What we learned today, Monday 13 November
We’re going to close the blog now, but let’s recap the big headlines before we call it quits and pick it up tomorrow:
Ports will remain closed for weeks after the DP World cyber attack.
Polling shows Labor is facing a cost-of-living backlash from voters.
Whistleblower David McBride entered court to face trial.
The government will apologise to survivors of thalidomide morning sickness drug.
Monique Ryan questioned Michelle Rowland attending a lunch with gambling lobbyists last year.
The government accepted all recommendations of the robodebt inquiry.
The prime minister said “we have a responsibility to not seek to politicise these matters” when it comes to the Israel-Hamas war.
The foreign minister faced further questions on the government’s Israel position.
Optus explained the cause of last week’s 14-hour outage came as a result of a routine software upgrade.
Victorian MP Josh Burns warned Middle East protesters not to ‘intimidate local people’ after Friday’s clash in Caulfield.
We’ll be back bright and early for the second day of the sitting on the Australian politics blog tomorrow morning. Have a great night.
Burns says the government’s position on “taking steps towards a ceasefire”, as Penny Wong said, as opposed to calling for an actual ceasefire is about preventing “another cycle of violence”:
It is coded in reality, unfortunately. I say this with great sadness, because no one wants to see this conflict go on a day longer. It is devastating. And let me also say that of course I see the suffering on the Palestinian side. Of course I see that. And it is shattering, and I don’t want this conflict to go on. I also do not want it to happen again and I don’t want another cycle of violence where this is not the first time that Hamas has fired indiscriminately at Israeli citizens and Israel has responded.
What the foreign minister said clearly and what the prime minister has said is that a ceasefire is a negotiated outcome between two people and two different groups. Until Hamas release hostages and until they stop firing indiscriminately on Israeli citizens, the possibility of a ceasefire is not there.
Of course I want to see this end, want to see it and as quickly as possible, but we also have to realise what we are asking for is not going to prolong another cycle of violence.
Updated
Burns says that on Saturday afternoon he met senior police command of Victoria, the premier, the local state member, deputy liberal leader, and Zoe Daniels, the member for Goldstein, following the clash on Friday:
There were rumours of a repeat protest. There was work to be done to verify if there were further instructions for people to come. In the end, there was not, but there were incidences where people even after Friday night came to Caulfield even after Friday night and it was a much smaller group.
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Victorian MP warns Middle East protesters not to 'intimidate local people'
Labor’s member for the seat of Macnamara, Josh Burns, says events like Caulfield “can’t be” allowed to become the new normal. Pro-Israel and pro-Palestine groups faced off on Friday in the Melbourne suburb. The clash sparked the evacuation of a nearby synagogue, which protest organisers have apologised for.
Also speaking to ABC’s Afternoon Briefing, Burns, whose seat takes in the south-east suburb of Caulfield, warned protesters not to intimidate fellow Australians:
I have lived in and around Caulfield my entire life. It is my home and is where my community is and it is dangerous what happened on Friday night.
The director-general of Asio was warning us of inter-demonstration violence – of people who are clearly feeling highly anxious and tense and frankly devastated about what is happening across the world – and it is OK to feel anxious, and it is OK to be sad and feel a sense of frustration, but we are here in Australia and we are all Australians and we need to respect each other and our communities.
I fully support the right of people to protest in a way that is peaceful and it makes clear their point of view – but let me say this loud and clear: do not come to Caulfield and intimidate local people, do not come and scream at them and spit at them and throw rocks at them and see the sorts of things we saw on Friday night. It was dangerous and it cannot happen again.
… To instruct people to go into the Jewish community was not just irresponsible, it was dangerous.
Updated
Local unrest over Middle East conflict ‘deeply concerning’, Victorian MP says
Victorian MP Aaron Violi says the two recent instances of social unrest in the state – clashes in Caulfield and the desecration of the Montrose war memorial – were “deeply concerning” issues.
Violi told Afternoon Briefing:
To go to Caulfield, a strong Jewish community, as those protesters did, was highly provocative and it was designed to be inflammatory and, to be honest, to intimidate, and that is not what we need at the moment for this highly complex issue.
I know from my community, it was devastating on Remembrance Day of all days to wake up to the Montrose war memorial being vandalised with slogans calling for freeing of Palestine, clearly political slogans supporting Hamas and criticising Australia and Israel.
It was disappointing it happened but our community rallied, the local council was straight out to clean it off and the Remembrance Day memorial was able to go ahead, which was a fitting tribute for the community that put so much time and effort into getting that memorial back up and running.
That’s what we need to focus on – the positives that bring us together, not those things that divide us.
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Plane ‘cartwheels’ into Queensland backyard in attempted landing
A couple are lucky to be alive after a plane “cartwheeled end to end” in a backyard when it tried to land on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, AAP reports.
A woman in her 50s was airlifted to hospital after the light plane flown by her husband crashed near a private airstrip at Cootharaba near Noosa on Sunday.
It is believed the husband, aged in his 40s, was trying to land at the grass airstrip when he lost control of the recreational aircraft, possibly due to an unexpected wind gust.
RACQ LifeFlight rescue aircrew officer Scott Reeman said in a statement:
The light plane was coming into land on a private airstrip and ended up somersaulting and crashing into a tree.
It clipped a palm tree in a house yard while it was airborne and then cartwheeled end-to-end across the yard and clipped another tree.
The couple were able to get out of the plane’s wreckage by the time the rescue helicopter arrived.
The woman was airlifted to a Sunshine Coast hospital in a stable condition, with suspected neck, chest and abdominal injuries. The husband suffered minor cuts.
Updated
‘Quiet chatter’ about returning fuel excise cuts
Jacqui Lambie Network senator Tammy Tyrell says she would support returning to fuel excise cuts.
ABC’s Afternoon Briefing host Greg Jennett said there was “quiet chatter” about a return of the measure more than a year after it was halved.
Tyrrell said she would “love” to support fuel excise cuts, with fuel prices currently around the same price as the last time it was cut:
Prices everywhere are so high – it’s ridiculous, no one can afford to get their kids to school, doctor’s appointments, get to work.
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Good afternoon, and thanks Amy for taking us through another busy Monday in Canberra.
A very big thank you to everyone who joined along with me today –Natasha May is going to guide you through the evening – but I will be back tomorrow morning for the second day of the sitting – which is also party room meeting day.
And please – take care of you and those around you. It’s particularly rough out there at the moment.
Software upgrade behind Optus outage
Optus has explained the cause of Wednesday’s 14-hour outage came as a result of a routine software upgrade, something experts had suggested might be the cause.
A spokesperson confirmed on Monday that the cause of the outage was changes to routing information from an international peering network after a routine software upgrade at 4.05am on Wednesday. Peering is a process by which two internet networks connect and exchange traffic.
The spokesperson said:
These routing information changes propagated through multiple layers in our network and exceeded preset safety levels on key routers which could not handle these. This resulted in those routers disconnecting from the Optus IP core network to protect themselves.
The restoration required a large-scale effort of the team and in some cases required Optus to reconnect or reboot routers physically, requiring the dispatch of people across a number of sites in Australia. This is why restoration was progressive over the afternoon.
This explanation is in line with what experts had suggested might have caused the outage.
Updated
Earlier today, crossbenchers banded together to urge the attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, to intervene and drop the charges against army whistleblower, David McBride.
McBride, whose trial began on Monday, faces five charges, including the unauthorised disclosure of information, breaches of the Defence Act and the theft of commonwealth property.
Teal MPs and crossbench senators were joined by other whistleblowers, including Troy Stolz and Jeff Morris, in calling for the prosecution against McBride to end.
McBride allegedly leaked confidential defence material, which was later used to expose Australian war crimes in Afghanistan.
Under the law, Dreyfus can use special ministerial powers in “exceptional circumstances” to intervene and drop the Commonwealth’s pursuit of the whistleblower.
Goldstein MP Zoe Daniel called for Dreyfus to do so, saying “if this man goes to jail for telling the truth, it will be a national shame”.
ACT senator David Pocock accused the Labor government of being hypocrites.
It’s deeply embarrassing for the Labor government to talk such a big game when it comes to transparency [and] at the same time to be prosecuting whistleblowers. The prosecution of David McBride and Richard Boyle needs to stop.”
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Helen Haines said while she herself does meet with lobbyists, she has strict criteria around which ones she will meet with:
I have many encounters with lobbyists, many, many requests for meetings and I’m pretty careful about which ones I take. They need to be people bringing forth policy ideas that have some relevance to the people that I represent in the legislation I am trying to decipher of course. I have had an occasional encounter with lobbyists that I found a little too aggressive and I think that is highly inappropriate.
I think the key thing here is who is a lobbyist, why are they here and how much access to power do they have in contrast to people with lesser access?
MP Helen Haines on depoliticising community grants
The independent Indi MP Helen Haines is speaking to the ABC about her on-going campaign to depoliticise how community grants are awarded, when she is asked about whether or not she would ever make her support to a potential minority government contingent on receiving things for her community.
Haines says:
I am not a horse trader and right now I put the argument based on its merits. I think the government have a real opportunity here to put a stamp on integrity in this parliament. They established a National Anti-Corruption Commission as an order of priority when they came to power and I really congratulate them on that.
I was very pleased to work with people across the aisle to see that come to life and likewise are put forward the same good faith offer to work with the government to make this a reality.
I think Australia cares about integrity and I know in a cost of living crisis every dollar that a household spends, they think about that very carefully and I think they expect of government that the needs of the community are put ahead of trying to win a vote in a marginal seat.
Updated
Here is how Mike Bowers saw QT play out today:
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Climate hunger strike in Canberra continues
While Mike Bowers was covering the Palestinian rally outside parliament house, he also checked in with Gregory Andrews who is on day 12 of his hunger strike to try and get more action from the government when it comes to the climate.
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Mango the missing python reunited with owner in Sydney
Taking you from the flurry of politics for a moment to some good news.
A Sydney woman who’s two beloved pythons were dumped in Coogee several weeks ago has been reunited with both of her pets.
Last month, the woman took to social media requesting the community help her find the 2.5-metre snakes, named Bagel and Mango, who were allegedly tossed on a main street in Coogee and had been on the loose ever since.
Thanks to the help of police and residents, Bagel was found at the end of October. Today, Mango, the albino snake, has also been reunited with their overjoyed owner. They likely have quite the tale to tell.
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Push for national ban on logging native forests by independent MP
The independent MP for Mackellar, Dr Sophie Scamps, has announced she will sponsor a pledge calling on state and federal governments to “work together toward a total national ban on harvesting native timbers from our precious forests”.
All teal independents and the independent senator David Pocock are in support of the pledge.
Scamps said it was “now time for the serving politicians in the major parties to act”:
Some of Australia’s most iconic species – including koalas, gliders as well as countless other birds, mammals and reptile s- are found nowhere else in the world.
Australia’s native forests are their home and as recent events in Tallaganda state forest show, logging can further threatens endangered wildlife like the greater glider, despite practices which supposedly protect these creatures.
If Australia continues to log our native forests at the current rate, these animals may become extinct in the wild during our lifetime.
How will I look my children in the eye when koalas have been wiped out in my home state NSW – which a NSW parliamentary inquiry found could occur as soon as 2050?”
Lisa Cox has covered more on that, here:
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Question time ends
Anthony Albanese gives a Dixer answer on his recent official visits and then he calls time on question time.
Peter Dutton gives a personal explanation and says he did express remorse over robodebt.
Updated
Andrew Giles:
We moved quickly to ensure that we issued visas to impacted individuals with appropriate conditions to ensure community safety can be upheld including requirements to report regularly to the department to inform the minister of any changes to a personal details, address, social media profiles and this is in addition to state and territory requirements which go to the issues that you were talking about, shadow Minister, we have been required to release people almost instantly.
That’s the decision of the court.
We continue to consider all measures that may be available to lengthen our protection of the community.
I noted because we are yet to have the reasons for the courts decision. We have been approaching this issue in anticipation of decision because we regard community safety seriously. We continue to do so unlike members of the...
He runs out of time.
Updated
Dan Tehan asks Andrew Giles on releasing ‘hardcore criminals’ from indefinite detention:
My question is for the minister for integration citizenship and multicultural affairs. Under the Albanese Labor government the decision to release 80 hardcore criminals will result in more violent crimes against Australians. Why hasn’t this government drafted any legislation to keep Australians safe from these criminals?
Giles:
Perhaps I can begin by reminding him that all members met on last Wednesday afternoon the high court handed down the decision which required the release of individuals in indefinite detention. It handed down the decision which we of course are complying with.
I would say is any government would that if we have heard earlier, not every Australian government has complied with the requirements of the law, not respected separation of powers.
Can I say this also, speaker, the commonwealth argued against the decision ultimately that the high court maintained.
Of course we were prepared as I think the shadow minister’s question suggests, we were prepared for this outcome, because of the significance of this case.
Members would appreciate the case has overturned a precedent of nearly two decades. Throughout this, community safety has been our No 1 concern.
I say to the Australian community it will continue to be our No 1 concern. I hope that is a concern that is echoed across this chamber and in the other place.
To that end the Australian federal police and of course the Australian Border Force have been working closely with our state and territory authorities. I might make very clear that cooperation through the ABF commenced prior to the decision being handed down in recognition of apprehension of the seriousness of an adverse decision to the commonwealth. We took those steps in advance of it. We also established a joint operation with state and federal …
Just as Giles starts to address what Tehan had asked, Tehan with his impeccable timing, stands up with a point of order on relevance.
It is not a point of order. Giles continues.
Updated
Clare O’Neil uses a Dixer to say that DP World (one of Australia’s two largest port companies) have announced they are back at work:
This afternoon DP World announced that they are resuming operations at their facilities. They are expectation is that 5,000 containers will leave the ports today.
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Michelle Rowland uses a Dixer to update on the review she has ordered into Optus:
My department is currently working on the terms of reference and the government will make further announcements in due course. This will include an examination of issues such as the adequacy of regulatory settings to support access 2000 emergency services amongst other important matters.
Importantly Mr Speaker, independently, the regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority has also announced it has commenced an investigation into Optus’s compliance with rules requiring emergency calls to be successful carried from each telecommunications provider to the emergency court person which is Telstra.
Our government which judgment will carefully consider recommendations from the upcoming reviews to ensure regulatory and policy settings adapt and respond so as to keep Australians safe and reliably connected.
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‘Every Israeli and every Palestinian life matters’: Anthony Albanese
Everyone, every child, every baby, every innocent civilian.
And I say with respect to the member for Melbourne, that during this debate it does not assist, it does not assist to suggest that somehow the government or indeed any individual unless you have some basis for it, is dismissive of the loss of life of people in Gaza or in Israel.
I have met with the Islamic leadership of this country from right around the country, I’ve met with Jewish community leaders.
This is a really difficult time. Really difficult. And community cohesion matters.
And the attempt to somehow … say that Australia is engaged in on the ground action almost with some of the comments you [hear], is just not accurate and is not appropriate in my view.
We have said that we want humanitarian pauses as a necessary first step. We have said that any step on a path to ceasefire [has to be both sides].
Hamas is still bombing Israel and using human shields and holding more than 200 hostages.
I said consistently that Hamas has contempt for international law. Israel is a democratic nation has a responsibility to uphold international law and protect innocent lives and to protect civilians, including children. The message I gave here, it’s a message I give [to the leaders I’ve spoken to].
Updated
‘How many more children must die?’: Adam Bandt on ceasefire in Gaza
Back in the house and the Greens leader, Adam Bandt, asks a similar question.
My question is [for] the prime minister: Over 11,000 civilians have been killed in Gaza including over 4,000 children. The government says is concerned by the number of deaths but clearly not enough to stop backing the invasion. Prime minister, what is the number of deaths and how many more children must die before Labor will join France and most of the world in calling for a ceasefire?
Anthony Albanese answers:
We have said very clearly that Israel does have a right to defend itself. We have also said that’s the way that it does matters. And we must distinguish between Hamas and Palestinian citizens. And we have said the same thing consistently.
He goes on to say he has said the same thing to all the leaders he has spoken to.
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‘We seek higher standards’: Wong faces further questions on Israel position
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has faced questions from both the Greens and the Coalition – from opposite ends of the debate – over her comment yesterday that “we all want to take the next steps towards a ceasefire, but it cannot be one-sided”.
The Greens senator Jordon Steele-John asked “how many more children and innocent civilians must die before Labor will join France and the rest of the world in calling for a ceasefire”.
Wong said humanitarian pauses were a “necessary first step” but also acknowledged they were “not enough”. She described the situation in Gaza as a “humanitarian catastrophe”.
The Coalition, meanwhile, is highly critical of Wong’s comment about the “next steps towards a ceasefire”. The Coalition’s foreign affairs spokesperson, Simon Birmingham, challenged Wong to explain how her comments were “consistent with the position of Australia’s closest allies and partners”.
Wong replied:
I think the senator [Birmingham] declined to read what I also said – and I know he plays close attention to what I say.
I went on to say, ‘But this cannot be one-sided,’ and I pointed out that Hamas is still attacking Israel and is still holding hostages … and what I would say to you is that we have affirmed Israel’s right to defend itself and consistently said the way it does so matters.
We have said that humanitarian pauses are a necessary first step but we have stated that much more is needed, that includes the release of hostages, unconditionally, [and] that includes making sure that international law is upheld.
What I would say to the senator is: ‘Please look at the totality of that interview’ because I did seek to, in what is a very difficult set of circumstances, set out a clear set of principles about how we are approaching this.
Wong said both she and Birmingham believed that the dismantlement of Hamas would be required as part of any durable peace. She went on to underline why Israel must act in compliance with international law:
We know what Hamas is, Hamas is a terrorist organisation with a stated aim, which is the destruction of the State of Israel, and Hamas has shown complete contempt for international law.
We are a democracy and so, too, is Israel and because of who we are we seek higher standards and we accept higher standards and those standards include the application of international humanitarian law.
Updated
David Littleproud has a question on live sheep exports ban:
Prime minister, the past 12 months sheep prices across the nation have plummeted by up to 70%. Industry confidence has collapsed and farmers are being forced to the wall which has resulted in the government’s announcement to shut down the live sheep export industry. Did the government undertake any economic modelling on the impact of banning live sheep exports?
Which is interesting … because nothing has happened yet.
Anthony Albanese:
The contradiction in the leader of the National Party’s question is that he’s saying a foreshadowed policy hat hasn’t happened has had a massive impact. Has had this massive impact.
After some back and forth in interjections, Albanese says:
We will respond to this in a considered and orderly way. We appointed a four-person independent panel to consult with farmers. Communities, supply chain participants to do all this, to inform and how this policy could be implemented.
That is why we have not, we have not put a date on when the phase-out will occur. With said we will consult in the interests of a strong and sustainable future for the Australian sheep, wool and sheep meat industry. It’s one of the things we’ve been doing as well.
It must be said to negotiate on behalf of without trading nations, in order to open up, in order to open up further our exports.
Updated
Coalition ask about cost of living (again)
Sussan Ley then gets to ask a question – which is a bit late down the roster today – and it is very similar to Angus Taylor’s question:
Before the last election, the prime minister promised real wage increases. Analysis of OECD data shows in the first 12 months of his government, Australian workers have suffered a 5.1% decline in real incomes, the worst in the developed world. Yet again, the prime minister has misled the people. Why are Australians paying the price for a distracted prime minister, failing to focus on the real issues effecting Australians? Focus on the real issues affecting Australians?
So you can see where they are going with this. There is a lot of research and polls which show that cost of living is the No 1 issue for Australians, and so that is what the Coalition are narrowing their attacks down to.
(the answer is one we have heard plenty of times before)
Updated
Angus Taylor then gets a question and asks Anthony Albanese on the cost of living and fall in living standards, finishing with:
Why are Australians paying the price for a distracted prime minister, failing to focus on the real issues effecting Australians?
Albanese is also answering questions on behalf of Jim Chalmers who is not in QT. So he starts his answer with:
I am not sure in what capacity he’s asked me …
But before he can get out “given I am representing the treasurer” (the joke being Taylor never asks Chalmers any questions, despite being his shadow), Peter Dutton jumps in with:
You’re the prime minister!
Which the Coalition finds hilarious.
Moving on
Updated
Clare O’Neil on Nixon’s migration report
The home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, has given her latest version of “Peter Dutton did a terrible job as home affairs minister” with another Dixer on the Nixon review.
This time round, O’Neil says:
The Nixon report was received by the government and it made very damning findings about the migration compliance system that was set up and overseen by the leader of the opposition when he was in this portfolio.
We have seen enormous damage result from the poor management of this system and the member for Patterson is particularly concerned about violence and abuse that’s perpetrated against women and the Nixon report makes it very clear that women were predominantly the victims of the conduct that was uncovered.
We saw horrible instances of violence. We saw awful instances of human trafficking. We saw awful examples of sexual abuse and all of this was facilitated by a broken migration system that was broken by the leader of the opposition.
We take a very different approach to the management of this system. We set rules and we make sure people follow those rules.
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‘Moral consistency’: Wong highlights government’s approach to prejudice
Over in Senate question time, the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has said she is showing “moral consistency” by condemning all forms of prejudice, including antisemitism and Islamophobia.
The Coalition senator James Paterson asked about the safety of Jewish Australians. Wong said the events near a synagogue in Caulfield in Melbourne’s south-east were “utterly unacceptable” and added that “the Jewish community in this country has a right to feel safe”.
Paterson, in a follow-up question, said:
Australia’s Jewish community had expressed concern about the attempt by the Albanese government to link these violent scenes to Islamophobia. Does the government unequivocally condemn the targeting of Jewish Australians witnessed in Melbourne and Sydney, and the rise of antisemitic behaviour being witnessed across Australia?
Wong said the events in Caulfield were “a particularly upsetting, frightening event” but she would not “make an apology for always standing against all forms of prejudice and all forms of racism”.
Paterson, in his final follow-up question, asked whether the government would “undertake not to draw false equivalences in the future and to unequivocally condemn antisemitism when it occurs, as it should unequivocally condemn any other hate crimes or act when it occurs”.
Wong said:
I have unequivocally condemned antisemitism in this role and every role I have held, just as I condemn Islamophobia and all racism. And you use those words – I say it’s moral consistency – moral consistency and that’s what we will continue to do.
Updated
Anthony Albanese takes a Dixer on robodebt and ends with:
The same ideology that produced robodebt still drives them today. The leader of the opposition has nothing to offer Australia, no plans and no solutions to the challenges facing the country.
Just saying no and opposing change.
We know many people out there are doing it tough which is why we have the cost of living relief, including cheaper medicines, save $200m on 17 million scripts in the first 10 months of this year. We have invested in affordable housing, including for women and children escaping domestic violence.
We legislated energy bill relief for 5m households.
We invested in fee-free Tafe after a decade of cuts and neglects
To all of those measures they opposed those opposite continue to show a total disregard for people who are doing it tough. Just punishment, blame and vindictiveness. They never miss an opportunity to stand in the way of supporting those people who are the most vulnerable.
Sarah Basford-Canales, who is in the chamber, hears Scott Morrison quietly respond “neither do you”.
Updated
Cost of living
Peter Dutton asks Anthony Albanese:
Over the last 15 months the cost of everything has gone up under this prime minister. The latest CPI data shows food is up 8.2%, housing costs 10.4%, insurance is up 17.3%, electricity up 18.2%, and gas is up by a massive 28%. The prime minister has broken every promise made before the election and made poor decisions every day since. Why are Australians paying the price for a distracted and out-of-touch prime minister failing to focus on the real issues affecting Australians?
Albanese takes this and turns it into a Dixer answer:
I thank the leader of the opposition for his question. Once again showing he has absolutely nothing positive to offer the Australian people. Absolutely nothing. Because there are three vital ways that we’re tackling this. Getting costs down for families, getting wages up for workers and getting the budget on to a stronger foundation. And on all of those measures, those opposite oppose everything positive that is put forward in this parliament.
He has nothing positive to offer the country. He just says no to everything that is put forward, opposes change and can’t even lead his own party. He can’t even appoint a shadow minister [to replace] Stuart Robert who resigned because he’s hampered by those people on his backbench.
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PM on Israel-Hamas war: 'We have a responsibility to not seek to politicise these matters'
Peter Dutton:
The question didn’t relate to the motion before the house. It related to reckless comments by the foreign minister yesterday. The question was is this the government’s position? Can the prime minister provide a straight answer?
Milton Dick rules Anthony Albanese is in order. Albanese continues but now sounds a little angry.
Albanese:
It reiterates Australia’s consistent position in all contexts to call for the protection of civilian lives and the observance of international law. The opposition voted for that a few weeks ago. Is that now not their position?
Is that not their position now?
It acknowledged what has unfolded is deeply distressing for many in the Australian community. It condemned all forms of hate speech. The position on the Middle East is a complex one and one that we know is causing great distress for Jewish Australians, for Palestinian Australians, and for people of Islamic faith as well.
We know that we have a responsibility to not seek to politicise these matters, but to engage in a principled way going forward.
I condemn unequivocally as well the decision by some to have a demonstration in Caulfield on Friday night as I condemn unequivocally the decision to ride motorbikes through the eastern suburbs of Sydney. That sort of provocation is vital at this time, that people in positions of leadership exercise, exercise that leadership in a responsible way.
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Is government’s position on Israel same as Wong’s?
Anthony Albanese:
The transcript of yesterday’s interview say that she did not say that.
What the foreign minister spoke about was perfectly consistent with the motion that was moved in this parliament that was supported by the opposition on the floor of this parliament. That indeed we continue to support, I think it provides a principled way of moving forward. It provided for one unequivocally condemns the attacks on Israel by Hamas, asserted Israel’s right to defend itself, it also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
It condemned antisemitism. It went on to say to recognise that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people, nor their needs and aspirations. It acknowledged the devastating loss of Israel and Palestinian life and the innocence civilians on all sides suffering …
(Peter Dutton interrupts, yelling something across the table)
… And the attacks by Hamas in the subsequent conflict. It said that this parliament supports justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike. It said, which was backed up by the foreign minister yesterday, reiterates Australia’s consistent position in all context is to call for the protection of civilian life.
Dutton then gets to his feet.
Updated
The questions now begin
Peter Dutton to Anthony Albanese:
Prime minister, the foreign minister yesterday claimed Israel, in carrying out its defensive war against terror group Hamas, is breaching international law and should undertake a ceasefire. Is this the government’s position?
(This is not what Penny Wong said on Sunday)
Updated
Peter Dutton also gave a speech on that topic:
I want to again commend the 17,000 victims and survivors who shared their terrible stories and provided evidence to the royal commission.
As a House today we salute your courage.
And every victim, those who spoke up, those who understandably couldn’t, and those who ever so sadly took their own lives to end the pain, we as a House express our sorrow for what you endured.
That you had to tolerate the intolerable and we recognise that your suffering was a result of failures of many failures through society. Failures in our institutions, failures in our criminal justice and child welfare systems, and failures in leadership.
So many victims and survivors, it means the passing of time will neither have dulled their torment or diminished their trauma but I imagine every victim and survivor would want our nation todites utmost to prevent other Australians from suffering similar horrors to those which they endured.
Anthony Albanese on institutional childhood abuse
The burden of betrayal, the burden of abuse, the burden of an indifferent world which so many carried for a lifetime. Far too often they carried it to the very end. So we keep repeating the words, like a heartbeat;
We hear you. We believe you. Australia believes you.
With those words this parliament apologised for all the years when we as a nation couldn’t bring ourselves to hear.
When we chose not to believe.
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Question time begins
First, the house acknowledges the fifth anniversary of the apology to victims and survivors of institutional childhood abuse.
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‘Young voices need to be heard’: MPs to read youth-written speeches in parliament
Almost two dozen MPs from across the political spectrum will give up one of their speaking slots to deliver a speech in parliament written by a young person in their electorate.
The three-day Youth Voice in Parliament, kicking off from today, is part of the Raise our Voice campaign, bidding to improve the representation of young people in democracy.
MPs giving up their slot include independents Allegra Spender, Monique Ryan, Helen Haines and Zoe Daniel, Liberals Warren Entsch and Bridget Archer, Greens MP Sarah Hanson-Young and Nationals leader David Littleproud.
Littleproud said young Australians were the “future of our great nation”.
I am pleased to be involved in this year’s campaign because cost-of-living pressures, which is part of the winner’s speech from Maranoa, impact all of us.
The Labor senator Fatima Payman said she was “excited and proud” to present a speech on behalf of young West Australian Tara, on the subject of youth incarceration.
Young voices need to be heard by our governments and are valuable in the decision-making process. As the youngest member of the current parliament, I know it’s my responsibility to not only listen to young people, but to amplify their voices as well.”
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Pro-Palestine rally focuses on inaction of government
Much of the pro-Palestine rally has focused on anti-Labor rhetoric, with several speakers and many attenders critical of the response from Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong to the civilian deaths in Gaza.
As Guardian Australia reported over the weekend, many in Muslim and multicultural communities say they are livid at the government, and reconsidering how they might vote at the next election. Several Labor MPs have told us they have the same concerns, raising fears that Labor not backing calls for a ceasefire could have electoral impacts.
We know we’ll be voting for the Greens. Labor be threatened. We’ll be using democracy to vote for the Greens,” the MC said at the rally.
We can’t see any Labor or Coalition MPs at the rally, but a number of Greens politicians have arrived – including leader Adam Bandt, Mehreen Faruqi, David Shoebridge, Penny Allman-Payne and more. Adam Bandt addressed the crowd:
We need a ceasefire now and an end to the occupation.
What our government says, matters. So far they haven’t listened to the people.
Bandt said he hoped the government would publicly call for a ceasefire. He encouraged attenders to keep making their voices heard “peacefully”.
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‘Issuing debts to poor people is dangerous’: antipoverty advocate
You may have heard Bill Shorten talk about how the government has suspended using external debt collectors after the robodebt royal commission (he mentioned again this morning in the official response).
Well, the Antipoverty Centre, which advocates for people living in poverty, has some thoughts.
Antipoverty Centre spokesperson and welfare recipient Kristin O’Connell said the current debt collection policies were not fit for purpose:
There is no humane way to extract money from people living in poverty who cannot afford the basics.
Issuing debts to poor people is dangerous and harmful, ‘legal’ or otherwise. It only brings more of the horrifying outcomes already produced by abhorrently low payment levels: distress, hunger, homelessness and suicide. None of the announcements made by the government today will prevent this.
We call on the government to immediately cease raising and pursuing Centrelink debts until a safe system can be designed that does not recover money from people when they can’t afford to live.
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Defence procurement marred by ‘disjointed advice’ and other ‘shortfalls’, submission to parliament says
One of Australia’s biggest ever defence procurements was marred by “disjointed” advice to the then Coalition government, “shortfalls” in the shortlisting process, and a failure to follow procurement rules, an internal review has found.
The findings relate to the $45bn Hunter class frigate project, which has already been subject to critical findings from the Australian National Audit Office.
The Department of Defence has now revealed that its own internal review has found the tender process was “conducted within an accelerated timeframe”, according to a summary outlined in a submission to a parliamentary committee.
This summary said the internal review found that the planning “fell into a process of disjointed advice to government that did not include deliberate steps to maintain clear coherent goals and a procurement method commensurate with the scale, scope and risk of the procurement”.
Among the other stated findings are that Defence “did not fulfil the requirements of the Commonwealth Procurement Rules in relation to achieving value for money”.
The Department of Defence secretary, Greg Moriarty, included the summary of the internal review’s findings in a submission to parliament’s Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, which was published on Monday.
Moriarty said in the submission:
I have now considered the review report and better understand the perspectives of former Defence officials involved in the process across the four-year process from 2014 to second pass in 2018.
A number of those officials reported that successive government ministers were closely involved as the process developed and iterative advice was provided to government. This is as I would expect given the scale and importance of the proposed program.
The submission does not name those ministers and it does not make any suggestion of wrongdoing by them.
Moriarty promised that his department was making changes “to strengthen not just procurement processes but the wider capability life cycle”. He outlined six changes, including to ensure record keeping “in compliance with legislative obligations and Defence policy”.
The chair of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, Julian Hill, told Guardian Australia that the submission contained “a series of pretty startling admissions”. He said his committee would “pursue these issues with Defence in the public hearing next Monday”.
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‘No, I’m not’: Bridget Archer on whether she is concerned about retaining seat
Bridget Archer says she’s not concerned about a conservative push within the Tasmanian Liberals to oust her from her seat at the next federal election.
Last week, Guardian Australia reported some within the conservative faction, allegedly led by the former senator Eric Abetz, are eager to preselect a conservative candidate for Bass over Archer.
Asked about whether she’s concerned this morning at a press conference, Archer said:
No, I’m not.
I’m concerned about what I’ve always been concerned about, which is doing my job, representing the people of Bass to the best of my ability. That’s always my primary concern and continues to be.
Archer said it was still her intention to run for Bass preselections ahead of the 2025 federal election.
Updated
QT in 30 minutes
The first question time of the week (and the ninth last QT for the house this year) will be held in about 30 minutes, so grab what you need to get through it now.
You will most likely hear questions from the opposition on the cost of living, Australia’s position on the siege on Gaza and Michelle Rowland.
Updated
Pro-Palestine rally in Canberra gathers momentum
The crowd outside Parliament House for the pro-Palestine demonstration continues to swell, with more convoys of supporters arriving as the rally unfolds. Organisers say supporters from Sydney, Melbourne and Newcastle have travelled to Canberra for the event.
We’re expecting some Greens politicians to attend and speak at the event, but so far the rally has so far heard from Christian and Islamic leaders, and Indigenous speakers.
Where is the care for the Palestinian people?” asked one speaker, introduced as Sheikh Ahmed Abdul.
The rally includes two installations at the front: dozens of shrouded bodies, meant to represent the thousands of dead civilians in Gaza, as well as a large amount of red fabric meant to signify a “river of blood”.
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Economic sanctions against ‘coercive nations’ should be more united, Coalition says
The Coalition will push for Australia to better coordinate economic sanctions with other democracies, suggesting there could be safety in numbers when acting “against more sensitive or coercive nations” such as China.
The Coalition’s foreign affairs spokesperson, Simon Birmingham, floated the idea of a Senate inquiry into the issue, saying he would push for one after he consults with experts on the terms of reference.
In a speech to the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA) in Canberra today, Birmingham raised questions about “whether sanctions are applied uniformly enough, widely enough and effectively enforced enough to achieve maximum impact”.
He said:
A clear example relates to ongoing concerns of human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region of China. Prior to the last election Senator [Penny] Wong, in an address to the AIIA, called on the Morrison government to: “consider targeted sanctions on foreign companies, officials and other entities known to be directly profiting from Uyghur forced labour and other human rights abuses”.
At the halfway mark of their first term, no such action has been taken by the Albanese government.
Birmingham said there was merit in considering a proposal “to better align sanctions and to find ways for jurisdictions to more quickly and frequently adopt the sanctions applied by like-minded nations”, while also considering provisions like seizing assets (not just freezing them). He said:
As well as improving the efficacy of sanctions that are applied by multiplying the impact on perpetrators, such an approach could also give nations greater protection or confidence in applying those sanctions in the first place, especially against more sensitive or coercive nations.
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Dreyfus says legislative options on the table after indefinite detention decision
The attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, has responded to the NZYQ high court decision ruling that indefinite detention is unlawful, confirming legislative options are on the table to respond.
Dreyfus told reporters:
I can assure the Australian community that the first priority of the government is to keep our community safe. There will be appropriate visa conditions and the commonwealth government will be working with state and territory criminal justice agencies, who, of course, are primarily responsible for each of the people concerned. All of these people have already had interactions with the state and territory criminal justice agencies in question.
Asked if a legislative fix is under consideration, he said:
Of course we are considering [it] and I’d make the point that the former government did absolutely nothing to prepare for the eventuality which has occurred because of the high court’s decision.
Dreyfus did not clarify whether this would consist of attempting changes to redetain people, or allowing the judiciary to order continuing detention, saying only that the government “will act in accordance with the law”.
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Robodebt response: funding boost for Commonwealth Ombudsman and Attorney-General’s Department
The statement on the government response to the robodebt royal commission has been released, which includes:
The Government’s response to the Robodebt Royal Commission includes additional funding for the Commonwealth Ombudsman to boost its oversight of government agencies, and new funding to reinstate the Administrative Review Council to support better decision‑making across government.
The Attorney‑General’s Department will also receive additional funding for the Office of Legal Services Coordination and the Office of Constitutional Law to improve how legal risk is identified and how legal advice is provided to Cabinet, and new funding to develop a legal framework to support automated decision‑making in appropriate circumstances and in a manner that is consistent with the principles recommended by the Royal Commission.
And there are also the thank yous:
Throughout the Royal Commission we saw courage, leadership, and ethics on display from victims, advocates and whistleblowers. To those who shared their stories with the Royal Commission – thank you.
Again, the Government thanks Commissioner Holmes AC SC and her team for their dedication, professionalism, and forensic work on the Royal Commission.
As for potential for further action?
The findings and referrals made by the Commissioner in the confidential chapter of the Report are not addressed in the Government’s Response. Investigations into these matters are being undertaken by the appropriate authorities.
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Young people think they are financially worse off than parents, study shows
Prof Lucas Walsh, the study’s lead author, said the barometer highlighted “wider concerns” about the rising costs of living, housing unaffordability and the lack of stable and sufficient employment.
“In 2022 53% of young Australians thought they will be financially worse off than their parents. This increased to 61% in 2023. Young people, like most of us, seek security. Secure accommodation. Secure employment. Secure relationships. A secure planet. All of these are currently challenged by multiple disruptions in recent years.”
Co-author of the report Blake Cutler said young people were bearing the brunt of the cost-of-living crisis, but were pursuing action in alternative ways.
The report found that young people were politically engaged, but more commonly through the form of protesting and awareness raising, rather than formal politics.
Cutler:
There seems to be a never-ending series of crises that make our headlines – the climate, housing, insecure work, cost of living. While these concerns affect us all, the … barometer indicates young people are actively taking matters into their own hands. It’s a crucial time for us all to listen and take action.
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Most young people have felt financial stress this year, study shows
Nine in 10 young people have experienced financial stress in the past year as cost-of-living pressures bite, the annual Australian Youth Barometer shows.
The national study, led by the Monash University’s faculty of education, interviewed more than 500 Australians between 18 and 24.
It found nine in 10 experienced some level of financial difficulty, and four in 10 feared they may not have a comfortable place to live in the next 12 months. One in five experienced food insecurity.
The barometer also found a high level of work insecurity and casualisation amongst young people. Some 44% experienced unemployment in the past year, rising to 50% of youth who’d participated in the gig economy. More than four out of five were seeking additional training or advice to improve their odds of pursuing a career.
(Continued in next post)
Updated
Large pro-Palestine protest outside Parliament House
There’s a large pro-Palestine protest on the front lawns of Parliament House this afternoon, with several hundred people demonstrating against civilian deaths from Israel’s operation against Hamas in Gaza.
Dozens of Palestinian flags are flying alongside banners bearing messages including “free Palestine”, “ceasefire now”, and “stop war crimes”. There are also a number of CFMEU and NTEU union flags.
Several chants at the beginning of the rally have accused the federal government of supporting genocide. One speaker criticised prime minister Anthony Albanese’s response, noting his previous strong public support for Palestinian causes, but now not calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
“What happened to you Albanese? When you got our vote and went into federal parliament, you turned your back on the people,” the speaker said.
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The government may be accepting all 56 recommendations of the royal commission into robodebt, but on Catherine Holmes’s critical comments about how documents were kept “secret” by being made cabinet in confidence, the government won’t be making changes.
It had been commented that there could be changes to the freedom of information act to allow access to documents, but the Labor government won’t be making any changes there.
Mark Dreyfus says it was a “closing comment” and not an official recommendation.
Updated
Government’s full response to robodebt inquiry – link
If you want to see the official response to the robodebt royal commission, you can find it here.
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The Guardian’s Paul Karp is at this press conference and he asks: “How long before we see some more robo-justice? And for the other ministers, is there any update you can give on the Public Service criminal or Nacc (national anti-corruption commission) investigations?”
Katy Gallagher gives the answer here:
There are 16 investigations, or 16 referrals to the Public Service Commissioner. All of those 16 investigations have commenced.
In terms of the Nacc though, one of the rules of the Nacc is that you don’t talk about what is happening with the Nacc.
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‘We want advice from the APS’: Katy Gallagher on robodebt failings
Katy Gallagher spoke on the robodebt royal commission and said:
I think one of the issues that was highlighted during robodebt was the public commentary and messaging by ministers, which made it clear they didn’t want to take advice from the APS (Australian Public Service).
We value advice. We want advice from the APS.
Whether that’s contested, whether it’s advice we want to hear, it’s an important role for the APS to be able to be in a position where it’s able to provide that advice.
And I think another significant failing in the scheme that was highlighted by the Robodebt royal commission was that that environment was not one that the former government sought or encouraged, and that affected, I think, the longevity of the scheme and the impact on hundreds of thousands of Australians.
Updated
Bill Shorten – and the other ministers here at the press conference, including Mark Dreyfus, Katy Gallagher and Amanda Rishworth – are now saying that it is up to the Coalition, and Peter Dutton in particular, to respond to the report.
Updated
Government accepts all recommendations of robodebt inquiry
The government has accepted, either in full or in principle, all 56 recommendations of the robodebt royal commission.
Bill Shorten says:
Robodebt was a cruel and crude mechanism. It was neither fair nor legal. It treated everyday Australians as criminals, guilty till proven innocent.
I thank the work of the commissioner, Justice Catherine Holmes. I thank all the advocates, the activists, the victims, the whistleblowers, who gave such compelling evidence. There were 100 witnesses over 46 days of hearings.
The commission, as you know, handed down and made 56 recommendations across government, represented by the ministers here.
The Albanese government is accepting in full, or agreeing in principle, to all of the 56 recommendations.
The government’s already begun to move on a lot of these recommendations.
In my portfolio, there are 26 recommendations. Even in the last week, we’ve announced 3,000 extra staff to make sure that we can process payments in a timely and accurate fashion.
We’ve stopped using external debt collectors, which was a feature of the previous scheme under robodebt.
We’re improving our communications with people who use our system.
Most importantly, under the Albanese government, we don’t think that people who use our social security system are second-class Australians.
We do not believe in a war on the poor.
Updated
The government is going to release its response to the robodebt royal commission at noon.
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Monique Ryan questions gambling lobby lunch
The independent MP Monique Ryan has responded to a report that communications minister Michelle Rowland attended a lunch with gambling lobbyists last year, saying events like that don’t pass the “sniff test”.
Rowland attended a lunch by Responsible Wagering Australia – lobbyists who represent Sportsbet, Ladbrokes, and Bet365 – last November, the Australian Financial Review reported on Monday.
The lunch, held at one of Melbourne’s top restaurants, was labelled a “policy briefing”.
It comes as Ryan is introducing a private member’s bill on Monday, which aims to crack down on lobbyist influence and reveal ministers’ diaries.
In a press conference about her legislation Ryan said the minister’s actions would not be allowed if her bill were to pass:
What I’m hoping with this bill is to shine a light on the activities of our ministers in their meetings with industry …
Now, the fact is that what Michelle Rowland did in [November], having a policy briefing with members of the gambling industry in the restaurant, is entirely legal. But I don’t think that passes the sniff test and that’s not what my constituents want.
Rowland’s office says all the rules were complied with. A spokesman for her office said:
The Minister complies with all relevant guidelines for both declarations and travel, including the Register of Members’ Interests, and the Parliamentary Business Resources Framework.
The Government takes its responsibility to minimise gambling-harms very seriously. We’ve launched BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register, will introduce mandatory classifications for video games with gambling-like content from next year, rolled out new stronger consumer taglines, and have legislation before the Parliament to ban the use of credit cards for online wagering.The Government is also currently working through the recommendations received as part of the House of Representatives inquiry which will inform further reforms to reduce gambling harms”.
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Anti-windfarm petition is 'unethical', Labor MP says
A small number of signatures on an e-petition calling for the House of Representatives to prevent an offshore windfarm being built off the New South Wales coast were allegedly collected via “unethical means” and may pose a “serious risk to the integrity of the petition system”.
Speaking in the House of Representatives a short time ago, the Labor MP and chair of the standing committee on petitions Susan Templeman said the committee had requested an analysis of the 11,291 signatures after the Illawarra Mercury reported allegations that a resident was offering beautician service giveaways in exchange for people signing the petition.
Templeman said the analysis found a duplication of nearly 200 names, with people appearing to sign the petition more than once under different email accounts.
It comes after claims the campaign against the proposed offshore windfarm zone in the Illawarra region has been mired by misinformation, particularly that wind turbines kill whales despite there being no credible evidence to back this claim.
In response to the finding, the committee will now require all signatories to check a box to confirm they’ve only signed the petition once.
Templeman said:
The committee is aware that a small number of signatures on the petition may have been collected through unethical means. We consider this to be a serious risk to the integrity of the petition system.
Speaking after Templeman, Alyson Byrne, the member for Cunningham which takes in the area where the windfarm is proposed, said she was concerned by an allegation put forward by a resident that members of a local group against the proposal called the Coalition Against Offshore Windfarms had told community members during a meeting in late September to make multiple submissions.
Byrne said in parliament:
What I find most concerning is that this approach was not made in error, or from a lack of knowledge about the petitions process. But with the full intention to distort the scale of this particular petition.
Updated
Independents get busy in the House of Representatives
The house has had a busy start to the morning – at least for the independent MPs.
Monique Ryan has introduced her bill to put some boundaries around lobbyists. Kate Chaney seconded that.
Zali Steggall has introduced a bill for truth in political advertising (also seconded by Kate Chaney)
And Helen Haines has moved a motion to try to de-politicise how community grants are awarded (supported by Liberal MP Bridget Archer).
Haines said:
Both the Labor party and the Coalition are guilty of misusing grants programs to win votes during election campaigns.
Community groups, led by hardworking volunteers, can miss out on money, not because their grant application wasn’t good enough, but because the responsible minister decides to give the money to someone else, against the advice of their own department.
Grants funding is vitally important for volunteer-led organisations, not-for-profits, small businesses and local governments to support communities, particularly in regional, rural and remote areas.”
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‘Dark chapter’: government to apologise to survivors of thalidomide morning sickness drug
On Wednesday the government will formally apologise to Australians impacted by thalidomide, a sedative drug which was supposed to help with pregnancy nausea, but resulted in malformation of limbs, facial features and internal organs in unborn children.
A national site of recognition will also be unveiled on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin at a ceremony on 30 November.
Anthony Albanese:
The thalidomide tragedy is a dark chapter in the history of our nation and the world.
I recognise that the survivors, their families, friends and carers have advocated for this apology with courage and conviction for many years. This moment is a long overdue national acknowledgment of all they have endured and all they have fought for.
In giving this apology, we will acknowledge all those babies who died and the families who mourn them, as well as those who survived but whose lives were made so much harder by the effects of this terrible drug.
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RBA expects inflation to decline ‘more gradually’ than previously expected
Marion Kohler, an acting assistant governor of the Reserve Bank, is speaking now at a UBS conference in Sydney.
Borrowers wondering if the RBA might be about to lift its interest rate again – recall the Melbourne Cup rate hike last week – next month will probably feel just as nervy as they did before Kohler began.
Kohler’s focus was mostly on the labour market and the ways the RBA tries to infer how close we might be to full employment (part of the bank’s mandate along with keeping inflation in check).
“We currently expect a further gradual easing in the labour market resulting from a period of below-trend growth in aggregate demand for goods and services,” she concludes. “We expect inflation to continue to decline, but more gradually than anticipated three months ago.”
In sum, Kohler’s view echoes the RBA’s updated statement on monetary policy that we saw last Friday.
There is one interesting chart showing how by most measures, the labour market remains relatively tight compared with the past couple of decades. Even on this point, though, Kohler says “we need to be careful” not to read too much into it.
There is no mechanical link between this dashboard and our overall view of the labour market,” she says (blunting a few headlines right there).
RBA's acting assistant governor Marion Kohler has provided this interest chart at a conference in Sydney to show how, on most measures, labour market conditions remain 'relatively tight'. The conditions, though, are easing. pic.twitter.com/7lP0yGbiu1
— @phannam@mastodon.green (@p_hannam) November 12, 2023
Still her comments will be reviewed in light of a couple of big data points this week. We get September quarter wage price index figures on Wednesday (with the CBA for one predicting an annual increase of 3.8%).
And on Thursday we get October labour market numbers. The jobless rate was 3.6% in September and the CBA tips that will rise to 3.7% when we see October’s numbers.
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Sydney drivers will pay $123bn in tolls by 2060 without reform, modelling shows
Drivers in Sydney will have paid $123bn in tolls by the year 2060 if long-term tolling contracts entered into by successive governments are fulfilled.
The toll bill over the next four decades was modelled by the New South Wales treasury and transport department, as the Minns Labor government moves to reform tolls in the capital. The toll bill from the new WestConnex alone is $64bn out to 2060, the government said.
While a $60 per week toll cap will come into effect on 1 January, the government will likely have to pay compensation to corporate tollway giant Transurban if it is to achieve significant changes to Sydney’s toll road network.
A review into Sydney’s patchwork toll road network has so far floated the idea of splitting the city into geographic zones, so that any drivers accessing any number of toll roads within a zone would pay the same fee – and the toll burden that western Sydney roads currently bear the brunt of would be better shared with eastern suburbs residents.
John Graham, the NSW roads minister, said “a 30 year-old driver today will reach retirement age before some existing toll contracts expire, which is why it is critical we let the light shine in here and debate the merits and the long-term costs of how our tolling system is structured”.
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Dreyfus could end prosecution of McBride with ‘flick of his pen’, Shoebridge says
This is what David Shoebridge’s contribution to the Senate boils down to:
We say this. There is one person who can stop this, one person who can actually listen to the truth and listen to all of that rhetoric we got from Labor when they were in opposition.
And that person is the Labor attorney general Mark Dreyfus, who with a flick of his pen could end the prosecution of David McBride, who faces the very real prospect of years and years in jail simply for telling the public the truth about war crimes.
… What does Australia stand for when we have compelling evidence of troops committing war crimes, and the person we prosecute, the person the Albanese government wants to jail, is the lawyer and the whistleblower?
Labor is not in favour of the motion – which means it will fail, unless the Coalition jumps in to vote with the Greens.
Updated
Greens senator David Shoebridge is now moving a motion in the Senate in support of whistleblower David McBride.
Penny Wong is interrupting to bring up the Senate’s subjudice convention (which means they don’t use their parliamentary privilege to talk about court cases and McBridge’s case is in front of the supreme court today).
Shoebridge says his comments are aimed at the executive (the government) and not the court case.
Updated
So far on that motion, the Coalition is abstaining from the vote, so the government is winning on the numbers, with the Greens voting against it.
The Greens are against the legislation, which will allow carbon waste to be exported and buried at sea. Last week, the Greens successfully put off the vote with the Coalition’s assistance. But the Coalition isn’t against the legislation itself. And it looks like that today, the Coalition is willing for the bill to go through.
Push to change Senate hours to pass climate change bill
Back in the Senate and this is what Anthony Chisholm is trying to get the Senate to agree to:
That: “Divisions may take place after 6.30 pm for the purposes of the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Amendment (Using New Technologies to Fight Climate Change) Bill 2023 only; and (d) the Senate adjourn without debate after consideration of the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Amendment (Using New Technologies to Fight Climate Change) Bill 2023 has concluded, or at 8 pm, whichever is later, or on the motion of a minister.”
Which is Senate speak for – we really want to get this bill dealt with today and passed, please stop playing games and vote on it.
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Whistleblower David McBride says ‘today, I serve my country’ as he enters court to face trial
David McBride has declared “today, I serve my country” as he entered an ACT court to face trial for the alleged leaking of material later used to expose Australian war crimes in Afghanistan.
The trial of McBride is due to begin today in the ACT supreme court, where he faces five charges including the unauthorised disclosure of information, breaches of the defence Act, and the theft of commonwealth property. He has pleaded not guilty.
A significant crowd of supporters gathered in front of the ACT supreme court on Monday, hearing speeches from Human Rights Law Centre senior lawyer Kieran Pender, Julian Assange’s Australian lawyer Stephen Kenny, and representatives from the Community and Public Sector Union, among others.
McBride arrived in court and spoke briefly to the crowd. He said.
Today I serve my country. The question I have for you, Anthony Albanese is, who do you serve?
McBride, a former military lawyer, allegedly leaked material to the ABC, which formed the basis of a 2017 series of war crimes titled “The Afghan Files”.
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Parliament sitting begins
The parliament sitting has just begun and Labor has kicked off business in the Senate with a motion to suspend standing orders to change the Senate schedule and sitting hours.
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Opposition criticises freeing of people from immigration detention
The shadow home affairs minister, James Paterson, has responded to news that 80 people so far have been released due to the high court decision on indefinite detention.
Paterson told reporters in Canberra:
This is contrary to the advice that the minister Murray Watt gave the Senate last week when he said no one other than the applicant in the case NZYQ would be released until the high court has handed down a decision.
Well, the high court has not published the reasons for its decision. And those people have been released. We don’t know who they are, we don’t know where they are, we don’t know what crimes they have committed. And I have no confidence that the government is taking all the steps necessary to protect Australians from the rest of these people pose to us because we do know some of them have committed, serious, violent, and sexual crimes and others have violated the character provisions of the migration act so much so that many other countries in the world are unwilling to take them and they’re now being released on to the streets.
They should have put in place measures to protect the community. I’m astonished that they still have not reached out to the opposition to say, they have a plan to deal with the problems that these are people could cause the community.
Paterson said he is surprised there isn’t already draft legislation.
He said:
There are interim steps that the government could and shouldn’t put in place before … that do not relate in any way to the indefinite detention of these people, but measures to control them in the community. I’m not convinced that only issuing visas with conditions attached them is sufficient, given that the high court already found that these people cannot be detained, pending that deportation, which is what normally happens when someone breaches a condition on their visas.
I’m open-minded about electronic monitoring. And any other method which gives the community confidence that these people are going to be monitored, that they’re behavior is going to be controlled and that they don’t pose a risk to the community.
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‘We cannot allow this conflict to divide us’: Wong
On the protests, Penny Wong said yesterday on Insiders:
I think a protest near a synagogue was not the right thing to do, and I think the organisers know that, you know, which is why they have apologised. I want to say this, all Australians, including, you know, our Jewish community, have a right to be safe and to feel safe, and no one in this country should be fearful because of who they are or their faith.
What I would say more broadly, David, is this, I understand, we all understand how distressing these events are. There are people who have lost family, people who have lost friends, people who feel deeply about these issues, these are traumatic images, the loss of life.
We must all work to ensure that distress does not turn into hate and anger. We cannot allow this conflict to divide us. We have to remember each other’s humanity, we have to remember that we are all Australian, and that this is a country that people want to come to because we are respectful and we are accepting, and we don’t believe in division and hate.
So I would say to all Australians, and particularly to community members, your distress is, we understand the distress, but let us not let that distress turn to anger and hate in a way that divides us, and that is too much, we are seeing too much of that.
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Penny Wong’s Insiders appearance: ‘We all want to take the next steps towards a ceasefire’
Given that it is going to be a topic that runs through today, here is part of the transcript of Penny Wong’s interview on the ABC’s Insiders yesterday.
This will come up in question time and it has been a topic of several interviews today. The Coalition has taken a very hard line on this, so they will use Wong’s language here to try and make the case the government is wavering. However pro-Palestine protests in Australia are growing, as more news comes out of Gaza over what civilians are being made to endure, with the death toll approaching 12,000 people (not counting those trapped in rubble), with children making up at least 40% of those having died from Israeli airstrikes.
David Speers: "Let’s turn to the Israel‑Gaza war. Look, you called for restraint at the start of this conflict. Do you think Israel is showing restraint?”
Wong:
Look, I am deeply concerned by the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza as are so many in the world, and by the loss of life, and I’m deeply concerned, as others are, about the sort of destruction we are seeing.
What I would say is this: we called for humanitarian pauses as a necessary first step. I’ve seen the comments of President Macron overnight. What I would say is we all want to take the next steps towards a ceasefire, but it cannot be one‑sided. Hamas still holds hostages, Hamas is still attacking Israel.
I would also continue to say, as you pointed out, I called for restraint in my very first response and was criticised by Peter Dutton. How Israel defends itself matters, and when we affirm Israel’s right to defend itself what we are also saying is Israel must comply and observe international humanitarian law.
Now we know Hamas is a terrorist organisation, it’s demonstrated that it has no respect for international law, but Australia is a democracy and so too is Israel, and the standards that we seek and accept are higher, and international humanitarian law is very clear about the principles that need to be applied by Israel. They are distinction, they are precaution, and they are proportionality.
Speers: “So just on the ceasefire argument, as you mentioned, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, has said that he is calling for a ceasefire. You just said you would like to see the steps taken towards a ceasefire. Can I just invite you to tease out what sort of steps are you looking for?
Wong:
Well, we need steps towards a ceasefire because we know that Hamas – it cannot be one‑sided – we know that Hamas is still holding hostages and we know that a ceasefire must be agreed between the parties.
But we can also say that Israel should do everything it can to observe international humanitarian law. We have seen a harrowing number of civilians, including children, killed. This has to end. And we are particularly concerned with what is happening with medical facilities.
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Labor is facing a cost-of-living backlash from voters, poll shows
AAP have taken a look at the latest Resolve poll, published in the Nine newspapers:
Many Australian voters are worried about the cost of living and are now less likely to back the Labor federal government, although Anthony Albanese remains the preferred prime minister.
Some 50% expect the economy to become worse in the next three months, a Resolve poll published in Nine newspapers on Monday shows.
More than half (52%) say the cost of living is their biggest priority, up from 32% at the end of last year.
Households have weathered a series of interest rate rises, which has pushed up the cost of mortgage and other loan repayments, as well as high inflation, which has impacted the cost of goods and particularly petrol.
Some of this was being driven by the flow-on effects from the war in Ukraine, but research company Resolve Strategic said there was little doubt support for Labor in the electorate was edging lower.
Labor’s “core” or primary support has fallen to 35%, from 37% in the past month, against the coalition which slipped to 30% from 31%.
“Most Australians cannot see an end to above-average inflation in the near future and are expecting rates to rise while their wages remain stubbornly fixed,” Resolve director Jim Reed told Nine newspapers.
However, Albanese is still the preferred prime minister at 40% to 27% for opposition leader Peter Dutton.
Resolve pollsters surveyed 1,602 voters from 1 November to 5 November, ahead of the Reserve Bank raising interest rates for the 13th time in more than a year on 7 November.
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The parliament sitting will officially get under way at 10am.
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Tanya Plibersek says pro-Palestine protests ‘peaceful and ‘part of democracy, drawing ire from Bridget McKenzie
Asked about the pro-Palestine protests, Tanya Plibersek said:
I think it’s really important that people are able to peacefully protest in a democracy like Australia. Of course, the decisions about how those protests take place, where they take place, they are matters for state governments, as are policing matters more generally. And, you know, one of the important things to note, I think, is that the protests we’ve seen in Sydney in recent days have been well‑behaved and peaceful. Well, that’s just part of democracy.
The Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie, who was filling in on the segment for Barnaby Joyce (who got married on the weekend), wasn’t satisfied with that answer:
I mean for Tanya to pit these protests as peaceful really is misinformation par excellence. Our Australian Jews are currently being intimidated, threatened and assaulted in their homes, in their businesses and on the streets of Australia, which is unacceptable. And when you look at calls for state governments, you know, needing more money from Canberra to actually police these rallies, what state governments need to be doing, not just here in New South Wales, but in my home state of Victoria as well, is actually prosecuting these perpetrators so that our Australian Jewish community can feel safe through this time. And right now, because of the foreign minister’s equivocation yesterday calling for a ceasefire as if there was some equivalence between the actions of Hamas and the actual reality of war is absolutely appalling, and it needs to be highly condemned.
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Gaza civilian casualties ‘unacceptably high’, Plibersek says
Tanya Plibersek was asked about Penny Wong’s comments about Israel and Hamas working towards a ceasefire while on the Seven network and said:
I think what the foreign minister said is that we should be working towards a ceasefire, and just as the government has been very clear that Israel has the right to defend itself, we have also said that it’s important how that occurs, and that of course we should be seeking to minimise civilian casualties, and particularly in hospitals, and those vulnerable facilities in Gaza.
We know that every civilian death is a tragedy. We have consistently said that the Hamas attack on Israel was horrific and unacceptable and that hostages need to be released immediately. But working towards a ceasefire, calling for a humanitarian pause, that is a recognition that the civilian casualties in Gaza at the moment are very high, unacceptably high.
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With *everything* going on at the moment, you may have missed the Tuvalu agreement struck at the Pacific Islands Forum. Daniel Hurst has looked at how the rest of the world has reacted:
Australians ‘muddling through’, ANZ boss says as bank posts record $7.4bn profit
ANZ chief executive Shayne Elliott said Australians were “muddling through” the challenging economic conditions, after the bank posted a record annual cash profit of $7.4bn.
The result, for the 12 months to the end of September, was up 14% over the year.
The banking sector has profited from a period of steep rising interest rates, by taking advantage of the higher rates they charge loan customers compared with the interest they pay savers.
While acknowledging that it was difficult for those in financial stress, Elliott said only a small number of mortgage customers were in hardship:
They’re actually muddling through pretty well. That again speaks to the strength of the economy, the fact that people have been able to work through.
The official cash rate now sits at 4.35% after the Reserve Bank hiked it again last week, in the central bank’s 13th rate rise since May last year.
The bank’s chief gauge of profitability, net interest margins, increased to 1.7%, from 1.63% a year earlier.
ANZ’s profit result was slightly lower than analyst expectations.
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Minister focuses on multicultural cohesion
Pressed on why he wouldn’t call for a ceasefire, Andrew Giles says:
We have seen a considered and careful response by the Australian government through foreign minister Wong pushing towards the sort of outcomes that I think every Australian was to see.
Giles then pivots:
In the last few weeks as minister for multicultural affairs I’ve spent an extraordinary amount of time engaging directly with Australians who have a close personal connection to this conflict.
Palestinian Australians, Jewish Australians and members of the wider Arab and Muslim communities and I’m, of course, deeply affected by every one of these conversations.
All of us, wake up to the news and are affected by it. But for so many in our communities it is deeply personal and deeply affecting.
My focus as minister for multicultural affairs has been maintaining cohesion, and maintaining connection to communities to a government process. That is what I have been focused on.
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Andrew Giles pressed on why he isn’t calling for a ceasefire
During the 2014 Gaza war, when 2,251 Palestinian citizens were killed in 50 days by Israeli airstrikes, Andrew Giles was one of the politicians in Australia calling for a ceasefire.
He was asked why he wasn’t doing that now, given that more than 11,000 Palestinian citizens have been killed, including 4,500 children.
Giles said:
Well, it’s 2023, not 2014.
What I’m doing now along with my colleagues and I’m so pleased to have the opportunity to work with Penny Wong, who [has been] such a consistent, effective and considered voice on these issues calling on Israel to honour its commitments both to international law and to protect the innocent lives that we’re seeing.
Innocent lives on all sides of this conflict.
This is what we must not see continue.
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Humanitarian pauses in Gaza ‘a necessary first step’, minister says
Andrew Giles was also asked if he wanted to see a ceasefire in Gaza and said:
Well, I mean, sure, I think what we all want to see is the next steps towards a ceasefire and a political process, towards a just and enduring peace.
And in saying that, that’s been the trajectory, I think that the Australian government, the Australian people, have been looking towards – humanitarian pauses as a necessary first step.
This of course, isn’t something that can be one-sided and we know that Hamas are still using human shields and holding more than 200 hostages.
But in affirming the right of Israel to defend itself after the horrific attack by Hamas on October 7th, the way in which Israel defends itself clearly matters. It matters for innocent civilians.
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‘We have taken every step to ensure community safety’
Back to immigration minister Andrew Giles for a moment (apologies for leaving it – I had a slight tech fail with the transcription but Paul Karp came to our rescue).
Giles was asked if the community was safe, after the release of people in indefinite detention in the wake of the high court decision. He said:
We have taken every step to ensure community safety. That’s something I really want to impress upon your listeners.
But we’re not pausing on what was available to us as at now, we are looking at every lawful step we can do to ensure going forward that we’ve taken every step to ensure the safety of the Australian community.
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Cybersecurity strategy to lay out rules
The government’s cybersecurity strategy is expected to be released next week (that will lay out the rules for how companies are to respond to a cyber-attack) and one of the things it is expected to include is a no-fault reporting system, which means companies have the duty to report a cyber-attack, without fear of punishment. The government is also expected to allow ransoms to be paid in certain circumstances.
Darren Goldie says:
The government has foreshadowed that when it comes to ransomware as a subset of cyber incidents, that is, of course a scourge around the world, when it comes to ransomware, the government is going to announce as part of the cybersecurity strategy, a mandatory no-fault reporting scheme that deals with once ransomware is deployed or there’s been a ransomware demand or there’s been a ransomware payment by an Australian entity.
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Telecoms should be given status of critical infrastructure, cybersecurity chief says
Looking at the wider issue of cyber-attacks, given the year major companies in Australia have had, Darren Goldie says bringing telecommunication companies into the category of “critical infrastructure” makes sense:
What it means is it brings across the telecommunications providers into the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act, that really gives us a harmonised approach to cybersecurity legislation.
So specifically for the telcos it imposes requirements on them that are at least the same standard that we put on the 11 sectors of critical infrastructure and practically that means, for instance, that they need to have cybersecurity risk management plans that are available for interrogation by the regulator.
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Ports closed after cyber-attack
You may not have heard of DP World previously – it is one of Australia’s largest port operators. Which means that it plays a pretty big role in what gets brought into the country, and when. So a cyber-attack can have a pretty big impact on the nation – especially around one of the busiest times of the year for deliveries into the country.
The attack is “contained” according to DP World, but the bulk of cargo remains stalled at the moment.
The national cyber security coordinator, Darren Goldie, told ABC radio that the ports would remain closed for “days, not weeks” according to DP World, as they work to get their systems online:
They’ve had the ability to continue to offload cargo, but obviously in a closed container or cargo yard, those facilities are filling up. I don’t have any further estimation on the time it will take to restore but the company does have confidence that that’s that certainly in the days not weeks category.
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Eighty people released so far after high court’s ruling on indefinite detention
Immigration minister Andrew Giles is speaking to ABC radio’s RN Breakfast about the government response to the indefinite detention high court decision, which Paul Karp has been all over:
Giles says that so far 80 people have been released as a result of the high court decision.
But he can’t say what the government is doing longer term yet – he says “all lawful options” are on the table, which includes legislative changes, but the government is still waiting on the full reasons for its decision from the court.
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Optus inquiry
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young was successful in getting a Senate inquiry into Optus’s system failure, with hearings to begin this week.
The inquiry can compel people to appear if necessary, so it expects to at least get people in front of it, if not get all the answers.
Hanson-Young told the Nine Network her first question would be:
Why didn’t you pick up the phone and tell the government and the minister what was going on?
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Good morning
Welcome to the second last full sitting week for the year.
There are nine days left of joint sittings, which means the end-of-year rush has begun – expect the shenanigans to begin in earnest.
We had a taste of it last week when the Coalition joined with the Greens to stop the sea dumping legislation from passing the Senate. The Coalition isn’t necessarily against the bill (which will allow for the export of carbon waste as well as for it to be buried at sea) but it is happy to cause headaches for the government, which only ended up passing two of its bills last week.
So this week things will get start to get busy if the government is to carry out its legislative agenda by the end of the year.
The crossbench has been busy – Dr Monique Ryan, the independent MP for Kooyong, plans on introducing her “cleaning up politics” bill today, which would put boundaries around lobbyists.
Paul Karp has previewed that here:
Ryan’s legislation is the latest in the crossbench’s attempts to change how politics is done inside the building and out – but it will need the support of the government to get past the house.
The government also has to deal with a crossbench bill from Jacqui Lambie and David Pocock, which carves out the parts of the IR omnibus legislation (which won’t be voted until at least February next year after the Senate sent it to a longer committee process) they want passed urgently. Tony Burke isn’t budging, saying if they want parts of the bill passed, they can pass it as part of the omnibus bill. But Lambie and Pocock got their bill through the Senate, which means the house has to deal with it. The standoff there will continue.
Overshadowing it all will be the Israel-Hamas war. Pro-Palestine protests continue, and the opposition want a stronger “crackdown” on “anti-social” protests. Foreign affairs minister Penny Wong’s calls for “steps forward” towards a ceasefire have been criticised by the Zionist Federation of Australia and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, who claim any ceasefire would “embolden” Hamas.
Labor is being pressured from all sides and the Coalition senses political opportunity, so expect that to play a role in question time this week.
You’ll have the best in the business guiding you through it – you have Mike Bowers and his cameras, Paul Karp, Daniel Hurst, Josh Butler and Sarah Basford-Canales in Canberra to explain it all. And you have me, Amy Remeikis, on the blog for most of the day.
It’s going to be at least a three-coffee day. Ready?
Let’s get into it.
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