An independent investigation into which members of the Prime Minister’s Office knew about the alleged rape in Brittany Higgins was suspended this month, revealed by the country’s top civil servants. Dr Steven Kennedy PSM. “There is public interest in this and the blanket refusal to answer does not look great.”. The federal opposition has been grilling the government over the findings of an inquiry run by Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary Phil Gaetjens. . Secretary to the Treasury. In Senate Estimates today, I continued to pursue the case to support casual coal production workers. Senator Andrew Bragg today expressed his disappointment in the blurred lines around ABC staff reporting on programs and social media posts. “The work of Mr Gaetjens is the only one that has been paused,” Senator Birmingham said. In a Senate estimates hearing on Monday, Mr Gaetjens said he was advised by AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw on March 9 to hold off finalising records of interviews with staff. But he conceded he was concerned the PM&C probe could hamper the AFP’s investigation. Listen to what Mr Harfield has to say in this video, yet many of the important questions were taken on notice. It came after Mr Kershaw faced a grilling of his own on Monday, when he insisted he had not asked Mr Gaetjens to alter, slow or pause that inquiry. Work of the Parliament; Senate; House of Representatives; Parliamentary Departments; International Program insisted he had not asked Mr Gaetjens to alter, slow or pause that inquiry. 23 October 2019. Senate estimates; Committees; Statistics; Petitions; Address in Reply; Senators and Members. “A number of these matters I could easily answer off top of my head. It investigated the government’s response to Ms Higgins’s claim she was raped in Parliament House in 2019. The Senate estimates hearing for the environment portfolio is still discussing recovery plans. Only one portfolio question number or question number can be searched at a time. Senate estimates hearings, also known as estimates committees or simply 'estimates', allow senators to scrutinise—closely examine—how the executive government is spending taxpayers' money. SENATE ESTIMATES COMMITTEES Senator John Hogg Labor Senator for Queensland I had a difficult week politically last week and I wondered how things would work out for this paper. The Brittany Higgins scandal is front and centre at Senate estimates today. Estimates of government expenditure are referred to Senate committees as part of the annual budget cycle. National Disability Insurance Agency bosses have revealed in Senate Estimates today that the agency has had to top up the accounts of people with disability 1700 times due to criminals siphoning out funds - amounting to a bill of $8.3m to the Australian taxpayer. news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site>news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site, Brittany Higgins’ brutal swipe at Prime Minister. If you want to blow up the committee keep going the way you are!” Senator Carr said. 23|03|2021. Alternatively select date by typing into these fields in the format 'dd/mm/yyyy'. Statement from Senator Andrew Bragg on the ABC at Senate Estimates. Live; Live Minutes; Help; Sign in Collectable debt — that is debt owed by individuals, businesses and super funds to the ATO — has now reached a record $34.1 billion from $26.6 billion it reported the year before. All times AEST (GMT +10). “That’s a decision he may wish to take but based on the conversations I’ve had in terms of any intersect with our criminal investigation,” he said. The Committee further agreed that it would table an interim report on or before 18 March 2021. “You know it looks like you are seeking to shut down questions from opposition senators,” she said. For example, even matters reported in the media can affect a fair outcome.”, Scott Morrison ordered the probe after Ms Higgins aired her allegation. The hearings are called 'estimates' because they examine what the government estimates it will collect … "These issues were going to be pursued in Senate Estimates today," Labor's Tony Burke said. Clicking the 'From' and 'To' fields displays a calendar. Under Senate Bill 2001 teachers with zero to three years experience with a bachelor’s degree would see a $1,110 increase, bringing their annual pay to $37,000. Senator Ryan was also asked if he wished the investigation had been treated as seriously two years ago as it was being treated now. Location. The ABC boss was grilled about staff tweets and reports of alleged rape against the Attorney General he said was “highest quality.” The ABC boss says he will investigate tweets allegedly posted by lawyers in organizations that describe the Morrison administration as “fascists.” Broadcaster Managing Director David Anderson was also grilled during a Senate quote … The government was also forced to deny attempting “a cover-up” over the Higgins allegation during an ill-tempered beginning to Senate estimates. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicole ClearySource:News Corp Australia. 5—Consideration of estimates, Government guidelines for official witnesses before Parliamentary Committees and related matters, House of Representatives chamber and business documents, Getting involved in Parliamentary Committees, Department of the House of Representatives, Social Services, including Services Australia, Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Industrial Relations, Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development. A chunk of Ms Keneally’s time was swallowed up by procedural issues, which she accused Ms Henderson of hiding behind to prevent Labor from pursuing the Higgins matter. The claim is also the subject of an Australian Federal Police (AFP) investigation. Watch Parliament; Events Calendar; What's on in the Senate; About the House News; My First Speech; About Parliament. The latest Senate estimates news, articles and analysis from the The Sydney Morning Herald “I can confirm I informed Mr Gaetjens on 9 March it was strongly advisable to hold off finalising the records of interviews with staff until the AFP could clarify whether the criminal investigation into Ms Higgins’ sexual assault allegations may traverse any issues covered by the administrative process he was undertaking,” he said in a statement. https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Senate_Estimates Kristina Keneally says the government tried to ‘shut down’ questions over Brittany Higgins. The move prompted Senator Ryan to step in, saying they would claim public interest immunity if advice did not allow them to answer. federal budget 2021: Aussie wage growth expected to remain a... Jim Golden-Brown, NATSIC CEO, stands down pending investigat... Federal Budget 2021: How first home buyers policies will imp... Shiba inu coin: Things to know about new cryptocurrency, Dog... NAB, Macquarie Bank lift 4 and 5 year fixed home loan intere... Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. Reports and transcripts on past proceedings can be found on the committee estimates pages below. The Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) has been assisting the federal police with the “information gathering” but would not provide a timeline of its response to the alleged incident. PM&C Secretary Phil Gaetjens has sparked uproar in Senate estimates with these comments. Mr Kershaw said on Monday he “supported” the decision to hold off on the inquiry to avoid the risk of prejudicing the criminal probe. I showed the FWO that the hunter valley CFMEU bosses sold out casual mine workers and left them significantly underpaid and unsupported. "By breaking with convention and calling the election midweek, the … The committee was told presiding officers gave verbal permission for the AFP to access the CCTV footage on April 8, 2019. “It’s not helpful at all and it’s also quite a risky undertaking. The opposition was outraged when Liberal senator Sarah Henderson attempted to wrap Labor home affairs spokeswoman Kristina Keneally up as she questioned Mr Kershaw over the allegation. The estimates process aids the Parliament in its scrutiny of the Government’s proposed expenditure. Senator Ryan said he did not expect to see a copy of Mr Gaetjens’ investigation, adding he was not a member of the executive. Senator Ryan said he and speaker Tony Smith had reflected on the procedures around signing people into parliament. As a result, there were different interpretations of what was expected. He said he was “not at liberty” to provide his personal observations on revelations aired publicly in the past month. This opportunity to examine the operations of government plays a key role in the parliamentary scrutiny of the executive. Opening statement - October 2019 Senate Estimates Opening statement - October 2019 Senate Estimates. “This is your first meeting (as chair). “I was strongly advised … to make sure that there was no intersection with the criminal investigation, and as a result, I have decided to pause the inquiry,” Mr Gaetjens said. Senate. He had recently been appointed Senate President, and so I wrote to him and said, 'Surely, now that you are Minister of Finance, Minister of Trade, and Senate President, you will assist me in obtaining a resolution and putting an end to what is happening to me'. “Both the commissioner and I are concerned that we do nothing that could prejudice the outcome of the police investigation.”. Senate Estimates: Opening statement . “It is very frustrating that … you weren’t in a position to come prepared with what you were able to say because it looks like a cover-up, Mr President,” Labor senator Katy Gallagher said. Senators focus on how the government has spent this money and on the government's future spending plans. Picture: Sam Mooy / Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images. However, he said senators and members were entitled to set the conditions of access to their own office. When I awoke today and read the Courier-Mail, I thought “there is a God” - it’s not too often that you would say that after reading the Courier-Mail. March 2021, National, Senate Estimates. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary RamageNCA NewsWire /Picture Gary RamageSource:News Corp Australia. Representing ASIC today are all of our Commissioners Deputy Chairman Peter Kell, and … There is some slightly better news for the long overdue plan for the koala. I’m just asking you to respect the fact that we are sharing the call and all senators are meant to ask questions,” Senator Henderson said. Labor has used Senate estimates to scrutinise Australia Post on some of their spending decisions and use of corporate credit cards, revealing the organisation spent $12,000 on luxury watches. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary RamageSource:News Corp Australia, A probe launched by Phil Gaetjens into the allegation has been suspended. The resulting uproar has seen Ms Holgate stood aside from her role temporarily, and it didn’t take long for a rogue Australia Post employee to make his … Senator Keneally responded that explanation was “a bit rich” given Senator Henderson was attempting to limit the number of questions Labor could ask. Labor’s Tanya Plibersek is on the ABC saying that the prime minister is “gaslighting” the public after the news emerged today that the Gaetjens report had been on pause for weeks. “When the AFP has clarity about whether there is no intersection between Mr Gaetjens’ administrative inquiry and the criminal investigation I will contact Mr Gaetjens so he can move to completion of his inquiry.”. Parliament House, Canberra. This was in response to evidence by ABC Managing Director David Anderson under questioning in the Senate Environment and Communications … Quote: On 17 February 2021, the Senate granted an extension of time to report until 13 May 2021. A study by the National Education Association of starting teacher salaries for 2018-2019 ranked Mississippi’s pay 46th among … In practice, there was ambiguity in communications between ASIC and the bank and with the independent monitor. Live; Dynamic Red; Questions on Notice; Estimates Live; House. Good morning. The federal opposition has burned down the government over … On Saturday December 25, which felt like an eternity when you're going through hell, I … Search the database for questions placed on notice during estimates hearings, and the answers provided. Clicking the 'From' and 'To' fields displays a calendar. Labor will now push for Senator Reynolds, who is on leave this week as the submarine project is due to be scrutinised in Senate estimates, to front … The database contains information for each of the eight legislation committees from the 2017-18 supplementary budget estimates hearings. For earlier estimates rounds, please see the individual committee pages. Labor spent the first morning of Senate estimates grilling the government over its handling of Ms Higgins’s alleged rape. As promised: Interim Report Thank you for this opportunity to address the Committee. The purchases were aired today during a senate estimates hearing in Canberra, where Ms Holgate revealed the watches were given to the executives for their work brokering a deal to provide banking services to postal customers in 2018. Senate estimates hearings exploded into life on Monday morning, with the AFP, the departments of the Senate and Parliamentary Services, and … RELATED: Brittany Higgins’ brutal swipe at Prime Minister, Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins alleges she was raped in Parliament House in 2019. “While I have the terms of reference, we’re not embedded in that inquiry nor would we want to be,” he said. Mr Stefanic refused to answer several questions, including about entry to the building, given the ongoing police investigation. I simply requested that I be treated with dignity. In a Senate estimates hearing on Monday, Mr Gaetjens said he was advised by AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw on March 9 to hold off finalising records of interviews with staff. Discuss "As it happened: Senate estimates hearings on Tuesday, October 27" Please note: All comments made or shown here are bound by the Online Discussion Terms & … Our new simulation keeps the most likely Senate outcome at a 51-49 GOP majority if the election were held today, as Republicans benefit from having many paths to get to that 51 or beyond. What a disgrace. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary RamageSource:News Corp Australia. But last week Mr Morrison told the parliament that Mr Gaetjens had “not provided me with a further update about when I might expect that report”. This is still below the Southeastern regional average of $38,420 and national average of $40,154. Senate Estimates: Opening statement Despite this, it was ASIC’s job to ensure the compensation process, both in methodology and implementation, worked effectively. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jeremy PiperSource:News Corp Australia. Government portfolios are spread across the following eight Senate committees for the consideration of estimates. Committee deputy chair and Labor senator Kim Carr exploded at Senator Henderson’s intervention, saying estimates were designed to give the opposition time to explore its own questions. Senators; Members; Contacting Senators and Members; News & Events. A NOTE ABOUT RELEVANT ADVERTISING: We collect information about the content (including ads) you use across this site and use it to make both advertising and content more relevant to you on our network and other sites. Senate Estimates: Opening statement CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Introduction Good morning, Chairman. Senate committee confirms they are investigating 'Havana syndrome' energy attacks on US citizens after a White House employee was targeted It is a privilege to appear before this Committee for the first time in my capacity as the Secretary to the Treasury. “If they don’t complicate anything I can answer very, very quickly.”, Senator Scott Ryan was grilled on his response to the Higgins allegation. “Not at all, senator. “As a result I have put on hold the process of finalising documentation of my inquiries and the preparation of a report to the Prime Minister. “I’m particularly concerned about the intersection of his inquiry with our investigation,” he said. Secretary Rob Stefanic said less than a dozen people within the department knew the details of what happened on the night of March 23, including a few parliamentary officers who had seen the CCTV. Parliamentary Friendship Groups (non-country), Senate Brief No. Finance Minister Simon Birmingham told the committee that all other inquiries, such as Stephanie Foster’s work into support services for issues of bullying, sexual harassment or sexual assault, were still ongoing. 22 October 2014 . “At all times, I think that the speaker and myself had handled it appropriately,” Senator Ryan said. Presenter. Mr Gaetjens said he told Mr Morrison on March 9 when staff in the Prime Minister‘s office also became aware. Meanwhile, in the finance and public administration hearing, Senate president Scott Ryan took questions related to Ms Higgins’s rape allegations on notice, saying he did not want to complicate a “serious police investigation”. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary RamageSource:News Corp Australia, An independent probe into which members of the Prime Minister’s office knew about the Brittany Higgins rape allegation was suspended this month, the nation’s top public servant has revealed. Earlier, Labor senator Kimberley Kitching asked Senator Ryan if he had spoken to the speaker, Ms Higgins’s then-boss senator Linda Reynolds or her office, the Prime Minister or his office, the AFP or the clerk. Nationwide News Pty Limited Copyright © 2021. Date. “It is also the only one that has a backwards-looking element.”, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw says he is concerned the Gaetjens probe might hamper a criminal investigation. Since 1994, committees of the parliament have undertaken the estimates process, by examining and reporting on the proposed expenditures contained in the Appropriation Bill … Greg Medcraft, Chairman, Australian Securities and Investments Commission . As part of Senate Estimates today 22 March 2021, Jason Harfield, CEO of Airservices Australia, was asked a number of pertinent questions originally posed by the Brisbane Flight Path Community Alliance (BFPCA) about the airspace design work that is now causing excessive and unreasonable noise pollution from Brisbane Airport’s flight paths. Today, as is the usual … An independent investigation into Brittany Higgins’ alleged rape was suspended because it could jeopardize criminal investigations. Live; Live Minutes; Questions in Writing; Federation. Position. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. An independent investigation into the Brittany Higgins rape allegation has been suspended over fears it could compromise a criminal probe. You are! ” Senator Carr said he told Mr Morrison on March 9 when staff the..., and the blanket refusal to answer several questions, including about entry to Treasury. 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