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Category: Government and Politics / Federal Government / Federal Parliament / US Elections / Building and Construction / Immigration / One Nation

What you need to know before Parliament sits

Sunday, 20 Nov 2016 21:01:43 | Stephanie Anderson

US President Barack Obama (R) delivers remarks to reporters as he sits down to a meeting with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at the White House in Washington, DC, January 19, 2016. (Reuters: Jonathan Ernst)

It has only been 10 days since Parliament last sat, but it has been a packed week and a half.

Here's what you need to know before the bells ring this morning.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull confirmed the agreement for refugees on Manus Island and Nauru just over a week ago, but there are still a number of unknown elements.

Neither government has provided a timeframe or a price tag for the agreement and there are conflicting reports about who will decide on the final number of refugees resettled.

Mr Turnbull has also spoken with Malaysia's Prime Minister over the weekend, but is playing down the prospects of a refugee resettlement deal with the south-east Asian nation.

After sending the nation to an election earlier this year, the Government is taking its industrial relations legislation to the Senate tomorrow.

Labor and the Greens oppose the two bills, which would set up a Registered Organisations commission and re-establish the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC).

With the resignation of Family First Senator Bob Day, the Government now needs the support of eight crossbenchers to get the bills through the Senate.

Politicians are also set to debate superannuation and VET loan legislation, while commentary on the 457 skilled migrant visa program is also expected to continue.

The High Court will today hold a directions hearing after the Senate asked it to investigate the eligibility of Mr Day and One Nation Senator Rod Culleton.

Senator Culleton told the ABC he would attend the hearing and intends to represent himself in court.

He had been convicted of an offence carrying a jail term of one year or more at the time of the July 2 poll, which may make him ineligible to sit in the Upper House — despite the conviction having since been quashed.

And finally, the Government is likely to face questions this week over why it needed the help of a golfer to tee up a phone call with US President-elect Donald Trump.

The ABC understands the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade did not have a direct contact for Mr Trump until it was provided by Greg Norman, after it became clear Mr Trump was likely to win.

Both Mr Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten have praised Norman following the incident, though the latter did label it "a little unorthodox".

AustraliaPlus


 

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