Despite the Nationals deputy leader resigning, the so-called “sports rorts” scandals is far from resolved.
Articles on Bridget McKenzie
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It’s much harder to remove a minister these days than it used to be – and there’s no sign Bridget McKenzie’s departure will prove a damaging blow for the Morrison government.
Parliament will reopen in the final month of a summer of horror for the country in general and Scott Morrison in particular.
The government’s approach to Bridget McKenzie reveals a remarkable misunderstanding (or perhaps a remarkable misrepresentation) of the respective roles of ministers and administrators.
Despite Morrison saying how much he respected the “professionalism”, “expertise” and “skills” of the public service, his remarks won’t be lost on federal bureaucrats.
Morrison’s hope for clear air for his messages is being stymied by the crisis around deputy Nationals leader Bridget McKenzie, as more damaging information emerges against her in the sports rorts affair.
The damaging longer-term risk for Prime Minister Scott Morrison is that some people have re-thought their view of him over the sports grants saga and his missteps in handling the bushfires.
Morrison says he referred the auditor-general report to the head of his department last week to determine if McKenzie breached ministerial standards in her sports grant dispersals.
An audit office report has accused the government of using grants to influence votes. So what are the consequences?
Michelle Grattan discusses this week in politics with University of Canberra Assistant Professor Caroline Fisher.
Speaking with The Conversation’s politics podcast, McCormack said in hindsight, it would have been better to have told Nationals who’d been agitating for the code that negotiations were underway.
Deputy PM Michael McCormack on the drought and restive Nationals
The Conversation, CC BY33.7 MB (download)
Following tensions in the Nationals party room over the bring-forward of the dairy code for Pauline Hanson, the Deputy PM admits that the party leadership mishandled the situation.
Following a deal with Hanson, some Queensland NSW Nationals were so furious that a leak canvassed mutterings about the possibility of a “spill” move against deputy leader Bridget McKenzie.
Demoralised Nationals will meet on Monday morning to replace Barnaby Joyce.
Some Liberals have been unhappy at the prospect of Barnaby Joyce being acting prime minister when Malcolm Turnbull visits the US.
This is the second consecutive time the Nationals have chosen a female senator as deputy leader.
Two Nationals crossed the floor and four others failed to vote on a motion from Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm to disallow the import ban on the Adler lever-action shotgun.
The Turnbull government was caught out by not having any legislation for the Senate to consider.
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Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
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Professor, the McKinnon Institute for Political Leadership, Monash University
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Honorary Professor of Public Policy, Australian National University
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Director, Vice-Chancellor's Centre of Public Ideas (CoPI) and Donald Horne Professor of History and Public Ideas, University of Canberra
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Associate Professor of Law, Member of Deakin Cyber and the Centre for Law as Protection, Deakin University, Deakin University
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Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland