Parliaments presiding officers reverse controversial decision to ban facial coverings in public galleries of parliament; foreign minister Julie Bishop signs off on the legal arrangements for the deployment of Australian special forces in Iraq; and the prime minister attends the inauguration of Joko Widodo in Jakarta; plus all the developments from Canberra, live
6.39pm AEST
All compelling days must end, and today has been compelling for all the wrong reasons.
I dont like flexibility, I like rigid authoritarianism.
6.09pm AEST
Just for the remaining segment of the population still interested in facts, this is what what has got Richard di Natale upset.
This was advice from police at the parliament house security briefing.
Some simple things that can certainly help us and help DPS in providing a safe and secure environment at parliament house. As mentioned we want you to wear your pass, we want it visibly displayed. We want you to consider your environment, ensure that if youre in an external office closing blinds, reducing line of sight external to the building. If you have people wandering around that youre not sure of, ask them what their business is. If youre not comfortable doing that please approach a PSS or an AFP member and we would be more than happy to engage that person in that regard. Consider your own personal movement, personal routines. Some common sense approaches around varying timings, routines, locations that you undertake you physical activity, the way your drive into work that sort of thing.
6.01pm AEST
Green senator Richard di Natale, persisting in the face of all todays evidence that we are residing in a post fact universe.
We either have to keep our blinds open, or we dont.
5.53pm AEST
While still in the territory of rumours and riddles, riddle me this.
5.41pm AEST
Lets get out of the hot box and back to tips and rumours.
Heres the source of the burqa ban I kid you not.
5.37pm AEST
Meanwhile, back in the finance committee, Penny Wong is taking a very close interest in mobile bars in the Speakers office; and an item being referred to as a hot box. Im not sure what the hot box is, but I think it relates to food.
5.35pm AEST
The political day is officially on drugs.
5.33pm AEST
So lets adjust the chain of events again. The Nine crew on the forecourt of parliament house (apparently) got their information from 2UE tips and rumours before passing it to the police who passed it to the presiding officers who then proceeded to ban burqas in public galleries.
Stop. Think. Marvel.
5.29pm AEST
When evidence based policy couldnt get any better ..
Another twist - those TV crews waiting for a non-existent burqa protest may have heard this on @NewsTalk2UE http://t.co/khfqoEi6RK
5.27pm AEST
My colleague Paul Farrell is watching immigration estimates and has kindly sent me this update:
The senate legal and constitutional affairs committee has just gotten very interesting. There has been considerable debate about recent events on Nauru, after allegations were made against Save the Children staff that they may have breached Commonwealth disclosure laws. The allegations were contained in a Transfield intelligence report, and the matter has been referred to the AFP for investigation. In response Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has referred the immigration ministers office for investigation to the AFP to determine how the Transfield report found its way into the hands of the Daily Telegraph several weeks ago. But in a strange twist it now appears that Hanson-Young has obtained her own copy of the Transfield document that contains the central allegations, which she began distributing to senators during the estimates hearing.
The committee has endorsed my ruling that the document cannot be tabled on the basis of which we understand it to be, and well take it from there.
5.24pm AEST
Just think about that chain of events for five seconds.
5.19pm AEST
This day is unbelievably superb. Officials in estimates have now given evidence that the police got their information about the supposed burqa protest on October 2 from .. wait for it .. the TV crew on the forecourt of parliament house.
So, to recap: we have a crew relaying a rumour to police, who then relayed a rumour to DPS, who then relayed a rumour to the presiding officers, who then proceeded to ban women in burqas from the public galleries. Oh yes, and the protest NEVER HAPPENED.
5.01pm AEST
Labors John Faulkner is back now on the decision earlier in the year to downgrade security arrangements at parliament house to save two dollars fifty. Weve had a downgrading of security followed by three successive upgrades of security, he says. Confusing, no? Not confusing, says DPS head Carol Mills. Just the nature of the world.
4.53pm AEST
Senate president, Stephen Parry. On the merits of stay out of the line of fire and vary your route to work outside of an actual war zone, when the threat level at parliament house has not changed in four years.
Parry:
I would describe the advice as over cautious.
4.49pm AEST
While Im wrangling the response from the PMO, and peppering you with Lewis Carroll, the finance committee of estimates is going full random. Green senator Richard di Natale is going back over a briefing that was given at the height of the enhanced security hysteria at parliament house. I actually chose not to report it at the time, given I could not fathom the public interest in sharing matters that are not normally shared. But I think its ok to go there now, in an environment of relative calm.
In a police briefing several weeks ago, occupants of the building were advised to keep away from the windows to avoid snipers, and vary their routes to work if they felt concerned. Apparently. I wasnt there, but this is fact, according to accounts from people who were there.
I have certainly not closed my blinds nor varied my route to work.
Thats correct.
4.34pm AEST
It seems a shame, the Walrus said, to play them such a trick, After weve brought them out so far, And made them trot so quick!
The Carpenter said nothing but: The butters spread too thick!
4.28pm AEST
Ive had a conversation with the prime ministers office this afternoon to try and ascertain why Tony Abbott said on October 3 that hed asked the Speaker to reverse the burqa ban, and Madam Speaker told parliament today that he did not.
Here is the response from the PMO:
The prime minister spoke to the speaker the day the revised security arrangements were announced.
He made clear his views on the changed arrangements. No formal request was made to change the arrangements as they are a matter for the presiding officers.
4.17pm AEST
Here is Senator Heffernan, who ignores the suggestion from Bernardi to be on his best behaviour.
Heffernan, to the head of DPS, Carol Mills:
I hear youve been to see the Queen.
May I say the Queen chose not to see me.
4.12pm AEST
Liberal senator Cory Bernardi has issued a warning in the finance committee. Senator Bill Heffernan is expected at any moment. The pause which follows that update is as significant as his Law and Order moment earlier today. The earlier pause was confusion. This pause could denote dread.
Senate president Stephen Parry is persisting meanwhile with his various explanations and rationales concerning the burka ban.
Theres no point in banning people if they can come back into the building disguised.
3.54pm AEST
The Walrus and the Carpenter/Walked on a mile or so/And then they rested on a rock/Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters stood/And waited in a row.
(I cannot for the life of me understand why #auspol has decreed today boring. Today is a gift that keeps on giving.)
3.39pm AEST
This is what Tony Abbott said the day after the controversy on October 3.
Not a lot of grey area here.
Now, yesterday the presiding officers made an interim decision that people wearing burqas and other attire that obscured the face wouldnt be allowed in the public galleries, theyd have to go into the glassed-in galleries.
I asked the Speaker to rethink that decision and my understanding is that it was an interim decision, that it would be looked at again in the light of security advice that will come in coming days and Im sure that the matter will be fully resolved before the parliament comes back in a fortnight.
3.30pm AEST
Very curious, this. On the night of October 2, the prime ministers office briefed that Abbott would seek a reversal of the ban. But both the presiding officers Bronwyn Bishop and Stephen Parry say this didnt happen.
3.22pm AEST
Question time is over. Manager of opposition business Tony Burke has several questions now for the Speaker, Bronwyn Bishop, over the burqa ban.
Did Bishop consult the AFP or Asio? The Speaker doesnt answer that question directly. (The Senate president Stephen Parry said earlier today that neither Asio nor the AFP were consulted.)
I will not discuss where advice comes from on security matters.
In a word, no.
3.11pm AEST
Greg Hunt wants to hug the shadow environment minister, Mark Butler. Then he pronounces Butler not dead, only sleeping. Then he tries to pretend that the treasurer Joe Hockey didnt make a mistake last week when he tried to argue that Australia wasnt a high per capita emitter when facts clearly demonstrate that Australia is a high per capita emitter. Then Hunt tries to argue that abolishing a carbon price is good for the environment.
The only reprieve from the nonsense is no mention of a walrus.
The time has come, the walrus said.
3.00pm AEST
Thanks to Crikeys Bernard Keane for this comprehensive summary of a Dorothy Dixer from the environment minister Greg Hunt.
Hunt explaining that an African swallow and a European swallow together could have carried a walrus from the North Pole to Antarctica #qt
2.58pm AEST
Things are so gripping down there in the chamber that people are pretending to get excited about spending on spin doctors in defence. There has been an audible OOOOOOh following a gotcha question from Labors David Feeney.
Stuart Robert has stopped saying look over there briefly to contend that there are fewer defence spinners now than there used to be. (One for ABC fact checkers, go.)
Not now. Not never.
2.47pm AEST
While Stuart Robert continues to shout, look over there, look here. Because you cant have too much gorgeous. Good for the soul.
2.45pm AEST
Uncertain times, a case study.
I'd like to congratulate @warrentrussmp for leading the govt away from monotonous blue ties to multi-coloured parliamentary neckware. #qt
2.44pm AEST
Look at these gorgeous girls. Mike Bowers met this group down on the forecourt a bit earlier.
2.36pm AEST
The shadow agriculture minister Joel Fitzgibbon wants to know how many families have been given drought assistance. Joyce says over 4,000 have been given household allowance. Fitzgibbon says he isnt interested in household allowance.
2.32pm AEST
Perhaps there wasnt a segue to the dams. If there was it was a small one.
2.29pm AEST
You cant compare apples with oranges.
Stuart Robert, fresh from shouting look over there, has now resorted to the fruit bowl on defence pay. Im clearly quite stupid because this man is saying lots of words, none of which make any sense to me.
2.26pm AEST
Its Captain Cronullas turn to address our troubled and uncertain times. The immigration minister Scott Morrison is telling the chamber how hes keeping Australia safe by sending the rest of the world a message that folks just arent welcome if they come unauthorised in boats, but planes are ok as long as you dont mind a bit of biometric screening. Morrison in this Dorothy Dixer appreciates several things. He appreciates the intrinsic strength of the government, the agencies, and the biometrics. Hes sorry for the inconvenience for the travelling public. Then, sadly, he runs out of time.
2.20pm AEST
Justice minister Michael Keenan explains how the Abbott government is keeping people safe from terrorism. It must be noted that Keenan is beginning to look less terrified when called upon to speak in public. He used to look completely terrified, which actually speaks well of his character. (Many politicians are born loving the sound of their own voice. People who are nervous are actually more like the rest of us.)
Bill Shorten wants to know why the government isnt keeping the ADF safe from penury. (This relates to a low ball pay offer currently before the ADF.)
Wed love to pay our soldiers more, but we simply dont have the money.
2.10pm AEST
Truss then gets a Dorothy Dixer in order to inform the House that legal authority has now been secured to deploy special forces in Iraq.
Labor is back on ebola. Deputy leader Tanya Plibersek wants to know what consular support is being provided to volunteer health workers treating ebola patients, and whether there are contingency plans to remove people should that become necessary. Truss essentially says if you want a briefing, Ill give you one.
2.05pm AEST
It being 2pm Ill depart estimates for now.
With Tony Abbott overseas, Warren Truss is in the big chair. First question from Bill Shorten, with the G20 coming up, what international leadership is Australia showing on ebola?
Our response has been appropriate in the circumstances, we remain willing and keen to assist in whatever way we can.
2.01pm AEST
Labors John Faulkner has been very preoccupied throughout the morning about the security committee not meeting. When I say very preoccupied I mean very preoccupied.
Mills confirms the evidence that was given by the Black Rod earlier this morning: it was the presiding officers who initiated the ban in the public galleries. She doesnt think there was a single initiator.
It was simply not practical in the timeframe.
1.53pm AEST
The finance committee is back from the lunch break. Up now in estimates is the department of parliamentary services head: Carol Mills.
1.39pm AEST
Speaking as we were of foreign fighters, the chair of parliaments joint intelligence committee, Victorian Liberal MP Dan Tehan, is on the ABC now. Hes telling host Lyndal Curtis the government didnt over reach in the legislation, despite the fact his committee has recommended changes to the foreign fighters package.
Q: You did recommend a number of areas where there was strong safeguards and more oversight was needed. Did the government overreach a little bit?
I dont think they overreached. They consulted with the intelligence agencies, with the federal police and with the community, and then put in the legislation what it thought, on balance, needed to be done.
Obviously the committee has had another look at that and we have put forward some recommendations but the important thing was we heard evidence from both the Ombudsman and the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security saying that they have the oversight powers to be able to deal with this legislation.
I love the fact that the people come here and they can walk over the top of the parliament, walk over the top of their elected representatives. It is a magnificent building. The access to it is something that we should preserve for everyone. So I think the PM got this call right.
1.26pm AEST
Yes I know that quiz is tendentious. Yes, yes.
Back, briefly, to dams. I pointed you in the direction earlier of a drop the government gave to The Australian this morning about its new green paper on agricultural competitiveness. This has been released by the agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce today.
1.10pm AEST
While we wait for estimates to resume, heres more from the Leyonhjelm quiz. (See the post at 12.08pm if you have no idea what Im talking about.)
Q: If this legislation is passed, to find yourself in a listed terrorist organisation, you would need to be:
12.48pm AEST
Its clear that we are not getting back to the department of parliamentary services before the lunch break, so lets use the moment to take stock.
12.21pm AEST
The finance committee has been hearing from Phil Bowen of the parliamentary budget office. The Liberal senator Dean Smith is enjoying a long Q&A session with Bowen traversing the dangers of fiscal profligacy.
Smith is doing most of the talking. Hes moved on to Henry Ergas. Possibly that development has called time on Penny Wongs patience. She wants to move on to the department of parliamentary services, and back to the burqas. She advises Smith that it doesnt matter how well he behaves, he wont be promoted. She wants this wrapped up.
Economic shocks are possible.
12.08pm AEST
The LDP senator David Leyonhjelm is, meanwhile, running a quiz show. This quiz show is called does any working journalist actually understand the foreign fighters legislation that is expected, shortly, to pass the parliament.
11.54am AEST
While time permits, I can record another development from estimates this morning. Labor had sought to call the secretary of the department of prime minister and cabinet, Ian Watt, to answer questions about the nomination panel for the boards of the ABC and SBS. There have been questions on notice for some period of time relating to the appointment in July of Janet Albrechtson and a former deputy Liberal leader Neil Brown to the nomination panel for the ABC and SBS. These appointments were made by Watt.
Watt had indicated to Labor (by way of correspondence) that he would attend finance estimates if invited to attend by the committee. But Labor says the finance committee has today ruled against an appearance by Watt. The opposition is, naturally, unhappy about the development which follows on from the effort by Liberal senator Cory Bernardi to bundle photographers out of the hearing this morning dealing with the burqa ban.
11.42am AEST
Recently, I discovered Last Action Hero an Arnie movie I had somehow missed. Upon viewing it, I then understood why the world had conspired to protect me from that particular contribution.
Bill Shorten doesnt even have what it takes to get Labor to support their own savings So people across Australia well understand what it is that I was saying.
I used a bit of humour, playing on my accent, and of course, there was absolutely no intention to reflect on girls.
11.25am AEST
Speaking of nice the first opportunity Ive had to post this lovely chamber shot from Mike Bowers this morning.
11.23am AEST
Unsuccessful is a much nicer word.
11.17am AEST
Labors Penny Wong is back with inquiries about the Speaker, Bronwyn Bishops recent bid to be president of the IPU. Wong would like to know what the senate president, Stephen Parry, knows about the failed bid. (Bishop, sadly did not succeed in her aspiration).
I dont think its a failed candidacy.
11.07am AEST
The finance committee has resumed with Liberal Cory Bernardi pursuing the new senate inquiry into Campbell Newmans (alleged) Queensland wickednesses being pursued technically by Clive and Jacqui and Dio and Glen but actually, Clive. It looks like Bernardi anticipated the clerk of the Senate, Rosemary Laing, might be outraged about the inquiry and its incredibly wide terms of reference. She looks rather relaxed, though. There are precedents for such inquiries, she believes. Bernardi is moving on now to the (alleged) process crimes of the former Labor former minister, Bob Carr.
10.59am AEST
It would be good to be able to ignore stupid interventions in politics, wouldnt it? I wish I had that luxury.
New, from the collected feelpinions of Jacqui Lambie.
The decision today to allow burqas and other forms of identity concealing items of dress to be worn in Australias parliament will put a smile on the face of the overseas Islamic extremists and their supporters in Australia who view the burqa or niqab as flags for extremism.
To the Islamic extremists, todays decision will prove how weak and indecisive we have become as a nation and how our PM lacks the courage of his convictions when it comes to Australias national security.
10.49am AEST
Meanwhile, back in girly man land, thanks to Daniel Hurst. Lets celebrate our great shareholding democracy.
Shares in Medibank Private will be sold for between $1.55 and $2 each, indicating the share float could raise the government between $4.3bn and $5.5bn.
10.39am AEST
The committee is now on a short break so lets summarise what we have learned this morning.
10.30am AEST
The senate president says he was not contacted by the prime ministers office to revoke the decision of October 2. (Reports on the evening of October 2 indicated that the prime minister would tell the presiding officers to revoke the decision.)
Parry says the ban has been revoked because now, more durable security measures at the doors of parliament house have been put in place. He wont comment about whether Bronwyn Bishop was asked by the prime minister or the PMO to change course.
10.24am AEST
Callinan has just agreed to provide a file note of the meetings on October 2 to the committee.
10.20am AEST
Wong:
Q: Did anyone in a facial covering attempt to enter parliament on October 2?
Not to my knowledge.
Yes, on the day.
10.17am AEST
Labors Penny Wong is trying to run down the source of the rumour about a group of people in burqas (including, possibly, fellows) intending to storm parliament and disrupt Question Time on October 2.
Parry says his source for this information was:
10.06am AEST
The senate president defends the ban as a prudent decision in the circumstances given the specific risk on the day. Parry says the position was always an interim arrangement. He says the advice was the group intending to enter parliament house on the day could have been men in full face coverings.
(This really is Pythonesque, particularly given the mythical blokes in burqas never actually materialised.)
10.00am AEST
Greens leader Christine Milne wonders whether the police have ever raised security concerns about full face coverings in parliament.
Parry:
Its probably appropriate that I dont comment on the briefings.
Yes.
The answer is no.
Its not a focal point.
9.51am AEST
Welcome to estimates, Senator Parry.
9.46am AEST
Callinan says the department of parliamentary services drafted two options in response to the events on the day. She says it was the presiding officers who added the ban on the public galleries a third option after the discussion.
Callinan:
It was the presiding officers who made the decision.
We noted her advice. I dont particularly want to go into it.
9.37am AEST
Rachel Callinan, the usher of the black rod, is telling Penny Wong that on the day the ban was issued by the presiding officers, she was informed by the security manager that a film crew was down on the parliamentary forecourt in anticipation of a group of people in burqas who intended to enter parliament house. She says there was, initially, no suggestion the intention of the group was to disrupt Question Time. Callinan is going through events on the day, various meetings to determine a response. She says she cant remember who first raised the risk that Question Time would be disrupted.
9.29am AEST
Senator Cory Bernardi is concerned about the distractive nature of news photography in this hearing. Senator Faulkner muses out loud that perhaps the press could buy less noisy cameras.
Bernardi says the snappers need to wrap up quickly and exit the committee room. Labor is going mildly ballistic. Estimates is a public process.
What is it about democracy that you dont like?
Shutting down transparency.
9.24am AEST
Labors John Faulkner has ever so politely nudged Penny Wong to the side. Hed like to know about meetings of parliaments security management board. Parry has essentially told the committee the security management board has not met formally either before the burqa ban was imposed, or after that decision was made. He means the presiding officers have met with various people informally.
Faulkner isnt impressed.
Thats correct.
Youd need to ask the chair of the security management board.
I find it remarkable that noone has seen fit to bring the security management board together.
9.14am AEST
Sorry for the brief break in transmission just had to change venues given our earlier than normal launch this morning.
Estimates is now underway. The senate president Stephen Parry has just given evidence in the finance committee by way of an opening statement. He told the committee the burqa ban had been put in place as a temporary measure because of concerns that there was to be a protest at parliament house. He said the presiding officers always meant to replace the ban with something more durable.
8.35am AEST
Just for the record we were blown slightly off course by Bronwyn Bishop in Burqa Backflip.
I did mean to post Julie Bishops statement earlier following her meetings in Baghdad one of those masterful DFAT statements saying both something, and nothing.
In my meetings with the Prime Minister Al-Abadi, Foreign Minister Al-Jaafari, President Masoum, and Council of Representatives Speaker Al-Jabouri, I reiterated Australias commitment to provide military assistance to the Iraqi government. I also finalised legal arrangements for the deployment of Australian special forces to advise and assist the Iraqi security forces. I received briefings from Iraqi leaders and international coalition partners on the campaign against ISIL and the current political situation. I emphasised the importance of the Iraqi governments efforts to deliver policies that share power and resources amongst Iraqs various communities. I also met groups of minority leaders to hear their concerns and to underline Australias close interest in the protection of minorities in Iraq.
8.20am AEST
I just contemplated writing a short analysis about how wonderful it is in politics when commonsense ultimately prevails but its pretty obvious, isnt it? Why thunder on about that?
Right now, the actual interest lies with any new facts that can be established over the course of the day regarding what was a dumb and inflammatory decision delivered by people who should know better, and who certainly must do better if they have any respect for themselves and the venerable offices they hold.
8.12am AEST
Sorry, really couldnt help that.
8.11am AEST
In happier times.
8.03am AEST
A couple of additional lines of context on Bronwyn Bishop in Burqa Backflip again from Daniel Hurst who worked yesterday.
The presiding officers of Australias parliament house have backed down from a controversial decision to segregate Muslim women wearing facial coverings such as burqas or niqabs in the public galleries. The speaker, Bronwyn Bishop, and the Senate president, Stephen Parry, met on Sunday to reconsider the interim access arrangements announced just over two weeks ago.
Bishop and Parry faced criticism over the decision to force visitors wearing facial coverings to sit in a separate area of parliaments public gallery shielded by glass panels. The prime minister, Tony Abbott, had called on the pair to rethink the segregation policy, noting that all members of the public in the galleries had already cleared airport-style security checkpoints.
7.59am AEST
Just for all the estimates nerds out there (besides me, I mean.) You know who you are.
As Ive flagged, todays inquisitorial magic undertaken in small committee rooms includes Senate president Parry coming before the Finance and Administration committee; immigration officials at Legal and Constitutional Affairs; infrastructure and regional development at the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport committee; and environment in the spotlight at Environment and Communications committee.
7.50am AEST
A reader would prefer Bronwyn Bishop in burqa backflip on the basis that it sounds more acrobatic. More power to that arm.
This stunning outbreak of basic common sense wont stop Labor from running an inquisition about this issue in Senate estimates later this morning. Of key interest will be what advice the prime ministers office gave to the presiding officers concerning the initial ruling, which banned head coverings in the main public gallery.
Its welcome that the Speaker has reversed ruling on the burqa/niqab. Segregation has no place in our parliament; common sense has prevailed.
7.38am AEST
We had also expected to hear more today about the controversy in the last sitting concerning the security arrangements for parliament house specifically, the controversy concerning head coverings for Muslim women visiting the peoples house.
I note that the department of parliamentary services has just issued the following backdown .. sorry .. advice:
All visitors entering Parliament House will be required to temporarily remove any coverings that prevent the recognition of facial features. This will enable DPS security staff to identify any person who may have been banned from entering Parliament House or who may be known, or discovered, to be a security risk.
Once this process has taken place, visitors are free to move about the public spaces of the building, including all chamber galleries, with facial coverings in place.
7.33am AEST
I neglected in that opening post to mention what the rest of the national affairs is doing today: MPs in the Reps are sitting. The Senate is doing its estimates thing.
A couple of early news stories of interest.
7.20am AEST
Good morning world. Is that what John Laws used to say? Perhaps hes still on air and still says it. Or perhaps he never said it. Coffee does take a little time to absorb.
In any case, good morning, blogans, bloganistas, and welcome.
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