04:57In the Coalition party room on Tuesday, energy prices and the same-sex marriage postal survey were the main topics. The party room approved the postal survey additional safeguards bill and was given these extra details:The bill bans vilification, intimidation and threats to cause harm based on sex, sexuality, gender identity, intersex status, religious convictions or views people hold on the surveyPenalties include fines of up to $12,600 and the power to seek an injunction in the federal court to prevent publications or acts that breach that lawThe attorney general will have a gatekeeper role, meaning he will have to give approval before for suits claiming a penalty, and will have a right to be notified and appear in any case seeking an injunctionActing special minister of state, Mathias Cormann , suggested the attorney general, George Brandis , would approach that gatekeeper role “with a bias towards freedom of speech”, suggested the attorney general, , would approach that gatekeeper role “with a bias towards freedom of speech” The provisions only last during the period of the postal surveyOn energy prices, Malcolm Turnbull said AGL has a “vested interest” in a tight energy market, because a seller’s market means prices would increase. “Mr [Andy] Vesey has obligations to his shareholders to make AGL as profitable as he can, but our obligation is to our shareholders, who are the Australian people,” he said. Deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, said AGL’s refusal to sell Liddell “shows that they are shorting the market” and the electricity provider would probably make more money from operating one power station rather than two.

Source: The Guardian September 11, 2017 22:23 UTC