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Senate votes to censure Hanson
Josh Butler
The Senate has voted 36 to 17 to censure Pauline Hanson over her comments about Muslim Australians.
While most of the Coalition opposed the motion, Liberal senators Andrew McLachlan and Paul Scarr voted with Labor and the Greens to censure the One Nation leader.
The motion was moved in two parts, because the Coalition’s Michaelia Cash said they would back symbolic parts of the motion calling for respectful debate, but that the opposition wouldn’t support the part of the motion actually censuring Hanson, saying censures should be reserved for the most serious conduct.
The first part of the motion was carried on the voices. The second part, actually censuring Hanson, was carried 36-17.
No One Nation senators were in the chamber at the time of the vote.
Key events
Benita Kolovos
Victorian opposition will support hate speech laws
The Victorian opposition has confirmed it will support the government’s hate speech laws which, as we blogged earlier, have been separated from a justice bill that’s stalled in parliament’s upper house.
The Greens successfully amended the justice bill to give the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (Ibac) “follow the money” powers.
The shadow attorney general, James Newbury, has lashed the government for splitting the bill, claiming the premier, Jacinta Allan, will “do and say anything stop Victoria’s anti-corruption agency from being given real teeth”.
He said in a statement:
Jacinta Allan is so afraid of shining a spotlight onto corruption in this state that she is willing to effectively block the parliament from enhancing our chief anti-corruption agency.
The Greens leader, Ellen Sandell, also criticised the government for being unwilling to put the justice bill to a vote. She said in a statement:
Our anti-corruption watchdog should be able to follow public money wherever it goes. The fact that it currently can’t is a serious problem and the fact that Labor is this desperate to stop this change from happening is seriously concerning.
Inquiry told Victoria’s anti-corruption watchdog needs more power
Benita Kolovos
The head of Victoria’s anti-corruption watchdog, Victoria Elliott, has told a parliamentary inquiry the agency needs more powers to be able to investigate allegations of corruption on the government’s Big Build sites.
Appearing before parliament’s integrity and oversight committee, Elliott said the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (Ibac) was seeking legislative reform to be able to investigate grey corruption, as well as “follow the dollar” powers to investigate corrupt conduct by third parties and private subcontractors connected to government funding.
It follows the release of an unredacted report by corruption fighter Geoffrey Watson SC last month, which included allegations that corruption involving the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union cost taxpayers up to $15bn.
Elliot said:
To matters such as Big Build, we consider that these amendments will enable us to be able to follow the money, as we say, go in a subcontractor relationship. Ibac’s current jurisdiction only allows us to investigate matters where there is a link to a public officer.
She explained that corruption in Victoria is defined as conduct constituting an indictable offence, which is an “extremely high bar”:
If we brought that down to only be an offence … then we could actually look at broader conduct that would potentially fall within that which may include Big Build matters.
Benita Kolovos
Bill to change hate speech laws to be introduced to Victorian parliament
The Victorian attorney general, Sonya Kilkenny, has confirmed she will introduce a new bill to parliament this week that specifically addresses changes to the government’s hate speech laws rather than accepting a Greens amendment that would have given the state’s anti-corruption watchdog greater powers to investigate union corruption.
Last sitting week, the government pulled debate on the justice legislation further amendment (miscellaneous) bill after the Greens secured the support of the opposition and crossbench to amend it to include “follow the money” powers for the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission.
The justice bill included changes to the state’s anti-vilification laws that would make it easier for police to charge people with hate speech, as part of the government’s response to the Bondi beach terror attack in December.
Following a cabinet meeting on Monday, Kilkenny said she would introduce a separate bill to address the hate speech law changes while the government continued to “explore options to pursue and progress” the justice bill.
She said:
This is about recognising how important these amendments are, and the commitment we made following the Bondi terrorist attack to introduce these amendments to ensure that police can more easily prosecute matters of vilification. These matters should have progressed through the parliament last week, and they will take effect straight after royal assent. We’ve now had a stunt by the Greens and the Liberals here that have meant these important amendments that strengthen community protections are not in place. We will make sure we have a stand-alone bill, and that bill will pass the parliament this week. In fact, we won’t be leaving the parliament until this bill has passed.
Kilkenny said the government was considering “follow the money” powers for Ibac as part of its response to a recent report by the state’s integrity and oversight committee.
The kinds of amendments the Greens have put up … are contained in the integrity oversight committee report that has been delivered to government. It is so appropriate that government reviews those recommendations, reviews that report, and responds in a considerable way.
Wong gives emotional speech as Pauline Hanson censured by Senate – video
Staying on the subject of Pauline Hanson this afternoon being censured by the Senate, here is a video of an emotional Penny Wong giving her views on the topic:
Read more:
O’Brien says Hanson’s Muslim comments ‘out of line’ but declines to comment on censure motion as ‘I don’t understand the mechanisms’
Ted O’Brien says he doesn’t understand the mechanisms of the Senate after Pauline Hanson was censured in the upper house today.
Speaking with the ABC a short time ago, the shadow foreign affairs spokesperson and former deputy Liberal leader said:
I’m not sure what is happening in the Senate in terms of Senate procedures, I believe there is a debate going on at the moment about Pauline Hanson’s comments, so I’m not going to go into the mechanisms of the Senate because, candidly, I don’t understand the mechanisms of the Senate.
He continued:
I think (Hanson’s) comments are completely out line, again I think they are divisive, I believe they do lead to a breakdown in social cohesion.
He said respect for freedom of religion, freedom of speech and freedom of association were Liberal principles and should be protected.
Killing of Iranian supreme leader has ‘taken off the head of a snake’, Ted O’Brien says
Ted O’Brien says the US and Israel are “doing the heavy lifting for the free world” and deserve Australia’s support.
When asked whether the invasion of Iran complies with international law, the shadow foreign affairs spokesperson told the ABC that “there will be a lot of people who have an opinion on that. My view is that what the United States and Israel is planning to achieve is in our national interest. In fact, I think they are doing the heavy lifting for the free world and therefore deserves our support.”
He continued:
This is a regime that has sought to orchestrate activity on our shores … it is anti the values we represent as a country.
If you look at the Iranian regime, this regime is no friend of Australia … When it comes to regime change, I have to be honest with you, I do not shed a tear over the death of the Ayatollah.
There’s no doubt (the US and Israel) have basically taken off the head of a snake.
He continued:
The government would have the support of the Coalition if it were in Australia’s national interest to provide support.
Senate censure of Pauline Hanson ‘completely appropriate’, Aly says
Anne Aly says the Senate’s censure of Pauline Hanson, who said there were “no good Muslims,” was “completely appropriate”.
Speaking with the ABC a short time ago, the minister for multiculturalism said people who have watched Hanson know that “she is a racist and … we have seen the kind of things that racist language can do.”
Words have meaning. I think there is a rising Islamophobia, I think Pauline Hanson has done a lot to normalise anti-Muslim hatred …
By and large, Australia has been very successful on social cohesion and there are times when we are tested before but we have always risen to the challenge historically. Now is the moment for us to rise to the challenge again.
She continued:
We have responsibility with our words to ensure we don’t inflame tensions and do not encourage hatred and we certainly do not encourage acts of violence.
Anne Aly says most Iranian Australians do not feel ‘any sadness’ over Ayatollah’s death
Anne Aly says she does not think anyone in Australia “feels any sadness” over the death of Iran’s supreme leader.
The minister for multiculturalism was pressed on the government’s support for the US-Israel attack on Iran by the ABC just now.
She said “we did not participate in this actively but we do support an action that took out an oppressive leader who has committed unspeakable atrocities against his own people.”
She continued:
The government supports the rights of the Iranian people to choose their regime, to have a say in who governs them. For too long, they have been oppressed and shackled by an oppressive leader. I don’t think anybody here in Australia, and particularly the majority of the Iranian diaspora here in Australia, feels any sadness over the death of Khamenei.
The international community had to do something in dealing with a rogue state, an oppressor who has committed unspeakable atrocities against his own people – and not to mention also, that the Iranian regime was behind two potential terrorist attacks in Australia as well. We have taken action against that regime, we expelled the ambassador, we have had umpteen sanctions against Iran. If anyone has a better option, what was it?
She then added that while some Australians may in fact mourn the death of Iran’s supreme leader, that act would concern her given its divisive nature. She added:
I think mosques and people of faith are free to practise their faith as long it is within the law.
Senate votes to censure Hanson
Josh Butler
The Senate has voted 36 to 17 to censure Pauline Hanson over her comments about Muslim Australians.
While most of the Coalition opposed the motion, Liberal senators Andrew McLachlan and Paul Scarr voted with Labor and the Greens to censure the One Nation leader.
The motion was moved in two parts, because the Coalition’s Michaelia Cash said they would back symbolic parts of the motion calling for respectful debate, but that the opposition wouldn’t support the part of the motion actually censuring Hanson, saying censures should be reserved for the most serious conduct.
The first part of the motion was carried on the voices. The second part, actually censuring Hanson, was carried 36-17.
No One Nation senators were in the chamber at the time of the vote.
Daisy Dumas
Thank you, Krishani Dhanji. And, hello, readers. Let’s get on with the remainder of the day’s news.
Two Liberal senators cross the floor to support government’s censure motion
Despite the rest of the Coalition voting against the censure motion, moderate senators Paul Scarr (who was demoted from the shadow frontbench by Angus Taylor) and Andrew McLachlan cross the floor to vote with the government.
Hanson calls censure “a joke”
Josh Butler
Pauline Hanson, responding to the censure motion, briefly stated: “This is a stunt.”
The people out there are sick of this … you can’t stand that One Nation is on 27%, 28% (in opinion polls).
The Senate chamber devolved into another shouting match, between Hanson and Lidia Thorpe, before Hanson theatrically gave herself a slap on the wrist and said “you’re all a joke”, departing the chamber.
Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi backed action against Hanson but was critical of the motion, calling it “performative” and saying “let’s not pretend this is enough”.
Josh Butler
Coalition doesn’t support Hanson censure
The Coalition says it would support parts of Labor’s censure motion calling for respectful debate and praising the contribution of multicultural Australians, but won’t support the paragraph which actually censures Hanson.
Liberal senator Michaelia Cash said the opposition “firmly believe that Australians of every race, of every religion and of every background, belong in this country”, saying Muslim Australians are a part of the community and deserve to be treated with respect.
Cash said:
I don’t think that Senator Hanson’s comments were appropriate. Why? Because I personally have Muslim friends. My mum’s best friend is a Muslim. So I have to say, I think that there are good Muslims in Australia. They were wrong, Senator Hanson’s comments.
However she went on to say that a formal censure motion was one of the most serious rebukes available in the Senate, and were usually reserved for conduct related to parliamentary and ministerial responsibility, and should “not used as a routine tactic to score political points.”
Krishani Dhanji
That’s all from me today, I’ll leave you with the lovely Daisy Dumas for the rest of the afternoon.
I’ll catch you back here for what is shaping up to be another very busy sitting day tomorrow.
TL,DR: here’s what happened in question time
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The opposition, led by Angus Taylor, pushed the government on the status of the 34 women and children in Syrian detention camps.
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The government was getting increasingly cranky with the opposition over the questioning, but Anthony Albanese and Tony Burke brought receipts, using old quotes from Peter Dutton and Michael McCormack to call the opposition’s arguments hypocritical.
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Newly minted Liberal frontbencher Aaron Violi got kicked out of QT, having hardly warmed his seat.
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Milton Dick cut Jim Chalmers and Albanese a little slack in QT for straying away from questions, as it is their birthday.
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Barnaby Joyce asked for an update on Australia’s fuel reserve, where Chris Bowen revealed Australia has just 36 days of petrol (onshore and on ships) if global tragedy strikes and fuel shipping lines halt.
Government seeks to censure Hanson over Muslim comments
Josh Butler
The censure motion against Pauline Hanson, for her recent comments about Australian Muslims, has begun in the Senate.
Senate leader Penny Wong moved the motion immediately after question time. The motion was expected to be moved earlier today, but was delayed due to a debate on Iran and the US military strikes over the weekend.
As we flagged earlier, the motion is expected to pass, with the Greens likely to back the motion.
The draft government motion, which is subject to debate and potential amendment, states that Australia has been “built by the hard work, sacrifice and aspiration of people of every race and faith”, “assures all Australians they are valued, welcome members of our society” and “rejects any attempt to vilify people on the basis of their religion”.
The motion states that the Senate “reiterates its solidarity with those who have been vilified because of their faith” and that “if parliament is to be a safe place for all who work and visit here, there can be no tolerance for hate speech in the course of parliamentarians’ public debate”. The motion calls on all senators to “refrain from inflammatory and divisive comments, both inside and outside the chamber”.
It goes on to call on the Senate to censure Hanson over “her inflammatory and divisive comments seeking to vilify Muslim Australians, which do not reflect the opinions of the Australian Senate or the Australian people”.
We’ll bring you more as this happens.
Burke issues update on alleged WA terror attack
Jumping back into question time, during a dixer, Tony Burke said the man who was charged with preparing a terrorist attack in Perth last week has also additionally been charged with firearms offences.
Burke said the 20-year-old was arrested by Western Australia police “when they were executing a search warrant as part of an investigation into alleged antisemitic, Islamophobic and racially motivated online hate speech.”
Burke said intelligence and law enforcement agencies have been warning that the country is entering a “new security environment” with many different ideologies that can give rise to extremism. He again told everyone to “turn the temperature down”.
Much of this is coming straight across the internet into Australia now. Whenever the temperature is higher, whenever those who promote hate feel emboldened this increases the likelihood that violence will be planned and attempted.
The specific attacks, as well as the parliament and police were aimed at mosques. We know the Australian Muslim community has been experiencing increased levels of Islamophobia. It is not fictional it is real.
Question time ends
After a final dixer to transport minister Catherine King on high-speed rail, the PM calls the end of question time for the day.
Anthony Albanese gets a few jeers from the opposition as he stands up, so he offers this jab on his way out:
Given there has not been a single question about the economy or cost of living from those opposite, I ask that further questions be placed on the notice paper.
Australia has 36 days of petrol in its supply, energy minister says
Barnaby Joyce, who pointed out this morning that Australia doesn’t have enough reserves of fuel, asks the government for an update on supply.
The energy minister, Chris Bowen, says Australia has:
These numbers are all lower than the 90 days of fuel that the International Energy Agency says every country should have.
Bowen says the fuel is either in Australia “or on ships in our economic zone”.
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