Dodson ‘taken aback’ by Nationals’ call on Indigenous voice – as it happened

Nationals’ call on Indigenous voice not a setback: Pat Dodson

So I wanted to begin with some reactions from senator Pat Dodson on the Nationals’ decision to oppose an Indigenous voice to parliament.

Dodson was on ABC News, and Dodson said he was “taken aback” when he heard of the decision, adding that he didn’t believe it was a setback:

I was a bit taken back because last week I spoke to senator Price and said I would like to talk to her. That hasn’t happened. I was more taken aback by the fact that I had made a statement in the chamber last week that set out some of the key agreed principles between the working group that has been set up … It is inclusive, respectful, culturally informed, gender balanced and includes youth.

It also is accountable and transparent and works along existing organisations and traditional structure. I outline those in the Senate last week and maybe Senator Price was not there, None of those would be objectionable to you or anyone listening to that list.

I don’t see it as a setback quite frankly. This is the beginning. The campaign hasn’t even begun. We are introducing amendments to the machine reap provisions for the referendum.

We haven’t even put forward the bill that will set up the referendum so it is a bit premature really and a bit inept to think that you would adopt a position well out before you saw anything of what the people, First Nations people were asking for the government.

It is not about the politicians, remember. It is about an invitation from the First Nations to the nation. This is about the Australian people and they will need to vote on it.

Updated at 00.54 EST

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What we learned: Monday 28 November

That’s a wrap for the blog. Here are the day’s major developments:

Updated at 03.01 EST

Allegra Spender weighs in on federal anti-corruption body wrangling

The independent MP, Allegra Spender, has backed the Greens in a high stakes game of brinksmanship to improve the National Anti-Corruption Commission bill by giving non-government parties more say in appointments.

The Greens are threatening to back a Liberal amendment requiring three quarters of the oversight committee to back an appointment – unless the government agrees to a non-government chair.

Spender had proposed in the lower house that the chair’s vote should not count for appointments, meaning the government would need one more non-government vote, while Helen Haines proposed a two-thirds majority.

Spender said a super majority or insisting on a non-government chair were all “reasonable” ways to prevent government control of appointments.

“If we get the wrong commissioner it undermines the Nacc, and that’s extremely damaging,” she said.

Spender said Dreyfus did not want to set a precedent for a non-government chair but argued “the Nacc is different and the committee has a different role”.

Independent member for Wentworth Allegra Spender. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Updated at 02.57 EST

Penny Wong refuses to speculate on further sanctions on Iran

The foreign minister, Penny Wong, has defended the Australian government’s response to the violent crackdown in Iran, saying Australia had “consistently called out the regime publicly for its egregious actions”.

The Coalition demanded to know in Senate question time today why the government had not yet rolled out any new targeted sanctions, claiming that Australia was lagging behind like-minded nations. Wong said the government would not speculate on future sanctions:

We’ve consistently called out the regime publicly for its egregious actions, and I think everybody in this place … would stand united in our condemnation of the brutal repression of civil and political rights in Iran, following the tragic death of Mahsa Amini.

I would make this point. In relation to sanctions, the senator does know that I have not, nor has any foreign minister before me, including Senator Payne—notwithstanding her interjection—ever speculated publicly on sanctions. No foreign minister would publicly speculate on sanctions, for very good reasons.

I understand the calls from the community in Australia. I met with some representatives last week and I said to them I understand why it is that people feel so strongly about this and why people are so angry. In a world in which Australia and other like-minded countries, such as Canada, the US, New Zealand and many others that we have been working with, in the UN context, to put pressure on Iran—I wish we could make this better, but we can’t. That is the reality. This is a repressive regime; we have to continue to work with other members of international community to assert clear pressure in that context.

The Liberal senator, Claire Chandler, in a follow-up question, referred to a significant protest out the front of parliament earlier today:

Hundreds of Iranian Australians, Kurdish Australians and their supporters have been rallying outside the parliament today. Will the government listen to them and take real action to strengthen Australia’s response to the abuses in Iran?

Wong said she was aware of the protest and supported their right to protest and understood their calls, but added:

The person who holds this office has to make a range of decisions and go through a range of processes and make a judgement in Australia’s best interests —I presume the same judgement as the Coalition government made when Iran was elected to the Commission on the Status of Women, and no protest was lodged by the former government. Foreign minister Penny Wong during Senate Estimates earlier in November. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Updated at 02.43 EST

The Coalition’s defence spokesperson, Andrew Hastie, asked questions of the defence minister, Richard Marles, in parliament today about reports of show-cause notices being issued in relation to holding commanders accountable for alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.

Hastie has issued the following statement about his call for consistency in how this accountability is applied:

Command accountability runs up and down the chain. We want to see this review applied consistently. That is not only fair, but recognises that senior ADF officers had the privilege and moral responsibility for the conduct of the war.

Earlier, Hastie told Sky News “we should not just review those medals, we should review medals going all the way to the top, because in the military, it’s one standard for all”.

Defence minister Richard Marles (left) and shadow minister Andrew Hastie. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

Updated at 02.27 EST

McKenzie ‘stoked’ about Victorian National party vote

I wanted to return to Nationals MP Bridget McKenzie’s appearance on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing, because she was asked about the Victorian election result.

McKenzie said she was “stoked” about the performance of the Nationals, but was asked if it was still viable to be in Coalition with a Liberal party that has lost another election, its third in a row:

That is decision for the state team and state organisation. I’ve been around long enough to know that one level should not be telling the other what to do but indeed we did have a great result, we saw off rural independents en masse.

We have had the best result since the Second World War. People often write off our party as if we are somehow irrelevant in the modern era and nothing could be further from the truth, whether as a result of the federal election or the state election with the National party standing up for their values and their communities, stay local, our people back that.

Victorian National party federal senator, Bridget McKenzie. Photograph: Jane Dempster/AAP

Updated at 02.13 EST

Nationals put politics ahead of First Nations people: Uluru Dialogue

The Uluru Dialogue, the group behind the Uluru statement from the heart (which the voice to parliament springs from) says the decision from the Nationals today “will only make us work harder” to win the pending referendum, savaging the Coalition for not making more progress on closing the gap in Indigenous social outcomes.

Geoffrey Scott, spokesperson for the Uluru Dialogue, claimed the Nationals had “put internal politics ahead of the interests of First Nations people” by making their decision to oppose the voice before even getting enough detail about what it would do or how it would work.

“The Uluru Statement from the Heart is an invitation to the Australian people, not politicians or any one political party

We will continue talking with all Australians including supporters of the Nationals.

The referendum will happen in the 2023 financial year, with some tipping late next year.

“By deciding to do this before a referendum date has even been set, or the detail has been released, it’s clear that the Nationals have put internal politics ahead of the interests of First Nations peoples,” Scott said of the decision.

The voice to parliament offers a solution, the Nationals have offered more of the same. Australians know that politicians can’t close the gap. And that’s why the voice is so important. It will make practical improvements to the lives of First Nations Australians across the country, including in Nationals electorates.

Nationals leader David Littleproud said his party chose to oppose the voice partly because they claimed it wouldn’t help close the gap. Scott claimed this was wrong.

Given their record of failure in government to close the gap, we will not be lectured by the Nationals on the best ways to improve outcomes for First Nations people.

Today makes clear that the task for the government is to put a strong voice to parliament to the Australian people, so we can continue our conversation directly with them and not more politicians in Canberra.

Updated at 01.53 EST

And if you are looking for a quick and easy summary of the day’s news, look no further than our new, daily Afternoon Update.

Today, it looked at the National’s opposition to the voice to parliament, the passing of a landmark gender equality bill and Bob Dylan’s fake signature. Read more at the link below:

Updated at 01.35 EST

Following the announcement of the visit of a US nuclear-powered submarine, we should point out the UK also sent a submarine to Western Australia late last year.

The UK’s minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, mentioned the visit when she addressed the National Press Club in Canberra today.

She said the Aukus agreement “reflects the unique trust between the UK, US and Australia” and “our shared values and our joint commitment to Indo-Pacific security”.

Trevelyan said:

We have made good progress on the deal, entering the final stretch of an eighteen-month feasibility study to deliver nuclear-powered submarine capability for Australia.

The UK and Australia share a long and proud history of naval cooperation. But Aukus will be more than just this important generation of submarines for the Australian Navy.Our collaboration on cutting edge defence technology will give our countries a competitive edge, ensuring our people are kept safe from harm and enhancing our ability to achieve shared goals, including promoting security and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

Trevelyan said the UK had increased its defence presence throughout the whole region:

Last year our Carrier Strike Group toured the region engaging with over 40 countries.

Our offshore patrol vessels HMS Spey and HMS Tamar are now stationed in the Indo-Pacific to be able to work with key allies and partners consistently and to build closer relationships and understanding.

HMS Tamar is one of the Royal Navy’s newest and greenest ships, and she recently visited Darwin.

HMS Astute, first of her class and one of the most advanced nuclear submarines in the world, docked in Perth last year.Our maritime partnerships are about promoting the international rules based system, and the fundamental right under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, for maritime vessels to move freely in international waters.

So, Nationals MP Bridget McKenzie was on ABC News’ afternoon briefing earlier, and was grilled on why the party made that decision not to support an Indigenous voice to parliament.

McKenzie at first said that the party had an “internal process” that was led by their “very own Jacinta” (Jacinta Price here) that led to their decision, but stumbled when asked if the decision-making was outsourced to Price:

In our party room, that is what we always do, we stick local. A lot of our local MPs went out into the communities and spoke with indigenous leaders at a very local level.

Obviously, Jacinta has done a lot of consultation particularly in the NT but more broadly. But we decided as a party room that there is an incredible lack of detail about this, we do not want our country divided by race which we believe this proposal will do. And what we really want to see is much more practical measures to address the inherit issues within indigenous communities.

Updated at 01.14 EST

American nuclear-powered submarine docks in WA

An American Virginia-class submarine is visiting Western Australia amid continued talks about Australia’s plans for nuclear-powered submarines under the Aukus agreement.

The Australian government issued a statement welcoming USS Mississippi and its crew to Fleet Base West, saying it was the second US nuclear-powered vessel to visit Australia in 2022. USS Springfield visited in April.

The Australian government continues its work with the US and the UK on plans to acquire at least eight nuclear-powered submarines under Aukus, with decisions about the design due by March.

The statement said the Virginia Class submarine was in Australia for a routine visit to provide respite for the crew:

The visit reflects the ongoing strength of Australia’s alliance with the United States and builds on previous visits of nuclear-powered submarines from our Aukus partners. Since 1960, Australia has hosted over 285 visits by UK and US nuclear-powered vessels with over 1840 total days in port.

The deputy prime minister and minister for defence, Richard Marles, said:

I had the opportunity to tour the USS Mississippi as part of my visit to Pearl Harbour in Hawaii last month, alongside US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

It is a pleasure to welcome the crew to Western Australia this week, for this routine visit. Their stay in WA will provide those on board with much needed respite as they continue to ensure a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

In the same statement, the chief of the Royal Australian Navy, Admiral Mark Hammond, said:

After a busy year operating with the US Navy across the Indo-Pacific, it’s a privilege to welcome our friends to Western Australia. We value every opportunity for our navies to interact, train, and operate together. Australia and the United States have a proud history of working together in peace and war, it is a privilege to be able to support this enduring friendship.

Updated at 01.11 EST

Nationals’ call on Indigenous voice not a setback: Pat Dodson

So I wanted to begin with some reactions from senator Pat Dodson on the Nationals’ decision to oppose an Indigenous voice to parliament.

Dodson was on ABC News, and Dodson said he was “taken aback” when he heard of the decision, adding that he didn’t believe it was a setback:

I was a bit taken back because last week I spoke to senator Price and said I would like to talk to her. That hasn’t happened. I was more taken aback by the fact that I had made a statement in the chamber last week that set out some of the key agreed principles between the working group that has been set up … It is inclusive, respectful, culturally informed, gender balanced and includes youth.

It also is accountable and transparent and works along existing organisations and traditional structure. I outline those in the Senate last week and maybe Senator Price was not there, None of those would be objectionable to you or anyone listening to that list.

I don’t see it as a setback quite frankly. This is the beginning. The campaign hasn’t even begun. We are introducing amendments to the machine reap provisions for the referendum.

We haven’t even put forward the bill that will set up the referendum so it is a bit premature really and a bit inept to think that you would adopt a position well out before you saw anything of what the people, First Nations people were asking for the government.

It is not about the politicians, remember. It is about an invitation from the First Nations to the nation. This is about the Australian people and they will need to vote on it.

Updated at 00.54 EST

Good afternoon, Mostafa Rachwani with you for the rest of the day, and we begin as always with thanks to the always brilliant Amy Remeikis for her blogging today.

I am going to hand the blog over to Mostafa Rachwani to take you through the afternoon. I’ll be back early tomorrow morning for the second day of this final week –and also take you through party room meetings. Huzzah.

Thank you for joining me and take care of you Ax

Liberal MP Bridget Archer is considering voting for Labor’s proposed censure motion of Scott Morrison over the multiple ministry scandal.

Asked if she might join the censure, Archer told Guardian Australia:

I have previously indicated my dismay about the previous prime minister’s actions, and am considering my position in regard to the censure.”

Earlier on Monday the manager of opposition business, Paul Fletcher, had signalled the opposition would not support the censure of Morrison. Evidently some MPs are having more difficulty than others making their mind up.

The Greens have already said they support moves to sanction Morrison, so it’s clear there will be a majority in the House of Representatives when this is put. But still, it’s interesting that Archer’s independent streak continues, after she voted with the crossbench on various national anti-corruption commission amendments.

Updated at 00.46 EST