Michelle Grattan speaks with University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor Deep Saini about the week in politics.
Morrison’s brush strokes on his own portrait are designed to create the image of a leader tuned to the voters’ concerns, rather than the “Canberra bubble”.
Lukas Coch/AAP
Morrison is tactically quicker than Turnbull, just as in his messaging he can cut through more sharply. He’s more attuned to the emotional and knee-jerk drivers of today’s politics.
The Labor-Green majority report said the Senate should consider censuring Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
The Greens will try to move a no confidence motion against the home affairs minister, but the numbers are not there for it to succeed - proving government members are united.
Under sustained opposition attack in question time, Dutton sheeted home the claims that have been made against him to Quaedvlieg.
Lukas Coch/AAP
He said Quaedvlieg was “someone the Labor Party should not rely on”, calling him “your Godwin Grech”.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced this week the government would scrap the plan to lift the age for pension eligibility to 70, capping it at 67.
AAP/Daniel Pockett
Another hectic week in federal politics saw the government change the age of pension eligibility, Julie Bishop arguing for more women in parliament, and the Peter Dutton au pair story continuing to bubble along.
Morrison’s preacher-style stump speech invoking Menzies sent some wider messages.
Simon Dallinger/AAP
It’s hard to fault Morrison’s first fortnight, if you can get past his description of events that tore down a PM as “that Muppet Show”, and swallow any cynicism about his careful choreography.
The bitter exchange has raised the au pair affair, already difficult for Dutton and the Morrison government, to a new level.
Dave Hunt/AAP
A Senate committee is inquiring into Dutton’s use of his ministerial discretion over visas. He overrode advice from officials when he granted visas to two au pairs who had been detained.
During his time as Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Peter Dutton granted tourist visas to four foreign au pairs who were denied entry at the Australian border and detained, awaiting deportation.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Australia’s Migration Act allows for ministerial discretion in cases such as the controversial granting of tourist visas to four au pairs - but there remain questions around responsible government.
Dutton told 2GB on Thursday he had made a judgement based on the case’s merit, not his knowledge of the person who had referred it.
A whistleblower has leaked to Labor an email trail of correspondence showing how Dutton rejected advice from Australian Border Force, granting a visa in 2015 to French au pair Alexandra Deuwel.