Politics with Michelle Grattan
News:Politics
The Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party’s Ricky Muir this week made an unsuccessful last roll of the dice to try to delay the government’s Senate voting reform legislation. The bill will prevent almost all “micro” players being elected to the Senate, and facilitate the government driving out most of the current bunch if it holds a double-dissolution election.
But Muir tells Michelle Grattan the reforms have not been properly scrutinised and the process to approve them has been a sham. While he acknowledged the need for some reform, he believes the government is scapegoating him for being elected on 0.51% of the primary vote.
“Do I appreciate that some kind of changes could happen? Absolutely. But it needs to be a long, thought-out, thorough process with proper public consultation,” he says.
Muir, who was reticent about speaking out in public in his first months in the Senate, is now fiesty. He is taking a high-profile and ready to fight for his political reputation at the election.
Peter Jennings on Morrison's Jerusalem move
The battle for Wentworth
Clare O'Neil on Labor’s listening tour for banking victims
Brendan O'Connor on Labor’s industrial relations agenda
View from the crossbench: Cathy McGowan and Rebekha Sharkie on the role of community candidates
Judith Troeth on the Liberal party’s woman problem and asylum seekers
Barnaby Joyce at his provocative best
Wayne Swan on Labor’s byelection victories and beyond
Katharine Murphy ‘On Disruption’
Tanya Plibersek on Labor’s taxing times
Frances Adamson on being secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs
Attorney-General Christian Porter on a crowded agenda
Brotherhood of St Laurence’s Conny Lenneberg on Newstart, poverty and inequality
Michael McCormack on Barnaby's future, latte sippers and other matters
Anthony Albanese on Labor’s National Conference
Dean Smith on the pros and risks of new religious freedom protections
Politics podcast: Mathias Cormann and Jim Chalmers on Budget 2018
Tim Colebatch on the 2018 budget
Chris Bowen on the budget and Labor's policies
Robert Kelly on the Korean summits
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free