POLITICIANS – AUSTRALIA

PM lashes Liu security risk claims as racism

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 13-Sep-19

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has told Parliament he is satisfied Gladys Liu is not a national security risk, while claiming those who questioned her fitness to serve in parliament were racist. Liu has been under the spotlight recently over allegations regarding her connections to organisations in China, one of which is Beijing’s propaganda arm, and Labor and Centre Alliance have both called for her to be investigated. Morrison has declined to answer what steps he took to assure himself that Liu was not a security risk, while Victorian Liberal president Michael Kroger said he knew nothing about suggestions raised in a newspaper that ASIO had advised the Liberal Party against pre-selecting Liu.

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

Liberal MP Gladys Liu says she was not clear in gaffe-ridden interview

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Original article by Rob Harris
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 12-Sep-19

Labor’s foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong has called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to assure Parliament that Gladys Liu is a "fit and proper person" to be there. Liu, who is the Liberal member of Chisholm and who was born in Hong Kong, has been the subject of allegations that she has links to Chinese propaganda units. In an error-ridden interview with Andrew Bolt on Sky on 10 September, Liu said she could not recall being a member of groups with connections to the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front Work Department. Liu said in a statement on 11 September that she could have chosen her words better, while she said any suggestion that she was not loyal to Australia was "deeply offensive".

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AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Shorten to soldier on after disappointing poll defeat

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Original article by Richard Ferguson
The Australian – Page: 5 : 31-Jul-19

Former Labor leader Bill Shorten has ruled out quitting politics, saying he is committed to holding the federal government to account. Shorten says Labor’s shock election defeat in May was "very disappointing" personally, for the nation and for Labor voters. Shorten, who has had a low profile since stepping down as Labor leader, adds that he does not want to pre-empt the party’s review of its election campaign.

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AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Lawyer flags Frydenberg eligibility challenge

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Original article by Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 4 : 17-Jul-19

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says the Coalition is confident that all of its MPs are eligible to be in parliament. However, the Kooyong Independents Group is said to be planning to challenge the citizenship status of Frydenberg, arguing that he is a Hungarian citizen by descent. The Kooyong Independents Group is associated with Oliver Yates, who contested Frydenberg’s seat of Kooyong at the 18 May election.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, KOOYONG INDEPENDENTS GROUP, HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA, COURT OF DISPUTED RETURNS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

RBA chief backs Frydenberg plan

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Original article by Richard Ferguson, Rachel Baxendale
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 12-Jul-19

Reserve Bank of Australia governor Philip Lowe says he is in full agreement with Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s view that the Australian economy remains sound. Lowe and Frydenberg met for two hours in Melbourne on 11 July. Lowe said after the meeting that it was a "remarkable achievement" that more Australians have a job now than at any previous time in the country’s history, while shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers claimed that Frydenberg is letting the RBA do nearly all of the heavy lifting.

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC

Hanson flirts with Labor, warns PM

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Original article by Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 2 : 11-Jul-19

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson says she has a much better working relationship with Anthony Albanese than she had with former Labor leader Bill Shorten. Hanson says she is "cautious" of all major political parties, but adds that it is important talk to all sides of politics to ensure the best legislative outcomes. Hanson also says she has had no "meaningful engagement" with Prime Minister Scott Morrison since the federal election, but adds that he should not disregard her as she intends to contest the next election.

CORPORATES
ONE NATION PARTY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Dutton puts end to MP eligibility row

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Original article by Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 6 : 28-Jun-19

A spokeswoman for Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton says he formally relinquished his interest in a family trust before nominating for the 18 May federal election. Dutton’s eligibility to be in parliament came under scrutiny in 2018 due to his pecuniary interest in a childcare centre which is owned by his wife and which had received federal government subsidies. The spokeswoman has stressed that two constitutional law experts had previously advised Dutton that he was not in breach of section 44 of the Constitution.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HOME AFFAIRS, RHT FAMILY TRUST, UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

Pyne’s defence job breaches code

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Original article by Alice Workman, Michael Roddan
The Australian – Page: 6 : 28-Jun-19

Former defence minister Christopher Pyne has come under scrutiny over his new role as an adviser to Ernst & Young regarding the defence industry. Labor senator Penny Wong contends that Pyne is in breach of the federal government’s ministerial code of conduct, which continues to apply for 18 months after an MP leaves parliament. Wong and Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick have urged Prime Minister Scott Morrison to intervene. Pyne retired from politics at the 18 May election.

CORPORATES
ERNST AND YOUNG, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, CENTRE ALLIANCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, GRATTAN INSTITUTE

Defector Bernardi may turn Lib again

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Original article by Richard Ferguson
The Australian – Page: 2 : 19-Jun-19

Senate crossbencher Cory Bernardi has signalled that he may consider rejoining the Liberal Party. Bernardi says he has not held any such talks with Prime Minister Scott Morrison, but he would be open to doing so. He adds that his main priority in the new parliament will be to support the Coalition’s legislative agenda. Eric Abetz and Dean Smith are among the Liberal senators who say Bernardi would be welcomed back into the Liberal fold. He resigned to form the Australian Conservatives party during the tenure of former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.

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LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN CONSERVATIVES, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, CENTRE ALLIANCE, ONE NATION PARTY

Shorten wants health role, but some in Labor say that’s a sick joke

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Original article by Richard Ferguson, Alice Workman
The Australian – Page: 4 : 29-May-19

Labor will hold its first caucus meeting in the wake of its election defeat on 30 May, but new leader Anthony Albanese has indicated that the new shadow ministry will not be announced for several days. Former leader Bill Shorten is said to have expressed interest in the health portfolio, although Catherine King is believed to be keen to retain the portfolio. Some Labor MPs do not think Shorten deserves a frontbench portfolio, while former Labor minister Stephen Conroy says he still has much to contribute.

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AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY