Breakaway Coalition group undercuts bipartisan promenade with support for Cory Bernardi’s bill to amend Racial Discrimination Act Malcolm Turnbull has agreed to promenade a motion suggested by the Labor leader Bill Shorten underscoring the federal parliament’s support for racial tolerance and a non-discriminatory immigration policy in the September sittings.
Shorten used the opening of the recent parliament to float a tolerance motion,similar to one moved by John Howard and Kim Beazley in 1996. At the same time a breakaway group of Coalition and crossbench senators openly defied the prime minister’s direct exhortation to focus on bread-and-butter issues, resolving to reopen the divisive political debate over protections in the Racial Discrimination Act. Related: Pomp and parliament: MPs back in the bubble until toxic talkback intervenes Related: Only one person has something to gain from a marriage equality plebiscite | Peter Lewis Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com