Australia politics live news updates: character test laws up for debate again, NSW seat of Willoughby hangs in the balance | Australia news
This parliamentary week is either half finished or only halfway through, depending on your perspective.
The federal government will have another crack at its character test legislation today. It wants more leeway to boot convicted criminals from the country and is trying to make the extraordinary argument that if it doesn’t get its way, that means Labor is taking the side of men who abuse women and children.
(Labor says the immigration minister already has “God-like” powers and this is just a power grab.)
Attorney general Michaelia Cash has conceded that no federal integrity commission legislation will be put up before the election but that’s unlikely to make the issue go away.
And the government smells blood in the water over independent Warringah MP Zali Steggall’s “rookie error” in not properly declaring a $100,000 donation, so expect to hear more there.
Some big international news from the UK – Prince Andrew has settled the sexual assault claim filed by Virginia Giuffre. He will make a “substantial donation” to her charity (but doesn’t admit guilt).
And still overseas, but sparked by Australian happenings – tennis superstar Novak Djokovic has told the BBC he’s not anti-vaccination but he’s also not vaccinated, and won’t get vaccinated even if it means he misses grand slam tournaments. But definitely not anti-vaccination.
Senate estimates continues – you never know what will come up but you know something wild will.
The Russia/Ukraine situation is still unstable, and there’s speculation Russia is planning a “false flag” attack (it will attack its own people or property inside Ukraine, pretend it was Ukraine, then use that as a pretext for an attack). Prime minister Scott Morrison tried very hard yesterday to link the situation to cost of living issues here in Australia, and was attacking China for not condemning Russia, and Labor for not attacking China. Some fancy footwork there.
Katharine Murphy will cut through the bluster for you, along with the crack Canberra team of Paul Karp, Sarah Martin, Josh Butler, Daniel Hurst and Mike Bowers.
Here we go …
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