Australian news and politics live: Pauline Hanson calls out Senate ‘hypocrites’ after burqa stunt

Shadow environment minister Angie Bell and Jonno Duniam, who held the portfolio last term and is leading negotiations in the Senate, have fronted cameras to complain they haven’t seen any actual amendments from the Government to meet their demanded changes to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act overhaul.

Environment Minister Murray Watt is adamant he’ll strike a deal with either the Coalition or the Greens this week, but both opposing parties are resisting his timeline.

“It is entirely and utterly unreasonable that at this point in time, we have not seen any of these substantive changes put forward that we would like to see in the EPBC Act, if it is to be passed this week,” Ms Bell said on Tuesday morning.

“And so I’ll say to the Minister, the ball is firmly in your court.”

Senator Duniam said the Opposition had been “working in good faith” with the Government and it was Labor who had imposed the arbitrary deadline.

“It does not seem right that a government is happy to deal with us on the one hand, to make it easier for critical minerals projects, for fossil fuel projects, for major scale developments, but at the same time, go and do a deal with the Greens to kill off native forestry or ban new coal and gas or put restrictions on projects that might have heavy emissions counts attached to them. So what is this Government really up to?” he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has welcomed China’s third-most powerful figure Chairman Zhao Leji.

Mr Albanese said Australia’s relationship with China is “built on strong bonds between our people”.

“It’s important for our economy, security and the stability of our region.

“By having regular and direct dialogue, we can explore areas of cooperation, navigate our differences and advocate for Australia’s interests.”

The PM met with Chairman Zhao for breakfast in Canberra. Before the meeting, politicians were warned to turn their phones off for security purposes.

One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson has followed through on her ‘home-cooked’ dinner offer for renegade Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce, cooking up a storm on a sandwich press in her office.

Senator Hanson, who is attempted to lure Mr Joyce to One Nation after his relationship with the Nationals broke down, could be seen cooking steaks on a sandwich press in a kitchenette nook of her Canberra office.

A cucumber, tomato, and onion salad, and a pasta salad, were also on the menu for the two politicians’ Parliament House feast.

Whether the dinner will result in Mr Joyce joining One Nation remains to be seen.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is meeting this morning with senior Chinese Communist Party official Zhao Leji, a day after Federal politicians were warned to take security precautions during his visit.

The Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China is wrapping up his four-day visit to Australia by having breakfast with Anthony Albanese in his office before touring the National Gallery.

On Monday, the Department of Parliamentary Services emailed MPs and staff advising them to shut doors and blinds and place their phones and iPads in “lockdown mode” during his visit to the building.

One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson says her stunt, wearing a burqa in the Senate for the second time, has exposed the “complete and utter hypocrisy” of her colleagues.

“They were outraged, but not for the right reasons as usual,” she said in a statement on Tuesday.

“I wanted to expose their complete and utter hypocrisy. They made the usual noises of outrage to cover their own embarrassment and complicity in making Australia less safe, in making Australia a haven for cultures which force women to wear these offensive garments, and in setting back women’s rights by decades.

“And of course, Labor and the Greens just whined about giving offense (sic) to those cultures without ever acknowledging that vastly more Australians are offended by burqas and what they represent. Greens are happy to wear symbols of terrorism in the chamber and are allowed to do so.”

Senator Hanson, who is frustrated her burqa ban bill was denied introduction in the Senate, says the garment should be outlawed over concerns for “community safety, national security, women’s rights, public civility and social cohesion”.