Summary
Seeking to nudge the media cycle past the Deputy Prime Minister’s citizenship, the Prime Minister, the Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, this morning met with the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, the Attorney-General, Senator the Hon George Brandis QC, the Minister for Justice, the Hon Michael Keenan MP and the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, the Hon Darren Chester MP. The meeting was to discuss how the Home Affairs Department, which is due to commence operations in mid-2018, will combine ASIO, the Australian Federal Police, Australia Border Force and other security agencies into one seamless Department. Speaking in the Cabinet room, the Prime Minister said “I look forward to having a good discussion here about the implementation of this important reform”. The Prime Minister also welcomed the President of Croatia, Her Excellency Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, to Parliament House. She is the first Croatian President to visit Australia since 1995.
Question Time commenced with the Prime Minister, speaking on indulgence, paying his respects over the recent passing of former Tasmanian Senator, the Hon Brian Gibson AM, who served in the Australian Senate from 1993 to 2002. The Prime Minister said “though much of his work was done behind the scenes, Brian left a legacy of sound, far-sighted economic policy, that will sustain Australia’s prosperity and stability for many years to come”. Responding on behalf of the Opposition, the Hon Bill Shorten MP quoted former Labor Minister, the Hon Stephen Conroy, who said, “Brian’s resignation was Australia’s loss”.
1.The Prime Minister caused a minor controversy in Question Time by speaking, also on indulgence, on the importance of Australia Day without giving prior warning to the office of the Opposition Leader, as per standard practice. In a rousing and passionate display, the Prime Minister thundered “on Australia Day we celebrate this most remarkable nation, of 24 million Australians, that has the oldest human civilisation in the world: of our first Australians. The decision recently of the Yarra Council is utterly out of step with Australian values”. The Hon Bill Shorten MP, responding on behalf of the Opposition, was more cautious, saying “I do not support changing the date of Australia Day” before musing that he would support a holiday in the future to celebrate an Australian Republic.
2.For the third consecutive day this week, the Manager of Opposition Business, the Hon Tony Burke MP, moved to suspend the standing orders allowing him an opportunity to move a motion condemning the Government. In the moments before being gagged by the Leader of the House, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, the Manager of Opposition Business quipped “it is national joke day and they (the Government) have delivered”. Responding to the motion, the Leader of the House said “there’s only so much faux outrage I can put up with in one week”.
3.Given Question Time this week has been shortened because of smart Opposition tactics to disrupt proceedings, it was surprising that the Member for Sydney allowed herself to be ejected under section 94a of practice by the Speaker, the Hon Tony Smith MP, during her own question to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Julie Bishop MP. Not to be outdone, the Shadow Minister was joined by her front bench colleague, the Shadow Minister for Finance, Dr Jim Chalmers MP and backbenchers including the Members for Lyons, McEwen, Eden-Monaro, Gellibrand and Lindsay.
4.The Minister for Foreign Affairs took the opportunity from a Dorothy Dixer from the Member for Berowra, Mr Julian Leeser MP, to double-down on her claims regarding collusion between the members within Australian Labor Party and the New Zealand Labour Party over how the Deputy Prime Minister’s dual citizenship was uncovered, saying “let me be very clear, the Australian Labor Party’s conduct… is not only highly improper, it is in direct breach of the international obligation for non-interference”.
5.After confirming yesterday that he would no long guarantee supply and confidence to the Government, the Member for Kennedy, the Hon Bob Katter MP, quietly followed through with his threat and sided with the Opposition in a gag motion against the Mr Burke in Question Time.
1.The Australian newspaper reported that police are seeking to confirm notorious Australian terrorist, Mr Khaled Sharrouf, along with his two children, Abdullah, 12 and Zarqawi, 11, has been killed in Syria in a drone strike or bomb attack on his car three days ago.
2.As part of the Government’s deal with Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party to pass media reforms through the Senate, big-name stars such as the 730 Report’s Ms Leigh Sales and Q&A’s Mr Tony Jones would have their salaries revealed to the public. The Minister for Communications, Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield, agreed to a number of conditions with Senator Hanson’s bloc of four votes, including introducing legislation requiring the ABC to be “fair and balanced” and more funding for community radio.
3.The Attorney-General moved to censure the Opposition’s Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, for “inappropriate conduct” over the role of her staffer, Mr Marcus Ganley, after it was revealed he contacted counterparts in the New Zealand Labour Party regarding the Deputy Prime Minister’s citizenship status. Replying on the matter, Senator Wong said, it is a “grubby, baseless smear in an attempt to distract attention from this government’s problems”. The motion was defeated.
4.Facing speculation that her UK ancestry might make her ineligible to serve in the Australian Parliament, the Government’s Member for Gilmore, Ms Ann Sudmalis MP, moved to confirm her citizenship status, tweeting: “the UK Home Office has confirmed that I do not hold, and I have never held British citizenship”.
5.A council in Melbourne’s inner north-east, the City of Yarra, last night voted to replace citizenship ceremonies and celebrations on Australia Day in 2018, with an event designed to mark “the loss of indigenous culture”. The City of Yarra council is made up of four Greens councillors, two from Labor, two independents and a member of the Socialist Alliance.
Today’s legislation focus included:
1.Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Ensuring Integrity) Bill 2017.
2.Migration And Other Legislation Amendment (Enhanced Integrity) Bill 2017.
3.Treasury Laws Amendment (2017 Measures NO.4) Bill 2017.
4.Public Governance And Resources Legislation Amendment Bill (NO. 1) 2017.
5.Education And Training Legislation Repeal Bill 2017.
