MARK DREYFUS MP

A Shorten Labor Government will introduce a Domestic Gas National Interest Test for new Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities to ensure exporting natural gas is in the interests of all Australians.

Last night's revelations on ABCs 730, putting Fadden MP Stuart Robert at the centre of a scandal engulfing the Gold Coast council, must be the final straw for Malcolm Turnbull's support for the disgraced former minister.

Attorney-General George Brandis has once again demonstrated his utter disrespect for Australia's justice system, pretending for the second time to appoint a new judge to a marginal Liberal seat when in fact a transfer has taken place, leaving the families in another district to wait even longer for justice.

Today 62 major and well-respected arts organisations have received the devastating news that they have been defunded by the Australia Council, in some cases threatening their ongoing existence.

The Turnbull Government has confirmed today that it will not fix the 30 per cent funding cliff front-line legal services will face on 1 July 2017, including those that assist in relation to family violence.

Labor holds serious concerns about the failure of the Abbott-Turnbull Government to announce a replacement for a Federal Circuit Court Judge in North and North West Tasmania who is due to retire before the July 2 election.

The Abbott-Turnbull Government stunned the arts community today when it emerged a further $12 million of arts funding from a ministerial slush fund had been quietly snuck out over the same weekend the election was announced.

In the rush to make Prime Minister Turnbull's deadline for an early election, government ministers have announced more than 100 appointments in a single week.

President of the Human Rights Commission Gillian Triggs has this morning confirmed that Attorney-General George Brandis has not guaranteed additional funding to cover an increased number of Commissioner appointments, effectively delivering the Commission a backdoor cut of $700,000.

In yesterday's Budget Senator Brandis locked in harsh cuts to vital legal assistance services, which will result in Australians in need being turned away from their doors.