LEAKS FROM PARADISE

A new investigation published and distributed by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) has revealed a network of hidden investments and offshoring used by wealthy politicians, businesspeople and celebrities to minimise tax and cover up compromising financial relationships.

The so-called Paradise Papers, released today, were uncovered by German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung and have been shared with papers including The Australian Financial Review, The Guardian, and The New York Times.

Among the first people unmasked by the disclosure of over 13 million files from 19 tax havens is Donald Trump‘s Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who owns a stake in a shipping company discreetly doing business with a Russian gas company part-owned by Vladimir Putin‘s son-in-law Kirill Shamalov. Ross has kept his share in the company since joining Trump’s cabinet.

The files also show that Russian-backed companies have quietly invested in Facebook and Twitter, that a close adviser to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has hidden millions in an offshore haven, and that the personal estate of the Queen of England has invested in a company that targets the poor with high interest loans.

LIBERAL ‘BASTARDS’ WHACKED

The fallout from the section 44 constitutional crisis continues to fuel a public spat between the two parties of the Coalition, with Nationals Senator John “Wacka” Williams lashing out at Liberal MPs for backgrounding the media as he seeks to replace Stephen Parry as Senate president.

“You bloody cowards,” Williams said. “Put your name to it you bastards.”

With Senator Ian Macdonald reportedly interested in the gig as well, there is speculation Labor and the Greens could help roll the Liberals and put Williams in the post. That would be less likely if Liberals David Bushby or David Fawcett put their hands up to replace Parry, who resigned from parliament last week.

The citizenship issue continues to dog the government, with Labor now pushing for a universal disclosure from all MPs. Over the weekend it was Assistant Immigration Minister Alex Hawke’s turn to face suspicion, though government sources told Fairfax they are confident he is not a dual citizen. “I am an Australian citizen only and have never held or acquired or sought Greek or any other citizenship,” Hawke said.

ARDERN REBUFFED, FOR NOW

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has rejected an offer from New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to resettle 150 refugees from offshore detention centres.

Around 600 men continue to hold out in the officially closed, shuttered centre on Manus Island, where utilities have been turned off. But Turnbull, who met with Ardern over the weekend, said Australia would prioritise its deal with the US for resettlement, leaving the door open to changing his position by saying he would not take up Ardern’s offer “at this time”.

Labor is encouraging the government to say “yes” to the proposal, while Greens MPs Adam Bandt accused Immigration Minister Peter Dutton of being a “terrorist” at a rally over the weekend. Backbencher and Tony Abbott ally Kevin Andrews has also encouraged the government to look to the New Zealand option.

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Queensland election 2017: Premier says Adani veto shows leadership

WHAT’S ON TODAY

Bunbury: Mark McGowan’s WA Labor government will hold a community cabinet.

Canberra: The Australian Electoral Commission holds its special count to replace senators ruled ineligible under section 44 of the constitution.

Brisbane: The man charged over an alleged assault on Kevin Rudd’s godson after a dispute about same-sex marriage faces court.

Germany: 2017 COP23 Climate Change Conference begins.

THE COMMENTARIAT

Dual-citizenship fiasco is flaying Malcolm Turnbull’s government alive — Jennifer Hewett (Australian Financial Review $): “Despite the reluctance of the government to give in to a ‘witch-hunt’ and the practical difficulties of an audit of citizenship that can only be determined by the High Court, it’s hard to see how Turnbull can withstand this sort of daily assault to do something, anything, to resolve the problem.”

Queensland election 2017: Adani decision demands answers — Sarah Elks (The Australian $): “Instead of absenting herself from any decision about every Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund applicant, she unilaterally made the biggest decision of them all: torpedoing possible NAIF funding to Adani.”

CRIKEY QUICKIE: THE BEST OF FRIDAY

We are now numb to a government that has normalised chaos — Bernard Keane: “A little like the way Trump has normalised all manner of sickening and bizarre behaviour in US politics, we’ve become numbed by repetition to the incompetence of this government. “

The war against the female Muslim agitator Yassmin Abdel-Magied — Emily Watkins: “The paper hounded the ABC about whether she would be sacked, covered her talk to students at a Sydney Writers’ Festival event, and launched a barrage of criticism against her July op-ed in Guardian Australia about her experience in the public eye.”

Is the ACTU telling the whole truth about a ‘living wage’? — Charlie Lewis: “Reforms put in place by federal Labor in 1993, basically at the behest of the ACTU, moved the minimum wage to a safety net role and put more emphasis on enterprise bargaining in setting wages.”

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