Not that I'll be staying. I'm pulling up stumps. What happened today?
- many words were expended on the backpacker tax;
- at the last minute the government reached a deal with the Greens to keep the rate at 15 per cent;
- it has the numbers to pass the deal but there is some time to go this evening before that happens;
- Parliament House will undergo a big security upgrade over the summer break; and
- politicians went a bit starry eyed over Jean Claude Van Damme.
Given it's the last sitting day of the year this is the last you will hear from me, Alex Ellinghausen and Andrew Meares until Tuesday February 7, 2017.
Thanks from the three of us to you for reading, commenting and offering your insights and encouragement.
Until then you can follow me on Facebook. Good night and merry Christmas.
Attorney-General George Brandis is attempting to extend the hours of the Senate so it will sit until the backpacker tax and some other things get dealt with.
Mr Turnbull finishes with a cheery "merry Christmas".
Mr Morrison is asked about Labor's claims that the backpacker tax deal will cost the government money.
"In the 45th Parliament it's about getting things done," he says.
"It's 70 per cent of something, not 100 per cent of nothing."
He says he was lectured in question time by Labor about finding a "resolution" and says that is what he has done.
Mr Turnbull thanks the Greens and other crossbenchers who supported the backpacker tax deal.
"We're getting on and getting the job done," Mr Turnbull says.
Back to topMr Turnbull is speaking.
He says he promised a "period of delivery" and that is what he has done.
"We are getting on with our job of delivering," he says.
Mr Turnbull and Mr Morrison will hold a press conference at 5.30 pm.
Over in the Senate things are also a little fractious.
One Nation senator Rod Culleton tried to table information "proving" his innocence in the eligibility/High Court matter.
He was successful but his One Nation colleagues voted against allowing him to do so. Good grief.
![One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson listens as One Nation Senator Rod Culleton speaks in the Senate earlier on Thursday.](/web/20170509120906im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/2/0/c/d/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gt20mw.png/1481784748004.jpg)
Mr Shorten is unhappy about the backpacker tax: "Malcolm Turnbull is spending $100 million more so he can have a higher rate of backpacker tax. You can't make this up."
"Farmers and growers have suffered for a year and a half - all because of Malcolm Turnbull and Barnaby Joyce's incompetence. If this is victory, I'd hate to see what defeat looks like."
Five MPs racked up phone bills of more than $10,000 each - Angus Taylor, Bob Katter, Andrew Broad, Darren Chester and Dan Tehan.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce was the biggest spender on charter flights. He spent $85,000 in the first six months of this year.
Bob Katter was the only MP who came anywhere near that expenditure. He spent $55,000 on charter flights.
Back to topThe perk that just won't die - the gold travel pass - was enthusiastically used by former MPs.
Peter Slipper was the biggest user of the pass, charging taxpayers over $12,000 for travel in the first six months of this year. That's more than former prime ministers Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Bob Hawke or Paul Keating.
The next biggest users of the gold pass were Simon Crean and Michael Ronaldson.
It being the last day of Parliament, six months of travel reports and MPs' costs were just released.
Among the snippets are that Kevin Andrews took a taxpayer funded trip to the US in January and February this year to attend the National Prayer Breakfast.
He met Mark Burnett, the producer of Celebrity Apprentice, while he was there.
Labor is making a last stand against the deal but it's done. Its treasury spokesman, Chris Bowen, says it will cost the government more than the deal Labor proposed.
It's the Greens who saved Christmas.
Tweets you never thought you'd see:
Credit where credit is due. Thanks to the Greens for doing what Labor should have done. #backpackertax @RichardDiNatale
— Barnaby Joyce (@Barnaby_Joyce) December 1, 2016
The 15 per cent backpacker tax is now being voted on in the House of Representatives.
With any luck (for the PM) it will be through the Senate licketty split.
Mr Morrison tables a letter guaranteeing the measure's support in the Senate.
Back to topSenator Di Natale has swatted away questions about how the deal was done: "You're more interested in how the sausage was made, I'm more interested in eating it."
Yes, well.
Greens leader Richard Di Natale says his MPs are the only ones behaving like adults on the backpacker tax.
"Today is a great day for farmers and a great day for the environment," he says.
Mr Smith says charges against the protesters are being considered as are whether cost recovery will be pursued.
Question time is over.
Speaker Tony Smith is announcing a review of the security procedures for people wanting to attend question time.
He is particularly upset that school children who were in the gallery and building at the time were scared.
Sky News is reporting that the Greens will back a 15 per cent backpacker tax which would give the government the numbers to get the matter resolved in the Senate.
They have secured $100 million for Landcare in exchange for their support.
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