Extract from The Guardian
PM's legislative agenda is in Palmer's hands but he won't speak with the government until PUP gains official 'party' status
- Lenore Taylor, political editor
Tony Abbott has begun a round of “meet and greet” meetings with some
of the crossbench senators who will determine the fate of his
legislative agenda after July.
But the prime minister has not met any senators from the Palmer United party nor its leader, Clive Palmer, who insists he will not speak to the government until it gives him more staff and official “party” status.
And, according to Palmer, the Motoring Enthusiast senator Ricky Muir, who has vowed to vote in a bloc with PUP, rejected an offer to meet the prime minister.
“I have had no meeting, the PUP senators have had no meeting, and, as I understand it, the Motoring Enthusiasts rejected the offer of a meeting,” Palmer told Guardian Australia.
But Abbott is understood to have met Family First senator-elect Bob Day on Wednesday and met Independent Nick Xenophon and Democratic Labor party senator John Madigan on Thursday. He has a meeting scheduled with Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm in Sydney on Friday.
The prime minister has not met Greens leader Senator Christine Milne, who told Guardian Australia this week there was no budget measure she could definitely say her party would support, other than the supply bills.
While Palmer and his senators did not meet the prime minister, the businessman did have dinner on Wednesday night with frontbencher Malcolm Turnbull and treasury secretary Martin Parkinson, with all parties insisting it was an impromptu arrangement and nothing to do with budget negotiations.
Palmer claimed to be “a bit hazy” about what had happened at the Wild Duck restaurant and Turnbull and Parkinson described it as a personal dinner.
The government needs the PUP votes for any legislation opposed by Labor and the Greens but has not been prepared to offer Palmer party status because he has not got the requisite five MPs and senators. PUP senators have been offered two additional staff each, the same as the other crossbench senators. Palmer has been offered one additional member of staff.
Xenophon said his meeting had been “cordial” but he had restated his “deep concerns” about the budget, which the senator has described as “mean, nasty and dumb”.
Madigan said the prime minister had been “just touching base” which was a very good thing since the government appeared to be waiting for the new Senate to pass most of its legislative agenda and “needed to take the brakes off”.
“He said the door would always be open for any briefings we needed, and as far as I am concerned the more they do of that, the better.”
Many key budget measures, including the Medicare co-payment, the changes to tertiary education, the changes to unemployment benefits for people under 30 and some changes to family benefits appear destined for defeat.
But the prime minister has not met any senators from the Palmer United party nor its leader, Clive Palmer, who insists he will not speak to the government until it gives him more staff and official “party” status.
And, according to Palmer, the Motoring Enthusiast senator Ricky Muir, who has vowed to vote in a bloc with PUP, rejected an offer to meet the prime minister.
“I have had no meeting, the PUP senators have had no meeting, and, as I understand it, the Motoring Enthusiasts rejected the offer of a meeting,” Palmer told Guardian Australia.
But Abbott is understood to have met Family First senator-elect Bob Day on Wednesday and met Independent Nick Xenophon and Democratic Labor party senator John Madigan on Thursday. He has a meeting scheduled with Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm in Sydney on Friday.
The prime minister has not met Greens leader Senator Christine Milne, who told Guardian Australia this week there was no budget measure she could definitely say her party would support, other than the supply bills.
While Palmer and his senators did not meet the prime minister, the businessman did have dinner on Wednesday night with frontbencher Malcolm Turnbull and treasury secretary Martin Parkinson, with all parties insisting it was an impromptu arrangement and nothing to do with budget negotiations.
Palmer claimed to be “a bit hazy” about what had happened at the Wild Duck restaurant and Turnbull and Parkinson described it as a personal dinner.
The government needs the PUP votes for any legislation opposed by Labor and the Greens but has not been prepared to offer Palmer party status because he has not got the requisite five MPs and senators. PUP senators have been offered two additional staff each, the same as the other crossbench senators. Palmer has been offered one additional member of staff.
Xenophon said his meeting had been “cordial” but he had restated his “deep concerns” about the budget, which the senator has described as “mean, nasty and dumb”.
Madigan said the prime minister had been “just touching base” which was a very good thing since the government appeared to be waiting for the new Senate to pass most of its legislative agenda and “needed to take the brakes off”.
“He said the door would always be open for any briefings we needed, and as far as I am concerned the more they do of that, the better.”
Many key budget measures, including the Medicare co-payment, the changes to tertiary education, the changes to unemployment benefits for people under 30 and some changes to family benefits appear destined for defeat.
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