Australia news LIVE: Labor to move censure motion against Scott Morrison; Nationals criticised over Voice to parliament opposition
Key posts
- Nationals split on Voice as war of words erupts
- Former PM faces historic censure
- This morning’s headlines at a glance
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Nationals split on Voice as war of words erupts
The Nationals have split over their opposition to the Voice to parliament less than 24 hours after party leader David Littleproud announced they would formally oppose constitutionally enshrining the body.
As Nationals frontbencher Andrew Gee and the Western Australian state branch broke ranks and publicly backed the Voice, former federal leader Michael McCormack suggested the party could revise its position next year depending on the details of the proposal.
Nationals MPs Andrew Gee, David Littleproud, Jacinta Price and Michael McCormack.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
Divisions in the junior Coalition partner, and a bitter war of words between respected Indigenous academic Noel Pearson and Country Liberal Party senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price on Tuesday, set the stage for an increasingly hostile debate as the referendum approaches.
In an emotive speech in question time yesterday, Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney defended the Voice as the country’s best chance to improve the lives of First Nations people after decades of failed policies, taking aim at the Nationals’ position that it would only add another layer of bureaucracy to policymaking.
“This isn’t about dividing people. It is about uniting Australians. Giving First Nations People a say in the matters that affect us. Not being told what is best by bureaucrats,” Burney said.
More on this issue here.
Former PM faces historic censure
Scott Morrison will be censured today for eroding public trust in Australia’s democracy, the first time in history a former prime minister has been formally reprimanded by the federal parliament.
The text of the censure motion, which will be debated later this morning, notes the constitution provides for responsible government in which the executive is accountable to the parliament and, through that, to the voters.
It notes Morrison was secretly sworn in to administer the departments of treasury, home affairs, health, finance, and industry, science, energy and resources during his last term in government, which prompted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to order an inquiry by former High Court judge Virginia Bell.
Bell’s report found the former prime minister had “fundamentally undermined” the principles of responsible government.
The House would therefore “censure the member for Cook for failing to disclose his appointments to the House of Representatives, the Australian people and the cabinet, which undermined responsible government and eroded public trust in Australia’s democracy”.
More on the motion here.
This morning’s headlines at a glance
Good morning and thanks for your company.
It’s Wednesday, November 30. I’m Broede Carmody and I’ll be anchoring our live coverage for the first half of the day.
Here’s what you need to know before we get started:
- Legislation to establish a national integrity commission passed the Senate last night. However, because there were successful crossbench amendments (due to the support of the Coalition), the bill must go back to the House of Representatives before becoming law.
- The Nationals have shown early signs of splitting over the federal partyroom’s decision not to back an Indigenous Voice to parliament.
- Labor will today move a censure motion against former prime minister Scott Morrison over the secret portfolio saga.
- And the government is inching closer to revealing its market interventions to drive down power bills. Industry Minister Ed Husic will be on ABC radio later this morning. Stay tuned.
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