POLITICIANS – AUSTRALIA

Joyce crisis has tarnished Nats brand, WA says

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Original article by Joe Kelly, Victoria Laurie, Andrew Burrell, Andrew Clennell
The Australian – Page: 5 : 21-Feb-18

National Party leader Barnaby Joyce has lost the support of the party’s Western Australian division, which has stated that his position is no longer tenable in the wake of his affair with an ex-staffer. Some Nationals MPs believe that it would be in the best interests of the party for Joyce to resign voluntarily rather than being forced to step down, warning that he could damage the Coalition politically from the backbench. Meanwhile, the Liberal-National Party of Queensland’s president Gary Spence has urged a swift resolution to the crisis.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, LIBERAL-NATIONAL PARTY OF QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Joyce loses support of party bosses

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 20-Feb-18

The future of National Party leader Barnaby Joyce remains in doubt amid growing calls from within the party for him to stand down and retire to the backbench in the wake of his affair with a former staffer. The party’s federal executive discussed the Joyce situation via a conference call on 19 February, although they did not make a decision on his future. Veterans’ Affairs Minister Michael McCormack, who is seen as the leading contender to replace Joyce, has told Sky News that Joyce will remain leader while he retains the support of the party room. However, he downplayed suggestions of a leadership challenge.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Joyce humiliated as PM imposes sex ban

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Original article by Joe Kelly, Geoff Chambers, Dennis Shanahan
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 16-Feb-18

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has responded to the growing crisis over Barnaby Joyce’s extra-marital affair by announcing that it is not acceptable for a government minister to have sexual relations with a staffer. The ban was imposed after the issue was discussed by the Coalition’s leadership group. Turnbull has also urged Joyce to consider his position, but some Nationals MPs say the party’s leadership issue is solely a matter for the Nationals. Joyce will take personal leave during Turnbull’s upcoming visit to the US, and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann will be acting prime minister in his absence.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Saving private Barnaby: rescue mission heads off leadership crisis . . . for now

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Original article by Joe Kelly, Dennis Shanahan, Greg Brown
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 15-Feb-18

National Party leader Barnaby Joyce was the Opposition’s main target during question time in parliament on 14 February. The Joyce saga is also expected to attract scrutiny by Labor in upcoming Senate estimates hearings. Meanwhile, Joyce will not face any threat to his leadership in the near-term after senior members of the Nationals stepped in to quell unrest within the party’s ranks over the deputy prime minister’s shenanigans. However, some Nationals MP say his position will be untenable if further revelations emerge.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Joyce’s hold on power at risk: Nat

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Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 12-Feb-18

Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg says National Party leader Barnaby Joyce still has strong support within the Coalition and will lead the Nationals to the next federal election. However, there is growing concern within the National Party about a voter backlash over Joyce’s affair with a former staff, particularly among rural voters. The Government’s decision to move Joyce’s lover to a series of well-paid civil service positions has also attracted scrutiny.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE

PM, Shorten to go to battle on cost of living

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Original article by Andrew Tillett
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 15-Jan-18

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will return from their summer break in the week beginning 15 January. They will both highlight their parties’ policies aimed at addressing electors’ concerns about the rising cost of living. Turnbull and Shorten will both also start the new political year with their leadership credentials again under scrutiny, while Labor may face the prospect of having to contest up to four by-elections as a result of the dual citizenship crisis.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA, LIBERAL-NATIONAL PARTY OF QUEENSLAND

Nationals’ split widens amid reshuffle fallout

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Original article by Laura Tingle
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 21-Dec-17

The Federal Government’s cabinet reshuffle has prompted disunity within the ranks of the National Party. Some members of the junior Coalition partner are displeased with the decision to drop Nationals MP Darren Chester from the infrastructure portfolio and Liberal-National Party MP Keith Pitt from his role as the assistant trade minister. There has been speculation that Pitt may seek to establish a separate Nationals party room or resign from the party and join the crossbench.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, LIBERAL-NATIONAL PARTY OF QUEENSLAND

Shorten seats for union support deal

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Original article by Staff reporters
The Australian – Page: 4 : 20-Dec-17

Unions linked to the Australian Labor Party’s Industrial Left faction are understood to have done a deal with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and his ­Centre Unity faction. The deal is said to include increased pre-selection of candidates belonging to the IL faction for seats at upcoming elections, in return for the IL agreeing to support Shorten remaining as Labor leader. Unions belonging to the IL faction include the Maritime Union of Australia, the ­Finance Sector Union and the Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN RAIL, TRAM AND BUS INDUSTRY UNION, FINANCE SECTOR UNION, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES UNION

Shorten weighs up move on Dastyari

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Original article by Simon Benson, Andrew Clennell, Rachel Baxendale
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 12-Dec-17

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is under growing pressure to take action regarding senator Sam Dastyari, who is continuing to attract scrutiny over his links with China. Opinion within Labor’s ranks is divided, with Tony Burke and Anthony Albanese publicly supporting Dastyari, while Catherine King and Linda Burney are among those who believe that he should resign. Former Labor leader Kim Beazley has urged Dastyari to act in the best interests of his party and the nation, while Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has described Shorten’s lack of action on the issue of Dastyari as a scandal.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, CHINA. MINISTRY OF COMMERCE, UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, SYDNEY. AUSTRALIA-CHINA RELATIONS INSTITUTE

PM seeks more scalps as Labor refers duals

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Original article by David Crowe
The Australian – Page: 1 & 7 : 7-Dec-17

The High Court will determine whether Australian Labor Party MPs David Feeney and Katy Gallagher are eligible to be in federal parliament due to dual citizenship concerns. Labor advised on 6 December that it will refer the matter to the court, and it is facing growing pressure over three of its other MPs. The Federal Government is seeking the support of crossbenchers in the lower house to also refer Justine Keay, Susan Lamb and Josh Wilson to the court. Labor in turn believes that a number of Coalition MPs should be referred to the High Court.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET