Prime minister says he supports marriage equality because he is a conservative and the fact the issue is a matter of conscience should be respected. Follow developments live ...
6.39am BST
18 years in the making. Coming up.
One Nation promo for Hanson speech says it is '18 years in the making' #auspol pic.twitter.com/qFwDrMqPpP
6.38am BST
6.34am BST
From earlier today, Natalie Kotsios of the Weekly Times reports National MP Andrew Broad has said foreign investment thresholds in free-trade agreements should be reconsidered and brought down to $15m.
The government brought the Foreign Investment Review Board thresholds down to $15m for agricultural land and $55m for agribusiness.
But exemptions built into free-trade deals with the US, New Zealand and Chile remain, for whom the threshold is $1.094bn.
6.28am BST
The Nationals’ MP for Lyne, David Gillespie, is giving the reply, defending Turnbull and the Coalition.
Meanwhile in the Senate, I hear whispers the government is seeking to extend the sitting hours of the Senate on Thursday afternoon after a couple of days of filibustering.
6.23am BST
Tanya Plibersek references the plebiscite. She says, in years gone by, other families were deemed not suitable.
Have we not learned that we should give up judging other people’s relationships? ... Families come in all different shapes and sizes.
This fizza is the real Malcolm Turnbull.
6.20am BST
Tanya Plibersek is prosecuting the matter of public importance today, namely “the prime minister’s failure of leadership”.
The deputy leader mentions the artist in her electorate who produced this poster:
Download & distribute your ''Malcolm is a Fizza poster'' here https://t.co/LxG1p0ePaX#auspol #ausvotes pic.twitter.com/m2Ycot2idJ
6.14am BST
6.12am BST
6.07am BST
There was a government question to Christopher Pyne as defence industry minister.
Then Labor asked financial services minister O’Dwyer again about superannuation, regarding whether she agreed to meet Labor.
6.03am BST
There is a government question to Sussan Ley: Will the minister outline to the House the government’s commitment to fighting the scourge of cancer in our society, including funding for preventive measures?
This is about Labor refusing to agree cuts to the public dental scheme. This was part of the original omnibus bill but Labor stopped it. Here is Ley:
The deputy leader of the opposition probably doesn’t take quite the same approach to budget repair as some of the economic hardheads in her party because she desperately hung on to a measure that makes absolutely no sense in the context of public health and she’s highlighted it, thank you, the kids dental measure ... The problem is it’s not a public dental scheme. It’s a scheme where, if you have an income of $178,000 and two children, you could access this public dental scheme.
5.59am BST
A very interesting question from Andrew Leigh to Kelly O’Dwyer: Why won’t the government join with the opposition to produce a package of superannuation concession reforms that add $4.4bn to the budget bottom line over the medium term?
O’Dwyer:
The Coalition government has put forward a very detailed policy as outlined in the budget, a very detailed policy is outlined in the budget. Those opposite don’t believe in some of the flexibility measures that would actually deliver for individuals the ability to contribute more into their superannuation to provide more in their retirement. We on this side think it’s important to protect those flexibility measures, which is why we have argued so strongly for them.
5.51am BST
The agriculture minister, Barnaby Joyce, is asked a government question about water infrastructure, which gives him a chance to talk about dams. BJ loves dams.
5.49am BST
There is another question on superannuation, this time to the financial services minister, Kelly O’Dwyer. It refers to a report in the Australian Financial Review that the superannuation draft bill is not out because it is “difficult to draft”.
O’Dwyer does not mention when the bill is appearing but launches into a defence of the government’s superannuation policy.
5.46am BST
The foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop, answers a question on keeping Australians safe overseas.
She has been meeting with European ministers to discuss border protection, law enforcement collaboration and intelligence sharing.
5.41am BST
On queue: Labor in the lower house asks Scott Morrison: Last night the member for Warringah said Joe Hockey was the last treasurer who was serious about a structural reform budget. Does the treasurer agree with the member for Warringah’ s assessment of the job that, the more time passes the better Joe Hockey looks?
Obviously Morrison is not going near that question and instead talks about the government’s economic plans and Labor’s plan to “arrest economic growth”.
5.38am BST
George Brandis just told the Senate:
I believe Malcolm Turnbull will rank with Sir Robert Menzies and John Howard as one of Australia’s great prime ministers.
5.36am BST
Josh Frydenberg gets a question on Arena, the subject of fierce debate this morning during the budget omnibus bill. (The government obviously thought they needed to explain.)
Will the minister update the House on the benefits for renewable energy in the government’s budget savings of an omnibus bill?
The omnibus bill is good news for the renewable energy sector because we will restore $800m in grants for the renewable energy sector through Arena while keeping the $10bn Clean Energy Finance Corporation intact.
5.32am BST
Australian Christian Lobby very pleased with @TurnbullMalcolm's speech today (via @BernardKeane) #auspol pic.twitter.com/ExRBYhI6xG
5.32am BST
The landscape today.
5.29am BST
Chris Bowen to Scott Morrison: I refer to the treasurer’s previous answer in which the treasurer said the government was committed to the revenue from its superannuation policy but failed to confirm the government is committed to the policy itself. We ask again – can the treasurer confirm the concessional cap for superannuation will continue to have a $500,000 limit and a 2017 start date?
Morrison talks about how important the superannuation reforms are but does not commit to the specific measures.
5.26am BST
A government question to the social services minister, Christian Porter: Will the minister update the House on savings achieved in the social services portfolio over the past 12 months? Are there any alternative approaches?
This is a chance for Porter to take the mickey out of Labor for supporting Coalition budget measures which they previously opposed. Apparently some of the posters against the cuts are still displayed in Labor offices in parliament.
5.24am BST
Wilkie to the health minister, Sussan Ley: I’ve received many complaints from older Australians and their families about the ridiculous cost of home care packages. One example is a client who was effectively being charged $165 an hour for assistance with house cleaning and showering when all of the administrative expenses were included. The problem is that there’s a cap on fees but no floor on services. And this allows overcharging by many service providers on a scale, a reasonable person would characterise as systemic rorting. Minister, this is obviously unacceptable, both for the consumers who can’t afford the fees and for the taxpayers who are subsidising the packages. What will you do about it?
Ley wants to hear about the individual case.
It is true that at the moment providers of home care packages can charge an administration fee and we expect them to charge a reasonable fee.
This situation will not therefore happen. We will give the consumer the power of the spending on their own care, on their own package in their own home that allows them to live exactly the life that they choose, not dictated by providers, not with excessive administration fees, but actually recognising that choice in aged care is vital.
5.18am BST
A government question to Morrison on a strong economy.
We need to break the curse of Labor’s debt, says Morrison.
We continue to pursue those measures because those measures are essential to not just the equity of the system as it stands but the intergenerational equity as we have a growing and ageing population.
5.13am BST
Plibersek to Turnbull: A group of Catholic nuns and their supporters working to combat slavery and support victims of human trafficking is in Canberra today. They have been told that government cut also mean they will lose their funding from July next year. Why is that? Why is it that the PM can find over $170m to spend on an unnecessary damaging and divisive plebiscite but he can’t find the money to help the victims of human trafficking?
Turnbull:
Yes, it will cost $170m. But what price democracy? ... There was a time when the Labor party did not accuse people who disagreed with them of being homophobes, the extraordinary hateful expressions used by PM innocent figures in the Labor party against people who do not support same-sex marriage is a disgrace.
We respect each side and the Labor party should do the same. Many of their constituents sincerely, honourably, conscientiously believe that same-sex marriage should not be made the law of land. They’re entitled to do that. We will give them a choice.
5.08am BST
Shorthand from Shalailah:
Labor: Plebiscite!
Coalition: Dastyari!
Same as yesterday, basically.
5.08am BST
"Not every Australian is like your Senator Dastyari!" yells PM @TurnbullMalcolm, hunched over the despatch box #qt
5.07am BST
Christopher Pyne and Anthony Albanese are baiting each other.
The first government question is on long-term economic prosperity.
Far from having the hard catastrophic economic landing that so many economists predicted, our economy is transitioning well. But it’s not happening by accident. It needs clear leadership and that is what we’ve provided. Now, the options available to the parliament today are as clear as they are stark. We have to make this 45th parliament work for all of us.
5.04am BST
Murpharoo reports: The prime minister just sauntered in to the chamber with Darren Chester. Sitting down in his chair, he looked over the dispatch box to TPlibs. He must have smiled a welcome. She grinned back. Sitting behind TPlibs, Mark Butler and Kate Ellis both tapped their knees and shot her a thumbs up.
The first question from Plibersek to Turnbull: The Haymarket clinic in Darlinghurst has provided free medical nursing and welfare services to homeless and vulnerable people for more than 40 years. But has been forced to close its doors because of the PM’s cuts. Why is it that the PM can find over $170m to spend on an unnecessary and damaging and divisive plebiscite but he didn’t find $900,000 to keep the Haymarket clinic open?
4.56am BST
Remember Bill Shorten is not in the parliament today or tomorrow due to a trip to Canada. Tanya Plibersek as deputy will lead Labor for question time.
4.55am BST
Derryn Hinch spoke about the archaic Senate rules earlier today. The Senate will not allow photos of anyone other than those with the call – which are different to the rules in the lower house. Hinch is trying to get something done but because we could not make the press conference, I will have to catch up. More after question time.
.@HumanHeadline grappling with the mystery of the Senate's farcical photography rules pic.twitter.com/qA4ga9o2Tl
4.49am BST
We have question time coming up shortly. Take your places.
4.40am BST
Nationals MP Andrew Gee is giving his first speech. I missed the first bit – due to seeking sustenance – but I did hear that he supports fixed four-year terms. Hear hear.
4.02am BST
3.49am BST
Happy anniversary Malcolm.
3.37am BST
Meanwhile, backstage ...
3.33am BST
(Un) holy alliance.
3.31am BST
The crossbench and their friends.
3.28am BST
Mr Omnibus.
3.27am BST
Now its time to catch up with some wonderful photos from Bowers from the omnibus bill and the plebiscite speech. After that, a summary. After that, hopefully, lunchette.
3.25am BST
So that is it and the bill is left for another day.
3.25am BST
Malcolm Turnbull has questioned the opposition of Julia Gillard to same-sex marriage and her comments at that time. He asks why Labor did not denounce her as homophobic.
Turnbull outlines the details which were released yesterday, relating to the public funding, the question and the yes and no committees. He finishes on the mandate point.
We took this to the election and we won the election. There was no doubt about our policy. There was no doubt about our platform. This was prominently debated every day of the election campaign, every Australian who took any interest in the election knew that was our policy. We have a mandate for it and the opposition should respect it. I ask the leader of the opposition today to support this plebiscite. This plebiscite will give the Australian people the say on this. I ask Labor to respect the people they represent.
3.20am BST
Turnbull says the arguments against the plebiscite have fallen into two categories.
3.15am BST
BTW, Bill Shorten is not in the house because he has flown to Canada to meet Justin Trudeau.
Turnbull:
But there are many other Australians who are equally filled with love, equally respectful of gay couples, equally respectful of the families, of gay couples, of same-sex couples, who will, in thoroughly good conscience, vote no. And they will do so not because they disrespect gay couples, not because they disrespect the couple that was in the house yesterday with their little boy, they will do so because of a deeply felt conscience. It is a matter of conscience and we should respect it.
3.12am BST
Turnbull:
We have to respect there are sincerely held views on this issue. They are views very often informed by deeply felt conscience, informed by religious commitment very often, informed by faith. It is we have to respect and we must respect – and I can say the government respects, the diversity of views on this issue ...
From the bottom of my heart that our society was stronger if more people were married and there were fewer divorces. If there was something we could do to make families happier, it would be a wonderful thing. We know that the breakdown of the family unit is one of the great causes of hardship, of poverty, of so many of our social ills ...
3.09am BST
Malcolm Turnbull harks back to the change in attitudes on the issue. He remembers speaking to George W. Bush in 2007 about the issue of superannuation changes relating to same-sex couples.
I remember discussing this point with President Bush many years ago, at the time of Apec in 2007, when we were discussing what were the big moral issues in Australian politics, and we talked about this issue of equal access to superannuation, and I remember the president said: “Well, those are all issues of finance. The big moral issue is the one about marriage.” And we have to respect that it is a very big moral issue.
3.06am BST
Turnbull on the plebiscite bill:
I present to the House today the commitment that we made in the election campaign to put the question of whether same-sex couples will be allowed to marry under Australian law to the Australian people in a plebiscite. Now, we believe that that commitment is one that all members of this parliament should support and respect. It is thoroughly democratic. It is thoroughly democratic. Every Australian will have their say and, if the opposition support the plebiscite in the Senate, the plebiscite can be held on 11th February, which is the soonest practicable date.
3.05am BST
The budget bill has passed.
We are onto the same-sex marriage plebiscite. Malcolm Turnbull is on his feet.
3.03am BST
Christopher Pyne has moved to shut down the debate, given Bandt and Wilkie have had a fair go. Andrew Wilkie has asked that his and Bandt’s dissent be recorded.
3.01am BST
The Greens MP Adam Bandt says if we can find this tricky deal in 20 minutes of debate, what else will we find in the budget omnibus bill agreed to by the Coalition and Labor?
I for one am not prepared to wave it through?
The clue to your job is in the title - TO OPPOSE!
2.59am BST
It looks as though the plebiscite bill is not going to get to the plebiscite before question time.
2.58am BST
Answering the crossbench queries, Chris Bowen says we have an agreement to work together to ensure the deal for $800m for Arena.
Bandt says the fact that neither Bowen nor Morrison answer the question properly suggested they had been caught out.
A spokesman for Mark Butler, Labor’s climate and energy spokesman, told Guardian Australia he was confused and surprised by Cormann’s comments.
“Our understanding and expectation is that he is not cutting CEFC,” he said. “The government’s clean energy innovation fund was never the subject of negotiations.
They are robbing Peter to pay Paul ... this is what happens when you do dirty deals.
2.41am BST
OK, Bandt’s amendment was voted down. Now the house is moving onto the amendments agreed between Labor and the Coalition.
Adam Bandt is asking the treasurer about the Clean Energy Innovation Fund, quoting Mikey Slezak’s story this morning.
The finance minister, Mathias Cormann, has said the Coalition’s deal with Labor to save some funding for the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (Arena) will be balanced by a new cut to the Clean Energy Innovation Fund – but Labor has denied that was the agreement.
Speaking on Sky News, Cormann said: “Labor has asked for us to restore $800m of that for grants funding so we will do that but the capital available to the Clean Energy Innovation Fund will be reduced accordingly.”
2.29am BST
Adam Bandt, Bob Katter, Andrew Wilkie and Cathy McGowan voted against the first of many procedural questions on the budget omnibus bill. The fifth crossbencher, NXT MP Rebekha Sharkie, is the only crossbencher not there.
Bandt, Katter, Wilkie & McGowan vote against the Govt. & Opposition on the omnibus bill @gabriellechan @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/TqK1OSNjur
2.25am BST
The House is dividing still on the Greens’ amendment to the budget omnibus bill.
2.24am BST
There have been some questions in the thread about why the government is filibustering in government business. In the parliamentary program, there are certain times set down for certain business, such as government biz or private member’s biz or indeed question time.
At the beginning of a parliament, obviously while the lower house is debating things, the Senate has got little to do because they are waiting for bills to pass. Things like the budget bills were being nutted out, the plebiscite bill had to be sorted in cabinet and party room and other bills were not simply not ready to go. Labor’s clear grasp on procedural matters also allowed a slowing of the process.
2.13am BST
The Turnbull government has made two gun-related announcements this morning.
2.06am BST
Sorry, jumped the gun. The first vote was on the consideration of the bill. There will be a number of amendments coming. The first is a Greens amendment to take out the cuts to Arena, which is $500m off its $1.3m funding package, leaving it with $800m.
Wind back the tax breaks to the mining companies or the banks, says the Greens MP Adam Bandt.
2.06am BST
Not happy Bill.
2.03am BST
The lower house is now voting on the budget omnibus bill.
2.02am BST
I just want to clarify the Labor position on the plebiscite. While Bill Shorten is understood to be recommending blocking the plebiscite, it has yet to be ticked off by both the shadow cabinet and the caucus – both required processes in Labor policy formulation. #justsaying
2.00am BST
The treasurer is back in the house to close off on the omnibus bill.
In the meantime, have a read of Paul Karp’s story about finance department advice warning government it may not make its planned surplus in 2020.
The finance department has warned the re-elected Turnbull government that a number of “significant downside risks” may prevent its planned slim surplus in 2020.
The risks include blocked “zombie” budget savings measures and cost blowouts in the national disability insurance scheme.
1.52am BST
It’s a really good speech from Andrew Wilkie in its breadth. He has covered refugees and climate change as well as budget measures. He says its important to look after the community and as climate change is the biggest threat to Australia, he does not shy away from talking about it. The term “quisling” is repeated regularly – and he ends on it, in regard to Labor.
You are a pack of quislings.
1.41am BST
In the house, Adam Bandt and Andrew Wilkie are tearing strips off Labor for doing the budget deal with the Coalition.
Wilkie describes the budget omnibus bill as a
black-hearted bill ... it is not a fair-minded bill ... it betrays Labor voters.
Why not go after high-income earners ... people like us.
Amends the Income Tax Rates Act 1986 to increase the third personal income tax threshold so that the rate of tax payable on taxable incomes from $80 001 to $87 000 for individuals is 32.5%.
1.29am BST
Bill Shorten is expected to recommend to the caucus that Labor blocks the Coalition’s plebiscite legislation. Shorten and Labor have been equivocating on what they will do with the legislation even though they oppose a plebiscite and believe there should be a free vote in parliament.
Last night Labor said Shorten would be consulting with groups and people effected by the plebiscite debate. This expected recommendation this morning to block the bill is a move forward. Possibly to leave his own caucus is in no doubt as to what his position is. Labor will still do the consultations but from a known leadership position of blocking the plebiscite bill.
1.20am BST
Senate is debating tobacco excise hike which was a Labor initiative taken up by the government. There are a lot of government speakers on this. Methinks there is a little buying of time for the government in the red chamber.
1.16am BST
First speech juxtaposition: Pauline Hanson’s first speech at 5:00, immediately followed by Labor Indigenous senator Malarndirri McCarthy.
1.01am BST
Every prime minister needs a spine.
12.54am BST
There have been many words written on Malcolm Turnbull’s one-year anniversary. In case you missed it, Katharine Murphy wrote about it last Friday – which could be characterised as no time like the present.
Turnbull has been acting like a prime minister with time on his hands – time to recover from an election setback, time to plug in to the great geopolitical developments of our age, time to play a part, time to determine a new agenda for a new parliament, time to do some good on a range of fronts, time to fight on and live another day, another week, another month, another term.
Perhaps he’s acutely aware of the difficulties he’s in, yet he’s seemed slow to grasp the harsh political realities of his post-election position – landmines everywhere, contingency everywhere.
Beazley’s intervention forces us to think again about this incident, and opens a wider appraisal of Turnbull’s prime ministership than has generally been seen in the orgy of words marking 12 months since he toppled Tony Abbott.
Much has been made in the past year – and the past week – of the high expectations voters had that Turnbull would transform politics and their disappointment that he has not.
12.44am BST
Bowen says, hey government, there is more we can do to fix the budget together. He names private health insurance and VET fees. He also thanks the treasurer, Scott Morrison.
12.39am BST
In the lower house, we begin.
Chris Bowen is speaking on the budget bill. This is the resumption of a debate, which had already begun. After the compromise deal yesterday, amendments will be moved to accommodate the deal and then the vote will happen.
12.30am BST
As a bookend for the Hanson post, you must check out Gareth Hutchens’ piece on her One Nation colleague Malcolm Roberts.
The One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts has used his first speech to pour scorn on modern climate science, call for Australia to leave the United Nations and question the reliability of data from Australian government departments and agencies.
He railed against the level of taxation in Australia and thanked his colleagues in the Galileo Movement, such as Ian Plimer, the radio host Alan Jones and the late professor Bob Carter for their constant questioning of climate science. He said he loved to ask questions to get to the truth, like Socrates.
12.20am BST
Parliament calling space.
12.07am BST
The second first Pauline Hanson speech is on tonight. This morning, she was doorstopped in the press gallery.
If we keep heading down the path of selling our land and our houses and everything, we will be swamped by the Chinese. They talk about there is a smaller amount than other interests, foreign, even owned, but if Kidman station was sold they would be second to Britain.
I think a lot of people have been disappointed with him. They have expected more of him and his performance. He is treading very, what can I say, on thin water at the moment because he hasn’t got the numbers in the lower house. So the last election I think has been a big wake-up to the Liberal party and the National party. So people will want to see something happening. If they don’t start reining in the budget, I believe we will be heading down the path of a recession.
11.50pm BST
And yes, the Senate has guvvie business.
11.40pm BST
These are the bills on the program for the lower house today:
11.35pm BST
The shadow treasurer, Chris Bowen, has also spoken to Radio National about a $6.3bn savings deal agreed between the government and opposition on Tuesday.
Asked about the remaining $12bn of the government’s “zombie” savings blocked in the Senate, Bowen said there was no room for compromise.
We’ve been very clear and consistent about those.
While we are having this debate about a plebiscite and making the people do what parliament should, we’re not progressing Indigenous recognition. There’s not enough bandwidth in the political debate to allow us to have a referendum on Indigenous recognition and plebiscite on marriage equality at the same time.
11.33pm BST
Katharine Murphy wrote a piece last night about a reference to joint standing committee on electoral matters (JSCEM). Malcolm Turnbull’s answer to donation reform post-Dastyari was that the JSCEM would look at all of these issues and then make recommendations (which are often ignored).
Here is Murph’s piece:
The government is poised to send a reference to the joint standing committee on electoral matters requiring a fresh look at Australia’s donations and disclosure system after negotiations with key Senate crossbenchers and the ALP.
The special minister of state, Scott Ryan, has signalled he will ask the committee to examine the question of foreign donations, fundraising, and activity by third parties, reporting by March.
11.22pm BST
The Coalition-Labor compromise on the $6.3bn budget bill was a welcome relief – a sign that politicians can get in a room and find some common ground. If you wondered why Tony Abbott’s prime ministership was such a dogfight, it may have been because he does not appear to believe in compromise.
Tony Abbott says there will be no 'magical consensus' on budget repair https://t.co/9RB0MMpp6i https://t.co/bcKWloXFft
11.17pm BST
Free Ruddesque advice from Peta Credlin.
Peta Credlin says she has no doubt that Tony Abbott would have won the election with more than a one seat majority https://t.co/XB2wjhmIiT
11.08pm BST
The environment and energy minister, Josh Frydenberg, has been on Radio National explaining the government’s compromise with Labor to retain $800m in the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. The decision decreases the planned cut from $1.3bn to $500m over four years.
This is good news for the job of budget repair ... this is also good news for the renewable sector, because $800m of grants has been restored to Arena. The reality is we have to work with Labor, the Greens and the crossbench to pass savings because 89% of government spending is tied to legislation.
In the poll published yesterday he [Turnbull] was way ahead of Bill Shorten in terms of preferred prime minister ... don’t subscribe to the Bill Shorten victory lap, he actually lost the election.
11.03pm BST
I noted attorney general George Brandis’ plea to Bill Shorten and Labor. Shorten has said it will be three weeks before they will give an answer, which is inexplicable to me. They say they are consulting with the LGBTI community, which would make sense if there had not been extensive and intense consultations in this building and across the country. If Labor opposes the plebiscite, surely they should just put everyone out of their misery and block it.
Here is Brandis:
I would appeal to Mr Shorten and members of the Labor caucus to realise that if they support this plebiscite bill, then there will be a plebiscite on the 11th of February, which all of the opinion poll evidence indicates would be passed overwhelmingly. And if those of us, and I’m one, who believe that we ought to reform our marriage law and there ought to be marriage equality, we can have marriage equality within a matter of months. This is so close now you can touch it. Instead, I’m sorry to say, so far Mr Shorten has been putting political game playing ahead of the merits of the issue. Mr Shorten only a year ago said he did support a plebiscite, he thought it was a good day of dealing with the issue. The fact is that Mr Shorten wants gay people to wait for years and years so that he can play politics and, if that’s the way this lands, then that will be disgraceful.
10.52pm BST
Labor’s shadow treasurer, Chris Bowen, has been around the traps this morning.
He was asked how he would rate Malcolm Turnbull’s first year.
F. F for Fail.
10.48pm BST
The Australian’s Paul Kelly has an intervention by the outgoing US ambassador John Berry on the issue of donations by Chinese companies following the fall of Sam Dastyari.
The US has expressed its alarm about the influence of China and the Beijing government in Australia’s domestic politics and wants reforms to eliminate China’s ability to use financial donations to influence Australian politicians.
In an exclusive interview, the departing US ambassador to Australia, John Berry, said foreign donations were illegal in America and the US had been “surprised” by Chinese money power in this country and wanted Australia to resolve the issue.
10.35pm BST
Good morning,
A year ago today, Malcolm Turnbull toppled Tony Abbott. The Coalition government became the second government to change a prime minister in the first term.
It is clear enough that the government is not successful in providing the economic leadership that we need. It is not the fault of individual ministers. Ultimately, the prime minister has not been capable of providing the economic leadership our nation needs.”
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