The day that was: Monday 6 March
And that’s where we’ll leave you this evening. Here’s a wrap of the main events today:
Malcom Turnbull said he raised initial concerns about robodebt with minister Alan Tudge in early 2017, the then prime minister told the royal commission into the failed scheme.
The independent MP Sophie Scamps introduced her “ending jobs for mates” bill, which seeks to ensure government appointments are done independently.
The Nationals senator Jacinta Price said the Coalition will vote against changes to the Referendum Machinery Act unless the government sets up and funds official yes and no campaign bodies.
Adam Bandt and the Greens said “everyone needs to give a bit” to get climate legislation on the safeguard mechanism through the Senate.
The Albanese government made a legislative instrument authorising $9.5m of spending for a voice civics and awareness campaign.
Heatwave conditions gripped NSW, as temperatures exceeded 38C across Sydney and 32 schools across the state were closed due to bushfire risk.
The independent senator David Pocock said that there was “surely a better way” to reduce inflation than by raising interest rates.
The Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi said that “anything less” than paid parental leave for PhD students would be “a pretty cruel oversight”.
The New South Wales corruption watchdog discontinued its investigation into the appointment of the former deputy premier, John Bariarlo, to a plum trade role last year.
Updated
And you can watch Monique Ryan’s clap back to the opposition during question time earlier today in the video below:
Updated
