Murray Watt beefs up security detail after backing CFMEU administration — as it happened
The ABC can confirm Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt has stepped up his security detail on the road and at home while seeking to close a deal to force the CFMEU into administration.
Meanwhile, independent MP Zali Steggall has doubled down on her remarks about Peter Dutton, saying the opposition leader's "racist" Gaza visa ban needed to be called out.
Look back at how the day unfolded in our live blog.
Live updates
That's all from me folks!
Thanks for spending some, or all, of your day with me! It's been a busy one.
A final vote in the Senate on the CFMEU bill is expected within the next couple of hours. If you want to keep tabs on that, friend of the blog Jake Evans is your Senate whisperer for the evening. You can read his full story at the link below.
Here's what we learned today:
- Anthony Albanese called Peter Dutton 'deeply divisive' as the fallout of the opposition leader's call for a total ban on arrivals from Gaza continues.
- Zali Steggall says she has no regrets about calling out Dutton
- Meanwhile, the Coalition say both the PM and Steggall are being a bit hypocritical about the whole thing
- It's not a Monday without some Senate shenanigans
- Dutton demanded the PM issue an explanation to parliament over a comment he made in QT last week
- A deal was struck between the Coalition and Labor on the CFMEU legislation
'A very positive first step'
The Civil Contractors Federation, the industry peak body, is pleased the opposition has struck a deal with the government to bring the CFMEU under the control of an administrator quickly.
CEO Nicholas Proud has told the ABC it's a "very positive first step."
"Now there'll be a sense of confidence when you are dealing with the industry. There'll be greater transparency and for us that means that the business should be a lot more predictable," he said.
"And for those that have been suffering bullying and intimidation — that's finished."
Proud is supportive of the administration period lasting at least three years, but no more than five years.
"The culture doesn't change in the next 12 months, it needs a lot of time."
He also backed the Coalition's efforts to make sure that civil penalties could be pursued retrospectively.
"We want to see retrospectivity to ensure those that have been doing the wrong thing realise they're going to be brought to task.
So what happens from here?
It's expected the government will put up a motion shortly that will allow it to switch up the Senate's programing for the evening so the CFMEU bill can be put to a vote.
There are a number of amendments that need to be worked through, so it could take some time until the final vote is held.
It won't make it into law just yet because it needs to go to the House.
That's just a formality though because the government has the numbers in the chamber.
Deal reached but government frustrated with Coalition's go-slow
Here's what Murray Watt had to say:
Many of the things the Coalition has agreed to today were actually on the table from the government last Thursday.
It is a reason and their job to explain why we could not get it done last Thursday.
Let's hope no assets have been shifted within the CFMEU.
Murray Watt is speaking now
The workplace relations minister is confirming what the Coalition announced earlier: a big old deal has been struck on the CFMEU legislation.
The bill, once passed, will force the embattled union into administration after action in the Federal Court stalled.
Watt says the amendments the government has agreed to are "in many cases clarifying things that the bill was originally intended to do".
"In other cases we have agreed to some minor amendments which preserve the intent of the bill itself," he adds.
The minister says the "time for corruption, criminality, violence, and bikies in Australia's construction union and industry is coming to an end".
Burns says he's had some 'encouraging' conversations about gambling reforms
Josh Burns was also asked about the government's gambling reforms.
The government is under pressure to act on a bipartisan inquiry report, chaired by late Labor MP Peta Murphy, which recommended a total ban.
Instead, Labor is likely to adopt a model to ban ads around children’s programming and live sport, and cap ads in other slots at two per hour.
Burns says he wants to continue the work of Murphy. He told Afternoon Briefing he's had some "really encouraging conversations" with senior ministers and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about the reform.
Sounds like you are for a total ban?
"I want these reforms to be as strong as they possibly can be," he says.
"I do think what we've got right now, as the prime minister himself said this morning, the status quo right now is unacceptable.
"We need to break the business model of these gambling advertisers and that is exactly what we're going to do."
Labor's Josh Burns and Liberal MP James Stevens are on the pollie panel today.
Many of the people who have fled Gaza have arrived in Australia on a tourist visa.
In early August, new Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the government was working on a solution for that cohort when the visitor visas expired, confirming they would not be sent back to Gaza with a war ongoing.
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Labor's Josh Burns is asked why tourist visas are being used.
"Tragically it has been a terrible conflict and … things are to be moved quickly," he said.
He stressed it was "not without precedent", noting the system set up for people fleeing Ukraine.
"That is not remarkable," Burns says.
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James Stevens says the approach concerns the Coalition, due to Gaza being governed by Hamas.
He says the government is not giving "clear answers" about whether those issued tourist visas were adequately screened.
The opposition wants a ban on Gaza arrivals. It's important to note with the Rafah gate closed, nobody is getting out of Gaza at the moment.
Disability community concerned about lists included in NDIS reform
The next most significant bill to be bowled up to the Senate is the one that tries to make good on the recommendations of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Review.
This package would clean up the list of services participants could use their plans to pay for, removing things like sexual services and cannabis.
More significantly, it paves the way for the government's pursuit of reining in the scheme's growth.
The Coalition has put up a fight so far but it is likely to support the package in the end.
Advocate and writer El Gibbs says the list ruling what NDIS funding can be spent on is something participants have never had to deal with before.
"I know that there's a lot rhetoric about saving money and all of that, but these lists are really going to push people towards much more expensive disability-specific supports and while we wait for the states and territories to agree on what the next steps are," she says.
'Dangerous precedent': Greens not happy about CFMEU deal
Greens senator David Shoebridge says he hasn't had a chance to take a fine-tooth comb to the deal struck between Labor and the Coalition on the CFMEU legislation.
The bill, once passed, will force the embattled union into administration.
It follows the CFMEU being plagued with a series of allegations about its links to criminal gangs and standover tactics on building sites.
But Senator Shoebridge says any deal between the major parties rings a "warning bell" for him.
The senator says he tried to reach out a number of times last week but the government "didn't really want to talk to us".
What did the Greens want?
"We think that’s a very dangerous precedent, especially when the same power will now roll over for three years and if we have a federal election you could be handing their power to a Coalition minister over a union," he says.
"We said we recognise, and I want to be clear, we recognise the very substantial issues, misogyny, threats of violence, we know something has to be done, and we said to the government we know something external from the union has to be done and we want to work with you, but we are incredibly concerned about this."
Master Builders Australia welcomes deal struck on CFMEU bill
Here's what chief executive Denita Wawn had to say:
"The building and construction industry is finally on the road to meaningful cultural change.
"The industry has been at a standstill with a great cloud of uncertainty on the current operating environment and the future of the CFMEU.
"We thank the government and Coalition for working in a bipartisan way to reach an agreement on a series of amendments while not delaying the bill’s passage beyond this sitting period."
Who is joining us on Afternoon Briefing today
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Hi Courtney! Can you please explain what's coming up on Afternoon Briefing today and the merits of watching the program?
- Claudia
Why thank you friend of the blog Claudia Long, for your comment and your contribution to the ABC as a political reporter.
I would 100 per cent watch because host Greg Jennett has a great show planned for you:
- Greens senator David Shoebridge joins the show after things got heated in the chamber earlier today
- Advocate and writer El Gibbs will discuss the government's NDIS reforms
- Labor's Josh Burns and Liberal MP James Stevens are on the panel
- Tasmanian independent Tammy Tyrrell will also join the program.
Labor agrees to amendments on CFMEU bill
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Michaelia Cash says they are as follows:
- A three-year minimum administration period for the CFMEU
- Administrator be available once every six months for questioning, and the head of the FWC, Murray Furlong, will address Estimates
- Permanent bans of officials where it's deemed necessary
The Coalition has also secured assurances that political donations by the CFMEU and election campaign expenses will be banned during the period of administration.
Why does this deal matter?
The CFMEU is facing a series of allegations about the union’s links to bikies and standover tactics on building sites.
Stalled proceedings in the Federal Court, where the Fair Work Commission is fighting to appoint an administrator to the CFMEU, sparked "urgent" legislation last week to force the embattled union to accept it.
Breaking: Coalition agrees to deal with Labor on CFMEU bill
Shadow Attorney-General Michaelia Cash is speaking now.
She says the Coalition is now in a position to provide passage of the legislation.
Meanwhile in Senate QT
Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi urged the government to condemn the opposition leader's stance on refugees in Gaza as "racist" during Senate question time.
"Why won't your government show leadership and call out Mr Dutton's behaviour for what it is? It's vile, dangerous racism — why won't you use the R word?" she asked.
It follows Peter Dutton's call for a temporary ban on anyone entering Australia from Gaza.
Independent MP Zali Steggall called the policy "racist" last week, and this afternoon Senator Faruqi doubled down on the allegation.
The senator initially resisted calls to withdraw her statement.
"President, it's a fact," she said.
President Sue Lines did not stand for it.
"Senator Faruqi, you know that when I'm in the chair and I ask for a withdrawal I expect a withdrawal and not a debate," the president said.
Senator Faruqi reluctantly withdrew.
"It is a shame that in this chamber racism is not called out, but crack down on those who call it out," she said.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong responded by saying the government did not condone Dutton's comments but did not call him racist.
"What I can say to you is that the government's view is that what politicians should do and what the labor party seeks to do is work together," Senator Wong said.
"We do not want a divided Australia, and we will always fight those who seek to divide."
I don't leave myself Dixers, I promise!
Is "Alex" who asked the Dorothy Dixer question actually Courtney Gould?
- Nic
I get why you would think that but it actually wasn't!!! So cheers to Alex and yourself for leaving your questions today!
LoadingPM calls time on QT
An exasperated Tony Burke has mocked his Liberal counterpart Dan Tehan for continuing to ask questions about the visas of those who have arrived in Australia from Gaza.
He's like, ah yes, let's discuss national security concerns in the "privacy of QT" where "nobody else is listening".
Which of course, he's not going to do. So he ends the question.
And after one more dixer, the PM calls time on this edition of QT.
It's okay though, it's less than 24 hours till the next one!
Zali Steggall asks how Labor will address racism after Dutton row
Zali Steggall, Independent Member for Warringah, had the next question: How will you ensure policies do not prejudice and lead to vilification of minority groups?
Minister for Immigration Tony Burke pointed to the multicultural framework review introduced by the Department of Home Affairs earlier this month.
"It starts with a simple view that we are better together," he said.
He said Peter Dutton had pushed to lower protections against racial hate speech, saying "the Australian people don't want to have officials out of Canberra jamming some sort of language code down their throat".
The question came after Steggall called Dutton's visa stance "inherently racist", saying it stokes division.
What is a Dorothy Dixer?
Are any questions asked by government MPs not Dorothy Dixers? If not, why not?
- Alex
Hey Alex, thanks for your question.
Firstly, for those who don't know the term Dorothy Dixers is given to questions asked to the government by its own backbench MPs.
Our friends at the Parliamentary Education Office say it stems from a popular advice columnist, Dorothy Dix, who was rumoured to sometimes write the questions she answered.
Dixers are usually designed so the government can have a bit of a gee up about their own achievements (and ministers often have a hand in drafting the question, so they can have a pre-prepared answer ready).
Whereas the opposition and crossbench questions are (in theory) supposed to prodding the government about policies.
So back to your q! It's totally possible a backbencher could go rogue and ask something more pointed to their own government.
But they'd have to be pretty ballsy to do so!
Process for Gaza visas 'same as it's always been', Burke says
When asked if any of the visas offered to people coming from Gaza had been cancelled, Minister for Immigration Tony Burke said the visa review process was "the same as it's always been".
"The government continues to collect information … and we never stop collecting information on this caseload or anyone who has visas," he said.
"If at any point in time we're presented with information that had grounds for visa cancellation, we would cancel."
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