Summary
The Prime Minister, the Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, fronted the press gallery with the Acting Special Minister of State, Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann, to confirm the Government would again seek to give Australians listed on the electoral roll a say as to whether the definition of marriage should be changed, via a plebiscite or a postal ballot option, before the final sitting fortnight wraps in early December.
Many Opposition Members used their 90 second statements prior to Question Time to attack the Government over the proposed plebiscite and postal vote to determine Government policy over same-sex marriage including, Opposition Whip, Ms Joanne Ryan MP, declaring that “$122m on a non-binding plebiscite is an absolute waste of money”.
1.The Prime Minister used the opening of Question Time to speak, on indulgence, on the passing of famed indigenous singer Dr G Yunupingu. The Prime Minister said he had a “once-in-a-generation talent”. Opposition Leader, the Hon Bill Shorten MP, said “too often they (indigenous Australians) die, younger than they should from diseases that the rest of us won’t”.
2.Fresh from the mid-winter recess, a revitalised Opposition Leader took the unusual step of asking four of the eight Opposition questions, with two questions on same-sex marriage and a further two questions on the recent AUSTRAC case against the Commonwealth Bank and taxation inequality.
3.Perhaps inspired by Jerry Seinfeld, who some would argue is the world’s best comedian who has used the same jokes about airline peanuts since the 1980s, the Prime Minister rehashed his Raheen zingers at the expense of the Opposition Leader and his relationship with former cardboard king Dick Pratt. The Prime Minister, with tongue firmly in his cheek said “I’m sure in the days when the Leader of the Opposition spent his time sucking up to Richard Pratt, he would have been making all of these points (about taxation inequality)”.
4.The Government appeared distracted by the same-sex marriage debate today as evidenced by a sporadic Question Time. Of the Government’s eight Dorothy Dixers, there was little consistency as a range of topics were covered, including the recent terrorist charges in Sydney, changes to citizenship, investment in the agricultural sector, action against the CFMEU, energy security and the mantra of “better days ahead” for Australian families and businesses.
1.The Prime Minister today announced the Government would again try to hold a plebiscite on same-sex marriage, this time on November 25, if the legislation is approved by the Senate. If the legislation is rejected?—?as is most likely the case?—?the Government also announced it would hold a postal vote ballot over eight weeks from September to be run by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The Finance Minister confirmed he would use an ‘advance’, likely in the order of $125m, to obtain funds to run the postal ballot.
2.The Senate commenced proceedings to refer the former Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Senator the Hon Matt Canavan, to the High Court under section 44 of the Constitution. The Attorney-General, Senator The Hon George Brandis QC, said the Government would seek a directions hearing on Senator Canavan’s case at the “earliest opportunity”, with a reference heard by the court on an “expedited basis”. The Senate also confirmed it would refer Greens’ former Senators, Larissa Waters and Scott Ludlam to the High Court acting as the Court of Disputed Returns.
3.
Former Greens Senator, Larissa Waters, has used social media to confirm that her Canadian citizenship has been officially rescinded, and as such, would recontest for the Senate at the next federal election.
4.BuzzFeed News has published what it claims are the official immigration papers of Senator Malcolm Roberts. The file purports to show the Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party Senator signed as a British citizen when he was 19-years-old. Since questions have grown louder to Parliamentarians, given the resignations of two Greens from the Senate and the temporary demotion of a Minister from Cabinet over citizenship, Senator Roberts has repeatedly denied he was ever a British citizen, telling the media he was “choosing to believe” he was never British.
Today’s legislation focus included:
1.Excise Tariff Amendment (Tobacco Duty Harmonisation) Bill 2017
2.Customs Tariff Amendment (Tobacco Duty Harmonisation) Bill 2017
3.Education Legislation Amendment (Provider Integrity And Other Measures) Bill 2017
