Australia news live: Crown ends all political donations; pressure builds on Morrison to listen to women
Matt Canavan #MattCanavan
9.24pm EDT 21:24
Guys – a code of conduct really shouldn’t be needed to stop people from harassing and abusing people. At work or anywhere. How do you need a piece of paper to apply to you to stop being a shit human? This seems like it is something most people should know?
As AAP reports:
A code of conduct for all South Australian MPs is inevitable after a damning report found sexual harassment, discrimination and bullying are rife in the parliament, Premier Steven Marshall says.
The premier and his ministers are already covered by such rules, but they don’t extend to backbench MPs.
Mr Marshall says taking that step is up to the parliament, but the government will seek to establish a committee to respond to the issues raised in the recent report from Acting Equal Opportunity Commissioner Emily Strickland.
“I’m covered by a ministerial code of conduct, the cabinet is covered by a ministerial code of conduct,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
“What the parliament needs to do is decide whether all MPs are covered.
“I think it’s an inevitability. There is a community expectation that this be put in place.”
In her report, Ms Strickland found that 27 per cent of respondents among the parliamentary workforce reported being sexually harassed.
She said allegations of harassment ranged in seriousness and included sexually suggestive and unwelcome comments, indecent exposure and physical assault with MPs and their staff among the alleged perpetrators.
Ms Strickland also found many people experienced offensive comments and jokes and disrespectful remarks based on race, age and sexist attitudes.
The investigation revealed many incidents were part of a pattern of behaviour that had been ongoing for more than 12 months.
It found the majority of people were unlikely to report incidents, with many fearing repercussions for their careers.
9.08pm EDT 21:08
Craig Kelly worked for his family’s furniture business before he came to parliament.
He has no medical or scientific background. His main sources of information are the same as your weird cousin who vaguebooks about people letting them down, and the pyramid scheme that has convinced them that they are a small business owner.
Treat this as you would posts from your weird cousin. Scroll on.
9.06pm EDT 21:06
This was as expected as me having my fifth coffee of the day before midday.
9.01pm EDT 21:01
Also, the party room meetings have concluded – we’ll bring you those updates too.
It’s a slower day today– government MPs are laying a little low so far, which gives you an indication of the mood in the Coalition at the moment. It may have started filtering through that a moment has been misjudged and missed.
Updated at 9.07pm EDT
9.00pm EDT 21:00
Parliament is about to start – we’ll bring you all the updates.
Updated at 9.07pm EDT
8.33pm EDT 20:33
Tanya Plibersek was asked a little bit earlier about Matt Canavan’s vaccine comments:
I wouldn’t be taking health advice from Matt Canavan. I would be taking advice from our officials, including our Therapeutic Goods Administration, and our chief medical officer. I think it’s very important that we don’t start rumours, or engage in rumours. That we actually listen to the scientists and medical experts, who are guiding our response to this pandemic. I would be certain that our experts are talking to the health officials in other countries about why they’ve taken the decisions that they had. And I would be relying on their discussions and that advice to guide any decisions here in Australia.
Updated at 8.40pm EDT
8.24pm EDT 20:24
As Amanda Meade reported a little earlier, News Corp had signed a deal with Facebook.
Now, AAP reports, Nine has done the same:
Nine has reportedly signed a letter of intent with the social media giant for use of its news articles.
The company did not confirm the deal, which was first reported by its own mastheads, the Age and Sydney Morning Herald.
“We continue having constructive and fruitful discussions with the Facebook,” a spokesperson told AAP on Tuesday. “When we have anything to announce we will do so to the ASX, as is appropriate.”
Facebook has already sealed a partnership with Seven West Media.
Updated at 8.34pm EDT
8.23pm EDT 20:23
Both Craig Kelly and Tim Smith are currently trending on twitter, proving, as always, we are living in the worst timeline.