerned that in some way the president has been offended in any way,” she said.
“I’ve spoken to Senator Dodson today and asked him if he was able to provide them with contact number for president on because I 100 per cent disagree with what he has said was the conversation.
“What I did say was that the Pacific is a very good friend and neighbour to Australia. In fact that’s exactly what I said to president Tong last night.”
Ms Price’s spokeswoman later told The Australian the Minister had nothing to add to her statement in parliament.
Mr Tong became one of the world’s leading campaigners on the risks of global warming as Kiribati’s president, from 2003 to 2016.
In in 2014, he took the extraordinary step of purchasing 20 square kilometres of land in Fiji to relocate his people to in the event Kiribati became inundated.
Fiji’s Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama, nominated President Tong for the Nobel Peace prize that year in recognition of his global advocacy on the issue.
Australia has sought to “step up” relations with Pacific neighbours amid a push by China to gain influence in the region with soft loans for major infrastructure projects under its Belt and Road Initiative.
Scott Morrison has identified Australia’s Pacific relationships as a key reason for remaining in Paris climate change agreement.
The Morrison government agreed at last month’s Pacific Island Forum in Nauru that climate change was the greatest security threat to the region, amid criticism from Pacific nations of the Coalition’s move to separate the nation’s climate and energy policies.
Greg Brown 3.09pm: Emissions ‘matter for cabinet’
Labor MP Ged Kearney asks if the government will give any further money to the Emissions Reduction Fund.
Environment Minister Melissa Price says the government is looking at it.
“That is not a matter for me to talk about today, it is a matter for cabinet,” she says.
Greg Brown 3.03pm: Who to trust on climate change
Labor’s Mark Butler asks Environment Minister Melissa Price about her comment that Australia would build one million trees to meet its Paris targets.
“Does the minister plan on sharing this environmental breakthrough with other nations and other amazing forestry breakthroughs to avoid real action on climate change?”
Price says the government’s plan can reduce emissions and lower electricity prices.
“We can look after the environment and the economy at the same time, we are doing this in a responsible way while growing the economy,” Price says.
“The Australian people know they can trust us to do this, but you can’t trust those opposite, they are talking about a 45 per cent emissions target, 50 per cent renewable energy target, you cannot trust them.”
Greg Brown 2.56pm: ‘Paris in a canter?’
Opposition energy spokesman Mark Butler asks Environment Minister Melissa Price about data showing Australia’s carbon emissions will rise until 2030.
“Does the minister agree with the Prime Minister that Australia will meet its Paris commitments in a canter?”
Price says Australia will have no problem meeting the Paris targets.
“We have the policies, we will meet our targets,” she says.
Greg Brown 2.43pm: PM fails to impress on Nauru
Crossbench MPs Adam Bandt, Rebekha Sharkie and Andrew Wilklie left QT after Scott Morrison’s response to a question about children on Nauru.
Greg Brown 2.42pm: Beef with the Reef
Labor’s Tony Burke asks how much of the nearly $500 million grant to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation was spent on administration.
Environment Minister Melissa Price says a “small amount” has been spent on admin.
Burke asks Price to detail the “small amount” that the Great Barrier Reef Foundation has spent on administration.
Price says 5 per cent.
Greg Brown 2.36pm: Bandt quizzes PM on Nauru kids
Greens MP Adam Bandt asks Scott Morrison about the government’s border protection policies and the sick kids on Nauru.
“Why are you slowly killing these children,” Bandt asks. He is forced to withdraw the killing children comments.
The Prime Minister says the government ended the “carnage of children dying at sea”.
“We took 6000 children out of detention because of our policies, we closed the detention centres that the Labor Party opened because of their inability to manage Australia’s borders, as children lay face down in the water, at the urging of the policies of the Greens,” he says.
Morrison says the government assesses transfers out of Nauru and Manus Island on the advice of doctors.
Ben Packham, Rosie Lewis 2.34pm: Nauru bill back on table
Scott Morrison is reviving a stalled Senate bill that could open the way to refugees on Nauru being resettled in New Zealand. Read the full story here
Greg Brown 2.31pm: Morrison ducks over Indonesia
Bill Shorten asks Scott Morrison to confirm the revelation in The Australian today that he informed the Indonesian President about Australia’s change of Israel policy via a text message.
The Prime Minister fobs the question and goes onto defend his support of Israel.
“The Liberal and National parties we stand with Israel, I don’t know what the Labor Party thinks any more, some of their members, the Member for Sydney (Tanya Plibersek) thinks Israel is a rogue state,” Morrison says.
Greg Brown 2.22pm: Leaks and backgrounds
Opposition agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon asks Michael McCormack if he stands by his statement in QT yesterday that he has never backgrounded journalists.
This was after 2GB’s Ray Hadley this morning claimed many of the leaks against Barnaby Joyce came from McCormack.
The Nationals leader stands by his statement.
“I stand by everything I have said in this house, I have not misled the house or the parliament,” McCormack says.
Greg Brown 2.13pm Grow up, Shorten tells PM
Bill Shorten opens QT questions by summing up the government’s week.
The Opposition Leader says the government supported a “white supremacist” motion in the Senate on Monday, on Tuesday “upended 70 years of foreign policy”, and then goes onto claim Barnaby Joyce is doing the numbers to roll Michael McCormack.
“How can the Prime Minister claim that a vote for the Liberals in Wentworth is a vote for stability?”
Morrison tells Shorten to “grow up”.
“All the Leader of the Opposition wants to do is charge around in this building, in the bubble of politics,” he says.
“What the Leader of the Opposition is demonstrating to the Australian people is that he is just another politician in a suit.”
Greg Brown 2.08pm: PM’s tribute to Kiernan
Scott Morrison opens question time paying tribute to Clean Up Australia founder Ian Kiernan, who died aged 78.
“Whether it was cleaning up beaches, parks and waterways, or planting trees or conserving water, Ian’s ultimate mobilisation of 30 million people in around 100 countries was never about him, it was about empowering others to take action,” the Prime Minister.
“Thank you Ian Kiernan for your services to our country into this planet.”
Greg Brown 1.25pm: Greens attack TPP
The Greens have attacked Labor and the Coalition for passing the Trans-Pacifc Partnership through the Senate.
“Labor has abandoned its own party platform, Australian workers, our environment and our sovereignty in rolling over for the Morrison Government to pass the TPP,” said Greens trade spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young.
“This is a deal for big corporations, at the expense of the rights of the community.
“The economic benefit to Australia from the TPP is something between nothing and a rounding error – while the cost to everyday Australians, and our environment, are huge.”
The trade deal passed the Senate by 33 votes to 15.
The legislation was supported by the government, Labor and crossbench senators Cory Bernardi, David Leyonhjelm and Derryn Hinch.
It was opposed by the Greens, One Nation and crossbench senators Fraser Anning, Brian Burston and Tim Storer.
Elias Visontay 12.50pm: Jewish leader fires at Sharma
Liberal candidate Dave Sharma has come under fire from a senior Jewish community leader for printing an unauthorised endorsement from him on campaign flyers that were distributed to letterboxes around Wentworth ahead of Saturday’s byelection.
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies President Lesli Berger released a statement this morning clarifying that he “did not agree to my public comments being used on a campaign flyer” and that he had “requested that the flyer be withdrawn”.
The statement comes after a packed-out candidates forum on Tuesday night organised by the Jewish community, where Mr Sharma rejected an accusation made by Jackie Stricker-Phelps, the wife of Independent candidate and Mr Sharma’s main rival Kerryn Phelps, that he had printed quotes from Mr Berger as well as a prominent Rabbi in the electorate without their permission.
“The quotes used were in the public domain. They were used extensively and published in the Australian Jewish News and The Australian.
“I did obtain specific permission from the Rabbi and from Lesli Berger to use these in the public domain,” Mr Sharma said.
The quote of Mr Berger’s that was printed was made last week, in relation to a Liberal announcement for $2.2million in security funding for Jewish building and institutions in NSW.
Mr Berger appeared to refute Mr Sharma’s statement that he had received permission to print his quote: “I did not agree to my public comments being used on a campaign flyer and I have requested that the flyer be withdrawn.
“I have not endorsed any candidate in the upcoming by-election.
“I have publicly acknowledged and thanked Mr Sharma for his advocacy and the Federal Government for providing $2.2m in federal funds which will enable our community to upgrade vital security infrastructure.”
Greg Brown 12.45pm: TPP passed in Senate
Legislation enabling the Trans-Pacific Partnership has passed through the Senate, with the support of Labor.
Amendments pushed by the Greens, Centre Alliance and Australian Conservatives were rejected.
Primrose Riordan 11.30am: Medical Officer deported
The Home Affairs Department has sent a replacement medical officer to Nauru amid reports Australia’s chief medical officer has been deported from the island.
“This is a matter for the Government of Nauru and IHMS,” a spokesman for Home Affairs said.
“A replacement Senior Medical Officer is in Nauru. There has been no impact to the continuity of care for transferees.”
Greens Senator Nick McKim said Australia’s chief medical officer from Nauru had been deported.
“This is a humanitarian emergency, and Scott Morrison has lost control of his detention centres,” Senator McKim said.
The move comes as the government attempted to soften their position on allowing New Zealand to take some of the asylum seekers from Nauru and Manus Island.
Joe Kelly 10.50am: Crossbenchers rule out supply guarantee
Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie and Greens MP Adam Bandt have ruled out any guarantee to provide confidence and supply if the Morrison government loses the weekend’s Wentworth by-election.
Centre Alliance MP Rebekha Sharkie — one of the six lower house crossbenchers — told The Australian she was reserving her position on confidence and supply and would consult with colleagues if the Liberals lost the seat vacated by Malcolm Turnbull.
Read the article in full here.
Greg Brown 10.35am: ‘Concerns over migrants’
Labor frontbencher Ed Husic says there are “serious concerns” about the implications of preventing asylum seekers who are sent to New Zealand being banned from ever entering Australia.
“Say for example someone was settled overseas, started their own business, actually wanted to expand that business into Australia and lift investment and jobs here,” Mr Husic told Sky News.
“The implication or consequence of agreeing to this bill is that business person couldn’t come to Australia to advance something that would be good for our national interest or our commercial interest.
“So when you look at some of the aspects of this bill it clearly is an afterthought.”
Labor MP Ed Husic on NZ resettlement: The legislation the government is talking about has been stuck in the Senate and has made no progress in years. The Coalition prioritises the political over the practical. The Bill is an afterthought.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) October 16, 2018
MORE:https://t.co/T587PkDSyb #amagenda pic.twitter.com/BnilFvakkE
Greg Brown 10.10am: Phelps tipped for gold
Betting agency Sportsbet has catapulted Kerryn Phelps into the favourite position for Saturday’s Wentworth by-election.
The agency has gone from paying $2.75 on Monday for a Professor Phelps victory in Saturday’s poll to making her the $1.88 favourite.
Liberal candidate Dave Sharma has blown out from $1.65 to $1.92.
“She may have been slow off the blocks but Phelps looks set to go the distance and win on Saturday according to the latest betting,’’ said sportsbet.com.au’s Will Byrne.
It came after The Australian reported this morning that Liberal Party polling had Professor Phelps leading Mr Sharma by 55 per cent to 45 per cent on a two party preferred basis.
Wentworth by-election Winner, according the Sportsbet
$1.88 Kerryn Phelps (Independent) (in from $2.75)
$1.92 Dave Sharma (Liberal) (out from $1.65)
$12 Tim Murray (Labor) (out from $5.50)
$16 Licia Heath (Independent) (out from $12)
Greg Brown 10.00am: Embassy move ‘puts jobs at risk’
Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek says Scott Morrison risks putting Australian jobs at risk by reconsidering the location of the embassy in Israel.
“I think the voters of Wentworth are too smart to support a government that thinks Donald Trump’s foreign policy is a model,” Ms Plibersek said at Parliament House in Canberra this morning.
“And I think the voters of Wentworth see right through a government that, first of all, votes for then doesn’t vote for, pretends it voted by accident for a Pauline Hanson One Nation motion that includes white supremacist language.”
Greg Brown 9.50am: Frydenberg reassures states over GST
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says the government will not seek to reduce spending in states that receive top ups because of the guarantee in the GST reforms that “no state will be worse off”.
“We are not going to reduce the payments to the states and territories if any additional money will be provided to the states and territories through this guarantee,” Mr Frydenberg told Sky News.
He said the government had reached a “sensible compromise” in providing the guarantee until 2027.
“The Labor Party in their final position were saying ‘we want a guarantee in perpetuity’ and we are not providing that,” Mr Frydenberg said.
Greg Brown 9.35am: Backflip government ‘fools’
Pauline Hanson has labelled the government “absolute fools” for backflipping on her motion that “it’s OK to be white”.
“The way the Liberal Party and National Party have acted over this is just ridiculous,” the One Nation leader told the Nine Network.
“They should have let it go, they should not have said anything about it and there wouldn’t have been a problem with it.”
Senator Hanson said the Coalition was “spooked by the Labor Party, the PCs and the Greens”.
“If I had of got up in the floor of parliament and said it is okay to be black, there would not have been one word about it,” she said.
"I think it's so funny." @PaulineHansonOZ on being compared to white supremacists. #9Today pic.twitter.com/6WOVi6uh64
— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) October 16, 2018
Greg Brown 8.55am: ‘Not about Jewish voters’
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says it is “insulting” for people to accuse the government of reconsidering the location of the embassy in Israel because of the Wentworth by-election.
“This is not about Jewish voters this is actually about Australia’s interest, and I think any suggestion to the contrary is actually insulting,” Mr Frydenberg told Sky News.
“Scott Morrison has been thinking about this for some time and it is an issue that has been debated within government for some time.
“The announcement was broader than just moving the embassy, the announcement was also about the Iran deal and about increasing defence ties.”
.@JoshFrydenberg on shifting Australia’s embassy in Israel: This is not about Jewish voters. This is actually about Australia’s interest. Any suggestion to the contrary is actually insulting.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) October 16, 2018
MORE: https://t.co/f649QqNiX6 #firstedition pic.twitter.com/qdraghkL5m
Greg Brown 8.50am: ‘No support for migrant bill’
Scott Morrison has played down a shift in the government’s tough border protection policy, declaring there was “no support” in the Senate for laws that would prevent the back-door entry for asylum seekers for New Zealand to Australia.
The Prime Minister said the government would not bring a stalled bill for an upper house vote that would prevent asylum seekers sent from Nauru to New Zealand ever entering Australia.
“There is no support for that bill at present,” Mr Morrison said this morning.
He attempted to play down the significance of sources inside his own government briefing that he would allow asylum seekers to be sent from Nauru to New Zealand if the “back-door entry” was blocked
“All I’ve simply said is that there has been a bill in the parliament since 2016, that is the government’s bill and it is not supported by the crossbenchers, it’s not supported by the Labor Party or Greens. I have made that observation. That’s all,” Mr Morrison said.
Greg Brown 8.20am: Indonesia trade ‘not at risk’
Scott Morrison says neighbouring nations will sometimes “have different views on things” as he defended Australia’s right to consider moving its embassy in Israel while playing down concerns the move will scupper a free-trade agreement with Indonesia.
.@ScottMorrisonMP on two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Australia has always been a country that’s prepared to consider other options that actually achieve the objective.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) October 16, 2018
MORE: https://t.co/f649QqNiX6 #firstedition pic.twitter.com/QWcwHLR12y
The Prime Minister said the free-trade agreement between Australia and Indonesia was not at risk of falling over because of Jakarta’s displeasure with the government’s shift in its policies in Israel.
He said Australia had a “very good” relationship with Indonesia and he had “warm exchanges” with President Joko Widodo over the government’s change in policy.
He staunchly defended Australia’s right as a sovereign nation to reconsider the location of the embassy in Israel.
“This is a relationship that spans many different elements and it is a relationship that we continue to build upon, it is a relationship of friendship, it is a relationship of trust, it is a relationship of communication that is ongoing. It is not a one-dimensional relationship, it is a very comprehensive relationship,” Mr Morrison said this morning.
“That is the strength that enables neighbours to have different views on things from time to time, and Australia is a sovereign nation, we are allowed to engage in conversations, we are allowed to do that, we are allowed to raise issues that we think are worthy of discussion that are important to Australian citizens and that is all we have done.”
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said the free-trade agreement between the two nations was scheduled to be finalised by the end of the year.
“Indonesia has made clear on the public record that our agreement with them is on track for finalisation this year,” Senator Birmingham said.
“That is what we are working towards, that is what they are working towards and we continue to undertake that work.”
Sascha O’Sullivan 8.00am: ‘Need religious freedom protection’
Mark Latham has criticised both sides of politics for how religious freedom has been handled.
“We need protection of religious freedom in Australia because people should be able to put out their point of view,” Mr Latham said on 2GB this morning. “Noone should be forced into doing things they see as morally wrong.”
Mr Latham used the example of Margaret Court, the tennis player and her comments about transgender people, to criticise the “outrage industry” over their reaction towards her.
“Excessive abuse of government power was one of the enemies of the left, now they’re using those powers to rub out people like Margaret Court.”
“Left of centre politics has lost the plot,” said Mr Latham, accusing minorities of “racing ahead in terms of wealth,” and describing the furore over the religious freedom review as a “vilification of Christians.”
Mr. Latham did not stop at criticising left-wing politics, either.
“The handling of the Ruddock review has been abysmal,” said Mr. Latham about Scott Morrison’s attempt at reviews over religious freedom.
Greg Brown 7.30am: Joyce speculation ‘rubbish’
Nationals frontbencher Darren Chester has dismissed speculation that Barnaby Joyce is positioning to regain the deputy prime ministership.
Mr Chester labelled the claims as “rubbish” and declared Michael McCormack had the full support of the Nationals’ partyroom.
“Parliament House is a nest of rumours and innuendo, it runs through the building and everyone gets excited, but I am sitting here telling you it is rubbish,” Mr Chester told Sky News.
Mr Chester said Mr McCormack has the values that regional people want to see in a leader.
“He has got a family, he lives in Wagga Wagga, he was brought up there, he had a small business there, he is a passionate fella for regional NSW, in fact all of regional Australia,” Mr Chester said.
“He is a personal friend of mine and I back him 100 per cent and I think he has strong support across our partyroom.”
Greg Brown 7.20am: ‘No watering down’ on borders
Veterans Affairs Minister Darren Chester says there will be “no watering down” of the government’s tough border protection policies, despite Scott Morrison raising the prospect of sending refugees on Nauru to New Zealand.
.@ljayes: Do you want to see the 80 children on Nauru temporarily resettled in Australia?@DarrenChesterMP: I am sympathetic to the concerns raised by my colleagues, but I am deeply troubled by any step that softens our border protection rules.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) October 16, 2018
MORE: https://t.co/CWln1b9jSx pic.twitter.com/n9AE0iA2Rk
“The Prime Minister has made it very clear: there is no watering down of our border protection policies,” Mr Chester told Sky News.
“What this government has been able to achieve since taking office is regaining control of our borders which is exactly what the Australian people wanted to see.”
Mr Chester said Mr Morrison would only look at the New Zealand option if Labor agreed to close the “back door pathway into Australia” and pass legislation that would prevent the asylum seekers from ever coming to Australia.
What’s making news:
Scott Morrison has raised the prospect of sending refugees on Nauru to New Zealand, signalling he is prepared to soften the government’s hard line position on boat people against the backdrop of Saturday’s Wentworth by-election and criticism from his backbench and Labor.
Independent candidate Kerryn Phelps is set for victory over the Morrison government in the Wentworth by-election this Saturday, as Liberal Party polling shows the former Australian Medical Association president ahead of Liberal candidate Dave Sharma 55 per cent to 45 per cent on a two party-preferred basis.
Scott Morrison is facing a diplomatic backlash from key regional partner Indonesia after texting President Joko Widodo on Monday night to inform him of Australia’s policy shift on Israel.
The older sister of Julie Bishop says she is glad the former foreign minister did not replace Malcolm Turnbull because the “brutality” of the nation’s top job would have destroyed her sibling’s soul.
Josh Frydenberg has bowed to pressure from state and territories, with the government agreeing to foot the bill and cover any shortfalls in funding under its overhaul of GST arrangements.
Marginal Coalition seat-holders have hit out at the government for reversing its support for One Nation leader Pauline Hanson’s motion acknowledging “it’s OK to be white”, as Scott Morrison and senior colleagues were forced into damage control ahead of Saturday’s Wentworth by-election.
One of the nation’s peak Muslim bodies has strengthened its push for an Australian bill of rights following the leaking of the Ruddock review into religious freedoms and has dismissed the debate over the treatment of gay students and teachers.
Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie and Greens MP Adam Bandt have ruled out any guarantee to provide confidence and supply if the Morrison government loses the weekend’s Wentworth by-election.
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