And with that, we are going to wrap up what ended up being a pretty huge day.
Tomorrow is the last sitting day before a five-week break. I think we can expect to see a bit more insanity in the wake of the government’s admission it doesn’t have the numbers for the company tax cut bill (remember it originally wanted that wrapped up by Easter) and a bit more on the marine park issue.
The Senate is discussing that now. I don’t believe Labor has the numbers as yet to get its disallowance motion over the line, but it can always bring it back, with slightly different wording.
Matt Canavan will address the National Press Club tomorrow, so we will bring you that, along with all the fun and games of the last sitting day before a fairly long break.
Thank you to the Guardian’s brains trust and to Mike Bowers for keeping me sane, entertained and engaged.
And thank you to you, for reading. I am not sure we will have quite the same levels of excitement tomorrow – but hey – this is the Australian parliament.
ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN.
We’ll be back tomorrow morning, but in the meantime, you can find us at @pyjamapolitics (where you might spot a special guest appearance) , @mikepbowers and @amyremeikis.
And as always, take care of you .
Updated
Mike Bowers has been running around like crazy this afternoon – it is all happening.
But here is what he saw in the Senate as Kristina Keneally delivered her first speech:
Updated
It’s official – company tax cuts won’t be back on the agenda until after the budget on 8 May, after failing to get the numbers it needs in the crossbench.
The Australia Institute is pleased:
“Congratulations to the Senate and the Senate crossbench for rejecting the flawed economics of company tax cuts for large corporations,” Ben Oquist, the executive director, said.
“The economic case for these company tax cuts never stacked up. The benefits were largely to foreign shareholders, with a huge long-term revenue cost to the budget.
“Australia needs a wider tax reform debate. One truly aimed at serving the national interest, not merely the vested interest of selected large corporations.”
Updated
Malcolm Turnbull has spoken about the company tax impasse at a Business Council of Australia event in Parliament House.
Turnbull said the government started the week with 33 votes in favour of the company tax cut, and by this point had now got to 37 votes. He said the Coalition was “not giving up” although he conceded it would not come to a vote this week.
“My government will continue fighting to give you the tools you need, the legislation you need ... [to create] more jobs, better jobs and better paid jobs.”
Turnbull encouraged businesses to keep talking to the crossbench – even Labor and the Greens (though he warned “it’ll be a slog” in their case).
The prime minister said the government was not fighting for bigger dividends or CEO pay cheques, but rather the competitiveness of the Australian economy. He warned that Australia is a small open market economy that could not seriously contemplate the situation where it has the highest company tax rate in the OECD.
Updated
Here’s a preview of what the Russian ambassador had to say to the ABC tonight:
"Ask your authorities how they could judge who is a special agent or not," the Russian ambassador told @abc730. https://t.co/SBBLUMvCl8
— ABC Politics (@politicsabc) March 27, 2018
Labor is enjoying the government’s admission it doesn’t have the numbers for its company tax cut as yet.
Don Farrell says “I’d say to the crossbench who are considering supporting this legislation ... here is an opportunity to reflect on your decision to support this legislation. Because that decision is the wrong decision. That is not the way we tackle inequality in this country.”
Updated
The Stillbirth Foundation Australia has welcomed the news of an inquiry into Stillbirth in Australia.
CEO Victoria Bowring had this to say in a statement:
The foundation also notes the overwhelming support from all political parties in the Senate to establish the inquiry.
“The foundation thanks all senators for their support in establishing this Inquiry,” Ms Bowring said.
“A special acknowledgement also goes to our former patron, Senator Kristina Keneally, for her efforts in making this inquiry a reality.
“Senator Keneally’s steadfast commitment to addressing this public health crisis is greatly appreciated and will be welcomed by the thousands of families throughout Australia who have been touched by stillbirth.”
Updated
Government pulls company tax bill - for time being
Mathias Cormann said the government has 37 votes, but needs 39:
“The government has made the decision that we need to do some more work.
“We believe there is opportunity to get there, we believe there is an opportunity to persuade the majority of senators ... to ultimately support the tax cut plan in full.
“... So it is the government’s intention to bring the business tax cut legislation back in the next sitting week.”
So that is after the budget has been handed down.
Tl;dr – couldn’t convince Tim Storer or Derryn Hinch so no deal this week on company tax cuts.
Updated
At the same time, the prime minister is addressing the Business Council of Australia
The PM is now LIVE addressing the Business Council of Australia https://t.co/HVMgz2Jfo4
— The PMO (@thepmo) March 27, 2018
Mathias Cormann is now addressing the Senate about the company tax cuts, as a statement by leave.
Kristina Keneally and Malarndirri McCarthy have just announced the Senate has agreed to an inquiry into stillbirth:
The inquiry will raise awareness of the need to invest in stillbirth research, coordinate research between Australia and other countries, measure the impact of stillbirths on the Australian economy and explore options for sustainable funding options.
Currently, the collection of stillbirth data is ad hoc and hinders research efforts rather than consolidating them. Data collection is not well-coordinated between the commonwealth, state and territory jurisdiction and is often out of date.
Stillbirth is a public health issue with an economic impact on Australia. The direct costs such as hospital costs, autopsies and counselling, as well as indirect costs such as funerals, parental absenteeism and family support, combine to cost the economy some $681m from 2016–20.
It is imperative we understand the reasons why stillbirths occur and what can be done to reduce these high numbers.
Updated
Despite losing the Bennelong byelection, Kristina Keneally says she had no regrets for challenging:
The Bennelong campaign reminded me why I was drawn to politics in the first place.
Because, Mr President, for all its faults and failings, this place is where you get to turn campaign promises into community progress.
This is where we continue the 117-year-old project of building a better and more equal Australia.
There is nowhere else I would rather be.
And after thanking campaigners, Labor MPs, her family and supporters, she finishes with this:
Nothing I have done or will do is possible without [my husband] Ben by my side.
Ben quoted a Billy Bragg song when he proposed to me. Let me now quote one back to express how I feel about him:
The sun came up
The trees began to sing
And light shone in on everything
I love you
Finally, I dedicate this speech to our three children.
Our daughter Caroline never drew breath, but she changed me forever.
She enlarged my understanding of love and loss, and she taught me to survive. She made me brave, almost fearless.
Our sons Daniel and Brendan are now young men. They are the sunshine in my life. My sons are confident, generous, hard-working and community minded. I am so proud of them. No matter what I might do on this earth, being Daniel and Brendan’s mother is the best role I’ll ever have.
For them, and for all young people, I want to help build a stronger, fairer, and more generous Australia.
And now that this first speech is done, it is time to get on with that task.
Updated
Heading back to the Senate chamber and Kristina Keneally is talking about her time away from politics:
My time out of politics did allow me to pursue particular passions, such as working with Stillbirth Foundation Australia to raise awareness, and much-needed money for research. 2,200 babies are stillborn in Australia each year.
That’s six babies a day. Six babies who die every day in Australia. Surely we can do better than that as a nation.
On 18 June 1999, one of those babies was my daughter Caroline.
The rate of stillbirth has not changed in Australia in decades.
Stillbirth is a national public health crisis with major economic impact, and devastating effect on families.
When it comes to stillbirth prevention, there are things we know that we are not telling parents, and there are things we don’t know, but we could, if we changed how we collect data and how we fund research.
I thank all members of the Senate for voting today to hold a select committee inquiry into stillbirth.
As a Senator, I will continue make stillbirth research and prevention a priority.
Updated
Meanwhile:
Interesting night. I'm hearing the government is about to bring on a vote on its marine parks management plans to preempt a Labor/Greens disallowance #auspol
— Katharine Murphy (@murpharoo) March 27, 2018
Keneally thanks Sam Dastyari, whose spot in the Senate she took, when the NSW senator was forced to step down, following further revelations over his dealings with a Chinese donor:
As I arrive in the Senate, I acknowledge the service of my friend and predecessor Sam Dastyari.
I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone as passionate about politics – and yet Sam’s greatest gift is his capacity to engage with people who have no interest in politics whatsoever. I thank him for his service to our movement and wish him every success in whatever he turns his hand to next.”
Kristina Keneally has begun her first speech in the Senate with an explanation of why she believes in unions:
The year before this chamber opened, in 1987, just after graduating from high school, I took a job on an assembly line at Johns-Manville, a fibreglass manufacturer that had two factories in my hometown of Waterville, Ohio.
The work was tedious and hot. But the hourly rate was good, compared to other jobs, and helped me save for my upfront university fees.
I worked eight-hour shifts, sometimes 12, on a crew of four. We wore heavy canvas jumpsuits. When slivers of fibreglass got caught between the canvas collar and the back of the neck, or in the space between the cuffs and the inside of the wrist, the itching would drive us crazy.
We operated one end of a giant machine that made huge sheets of white fibreglass. Our job was to get the fibreglass off the machine and wrapped in plastic. Our final product looked like massive paper towel rolls as we shipped them down the line.
My main responsibility was to attach adhesive to a four-metre-long rotating spindle so it could grab the next sheet of fibreglass coming off the machine.
The spindle rotated at 3km/hour. I was told to stand back three metres holding the tape on a specially designed hook, and given safety stop switch.
Months earlier, a young woman named Leslie Lambert had my job.
She did not have the same safety equipment or practices.
When Leslie was working there, the spindle rotated at 20km/hour. There was no instruction to stand three metres back. There was no hook or safety switch.
One afternoon Leslie was caught by the adhesive, spun around 10 times, cracking her head and back on to the machine, before she was thrown to the floor.
She died.
Leslie was 19.
I never met Leslie, but I know from her obituary that she – like me –
was putting herself through university.I also know that she – like me – was a member of the Teamsters Union.
A union which had been pushing for safer conditions and rules in that
very factory.Only a few months separated Leslie and me.
The few months between a dangerous workplace, and a safe one.
And yet the difference is also 31 years.
Thirty-one years in which Leslie Lambert has laid in a grave in East Swanton, Ohio. Thirty-one years in which I have been able to raise a family, study, work, travel, and simply be alive.
I know that the Teamsters Union made their members’ safety at work a
priority. I know that they had my back as a worker.I’ve never forgotten that.
Updated
Kristina Keneally is about to deliver her maiden speech to the Senate.
And the Russian ambassador Grigory Logvinov just walked past me in the press gallery - he was on his way to the ABC studios for his 7.30 interview tonight.
AFP (the news wire, not the police) have created a handy visual for just who has expelled Russian diplomats/undeclared intelligence officers:
Spy expulsions a setback for Trump-Putin courtship https://t.co/DmO4AUMD4M @AFPgraphics: 24 countries order the expulsion of 139 alleged Russian agents working under diplomatic cover pic.twitter.com/4pFpuOMsMV
— AFP news agency (@AFP) March 27, 2018
An insight into what we deal with:
God I hate FOI - my heart really goes out to whoever lodged this. They're all like this, such BS. pic.twitter.com/8BHnhvDxV4
— Paul Karp (@Paul_Karp) March 27, 2018
The more things change, the more they stay the same:
Fraser Anning wants to make it a criminal offence to burn the flag. pic.twitter.com/gijwdt5gsc
— Josh Taylor (@joshgnosis) March 27, 2018
Just for anyone feeling nostalgic for Senate question time:
A few lols in #senateqt today, with Wacka Williams complaining of a "Scottish echo" in his left ear. #auspol @AuSenate pic.twitter.com/7nbPYLcZyv
— Caitlyn Gribbin (@CaitlynGribbin) March 27, 2018
Just a question: can you be a declared intelligence officer, and if so, doesn’t that make you kinda bad at your job?
Or just Sterling Archer?
Updated
The Coalition party room had a lot of ra-ra about Labor’s dividend imputation policy and opposition to company tax cuts.
One interesting flashpoint was on Liddell. Tony Abbott and Barnaby Joyce asked why the government did not attempt to facilitate a sale of the plant to Chinese group Shandong Ruyi.
The energy and environment minister, Josh Frydenberg, has just addressed the issue on Sky News. Essentially, AGL owns Liddell and the government can’t make it sell the plant to anyone any more than it can make it stay open.
Another point of interest is that seven backbenchers spoke up about South African farmers, warning about the violence against white farmers and defending Peter Dutton against claims of racism for wanting to give them “special attention”. These included Andrew Hastie, Andrew Laming, Craig Kelly, Jim Molan and Luke Howarth.
Kelly suggested everybody, including Coalition leaders, should have done more to defend Dutton. Laming expressed concern that the trickle of information out of South Africa made it difficult to substantiate reports of increased violence.
There was concern the fact that white South African farmers could move to cities and be free of persecution might nullify claims to refugee status. Responses from Malcolm Turnbull, Julie Bishop and Dutton allayed these concerns - because Australia has two streams and can grant humanitarian visas even if people don’t qualify as refugees.
Bishop stressed the consistency of her stance with Dutton’s because both agree that South Africans would qualify under existing visa rules.
Updated
Russian embassy responds to expulsion
The Russian embassy has published this statement on its website:
It is regrettable that by virtue of the notorious Anglo-Saxon and Euro-Atlantic solidarity the relatively small but substantial positive asset in our relationship, which we had managed to create by a joint effort during the last two years, was jeopardized. It is astonishing how easily the allies of Great Britain follow it blindly contrary to the norms of civilized bilateral dialogue and international relations, and against the common sense. The modern world is not in a stage when it is possible to dictate anything to anybody, regardless of the nostalgia for past grandeur in certain capitals.
Neither the Russian side, attempt on which citizens’ life was made, nor other states possess impartial exhaustive information about the ‘Skripal case’. The denial to investigate the circumstances of the case indicates the longing of Great Britain for a foregone conclusion the achievement of which can be hampered by an unbiased inquiry. It is categorically unacceptable to expose Russia as a threat to international peace as well as to attribute some kind of “recklessness and irresponsibility” to our foreign policy in a groundless and unsubstantiated way.
Nowadays it is more than ever important to provide the rule of international law with a maximum use of mechanisms in the area of disarmament that have been elaborated over decades and have proved to be successful. Unfortunately, all that we can see today is a step in the exact opposite direction. Such flagrant and primitive campaigns as the ‘Skripal case’ that are crudely orchestrated by London, could only trigger further erosion of international relations architecture on which peace and security in the whole world during the post-war period were rested.
Updated
It’s not exactly the Darkest Hour, but Mathias Cormann has invoked Winston Churchill when defending the government against Labor’s attacks on the company tax cuts during Senate question time:
The Labor party get their numbers all muddled up. First it’s a $65m giveaway to big business; then it’s a $65bn giveaway to big business; and, in the Labor party talking points, it is a $65 giveaway to big business.
The first point I would make is that, clearly for the Labor party, every business is a big business. If you have got one employee, you’re big business. If you’ve got two employees, you’re big business. If you have $2m in turnover, you’re big business under the Labor party.
When they talk about the $65bn cost to the budget bottom line of business tax cuts, the Labor party know that $30bn of that represents tax cuts for businesses with a turnover of up to $50m. You know what; you could have knocked me over with a feather.
Having fought it on the trenches, having fought it on the beaches, having fought it in the air ...
Updated
Senator @KKeneally will give her first speech in the #Senate today at approximately 5pm
— Australian Senate (@AuSenate) March 27, 2018
Live broadcast available here: https://t.co/9Lgw5iXAcZ
Sarah Hanson-Young has responded to the news she is going to face a pre-selection battle:
It’s terrific that we have passionate Greens members who are keen to put their hand up and participate in our democratic party processes. The wonderful thing about our party is that any and every member has the opportunity to throw their hat in the ring for preselection and it is our members who vote for our elected representatives. Our members are the heart and soul of our party.
I will be seeking their support to recontest the Senate race and represent them at the next election.
I’m proud of the work we have done together in fighting to protect the environment and our renewable energy industry, securing more water for the Murray, standing up for fairness for refugees, and advocating for equality for members of our community often left behind by big business and weak politicians.
I feel privileged that as a woman and a mum, the SA Greens have backed me to stand strong for the rights of our children and future generations to a clean and safe environment, where equality and respect for each other and our planet underlines our values and actions.
Our work is now more important than ever; and as populist politicians and conservative politics offer false hope, conviction and genuine leadership is needed.
Preselection contests are the way that members ensure their senators are not just working hard, but working hard on the issues that matter to them to ensure we remain the home for progressive voters in South Australia.
Greens members know I stand up for our state, our environment and our community. I will always stand up for and with them.
Meanwhile, in Queensland, Larissa Waters challenger Ben Pennings has some ideas of his own about the direction the party should go in:
Should The #Greens embrace being 'Watermelons', use it to replace #Labor even? Check our my latest article for @newmatilda. #auspol #StopAdani https://t.co/fBEb3rKKcV pic.twitter.com/lDzAWchUBV
— Ben Pennings (@BenPennings) March 27, 2018
Updated
Mike Bowers sat through that so you didn’t have to:
Updated
Statement from the British high commissioner, Menna Rawlings, on the Australian government’s response to the Salisbury attack:
Thank you to Australia for your unwavering support, as set out today by prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and foreign minister Julie Bishop. The use of a nerve agent on British soil demands concerted diplomatic action. We are grateful to have Australia and other countries with us.
What happened in the UK could happen in any country. It was an attack not just on the UK but on international security and the rules-based order. It is part of a pattern of reckless Russian behaviour from cyber attacks to flouting international law in Ukraine. That is why we welcome this strong action from Australia and are resolved to continue working with our allies and partners to confront such actions wherever they threaten our security, at home and abroad.
For the latest updates on the UK government’s response to the Salisbury attack, see here: www.gov.uk/government/news/novichok-nerve-agent-use-in-salisbury-uk-government-response
Updated
Tony Burke to Malcolm Turnbull:
Today the former prime minister, the member for Warringah, has declared the only way the Coalition can win the next election is to harness [Pauline] Hanson preferences. Is that what the prime minister meant when he said last year that parties would reach preference deals to maximise success and is this why the big banks got a$65bn handout?
Christopher Pyne:
That question is a longbow trying to draw the prime minister’s response. They have no recollection with each other at all, those two issues, that the manager of the opposition business draws a connection between those two issues. There’s never been a suggestion they have, in fact it is a smear, but it’s not the prime minister’s responsibility and therefore he can’t be asked of that. He didn’t even ask the person who the question was directed to.
Tony Smith:
The leader of the House is quite right, I mean, there’s a number of problems with the question, I’ll hear from the manager of the opposition business and well, the first problem with the question was it wasn’t a question to anyone. That leaves the problem of who the question is to. That leaves the problem ... the practice is clear on this. The prime minister is responsible for the statements of private members and he is not responsible for decisions of parties. I’m struggling. I’m a reasonable person. I can’t find a single word that’s relevant yet but I’ll let you have a go. Do you want to give it up?”
Burke gives the question up.
The government’s dixers have moved on from Alans - we now have poor Bruce, who has served in the military for 20 years and will retire in May and may have to deal with Labor’s tax plan.
And with poor Bruce on all our minds, question time ends.
Updated
We go on another circuit of the company tax merry-go-round. There is nothing new in the question or the answer. Here’s the short version.
Q: Why are you helping the big end of town with these cuts?
A: We think it will flow down to people and you used to think so too.
AND REPEAT
We then move on to the next #deathtodixer, before getting back to Jenny Macklin, who has a question for Dan Tehan (and it is much shorter this time, so no time issues).
Macklin:
My question is to the minister for social services. How many Australians will be affected by this government’s plan to increase the pension age to 70?
Tehan (with written notes):
When the aged pension was introduced, the average male life expectancy was 55. To insure the pension was sustainable, [a former] Labor government moved to the higher pension age of 67. Now, we supported that, we supported that and you know why? Because as the member for Lilley said at the time, and the member for Jaga Jaga, increasing the age pension age is a responsible reform to meet the challenge to meet the challenge of an ageing population and the economic impact it will have for all Australians.
Australia must move towards a higher pension age over the next decade. And guess what the member for Fenner said? A better approach would be to index upper age limit. How would age indexation operate in practice? One approach would be to mandate that all elderly age limits should increase by three months every year, every year.
Now, we won’t be lectured by you on that side about what we will do for pensioners because we want to make sure the pension payments go up. We don’t want to raid them. We don’t want to raid the pensioners. We don’t want to raid the pensioners. We don’t want to go after grannies with a cash grab. We want to do everything we can to ensure pensioners get fortnightly payments, which increase twice a year.
Updated
The sighs are long and loud this question time, readers. LOOOOONNNNG and loud.
The shadow finance minister, Jim Chalmers:
Less than a week ago the prime minister told Australians, and I quote, ‘there is no question you will see a rise in wages under a company tax cut’. But 18% of new businesses have ruled out increasing wages because of the $65bn big business handout. When the prime minister said there will be a rise in wages, was he referring to a rise in wages for senior executives and CEOs?
Malcolm Turnbull:
I will invite the treasurer to respond to that, but before he does, Mr Speaker, talking about things that were said a week ago, the honourable member was asked by Kieran Gilbert, ‘is Labor considering a top-up payment to help those retirees and investors adversely affected by your dividend changes?’ ‘Good morning, Kieran,’ he says ...
The Speaker, Tony Smith:
The prime minister will resume his seat. The manager for opposition business will resume his seat. Members on my right will cease interjecting. The member for Rankin will cease interjecting. I just say to the prime minister ... I just ... No, before I call anybody, if members can cease interjecting, I just say to the prime minister that part of the answer was not relevant in any way to the question that was asked. The treasurer now has the call.
Scott Morrison:
Mr Speaker, he refers to what was said last week. What was said last week, if I recall rightly, from the question that he posed, well, what I remember was said last week, the shadow treasurer in relation to his completely discredited Labor retiree tax, is that we stand by the policy. It is very important policy. That is what he said last week, Mr Speaker. Just last week.
Smith:
The treasurer can resume his seat. The manager for opposition business can resume his seat – and I am doing that for a particular reason. So I haven’t accepted a point of order yet. I am making it very clear answers need to be relevant to the question. Picking out one phrase about a week ago and then trying to use that as a way to talk about any other policy area is several bridges too far, and I am saying now I won’t be upset about it, I just won’t put up with it. So the treasurer can address the substance of the question, which is about company taxes and wages. The treasurer has the call.
Morrison:
I am happy to address the question also about business taxes, because earlier today, this is what the leader of the opposition said in relation to the government’s enterprise tax plan. He said Labor, regardless of what legislation has passed this week, Labor will repeal, and this is what he says, this corporate tax giveaway of $65bn to the biggest companies in Australia, the banks and the multinationals.
So what the leader of the opposition has confirmed today is that he will reverse the tax cuts for small and medium-sized businesses, already legislated, some $30bn of tax cuts already legislated for small businesses. I am quoting the leader of the opposition, if I am quoting him incorrectly, he said quite specifically he was reversing the $65bn in tax cuts. Now, that is the same thing that the economic champion, the deputy leader of the opposition, also has referred to, which he is out there promising to spend money all over the place.
But the other thing I wanted to make reference to was this: he refers to a tax cut as a giveaway, Mr Speaker. And this is the thing the Labor party do not understand. They think a tax cut is a welfare payment, Mr Speaker. They think all the money in the economy belongs to the Labor party when they are in government, and they just get to decide how much you get to keep. What we have seen from this Labor party is a total disrespect for the hard work and earnings of Australians and they dare to ask questions about wages. The only thing they are interested in wages about, Mr Speaker, is how they can tax them more.
Updated
We go round the company tax merry-go-round another time, and then we come to Peter Dutton letting us all know just how safe we are. Spoiler: We are very safe. VERY SAFE.
(And we get another reference to Rudd-Gillard-Rudd)
Chris Bowen comes back with a question on the leaked BCA survey, reported on by the Fin, which found that most BCA members plan on putting any tax savings back into the company or share buybacks (which was also the American experience).
Both Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison have things to say about this:
Turnbull:
This is a question from a man who wrote a book calling for company tax to be 25% precisely in order to make Australian businesses more competitive with the rest of the world, and on the basis it would result in more investment, higher wages and more jobs, precisely the same arguments the member for Maribyrnong made when he was in government, standing right here, precisely the argument Paul Keating made when he was treasurer and now suddenly for political convenience all of that economic logic evaporates.
Mr Speaker, the Labor party can’t extend the laws of economics. Their latest policy on company tax is no more wealth calibrated than their shocking cash grab on pensioners and I’ll ask the treasurer to add to the answer.
Morrison:
I’m glad the shadow treasurer is doing some research. He may be interested in this research by the Centre for Independent Studies, which surveyed 640 businesses in 2016 and it found ... this was in relation to tax cuts for business, 53% of businesses said more investment is their first, second and third most likely response to a company tax cut; 43% of businesses said they were likely to increase wages; and 45% said they were likely to hire new staff, again, as their first, second or third highest priority.
Reducing the tax burden on businesses means they’re in a better position to pay workers more. The only people who are standing between a wage increase and workers is the Labor party. The Labor party think that if employers have to pay the government more, they’ll be in a better position to pay workers more. I mean, it doesn’t work like that. If we actually allow businesses more room to invest and grow their businesses, they’ll be able to pay workers more and the Labor party used to believe that, Mr Speaker, they used to believe that.
The shadow treasurer, as the prime minister reminded us, used to write books about it and, Mr Speaker, this is a shadow treasurer who’s walked away from every economic [belief] he’s ever believed in just in the same way he’s walked away from a policy that was well calibrated, properly designed just two weeks ago.
Mr Speaker, this shadow treasurer isn’t up to Shadow Treasurer 1.0 or 2.0 – he is 17.0. The number of changes in the positions he has had has rendered him an absolute [joke], Mr Speaker, and of absolute economic incompetent incapable of doing his job.
We move into another #deathtodixer, which I only mention because it’s the second time we have heard reference to the “Rudd-Gillard-Rudd” government in an attack against Labor. Which is all well and good, but I am not sure I would use that as a tactic when we are a government approaching a deadline that will only serve to remind people of our own shift in leadership.
Updated
Tanya Plibersek (in a serious voice):
This morning, the finance minister twice refused to endorse the prime minister’s claims that a $65bn big business tax giveaway will increase wages. Why won’t the prime minister admit that his $65bn handouts are for the benefit of the business and not for the benefit of workers?
Malcolm Turnbull (also in a serious voice):
I want to be very clear about this. The analysis that shows that the result for wages will be an average of $750 more in the pocket of Australian workers as a result of these company tax cuts is exactly the same analysis that was done back in 2010, when the member for Swan boasted as treasurer about the increase that would come from ... Sorry, member for Lilley. Member for Lilley, that’s right, the member for Lilley boasted that the cut in company tax in the 2010 Labor budget would put an extra $450 a year into the pockets of workers on average earnings.
This is the most conventional economic analysis that has been recognised again and again, not least by the honourable member’s leader, the member for Maribyrnong, who said, and I quote again, he said, ‘cutting the company income tax rate increases domestic productivity and domestic investment’. More capital means higher productivity and economic growth, and leads to more growth and higher wages. His words, Treasury’s analysis. That is the conventional consequences, economic consequences, reducing business taxes, you know.
You talk about surveys, you know, if you did a survey of past Labor treasurers, giving with the member for McMahon and continuing with the member for Lilley, you would find they would all be on a unity ticket, agreeing with exactly what the leader of the opposition said when he was in government in 2011.
And it reminds us why you simply cannot trust the leader of the opposition. He says one thing one day, another thing the next. One thing in 2011 makes very plain what the consequences of cutting company tax are: more investment, more productivity, better wages, more jobs, and so forth. And now, of course, they are all in denial about that. It is about time the Labor party stopped trying to deceive and delude the Australian public into thinking that the laws of economics have been suspended. They haven’t.
The fact is, we know, and that is why Paul Keating cut company taxes, it is why Peter Costello did, it is why the member for Lilley sought to do so in 2010, it is why the member for McMahon wrote a book about it so enthusiastic he was to do that. The reality is, our company tax cuts will deliver more jobs and paid jobs, and the cuts we have in place already are part of the reason we are seeing the highest jobs growth in Australian history. The Labor party wants to campaign on less investment, fewer jobs and lower wages. That would be a disaster.
I am no expert and I still immediately think ‘1970s’ when someone says 30 years ago, but honestly – surely we can acknowledge that circumstances can change, parties can change their policies and that is just a part of a healthy democracy. Do we really expect our policies to stay the same for all time?
Updated
From memory, this was the second dixer to include a poor constituent named Alan. WILL SOMEONE PLEASE THINK OF THE ALANS?
We move on to a #deathtodixer, which can not be good for Scott Morrison’s vocal cords.
Someone get that man some hot water and honey
Updated
Adam Bandt has the crossbencher question – and it is on Peter Dutton’s intervention in the au pair case, as reported by AAP yesterday.
Bandt:
My question is to the minister for home affairs. I note your recent statements in relation to your personal intervention to prevent the deportation of two foreign intended au pairs. Can you categorically rule out any personal connection or other relationship between you and the intended employer of either of the au pairs?
Dutton:
I haven’t received any personal benefit, I don’t know these people, they don’t work for me. I repeated [what I said] yesterday. Mr Speaker, I point the honourable member to the facts in relation to ministerial intervention.
The member for McMahon, we were just talking about his successful record when he was last in government, he was the minister for immigration at one point in 2012. There were 218 cases referred for consideration, in 2013, when the honourable member for McMahon was there, along with the member for Bourke, the member for Watson, there were 238 cases in the year 2013, in 2014 198 cases, and what really stands out here is that while the Greens have been out there criticising the use of ministerial intervention powers – and these go back many, many years – the minister of the day exercises powers under the Migration Act.
As it turns out, the two people who have criticised me most in the last 24 hours, Senator McKim and the honourable member for Melbourne, they happen to be the two highest members for the Greens for referring cases for consideration. I don’t know whether the hypocrisy escapes the member for Melbourne but the Greens are the biggest hypocrites in Australian politics. They stand in this place saying one thing, they say something completely opposite when they go out. The reality, Mr Speaker, is if the honourable member has some allegation to put, go outside into the public domain, put the allegation, and I will deal with it in the usual way.
Updated
#Deathtodixers
Jenny Macklin went to ask a question about the pension age being increased to 70 but ran out of time to ask the question in the 30-second allotted time.
Updated
After that brief show of bipartisanship, it is back to normal QT transmissions.
Chris Bowen:
Can the prime minister confirm that under the government policies wealthy retiree couples will get a cash bonus from dividend imputations despite the fact they have $2.5 million in super, $290,000 worth of Australian shares, draw $120,000 a year in super income and received $17,500 a year in dividend income and pay no tax. How is it fair they will get a cash bonus from the government of $7,500?
Malcolm Turnbull:
I thank the honourable member for his question, Mr Speaker, and of course the honourable member is the one who is now announcing a pensioners’ guarantee. It is designed, he says, to protect pensioners but how is he protecting them? ... He said it was carefully calibrated, well targeted, well-designed ... This is economic genius, they thought they could get away with it.
Mr Speaker, they have gone out there and they have said today that no pensioner will be affected. They have said that no pensioner will be affected. Completely and utterly untrue, totally untrue, because anyone who becomes a pensioner, not years from now, not five years from now, tomorrow, tomorrow, after 28 March, anyone who becomes a pensioner after 28 March will be liable for their cash grab from their self-managed superannuation fund. Mr Speaker, really! So they’ve gone out there and they’ve said they’re protecting pensioners but only pensioners who don’t have self-managed super funds and becomes so after 28 March.
It’s another example of the shambolic policy on the run from an economic team that has one bungle after another. Of course, Mr Speaker, there’s no justice there. They say how unfair it is for people to get the benefit, the cash benefit, the franking credit. A big company or a wealthy investor can use that franking credit to reduce their tax liability on other income, that apparently is fair, that’s fair, but people on low incomes are not able to do so. Mr Speaker, this is a combination of avarice, malevolence and incompetence. Classic Labor! Going after people’s savings, people that should be supported and respected, not the least.
Updated
Julie Bishop gives the House an update on the Russia situation. It is essentially what we heard in the press conference.
Bill Shorten thanks her:
I acknowledge the communication from both the prime minister and the security agencies this morning to the opposition to brief us on the decision to expel these two Russian diplomats from Australia. I think it is important all Australians know that, when matters such as this arise, it doesn’t matter which party is in government or opposition, leaders work together.
Labor supports this position. We think it appropriate, proportionate and right for Australia to stand with our friends in the UK and the international community. Mr Speaker, in conclusion, we have not forgotten 2014, we haven’t forgotten the 38 Australians murdered on flight MH17. I acknowledge the prime minister at the time, Tony Abbott, standing up for Australia then with our support, and we must continue to stand up to thuggery and criminality on the international stage.
President Putin and his government must understand there are real consequences for engaging in attacks on foreign soil and not telling the truth about them. The international community is united in this and so is the parliament of Australia.
Updated
Question time begins
Bill Shorten to Malcolm Turnbull with a question on school funding:
(I missed the beginning of the question, but it included the stat from the AEU survey, that 80% of voters wants better spending on public education funding.)
How is it fair that the prime minister is cutting billions from schools to pay for his $65bn handout to big business?
Turnbull:
How is it fair to have a school funding policy that Labor had when they were in government, which had special deals for one part of Australia compared to another? Which had special deals between students in one system and another without any consistency. The Labor party have said that they hold up David Gonski’s report as the gold standard but they never implemented it, and what did David Gonski call for? National, consistent needs-based funding. That is exactly what the government has delivered.
By 2023, every state school, every government school will be receiving from the commonwealth 20% of the schooling resource standard. Mr Speaker, everyone right across the country, they’ll all be getting that on a fair basis. Now, that’s fairness, that’s consistency, that’s transparency. The total school funding expenditure from the government, the commonwealth government, under our policy will increase spending by $23bn over that period over the decade. That’s a substantial increase in spending. And above all, it is needs based. And what did we see during the Batman byelection? Much to the horror ...
(The chamber goes a little crazy, because it is VERY rowdy in there today. Everyone is cramming four Canberra days into three, so no one is really sleeping, and let’s face it, the crazy is never far from the surface in this place.)
Turnbull:
We saw the leader of the opposition rushing out with a special deal for the Catholic school system. Oh, yes, he did, he was there. The leader of the opposition was there, denounced by parents and teachers of government schools around the country. What he was doing was proving that he’s addicted to special deals he will not engage on a consistent fashion.
Mr Speaker, the reality is this, as we know, we are increasing school funding right across the country and I will just remind honourable members that over the 10 years of our plan, funding for commonwealth government schools will increase by 5.1%, for Catholic schools 3.7%, for independent 4.3% per annum, total average of 4.2%. That’s consistent growth in funding and we are bringing be underfunded schools up to the right level of parity so there at that level of 20% of the SRS for government schools, 80% for non-government schools, that is being done over six years, that is a consistent message entirely in line with the Gonski recommendations.
Ged Kearney looks like she is having a GREAT time though.
Updated
It’s question time! (well, almost).
Put your predictions in the comments.
Well this is a little awkward:
So... I found Labor's talking points in a bathroom in Parliament House. https://t.co/zhBVjB8Bi3 pic.twitter.com/X67CwLxNPy
— Alice Workman (@workmanalice) March 27, 2018
The House of Representatives has censured the former member for Dunkley, Mr Bruce Billson, for failing to discharge his obligations as a Member to the House #auspol pic.twitter.com/3wYsdEUAoL
— Political Alert (@political_alert) March 27, 2018
Former Liberal minister censured by parliament
After this report was handed down yesterday , the parliament has taken the unusual step of officially censuring former Liberal minister Bruce Billson for taking, and then failing to declare, paid lobbying work while he was still an MP.
From Paul Karp’s report:
Billson – who was dumped from cabinet in September 2015 – took a job at the Franchise Council of Australia (FCA) in March 2016 but did not leave parliament until 9 May.
The committee found Billson failed to disclose to parliament’s register of interests that he had started drawing a $75,000-a-year salary as executive chairman and independent director of the FCA. Billson also revealed to the committee that he had provided services to the FCA through his company Agile Advisory.”
The Coalition-dominated committee found Billson should be censured for his actions, “for failing to discharge his obligations ... and for failing to fulfil his responsibilities as a member by failing to declare” his interests.
On Tuesday afternoon, the parliament followed through.
Pat Conroy seconded Ross Vasta in making the motion and said “censuring someone is an incredibly serious course of action” and when MPs leave parliament, their reputation is held in the highest esteem – and to censure someone, is a serious blow to that.
Updated
Here is what Malarndirri McCarthy had to say about the event this morning, which featured members of the Tangentyere Women’s Family Safety Group:
The Tangentyere Women’s Family Safety Group do extraordinary work in their community and that needs to be acknowledged, is making communities safer for everyone.
These women have travelled from Alice Springs and to be heard, their message is simple: ‘Listen to us, stand with us, support us.’ They work every day for their communities because they have the solutions and we need to make sure their voices are heard and listened to, we can learn a lot from these women. They must be adequately funded to continue their work on this important issue.”
Updated
But wait – there is more. After turning away, Malcolm Turnbull comes back to the microphone to answer a question on the company tax negotiations:
We do not run a commentary on negotiations with the crossbench. I want to be clear about this. What we are seeking to do is put Australian companies in the position where they can invest and employ. Where they will be able to grow and make more investment, create more jobs and better paid jobs.
Bill Shorten has said that if the company tax reforms are passed, he will repeal them if he becomes prime minister. What he is saying is that he wants to go to the election on the platform of fewer jobs and less well-paid jobs. It shows you cannot trust anything Bill Shorten says.
This is a man who stood up at the dispatch box and the House of Representatives only a few years ago, when Labor was last in government, and said more jobs and higher wages. You know what, he was right. He was right. Now of course, it doesn’t suit him to say that and he has done a backflip. He is trying to do a backflip on pensions, on the pension attacks. Grabbing the franking dividends from pensions. This was a ... man saying, ‘They were all millionaires, yes, there were all pensioners that accusing me of using pensioners as a human shield’. He treated those self-funded retirees, pensioners and independent self-funded retirees, and done a backflip.
Pensioners will still be caught. After 28 March, they will be caught again by his proposal. He hasn’t even done his homework properly. He has done a backflip that hasn’t landed on his feet. He has landed once again with his hand in the pockets of hard-working Australians who have saved all their lives and [are] entitled to support and respect.
Bill Shorten cannot be trusted with your money. He cannot be trusted with your savings. Pensioners, self-funded retirees, Australians looking to work, Australians looking for a job, they cannot trust Bill Shorten because he says one thing one day and another thing the next. All of the backflips demonstrate just one thing. He cannot be trusted to put Australians, Australian jobs, Australian business, Australian savings first.
(Just a reminder that a backflip ends with you standing in the same position and, to quote the great *Inigo Montoya, “you keep using that word - I do not think it means what you think it means”.)
*Thank you to my resident Princess Bride expert, who very quickly alerted me to my slipped finger typo. INCONCEIVABLE!
Updated
Annnnnnd ... from a potential new cold war to the cricket (because this is still Australia)
Malcolm Turnbull:
They [Cricket Australia] now have to make sure that this great, national game, this great international game that is synonymous with fair play, is once again a game that is played by champions, that everybody can look up to. I mean, this has been a shocking affront to Australia. It is, you know.
How many of us, as children, how many of us as fathers and mothers, have had children who have looked up to the Australian team, have looked up to their idols, to their role models?
This cheating is, it is a disgrace. We all know that, it is a terrible disgrace. And we ... Cricket Australia is dealing with it, they have to investigate it and they have to act, continue to act decisively and emphatically, and we have to ... Where do we want to get to? We want to get to the point where we can all say once again, not rhetorically but heartfelt and with sincerity, that cricket is a fair game, cricket is a game that is synonymous with a fair go and fair play.
That is what has to happen and I want to add one other point. I think, and I said this to [Cricket Australia chairman] David Peever, I will not go on to say everything I have to him and I will say this: I think there has to be the strongest action taken against this practice of sledging. It has got right out of control, it should have no place in – I want to be very clear about this – this, the game of cricket is, it should be that once again is held up as a role model, and I think that is the, some of the sledging as some of the shocking conduct that we have seen is also part of the process of review and reflection that is going to be undertaken.
Updated
As to whether the world is watching the dawn of a new cold war, Malcolm Turnbull urged caution:
Look, this is a very different environment to the cold war. There are obviously some, there are some similarities, but without getting into a discussion which I would love to engage in at some point with you all. But it would take too long to talk about the history of the cold war and such good developments, I think it is just as important, rather than getting sentimental about Le Carré novels and bygone eras, let’s just focus on the facts here.
We have a government which has used a chemical weapon on the soil of another nation in an attempt to assassinate individuals in that other country ... This is a shocking crime, it is a shocking crime. Now, this is a shocking crime. It is a shocking breach of the rule of law and the use of chemical weapons illegally, contrary to international law, and for the first time, as we have both said, in Europe since the second world war.
This cried out for a concerted response, so I think we should, I don’t dispute the interesting history and background and historical analogues, but let’s just focus on what happened in Salisbury on 4 March. A shocking crime called out for a concerted global response and Australia is playing its part in that strong response today.
Updated
Further sanctions could be considered - Julie Bishop
The foreign minister said Australia may consider further sanctions*
In relation to sanctions, Australia already has a range of autonomous sanctions against Russia, in particular those that were imposed in the aftermath of the illegal annexation of Crimea, and those sanctions have been reviewed and updated over time, so we have sanctions against a number of individuals and a number of Russian entities.
The impact of sanctions, of course, is strongest when it is done collectively, and so we will continue to liaise with the [UK] Foreign Office and other allies and partners on this issue as to whether further action will be taken in response to the deployment of a chemical nerve agent in Salisbury.
**Question: Is boycotting the World Cup one of those possible outcomes?
“There are a whole range of further options of action that could be taken. The World Cup is one of the further actions that could be taken in relation to this matter.”
*A previous version of this post referenced the Socceroos potentially not attending the World Cup as a consequence of potential further boycotts. This could also include officials not attending, as the UK have floated, so I have amended it to remove the reference to the Socceroos.
**Julie Bishop says Australia will not be boycotting the World Cup. Tveeder originally included the word ‘boycott’ in the answer, but on listening back to the tape, Bishop answers a question about a boycott without using the word herself.
Updated
Under the Vienna Convention, Russia can expel any Australian diplomats in what is generally known as the tit-for-tat response, without giving a reason.
Julie Bishop said Australia expects this to happen and is preparing for it.
Updated
Julie Bishop followed suit:
We see this as a direct challenge, a direct attack on the international rules-based system and Australia is a staunch defender of the international rules-based system. We are also a member of the Organisation for the Prohibition against Chemical Weapons and we chair the Australia Group, which is a grouping of nations determined to control the export of chemical weapons.
So with that background, Australia could not tolerate this act on the part of the Russians in the United Kingdom. As the prime minister points out, Russia is in a unique position to uphold global peace and security. As a permanent member of the security council, Russia has a unique responsibility to strengthen and uphold the international rules-based order, yet there has been a pattern of conduct over recent times that shows Russia is in direct defiance of that very rules-based order, with political assassinations, cyberattacks, the illegal annexation of crime, invasions of other countries’ territory and Georgia, Ukraine, its disruptive role in the investigation into the downing of MH17, when it should be assisting the investigations.
I have remained in constant communication with [UK] foreign secretary Boris Johnson in relation to the investigation and the ongoing actions that may well be taken in response to this matter. We will continue to support our friends and allies, particularly in relation to this illegal, reckless and atrocious attempts to use chemical weapons in Europe – the first attempt since the second world war, as the prime minister has indicated.
Updated
'This was an attack on all of us' - Turnbull on Russia
Malcolm Turnbull is not mincing words when it comes to Russia this morning:
This was a disgraceful attack ... on the sovereignty of the United Kingdom and the rule of law and we utterly condemn it. As the UK authorities have made clear, this was a fundamental breach of international law, prohibiting the use of chemical weapons. Russia has an obligation under the chemical weapons convention and the United Nations charter. The fact that Russia is a member of the United Nations security council, the body tasked with ensuring global security, makes this breach of international law especially dangerous and shocking.
It reflects a pattern of recklessness and aggression by the Russian government, including the annexation of Crimea, the invasion of eastern Ukraine, the downing of MH17, cyber attacks and efforts to manipulate western nations’ elections. This latest incident had demanded a response and has received a concerted international response from the United Kingdom’s allies and partners around the world. To do nothing would only encourage further efforts to undermine the international rules based order upon which our security and prosperity rely.
... The foreign minister and I want to stress that Australia has no dispute with the Russian people. Indeed, today, we offer our condolences for the devastating fire that has killed scores of people in a shopping centre in a Siberian city.
This is about the actions of the Russian government. It is about our national security interests, which we will always defend. We cannot and will not stand by and watch when the sovereignty of our allies and partners is threatened and that is why we are taking the strong action today. It reflects our values as a nation. Respecting the rule of law, adhering to international conventions and rules-based order. Upholding our own sovereignty as well as supporting the sovereignty of our allies and partners.
This type of activity is one of the key reasons why we have prioritised laws to disrupt and prosecute foreign interference and covert behaviour and we call on the parliament to pass these laws once they are through the current committee process.
The brazen attack, the criminal attack in the United Kingdom, in Salisbury on 4 March, was an attack on all of us. It was an attack on the sovereignty of every nation that respects the rule of law and that is why we are taking this action today with another 23 nations around the world. We are defining this recklessness, this lawlessness from Russia and expressing in solidarity with the United Kingdom and other nations that share those values that we will not tolerate this type of reckless undermining of international law, this reckless assault on the sovereignty of nations.
Updated
Mitch Fifield has announced the government will be banning services that allow people to bet on the outcome of lotteries and keno games. From his statement:
The government has formed the view that permitting betting on these services, also known as ‘synthetic’ lotteries, undermines the longstanding community acceptance of official lottery and keno products.
These products enjoy community support as they generate an income stream for small retail businesses and make a significant contribution, through licence fees and taxation, to the provision of public services and infrastructure by state and territory governments.
Traditional lotteries and keno games are popular and longstanding recreational gambling products that form an important income stream for thousands of small businesses across Australia, including newsagents, pharmacies, pubs and community clubs. They also generate significant taxation revenue for state and territory governments, helping to fund schools, hospitals, public transport and roads.
Online services offering products that involve betting on lottery outcomes are relatively new and have generated considerable community concern. Since these concerns were first raised last year, the government has listened carefully to a range of groups that have views on the undesirability of permitting betting on these products.
Many Australians enjoy lotteries and keno as a recreational activity and the Turnbull government is committed to ensuring that gambling takes place under a robust legislative framework with strong consumer protections and within the boundaries of community standards.
The legislation will commence operation six months after passage through the parliament to ensure that those businesses currently offering online betting on lotteries and keno have an appropriate transition period within which to cease their activity.
Updated
Just on the Hanson-Abbott lovefest, Tony Abbott mentioned he was glad Australia had acted against Russia:
I think that right around the world there is this just this horror and revulsion at the idea that Putin’s death squads are stalking the streets of England.
I mean, the idea that the leader of a serious country is sending his death squads into the quiet, provincial cities of England to stalk people who he regards as his enemies is absolutely and utterly abhorrent.
But let’s remember what Pauline Hanson had to say in February last year, after the MH17 tragedy, when Russia or agents acting for the state, were accused of shooting down a passenger plane over Ukraine, which led to the death of 38 Australians:
[On MH17] You are picking out something, do you think that everything that our prime ministers have done has been in the best interests? You know everyone has done something.
I am not saying I support him [Putin] for what he has done there, but overall, as a person, who is strong and stands up for his country [I do support him].”
Updated
Malcolm Turnbull and Julie Bishop will address the media just after midday, about the decision to expel two Russian diplomats, who have been identified as undeclared intelligence officers.
When bygones are publicity, I mean bygones.
Updated
In somewhat lighter news to come out of caucus, Ed Husic has revealed on his Instagram page that Andrew Leigh, known as a marathon runner extraordinaire, succumbed to a cheat day and consumed a hot cross bun.
BREAKING: pic.twitter.com/PmOEkoDZ3t
— Amy Remeikis (@AmyRemeikis) March 27, 2018
Updated
Labor caucus has met, with Bill Shorten welcoming Ged Kearney after her win in the Batman byelection.
On the pensioner guarantee, Shorten said Labor has “always been the party who protects pensioners” and noted the Council on the Ageing had supported the policy.
He said regardless of whether the tax cut for companies earning more than $50m a year passes, the “battlelines for the next election are now drawn ... and that contest starts now”. Labor will be emphasising its greater spending on social services, including the fact it will not lift the pension age to 70.
The shadow treasurer, Chris Bowen, noted under the changes to the dividend imputation rebate policy, Labor will be protecting 25% of the people affected while still banking 94% of the revenue.
In terms of legislation:
- Labor will oppose the government bill to reduce the higher education student loan repayment threshold to $45,000 and put a lifetime limit of $104,000 on student debt
- Labor will oppose the drug testing welfare recipients bill
- Labor will support the home affairs department machinery of government changes, pending amendments recommended by the security committee. Mark Dreyfus explained this was because it believes machinery of government are a matter for the government
--
Updated
Tony Abbott just referred to politics as a “vocation” and “a calling”, which is what was reported he had been telling colleagues in the story he described as “joke journalism” yesterday. Aaron Patrick’s story was about Abbott talking to colleagues about stepping up as opposition leader if the Coalition loses the next election.
In that press conference, Pauline Hanson also compared herself to Nelson Mandela, while Abbott said he thinks the Coalition should preference One Nation at the next election and he will be pushing for that within the party.
More joke journalism from Aaron Patrick. A story that's not backed by a single on-the-record quote except from someone who said the story was untrue.
— Tony Abbott (@TonyAbbottMHR) March 26, 2018
Updated
It’s been a while since I had to type this name – but Barnaby is back.
Updated
Tony Abbott finishes with “you’re always better the second time around”.
Read into that what you will (remember he denied just yesterday a story in the AFR that said he had been talking about coming back as opposition leader after the next election).
.@TonyAbbottMHR: We have a welfare class which often needs reminding of the importance of having a go. Historically if we heeded the message of @PaulineHansonOz our country would be a better place.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) March 27, 2018
MORE: https://t.co/mkX9kJWWLh #SkyLiveNow pic.twitter.com/eVqSu9G9LV
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Tony Abbott is speaking at Pauline Hanson’s book launch – and says Hanson has always “made us face up to our problems”.
There is a lot going on in this speech, but Abbott says that if as a nation, “we had been less quick to shoot the messenger and listen to Pauline Hanson ... we’d be better off today”.
I’m just going to leave that there.
Updated
There has been a little on this this morning, but just looking again at the Financial Review’s story on the secret Business Council of Australia survey, which found most (80%) of executives surveyed would spend money saved from company tax cuts on boosting returns to shareholders, or re-investing in the company – exactly how the American experience played out.
A Bloomberg analysis released earlier this month found 60% of money saved in tax gains in the US was to go to shareholders, with just 15% flowing through to employees.
Morgan Stanley estimated just over 40% would go back to share and stock buybacks, while Capital surveyed 1000 companies and found 57% of tax savings would go to shareholders.
Updated
Paul Karp has an update on the Greens’ position on the marine park changes. After last week indicating the party may not support Labor’s disallowance motion, it looks like it has now reversed course.
breaking: Greens will be supporting Labor's disallowance on the marine parks. Says delay was to consult and environment movement is split. #auspol ping @AmyRemeikis
— Paul Karp (@Paul_Karp) March 26, 2018
Updated
A little more from that event highlighting domestic violence in central Australian communities this morning:
Emotional scenes as the Tangentyere Women’s Family Safety Group from the town camps of Alice Springs bring their message to combat family violence to Parliament #auspol @NITV pic.twitter.com/f9wLQtg9vZ
— Nakari Thorpe (@nakarithorpe) March 26, 2018
The British high commissioner to Australia has thanked the Turnbull government for expelling Russian diplomats.
Thank you @TurnbullMalcolm and @JulieBishopMP for your unwavering support. Nerve agent use on 🇬🇧 soil demands concerted diplomatic action to avoid culture of impunity and to support our collective security. Great to have 🇦🇺 and others with us. pic.twitter.com/7YQ4VOwokt
— Menna Rawlings (@MennaRawlings) March 26, 2018
Updated
For those wondering if New Zealand is going to follow suit and expel its Russian diplomats, Jacinda Ardern said she had spoken to her security agencies and NZ did not believe it had any Russian spies (I’m sorry, undeclared intelligence officers) working within its borders.
But if they found any, NZ’s prime minister said the country would expel them:
Let’s make this very clear: if we had anyone that fitted the description of the likes of what Australia and our partners have expelled, we would be expelling them too.
Updated
Just a small correction from yesterday – I said that with Ged Kearney’s inclusion, Labor can now claim its caucus is 48% women, which is the closest any party has come to gender parity. I should have said MAJOR party.
As I was reminded overnight, the Greens have reached the 50/50 number.
Hi @AmyRemeikis re: Labor having a gender balance of 48% in today’s Auspol live, before the citizenship saga the Greens were at 50/50, and in earlier years have exceeded this. 👍🏻
— Toby Pettigroove (@TobyPettigrew) March 26, 2018
Updated
United Voice are leading the “Keep Your Children at Home” day, in a bid to draw attention to just how badly paid our childcare workers are. *
And they are. Given the service they provide, the responsibility of that service and what people pay for that service, their rate of pay is outrageous.
A childcare worker, with a Certificate III, earns just over $21 a hour.
Walking off the job today is going to cause a lot of chaos for a lot of working parents, but as Bill Shorten said this morning:
I think childcare workers have a fair argument, don’t they? Their wages are disproportionately low compared to other industries and sectors. When you think about the importance of the early years of children and their education, you would think we would value our childcare workers better. I am sure [for] any childcare worker on strike today, this is a last resort. How long is this nation going to rely on childcare workers to basically subsidise our childcare system? I have a lot of sympathy for the issues they are talking about.”
* Full disclosure, two members of my family have worked in childcare in the past, so I have a personal connection to this
Updated
Former Greens senator Robert Simms is challenging senator Sarah Hanson-Young for the top spot on the party’s South Australian Senate ticket.
Simms lost a tight preselection battle for top spot with Hanson-Young before the 2 July 2016 double dissolution election and was not re-elected.
In a statement Simms said:
With high unemployment and rising inequality, SA voters are desperate for change. Our state is ripe for a progressive revolution and the Greens are the party to deliver it. This should be our time.
Refreshing our Senate ticket provides us with an opportunity to reconnect with those South Australians who may have switched off from us.
Updated
Out on the parliament grounds, there were other events occurring that deserve attention.
Tangentyere council domestic violence advocate Shirleen Campbell from central Australia was comforted by Northern Territory senator Malarndirri McCarthy after telling her story.
Campbell has travelled to Canberra with a group from central Australia to draw attention to domestic violence in regional and remote communities.
Updated
On how much Labor’s decision to carve out all pensioners from its tax imputation policy will cost, Katharine Murphy reports Labor predicts it will reduce its savings by $700m over the election forward estimates and $3.3bn in the medium term.
Updated
Tony Abbott will be launching Pauline Hanson’s new book a little later this morning.
That has raised some eyebrows, given, well, you know, she blamed him for sending her to jail that one time.
But Hanson says they have moved on and everyone else should too.
He said he was regretful of what happened in the past and I have accepted that. If I can get over it and move on, everyone else should stop. We need to work together in this place, I don’t care who you are. You get over your differences and move on, because we have to be here to make the right decisions for the people of the country.
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Australia’s decision, like all our foreign policy, has bipartisan support.
Bill Shorten said Malcolm Turnbull spoke to him about the move earlier this morning:
In regards to the expulsion of Russian agents, the prime minister briefed me this morning and I have spoken to the security agencies. I am very supportive of this measure. There is no doubt that the actions the Russians had taken ... has caused outrage and Australia is making a response to it. These are undeclared agents and so therefore it is inappropriate that they be in Australia. I’m very supportive of the actions today.
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Two Russian diplomats expelled
From the prime minister’s office:
Together with the United Kingdom and other allies and partners, Australia is taking action in response to the recent nerve agent attack in Salisbury, UK.
Two Russian diplomats identified as undeclared intelligence officers will be expelled by the Australian Government for actions inconsistent with their status, pursuant to the Vienna Conventions. The two officials will be directed to depart Australia within seven days.
This decision reflects the shocking nature of the attack – the first offensive use of chemical weapons in Europe since World War II, involving a highly lethal substance in a populated area, endangering countless other members of the community.
It takes into account advice from the UK Government that the substance used on 4 March was a military-grade nerve agent of a type developed by Russia. Such an attack cannot be tolerated by any sovereign nation. We strongly support the call on Russia to disclose the full extent of its chemical weapons program in accordance with international law.
This attack is part of a pattern of reckless and deliberate conduct by the Russian state that constitutes a growing threat to international security, global non-proliferation rules against the use of chemical weapons, the rights of other sovereign nations and the international rules-based order that underpins them.
Australia has had strong sanctions in place since 2014 in response to Russia’s threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. We also continue to support international efforts to bring to justice those responsible for the downing of MH17, and we have called out unacceptable Russian action in cyberspace. In the same way, we will vigorously back the UK’s full investigation of the nerve agent attack.
Australia remains committed to acting with its allies and partners to deter Russia’s actions where they are a threat to international security.
This is why the Government is overhauling offences for espionage, secrecy and treason, and for the first time establishing powerful new foreign interference offences in legislation currently before the Parliament.
***end statement***
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Labor confirms 'pensioner guarantee'
Bill Shorten is confirming Labor will carve out ALL pensioners from its tax imputation policy.
He is calling it Labor’s “pensioner guarantee”.
300,000 pensioners will be removed from the policy.
In the light of that we now think it is time for Turnbull to adopt the rest of our policy, which is highly targeted and ensures that we can find the necessary money in our budget going forward to properly fund our schools and hospitals, to properly ensure we can provide support for middle- and working-class Australians in terms of the tax system. Today Labor makes a good policy even better.
Chris Bowen, picking up on the buzzword of the moment – progressive – says there is now no reason for the government not to back it.
Labor’s policy will improve the budget position by $10.7bn over the forward estimates, $55.7bn over the medium term and that’s the key point, the policy integrity of the Labor announcement is very clear, 94% of the revenue created is protected even though we’re exempting around 25% of the people affected, which underlies how progressive this policy was to start with and how even more progressive it is today. Labor makes the big decisions with the courage to do so up front from opposition with plenty of time for them to be debated between now and the next election, and as Bill said, Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison have nowhere to hide.
(Sidenote, Tveeder transcribed Malcolm Turnbull as “Miao Miao” and, honestly, that is the giggle I needed this morning.)
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Stepping away from all things international intrigue for the moment, and the Australian Education Union is launching its big campaign today, wanting to draw attention to public school funding.
Principals, parents, teachers and union officials have descended on Canberra, while the AEU has released polling which shows school funding is a key issue in 18 marginal electorates.
From its statement:
Results show school funding will be a key federal election vote decider, with 83% of respondents stating that public school funding is very important or fairly important to how they will vote.
Key figures:
- 83% of voters say funding public schools is important in deciding who they will vote for in the next federal election.
- 72% of voters think federal funding for public schools is too low.
- 79% of voters think increasing public school funding is better for Australia than cutting company tax rates.
- 81% of soft voters have no confidence in Malcolm Turnbull to provide funds for public schools in the future.
- Only 24% of voters think Malcolm Turnbull is focused on ensuring public schools are in good shape.
School funding is more important to voters than cutting company tax rates, with 79% of respondents stating that increasing public school funding to the national schooling resource standard is better for Australia’s future than cutting company tax rates.
***end statement***
Meanwhile, the Catholic sector is also ramping up its own campaign against what it says are funding cuts under the Turnbull government.
Simon Birmingham has denied school funding is being cut and says the government is getting the balance right with Gonski 2.0.
There is still a loooooong way to go on this.
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It’s not the first time Australia has expelled a diplomat. In 1991 we expelled an Iraqi diplomat for “security reasons”.
And, in 1988, Australia closed the Yugoslav consulate in Sydney after a security guard was alleged to have shot and wounded a Croatian protester.
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It’s pretty safe to say that Australia is going to follow its allies in expelling Russian diplomats today, but it is not confirmed.
There are quite a few boxes to be ticked off as you expel a diplomat, so it’s not as if the government can confirm it to the media before it has met all its Vienna obligations.
Here is what Scott Morrison had to say about it this morning to Sky:
We’ll have more to say about these things later, but we obviously have shown a lot of solidarity with Great Britain over this issue and we welcome the announcements made by our allies and partners around the world on this issue, and we’ll have to say about it a little later today.
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Good morning and welcome to day 18
Australia has woken to the news the US and several European allies have followed the UK’s lead and expelled Russian diplomats. Yesterday, when this news first started popping up, Julie Bishop’s office said there was “no change from Australia’s perspective”.
But if a day is a long time in politics, it is an eternity in diplomatic terms. Australia now looks like following suit and expelling Russian diplomatics.
That’s not overly surprising – earlier this month Bishop confirmed Australia would back any move by the UK to send weapons inspectors into Russia after the near-fatal poison attack on the former KGB spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in a British village on 4 March. (The Kremlin has denied any involvement.)
“This is a situation that cannot be allowed to continue. One cannot have a permanent member of the security council, or indeed any country anywhere, any time, deploying illegal chemical weapons, and so clearly Britain is within its rights to take action, as it has done with expelling diplomats,” Bishop said.
“Russia typically retaliates. But I have been in constant communication with [UK] foreign secretary Boris Johnson and Australia is most certainly considering what other options might be available.”
Under the Vienna convention, a country can give as much notice as it wants to expel diplomats, as long as its “reasonable”. Bishop’s office is yet to confirm Australia has taken the official step of expelling its Russian diplomats, but overnight 19 countries, included the US, announced it had expelled Russian intelligence officers operating under diplomatic cover.
In solidarity with the UK over #SalisburyAttack Lithuania has undertaken decision to: expel 3 Russian intelligence officers operating under diplomatic cover; sanction additional 21 individuals under the Lithuanian Magnitsky Act; ban 23 more from the entrance to LT. @BorisJohnson
— Linas Linkevicius (@LinkeviciusL) March 26, 2018
We’ll bring you more on that as it comes to hand.
On domestic matters, it is still all tax, tax, tax, as the government inches closer to wooing Tim Storer and Derryn Hinch to its side of the chamber vote for the company tax cuts, while dozens of business leaders head to Canberra to help sell the policy.
That comes as the Australian Financial Review published this story:
Fewer than one in five of Australia’s leading chief executives say they will use the Turnbull government’s proposed company tax cut to directly increase wages or employ more staff, according to a secret survey conducted by the Business Council of Australia.
More than 80 per cent said they would either use the proceeds to boost returns to shareholders or invest in the company.
The explosive revelation comes as the government is still struggling to secure the final two Senate votes needed to pass the remainder of the $65 billion package.
Which is only going to fuel Labor’s attack.
Mike Bowers is out and about – follow along with him at @mikepbowers and @mpbowers. You’ll also find both Mike and me on Instagram at @pyjamapolitics, where you can see behind the scenes of our day.
You’ll find me at @amyremeikis or in the comments.
I hope you have your coffee – we are all going to need it today!
Ready? Let’s gets started.
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