LIVE - Updated at 06:54
Follow all the day's news.
The Senate is also beginning to wind down, and the planes are starting to take off from Canberra, so you can call the 2021 sitting year pretty much done and dusted.
Parliament is not due back now until February. That is unless Scott Morrison decides to call an election after 26 January, of which there is still every possibility, in which case it won't be back at all until after the election.
Either way, the Guardian will be there to cover it all for you. I have a few months of pre-planned leave from next week, as I take care of a few other projects, so I may miss the first weeks of parliament (and possibly the election campaign, or at least part of it) but you will be in very good hands with Mike Bowers, Katharine Murphy, Paul Karp, Sarah Martin and Daniel Hurst, with Tory Shepherd's expert hand on the blog. She has covered politics for years, so she is well across all of the things and is also hilarious, so you are very lucky.
It's been a pretty rough year in what is becoming a decade of rough years. There are no words to sum it up adequately, or even bring sense to it, because we have all been on some pretty intense and individual roads this year. The rest of the nation has no idea what Melbourne and surrounds have been through and can't pretend. Sydney and NSW saw their own lives grind to a halt - but even that experience depended on your postcode. The ACT had a taste, joining half the nation in lockdown, while the other half of the population lived within their borders like the pandemic was almost yesterday's news.
Families have been apart for going on two years (or longer). Australian citizens saw themselves unable to return to their country, and at one stage threatened with imprisonment if they happened to be coming from India. Visa holders who had made lives in Australia suddenly found their papers not counting for much. Parents did their best to keep both children and lives in order, without any relief. People who lived alone were cut off from the social lives which sustained them. Not being able to make plans brought its own load, and then suddenly, the reopening was upon us, and life was meant to return to "normal".
It's OK if that has been a lot. It's OK if nothing still feels normal to you. And it's OK if you are still coming to terms with everything you have been through. We get it.
We also saw women rise up and say enough. And we saw, in many cases, that wasn't enough. I know that has brought up a lot of trauma for a lot of people, many of who were dealing with it for the first time. I have said this before, and I will say it again for anyone who needs to hear it - however you need to deal with it is exactly right. You do not have to share your story for it to be valid. You are no less brave, no less a survivor. We see you, and we are proud of you for just putting one foot in front of the other. For those who shared your stories, thank you. We honour all of you.
And then there are all the private battles everyone goes through, no matter what is happening in the world. We see you too.
Thank you to everyone who spent part of their year with Australian Politics Live and us. The Guardian Australia news blog will continue, so make sure you tune in for that.
But for the Politics Live team, it is farewell until next year. All of the thanks and love and gratitude to the heart of the blog, Mike Bowers for all that he does (it is so much more than you see on the page) - this project would not exist without him. Murph is the best leader you could hope for - and even better than you imagine - and we are all better for her wisdom, gentle guidance and fire. Sarah Martin juggles 50 balls at once, while listening to my rants, and I would be lost without her. Same with Paul Karp and Daniel Hurst, who are two of the most excellent journalists in the gallery and even better humans. I am very lucky to have them on the team.
I owe all of the gratitude and debts to the Guardian team at large - you may not see all their names, but there are scores of people who are responsible for this project and who go above and beyond keeping this a safe place for us all. From the moderators, to the desk editors, the audio visual team, the data team, the producers, the subeditors, the journalists and correspondents - you are all wonderful. Thank you.
But mostly, thank you to you, our audience. We adore you and we are so thankful and honoured by your support. You brighten our day, challenge us, and keep our fires burning, and we are so grateful. We may not always get it right, but you are the reason we keep trying.
I will be back in the first half of next year. In the meantime, you can reach me here and here if you need to, and I'll be popping up all over the place, so I won't be far.
I can only say thank you again. Happy holidays, merry all the things, and whatever the next year brings you, I hope it is brighter than what you have just been through.
For the final time in 2021 - take care of you. We all need a little kindness after that year.
Ax
Bridget McKenzie is up: "like Senator Wong, I'll be very very glad to see the back of 2021".
I love when politicians see eye to eye, so refreshing.
As Amy Remeikis takes a wildly deserved break, Penny Wong is thanking deputy leader of the senate Kristina Keneally in her end of year statements, and says she hopes she "makes a long and successful contribution in the house of representatives.
It's going to be a tough year...but I hope we're on the other side by the time I'm giving these remarks next year...it's been a year where a lot of emotions were expressed, this is where conflict is engaged in and we will work to contain that conflict...I hope we can all work to contain that, sometimes successfully, sometimes not. Whatever differences we have, we all have people we love and cherish. So my hope for you is everyone here...can reconnect with those they love...May Father Christmas deliver on 25 December and may we deliver next year.
Rachelle Miller, through her lawyer, has issued a statement:
Rachelle Miller welcomes the announcement by the Prime Minister Scott Morrison today of the appointment of Doctor Vivienne Thom to review the conduct of Minister Tudge, as outlined by Rachelle this morning. Gordon Legal senior partner Peter Gordon said today: "Rachelle will cooperate fully with this investigation. Rachelle spoke out today on her own behalf and in support of the brave women who have fought to advance this issue in recent times. Her priority is that both major parties commit immediately to implementation of all 28 recommendations of the Jenkins review. "We regard Mr Morrison's announcement today of what he calls 'an independent and fair' review of Mr Tudge's ministerial conduct as an admission of the fundamental flaws of the existing complaints process. That existing process allows the Government to hire its own lawyers to the complaint, hide the result under legal privilege, provide a Minister with access to the determination but not the complainant, and allows the Minister concerned to tell everyone his own version of what was decided. The existing system is neither independent nor fair, as Commissioner Jenkins has made clear. "Recommendation 22 of the Jenkins review provides that Parliament establish within 12 months a new fair, independent, confidential and transparent system to handle complaints and appeals about misconduct by members of Parliament." We look forward to receiving details of the terms of reference and the process Dr Thom proposes to follow.
Rachelle Miller welcomes the announcement by the Prime Minister Scott Morrison today of the appointment of Doctor Vivienne Thom to review the conduct of Minister Tudge, as outlined by Rachelle this morning.
Gordon Legal senior partner Peter Gordon said today:
"Rachelle will cooperate fully with this investigation. Rachelle spoke out today on her own behalf and in support of the brave women who have fought to advance this issue in recent times. Her priority is that both major parties commit immediately to implementation of all 28 recommendations of the Jenkins review.
"We regard Mr Morrison's announcement today of what he calls 'an independent and fair' review of Mr Tudge's ministerial conduct as an admission of the fundamental flaws of the existing complaints process. That existing process allows the Government to hire its own lawyers to the complaint, hide the result under legal privilege, provide a Minister with access to the determination but not the complainant, and allows the Minister concerned to tell everyone his own version of what was decided. The existing system is neither independent nor fair, as Commissioner Jenkins has made clear.
"Recommendation 22 of the Jenkins review provides that Parliament establish within 12 months a new fair, independent, confidential and transparent system to handle complaints and appeals about misconduct by members of Parliament."
We look forward to receiving details of the terms of reference and the process Dr Thom proposes to follow.
Here is some more from Mike Bowers, capturing the end of parliament.
And the house has adjourned.
Parliament is all but done for 2021.
The SA senator is then asked about the federal integrity commission legislation which didn't materialise:
We won't see progress on this, we can't see progress on this. We can see a complex bill like the religious discrimination bill takes a couple of months of inquiry to be able to deal with it properly. I am not convinced we will get to a comfortable place with that bill at all, when we have got something like an integrity bill whether people again are passionate, and there are a lot of issues that need to be worked through. We have got three days in February sitting in the Senate and a further three days in the budget, and that is it, before the election. There is no way that an Icac bill can now get through the Senate. So we end up with a broken promise from Scott Morrison and it is a broken promise that is not the fault of the Senate, this legislation, as Mark Dreyfus just pointed out, has been sitting around on a shelf, unadjusted, for some period of time. I think the government, perhaps quite deliberately, has left it at this point. We will no doubt have stories after the election of colour-coded spreadsheets looking at marginal seats, and that is a misappropriation of funds for the benefit, not necessarily of the communities that get a grant of some sort but the purpose for the ground, the dominant purpose is to in actual fact, influence the election in a particular way using public funds.
We won't see progress on this, we can't see progress on this.
We can see a complex bill like the religious discrimination bill takes a couple of months of inquiry to be able to deal with it properly.
I am not convinced we will get to a comfortable place with that bill at all, when we have got something like an integrity bill whether people again are passionate, and there are a lot of issues that need to be worked through.
We have got three days in February sitting in the Senate and a further three days in the budget, and that is it, before the election.
There is no way that an Icac bill can now get through the Senate.
So we end up with a broken promise from Scott Morrison and it is a broken promise that is not the fault of the Senate, this legislation, as Mark Dreyfus just pointed out, has been sitting around on a shelf, unadjusted, for some period of time.
I think the government, perhaps quite deliberately, has left it at this point. We will no doubt have stories after the election of colour-coded spreadsheets looking at marginal seats, and that is a misappropriation of funds for the benefit, not necessarily of the communities that get a grant of some sort but the purpose for the ground, the dominant purpose is to in actual fact, influence the election in a particular way using public funds.
Rex Patrick is then pushed on his comments on Lidia Thorpe's interjections, given there are plenty of interjections from other senators:
I think what she does, and other senators do it too, it is disruptive. There are times when people do heckle or shout across the chamber. Again, it is normally about a particular point in the discussion, but that is kind of the way that parliaments work. It should never get, never go to issues of a personal nature. That is not acceptable in any way, shape or form. I will just point out that Senator Thorpe is very, very enthusiastic and passionate about particular issues, and maybe my advice to her as a fellow senator, and someone who cares about the processes, and people having their say, is to be tactical about how you do it.
I think what she does, and other senators do it too, it is disruptive.
There are times when people do heckle or shout across the chamber. Again, it is normally about a particular point in the discussion, but that is kind of the way that parliaments work.
It should never get, never go to issues of a personal nature. That is not acceptable in any way, shape or form. I will just point out that Senator Thorpe is very, very enthusiastic and passionate about particular issues, and maybe my advice to her as a fellow senator, and someone who cares about the processes, and people having their say, is to be tactical about how you do it.
Adam Bandt has also spoken in support of Julian Assange.
The house now moves on to the matter of public importance (which is the usual the government is quite terrible motion Labor puts forward).
Rex Patrick is speaking to the ABC, where he is asked about the Greens senator Lidia Thorpe's interjection (which was withdrawn with a subsequent apology) to Liberal senator Hollie Hughes.
Look, debates can be fiery and passionate. I don't have a problem with interjections across the chamber, provided it's related to the topic of the bill or the matter that is being debated. There is no excuse for anyone bringing personalities into the debate, and particularly inside conversations across the chamber. Look, I heard what Senator Thorpe said yesterday. I was disgusted by it. It kind of left me a little bit breathless. I will give credit to Senator Larissa Waters, who I think immediately acted, and we saw a result and apology from Senator Thorpe. But I think there probably needs to be some further discussions with Senator Thorpe about some of the interjections that she has made across the chamber. She's very passionate about particular issues, particularly in relation to Indigenous rights, Indigenous safety, but sometimes the interjections are quite disorderly.
Look, debates can be fiery and passionate. I don't have a problem with interjections across the chamber, provided it's related to the topic of the bill or the matter that is being debated. There is no excuse for anyone bringing personalities into the debate, and particularly inside conversations across the chamber.
Look, I heard what Senator Thorpe said yesterday. I was disgusted by it. It kind of left me a little bit breathless. I will give credit to Senator Larissa Waters, who I think immediately acted, and we saw a result and apology from Senator Thorpe. But I think there probably needs to be some further discussions with Senator Thorpe about some of the interjections that she has made across the chamber. She's very passionate about particular issues, particularly in relation to Indigenous rights, Indigenous safety, but sometimes the interjections are quite disorderly.
While we are on talking weather, there is a hail warning for Canberra.
Tory posted a little earlier about a thunderstorm asthma warning - keep that in mind if you are near central Victoria:
Thunderstorms over central VIC producing up to 900 lightning pulses per minute. https://t.co/qkwIYfJzEN pic.twitter.com/AvBPEPOpRV
After four months of being closed to the public, the parliament will officially reopen on December 4.
The DPS is very excited:
There is a fantastic program of summer events ready for visitors to enjoy, along with delicious dining and the return of exciting experiences.
The opening weekend will include new tours, a fresh summer menu along with the reopening of our beloved roof to the public.
People will need to book in for ticketed events, such as the Yeribee and art & architecture tours.
To celebrate 110 years of the Historic Memorials Collection, over the next few months, visitors can see artworks which rarely are exhibited publicly and interviews that explore the intersection of art and politics in Australia.
In the lead up to Christmas, there are plenty of opportunities for a little indulgence with Christmas lunches, dinners, and high teas.
The Parliament House Christmas high tea mixes traditional Christmas dishes with Aussie classics, while lunch or dinner can be two or three courses, or a five course Chef selection.
While people are enjoying what Parliament House has to offer, they can also donate to the Parliament House Christmas Giving Tree to support the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre and The Food Centre.
Andrew Wilkie, with George Christensen sitting behind him, is moving a motion acknowledging Julian Assange and his continuing incarceration, as well as calling on the prime minister to speak to Boris Johnson and Joe Biden "to end this madness".
And then the new Speaker Andrew Wallace makes his speech - it is short and sweet:
I was going to make a speech on behalf of all those in parliament - if you work in the building, thank you very much for your service to the commonwealth and also to the members of parliament. And senators. Thank you very much and Merry Christmas.
Covid is still making its impact felt
.@AFL legend Ron Barassi has tested positive for COVID-19, ruling him out of taking part in @melbournefc's long-awaited premiership celebrations at the @MCG. #7NEWS https://t.co/GmS8vEejtM
Of course, the fact that we have moved on to the Christmas messages mean we won't be getting to religious discrimination in the house today.
So that is that.
Anthony Albanese finishes with this:
I do want to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas - may it be a time of reunions worth of happiness, relaxation, and a 2022 to bring us whatever we want in life. I guess people know what my wish is for.
Barnaby Joyce doesn't go through the names of his staff though (although he does thank them all) because he can't remember them all.
Barnaby Joyce is now doing his thank yous.
It seems to involve a few inside jokes, and thank yous to people by their first names.
While question time was doing what ever it was question time does, the Victorian parliament passed its pandemic laws.
That was a pretty big slog for the Andrews government, but as AAP reports, it is now a done deal:
Victoria has become Australia's first state to introduce specific laws for managing a pandemic.
The Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Pandemic Management) Bill passed the upper house 20 votes to 18 on Thursday afternoon.
Transport Matters MP Rod Barton, Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick, Reason Party MP Fiona Patten and Greens leader Samantha Ratnam voted with the government.
The bill will go to the lower house, where the government has a commanding majority, for final approval and then to the governor of Victoria for royal assent.
It comes into effect from December 16, when the current state of emergency expires.
Under the legislation, the premier and health minister will have the power to declare a pandemic and enforce orders such as lockdowns, mask-wearing, vaccination mandates, and quarantine.
The pandemic orders can differentiate between cohorts of people based on characteristics such as age and vaccination status, relevant to the public health risk.
Under the current state of emergency, those powers lie with the chief health officer, who is an unelected official.
The upper house sat for 21 hours this week debating several amendments to the bill, which were made to secure the support of Mr Barton after former Labor minister Adem Somyurek announced he would return from a self-imposed absence to vote against it.
Mr Somyurek was in the chamber when the final vote occurred on Thursday.
The legislation became a lightning rod for anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination groups, who have occupied the steps of state parliament for weeks in protest.
Anthony Albanese is now delivering his Christmas message - he also thanks everyone, including cleaners and other essential workers, who became absolutely (even more) crucial during the pandemic.
But he too can't help but get a little political (it is that sort of year)
In thanking Tony Burke he says: "he is a good person. He will make an outstanding leader of the House. He does understand the standing orders."
And as part of a thank you to his party he says:
It's been a tough period to be in opposition. We had to come into the parliament, and we supported every single piece of legislation that was put up during the pandemic. Even though we regard some of it as being flawed. We said we wouldn't allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good because the national interest required that and we did [support all of that] without exception. It's something that those opposite don't always acknowledge, but they are they are the facts of what happened.
It's been a tough period to be in opposition. We had to come into the parliament, and we supported every single piece of legislation that was put up during the pandemic. Even though we regard some of it as being flawed. We said we wouldn't allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good because the national interest required that and we did [support all of that] without exception.
It's something that those opposite don't always acknowledge, but they are they are the facts of what happened.
Scott Morrison finishes his speech with this:
Mr. Speaker, this has been a challenging and difficult year for our country. ...The house is rising but elsewhere in our country Australians are facing down those floods and our gratitude continues to be with them [and those who] were serving them. We might have been separated by borders for these last few years, but those borders are certainly lifting as our vaccination rates are at all high levels. Mr. Speaker, we look forward to those being lifting and we look forward to Australia continuing to open safely so we remain safely open. Our hope and our prayer is for a quiet season without either fires or more floods. But if there are Australians know that those who work across our government will be there to support them in their time of need. May it be a time of of great peace and renewal and refreshment and may 2022 be a better year than that preceded it. 2021 is in the revision mirror, 2022 is the way forward Mr. Speaker, God bless and Merry Christmas to all.
Mr. Speaker, this has been a challenging and difficult year for our country.
...The house is rising but elsewhere in our country Australians are facing down those floods and our gratitude continues to be with them [and those who] were serving them.
We might have been separated by borders for these last few years, but those borders are certainly lifting as our vaccination rates are at all high levels.
Mr. Speaker, we look forward to those being lifting and we look forward to Australia continuing to open safely so we remain safely open. Our hope and our prayer is for a quiet season without either fires or more floods.
But if there are Australians know that those who work across our government will be there to support them in their time of need.
May it be a time of of great peace and renewal and refreshment and may 2022 be a better year than that preceded it.
2021 is in the revision mirror, 2022 is the way forward Mr. Speaker, God bless and Merry Christmas to all.
The Australian Christian Lobby's national director of politics, Wendy Francis, has issued a statement threatening to withdraw support from the bill over a deal with four Liberal moderates to protect gay students from discrimination in religious schools.
She said:
Talk of simultaneously removing section 38(3) of the Sex Discrimination Bill, which protects the teaching and daily operation of faith-based schools, is extremely unhelpful. Fortunately, a religious discrimination bill inquiry will get to investigate these issues and take submissions and evidence from stakeholders before the bill returns to Parliament in February 2022. Government policy is not made by back room deals on a separate piece of legislation, the Sex Discrimination Act, without consultation with stakeholders, in particular the faith-based schools, about the implications of that. A faith-based school has the right to set a faith-based environment and discourage activity in the school that openly undermines that. This is much broader than the red herring of faith-based schools expelling same sex attracted children. There is no evidence that is happening and no peak body for Christian Schools support that. The Australian Christian lobby calls on the government to proceed to debate and vote on the Religious Discrimination Bill, about which there has been years of consultation, without undermining the substantial protections for religious schools contained in the Sex Discrimination Act. The Australian Law Reform Commission is currently examining the Sex Discrimination Act and should be allowed to complete its work. The important issue of protection from religious discrimination based on religious belief and practice should not be conflated with other existing discrimination acts. Religious bodies have a right to protect their religious character in the same way that political parties can employ people who will protect their ethos. Last minute reports that moderate liberals have pressured the Attorney General to include changes to the Sex Discrimination Act to get the long-awaited Religious Discrimination Bill appear conflated as they defy standard parliamentary processes and lack public backing by the Attorney."
Talk of simultaneously removing section 38(3) of the Sex Discrimination Bill, which protects the teaching and daily operation of faith-based schools, is extremely unhelpful. Fortunately, a religious discrimination bill inquiry will get to investigate these issues and take submissions and evidence from stakeholders before the bill returns to Parliament in February 2022.
Government policy is not made by back room deals on a separate piece of legislation, the Sex Discrimination Act, without consultation with stakeholders, in particular the faith-based schools, about the implications of that.
A faith-based school has the right to set a faith-based environment and discourage activity in the school that openly undermines that.
This is much broader than the red herring of faith-based schools expelling same sex attracted children. There is no evidence that is happening and no peak body for Christian Schools support that.
The Australian Christian lobby calls on the government to proceed to debate and vote on the Religious Discrimination Bill, about which there has been years of consultation, without undermining the substantial protections for religious schools contained in the Sex Discrimination Act. The Australian Law Reform Commission is currently examining the Sex Discrimination Act and should be allowed to complete its work.
The important issue of protection from religious discrimination based on religious belief and practice should not be conflated with other existing discrimination acts.
Religious bodies have a right to protect their religious character in the same way that political parties can employ people who will protect their ethos.
Last minute reports that moderate liberals have pressured the Attorney General to include changes to the Sex Discrimination Act to get the long-awaited Religious Discrimination Bill appear conflated as they defy standard parliamentary processes and lack public backing by the Attorney."
Health minister Greg Hunt has told parliament that he advised the prime minister this morning that he would not be contesting the next election.
He says one of his children had said to him, "It's time to come home dad".
Hunt, who has been in parliament since the November 2001 election, said he wanted to see a "strong brilliant woman" take over the Mornington Peninsula seat. He praises the Liberal party and the prime minister, saying "the bigger the issue the clearer he knows the way."
He also expresses a somewhat unpopular view this week, saying "as much as I love the Liberal party, I love this place more," and refers to the passage of Maeve's law last night as an example of parliament at its best.
Hunt thanks his staff, including many long-serving. He also reads a letter of thanks from a mother for whose daughter he had lobbied for compassionate access to medicine. He says his focus now is on Paula, Poppy, James, Elsa and Charlie the cavoodle, and then paraphrases The Princess Bride (apparently his favourite movie).
The prime minister, Scott Morrison, pays tribute to Hunt, saying he has relied on no one more than Hunt during the pandemic.
He says he could find "no more brilliant mind, no greater friend, no person of greater integrity, but most importantly someone with a massive heart."
He says the health portfolio is one of the most challenging, saying it is a difficult moral challenge to weigh up the competing needs in the sector.
So much of the Australian economy is riding on the property market, so there's always interest in what is likely to happen next.
Today we learnt from the ABSthat investors are continuing to pile into housing, with new loan commitments rising another 1.1% in October to almost $10b. That's near their record highs, and the value has risen each month for 12 months in a row increasing by 90% all up.
Still, the pace of the increase is slowing, with higher fixed mortgage rates among the drags.
Overall new lending for housing retreated 2.5% last month, with owner-occupier lending dropping 4.1%, extending falls that began in May. As CommBank economists noted, lending to first-home buyers is also dropping.
"Lending is a good leading indicator of dwelling prices and we expect dwelling price growth to slow in 2022 and for prices to fall in 2023," the bank said. (See more on the 'twilight of the housing boom' here.)
Capital city property auctions, meanwhile, remain near the highest since at least 2008, when consultancy CoreLogic began tracking trends.
This week, some 4222 homes are expected to go on the block this week, less than 1% fewer than the 4251 auctioned last week. Only two weeks have ever had more than 4000 predicted auctions, and this latest forecast is about twice the number of a year ago.
In Melbourne, 1887 homes are scheduled to be auctioned this week, making it the third-busiest of the year. In Sydney, the 1547 planned auctions would top last week's tally to be the second-busiest in those record (since 2008). The sales have been on the rise for nine weeks.
Auctions are less popular in most other cities, with only five homes set to go under the hammer in Tasmania, for instance.
CoreLogic, meanwhile, has also been tracking housing affordability outside the major urban centres. Guess what? It's got a lot worse.
"In the year to March 2021, migration from cities to regions increased 5.9%, while the number of people leaving regional Australia for the capital cities declined 3.5% in the same period," it said in a separate report out today. Homes available to buy or rent have been pushed to "extreme lows".
"As of 28 November, the amount of for sale listings counted across regional Australia remained 36.9% below the five-year average, with just under 60,000 properties available for sale," it said.
I suppose those looking at a tree- or sea-change (or a ti-tree change, for both) had better put it off for a while.
Scott Morrison can't help but let a little politics slip into his Christmas message:
To the deputy prime minister and his predecessor [Michael McCormack] I say thank you very much for your friendship and your support. And to the great strength of the coalition of the Liberals and the Nationals. That's a coalition we want - not the other coalition's that could occur on that side"
To the deputy prime minister and his predecessor [Michael McCormack] I say thank you very much for your friendship and your support.
And to the great strength of the coalition of the Liberals and the Nationals. That's a coalition we want - not the other coalition's that could occur on that side"
He then says he will return to the 'tone' of the message and continues his thank yous.
After Greg Hunt finished up his retirement announcement, the house moved to the Christmas messages (on indulgence).
This is of course the time when the leaders and all the MPs pretend like they haven't just been slinging insults at each other.
Here is some of how Mike Bowers saw the chamber (now that it is pretending to be nice to each other again)
Scott Morrison is up first. He speaks about the resilience, the Australian people, all of the institutions, the parliament, the national cabinet, the retiring members and pretty much everyone else you could think about.
Good afternoon politic lovers - what an absolute day it has been.
A very big thank you to Tory for her work today - she is brilliant.
You have Amy Remeikis for the afternoon/evening
Now for some Mike Bowers action! And with that, that's me done for now. Back to remarkable Amy Remeikis for the rest of this strange, final day.
You know it's serious once it gets a hashtag-gate. As in, #barbecuegate. The steaks are high. Labor leader Anthony Albanese has made a personal explanation about ... well, just read this story.
Albanese said:
The member for La Trobe (Jason Wood) has joined the conspiracy theorists (who say) that a barbecue cooked for me by the premier of Victoria on Saturday was a fake. I can confirm, Mr Speaker, just like the moon landing, it was real. The steaks were cooked perfectly medium rare, the steaks were cooked but not as cooked as the member for La Trobe.
Alan Tudge - who has stood aside, as we found out in question time - has issued a longer statement about Rachelle Miller's allegations:
I completely and utterly reject Ms Miller's accusations. Both of us have acknowledged publicly that we had a consensual affair in 2017. This is something that I regret deeply. We were both married at the time and it was wrong. It contributed to the end of my marriage that year. Ms Miller and I worked closely together in 2017. It involved constant travel, long hours and often we were under pressure. We became attracted to each other and on a small number of occasions that attraction was acted upon. It should not have happened. Ms Miller was a good media adviser. My chief of staff and I sought to get her promoted to the level she requested. It was ultimately unsuccessful but when she moved to Michaelia Cash's office in late 2017, she was promoted to the senior level. I have not seen Ms Miller since 2017. I have accepted responsibility for a consensual affair that should not have happened many years ago. But Ms Miller's allegations are wrong, did not happen and are contradicted by her own written words to me. I regret having to say these things. I do not wish Ms Miller ill but I have to defend myself in light of these allegations, which I reject. The contradictory written evidence will be referred to a full, independent review. I welcome such a process and will make available both myself and all materials, and co-operate in every way. I would note that a previous set of claims were also considered and rejected through an independent investigation. During the course of this process I will stand aside as minister for education and youth. Given the immense personal impact of such claims I will also now take a period of leave between now and Christmas.
I completely and utterly reject Ms Miller's accusations.
Both of us have acknowledged publicly that we had a consensual affair in 2017. This is something that I regret deeply. We were both married at the time and it was wrong. It contributed to the end of my marriage that year.
Ms Miller and I worked closely together in 2017. It involved constant travel, long hours and often we were under pressure. We became attracted to each other and on a small number of occasions that attraction was acted upon.
It should not have happened.
Ms Miller was a good media adviser. My chief of staff and I sought to get her promoted to the level she requested. It was ultimately unsuccessful but when she moved to Michaelia Cash's office in late 2017, she was promoted to the senior level.
I have not seen Ms Miller since 2017. I have accepted responsibility for a consensual affair that should not have happened many years ago. But Ms Miller's allegations are wrong, did not happen and are contradicted by her own written words to me.
I regret having to say these things. I do not wish Ms Miller ill but I have to defend myself in light of these allegations, which I reject. The contradictory written evidence will be referred to a full, independent review. I welcome such a process and will make available both myself and all materials, and co-operate in every way.
I would note that a previous set of claims were also considered and rejected through an independent investigation.
During the course of this process I will stand aside as minister for education and youth. Given the immense personal impact of such claims I will also now take a period of leave between now and Christmas.
Bill Shorten's up again, with a question about another NDIS participant, Liam:
Liam is an autistic young man. He and his family won a landmark case in 2017 over NDIS transport funding that had implications for thousands of other people who rely on the NDIS for support. But in November the Morrison government cut Liam's plan by $38,000, including his transport funding, bringing the family to tears. Prime minister, how many individual participants like Liam had their NDIS funding cut in the last 12 months?
Stuart Robert responds on behalf of minister Linda Reynolds:
The minister is well aware of the concerns raised by (Liam's mother). The minister received direct communication from her a number of weekends ago, I will be responding to the concerns raised. On receipt of the concerns raised, the agency made contact with the family. I understand they have acknowledged the error that has been made in relation to the transport funding. The NDIA has apologised for that error. And the issue is being resolved through that process.
Here's the earlier story about Liam:
Related: 'Brought me to tears': family who won landmark NDIS challenge now face cut to support
Former Labor leader Bill Shorten persists in using a picture, despite the Speaker asking him to get rid of the "prop" - it's a picture of "Nick from Mackay", who has multiple disabilities.
Shorten puts it down for his question:
Nick from Mackay was born with multiple complex disabilities requiring 24/7 high-level support for all areas of his daily life. When the Morrison government cut Nick's plan by $300,000, Nick's family, Tammi and Rob, described the NDIS's behaviour as emotionally exhausting, horrendous and (say it) has left Nick unsafe. How many individual NDIS participants have had their funding cut in the past year?
Prime minister Scott Morrison accused Labor of using specific people for "political points" and refers to a separate NDIS case that was raised yesterday, about Harper:
I wrote promptly back to the member to follow up the very issue he raised in this place yesterday. I can tell (him), I'm advised that National Disability Insurance Agency is in frequent contact with Harper's parents and it's incorrect to say that Harper's current NDIS funding has been reduced, including overnight supports. I'm advised that Harper's current plan is in place for six months and includes a higher rate of funding than his previous 12-month plan. It's important to consider plans. They are implemented for a shorter period, such as six months, for participants such as complex needs like Harper's... ... If he's going to use people, Mr Speaker, to make political points, that's a separate issue. I will let others make the judgement. We took his complaint seriously. We followed it up. We got back to him, Mr Speaker.
I wrote promptly back to the member to follow up the very issue he raised in this place yesterday. I can tell (him), I'm advised that National Disability Insurance Agency is in frequent contact with Harper's parents and it's incorrect to say that Harper's current NDIS funding has been reduced, including overnight supports. I'm advised that Harper's current plan is in place for six months and includes a higher rate of funding than his previous 12-month plan. It's important to consider plans. They are implemented for a shorter period, such as six months, for participants such as complex needs like Harper's...
... If he's going to use people, Mr Speaker, to make political points, that's a separate issue. I will let others make the judgement. We took his complaint seriously. We followed it up. We got back to him, Mr Speaker.
Libby Coker is next up for Labor, with a question on living costs:
The prime minister said he would deliver higher real wages. But petrol prices have gone up as much as $900 in a year, while real wages have fallen by $700. Will the prime minister finally acknowledge how hard it is for working families to make ends meet, under this decade-old government?
Scott Morrison:
The member raises questions around the cost of living. Mr Speaker, and in the three years since I was elected prime minister, Mr Speaker, inflation has grown by 1.8%. That compares in the last three years of the Labor government, of 2.5%. Mr Speaker, electricity prices have fallen on average each year by 3.2%, and under Labor in their last three years, they increased each year by 12.2% and over the course of their government, electricity prices doubled because of their mismanagement. Clothing and footwear costs over the course of the last three years have fallen by 1% on average each year, compared to a 0.4% increase under the Labor party in their last three years. Fuel prices, Mr Speaker, over the last three years, have increased by 1.2% each year, over the last three years, and under the Labor party in their last three years, they increased by 7.2%. Each and every year of those last three years, on communications costs, Mr Speaker, under our government, since I was elected, they have fallen 2.8% each and every year on average, and under the Labor party, they went up by 1.2% over the last three years. Mr Speaker, housing costs, as we note, 320,000 Australians helped into home ownership because of the policies of our government, but not only that, housing costs over the last three years, since I was elected prime minister, up 0.6% on average each year, under the Labor party, in their last three years, they went up by 4.3% each and every year, Mr Speaker. Some seven times higher than what has occurred under our government. And health costs have gone up 3% per year, each year on average, under the Labor party, they went up, Mr Speaker, 5% each year, and every year. What the Australian people know, Mr Speaker, is that regardless of the challenges that we face, as a country, for our economy, and what it means for cost of living, and what it means what they can earn, they can know two things: one, our strong economic management will always ensure the Australians will be better off than they would under the Labor party, Mr Speaker, and they'll be able to keep more of what they earn because we believe that Australians and Australian business owners should keep more of that what they earn, (and, two): if they give it to the Labor party, they know they'll only waste it.
The member raises questions around the cost of living. Mr Speaker, and in the three years since I was elected prime minister, Mr Speaker, inflation has grown by 1.8%. That compares in the last three years of the Labor government, of 2.5%. Mr Speaker, electricity prices have fallen on average each year by 3.2%, and under Labor in their last three years, they increased each year by 12.2% and over the course of their government, electricity prices doubled because of their mismanagement. Clothing and footwear costs over the course of the last three years have fallen by 1% on average each year, compared to a 0.4% increase under the Labor party in their last three years.
Fuel prices, Mr Speaker, over the last three years, have increased by 1.2% each year, over the last three years, and under the Labor party in their last three years, they increased by 7.2%. Each and every year of those last three years, on communications costs, Mr Speaker, under our government, since I was elected, they have fallen 2.8% each and every year on average, and under the Labor party, they went up by 1.2% over the last three years. Mr Speaker, housing costs, as we note, 320,000 Australians helped into home ownership because of the policies of our government, but not only that, housing costs over the last three years, since I was elected prime minister, up 0.6% on average each year, under the Labor party, in their last three years, they went up by 4.3% each and every year, Mr Speaker. Some seven times higher than what has occurred under our government. And health costs have gone up 3% per year, each year on average, under the Labor party, they went up, Mr Speaker, 5% each year, and every year.
What the Australian people know, Mr Speaker, is that regardless of the challenges that we face, as a country, for our economy, and what it means for cost of living, and what it means what they can earn, they can know two things: one, our strong economic management will always ensure the Australians will be better off than they would under the Labor party, Mr Speaker, and they'll be able to keep more of what they earn because we believe that Australians and Australian business owners should keep more of that what they earn, (and, two): if they give it to the Labor party, they know they'll only waste it.
Defence minister Peter Dutton is paying tribute to members of the Australian Defence Force and agencies, and all those "who perform work in our country's name". Oh, and to former defence minister Kevin Andrews, who will leave parliament at the next election. (Andrews is the current father of the house).
Labor leader Anthony Albanese echoes the sentiments (towards the ADF - Andrews didn't get a second guernsey).
Labor's deputy leader Richard Marles keen to work his party's line on prime minister Scott Morrisons trustworthiness. He asked:
Can he confirm this fortnight that the prime minister has denied saying electric vehicles would end the weekend, denied paying parents to vaccinate their children, wrongfully claimed he texted he was going on holiday to Hawaii, and blamed Labor for his failure to introduce an anti-corruption bill. Why does the prime minister have such difficulties with the truth?
As leader of the house, Peter Dutton is having none of it.
A barely credible question all the way through, and then at the end he flicked the switch to vaudeville. It's - the last part of that question is completely out of order because it contains a slur. It's only said for the TV cameras. And the Australian public should see through it.
Amid the jeers from Labor as Tony Burke tries to argue a point of order, member for Whitlam Stephen Jones has to withdraw the word "corruption".
Labor leader Anthony Albanese to prime minister Scott Morrison:
(This) fortnight government members and senators have crossed the floor on multiple issues. The chair of the privileges committee resigned over a report on the member for Pearce, who also resigned. And the prime minister was forced to abandon his voter suppression bill. Hasn't the Morrison/Joyce government lost the ability to govern?
Short version of Morrison's response:
No.
Longer version:
The Coalition government continues to focus on the issues that the Australian people have foremost in the front of their minds, Mr Speaker. Last Sunday, before we came back into this Parliament this week, Mr Speaker, we raised one of the most important issues that Australian families have ... the terrible impact that (Covid) is having on the mental health of their families. I hear the interjection what, Mr Speaker, from those overseas [sic]. Over on the other side of the chamber, Mr Speaker. Now they may not be aware of the severity of this issue, Mr Speaker, that may not be what they are concerned about, but I can assure you for members, on the government benches, in the coalition government, they're terribly concerned about this. And while the Labor party want to focus on the parliamentary games of Canberra and what goes on in the bubble of this place, Mr Speaker, my government, our government, will focus very firmly on what is happening in the homes and the communities all around this country. (We) are concerned about their health and their wellbeing as we come through one of the largest and most significant pandemics in 100 years, Mr Speaker. And over the course of this year, and even just this week, as we reached 20 million Australians having had their first vaccinations, one of the strongest economies coming back from the appeal, one of the lowest fatalities from Covid in the world, having saved 30,000 lives, 217,000 apprentices and tradies in training, one million Australians working in manufacturing, Mr Speaker, schools getting back and open again, Australia opening safely, so it can remain safely open. These are the issues, these are the issues our government is focused on. The defence of our nation, the signing up to the Aukus agreement, and Mr Speaker, working with our allies and partners to create a free and open Indo-Pacific with the uncertainty that our world faces, particularly in our own region. And even now, Mr Speaker, we hear from the OECD that they have upgraded the economic forecast for Australia, as we go into next year, Mr Speaker. People getting a job, people buying a home, 320,000 Australians getting into home ownership, as a result of the policies of our government. Mr Speaker, the leader of the Labor party spends a lot of his time focusing on this place, he should focus on what is happening out there in the Australian community.
The Coalition government continues to focus on the issues that the Australian people have foremost in the front of their minds, Mr Speaker.
Last Sunday, before we came back into this Parliament this week, Mr Speaker, we raised one of the most important issues that Australian families have ... the terrible impact that (Covid) is having on the mental health of their families. I hear the interjection what, Mr Speaker, from those overseas [sic]. Over on the other side of the chamber, Mr Speaker. Now they may not be aware of the severity of this issue, Mr Speaker, that may not be what they are concerned about, but I can assure you for members, on the government benches, in the coalition government, they're terribly concerned about this. And while the Labor party want to focus on the parliamentary games of Canberra and what goes on in the bubble of this place, Mr Speaker, my government, our government, will focus very firmly on what is happening in the homes and the communities all around this country.
(We) are concerned about their health and their wellbeing as we come through one of the largest and most significant pandemics in 100 years, Mr Speaker.
And over the course of this year, and even just this week, as we reached 20 million Australians having had their first vaccinations, one of the strongest economies coming back from the appeal, one of the lowest fatalities from Covid in the world, having saved 30,000 lives, 217,000 apprentices and tradies in training, one million Australians working in manufacturing, Mr Speaker, schools getting back and open again, Australia opening safely, so it can remain safely open.
These are the issues, these are the issues our government is focused on. The defence of our nation, the signing up to the Aukus agreement, and Mr Speaker, working with our allies and partners to create a free and open Indo-Pacific with the uncertainty that our world faces, particularly in our own region. And even now, Mr Speaker, we hear from the OECD that they have upgraded the economic forecast for Australia, as we go into next year, Mr Speaker.
People getting a job, people buying a home, 320,000 Australians getting into home ownership, as a result of the policies of our government. Mr Speaker, the leader of the Labor party spends a lot of his time focusing on this place, he should focus on what is happening out there in the Australian community.
Labor's Catherine King to Paul Fletcher, who is representing attorney general Michaelia Cash:
Can the prime minister confirm his model of an anti-corruption commission cannot ever hold public hearings for politicians, will only undertake investigations the government wants, and won't even be able to make findings of corruption?
Fletcher starts before Labor's Tony Burke calls a point of order, Speaker Andrew Wallace and he have a contretemps about it. Fletcher tries to start again. Burke is up again (rinse, repeat). Fletcher then sashays into Icac territory, and then we move on.
Anyway, here's what Fletcher said before it went awry:
As we have consistently explained, the government's model for the commonwealth integrity commission will have the same powers as a royal commission to investigate criminal corruption, but we also sought to do to make sure it appropriately provides procedural fairness to individuals under investigation for corrupt conduct. And there are appropriate safeguards against vexatious, baseless politically motivated and time-wasting referrals such as the nine failed referrals to the Australian Federal Police by the shadow attorney general... we are serious about combatting corruption.
As we have consistently explained, the government's model for the commonwealth integrity commission will have the same powers as a royal commission to investigate criminal corruption, but we also sought to do to make sure it appropriately provides procedural fairness to individuals under investigation for corrupt conduct.
And there are appropriate safeguards against vexatious, baseless politically motivated and time-wasting referrals such as the nine failed referrals to the Australian Federal Police by the shadow attorney general... we are serious about combatting corruption.
Labor's Brendan O'Connor with the next stage of the quarantine questions:
The government is supporting the setting up of a private luxury resort-style quarantine but has failed to establish a single purpose built quarantine facility almost two years into the pandemic. Why?
Now it's picked up by health minister Greg Hunt:
I want to directly address the question in relation to quarantine facilities. Firstly, 471,000 Australians have come back on redzone flights. That's 471,000. It puts into perspective the task the nation has had in order to keep people safe, in so doing, a series of elements were set up. Firstly, the hotel quarantine was established and what that has led to is one of the four containments to protect Australia in terms of borders, testing, tracing and distancing. That led to one of the lowest rates of Covid and one of the lowest rates of loss of life in the world. That is the first line of protection. The second thing is, we did set up a national resilience centre, specifically focused and run by the commonwealth at Howard Springs. I will read the advice I have received which reflects that, which has been put forward as I understand it, through Jane Halton, the former secretary of finance and of health. Howard Springs maintains the highest standards of infection control practice and to date there's been no reported instances of transmission between cohorts of international arrivals in quarantine at the centre, and no instance of transmission into the Australian community. The third element that has been set up is the establishment of purpose-built, as opposed to Howard Springs, which already existed and which was adapted and used in a way which has not seen a single case transmitted between cohorts or a single case escape. It is a functioning, highly effective system, now taken over by the Northern Territory at their request as they saw it as the irresponsibility. In addition to that, though, there is now obviously the facility being developed in Melbourne. As well as facilities in Brisbane and in Perth. Which are at different stages of advancement. Those three layers have been established and that is why - that is why perhaps above all the other elements that we have taken, amongst those rings of containment, that we've had one of the lowest rates of loss of life in the world, one of the three lowest rates, among the OECD countries. That means that we have saved over 30,000 lives by comparison with the OECD average. We have saved over 45,000 lives by comparison with the rates in the United Kingdom and in the United States. So these actions, these three steps, quarantine within hotels, the dedicated Howard Springs national resilience facility, and the establishment of new dedicated facilities are the things which have helped keep Australians safe and will keep them safe going forward.
I want to directly address the question in relation to quarantine facilities. Firstly, 471,000 Australians have come back on redzone flights. That's 471,000. It puts into perspective the task the nation has had in order to keep people safe, in so doing, a series of elements were set up. Firstly, the hotel quarantine was established and what that has led to is one of the four containments to protect Australia in terms of borders, testing, tracing and distancing.
That led to one of the lowest rates of Covid and one of the lowest rates of loss of life in the world. That is the first line of protection. The second thing is, we did set up a national resilience centre, specifically focused and run by the commonwealth at Howard Springs. I will read the advice I have received which reflects that, which has been put forward as I understand it, through Jane Halton, the former secretary of finance and of health. Howard Springs maintains the highest standards of infection control practice and to date there's been no reported instances of transmission between cohorts of international arrivals in quarantine at the centre, and no instance of transmission into the Australian community.
The third element that has been set up is the establishment of purpose-built, as opposed to Howard Springs, which already existed and which was adapted and used in a way which has not seen a single case transmitted between cohorts or a single case escape.
It is a functioning, highly effective system, now taken over by the Northern Territory at their request as they saw it as the irresponsibility. In addition to that, though, there is now obviously the facility being developed in Melbourne. As well as facilities in Brisbane and in Perth. Which are at different stages of advancement.
Those three layers have been established and that is why - that is why perhaps above all the other elements that we have taken, amongst those rings of containment, that we've had one of the lowest rates of loss of life in the world, one of the three lowest rates, among the OECD countries. That means that we have saved over 30,000 lives by comparison with the OECD average.
We have saved over 45,000 lives by comparison with the rates in the United Kingdom and in the United States. So these actions, these three steps, quarantine within hotels, the dedicated Howard Springs national resilience facility, and the establishment of new dedicated facilities are the things which have helped keep Australians safe and will keep them safe going forward.
Labor's Brendan O'Connor has asked prime minister Scott Morrison about reports taxpayer funds have gone to "two of (his) best mates" at Quarantine Services Australia.
(I'll get you some more context for this shortly).
Morrison said he hadn't seen the report, but:
What I can say is that at all times I and my ministers rightly declare any possible interest that may relate to matters that are being considered in the cabinet as the standing first item on every single agenda of every cabinet meeting, and I call for that at every single meeting as cabinet ministers will understand. I can't speak to comments made by others that I have no knowledge of whatsoever, Mr Speaker. All I know is that I have always fully disclosed any interests where they are relevant to any matter that I may be considering and the suggestion otherwise is a disgraceful slur by a grubby opposition.
What I can say is that at all times I and my ministers rightly declare any possible interest that may relate to matters that are being considered in the cabinet as the standing first item on every single agenda of every cabinet meeting, and I call for that at every single meeting as cabinet ministers will understand. I can't speak to comments made by others that I have no knowledge of whatsoever, Mr Speaker.
All I know is that I have always fully disclosed any interests where they are relevant to any matter that I may be considering and the suggestion otherwise is a disgraceful slur by a grubby opposition.
O'Connor again:
Can the prime minister confirm his government has awarded $80,000 to set up and run private luxury resort-style quarantine facilities? Can the prime minister confirm this quarantine business is being run out of his best mate's lobbying firm based at the Hotel Realm in Canberra?
Response this time from Home Affairs minister Karen Andrews:
Can I start by saying that the secretary of the department of home affairs has been questioned about this particular issue twice at Senate estimates, once in October and the second time just a week ago. So there have been a range of questions that have been put to the secretary. The secretary said that he was very clear, and what the secretary said, is - I will actually quote from what secretary Pezzullo said at Senate estimates, he said: 'It had nothing to do with ministers, their staff, or ministerial officers.' So he was very clear. There's significantly more. I would invite those people who have questions in relation to this matter to look at the Senate estimates transcript. Because it makes it abundantly clear any such contract was entered into directly by the department of home affairs. It was done without my knowledge, the first I became aware of it was following the contract having been finalised. Now, we make no apology for the fact that we ... did all that we possibly could to make sure that Australians were as protected as they possibly could be during this pandemic. Mr Speaker, the transcripts from Senate estimates... clearly sets out what the arrangements were in relation to this contract.
Can I start by saying that the secretary of the department of home affairs has been questioned about this particular issue twice at Senate estimates, once in October and the second time just a week ago.
So there have been a range of questions that have been put to the secretary. The secretary said that he was very clear, and what the secretary said, is - I will actually quote from what secretary Pezzullo said at Senate estimates, he said: 'It had nothing to do with ministers, their staff, or ministerial officers.' So he was very clear. There's significantly more. I would invite those people who have questions in relation to this matter to look at the Senate estimates transcript. Because it makes it abundantly clear any such contract was entered into directly by the department of home affairs.
It was done without my knowledge, the first I became aware of it was following the contract having been finalised. Now, we make no apology for the fact that we ... did all that we possibly could to make sure that Australians were as protected as they possibly could be during this pandemic. Mr Speaker, the transcripts from Senate estimates... clearly sets out what the arrangements were in relation to this contract.
Here's some more info on those questions about quarantine facilities from Paul Karp:
In September news.com.au revealed a proposal by Quarantine Services Australia for a new network of privately operated Covid-19 quarantine facilities to offer "user pays" care for up to 5,000 overseas students, workers and skilled migrants a month.
QSA's director is Scott Briggs, the former NSW Liberal deputy director and close friend of prime minister Scott Morrison.
On Wednesday, Labor quizzed the department of the prime minister and cabinet about QSA, but got nowhere, as officials said it was not something they deal with. Then, later in the evening, Kristina Keneally asked home affairs about the proposal, after hearing from a source the plan could be announced this week.
Asked if international students will go through QSA facilities, the home affairs secretary, Michael Pezzullo, said:
Possibly, as I've been advised the umbrella not for profit mutual known as QSA would have a number of limbs, one of which would deal with companies needing to bring skilled labour here, another might well involve engagement with tertiary institutions to arrange a different standard bulk if you will student accommodation. I think at one point I was briefed on QSA, leaving aside company arrangements . It had a third limb, or area of interest, it might have been related to agricultural workers on farms.
Prime minister Scott Morrison is giving a statement by indulgence on Rachelle Miller (see earlier posts for background):
I rise on indulgence to refer to the statement made earlier today by Ms Miller and the allegations regarding her relationship with minister Tudge. Mr Speaker, these issues are obviously deeply concerning and I know deeply distressing, for Ms Miller, minister Tudge and the families affected by these events. I have discussed Ms Miller's statement with Mr Tudge, who refuted the allegations made. Given the seriousness of the claims made by Ms Miller, it's important these matters be resolved fairly and expeditiously. To this end, the minister has agreed to my request to stand aside while these issues are addressed by my department, through an independent and fair process, to ensure that the matters that have been raised can be properly assessed and the views put by the respective parties in relation to these issues. I'm advised by the department they'll be seeking to do this through (former bureaucrat and intelligence official) Vivienne Thom.
I rise on indulgence to refer to the statement made earlier today by Ms Miller and the allegations regarding her relationship with minister Tudge.
Mr Speaker, these issues are obviously deeply concerning and I know deeply distressing, for Ms Miller, minister Tudge and the families affected by these events. I have discussed Ms Miller's statement with Mr Tudge, who refuted the allegations made.
Given the seriousness of the claims made by Ms Miller, it's important these matters be resolved fairly and expeditiously. To this end, the minister has agreed to my request to stand aside while these issues are addressed by my department, through an independent and fair process, to ensure that the matters that have been raised can be properly assessed and the views put by the respective parties in relation to these issues.
I'm advised by the department they'll be seeking to do this through (former bureaucrat and intelligence official) Vivienne Thom.
So that's a big start - more to come.
Some more detail from prime minister Scott Morrison:
(The inquiry) will enable my department to provide me with any further advice regarding any implications for the ministerial standards. But I wish to stress that this action, in no way seeks to draw a conclusion on these matters, Mr Speaker. But this is the appropriate action for me to take under the ministerial standards. I note that minister Tudge has welcomed this process, Mr Speaker. And he looks forward to participating in this process. I have also asked, as is occurring now, Mr Speaker, at the same time, for this advice to be provided directly to Ms Miller by my chief of staff. In the interim, minister (Stuart) Robert will act as minister for education and youth. I also note, Mr Speaker, that today, the minister for employment, workforce, skills, and small business and family business will answer questions in relation to those portfolios.
(The inquiry) will enable my department to provide me with any further advice regarding any implications for the ministerial standards. But I wish to stress that this action, in no way seeks to draw a conclusion on these matters, Mr Speaker.
But this is the appropriate action for me to take under the ministerial standards. I note that minister Tudge has welcomed this process, Mr Speaker. And he looks forward to participating in this process. I have also asked, as is occurring now, Mr Speaker, at the same time, for this advice to be provided directly to Ms Miller by my chief of staff. In the interim, minister (Stuart) Robert will act as minister for education and youth. I also note, Mr Speaker, that today, the minister for employment, workforce, skills, and small business and family business will answer questions in relation to those portfolios.
We're ploughing through members' 90-second statements on the way to question time, now. It's been a woolly week with some question time scraps, so we'll see how they wind it up. And Amy Remeikis will pick you up on the other end and take you through your afternoon.
Religious discrimination bill was on for half an hour - only Dreyfus & Barnaby Joyce spoke.
Now, at best, there'll be 20 more minutes for it this arvo. But given valedictory speeches and NO request to extend sitting...it's possible that's it for today.
No vote til February. pic.twitter.com/WVUJM1cUs2
Heads up if you're in Melbourne and its surrounds. Health department professor Mike Roberts says there's a high risk of epidemic thunderstorm asthma today, with the storms bringing high grass pollen levels.
There's also a moderate risk in the Mallee, North Central, North East, Northern Country, South West, West and South Gippsland and Wimmera weather districts.
Roberts said people should avoid wind gusts before the storm by going inside, closing windows and doors, and waiting it out. Anyone who needs preventative medication should take it as directed, and have an asthma plan in place - and, of course, call 000 if it's an emergency.
More signs of that much-heralded economic rebound from the Delta Covid lockdowns are emerging, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics reporting today on retail sales.
Nationally, the retail turnover jumped 4.9% in seasonally adjusted terms in October compared with the previous month. That makes it two months in a row of growth following falls in July and August.
NSW's 13.3% rise brought turnover back to the levels pre-Delta. Victoria, which emerged from its sixth and hopefully final lockdown on 22 October, registered (so to speak) a 3% rise. The ACT's shoppers went berserk, spending 20.2% more.
Still, as Ben James, the ABS's director of quarterly economy wide statistics, says:
Although sales have bounced back strongly following the end of lockdowns, it is important to note that overall retail turnover has not yet reached the level of May 2021, the month prior to the Delta outbreak.
South Australia and Tasmania were the two regions to go backwards, easing 1.2% and 2.4%, respectively.
Among the different targets for shopping the clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing rose 27.7% to $481.7m in October, in seasonally adjusted terms.
Department stores posted a 22.4% rise in turnover to $277.8m in October, while cafes, restaurants, and takeaway food services recorded a 12.3% to $412m.
The House of Representatives has started debating the religious discrimination bill - but it's still unclear if it will go to a vote.
Labor's shadow attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, said it was "clearly inappropriate" for prime minister Scott Morrison to bring the bill on for debate before the joint human rights committee has begun holding hearings into what is a "complex area of law".
Dreyfus said Labor wants "respectful debate" that would be best informed by communities MPs represent.
He then went through the three-year history of Morrison's pledge to work in a bipartisan spirit to introduce laws prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of religion. Dreyfus said the government failed to introduce a bill for three years, and when he reached out to attorney general Michaelia Cashin June to work on it together she didn't take Labor up. Dreyfus said to introduce the bill in the final fortnight and accuse Labor of delay is "simply wrong".
Dreyfus said the bill "should not remove protections that already exist in law to protect Australians from other forms of discrimination". The committee will consider that, and "the need to ensure the provisions work as intended" and have no unintended consequences.
Dreyfus is now talking about religious diversity:
I think we can learn to embrace those differences as a wonderful boon to be embraced, not merely as a burden to be tolerated.
Dreyfus quotes the international covenant on civil and political rights, which guarantees protection of religious beliefs - but subject to the limitation that they don't infringe on the rights of others.
Dreyfus notes that Scott Morrison also promised to update laws to protect LGBT students "as soon as possible" - but then delayed, and as recently as last week said he'd wait for the law reform commission report in a year. Dreyfus notes the government will now include this protection in the package to appease Liberal moderates.
Labor MP Tim Watts has raised China's Xinjiang region and cyber attacks in a speech backing the expanded sanctions powers. (The bill passed the lower house minutes ago.)
Watts said:
In an era where democratic values are under increasing pressure, and authoritarianism gains pace around the world, both within and without countries we need to be forthright in our defence of democratic values.
Watts wasn't happy that it took so long for the government to propose the legislation and get to this stage of proceedings. It's nearly 12 months since a cross-party parliamentary committee called for expanded targeted sanctions laws.
Watts said during those 12 months, there had been disturbing human rights violations, including the military coup in Myanmar and the erosion of one-country two-systems framework in Hong Kong. He also cited "the reports of continuing mass detentions and other human rights violations against Ughyurs and other ethnic and religious minorities in Xinjiang and across China".
"In finally passing these laws, we are saying to human rights abusers that Australia will not be a bolthole for you, that you are not welcome here," he said.
Watts, the shadow assistant minister for cyber security, said the government's legislation also allowed sanctions to be imposed on individuals who perpetuate malicious cyber activity:
This is a very good step in the fight against international cyber criminals who are menacing Australian businesses and our essential services, our critical infrastructure, particularly to international ransomware crews. In Australia and around the world these criminals have wilfully targeted health and hospital networks, bringing them to their knees and putting lives at risk. We've seen no less than eight attacks on health and hospital networks this year. These cyber attacks are not just disruptive, they're not just costly, they are a threat to life. And indeed we've tragically seen deaths from ransomware attacks on hospitals in Germany and the United States. Frankly, we've been lucky there haven't been more deaths and particularly lucky there haven't been deaths in Australia. These modern day privateers regularly undertake these attacks with impunity from their host countries, and sanctions regimes targeting individual hackers, like the expanded scope included in this bill, are a useful part of the cyber diplomacy toolkit for trying to put an end to this impunity.
This is a very good step in the fight against international cyber criminals who are menacing Australian businesses and our essential services, our critical infrastructure, particularly to international ransomware crews.
In Australia and around the world these criminals have wilfully targeted health and hospital networks, bringing them to their knees and putting lives at risk. We've seen no less than eight attacks on health and hospital networks this year. These cyber attacks are not just disruptive, they're not just costly, they are a threat to life.
And indeed we've tragically seen deaths from ransomware attacks on hospitals in Germany and the United States. Frankly, we've been lucky there haven't been more deaths and particularly lucky there haven't been deaths in Australia.
These modern day privateers regularly undertake these attacks with impunity from their host countries, and sanctions regimes targeting individual hackers, like the expanded scope included in this bill, are a useful part of the cyber diplomacy toolkit for trying to put an end to this impunity.
Watt said it's not easy to attribute malicious cyber attacks. "But where it is [possible] sanctions regimes are a useful tool for responding to and deterring malicious cyber activity," he said.
The Senate has referred the religious discrimination bill to the legal and constitutional affairs legislation committee, which will now inquire into it separately to the joint human rights committee.
Both inquiries have the same reporting date (4 February).
How on earth did that happen? Well, Liberal senator Anne Ruston moved that the bills not be referred to an inquiry; Greens senator Janet Rice moved that they go to an inquiry with a 15 February reporting date; then Ruston amended that for a 4 February reporting date.
The attorney general, Michaelia Cash, and the committee chair Sarah Henderson seemed surprised:
Labor, the government and Greens all ended up agreeing on a parallel inquiry to report by 4 February. No division was called - although the Greens and Rex Patrick put on record that they would have preferred the 15th.
The separate processes opens up some intriguing possibilities. While the human rights committee only wants three public hearings, all in Canberra, the Senate committee might prefer more hearings, around the country.
The chair of the human rights committee, Anne Webster, has said she doesn't want to hear about religious exemptions to other discrimination laws, we don't know what view the other committee will take.
Deep breath. OK. There are a lot of moving parts today and the Guardian Australia team is all over them. It's a little hectic. There's more to come. But for now, please enjoy the news that Taronga Zoo is set to welcome what AAP has described as a "ridiculously cute and chubby newborn pygmy hippo".
Pygmy McPygmyFace (AKA the yet-to-be-named hippo) will arrive in time for the school holidays, and is the first pygmy hippo calf to arrive at the zoo in more than four years.
She was born to mum Kambiri and Dad Fergus in October and has been learning to swim - Taronga unit supervisor of ungulates Gave Virgona said the calf took her first step into the shallow pool in their den yesterday.
"Although it may not seem like a big step to some, it is a massive milestone for mum and calf," she said.
And here she is. Hay there!
Labor's defence spokesperson, Brendan O'Connor, has raised the plight of a Chinese citizen journalist who has been detained, and has raised concern about the Future Fund's investments, during debate on tougher sanctions laws.
Changes to toughen up Australia's sanctions laws are currently being debated in the lower house. The Magnitsky-style laws - which will allow travel bans and bank account freezes to be imposed for human rights abuses, cyber attacks and serious corruption - passed the Senate with cross-party support last night with a few amendments.
O'Connor tells the lower house it's timely that this legislation will pass before parliament rises for the year. He notes the government took eight months to respond to last December's multi-party committee report, delays that "sent a regrettable message" that Australia did not take human rights abuses seriously - but "we have finally arrived at where we should have arrived earlier".
O'Connor says that in some countries, "political leaders have sought to manipulate the circumstances of the pandemic to further weaken human rights in their own countries and unfortunately there's nothing new in that".
He tells the House of Representatives:
We have seen increasing and disturbing reports of human rights violations around the world, and in some places political leaders have sought to manipulate the circumstances of the pandemic to further weaken those human rights. As we speak today Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan is on a hunger strike and at risk of dying without the urgent medical requirements that she needs. Ms Zhang was sentenced to four years of prison in December last year for social media posts critical of the early Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan.
For more on the plight of Zhang, see this recent story.
O'Connor continues in his speech to the House:
The February 1st military coup in Myanmar was a direct attack on the country's ongoing democratic transition. The subsequent violent crackdown against those protesting the coup saw thousands of political prisoners detained and civilians killed by security forces. Ten months have passed and Australia stands alone amongst the UK, the US, Canada and the European Union in not applying additional targeted sanctions against those responsible for the violence. And now we have reports that Australia's Future Fund - the taxpayers' fund - have been investing in joint ventures which of course in some ways have assisted these human rights breaches. The opposition has written to the minister and expressed our concern about these reports. It's fair to say and I'm sure every member of this house would agree the Future Fund should not be investing in such matters, it should not be profiting from what's happened in Myanmar.
The February 1st military coup in Myanmar was a direct attack on the country's ongoing democratic transition. The subsequent violent crackdown against those protesting the coup saw thousands of political prisoners detained and civilians killed by security forces.
Ten months have passed and Australia stands alone amongst the UK, the US, Canada and the European Union in not applying additional targeted sanctions against those responsible for the violence. And now we have reports that Australia's Future Fund - the taxpayers' fund - have been investing in joint ventures which of course in some ways have assisted these human rights breaches.
The opposition has written to the minister and expressed our concern about these reports. It's fair to say and I'm sure every member of this house would agree the Future Fund should not be investing in such matters, it should not be profiting from what's happened in Myanmar.
For more on that Future Fund issue, see recent coverage by my colleagues Ben Butler and Ben Doherty:
(The Future Fund said: "In line with its mandate from government, the Future Fund has built a broadly diversified portfolio which includes passive investments through external investment managers in thousands of entities globally.")
Related: Australia's Future Fund invested in weapons manufacturers that have sold arms to Myanmar military
And on another note, the Fair Work Ombudsman has launched legal action against supermarket giant Coles, alleging it underpaid more than 7,800 employees $115m between January 2017 and March 2020.
#breaking FWO pursuing Coles for $115m alleged underpayment of 7,500 workers.#auspol #ausunionshttps://t.co/etJZ95bqsr pic.twitter.com/XSMpFGYgvr
Another chapter in the saga of the latest Senate slur.
Earlier, it was reported that Greens senator Lidia Thorpe had said to Liberal senator Hollie Hughes: "At least I keep my legs shut", which Thorpe said was in reference to something she saw that "disturbed" her.
Hughes then said, according to the SMH, that what she took from that comment was "had I kept my legs shut (then) I would't have a child with autism". (Read more about Hughes and her son here).
Now, Thorpe has issued a statement repeating her apology for the comments - the contents of which she has not confirmed - and goes on to say that Hughes' characterisation of those comments was untrue:
I thoroughly reject any suggestion that I directly or indirectly referenced Senator Hughes' family. That characterisation of my interjection is completely untrue, and more importantly, harmful to every disabled person.
If you want more scurrilous slur action, here's Paul Karp's piece again:
Related: Greens senator Lidia Thorpe apologises for 'disgusting' comment directed at Liberal Hollie Hughes
Mike Bowers has, as always, been capturing parliamentary moments for posterity. He was there this morning when Rachelle Miller spoke.
And a shot of a distinctly unimpressed-looking prime minister from last night...
Plenty of slurs in parliament in this final week - and not just at boozy end-of-year office parties.
Paul Karp has pulled together some of what's been uttered, from "boofhead" to doggy growls to accusations Greens senator Lidia Thorpe said to Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes "at least I keep my legs shut".
Read it all about it here:
Related: Greens senator Lidia Thorpe apologises for 'disgusting' comment directed at Liberal Hollie Hughes
The religious discrimination bill is being reviewed by the joint human rights committee.
Labor wasn't thrilled about that and had pushed for a joint select committee, which would have allowed more choice of which MPs and senators would conduct the inquiry.
Today, Labor has subbed out two of its human rights committee members (Pat Dodson and Nita Green) for two new members: Deb O'Neill and Louise Pratt.
O'Neill and Pratt both have a keen interest in the religious discrimination issue and the related issue of religious exemptions to other discrimination laws. One hails from the left faction (Pratt) and one from the right (O'Neill).
It seems after they didn't win the fight over the forum for the inquiry, Labor have simply switched up the committee membership. The inquiry will be considering submissions over summer, with three public hearings (21 December, 13-14 January) before a tight 4 February reporting deadline.
There ya go...
#BREAKING: The Senate has just referred the Religious Discrimination Bill to a second inquiry, parallel to the PJCHR one.
This inquiry will allow all senators to participate in hearings and scrutiny. The Government consistently refuses to have a reporting date later than Feb 4.
Apple has lost its bid to have a case brought against it by Epic Games over the banning of the hugely popular Fortnite game from the App Store stayed until litigation in the US courts is finalised.
The high court dismissed the special leave application seeking to overturn a full federal court ruling that the case in Australia can go ahead.
The ruling means the case will return to the federal court to be heard, presumably sometime next year.
Epic Games took Apple to court last year in Australia at roughly the same time as the US, after it was banned from the App Store for bypassing Apple's in-app purchasing system. This allowed people to make in-game purchases outside the Apple ecosystem without Apple taking a slice of every sale.
Since the ban, Apple has reduced the cut it takes for smaller developers from 30% to 15% of every purchase, and now allows developers to contact users outside of the app, i.e. via email, with alternative payment options.
Epic had argued in a federal court hearing earlier this year that the case should go ahead in Australia because Australian Consumer Law rights could not properly be assessed in the US courts.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has also flagged an interest in regulating the dominant Apple and Google app stores to address competition issues.
Guardian Australia has sought comment from Apple and Epic Games.
Changes to toughen up Australia's sanctions laws are currently being debated in the lower house. The Magnitsky-style laws - which will allow travel bans and bank account freezes to be imposed for human rights abuses, cyber attacks and serious corruption - passed the Senate with cross-party support last night with a few amendments.
Supporters of the new measures were a little worried this morning, after the bill was left off the daily house program for today - the last sitting day of the year.
The government hopes to have this legislation in place before the Christmas break. For more on what the bill will actually do, see our earlier story:
Related: Foreign officials and corrupt business people targeted under changes to Australia's sanctions powers
Yesterday Labor helped the government pass a bill in the Senate that will force charities to reveal their donors for all advocacy, not just work directly related to the election.
The bill has come back to the house today because it contained government and Labor amendments, which has given the crossbench a chance to criticise the deal.
Greens MP Adam Bandt said the house should not tick off "this dodgy deal". He said it was "bad for democracy" and had been "rushed through the Senate without debate or inquiry". Bandt accused the government of "silencing those who disagree" and argued that the "party of free speech wants to tie up organisations in red tape".
MP Zali Steggall also spoke against bringing the bill on immediately.
Shadow assistant minister for charities, Andrew Leigh, told Guardian Australia:
Labor strongly opposed the government's political campaigner bill as it was originally drafted, because it would have negatively impacted charities, unions, and not-for-profits engaging in legitimate public interest advocacy. When it was clear that crossbench members were refusing to block the government's attacks on our democracy, Labor managed to secure a number of changes, which will mean that fewer small charities and not-for-profits are caught up in disclosure requirements - as well as successfully defeating the attempt to introduce Trump-style voter identification laws. While the Senate amendments we've secured are the best achievable outcome for charities, a Labor government would revisit this framework.
Labor strongly opposed the government's political campaigner bill as it was originally drafted, because it would have negatively impacted charities, unions, and not-for-profits engaging in legitimate public interest advocacy.
When it was clear that crossbench members were refusing to block the government's attacks on our democracy, Labor managed to secure a number of changes, which will mean that fewer small charities and not-for-profits are caught up in disclosure requirements - as well as successfully defeating the attempt to introduce Trump-style voter identification laws. While the Senate amendments we've secured are the best achievable outcome for charities, a Labor government would revisit this framework.
The Senate crossbench - Stirling Griff, Rex Patrick, and Jacqui Lambie - dispute Labor's claims that they were refusing to block the bill, because all three were opposed to its retrospective effect.
The motion to consider the bill sailed through the lower house (54 to 5), with only the crossbench voting against it.
They're now going through amendment by amendment, which the government agreed to.
Sounds like a great soap box for crossbench opponents of the bill, and a good stalling tactic for the government before the religious discrimination bill.
NSW health minister Brad Hazzard has reminded people that the new Covid variant, Omicron, is not the only game in town. Social distancing and masks indoors are still needed, he told the ABC, and emphasised the need for testing, vaccinations, and boosters. He said:
(While) the community and the media have become focused on Omicron, Delta is still out and amongst us and we still need to be cautious in our activities. The message there is that we know this virus is dangerous, it does come out of some different forms, don't take it lightly. If you have been offered a booster come and get it, that is basically since your last shot ... if it has been six months, go and get your booster.
(While) the community and the media have become focused on Omicron, Delta is still out and amongst us and we still need to be cautious in our activities.
The message there is that we know this virus is dangerous, it does come out of some different forms, don't take it lightly. If you have been offered a booster come and get it, that is basically since your last shot ... if it has been six months, go and get your booster.
A Victorian court has dealt a blow to class actions against the state's hotel quarantine program, dismissing one claim in its current form and another entirely.
Justice John Dixon said in the supreme court on Thursday that he had dismissed the statement of claim lodged by 5 Boroughs, but granted leave for the Melbourne business to re-plead its case.
Dixon summarily dismissed the similar claim of Jordan Roberts, who had claimed to represent all the owners and employees of Victorian businesses affected by the state government's restrictions.
Both claims were made on the basis that the restrictions were a direct result of the failures in the state government's hotel quarantine program. Dixon said there was significant overlap between the two cases, and they were heard together.
Lawyers for the government had applied to the court for summary judgments dismissing the claims because they argued neither had a prospect of success.
Alternatively, they had asked the court to strike out the whole statements of claim. Dixon said the business should be able to re-plead its statement of claim despite, in some instances, failing to properly articulate an argument about how the state breached its duty of care.
The claim had, for example, not clearly articulated how breaches of hotel quarantine caused the state's second wave of Covid-19, he found. Dixon said:
It can be said that many parts of the statement of claim are properly pleaded and will not prejudice, embarrass or delay the fair trial of the proceeding or otherwise fail to disclose a cause of action or abuse the processes of the court. That said, the pleading is infected by the initial failure to properly identify the posited duty of care, which has a flow-through effect.
Last year, the state's inquiry into hotel quarantine found the speed at which the program had to be set up meant proper risk assessments were not undertaken, paving the way for mistakes in infection control.
The independent MP Helen Haines has told Parliament that the government's failure to introduce a federal integrity commission is "worse than disappointing".
Haines pointed to the government's proposed business for the day, noting the bill would not be introduced on the final sitting day of the year.
"Today we have seen the final set of bills that the government are planning to introduce to the House and I note that, as expected, there is no integrity commission bill coming from the Government," Haines said in a statement on indulgence.
She said the prime minister, Scott Morrison, had been referring this week to the same exposure draft that was published more than a year ago, and "to be clear that is not a bill before this House".
"I want to know why the government is doing this, I want to know why we haven't seen an integrity commission bill introduced this morning on the final sitting day of the year," she said.
Haines said that despite the "brave and extraordinary" move by Bass MP Bridget Archer to cross the floor last week to support Haines's bill, the government had failed to respond, despite MPs and senators urging action after her move.
It (Archer's crossing the floor) was a brave step, and it has not been taken up by the government. This is really, really disappointing, in fact it is worse than disappointing, this is the most important bill that the government should introduce and it is nowhere to be seen.
John Alexander, the Liberal MP for Bennelong, responded to Haines, saying both parties needed to work together on the issue:
If we were to enter a period of debate on this issue we might be here in another 20 years as we have been on climate change. I would suggest that we act like mature adults, enter a room, we both have our positions and start working through this document line by line until we get a resolution together, working together across this great divide to do well for the Australian people, because the one thing they want from the people of this place is integrity and our stocks are not high in that department at this time.
Rachelle Miller, who came forward to speak about the Canberra culture more than a year ago, detailing her experience after her relationship with minister Alan Tudge ended, has delivered a statement in support of women who have experienced abuse and harassment in the parliament, calling on men to begin addressing the issue.
"I am fully aware that a year ago I said my relationship with minister Alan Tudge was a consensual relationship, but it's more complicated than that," she said in front of cameras in the Mural Hall.
"I was so ashamed, so humiliated, so scared, so exhausted. I told the small part of my story I was able to manage."
Miller said the Liberal party did not have a 'women problem' but a 'men problem' and said while she had attempted to speak to the prime minister about her experience on more than one occasion, she had been rebuffed:
All I ever wanted was for the government to listen and to acknowledge our experiences in this building," she said. Yet when I spoke out, not a single member from this government contacted me to see if I was OK. One female chief of staff sent me a text and that was it. Many former staffers reached out to tell their stories and they were shocking. I'm here because the government will not listen. Despite the prime minister's claim on Tuesday that he's willing to hear our experiences, his actions have betrayed that he's not.
All I ever wanted was for the government to listen and to acknowledge our experiences in this building," she said.
Yet when I spoke out, not a single member from this government contacted me to see if I was OK. One female chief of staff sent me a text and that was it.
Many former staffers reached out to tell their stories and they were shocking. I'm here because the government will not listen. Despite the prime minister's claim on Tuesday that he's willing to hear our experiences, his actions have betrayed that he's not.
Miller said she was coming forward again in an attempt to have the parliament implement the full suite of recommendations in the Kate Jenkins' review into parliamentary culture.
Miller said she became isolated from her family and friends during her relationship with Tudge, which she alleged was "emotionally abusive" and on one occasion, was allegedly "physically abusive".
In a statement on Thursday morning, Tudge rejected Miller's claims. He said:
I completely and utterly reject Ms Miller's version of events. Ms Miller and I had a consensual affair in 2017 as both of us have publicly acknowledged. This is something I deeply regret.
Miller said she was not there because she wanted to be, but "because speaking through the media is the only way this government will listen". She said:
All of us who have survived awful experiences in this workplace, tried to reach out and seek change many, many times before we went to the media. This is our last resort. The Jenkins' review showed the perpetrators are mostly male parliamentarians with immense power over their junior victims. As the prime minister reminded us all on Tuesday, they know they can only be held accountable by the Australian people at the ballot box. They are firmly focussed on their re-election. So I'm speaking to all Australians through the media, the appalling treatment of women that happened in the early 90s when I was a teenager, is still happening today. Remember that when you vote.
All of us who have survived awful experiences in this workplace, tried to reach out and seek change many, many times before we went to the media. This is our last resort.
The Jenkins' review showed the perpetrators are mostly male parliamentarians with immense power over their junior victims.
As the prime minister reminded us all on Tuesday, they know they can only be held accountable by the Australian people at the ballot box. They are firmly focussed on their re-election.
So I'm speaking to all Australians through the media, the appalling treatment of women that happened in the early 90s when I was a teenager, is still happening today.
Remember that when you vote.
The government wants to put the religious discrimination bill to a lower house vote today, but Labor's position is to attempt to delay it until the human rights committee reports back in February.
I've done a ring around to work out where the crossbench stands.
Labor starts with 68 votes. So far Adam Bandt, Andrew Wilkie, Zali Steggall, Rebekha Sharkie and Craig Kelly have confirmed they want to delay the bill. Helen Haines is believed to have the same position. That takes them to 74 votes.
The government starts with 75 MPs (after the speaker is subtracted). Three government MPs have not committed to vote for the bill - Warren Entsch, Trent Zimmerman and Bridget Archer.
So, to win and force a vote the government would likely need to win Bob Katter and at least two of those rebels back, without losing any more in their own ranks (like George Christensen).
Sharkie told Guardian Australia:
I think that the house should receive the joint committee report before it votes. It will report before we return [in 2022] so I think it prudent to wait. Organisations such as the Law Council have said they will not make comment until they make a formal submission. I am particularly concerned that there are elements in this bill that could trump other anti-discrimination laws and so clarification from the Law Council and other learned legal professionals is critical.
I think that the house should receive the joint committee report before it votes. It will report before we return [in 2022] so I think it prudent to wait.
Organisations such as the Law Council have said they will not make comment until they make a formal submission. I am particularly concerned that there are elements in this bill that could trump other anti-discrimination laws and so clarification from the Law Council and other learned legal professionals is critical.
On Monday Guardian Australia revealed the powerful parliamentary committee had cleared Christian Porter over his declaration that a trust part-paid his legal fees with money from undisclosed sources.
Nevertheless, it concluded rules should be overhauled to uphold the "intent and integrity" of the register of interests.
The chair of the privileges committee Russell Broadbent has just given a short statement to the House about the alleged leak. He said the unauthorised disclosure was "extremely regrettable" but it was the committee's view that it would be "difficult to determine with any certainty the source of the unauthorised disclosure".
He said the leak was particularly unfortunate because the privileges committee should be setting the standard when it comes to strict adherence to parliamentary conventions.
Broadbent fired a warning shot at the press gallery:
Those in the media who decide to use and publish [leaked] material ... show their disrespect for the parliament and the important principles that underpin its work. I want to make it very clear to journalists and their publishers that a potential contempt can be committed ... this is serious. I will be writing to the journalist in question and the president of the parliamentary press gallery accordingly.
Those in the media who decide to use and publish [leaked] material ... show their disrespect for the parliament and the important principles that underpin its work.
I want to make it very clear to journalists and their publishers that a potential contempt can be committed ... this is serious. I will be writing to the journalist in question and the president of the parliamentary press gallery accordingly.
Broadbent said unauthorised disclosures corrode trust in parliamentary processes "and have a clear adverse impact on our work as parliamentarians".
Despite the government's deal with four of their Liberal moderate MPs, it's not clear that the religious discrimination bill will go through the lower house today.
Labor believes that three Liberal MPs are still holding out - Warren Entsch, Trent Zimmerman and Bridget Archer - and the fact the House is starting the valedictory speeches mean the government isn't ready.
But don't forget there are also MPs who want to add amendments to the bill that might help Labor prevent a vote today.
Liberal MP Craig Kelly told Guardian Australia:
I can't see the need to rush it through, it was only introduced the other day. There are only 10 days of parliament in the first half of next year - parliament is meant to be about debate, [the sitting calendar] is an embarrassment. This bill shouldn't be rushed for the political agenda of the prime minister.
Asked if he would help Labor prevent a vote until the human rights committee had reported back, Kelly said:
It's the first I've heard of this, but yes. I don't think this should be rushed through at all. To only have a couple of hours for debate today seems almost contempt of the parliamentary process.
Kelly wants to amend the bill to reinsert a provision allowing religious medical practitioners to object to certain procedures.
Equality Australia has said Scott Morrison's deal to win over moderates by promising to immediately make changes to the Sex Discrimination Act is a "bad deal" which offers no more than "what he's repeatedly promised and failed to deliver for three years".
Equality Australia said:
If the government is serious about fulfilling its election commitment, it would end discrimination against LGBTQ+ students and staff in religious schools by delivering simple legislation to stop schools from firing, expelling or discriminating against them for who they are. What a cynical move to make ending discrimination against gay students conditional on support for a bad Bill that will wind back hard-fought protections for LGBTIQ+ people, people with disability, women and people of faith. Our laws should protect all of us, equally, regardless of who we are, what we believe or whom we love. If MPs care about preserving protections for marginalised communities, they must oppose this Religious Discrimination Bill or at least send it to an inquiry to consider before debating it.
If the government is serious about fulfilling its election commitment, it would end discrimination against LGBTQ+ students and staff in religious schools by delivering simple legislation to stop schools from firing, expelling or discriminating against them for who they are.
What a cynical move to make ending discrimination against gay students conditional on support for a bad Bill that will wind back hard-fought protections for LGBTIQ+ people, people with disability, women and people of faith.
Our laws should protect all of us, equally, regardless of who we are, what we believe or whom we love. If MPs care about preserving protections for marginalised communities, they must oppose this Religious Discrimination Bill or at least send it to an inquiry to consider before debating it.
Under the deal offered to the moderates, the government has said it will remove the section of the Sex Discrimination Act that gives religious schools an exemption to discriminate against students based on their sexuality.
But other exemptions in the SDA, including the same provisions that relate to teachers, remain and will be subject to the Australian Law Reform Commission inquiry that reports 12 months after the RDA bill passes parliament.
The House of Representatives has kicked off with prayers and an acknowledgement of country. And so the last day begins in earnest!
On Wednesday my colleague Sarah Martin reported that the Morrison government has struck a deal with some moderate Liberal MPs to support its contentious religious discrimination bill, agreeing to make immediate changes to protect gay students from discrimination in religious schools.
Under the change agreed to by attorney general Michaelia Cash, the government will introduce consequential amendments to remove section 38(3) of the separate Sex Discrimination Act which allows religious schools to discriminate against another person on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or relationship status or pregnancy.
Christian schools are pushing back against the deal.
Christian Schools Australia director of public policy Mark Spencer told Guardian Australia:
The religious discrimination bill should be considered on its merits and voted on today to allow the possibility of passage before the election. Nobody thinks that religious freedom as an election issue is a good idea. However this shady deal on amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act is appalling. 2019 made clear it is not that simple - that is why the experts at the [Australian Law Reform Commission] should be allowed to do their job.
Spencer warned of unintended consequences because removing the section would prevent schools setting "behavioural expectations"and teaching a biblical view of sexual activity such as a prohibition on sex before marriage, or that marriage should be between a man and a woman.
Spencer said if the SDA changes are "part of the same package" then Christian Schools Australia would no longer support it.
National Catholic Education Commission executive director Jacinta Collins said Catholic schools "don't suspend or expel students based on attributes [such as sexuality]" but the NCEC would need to study the detail of the proposed change to ensure it was limited.
A Senate inquiry into the car park rorts program will report today.
The Senate finance and public administration committee has completed its report into the urban congestion fund, which will be tabled this afternoon.
The inquiry examined the commuter car park fund. In June the Australian National Audit Office released a scathing report on the $660m fund, finding not one of the 47 sites promised by the Coalition at the 2019 election was selected by the department.
Rather, sites were handpicked by the government on advice from its MPs and candidates.
The inquiry's terms of reference included considering the role of the offices of the minister, Alan Tudge, the prime minister, Scott Morrison, and deputy prime minister (at the time, Michael McCormack) in determining funding allocation.
In November the committee heard that the allocation of a $4bn urban congestion fund that the Morrison government used for a controversial commuter car parks program would "amount to corruption" if a federal integrity commission existed, according to a former New South Wales auditor general.
Crown Resorts will allow Blackstone, which wants to take over the troubled casino empire, access to private financial data in the hope the US funds management behemoth will lodge a sweetened offer.
Crown's board says the $12.50 a share in cash Blackstone is offering isn't enough. It's almost $1.50 more than Crown shares closed at yesterday but below the $13 range in which they were trading in the middle of the year.
It will let Blackstone into the dataroom so that it can "undertake initial due diligence inquiries on a non-exclusive basis so that it can formulate a revised proposal that adequately reflects the value of Crown", Crown told the stock exchange.
Blackstone has already dropped or modified many of the conditions it initially put on its bid, taking on much of the risk that Crown faces from a royal commission in WA that follows similar inquiries in Victoria and NSW that focused on money laundering taking place at its casinos and criminal infiltration of junket operators who brought high-rolling gamblers in from overseas.
Now for the latest on the pandemic front ... sadly, there have been 10 more deaths in Victoria. And the state reports 1,419 new cases; NSW 271:
NSW COVID-19 update - Thursday 2 December 2021
In the 24-hour reporting period to 8pm last night:
- 94.6% of people aged 16+ have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
- 92.6% of people aged 16+ have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine pic.twitter.com/9PNFSnMsLk
We thank everyone who got vaccinated and tested yesterday.
Our thoughts are with those in hospital, and the families of people who have lost their lives.
More data soon: https://t.co/OCCFTAtS1P#COVID19Vic #COVID19VicData pic.twitter.com/cBA74JDLgR
Quite a bit of chatter this morning on the economics front, particularly about yesterday's third-quarter GDP result, including the third-largest quarterly contraction on record.
October retail sales figures out from the RBA should be another indicator of how well the rebound from the NSW, Victoria and ACT lockdowns is going.
Looking further forward, meanwhile, there's this interesting issue about whether Australia's iron ore industry might turn out to be not very suitable for green hydrogen processes. A lot is at stake, particularly if the steel industry really does shift away from coking coal - which Australia is also a big player in globally.
The Australian Energy Markets Commission, meanwhile, has released its final determination on how to treat new storage, especially big batteries and pumped hydro. This week we flagged the wariness by virtually everybody in the electricity sector that storage was about to be disadvantaged.
AEMC chair Anna Collyer has talked up today's rule changes:
We have created one single category for storage and hybrids to register and participate in the national electricity market (NEM), called the Integrated Resource Provider (IRP). This makes it simpler and easier for anyone who provides storage or a combination of energy services to enter the market. For large batteries the rule will cut red tape, reduce costs and logistical hurdles to participate in the market. Batteries will no longer need to register twice, to both draw energy from the grid and send it out, as they currently do.
Bruce Mountain, director of the Victoria Energy Policy Centre,is not so impressed:
We all know that developing a viable storage industry is a priority as Australia rapidly transitions to variable renewable generation. The AEMC has put itself on the wrong side of the challenge. Instead of smoothing the way, it has pushed the problem to storage providers to negotiate with a monopoly, with the fall back being that if they can not get a good deal from this they can just pay regulated charges. Negotiation with a monopoly is a contradiction in terms. And even worse in many cases the monopoly here will often have a vested interest: but it has no interest in batteries disrupting their monopoly. How can this possibly be in the consumers' interests?
Who will benefit from the government's proposed anti-troll social media laws? That's a very good question. Paul Karp and Josh Taylor have waded through the murk for you. Check it out here:
Related: What are the Coalition's proposed anti-troll social media laws and who do they benefit?
Two incredible women who have had an enormous influence on 2021 - Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins - have joined Fran Kelly on ABC radio.
Australian of the year and sexual assault survivor Tame said nothing has really changed at the top level yet in the wake of a raft of allegations of sexual assault, harassment and bullying in parliament - including, of course, this week's report:
It remains to be seen if there's any actual change. That's my opinion.
Former Liberal staffer Higgins said the behaviour was "rampant" in the building long before she was there and that we were yet to see any real change:
We know there are structural needs that need to be addressed. None of this is new information."
Kelly asked Higgins, who was allegedly raped in Parliament House, if she thought the situation would be different today. She replied:
It wasn't about me, it was about maintaining power . I don't think fundamentally anything has changed internally within the building policy-wise that would stop this happening to another woman.
She does hope the handling of an alleged assault would be more sensitive now.
Back to Brittany Higgins and Grace Tame. Fran Kelly asked Tame how hard it is for survivors to talk about their trauma. Tame said it was "invariably re-traumatising":
Certainly I find it quite difficult because this is every day.
She talks about being in the limelight, and the intense public scrutiny, and how glad she is that she met Higgins, who can understand what she's going through.
If you want to really wrap your noggin around those mitochondrial donation laws and why they're so important, here's Full Story for you. Laura Murphy-Oates speaks to reporter Rafqa Touma about her family's experience:
Related: The push to end a genetic lottery for thousands of Australian families
Between 280,000 and 550,000 young Australians will be born into poverty in the next decade unless "urgent action is taken to tackle disadvantage", a new report estimates.
Disrupting Disadvantage, by the Committee for Economic Development of Australia, said Australia had made no progress against a UN commitment to halve poverty by 2030.
The report said the proportion of Australians living in poverty remained above 13%, and 17.7% of Australian children under the age of 15 were living in poverty:
Estimates of child poverty suggest that anywhere between 9.2 and 17.7% of children up to the age of 14 are living in poverty. If similar trends continue for the over 3 million children expected to be born in the next decade, between 280,000 and 550,000 of these children will enter child poverty in the future.
CEDA chief economist Jarrod Ball said:
We are still waiting to see the full impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, but there is already evidence the pandemic has further exacerbated the financial, employment and health hardships of Australia's most vulnerable. Unless Australia addresses these issues now, we will be entrenching the next generation of poverty and disadvantage. By choosing to do nothing and ignoring the need to change Australia's piecemeal social support system, we are making a choice as a society to commit too many young Australians into entrenched disadvantage.
We are still waiting to see the full impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, but there is already evidence the pandemic has further exacerbated the financial, employment and health hardships of Australia's most vulnerable. Unless Australia addresses these issues now, we will be entrenching the next generation of poverty and disadvantage.
By choosing to do nothing and ignoring the need to change Australia's piecemeal social support system, we are making a choice as a society to commit too many young Australians into entrenched disadvantage.
The report recommends an overarching national agreement between federal and state governments to reduce disadvantage and poverty, including greater data collection.
Welfare groups and other economists have said the easiest way to reduce poverty in Australia would be to lift welfare payments.
ANU research found the temporary $550-a-fortnight increase to welfare payments at the height of the pandemic last year lifted 2.2 million people out of poverty.
Josh Frydenberg also paid a tribute to health minister Greg Hunt, who is expected to confirm his resignation today:
It is a big loss for me and his electorate and the country and for the Coalition. He's my best friend in parliament. I was the best man at his wedding. We're the godfather to our respective children ... being the health minister in a once-in-a-century pandemic is a challenge for anyone. And I think that Greg has done a sterling job ... [that] Australia now has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world and one of the lowest mortality rates in the world is a credit, obviously first and foremost to the health workers, but Greg can also be proud of the part that he played in that outcome.
It is a big loss for me and his electorate and the country and for the Coalition.
He's my best friend in parliament. I was the best man at his wedding. We're the godfather to our respective children ... being the health minister in a once-in-a-century pandemic is a challenge for anyone.
And I think that Greg has done a sterling job ... [that] Australia now has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world and one of the lowest mortality rates in the world is a credit, obviously first and foremost to the health workers, but Greg can also be proud of the part that he played in that outcome.
Here's Josh Frydenberg again, this time on ABC television. He warns there will still be "ups and downs" with Covid, and is repeating his message about the recovery. Then he's gone on to the contentious voter ID laws:
The Labor party was not in favour of it and we reached an accommodation on other aspects of improving the integrity around electoral laws and various thresholds for further accountability. But at the same time, we do believe that voter IDs important and that's why we announced it in the first place, but didn't have the support in the parliament to introduce it.
Paul Karp reported on the wheeling and dealing here, and please enjoy First Dog's take on the laws here:
Related: These voter ID laws are obviously not about voter fraud because there isn't any | First Dog on the Moon
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has been on ABC radio this morning talking up the nation's economic recovery (this was a strong theme in parliament yesterday, and is sure to be a recurrent theme today).
Australia's economic recovery will hinge on households and businesses spending some of the $370b in savings socked away during the pandemic.
"From the start of this pandemic, we've had a stronger recovery in all but two major advanced economies."
- Treasurer, @JoshFrydenberg
I mentioned those pollie farewells earlier ... there's another one of huge import in the political sphere. It's ABC veteran, legend, *insert other epithets here* Fran Kelly's last day on Radio National breakfast today. She told Amanda Meade the job still thrills her but "it will be nice to breathe out a little". Fair enough! Read morehere:
Related: Fran Kelly bids a 'bittersweet' farewell to ABC's Radio National Breakfast after 17 years
Perpetrators and bullies "still believe they're untouchable", former Liberal party adviser Chelsey Potter has told political editor Katharine Murphy. Her voice joins former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins in calling for swift action after that shocking report into parliamentary behaviour this week. Murph has all the details here:
Related: Former parliament staff warn Scott Morrison to act on Jenkins review or face backlash from women
Some very Adelaide news from ... Adelaide. Former South Australia premier Jay Weatherill flew into town from his new hometown of Perth. Unfortunately, he brought Covid with him.
SA has been pretty much Covid-free, and bracing for it to come in after opening the borders on 23 November. Who'd have thought it would be the former state leader carrying it? (He wasn't the first, but still ...)
What's more, Weatherill met state opposition leader Peter Malinauskas, so now state parliament has been adjourned (although Malinauskas has now had a negative result. And Weatherill did a bunch of media interviews and had meetings with SA's movers and shakers, so contact tracers have their work cut out for them. The ABC has more details here.
We've made it. The last sitting day of the year. And what a year!
But there's still a lot to get through before the people flee parliament to go out into the summer.
We're expecting health minister Greg Hunt to announce his resignation, which of course follows Liberal MP Christian Porter's announcement he'll quit yesterday. There's a bunch of other MPs, too, who are on their way out (or onwards?).
Some late-ish news from yesterday, in case you missed it. Legislation for partial DNA donations passed - that's the mitochondrial donation bill known as Maeve's law.
There's sure to be ongoing discussion of sex discrimination commissioner Kate Jenkins' report into parliamentary workplaces. Pressure will be kept on prime minister Scott Morrison to act, and quickly.
And we're set for some more palaver over religious discrimination. Some moderate Liberal MPs have been brought over the line with late amendments but it may not be enough to get the legislation through.
Stay tuned. Our political team is all set for this monster day. Mike Bowers will bring you the visual delights, while Katharine Murphy, Daniel Hurst, Paul Karp and Sarah Martin are here to entertain and inform you. It's Tory Shepherd on the blog for now, with Amy Remeikis picking up later on. Hold on tight!