THE WEEK THAT WAS
Monday brought with it speculation from The Australian and Fairfax papers that the Prime Minister, the Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, would dramatically overhaul the departments responsible for Australia’s national security. On Tuesday, the Prime Minister confirmed the Hon Peter Dutton MP would become the first Australian Minister for Home Affairs in a sweeping change.
This week also saw:
- The Prime Minister confirm a change in policy surrounding the ADF’s future involvement in domestic terrorism events
- The Greens suffer a second shock resignation, and
- Kevin Rudd rewriting history from the ‘twitterverse’.
The Prime Minister Announces Australia’s First Super Agency
After 24 hours of intense media speculation in the early part of the week, the Prime Minister was joined by the Attorney-General, Senator the Hon George Brandis QC, the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, and the Minister for Justice and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Counter-Terrorism, the Hon Michael Keenan MP, to announce Australia would follow a British-inspired model and revamp multiple security agencies under a Department of Home Affairs.
The shake-up, which will put the current Immigration Minister as the effective head of powerful agencies ASIO, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Border Force, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), comes at the direct expense of the Attorney-General’s remit.
Under the new system a central department will oversee policy, strategic planning and the co-ordination of operational responses to relevant threats.
Speaking on the merits of the change, the Prime Minister said “we can’t take an ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ approach to security arrangements”. The Prime Minister also spoke about the veracity of the process saying “this is my decision. It’s not about politics; it’s about safety, Australian’s public safety”.
The Hon Peter Dutton MP, standing alongside the Prime Minister, told reporters “the Home Affairs portfolio (will be) dedicated to keeping Australians safe. The dedication of this portfolio, in a similar way that we promised an outcome in the Immigration and Border Protection portfolio, is to make sure that we can do everything within our power to keep Australians safe”.
Responding to the news, the Opposition Leader, the Hon Bill Shorten MP, told reporters “these proposals aren’t being pushed by our security agencies, they’re being pushed by Peter Dutton as the price for him continuing to support Malcolm Turnbull in his job”.
Greens Suffer Second Shock Resignation
Days after learning of the resignation of Scott Ludlam, the former Greens Senator for Western Australia, Tuesday offered news that another Green, this time Queensland representative, Larissa Waters, announced she too had failed to renounce a dual citizenship, from Canada, and has also had to resign.
The loss of both co-deputy leaders comes at a fragile time for the leader, Senator Richard Di Natale, as he fights the resurgence of a subterranean left faction within the NSW branch of the party known as Left Renewal, led by the currently ostracized Senator Lee Rhiannon.
Speaking at her press conference, a tearful Ms Waters said “with great sadness (that) I have discovered that I’m a dual citizen and I’ll be forced to stand down from my position in the Senate”.
Responding to the news on Twitter, Senator Di Natale announced an “urgent root-and-branch review of our processes”?—?presumably to ensure these basic and fundamental errors, that have engulfed the party and thrown it into turmoil, do not happen again.
The Prime Minister, speaking with Channel Nine’s Karl Stefanovic on The Today Show, said of the issue “it shows incredible sloppiness on their part. You know, when you nominate for Parliament, there is actually a question?—?you have got to address that Section 44 question and you’ve got to tick the box and confirm that you are not a citizen of another country. It is extraordinary negligence on their part”.
Late Breaking Mail: There is speculation in some circles that a third Greens Senator may also be in violation of the rules around dual citizenship. It will be interesting to see any developments over the weekend.
Rudd Enters The Political Fray
Former Prime Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd, re-entered the political fray with a provocative tweet mid-week that appeared to contradict his own policy whilst Prime Minister in 2013, that meant asylum-seekers who arrived illegally by boat would “never be resettled in Australia.” Rudd went on to confirm in July 2013 “from this point forward, asylum seekers who arrive in Australia by boat will be sent to Papua New Guinea for processing and resettlement”.
Attempting to limit the fallout from his former boss, but appearing to just add a further layer of complication, the Opposition’s Shadow Defence Minister did the media rounds telling Sky News “the significance of the agreement was that it really took Australia off the table”.
Seizing on the apparent policy confusion, the Minister for Immigration, The Hon Peter Dutton MP told Sky News “Kevin Rudd was either misleading the Australian public four years ago or he’s misleading the Australian public today”.
FOR THOSE IN THE CAPITAL THIS WEEKEND
For parents and expectant parents, the Canberra Kids Market provides excellent quality pre-loved items by great brands at bargain prices. Or those wanting to relish in the cold should head up to the snowfields to enjoy the fresh snow that has fallen over the last few days.
NEXT WEEK
Parliamentarians remain on their winter recess, with both Houses not sitting until Tuesday, 8 August.
PICTURE OF THE WEEK
