What we learned; Thursday 7 August
It’s time to wind down our coverage of what has been a big day of news. Here’s what has been keeping us busy:
Disgraced MP Gareth Ward failed in his bid to seek an injunction to stop his parliamentary colleagues expelling him from the New South Wales parliament. The convicted rapist and member for Kiama faces expulsion from parliament on Friday.
Kathleen Folbigg was compensated with an undisclosed sum after she spent two decades behind bars before having her convictions quashed. The sum was later revealed by the NSW Greens MP Sue Higginson, who was heavily involved in pressuring the government to release Folbigg after an independent inquiry, to be $2m.
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, and the Productivity Commission boss, Danielle Wood, were recorded in a hot mic moment criticising the Australian newspaper during an event at Parliament House.
Students in Australia’s major cities gathered to strike for Palestine and demand universities cut ties with weapons companies. The national class walkout kicked off at Sydney’s town hall at midday, with students walking from nearby universities carrying Palestinian flags and banners.
Finally, Labor has cast doubt on the possibility of the Trump administration transferring an Iranian-born man from US immigration detention to Australia, saying it has no knowledge of the case. The US government is threatening to deport Reza Zavvar, a 52-year-old recruiter from Maryland, to either Australia or Romania.
Thank you, as ever, for joining us today. We’ll be back bright and early tomorrow.
Updated
Gareth Ward faces expulsion from NSW parliament on Friday
Convicted rapist Gareth Ward, the member for Kiama, faces expulsion from state parliament on Friday after the NSW court of appeal lifted an injunction that had stopped the parliament acting.
The government ruled out moving a motion tonight, as urged by the opposition, and is expected to move to expel him tomorrow when the Legislative Assembly sits.
It is expected to be carried unanimously, or near unanimously, with both Labor and the Coalition indicating that they will support it.
The parliament has power to expel a member if it is necessary to maintain the integrity of the parliament and to protect itself.
It can expel a member for “unworthy conduct” that would tend to undermine the parliament’s reputation in the eyes of the public.
But it cannot exercise the power to punish a member. Ward argued that expulsion was punitive because it would trigger a byelection and he would be further punished by losing the opportunity to regain his seat.
Updated
