Hello and welcome to the Thursday The Point Live. We are still waiting for confirmation we will be sitting tomorrow as well – once it is clear whether the environment legislation is yay or nay, we will know for sure, but just prepare yourself. We may have another day.

It’s still all about how far the government will bend on its mining friendly environment laws – so far we know there is no climate trigger – that’s the red line that had the negotiations with the Greens scuttled by Anthony Albanese last time – but there are a few things on the table with the potential to make the mining industry sad and that hasn’t been something the government has wanted to do. So let’s see shall we?

And in the Nationals everyone is pretending to care about Barnaby Joyce’s potential defection to One Nation. ‘Ohhh nawwrrrr, don’t goooooo’ is the vibe, and Joyce is enjoying the ‘will he or won’t he game’ but there are whispers about that he is realising that with his defection comes the strong potential for irrelevancy. A lot of Joyce’s media roles come because he is part of the mainstream, and One Nation while it is up and down in the polls (and currently up) isn’t what you would call mainstream. Still, he can’t stand David Littleproud, Littleproud can’t stand him and there is no future for him in the Nationals, whereas he can become Pauline Hanson’s successor. And he started in the senate, so defecting and ending back there is probably quite attractive at this point in his career – he wouldn’t have to do much senate work (Hanson doesn’t) and could just travel around Australia speaking to people who agree with him – his favourite thing.

Does it matter to the nation? Ultimately, no. But we will all pretend it does.

So you’ve got me, Amy Remeikis with you for most of the day and also the incomparable Mike Bowers who is already up and about and making noises about finding a coffee. It is EASILY a four coffee morning. Andrew, if you are reading, all the chocolate is gone – and thank you. Like a truffle pig, I will need to hunt down more.

Ready?

Let’s get into it. Ax