PoliticsNow: Ken Wyatt, Patrick Dodson warn Tony Abbott over new indigenous affairs role
PoliticsNow: A Liberal MP has refused to endorse Tony Abbott in his new indigenous affairs role, joining Labor condemnation.
- Forster, Phelps circle Wentworth
- Labor releases ScoMo attack ad
- Bishop’s stock rises as next GG
- ‘Era of political assassin over’
- Abbott ‘too young to retire’
- Dutton sworn in
Hello and welcome to PoliticsNow, The Australian’s live blog on the happenings in federal politics.
Scott Morrison is spending the start of his first week as Prime Minister out in the regions meeting with drought afflicted farmers.
Andrew Burrell 5.30pm: Labor vows to block Bishop push
Bill Shorten says Labor is against any governor-general plan for Julie Bishop, amid speculation he wants to make his own appointment. Read more here
Primrose Riordan 4.40pm: “Might doesn’t equal right”
Incoming Foreign Minister Marise Payne has said that international rule breaking by Russia, China and North Korea presents the greatest challenge to Australia at the moment.
Senator Payne will be sworn in to replace Julie Bishop on Tuesday.
She told Sky News countries needed to play by the rules and “might doesn’t equal right” as she was asked which nations presented the greatest threat to Australian interests.
“Well (Russia) is certainly a case in point we know that this government and Foreign Minister Bishop have strongly pursued their concerns with the government in Russia in relation to the downing of MH17, China and the DPRK,” she said.
“Those issues are our greatest challenges it doesn’t matter necessarily country by country who presents them because presented together they are a case for constant vigilance by Australia who is very committed to its engagement both in this region and more broadly.”
Despite the Turnbull government’s Pacific “re-set” where the government redirected aid spending to the region and increased the number of bilateral visits, Prime Minister Scott Morrison will not attend the Pacific Island Forum in Nauru.
Instead Senator Payne will represent the country at the event.
The former Defence Minister was part of the National Security Committee of Cabinet which helped make the decision to ban Chinese companies such as Huawei and ZTE from the rollout of the 5G telecommunications network.
“Ensuring that participants in a network as important as the 5G network have only Australia’s interests at the core of what they are doing is a premise from which a government must begin to work,” she said.
Senator Payne suggested the government was concerned the companies would be forced to comply with China’s National Intelligence Law which forces industry to co-operate with Beijing’s agencies.
“It does it this case because they have different priorities or different obligations. Our obligations are about protecting Australia’s national interest.”
“That is part of the legal system in which they work so yes that is a concern.”
Rosie Lewis 4.15pm: Abbott ‘could have a problem’
Indigenous Liberal MP Ken Wyatt has refused to endorse Tony Abbott for the role of special indigenous affairs envoy, warning if the former prime minister did not work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people he would “have a problem” with the position.
“Tony has been offered something by the Prime Minister, whether I agree or disagree doesn’t matter. If Tony accepts that then he’s going to have to work with Aboriginal people, listen to them, accept their perspectives and then bring that back,” Mr Wyatt told 6PR radio.
“What I liked about Malcolm (Turnbull), he kept reminding all of us we have to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to find the solutions, not do things to them. If Tony can do that that’s fine, if he can’t then I have a problem.”
Asked why he “winced” when asked his thoughts on Mr Abbott’s possible new role, Mr Wyatt said: “It’s something I didn’t expect Tony would do.
“Aboriginal affairs has been a challenging portfolio for every minister ... what I really want to see is somebody who is passionate about making the changes and closing the gap because if we don’t we’re going to be talking about this stuff in 30, 40 years’ time.”
Rosie Lewis 3.50pm: She’d “break my kneecaps”
James Brown says he won’t run for his father-in-law Malcolm Turnbull’s prized seat of Wentworth when he retires from federal politics, noting his wife — the former prime minister’s daughter — would “surely break my kneecaps if I did”.
“Serving in the Australian parliament would be an enormous honour but whenever (Mr Turnbull) resigns I will not be standing for preselection in Wentworth,” he tweeted.
“Thanks to those who have kindly suggested I should. I have a young family to look after and mission to complete.”
Mr Brown is president of the Returned and Services League of Australia’s NSW branch.
Mr Turnbull ’s promise to quit parliament has triggered a scramble of contenders for Wentworth including Christine Forster and Kerryn Phelps.
Serving in the Australian parliament would be an enormous honour but whenever @turnbullmalcom resigns I will not be standing for preselection in Wentworth. Thanks to those who have kindly suggested I should. I have a young family to look after and mission to complete @RSLNSW
— James Brown (@captainbrown) August 27, 2018
Also, @mrsdztb would surely break my kneecaps if I did
— James Brown (@captainbrown) August 27, 2018
Primrose Riordan 3.40pm: Ley already “vindicated”
Sussan Ley, who resigned as health minister after an expenses scandal, said there was no reason why she should not have returned to the ministry earlier after her appointment to the frontbench this week.
In January 2017 Ms Ley was forced to stand aside as minister after reports about a number of trips to the Gold Coast where she bought an investment property.
She repaid some of the expenses that she claimed and in March an independent audit of her expenses said her only breach was a Comcar trip she took from a hotel to the unit block where she bought an apartment.
Ms Ley, who represents the regional NSW seat of Farrer, said she was not expecting Scott Morrison to appoint her as the Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories on Sunday.
“I had no particular expectation so it was very pleasant to be invited serve in the Morrison executive so I’m very pleased,” she told The Australian.
She said that she was already “vindicated” and suggested she had been cleared to return to the ministry earlier.
“I don’t look at it like that. I feel the report that came down about a year ago which is still on my website actually does vindicate me,” she said.
“I made a detailed speech in parliament at the time that the report came down and at that time Malcolm Turnbull was asked could Sussan Ley come back to the front bench and he said unequivocally yes.”
“So I guess I drew a line under it then but I was very happy in my backbench local member role.”
Greg Brown 3.15pm: “Age of bitterness” over
Scott Morrison says the age of bitterness is over as he as he called on MPs of all stripes to put the public first.
“It’s been a pretty tumultuous time,” the Prime Minister said.
“I think Australians would welcome the fact that that period of time is over. It should be over. Australians expect that of their parliament and I’m pleased that’s the case. The age of bitterness has come to a close and the age of working together and focusing on the future has come.”
Rosie Lewis 3.10pm: I want Abbott’s “insights”
Scott Morrison says he wants to use Tony Abbott’s “insights” as indigenous affairs envoy, just like he and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack want to ensure Barnaby Joyce’s skills were put to use as special drought envoy.
“Tony and I are continuing to talk about the role he can play and, as a former prime minister, I want to use his experience, I want to use his insights in an area I know he is deeply passionate about,” the Prime Minister said.
“(Mr Abbott) deserves the respect of a full proposal as to what I see his role as and I’ll give him the respect of that and we will keep working that through.”
Greg Brown 3.05pm: Boats still stopped: ScoMo
Scott Morrison has maintained the government had “stopped the boats” despite a boat sinking in North Queensland, potentially with asylum seekers on board.
The Prime Minister said the boat was a “fishing vessel” and was not an indication asylum seeker boats were coming back to Australia.
“I understand, the briefing that has been provided to me, relates to a fishing vessel and, as a result, that doesn’t fall into the category of what I often used to refer to as these illegal vessel arrivals,” Mr Morrison said.
“So what we’re seeing with that is the usual process kicks in and we’ll manage that as we’ve managed the others but it’s a reminder to all Australians, we did stop the boats. I had a significant role to play as part of that under the Abbott government.”
Greg Brown 2.10pm: Labor bid to oust Dutton
Opposition health spokeswoman Catherine King is campaigning in Peter Dutton’s seat marginal of Dickson as Labor tries to build momentum to get him ousted from parliament.
Ms King talked up Labor’s candidate Ali France and attacked Mr Dutton’s record on health.
“When the people of Dickson get an opportunity whenever that might be at the next general election to vote they should vote for Ali France someone who cares deeply about health care in this community and clearly someone who will stand up to anyone who attempts to do the sort of cuts that Peter Dutton did to this community in the seat of Dickson,” Ms King said.
“Peter Dutton’s colleagues over the week rejected him as the future prime minister. And when it comes to his record on health care the people of Dickson should reject him as their member as well.
“Peter Dutton was the health minister under the Abbott government and he was voted by the medical fraternity as the worst health minister in 35 years and there was a reason for that.”
Greg Brown 1.50pm: No explanation from Ciobo
Incoming Defence Industry Minister Steven Ciobo — one of the frontbench insurgents against Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership — has refused to explain why it was necessary to roll the former prime minister.
“It is not a case of the Australian public don’t deserve it, I mean I think that they certainly do, but ultimately I think what the Australian public expect of us is to outline a clear policy, what we are going to be doing and making their lives better,” Mr Ciobo told Sky News.
“I don’t actually think that they have much appetite at all for some kind of introspection about what happened and who did what to whom.
“I really don’t think that it does matter to the average Australian who is out there trying to put bread on their table, trying to pay their electricity bill.”
Mr Ciobo said he voted against Mr Turnbull in both ballots last week because he did not feel the former leader had the support of the party room.
“In the Westminster system if you do not command a majority of the party room then you can no longer continue to lead the party,” he said.
Greg Brown 1.20pm: Dodson blasts Abbott job offer
Labor senator Patrick Dodson has savaged Scott Morrison for asking Tony Abbott to be an “indigenous affairs envoy”.
The indigenous senator gave a blow-by-blow attack on Mr Abbott’s history on indigenous issues, including when he said people who lived in remote communities were making a “lifestyle choice” and cutting $500 million from indigenous programs in the 2014 budget.
“In the next chapter of divisive chaos in the Liberal party, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has attempted to buy off wrecker Tony Abbott with a special but undefined role as an ‘indigenous affairs envoy’,” Senator Dodson said in a statement.
“Labor is seriously concerned about appointing the ex-self-appointed ‘prime minister for indigenous affairs’ to the role of ‘envoy,’ given his ignorant, hopeless and frankly offensive track record on indigenous issues.
“The suggestion that Tony Abbott could act as some kind of messenger or representative for First Nations people is condescending to the overwhelming number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who support the calls for a Voice to Parliament and a Makarrata Commission to oversee truth-telling and agreement-making — both of which Mr Abbott has not supported.” Read more here.
Rosie Lewis 1pm: Laundy considers future
Staunch Malcolm Turnbull ally and former small business minister Craig Laundy says last week has taken a “massive toll” on him and he’ll take a “step back” to consider his future.
“Over the weekend I spoke with the Prime Minister to indicate that I no longer wish to serve in the Coalition party ministry,” Mr Laundy said.
“It was an honour to have been the minister for small and family business, the workplace and deregulation in the Turnbull ministry.
“Malcolm Turnbull was a great leader and we will remain close friends in the years to come. I would like to thank Scott Morrison for his offer to continue to serve on the front bench.
“I have not taken this decision lightly, but the significant challenges we faced last week took a massive toll, both emotionally and physically, hence my decision to take a step back, and consider what my future holds.
“As the federal member for Reid, my priority in parliament has always been to advocate for my community and I look forward to spending more time working for my constituents.”
Mr Laundy holds his Sydney seat on a margin of 4.69 per cent.
12.10pm: Cash office graffitied
Vandals have spray painted the words “shame” and “Peter + Tony must resign” on the walls and footpath of Senator Michaelia Cash ’s West Perth office.
Greg Hunt 12.05pm: Cabinet ‘attack on environment’
The Greens have attacked the new cabinet as a “direct attack on the environment”.
Greens environment spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young said it was the wrong move to give Melissa Price the environment portfolio and put Angus Taylor in charge of energy.
“Putting a climate sceptic, pro-mining advocate in charge of the environment portfolio and an anti-renewables warrior in charge on energy policy is declaration of war on the environment and our climate,” Senator Hanson-Young said.
Nicola Berkovic 11.35am: Fury at ‘rushed’ court merger
The opposition and senate cross benchers are furious the government has allowed just three weeks for the community to respond to dramatic reforms to scrap the Family Court and merge it with the lower-level Federal Circuit Court.
Independent senator Derryn Hinch told The Australian he supported the amalgamation of the courts and “any measures to taken to speed up” the family law system.
However, he said he was “angry” the government used its committee numbers to “thwart” the senate vote for an April reporting date for an inquiry into the changes.
Read the article in full here.
Deborah Cornwall 11.30am: Forster, Phelps circle Wentworth
Malcolm Turnbull’s promise to quit parliament — most likely within days — has triggered a frantic scramble of would-be candidates for his seat of Wentworth, one of the crown jewels in the Liberal Party’s political real estate.
Two wildcard candidates emerged yesterday and could set the scene for a rare head-to-head battle between two high-profile women: Christine Forster, the sister of former prime minister Tony Abbott, and Kerryn Phelps, a long-time health advocate and same-sex marriage campaigner.
Read the article in full here.
Greg Brown 11.25am: Labor releases ScoMo attack ad
Labor has released an attack ad on Scott Morrison, calling him the man who “spent every working hour trying to give the banks a $17 billion tax cut”.
“When it comes to what matters to middle and working class Australians, Scott Morrison is out of touch and only for the top end of town,” the ad says.
A Labor spokesman said the party received $80,000 in small donations last week from people who were upset with the division in the Liberal Party.
Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek said the Prime Minister was “just as out of touch as Malcolm Turnbull.
”Scott Morrison wouldn’t know a fair go if he tripped over it. This is the bloke who cut schools, cut hospitals, cut pensions, all so he could give a tax cut to the big banks,” Ms Plibersek said.
“Every time Scott Morrison has to make a choice he’s chooses banks and millionaires over middle and working class Australians.”
Greg Brown 11.15am: Drought first: McKenzie
Deputy Nationals leader Bridget McKenzie has touched down in western Queensland, where she will meet Scott Morrison and Nationals leader Michael McCormack.
She said tackling the drought will be the “first order of business”.
Touching down in Longreach for PM @scottmorrisonmp first order of business to visit our #drought affected farmers and communities #regionsmatter pic.twitter.com/Civs1IHKLk
— Senator Bridget McKenzie (@senbmckenzie) August 26, 2018
Greg Brown 11.10am: Dutton “grateful” to ScoMo
Peter Dutton has thanked Scott Morrison — the man who took the prime ministership out of his hands — for appointing him Home Affairs Minister.
Mr Dutton will attend a meeting of Five Eyes security partners on the Gold Coast after being sworn in this morning.
“I am grateful to the Prime Minister for the opportunity to serve in the Home Affairs portfolio following my swearing-in this morning at Government House,” Mr Dutton said.
“David Coleman and Linda Reynolds will be a great asset to the Home Affairs portfolio and I look forward to working closely with them to continue the success of recent years. I am pleased David will take on Immigration as there is a significant body of work under way in that area.”
Paige Taylor 10.31am: Bishop’s stock rises as next GG
Julie Bishop’s move to the backbench has furthered speculation that she may soon use her considerable skills as a diplomat as an ambassador or the next governor-general.
Read the article in full here.
Greg Brown 10.29am: ‘Renewables important’
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says renewables will play an important role in the future energy mix as he lauds the choice of his replacement in the energy portfolio, Angus Taylor.
Mr Frydenberg said Mr Taylor would build on what the government had achieved in the portfolio.
“I’m really pleased for Angus, he is extremely talented, he has got a depth of experience in the private sector and he will bring a fresh set of eyes to a fresh set of challenges,” Mr Frydenberg told Sky News.
“His focus is on affordability and reliability, building on the successes to date, and we have separated energy out from environment and that will assist him in delivering our goal of lower electricity prices which is a real priority for the Morrison government.”
Mr Frydenberg said there would be no change in the government being agnostic to all energy technologies.
“When it comes to the energy mix, it is an all of the above approach, that has not changed, we need to maintain coal in the system because it is the bedrock of our energy system but we also need to make way for renewables an the important role they can play in the future,” he said.
.@JoshFrydenberg: I am sure @AngusTaylorMP will deliver in producing lower prices in the energy sector.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) August 26, 2018
We need to maintain coal in the system, but we have to make way for renewables.
MORE: https://t.co/4W71j2HSsu #amagenda pic.twitter.com/wWhr3BmrN4
Peter van Onselen 10.28am: Watch the wheels fall off
Today’s Newspoll is interesting in more ways than one. For a start the question who is best to lead the Liberal Party saw Peter Dutton secure the support of … wait for it … six per cent of Australians. Apparently “the base” wanted him, according to those spruiking Dutton last week, but when those who were polled is isolated to Liberal voters only, his support drops to five per cent.
Read the article in full here.
Nick Cater 10.21am: Libs in good health
Let us assume that the Twittering classes got it wrong and that Malcolm Turnbull was not evicted by a “lunatic fringe”, as one commentator wrote last week. Let’s suppose that a country that changes prime ministers five times in nine years is not, as the Crikey commentator claimed, “an international laughing stock”, but a robust democracy where leaders who lose the confidence of their colleagues become ex-leaders.
Read the article in full here.
Greg Brown 10.10am: ‘What value can I add?’
Tony Abbott is yet to be convinced to take up Scott Morrison’s offer to be special envoy for indigenous affairs.
The former prime minister said he would consider the proposal but wanted to find out more about what it would entail.
“Let’s see what this new role entails, obviously I have been going to indigenous Australia for years and years and years now,” Mr Abbott said.
“I’ll keep doing all of this regardless but what I would like to know from Scott is exactly what he has got in mind.
“I suppose what I don’t want to do is trip over the toes of the minister, the chairmen of the various parliamentary committees.
“We’ve already got a lot of people in this space and I want to know exactly what value I can add.”
Greg Brown 9.55am: ‘Era of assassin over’
Tony Abbott has declared the “era of the political assassin is over” as he declared Malcolm Turnbull would be best remembered for getting the top job by knifing a sitting prime minister.
Mr Abbott said Australia was in better shape under Scott Morrison as he pledged his loyalty to the Prime Minister.
“I think our polity is in better shape, the era of the political assassin is over and thank God for that,” Mr Abbott said.
“We have had far too much backstabbing, we’ve had far too much leaking or briefing and I think we can put all of that behind us and thank God that is the case.
“I thought there was a lot of unfair recrimination at the end of last week, I think the former prime minister will be remembered mostly for the way he got into office and the way he got out of office but, without going over the entrails of last week, because I don’t want to dwell on last week, I just think the whole polity is better off today than it was then.”
Greg Brown 9.45am: ‘I’m a young man’
Tony Abbott has confirmed he will stay in parliament after the next election.
“I’m not retiring, I regard myself as a young man,” the former prime minister told 2GB radio.
“I still think I have a lot of public life left in me and I am determined to make the most of it.”
NOW | "I think our country is in a better shape today, than it was a fortnight ago."
— 2GB 873 (@2GB873) August 26, 2018
Tony Abbott joins Ray Hadley in the studio. pic.twitter.com/wpAOFrnWOw
Greg Brown 9.35am: ‘Holistic’ drought approach needed
Barnaby Joyce has used his first day as the government’s drought adviser to call on Scott Morrison to divert environmental water to farmers.
The former deputy prime minister has been appointed the special envoy on the government’s drought effort and called on the Prime Minister to take a “holistic” approach to tackling the effort.
“I’m starting to get a read on the things we need to do,” Mr Joyce told 2GB radio.
“We need to have a holistic approach on how we do this, we have ways to mitigate the affects of the drought, obviously we can’t get rid of a drought.
“One of the things we should be looking at, and this will be contentious, we have a huge amount of water in the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, that water is used for environmental purposes.
“We are in the middle of a drought and I would expect in the middle of a drought there is not a lot of water for the environment.”
Greg Brown 9.05am: Dutton sworn in
Peter Dutton has been sworn Home Affairs Minister by Governor-General Peter Cosgrove at Government House in Canberra.
The rest of the ministry will be sworn in tomorrow.
Mr Dutton quit the portfolio last week when he challenged Malcolm Turnbull for the leadership.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg was at the ceremony.
.@PeterDutton_MP is being sworn in as Home Affairs Minister early so he can attend an intelligence security meeting.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) August 26, 2018
MORE: https://t.co/4W71j2HSsu #amagenda pic.twitter.com/DSzpYaFIfz
Peter Dutton @PeterDutton_MP is sworn (back) in as Home Affairs Minister #auspol @SBSNews pic.twitter.com/7gTnkfPmZd
— Brett Mason (@BrettMasonNews) August 26, 2018
Greg Brown 8.40am: ‘Where is our energy policy?’
Opposition treasury spokesman Chris Bowen has lashed Scott Morrison for choosing Angus Taylor as Energy Minister, saying the Prime Minister “rewarded somebody who undermined and wrecked the NEG”.
“What is Australia’s energy policy? When I speak to businesses, big or small, they say the biggest issue facing them os rising energy prices, households are no different,” Mr Bowen told the ABC.
Mr Bowen said appointing Mr Taylor in the energy portfolio showed the government did not have an interest in creating a policy that would reduce emissions.
“A minister who was a key architect in the wrecking of the NEG, which everyone said was the best chance of a bipartisan, sensible policy going forward and he has rewarded somebody who undermined and wrecked the NEG,” Mr Taylor said.
“I think it will be a long time before we see energy policy out of this government, in fact senior ministers have been quoted off the record saying: ‘it is too hard for us, too hard for the Liberal Party because of our base, we will have to leave that to Labor to fix’.
“Which I think is a damning indictment on the chaos and dysfunction at the heart of the Abbott/Turnbull/Morrison government.”
Greg Brown 8.00am: ‘Elections won from centre’
Liberal Party federal president Nick Greiner says elections are won from the centre, after criticism the party was losing its conservative base under the leadership of former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.
“You can’t, of course, win just from the Right,” Mr Greiner told the ABC.
“Ultimately in Australia, with our political system, you do need to get more than half the total vote on a two party basis and that obviously means that you do have to appeal to the centre.”
Greg Brown 7.43am: ‘More tax relief for small business’
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann says the new leadership team is working on a plan to give more tax relief for small businesses.
“We are working our way through that on how we can provide further support for small business so that they can create more jobs,” Senator Cormann told the ABC.
“We continue to work to explore how we can provide further support so that the many small businesses across Australia can create more jobs.”
Greg Brown 7.35am: Shocker Newspoll ‘not surprising’
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann says today’s shocker Newspoll for the government was “not surprising” given the events of last week that saw Malcolm Turnbull rolled as prime minister.
Senator Cormann, a Peter Dutton backer, said the government’s job was to get back to work and unite behind Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
“We had a very difficult week last week so in that context the result today is not surprising, but the issues that emerged last week had to be resolved, they have been resolved, we are now back to work and we are working it ensure that we have a stronger economy, a safe Australia, for the Australian people,” Senator Cormann told the ABC.
The West Australian senator said he would not seek to take Julie Bishop’s lower house seat if she bows out at the next election.
He said Tony Abbott still had contributions to make in the government following reports he was offered a role of special envoy on indigenous affairs.
“The Prime Minister recognises that Tony Abbott has a strong contribution to make as a former prime minister in particular,” Senator Cormann said.
Senator Cormann denied a claim by fellow cabinet member Paul Fletcher that the Senate leader and his supporters planned to vote for Julie Bishop on Friday’s leadership ballot with the intention of knocking off Scott Morrison.
Mr Fletcher made the claim in a leaked messages from a WhatsApp group of Liberal MPs.
“That is absolutely incorrect,” he said.
What’s making news:
Popular support for the Coalition has crashed to its lowest levels in a decade, with newly elected Prime Minister Scott Morrison faced with leading a shattered government out of the wreckage of last week’s leadership coup and rebuilding a Liberal Party in crisis.
Scott Morrison has rejected calls to return Tony Abbott to cabinet but has elevated key conservatives in a bid to calm the party room and kept most of the ministers who staged the leadership coup against Malcolm Turnbull.
Outgoing foreign minister Julie Bishop, best known internationally for her efforts to gain justice for MH17 victims, will step down from her portfolio and may quit politics at the next election.
Josh Frydenberg’s first task as Treasurer will be to sign off on the final budget figures for 2017-18 that will show the government is closer to the first budget surplus since the final year of the Howard government.
Australians believe Scott Morrison is more able to manage the economy than Bill Shorten, but his lead over the Labor leader on the question of economic management is narrower than that held by Malcolm Turnbull.
Liberal Party federal president Nick Greiner yesterday lashed Tony Abbott for his role in the government’s leadership crisis, urging the former prime minister to use his talents to fight Labor rather than waging internal wars.
Scott Morrison is weighing up whether he will stay in Sydney or move the family to Canberra and live full-time in The Lodge.
Scott Morrison has put Catholic educated Dan Tehan in charge of repairing the government’s damaging rift with the powerful Catholic schools sector to avoid an electoral backlash.
The free ride for renewable energy has ended with the appointment of Angus Taylor as energy minister.
Scandal-prone MP Stuart Robert is back on the Coalition frontbench, more than two years after he was dumped by Malcolm Turnbull.
Malcolm Turnbull’s promise to quit parliament — most likely within days — has triggered a frantic scramble of would-be candidates for his seat of Wentworth, one of the crown jewels in the Liberal Party’s political real estate.
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.