Boris Johnson (Image: AAP/Mick Tsikas)

PRO ROGUE

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing calls to resign after the Supreme Court found he acted illegally in suspending parliament, with the House of Commons due to reconvene on Wednesday morning.

The highest court in the UK ruled in a unanimous verdict that Johnson’s advice to the Queen was unlawful “because it had the effect of frustrating or preventing the ability of Parliament to carry out its constitutional functions”. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn says Johnson is not fit to be prime minister and must resign, sentiments echoed by Liberal Democrats leader Jo Swinson and London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Speaking alongside Donald Trump at the UN, Johnson said he strongly disagreed with the ruling, rejecting suggestions he should resign and hinting at the possibility of another prorogation.

CHINA STRIKES BACK

A high-level Chinese embassy delegation has accused prime minister Scott Morrison of showing “the US view through his mouth”, after the PM echoed Washington’s claims that China should no longer be treated as a “developing economy”, the Nine papers report.

Speaking at the Chinese embassy in Canberra, Renmin University professor Wang Yiwei said the criticism was not helping a relationship already damaged by “groundless” allegations of foreign interference. East China University Australia studies director Chen Hong said that Australia was playing a “pioneering role in an anti-China campaign”. US President Donald Trump mirrored Morrison’s China calls in a “nationalistic” speech at the UN, showing just how aligned the leaders have become.

ZERO CARBON GOALS

A coalition of Pacific island nations are seeking $500 million to make all Pacific Ocean shipping zero carbon by 2050, The Guardian reports.

The Pacific Blue Shipping Partnership — made up of Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu — will try to raise money through grants, loans, private sector investment and blue bonds, using the money to retrofit existing vessels with low-carbon technologies as well as to buy new zero-emissions vessels. Scientific adviser for the Micronesian Center for Sustainable Transport Dr Peter Nuttall told The Guardian that the Pacific, which relies on shipping for travel, medicines, and livelihoods, “cannot wait for the rest of the world … The Pacific did nothing to cause climate change, but we’re about to get smashed by it.”

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THEY REALLY SAID THAT?

It is perfectly usual to have a Queen’s speech. That is what we want to do, but more importantly let’s be in no doubt there are a lot of people who want to frustrate Brexit.

Boris Johnson

The UK prime minister suggests those who challenged his prorogation wanted to “frustrate Brexit”, contrary to his claims that the suspension had nothing to do with Brexit.

READ ALL ABOUT IT

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‘It is likely an extended period of low interest rates will be required’: RBA hints at another cut

Robodebt collector’s parent company harassed consumers, ACCC says

Thousands protest against new criminal code in Indonesia

Sir David Attenborough slams Australia’s record on climate change

Schools given all-clear to dump NAPLAN online for pen and paper test

Australians spend $30 billion a year on out-of-pocket health costs

Doctors back inquiry on kids’ trans care ($)

Multi-billion-dollar Indonesian trade deal at risk in crossbench revolt ($)

Veteran Labor figure warns against dumping policy platform, says win within ‘striking distance’

Major boost in regional holiday workers off back of ad blitz, visa overhaul

Sunglass Hut staff underpaid $2.3 million

The Catholic church rethinks seminary training after its child abuse scandal

CRIKEY QUICKIE: THE BEST OF YESTERDAY

Anatomy of a scandal: how the government stacks the AAT with its political cronies

David Hardaker and Justine Landis-Hanley

Sep 24, 2019

“The government has subverted the established appointments process, halting job advertisements and interviews, handing unfettered power to the attorney-general to hand-pick new members, and nobbling the statutory review body of senior public officials (established to provide independent oversight of the tribunal) by withdrawing its funding. The sheer number of new members, some of whom have no experience in the legal profession, has led to a slowdown in decision making. In 2013/14, before the government began its assault on the AAT, the migration and refugee tribunal decided 24,729 cases. In 2016 that number fell to 16,111 and is slowly building up to an estimated 20,500 for 2019. That amounts to a 25% drop in productivity.”

The attorney-general, transparency and the AAT

David Hardaker and Justine Landis-Hanley

Sep 24, 2019

“When federal Attorney-General Christian Porter commissioned a former High Court judge to conduct a major review of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal last year, he did so despite being advised by the judge that someone in the judge’s own “immediate family” was a member of the AAT — a relationship Porter did not publicly disclose. The former judge is Ian Callinan AC, one of Australia’s most distinguished jurists with a well-known conservative predisposition. Inq has confirmed that Callinan’s “immediate family” member is his daughter, Fiona Meagher — now a full-time senior member of the AAT’s Brisbane registry on an annual salary of $325,000-385,000.”

We can’t tackle climate change without tackling striking laws

Benjamin Clark

Sep 24, 2019

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“I doubt Scott Morrison has any intention of facilitating the positive freedoms required to foster a vibrant civic culture. After all, a truly liberal framework would allow even more protesters to highlight his government’s callous disregard for our planet’s future. But the union movement, currently mulling its next move after the “Change the Rules” campaign, should take heed of society’s growing appetite for civil demonstration and imagine the possibilities that could arise if workers’ passion was less shackled.”

THE COMMENTARIAT

Little Tamil ‘a citizen’ ($) – John Gava (The Australian): “The debate about the Tamil family from Biloela commonly assumes the little girl at the heart of the legal manoeuvres is not an Australian citizen. While technically correct, this view is founded on a decision at odds with almost a century of High Court citizenship decisions. Tharunicaa, the two-year-old girl at the centre of the legal dispute, should be a catalyst to overturn this decision and make it crystal clear that anyone born in Australia is an Australian citizen, including Kopika, the couple’s eldest girl.”

Scott Morrison is vulnerable on two fronts with his China argument – David Crowe (The Age/Sydney Morning Herald): “The first is the timing. Morrison chose to set out his views on China days after an extraordinary series of meetings in America that brought him deeper into Trump’s orbit. The second vulnerability is climate change. Morrison talks of how China should be treated under global agreements on carbon emission reductions but he is not leading the way with commitments of his own. Morrison has little to say about his own government’s targets for emissions beyond 2030 and did not turn up to the United Nations summit on climate change.”

Pauline Hanson is a patsy for a mob of angry men ($) – Tory Shepherd:  (The Daily Telegraph): “For years, men’s groups such as this have been pretending to care about male suicide and mental health, when in reality they are seeking vengeance for their own experiences. If they were serious about helping men, they’d be campaigning for access to mental-health support for men, before, during, or after the family law processes. They’d be fighting for better resources for the courts, better mediation processes, judges who specialise in domestic violence. Instead of tub-thumping about how they are the victims of women and the courts, they would start a men’s shed, or ask their friends “R U OK?”. If they had an ounce of integrity, they’d take all that energy they’re spending bitching online to fight disadvantage, homelessness and loneliness. They’d be frothing at the mouth about how high suicide rates are in Aboriginal communities, or starting outreaches into rural and remote communities. And they’d be passionate about working out what is hurting men, and what evidence-based strategies there are to help.”

HOLD THE FRONT PAGE

The Latest Headlines

WHAT’S ON TODAY

Canberra

  • The ACT Legislative Assembly is expected to pass a bill legalising the possessing and growing of cannabis for personal use.

Hobart

  • The Education and Employment Legislation Committee will hold a public hearing as part of the Inquiry into Ensuring Integrity laws, hearing from the Tasmanian branches of various unions and the Attorney-General’s department.

Melbourne

  • Patrick Ryder and Josh Jenkins will be among players at launch of AFL Trade Radio.

  • A committal mention will be held for Sky Rail builder Kory Oxley, accused of directing tax-payer funded labourers to renovate his boss’s home.

  • Roads Minister Jaala Pulford will hold a press conference, urging Victorians to be safe on the roads over the long weekend and school holidays.

  • The Federal Court will hold an interlocutory hearing in the human rights case between Sister Marie Brigid Arthur and the NT Government, with the activist nun the litigation guardian for detainees at the Don Dale and Alice Springs.

Sydney

  • CEDA will bring together senior stakeholders from the water sector to examine security and sustainability amid prolonged drought, ageing infrastructure, and enhanced consumer expectations

Perth

  • CBH CEO Jimmy Wilson will speak at “International competitiveness: economic driver for WA”, providing his insights around innovation, transformation, and productivity.

Adelaide

  • The South Australian upper house will vote on a Greens motion declaring a climate emergency.

New York, USA

  • Prime Minister Scott Morrison will deliver Australia’s 15 minute national statement to the UN General Assembly.