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Hanson hosts Barnaby Joyce for office dinner
The rumour mill keeps chugging, and while Barnaby Joyce hasn’t yet confirmed whether he will defect to One Nation, he did dine with its leader, Pauline Hanson, last night – after she pulled the burqa stunt in the Senate chamber.
Joyce had said yesterday he hadn’t yet been invited to dinner by Hanson, but the two have since shared a steak reportedly cooked on a sandwich press.
Joyce is still a member of the party, but has not been sitting in party room meetings – which means he likely won’t be there again today when they gather this morning. He has said he won’t recontest his seat of New England with the s at the next election.
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In pictures: Albanese and Leji meet for breakfast
China’s third-highest ranking lawmaker, Zhao Leji, returned to Parliament this morning to meet with Anthony Albanese.
The two shook hands for a pic opportunity in the PM’s courtyard.
Leji’s visit has not been without some drama, when he first arrived at parliament yesterday, parliamentarians and their staff were warned to turn off their phones, laptops and internet
Fatima Payman says the government were “asleep at the wheel” when Pauline Hanson entered the Senate wearing a burqa yesterday, and should have done more to remove her from the chamber earlier.
Payman told ABC News Breakfast this morning she and other Senators felt unsafe, and that Hanson’s original stunt in 2017 created the precedent to have her kicked out immediately.
It was a stunt Pauline Hanson has previously pulled, so the fact that the government were found asleep at the wheel was just not OK and definitely not suitable of a government that claims to care about multiculturalism and a safe work environment. There wasn’t just me but so many other senators felt unsafe and disrespected by such behaviour. The government definitely needs to do a lot more when it comes to upholding the principles of the Senate.
Payman says she was in hospital with her father who had leukemia when Hanson first pulled this stunt in 2017, and described, “getting weird stares and remarks thrown at me.” She said she fears for the other young girls who will be impacted by this behaviour.
There is bound to be people out on the streets, young school girls who are probably yelled at or abused or assaulted and it is just the division that we don’t want to see in society.
Hanson hosts Barnaby Joyce for office dinner
The rumour mill keeps chugging, and while Barnaby Joyce hasn’t yet confirmed whether he will defect to One Nation, he did dine with its leader, Pauline Hanson, last night – after she pulled the burqa stunt in the Senate chamber.
Joyce had said yesterday he hadn’t yet been invited to dinner by Hanson, but the two have since shared a steak reportedly cooked on a sandwich press.
Joyce is still a member of the party, but has not been sitting in party room meetings – which means he likely won’t be there again today when they gather this morning. He has said he won’t recontest his seat of New England with the s at the next election.
Matt Canavan says Hanson’s stunt turns parliament into ‘circus act’
s senator Matt Canavan, who was one of the earliest to condemn Pauline Hanson in the chamber yesterday, has again attacked the One Nation leader, telling Sky News this morning the behaviour turns parliament “into a circus act”.
Canavan also took the opportunity to urge Barnaby Joyce to remain in the s.
I mean, look, even Barnaby couldn’t defend Pauline yesterday, right? He was asked, and he’s refused to comment. And, I mean, come on, Barnaby, do you really want to go and join the circus, or do you want to stay in a real team that’s really focused on delivering?
On whether he believes Joyce will make the move to the fringe party, Canavan said:
Look, it’s turning into a longer saga than Days of our Lives. So I think people are all sick and tired of it.
The s senator also took a shot at Hanson’s cooking, saying, “I’m not going over to her office any time soon.”
George Brandis condemns Pauline Hanson for ‘despicable stunt’
Former Liberal attorney general George Brandis, who famously stood up to Pauline Hanson the first time she pulled the burqa stunt in the Senate back in 2017, has called her latest behaviour “despicable”.
Speaking to RN Breakfast this morning, Brandis says Hanson’s stunt will remind the public of the “ugly and divisive politics” One Nation practises.
Brandis also says he doesn’t believe the stunt will increase the minor party’s popularity.
It was obviously a stunt. It was a despicable stunt. But Pauline Hanson does this. I mean, every once in a while, she dreams up a new stunt to try and make herself the centre of political attention and discussion. It didn’t work then.
After that episode in 2017, One Nation’s support actually fell in the opinion polls. And I expect that that will happen again.
Plibersek say gambling is a contributing factor to domestic violence but dismisses ‘obsession’ with betting ads
The RN Breakfast host, Sally Sara, asks Plibersek about the sticky issue of gambling and online gambling advertising. Last year, a rapid review on preventing domestic violence commissioned by the government recommended a total ban on gambling ads.
The social services minister says there’s evidence gambling is a “contributing factor” to intimate partner violence, but so are alcohol and drugs:
We need to address all of these, and that’s why our government has done more than any government in Australian history to address problem gambling, and it’s why we’ll continue to work to address problem gambling.
Plibersek says journalists have an “obsession” with gambling advertising, which Sara pushes back on – and points out that it’s been two and a half years since a landmark report on the harms of gambling was released, which the government still hasn’t responded to.
Plibersek says, “our government’s doing more than any government in Australian history to address online gambling and problem gambling,” which is something the prime minister has repeated often, when asked about when the government will respond to the more than 30 recommendations in that report.
Domestic violence among under-18s increasing, Plibersek says
Violence in relationships among young people under 18 is increasing, says Tanya Plibersek, who has announced a major funding boost for the 1800 Respect phone helpline this morning.
Speaking to ABC’s RN Breakfast, Plibersek says that in 2010, its first year of operation, 1800 Respect received 11,000 calls, but in the last financial year it received 342,000 calls.
She says the funding boost is needed to keep up with the demand.
On whether the number of domestic violence incidents is rising or falling, she says:
It’s a mixed picture. We’re seeing some areas, like intimate partner violence, slightly decreasing, but we’re seeing big increases in, for example, young relationships, under-18s. We’re seeing big increases in violence there. So we need to keep evolving as this problem in our society evolves.
Albanese to meet top Chinese official Zhao Leji at parliament today
The prime minister will meet with Zhao Leji, the third highest-ranking official in the Chinese government, for a breakfast this morning.
(Expect some formal handshake shots in the prime minister’s courtyard in parliament shortly.)
The visit by Zhao, the chair of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of China (a role roughly analogous to that of speaker) has already made some waves – yesterday parliamentarians and their staff were urged to turn off their phones, laptops and internet while parliament administrators warned building occupants about interruptions to wifi service.
On the Today show earlier, the Greens leader, Larissa Waters, questioned those security precautions.
If one man walking through the building can bring us all to halt, then I think our cybersecurity needs a bit of a look at.
Hanson stunt ‘cheapens our parliament’ says Ley
The opposition leader, Sussan Ley, has also slammed Pauline Hanson, releasing a statement last night saying the stunt “cheapens our parliament”.
It’s the second time Hanson has worn a burqa in the Senate chamber – she pulled the same stunt back in 2017.
Ley said the parliament would not “let Senator Hanson’s actions distract us from fighting for Australians”.
This kind of stunt weakens senator Hanson’s case and cheapens our Parliament. Her actions do not reflect the sort of Parliament Australians elected us to convene.
This is a reminder of how brittle One Nation’s politics are. They must resort to reheating desperate stunts. Australians deserve better and we will remain focused on fighting for them and holding the government to account.
Pauline Hanson hosts Barnaby Joyce for sandwich-toaster steak dinner
Following that stunt yesterday, Pauline Hanson reportedly cooked Barnaby Joyce a steak last night, amid talks over a possible defection by the s MP.
Nine have footage of said meat being cooked on a sandwich press in her parliamentary office.
Like Scott Morrison’s infamous raw-adjacent chicken curry, Labor cabinet minister Amanda Rishworth questioned how cooked through this meal was, on the Today show panel.
I hope that’s cooked well through, otherwise it may end up in a poisoning incident in parliament. Unintended, perhaps.
Joining her on the panel was the Greens leader, Larissa Waters, who dug into Hanson’s behaviour.
I don’t know about the cooking techniques there, and I’m all for re-wearing outfits, but not when it’s an outfit that’s insulting to anyone of faith in the country, and insulting to anyone who wants parliament to actually help people and fix the cost of living and bring down the cost of housing. Not just focus on itself, and not just the pathetic stunts like that. It’s shameless attention seeking that doesn’t actually help anyone or make anyone’s lives better. It actually just feeds racism. It’s dangerous and pathetic.
‘Continued disappointing behaviour’ from Hanson, says Plibersek
The social services minister, Tanya Plibersek, says she doesn’t understand what Pauline Hanson was trying to say with yesterday’s burqa stunt, calling it “continued disappointing behaviour” from the One Nation senator.
Hanson wore a burqa into the Senate on Monday afternoon, after she was blocked from introducing a bill to ban the garment.
On the Today show a bit earlier, Plibersek was scathing of the stunt.
I don’t remember the last time someone in a burqa robbed a bank. Two weeks ago, there was a queue of neo-Nazis standing outside New South Wales Parliament House and I didn’t hear her joining with Asio to admit that the fastest growing source of danger in the Australian community is rightwing extremism.
The only thing that she’s ensured today is that some schoolgirl wearing a headscarf is going to get bullied on the train on the way to school.
Good morning
Krishani Dhanji
Krishani Dhanji here with you – thanks to Martin Farrer for getting us started.
We have a busy day ahead: there will be plenty of reaction to Pauline Hanson’s gross stunt yesterday, which got her suspended from the Senate chamber.
The social services minister, Tanya Plibersek, is doing the media rounds this morning talking about an increase in funding for 1800 Respect – a national domestic violence helpline – that my colleague Josh Butler brought you a moment ago.
I’ve got my coffee, I hope you’ve got one (or several) too, let’s get into it!
Josh Butler
Ayres launches new AI safety institute to protect against ‘malign uses’ of technology
The industry and science minister, Tim Ayres, is today launching a new Australian AI safety institute, which the government says will examine AI capabilities, share information and “address potential risks” for the emerging new tech.
“AI is rapidly evolving and touches on every part of government, the economy and people’s lives. The Institute will provide a dynamic, fit-for-purpose capability that is responsive to AI’s pervasiveness and rapid evolution,” Ayres said ahead of the launch in Parliament House today.
The minister said the institute would “work across government to support best practice regulation, advise where updates to legislation might be needed and coordinate timely and consistent action to protect Australians.”
The government is still considering its broader response to AI, with numerous actions and processes on foot to develop legislation or regulation as needed, in areas including health, science, industry, copyright and privacy, and the public service.
Ayres said keeping Australians safe from the potential harms of AI would be a major part of a soon-to-be-released national AI plan, due by the end of this year.
Adopted properly and safely, AI can revitalise industry, boost productivity and lift the living standards of all Australians. But there are two sides to this coin. While the opportunities are immense, we need to make sure we are keeping Australians safe from any malign uses of AI.
Chris Bath to step down from ABC Radio Sydney's Drive program
Amanda Meade
After just one year in the ABC Sydney Drive chair, Chris Bath is leaving the afternoon slot she inherited from Richard Glover who hosted the program for 26 years.
She will be replaced by Thomas Oriti, the host of the national Breakfast program on ABC NewsRadio and Background Briefing on ABC Radio .
Bath told listeners.:
Timing in life is a funny thing, and I’ve decided to step down from Drive to pursue some passion projects and different opportunities away from the news cycle that have been beckoning for years.
I know I’m leaving Drive listeners and my team in safe and kind hands with Thomas Oriti.
Bath will host a new Sunday morning program on ABC Sydney which is described as a celebration of the NSW community.
Oriti said:
ABC Radio Sydney has always been part of my life – I grew up listening to it, and it’s shaped the way I think about journalism and storytelling. To now be joining the team as Drive presenter is a real privilege. I’m excited to connect with listeners across the city and continue the tradition of thoughtful, engaging radio.
Plibersek announces boost for national domestic violence helpline after huge increase in calls for help
Josh Butler
The Labor government has pledged an extra $41.8m to domestic violence hotline 1800 Respect over the next two years, in a funding boost to mark the Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
The social services minister, Tanya Plibersek, said the funding – to be announced in the Myefo financial update – would back up the service’s new video counselling and SMS services for people escaping violence.
It’s a good thing that more people are identifying signs of violence and seeking help. This announcement means that 1800RESPECT can keep providing this vital service to everyone that contacts them, including victims of violence and family and friends who want to support them.
Labor established 1800RESPECT 15 years ago and now Labor is making sure that it continues to have the funding it needs.
Plibersek said the extra funding would boost the commitment to deliver 1800 Respect to $146.8m until June 2027 – but conceded “there is more work to do” in addressing violence.
“We know that not everyone feels safe picking up the phone. The expansion of SMS and video counselling means women can seek support in the safest way for them,” added the minister for women, Katy Gallagher.
Making sure 1800RESPECT can keep pace with demand is critical to our efforts to end gender-based violence.
Plibersek has called on all governments and services to do better when it comes to protecting victims of domestic violence, following Guardian Australia’s Broken trust investigation into police failures before and after the deaths of women at the hands of violent men.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live politics blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it’ll be Krishani Dhanji with the main action.
We’ll be heading back to Canberra as the final sitting week hits top gear, where we might hear more reaction to Pauline Hanson’s widely condemned burqa stunt from yesterday.
Labor is still trying to strike a deal in the Senate to pass major environmental law reforms, but so far neither the Greens nor the Coalition have been persuaded to back them.
And you might see the colour orange around our nation’s parliament today – that’s because it’s the Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, kickstarting 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. The government is marking it by kicking in more funding to the 1800 Respect helpline, which it says has seen a massive increase in calls for help.
