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Australia news live: Julian Leeser at odds with ‘overwhelming majority’ of Liberal party room on voice, Peter Dutton says | Australia news

Peter Dutton speaks on Julian Leeser’s resignation from cabinet

Leader of the opposition Peter Dutton addresses Julian Lesser’s decision to step down from the shadow cabinet to campaign Yes for the Voice to parliament, at a presser in Brisbane:

[Leeser] is a person that has our country’s best interest at heart and as he pointed out, he doesn’t leave with the rancour or does not leave with bitterness.

He has gone through a process in our party and his position is at odds with the overwhelming majority of the Liberal party members in our party room.

Our determination is to make sure that we have local and regional voices as we want to listen to those people in the communities together best possible outcome for them. The prime minister[’s] … proposal, a Canberra voice, will not deliver that outcome.

Key events

Dutton says Australians must look past ‘feelgood’ vibe on voice referendum

Opposition leader Peter Dutton urges Australians look past a “feelgood vibe” when considering their vote on the Voice referendum.

At a superficial level people understand that we need a better outcome for Indigenous Australians, we all have that in our hearts. But we believe we have a better pathway to get there, if it does not disrupt the future of our country and that is why we are campaigning no.

I know that people are motivated by a feelgood … vibe. I understand that, but you need to dig a bit deeper and look at what it is that is being proposed here. It is allowing a national voice that is appointed, not elected, to essentially be another arm of the government to scrutinise, to lobby, to influence every decision of government. Think about that for a second, [is] that in our country’s best interest?

Peter Dutton thanks for attorney general for service to shadow frontbench

Opposition leader Peter Dutton affirms he is not concerned over Leeser’s stepping down from the frontbench in support of the voice to parliament.

Julian has a history … about the design of a voice. As he pointed out today, he has set up an organisation which was designed to bring people together around conditional change.

He comes from a unique perspective. I have worked very closely with him … He is a dear friend and I only thank him for his service on the frontbench to our party.

I’m very pleased that he is going to continue to fight for our cause, because he has a lifelong belief in the values of the Liberal party.

Peter Dutton speaks on Julian Leeser’s resignation from cabinet

Leader of the opposition Peter Dutton addresses Julian Lesser’s decision to step down from the shadow cabinet to campaign Yes for the Voice to parliament, at a presser in Brisbane:

[Leeser] is a person that has our country’s best interest at heart and as he pointed out, he doesn’t leave with the rancour or does not leave with bitterness.

He has gone through a process in our party and his position is at odds with the overwhelming majority of the Liberal party members in our party room.

Our determination is to make sure that we have local and regional voices as we want to listen to those people in the communities together best possible outcome for them. The prime minister[’s] … proposal, a Canberra voice, will not deliver that outcome.

Josh Butler

Nationals senator Jacinta Price says she respects Julian Leeser’s decision

The Nationals senator and no campaign leader Jacinta Price said she respects Julian Leeser’s decision to stand down from the shadow cabinet in order to campaign yes for the Indigenous voice.

Price, the first-term senator from the Northern Territory, was instrumental in the Nationals resolving to oppose the referendum last year – which set the ball rolling for the Liberals to follow suit last week. She will also lead a well-funded no campaign from the Advance conservative lobby group.

Her office issued a short statement to Guardian Australia on Leeser’s departure, saying she was “proud to be part of a coalition with the Liberal party that allows members to stand for their personal beliefs and champion issues important to them, and I respect the decision made by Mr Julian Leeser MP today to do just that.”

“Our democracy is stronger when members of parliament have the freedom to follow their conscience and are not bound to party positions,” Price said.

I congratulate Julian on his hard work as shadow attorney general and shadow minister for Indigenous Australians, and I look forward to continuing to work with him in the future on matters that are important to us both.

As Rafqa brought you a moment ago, the One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson, has publicly called for Price to be named Leeser’s replacement as shadow Indigenous minister. It’s not clear who will fill that role (we asked Price’s office if she would put her hand up for it) but the picture may get clearer when Peter Dutton holds a press conference in Brisbane after 1pm today.

What’s up with barley and China?

Here is some context on why barley matters when it comes to Australia and China’s relationship (courtesy of reporting by our foreign affairs and defence correspondent, Daniel Hurst).

The Chinese government rolled out hefty tariffs on a range of Australian exports at the height of diplomatic tensions in 2020 – including wine, barley, coal, timber and lobster.

China is the largest export market for Australian barley, because it is used to make beer and feed livestock. The tariffs intended to bring significant pain to the industry.

You can read more about China’s tarriffs on Australia here:

While some progress has been made in recent months, like the resumption of the coal trade, the wine and barley tariff disputes are considered more complex, with World Trade Organization rulings due in coming months.

So the Australian government announcing a “pathway” to resolve the barley dispute with China after hefty tariffs today is big news. You can read about the pathway here.

Pauline Hanson floats Jacinta Price for shadow cabinet

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson is urging Liberal Senator Jacinta Price to be elevated as the Coalition’s shadow minister for Indigenous affairs, after Julian Leeser’s resignation this morning.

Media Release | Leeser creates vacancy for Price’s elevation on principle

Senator Jacinta Price should be elevated to Peter Dutton’s front bench as the Coalition’s shadow Indigenous Australians spokeswoman following Julian Leeser’s resignation.

One Nation leader Senator Pauline…

— Pauline Hanson 🇦🇺 (@PaulineHansonOz) April 11, 2023

‘Constructive dialogue has resumed’ with China, Wong says

Foreign affairs minister Penny Wong and trade minister Don Farrell have announced in a presser that “constructive dialogue has resumed” with China, as a pathway opens to resolving the barley dispute between the two countries.

(Our foreign affairs and defence correspondent Daniel Hurst has given us a breakdown of the pathway earlier in the blog).

“Obviously, stabilisation and the resolution of trade issues will take time. But we’re pleased that constructive dialogue has resumed,” Wong said.

“We’ve had a number of discussions at foreign minister level, at trade minister, at assistant minister level, and also at leader level.

We have made clear that we believe there’s no justification for the measures that China introduced in relation to barley. We have also made clear that we believe it is in both countries’ interests for these trade impediments to be removed. So today I can confirm that China has agreed to undertake an expedited review of the duties imposed on Australian barley over a three-month period, that may extend to a fourth, if required. In return, we have agreed to temporarily suspend the World Trade Organization dispute for the agreed review period.

If it is successful, Wong says we can expect a similar process to be followed in relation to the trade barriers that exist on Australian wine.

Australia announces ‘pathway’ to resolve China barley dispute

Daniel Hurst

Daniel Hurst

The Australian government has announced “a pathway” to resolve the barley dispute with China after hefty tariffs were introduced by Beijing at the height of diplomatic tensions in 2020.

The foreign affairs minister Penny Wong and the trade minister Don Farrell made the announcement in Adelaide a short time ago.

Wong said China had “agreed to undertake an expedited review” of its tariffs on Australian barley over a three-month period. In return, she said, Australia had agreed to temporarily suspend the World Trade Organization dispute process. She said if the tariffs were not removed at the end of that process, Australia would resume the WTO dispute.

It comes amid ongoing efforts to “stabilise” the relationship between Australia and China.

The Chinese government rolled out hefty tariffs, unofficial bans or other restrictions against a range of Australian export sectors in 2020, including wine, barley, coal, timber and lobster.

While some progress has been made in recent months, such as the resumption of the coal trade, the wine and barley tariff disputes were considered more complex, given the involvement of the WTO. The barley ruling was due imminently and wine later in the year.

Penny Wong praises Leeser: ‘It can’t have been easy for him to do’

Foreign affairs minister Penny Wong has also welcomed Julian Leeser’s decision to quit the the shadow frontbench over his support for an Indigenous voice to parliament:

The referendum is about two things. It’s about recognition and consultation, recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our Australian constitution, and consulting them about matters that affect their lives. That’s what it’s about. And Julian Leeser has shown real strength today. He put his principles first. He put his principles ahead of partisan politics and we welcome that.

It can’t have been easy for him to do. Can’t have been easy for him to relinquish portfolios that he cares so deeply about and he knows as much about this issue as anyone and he understands this is a once in a generation chance to make a real difference in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and to help close the gap.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton will speak to reporters at 1pm, following Julian Leeser’s resignation.

Peter Dutton to hold a presser in Brisbane at 1pm, after Julian Leeser quit the shadow frontbench to campaign for the Indigenous Voice referendum

— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) April 11, 2023

Daniel Hurst

Daniel Hurst

Wong to hold press conference after China’s visit announcement

The foreign affairs minister Penny Wong and the trade minister Don Farrell are due to hold a press conference in Adelaide shortly.

Last night, China’s foreign ministry confirmed that its vice-minister of foreign affairs Ma Zhaoxu would “visit Australia and Fiji this week at their invitation and hold the new round of political consultation between the officials of the foreign ministries of China and Australia”.

It comes amid ongoing efforts to “stabilise” the relationship between Australia and China, which was been marked by a severe trade dispute in 2020.

Leeser’s resignation a ‘principled decision’, says Albanese

The prime minister Anthony Albanese has backed Julian Leeser in making “a principled decision” in resigning as shadow minister for Indigenous affairs over the Liberal party’s opposition of the voice to parliament.

Julian Leeser has made a principled decision to campaign for a yes vote at the referendum, like so many people from all sides of politics who are approaching this process in good faith. pic.twitter.com/634jNArV59

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) April 11, 2023

Andrew Bragg: ‘Yes vote is now more likely because of Leeser’s conviction’

Liberal senator Andrew Bragg has also praised Julian Leeser as doing more than any other constitutional conservative to advance the Indigenous voice.

[Leeser] has engaged deeply in Indigenous communities and crucially, on the legal and constitutional details for a decade. He has invested a huge amount of his political capital in an issue which has been highly contested within the Liberal party.

Julian has always understood a successful referendum would be considerably more likely with liberal and conservative support.

This referendum is too important to play politics and it is not good enough to oppose the referendum on process grounds.

I want the referendum to be successful and I believe a ‘yes’ vote is now more likely because of Julian’s conviction.

Josh Butler

Josh Butler

MPs tweet support for Leeser’s move

Liberal MP Bridget Archer has praised Julian Leeser for quitting the shadow cabinet over his support for the Indigenous voice.

“Much respect,” Archer, a fellow voice supporter, tweeted soon after his announcement. She described his decision as “courage and integrity”.

Other MPs are also backing Leeser’s stance. Labor MP Josh Burns tweeted that “Julian Leeser cares about his colleagues and his party”, adding, “I admire Julian and today I see his courage. The Voice is a chance for unity and a better future.”

Independent MP Allegra Spender tweeted “Will be proud to campaign alongside Julian Leeser for the Voice. This is a time to turn the page on a new chapter of this country.”

Another independent, Sophie Scamps, tweeted: “I applaud @JulianLeeser – it’s a brave move but a principled one, he’s on the right side of history. The Voice is a gracious invitation and I hope Australia can respond in that spirit later this year.”

Peter Hannam

Peter Hannam

Japanese firms team up for a greener type of hydrogen

As we saw earlier today, a swag of Japanese firms hoping to wring more subsidies out of the Victorian government and the commonwealth to fund a brown-coal-to-hydrogen project in the Latrobe Valley have hit a few snags.

Almost on cue, a Perth-based hydrogen and graphic production tech firm, Hazer, has announced it is proceeding with a so-called project development plan with a couple of other Japanese giants, Chubu Electric and Chiyoda Corporation, to work on a plant in Japan.

The firms aim to build a clean hydrogen and graphitic carbon production hub, with Chubu using the produced hydrogen “as a fuel for power generation and other hard to abate industries, as well as mobility, in the Nagoya area”, Hazer said in a statement.

“Chubu Electric Power Group is firmly committed to decarbonisation of its operations and that of our customers,” said Kouji Sada, the general manager of the electric power research and development centre at Chubu Electric. “We believe the Hazer technology offers an attractive solution to locally produce low-carbon hydrogen, using our existing supply chains and infrastructure.”

Glenn Corrie, Hazer’s CEO, said: Hazer has always viewed Japan as an important and strategic market for the deployment of our unique technology.”

Perhaps not surprisingly, Hazer’s shares have perked up today, rising by as much as 13% in early trade.

Among other things, the Hazer deal is a reminder that Japan is looking for a range of sources for its future hydrogen needs. Perhaps that’s why Japanese companies are keen on inking contracts for hydrogen created from brown coal for more than a few years, as today’s article revealed.

Leeser backs Dutton despite quitting frontbench

Julian Leeser confirms that despite his resignation as shadow attorney general and shadow minister for Indigenous affairs, he remains in the Liberal party on the backbench and in support of opposition leader Peter Dutton:

I am a loyal member of the Liberal party. I’m proud to be the Liberal member for Berowra. I’m not going anywhere in terms of my support for the Liberal party.

Everybody has to make their own decision about these matters and that’s what I’m doing today.

My final goal for this term is to work for the election of a Coalition government under the leadership of Peter Dutton. In Peter Dutton we have the most experienced and tested opposition leader in our history.



https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2023/apr/11/rents-rises-essential-workers-house-prices-fall-omcare-refugee-national-security-canberra-bushfire Australia news live: Julian Leeser at odds with ‘overwhelming majority’ of Liberal party room on voice, Peter Dutton says | Australia news

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