Oz Election Thread #4 - Gillard's Labor

"I know there are many Members opposite deeply deeply unhappy with the Malaysia poeple swap.

I know there are people opposite who don't like offshore processing at all. I appeal to Members opposite, examine your consciences."

It was welcomed by everyone except the opposition.

This is a desperate dash for the numbers.

"He knows support is not on their side of the chamber this evening.

It was welcomed by everyone except the opposition.

This is a desperate dash for the numbers.

He knows support is not on their side of the chamber this evening.

6.46pm: The gag has been applied (73 to 72).

Now the proper vote.

On the Morrison amendment.

Stay tuned.

6.50pm: Mr Morrison's amendment has been defeated.

Adam Bandt, Rob Oakeshott, Bob Katter, Tony Windsor with the government.

Amendment negated 72 to 74.

Asylum seeker laws pass lower house
by: By Paul Osborne, AAP Senior Political Writer
From: AAP June 27, 2012 8:23PM

Laws to remove legal uncertainty over offshore processing of asylum seekers have passed the lower house of federal parliament after an emotional debate and a last-minute amendment from an independent MP.

BUT the Australian Greens will block the bill in the Senate and want all parties to take part in a committee to find a long-term solution that respects human rights.

As 125 passengers from a second asylum seeker boat to sink in a week were rescued off Christmas Island, with one body recovered, Prime Minister Julia Gillard asked independent MP Rob Oakeshott on Wednesday to bring on his draft bill.

The bill was aimed at removing legal doubt, created by the High Court judgment, that Australia can enter into offshore processing deals with other countries, but ensures that any deal is in line with the Bali framework on refugees.

"We have seen too much tragedy and I can't and I don't believe other members of parliament can now sit here with the prospect of more tragedy to come," Ms Gillard told parliament at the start of the debate.

"Given all of the circumstances ... I, as a Labor leader, would want to walk from this place saying no-one won, no-one lost, we just got something done."

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie's amendment put just before 7pm, to put a 12-month sunset clause on the bill, and a subsequent change of heart by fellow independent Bob Katter were the turning points in the debate that helped deliver the government a narrow two-vote win.

Ms Gillard said the sunset clause would enable the public to see how the policy operated and gave more time to gather ideas for a long-term policy. .... <cont>

No seat for Rinehart, Fairfax chairman says
Kirsty Simpson
June 27, 2012 - 5:29PM/the AGE

Fairfax Media will not offer Gina Rinehart a seat on the board, chairman Roger Corbett says.

The company has just released a statement saying that an agreement had not been reached "on terms acceptable to the company. I regret that agreement has not been reached for Mrs Rinehart to join the Fairfax Media board of directors," Mr Corbett said.

"I hope that this might be possible in the future. However, key elements yet to be agreed include acceptance of the charter of editorial independence as it stands and the Fairfax board governance principles as agreed by all existing directors."


Gina Rinehart is seeking 'sufficient seats to influence the Fairfax board'. Photo: Claire Martin

The statement follows remarks by Hancock Prospecting today.

In a statement released to the media, Hancock Prospecting chief development officer John Klepec said Fairfax - owner of this website - had an abysmal track record and declared two board seats were not enough to allow Hancock to make the company ‘‘sustainable’’. (Hancock is Mrs Rinehart’s private company, through which she owns 18.67 per cent of Fairfax.)

The statement, Mrs Rinehart’s first on editorial independence at Fairfax Media, said it ‘‘supports journalistic integrity and accuracy’’ but said the company had already repeatedly overridden the principle in the past by ordering journalists to support Earth Hour.

He adds that Hancock would be prepared to endorse an ‘‘effective’’ charter of independence ‘‘assuming one can be agreed’’.

Mr Klepec added that active consideration of content or a change in content was needed to attract more readers and advertising to the mastheads. ...<cont>

Stalemate or Solution?
By chief political correspondent Simon Cullen, staff
Updated June 28, 2012 05:35:04/ABC News

Video: Boat disaster sparks Parliament into action
Related Story: Another asylum boat intercepted
Related Story: Another sinking brings asylum debate to a head
Related Story: Asylum seeker disaster north of Christmas Island
Related Story: Hints of progress in border protection standoff
Map: Australia


Rob Oakeshott's bill to allow offshore processing of asylum seekers looks likely to be blocked when it goes to the Senate later today. (Photo: AAP/Lukas Coch) (Lateline)

A bill to allow offshore processing of asylum seekers will be considered in the Senate today, after six hours of emotional debate saw it pass the Lower House on Wednesday night.

Another deadly asylum seeker emergency on Wednesday morning prompted a marathon political debate aimed at breaking the political impasse over border protection policies.

Hours of heartfelt and sometimes heated debate ended at 8:00pm (AEST) on Wednesday when legislation to restore offshore processing, proposed by independent MP Rob Oakeshott, passed the House of Representatives.

But the laws appear doomed as neither the Opposition nor the Greens are likely to back them in the Senate.

Mr Oakeshott told Lateline on Wednesday night that he hoped senators would not be "obstructionist" when the bill comes before them.

"By all means negotiate, by all means amend, but do not block," he said.

"I think what people are seeing unfold on their televisions, the images north of Christmas Island and what has unfolded over the last decade of failure in this policy area needs to be addressed.

"And so I really urge the Senate tomorrow to rise above and to find the national interest outside and over those traditional entrenched political party lines."

Support for carbon tax dives as politicians brawl
By Naomi Woodley, staff/ABC News
Updated July 02, 2012 09:25:35

Video: Winsome Denyer reports on the carbon tax campaign (ABC News)
Related Story: Controversial carbon tax takes effect
Related Story: Annabel Crabb: Carbon tax talk about the cash, not the climate
Map: Australia

A new poll says support for the carbon tax has fallen to a record low as the political campaign about the scheme goes into overdrive.

The Nielsen poll, published in today's Fairfax papers, says two thirds of Australians do not support the tax, which came into effect on Sunday.

Government and Opposition MPs will spend the next fortnight pushing their points of view around the country as both parties move to a virtual campaign footing.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott will today begin a high-profile campaign against the tax, criss-crossing the country for about two weeks.

Mr Abbott has pledged that a Coalition government would repeal the tax, which he says "will hit every Australian family's cost of living."
Audio: Carbon campaigning begins (AM)

But Prime Minister Julia Gillard is insisting the Opposition's "fear campaign" will not succeed.

"Australians will be able to judge for themselves, rather than listening to the politicians," she said.

Anti-carbon tax ads will be splashed across billboards and television as Coalition frontbenchers fan out across the country, but the message from the Federal Government is one of reassurance.

"This is a reform that is perfectly manageable, one that is a responsible thing to do," Climate Change Minister Greg Combet said.

"It'll see Australia play its fair part in international efforts to tackle climate change and we’re doing it in a way that millions of households would be better off." ....<cont>

In the election year of 2007, both the Liberal-led Coalition government and the Labor opposition promised to introduce carbon trading. Opposition leader Rudd commissioned the Garnaut Climate Change Review on 30 April 2007, while Prime Minister John Howard announced his own plan for a carbon trading scheme on 4 June 2007,[3][4] after the final report of the Prime Ministerial Task Group on Emissions Trading. Labor won the election on 24 November.

Mr Windsor, who was instrumental in getting the Government's ETS through parliament, said he had discussed climate change with Mr Abbott during talks on forming minority government after last August's election.

Mr Windsor said he got the impression the Coalition leader would have supported a carbon price if the policy was put to him during these talks.

"He actually begged for the job... (he said) 'I will do anything to get this job'," Mr Windsor said.

But Mr Abbott told reporters that at no stage did he offer to back an ETS.