{"id":45041,"date":"2019-04-20T12:16:51","date_gmt":"2019-04-20T02:16:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nofibs.com.au\/?p=45041"},"modified":"2022-05-02T13:04:12","modified_gmt":"2022-05-02T03:04:12","slug":"ausvotes-day-10-australian-watergate-qldaah-qldpol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/ausvotes-day-10-australian-watergate-qldaah-qldpol\/","title":{"rendered":"#AusVotes Day 10 &#8211; Australian #Watergate: @qldaah #qldpol"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h4>April 20, 2019 &#8211; Table of contents<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#PenaltyRatesRestored\">Penalty rates to be restored under a Labor government<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#FarmersOutragedOverWaterPiracy\">Farmers outraged over water \u2018piracy\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#H2HJonathanLeaAndBillShorten\">Head to head: Jonathan Lea and Bill Shorten on cost of climate change policy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#FedsFailingToActOnRiverReports\">Feds failing to act on river reports<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#AustralianWatergate\">Australian Watergate<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff\">.Penalty rates to be restored under a Labor government<a name=\"PenaltyRatesRestored\"><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Penalty rates to be restored under a Labor government<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Opposition leader <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Bill Shorten (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/billshortenmp\" target=\"_blank\">Bill Shorten<\/a> and Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Brendan O'Connor (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BOConnorMP\" target=\"_blank\">Brendan O&#8217;Connor<\/a>, today  reaffirmed the commitment to restore penalty rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IcAR2UyrZ1g?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption>Bill Shorten says due to the cuts to penalty rates, the Easter holiday means $220 &#8211; $370 less for workers under the Morrison government.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff\">.<\/span><a name=\"FarmersOutragedOverWaterPiracy\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Farmers outraged over water \u2018piracy\u2019<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Wayne Jansson (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Jansant\" target=\"_blank\">Wayne Jansson<\/a> reports on the response in Farrer to the Australian Watergate scandal, &#8220;Farmers are &#8216;angry&#8217; over allegations aired on <em>The Project <\/em>that record prices were paid by former Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Barnaby Joyce under the buy-back scheme to a company founded by current Energy Minister Angus Taylor.&#8221; <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Farmers outraged over water \u2018piracy\u2019 (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/nofibs.com.au\/farrervotes-farmers-outraged-over-water-piracy-jansant-reports-on-watergate\/\" target=\"_blank\">Farmers outraged over water \u2018piracy\u2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Mud needs actual water. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/zing%C3%A8ralert?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#zing\u00e8ralert<\/a><br><br>&quot;it\u2019s off-farm water, it\u2019s also floodplain water, it wasn\u2019t even irrigated water, they\u2019ve given them money for water that doesn\u2019t exist but if it floods it could exist.&quot;<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/8S6S0SQnd9\">https:\/\/t.co\/8S6S0SQnd9<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/watergate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#watergate<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Ausvotes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Ausvotes<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Auspol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Auspol<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Government Most Refoule &#8211; jansant (@Jansant) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Jansant\/status\/1119498979140521984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 20, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff\">.<\/span><a name=\"H2HJonathanLeaAndBillShorten\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Head-to-head: Jonathan Lea and Bill Shorten on cost of climate change policy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For a fourth day, journalist <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Jonathan Lea (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JonathanLea10\" target=\"_blank\">Jonathan Lea<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/billshortenmp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Bill Shorten (opens in a new tab)\">Bill Shorten<\/a> have debated the cost of and the cost of not tackling climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nEatpiObPL8?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption>&#8220;There is no one mythical figure&#8221;: Jonathan Lea continues to press Bill Shorten on CC policy cost.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The political merry go round. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/billshortenmp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@billshortenmp<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AusVotes19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#AusVotes19<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/auspol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#auspol<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/10Daily?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@10Daily<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/bbVjinqGzL\">pic.twitter.com\/bbVjinqGzL<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Jonathan Lea (@JonathanLea10) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JonathanLea10\/status\/1119413681589084160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 20, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Political merry go round. Day 10 following <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/billshortenmp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@billshortenmp<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/10NewsFirst?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@10NewsFirst<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ausvotes19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#ausvotes19<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/pu8hHy6SwM\">pic.twitter.com\/pu8hHy6SwM<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Jonathan Lea (@JonathanLea10) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JonathanLea10\/status\/1119411452022886400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 20, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff\">.<\/span><a name=\"AustralianWatergate\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Feds failing to act on river reports<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Professor <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Kate Auty (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/kateauty\" target=\"_blank\">Kate Auty<\/a> writes, &#8220;If you only watch the mass media you could still miss some big stories about the Murray-Darling Basin.&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/nofibs.com.au\/feds-failing-to-act-on-river-reports-kateauty-stopprayingforrain-climateaction-analysis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Feds failing to act on river reports.  (opens in a new tab)\">Feds failing to act on river reports. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/bradmoggo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@bradmoggo<\/a>  great talking Indigenous <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CulturalWater?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#CulturalWater<\/a> and better ways to report on <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Sustainability?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Sustainability<\/a> with you and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/seanGrimes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#seanGrimes<\/a> today in <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CANBERRA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#CANBERRA<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/EnvComm_ACT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@EnvComm_ACT<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/finicalgal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@finicalgal<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MakingEnvirNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@MakingEnvirNews<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DocsEnvAus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@DocsEnvAus<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BCSDAustralia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@BCSDAustralia<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BanksiaFdn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@BanksiaFdn<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ShaneRattenbury?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@ShaneRattenbury<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/2UHoH3PhsX\">pic.twitter.com\/2UHoH3PhsX<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Prof Kate Auty (@kateauty) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/kateauty\/status\/1118836866474582016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 18, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff\">.<\/span><a name=\"AustralianWatergate\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Australian Watergate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Energy Minister <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Angus Taylor (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AngusTaylorMP\" target=\"_blank\">Angus Taylor<\/a> has threatened journalists with legal action after a series of Tweets by <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Ronni Salt (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MsVeruca\" target=\"_blank\">Ronni Salt<\/a> was reposted by them. Lawyers acting for Mr Taylor stated that the allegations were &#8220;defamatory&#8221; and had &#8220;no basis in fact&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Lane Sainty (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/lanesainty\" target=\"_blank\">Lane Sainty<\/a> reported, &#8220;Lawyers acting for Taylor sent letters dated April 12 to journalists Margo Kingston and Michael West, placing them on notice that the federal minister for energy may sue and seek damages and costs.&#8221;  <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Angus Taylor has threatened to sue journalists for sharing a Twitter thread.  (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.buzzfeed.com\/lanesainty\/angus-taylor-defamation-journalists\" target=\"_blank\">Angus Taylor has threatened to sue journalists for sharing a Twitter thread. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"NoFibs (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NoFibs\" target=\"_blank\"><em>NoFibs<\/em><\/a><em> <\/em>editor<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Margo Kingston (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/margokingston1\/status\/1119104539737513984\" target=\"_blank\"> Margo Kingston<\/a> was initially confused by the correspondence. She could not recall retweeting the thread but later realised her automated Twitter add-on, &#8220;Tweeted Times&#8221;, had reposted it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Goodbye Tweeted Times &#8211; Our Paper, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Pilliga?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Pilliga<\/a> Star &amp; <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Shenhua?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Shenhua<\/a> Boilover. Sorry folks, but Auto tweets are too dangerous legally. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/watergate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#watergate<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Margo Kingston (@margokingston1) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/margokingston1\/status\/1119028874694709248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 19, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Mr West confirmed to Ms Sainty that he had also received a letter from Mr Taylor&#8217;s lawyers and told her, &#8220;I&#8217;ve been exploring the claims and there&#8217;s an issue of public interest here that needs to be addressed.&#8221;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.buzzfeed.com\/lanesainty\/angus-taylor-defamation-journalists\" target=\"_blank\"> Angus Taylor has threatened to sue journalists for sharing a Twitter thread. <\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While not accusing anyone of impropriety, on Wednesday <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Anne Davies (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/annefdavies\" target=\"_blank\">Anne Davies<\/a> wrote about Mr Taylor&#8217;s previous consultancy with a company called Eastern Australia Agriculture (EAA). She also noted there were outstanding questions around former Agriculture and Water Minister Barnaby Joyce and water buy-backs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Despite questions in the Senate, calls for papers and freedom of information requests, mystery still surrounds the reason the former agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce chose the companies he did for almost $200m of water buybacks in 2017,&#8221; she wrote. <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Questions over companies chosen for $200m of Murray-Darling water buybacks. (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/australia-news\/2019\/apr\/17\/questions-over-companies-chosen-for-200m-of-murray-darling-water-buybacks\" target=\"_blank\">Questions over companies chosen for $200m of Murray-Darling water buybacks.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The same day, Mr Taylor responded to the article saying there was no basis to some of the claims circulating in the media.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">&quot;There&#39;s no basis in fact on some of the claims that have been made.&quot; <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AngusTaylorMP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@AngusTaylorMP<\/a> says neither he or his family have anything to do with the Eastern Australian Irrigation corporation and he has no further comments to make. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HumeVotes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#HumeVotes<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ausvotes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#ausvotes<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/uFk2g0xEca\">pic.twitter.com\/uFk2g0xEca<\/a><\/p>&mdash; David Marler (@Qldaah) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Qldaah\/status\/1118385352119672832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 17, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Note <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/theproject?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#theproject<\/a> reporter tried to ask more <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Watergate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Watergate<\/a> questions but was cut off by another journo asking something else. Horrific behaviour on a HUGE story.<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/QXs9jjdW4H\">https:\/\/t.co\/QXs9jjdW4H<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Margo Kingston (@margokingston1) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/margokingston1\/status\/1119104539737513984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 19, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Tony_Burke\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Tony Burke (opens in a new tab)\">Tony Burke<\/a> also published a series of questions for Mr Joyce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Questions <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ScottMorrisonMP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@ScottMorrisonMP<\/a> must answer about <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Barnaby_Joyce?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Barnaby_Joyce<\/a>&#39;s water buybacks <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Tony_Burke?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Tony_Burke<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/auspol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#auspol<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/VVj1YTxMfj\">pic.twitter.com\/VVj1YTxMfj<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Political Alert (@political_alert) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/political_alert\/status\/1118992610897481728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 18, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Writing for independent news site, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Michael West (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.michaelwest.com.au\/\" target=\"_blank\">Michael West<\/a>, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Professor Sarah Wheeler (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Triskeltic\" target=\"_blank\">Professor Sarah Wheeler<\/a> had also examined the issues with water licences during Mr Joyce&#8217;s term as water minister. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Are corporations profiteering from water licences with the help of politicians? Academic researcher, Triskele, continues the investigation into why scientific evidence was ignored in the #MurrayDarling catastrophe. In this instalment, Triskele focusses on Barnaby Joyce\u2019s role as Water Minister in demonising open tender water buybacks while overseeing controversial &#8216;strategic purchases&#8217; from Big Cotton, Tandou being a case in point.&#8221; <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Tandou Can Do: double standards in water purchases in the Murray-Darling Basin. (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.michaelwest.com.au\/tandou-can-do-double-standards-in-water-purchases-in-the-murray-darling-basin\/\" target=\"_blank\">Tandou Can Do: double standards in water purchases in the Murray-Darling Basin.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Correct. <br>See thread for excellent overview of <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Watergate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Watergate<\/a>. One episode in a litany of problems associated with management of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/vBNPz66HX2\">https:\/\/t.co\/vBNPz66HX2<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Triskele (@Triskeltic) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Triskeltic\/status\/1119398046666637313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 20, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Assisted by journalists <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Laura Binnie (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/bunny_binnie\" target=\"_blank\">Laura Binnie<\/a>, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Tim Lamacraft (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LamTimothy\" target=\"_blank\">Tim Lamacraft<\/a> and <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Michael West (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MichaelWestBiz\" target=\"_blank\">Michael West<\/a>, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Hamish Macdonald (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hamishNews\" target=\"_blank\">Hamish Macdonald<\/a> went to air for Thursday&#8217;s edition of <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"The Project (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/theprojecttv\" target=\"_blank\"><em>The Project<\/em><\/a> with a further exploration of the water buy-back issue and the transfer of money to offshore tax havens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">ICYMI: Water story from last night.<br><br>Our reporting <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/theprojecttv?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@theprojecttv<\/a> team was <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/bunny_binnie?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@bunny_binnie<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MichaelWestBiz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@MichaelWestBiz<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LamTimothy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@LamTimothy<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/4lIHs6nqwJ\">https:\/\/t.co\/4lIHs6nqwJ<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Hamish Macdonald (@hamishNews) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hamishNews\/status\/1119076844316180487?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 19, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The report piqued the interest of other mainstream journalists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">It\u2019s complicated. But take the time. This is important. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/hzYk73VvN5\">https:\/\/t.co\/hzYk73VvN5<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Barrie Cassidy (@barriecassidy) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/barriecassidy\/status\/1119139141671743489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 19, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Barnaby Joyce approving $80 million of water purchases that can&#39;t be used off the property that is selling them??? <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/iLcEHWy5Bp\">https:\/\/t.co\/iLcEHWy5Bp<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Laura Tingle (@latingle) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/latingle\/status\/1119035802774716421?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 19, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Yesterday, Mr Macdonald released a statement from a spokesperson for Mr Taylor. The minister concluded all his activities relating to EAA prior to entering parliament. They also highlighted the difference between &#8220;having an interest&#8221; in a company and &#8220;being paid as a consultant&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">????Angus Taylor YESTERDAY: \u201chas never had a direct or indirect financial interest in EAA or any assoc\u2019d company.\u201d<br><br>TODAY: He was also a consultant for EAA 09\/10 \u201con normal commercial terms\u201d.<br><br>TONIGHT: there\u2019s a difference between \u2018an interest\u2019 &amp; being paid as consultant. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/auspol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#auspol<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/AwwWGznyNz\">pic.twitter.com\/AwwWGznyNz<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Hamish Macdonald (@hamishNews) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hamishNews\/status\/1119157322050260992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 19, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources released a statement yesterday saying, &#8220;<em>The Project\u2019s<\/em> 18 April 2019 segment on the Eastern Australian Agriculture water purchase contained a number of factual inaccuracies.&#8221; <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Media statement on Eastern Australian Agriculture water purchase. (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.agriculture.gov.au\/about\/media-centre\/on-the-record\/eastern-aus-ag-water-purchase\" target=\"_blank\">Media statement on Eastern Australian Agriculture water purchase.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Greens Senator <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Sarah Hanson-Young (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/sarahinthesen8\" target=\"_blank\">Sarah Hanson-Young<\/a> today announced she was writing to the federal Auditor-General about the matters raised in the media and renewed her call for a Royal Commission into the overall water management system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I am writing to the Auditor General today requesting an urgent audit into all water purchases signed off by Barnaby Joyce. The Auditor has a responsibility to investigate how $80m of tax payers money was paid for water that doesn\u2019t exist. We need a Royal Commission. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/watergate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#watergate<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Sarah Hanson-Young???? (@sarahinthesen8) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/sarahinthesen8\/status\/1119369410760699904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 19, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Mr West is expecting to publish an update on the case later today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Update <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Watergate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Watergate<\/a>: have found extra stuff, still working through accounts, need to get it right due to legal threats, will publish late today. ICYMI: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/wAZZXq3mJX\">https:\/\/t.co\/wAZZXq3mJX<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Michael West (@MichaelWestBiz) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MichaelWestBiz\/status\/1119374870356185088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 19, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Okay then DAWR. 1. Why did you negotiate directly with the Caymans company? 2. Please tell us what the EAA directors&#39; valuation was for these water rights? How much more did you pay? <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Watergate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Watergate<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/fNNFSrJVPH\">https:\/\/t.co\/fNNFSrJVPH<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Michael West (@MichaelWestBiz) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MichaelWestBiz\/status\/1119419586833600512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 20, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Opposition leader <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Bill Shorten (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/billshortenmp\" target=\"_blank\">Bill Shorten<\/a> has today commented on the Watergate issue saying if the prime minister is not 100 per cent certain over probity then he should agree to an audit or commission of inquiry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5TRloLunc6g?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption>&#8220;Produce all the documents.&#8221; Probity questions over the 2017 $80m water buy-back, says Bill Shorten.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Prime Minister <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Scott Morrison (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ScottMorrisonMP\" target=\"_blank\">Scott Morrison<\/a> has this afternoon responded to the 2017 $80 million water buyback by saying it was initiated by the Queensland government and there was a high level of transparency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/s0sbtOV-sCk?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption>&#8220;Bill Shorten will want to throw mud around.&#8221; Scott Morrison responds to the 2017 $80m water buyback.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Mr Joyce has now responded to the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Energy Minister Angus Taylor has also put out this statement. He was once associated with the company (EAA) which sold the water entitlements to the Government. <br><br>\u201cHe has never had a financial interest in EAA&#8230;and received no benefit from this transaction\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/auspol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#auspol<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/nqjEuVYrlo\">pic.twitter.com\/nqjEuVYrlo<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Jane Norman (@janeenorman) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/janeenorman\/status\/1119454568125853697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 20, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Luke Henriques-Gomes (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/lukehgomes\" target=\"_blank\">Luke Henriques-Gomes<\/a> reported, &#8220;The Coalition is facing calls for an inquiry into the Murray-Darling Basin plan water contracts signed off by the former Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce.&#8221; <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Coalition faces calls for inquiry into Murray-Darling deals signed by Barnaby Joyce. (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/australia-news\/2019\/apr\/20\/coalition-faces-calls-for-inquiry-into-murray-darling-deals-signed-by-barnaby-joyce\" target=\"_blank\">Coalition faces calls for inquiry into Murray-Darling deals signed by Barnaby Joyce.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Based on the news, incumbent for the seat of Wentworth, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Professor Kerryn Phelps (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/drkerrynphelps\" target=\"_blank\">Professor Kerryn Phelps<\/a>, expressed her backing for the establishment of a national integrity and anti-corruption commission in the new parliament. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">First order of business in the new Parliament must be a National Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/watergate2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#watergate2019<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/WentworthVotes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#WentworthVotes<\/a><br><br>MPs call for urgent investigation into $180m in water buybacks. The Guardian<br><br> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/6qUsHAsGw0\">https:\/\/t.co\/6qUsHAsGw0<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Prof Kerryn Phelps AM MP (@drkerrynphelps) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/drkerrynphelps\/status\/1119468702334738432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 20, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Barnable blames Penny Wong, threatens to spend more Commonwealth money suing people, soaking up court time <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Watergate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Watergate<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/iOQ4NW01lh\">pic.twitter.com\/iOQ4NW01lh<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Michael West (@MichaelWestBiz) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MichaelWestBiz\/status\/1119483948675940352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 20, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Water the big issue , the voices are flat and despairing &#8230;an insight into the minds of people you may not have ever met . <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Bb1hIZwkeE\">https:\/\/t.co\/Bb1hIZwkeE<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Tony Windsor (@TonyHWindsor) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TonyHWindsor\/status\/1119459576603000832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 20, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>April 20, 2019 &#8211; Table of contents Penalty rates to be restored under a Labor government Farmers outraged over water \u2018piracy\u2019 Head to head: Jonathan Lea and Bill Shorten on cost of climate change policy Feds failing to act on river reports Australian Watergate .Penalty rates to be restored under a Labor government Penalty rates [&hellip;]<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":45072,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[3434,2969,3387,3368,3367,3329,1998,3394,3458,7,3548,585],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Day10a.jpg?fit=800%2C400&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t0mw-bIt","jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45041"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45041"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45041\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":57696,"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45041\/revisions\/57696"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45072"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45041"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45041"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45041"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}