End of the day for me. What happened?
- the Senate has referred the eligibility of Bob Day to the High Court;
- One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has supported the government's move to refer her colleague, Rod Culleton, to the High Court;
- it is the first sign that all is not all well inside One Nation;
- Senator Culleton says he is confident the High Court will rule in his favour; and
- Labor has questioned the legitimacy of the parliament.
My thanks to Andrew Meares and Alex Ellinghausen for their superb work and to you fo reading and commenting.
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Alex, Andrew and I will see you soon. Good afternoon.
That is some heavy duty arm candy.
One bright spark asked if Mr Turnbull was going to announce asylum seekers would be housed on the moon.
I told you it wasn't a joke.
It's been so busy I haven't even mentioned the Racial Discrimination Act.
Much earlier this morning Mr Turnbull attacked the Human Rights Commission's handling of complaints under section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, calling on the independent body to "urgently review" its conduct after a case against a group of Queensland students was thrown out by a judge last week.
Mr Turnbull has also given further signals that reform of 18C will be considered by a parliamentary inquiry following sustained pressure from some of the Coalition's diehard free speech advocates, who believe the controversial section should be watered down as a minimum.
You can catch up on that story here.
Back to topThe Senate is expected, by the best available calculations, to vote on the Senator Culleton referral at about 5.30 pm.
It might vote on the plebiscite very late tonight. Or maybe not.
Mr Turnbull has left the chamber because he has a meeting with Buzz Aldrin.
That's right. The Buzz Aldrin.
Hope someone asks him about Senator Roberts' claim the people who walked on the moon think NASA's climate division are dodgy.
The motion is unsuccessful.
Question time continues with Immigration Minister Peter Dutton taunting the opposition about border protection.
"Why did the Prime Minister decided to keep this information secret from the Australian people?" Mr Shorten wants to know.
Mr Turnbull gets but a few words out before Mr Shorten seeks to move a suspension of standing orders.
Mr Shorten asks why Mr Turnbull allowed parliament to keep sitting when he knew its make up was potentially "illegitimate".
Mr Turnbull dismisses the assertion as "sanctimonious humbug".
"The government has acted with the utmost diligence."
The opposition wants to know when Mr Turnbull was personally aware of the matter.
He says he was a few days after 18 August when Senator Ryan informed Mr Turnbull's chief of staff about his concerns.
Mr Shorten returns to the dispatch box.
Since we're talking about the qualifications of senators, Mr Turnbull says, let's talk about Senator Kitching.
Labor wants the Speaker to stop Mr Turnbull talking about this.
The Speaker says there is no problem with what Mr Turnbull wants to talk about.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten asks Mr Turnbull if he is "satisfied" that the government behaved appropriately in relation to Mr Day and Senator Culleton.
Mr Turnbull says "they are not matters I have any personal knowledge of".
"I am satisfied my government has conducted itself....with great diligence, great integrity and great thoroughness."
If you're just joining us and wondering why Treasurer Scott Morrison is talking about the case against Mr Day, it is because he represents the Special Minister for State in the lower house.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull takes a question from his own side.
It is about the government's border protection policy and the new legislation it is pressuring Labor to support.
"Stand up against the people smugglers," he says.
Back to topLabor asks about the lease arrangements for Bob Day's office.
The government refers to Senator Ryan's statement.
And, very hastily, we move to question time.
Wow.
Although she knows Senator Culleton won't be happy with her, Senator Hanson says it is a matter of "personal integrity" that she support the government's decision to refer the matter to the High Court.
"I cannot disregard what may have been a wrong judgement," she says.
"I've spent 18 years to get here to represent the people. I will leave it up to the courts to make a decision."
She tables his nomination form on which he declared he was eligible for office.
Senator Hanson rises in support of Senator Culleton.
She says she has always been in favour of "honesty, integrity and the truth".
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