On that note, we are going to wrap the blog up. We’ll be back at sparrow’s tomorrow, because there is nothing I like better than getting up in the pitch black and freezing Canberra mornings to talk politics all day with you. (Actually, I do enjoy the last part of that sentence, but this winter can go jump in the lake)
Tomorrow is the official opening of the parliament, with more pomp and ceremony than you can poke a mace at. So not a lot of actual parliamenting going on. By Wednesday, we’ll start getting back into the swing of things, but the actual work won’t begin until Thursday.
No doubt tax will be all the rage, because we are right back in 2016. At least we’ll have the new Despacito to look forward to.
A massive thank you to the Guardian brains trust and to Mike Bowers. And of course, to you. You make it bearable. If I didn’t get back to your question, DM or tweet me with it.
We’ll see you tomorrow morning. In the meantime - take care of you.
Josh Frydenberg has called a presser for 5.15.
I do not need to call on my ancestors to guess it is about tax.
This whole week, despite there only being one real sitting day, is about tax.
After that? I don’t know. Stuff. LOTS AND LOTS OF STUFF.
Updated
Back to Afternoon Briefing, Simon Birmingham was asked about the inquiry Rex Patrick wants to establish, looking at former ministers who have gone on to lobby on behalf of the industry they were formerly a minister for.
PK: Senator Rex Patrick says there are the numbers for a parliamentary inquiry into Senator Christopher Pyne’s consultancy with EY. He even has the support of Cory Bernardi.
SB: I don’t know whose support Rex has. Christopher doesn’t believe in any way he is breaching those [rules]. He is not engaging in lobbying activities or engagement with government at all in relation to defence matters, that he is not going to be providing or revealing information that was gleaned in secret or in confidence in his activities as a minister, that he will simply be undertaking advisory work that is based off all the range of things in the public domain. That’s what Christopher has said. He has also indicated that EY understand that and that the limits of the code of conduct and they have strict probity positions in place. All those questions Rex has been raising have been answered by those clarifications.
PK: Wouldn’t making ministerial codes enforcement fix this?
SB: Christopher Pyne is no longer a member of the government. We have clear standards there. He is indicating he is working within those standards under the terms of the employment.
PK: Would you have taken this job?
SB: Would I have taken the job?
PK: Yes.
SB: I don’t – I mean, I don’t know all the terms of the job. It is a very hypothetical question. Happily for me I am still in the parliament and member of the leadership team.
PK: It is a question about ethics. Do you think it’s an ethical decision?
SB: I think if the job Christopher has taken is as he has described it to be, I have no reason to doubt his word. EY and he have discussed the boundaries of the work he can do, the probity requirements, it sounds like he has undertaken all the necessary precautions to ensure he continues to work within the code, notwithstanding the fact he is no longer a member of the government or the parliament.
Updated
On the religious freedom inquiry, Anthony Albanese told the caucus that it was “important to respect different views” and the party would consult widely on the matter.
On press freedom, Labor will support a joint select committee, if the government doesn’t act.
On John Setka, Albanese said “no individual is more important than the movement”.
And on leaks, Albanese told the room that they were not helpful, that discussion was fine ahead of a party decision, but once made the party should speak with a single voice.
Updated
Those caucus updates, by the way, are not leaks. I’ve mentioned this a few times before, but for those who have missed it – in one of the weirder Canberra traditions, following both a party room meeting and a caucus meeting, an official briefing is held.
But it is all on background. It’s a very basic rundown of the minutes. Names are not mentioned (outside of the leaders) and the occasional quote the party wants out is jotted down and delivered.
It’s weird, given that it is off the record, but on the record and very, very Canberra.
Updated
Also spoken about in the caucus meeting:
On tax, Anthony Albanese told the caucus:
“The government is trying to change the country, what they are trying to do with stage 3 is an attempt to permanently reduce the amount of help the government is able to give to people.”
One MP said the tax debate was overshadowing debate on other issues like penalty rates.
Labor has reaffirmed its support for medevac. It has also reaffirmed its opposition to the Ensuring Integrity bill.
Updated
Back on the tax cuts, Joel Fitzgibbon maintained his earlier position that he did not believe it fair for Labor to stand in the way of needed tax cuts – but he was holding fire on stage three:
JF: Well, we haven’t made a decision about whether we’ll vote it down. What I’m saying, what is wise for us is to reflect the views of the people we represent and, indeed, the people who we don’t necessarily represent, who would look at stage three and ask … whether it’s economically responsible at a time when, on this government’s watch, the economy is in trouble. They’re asking themselves whether it’s fair and [has] distribution-able impacts – in other words, are they concerned about too much of the money going to higher-income earners and whether, indeed, there are going to be cuts in other areas or the government is going to give up on its efforts to bring the budget back to surplus. Very reasonable questions.
PK: You just said, though, you haven’t made a decision on whether you will vote stage three down. Do you think it is wise to vote stage three down?
JF: I stand by what I said earlier in the interview and what I’ve said in earlier interviews as well. I think it’s unwise for political parties to get between a taxpayer and a tax cut but that’s exactly what the government is doing by knocking back what is a very reasonable and responsible position on our part.
PK: Do you think personally think stage three is unfair?
JF: I will deal with stage three as a member of the shadow cabinet. I think the government is under a lot of pressure here. The crossbench in the Senate is wavering, the government is getting very nervous. This presents us with a good opportunity to make the tax cut proposition better.
PK: Do you think personally stage three is unfair?
JF: I’m not going to talk about stage three until we know whether we will have that debate. I’m a member of the shadow cabinet and the shadow cabinet will take a position on that and I will, of course, support and abide by the shadow cabinet’s position.
Updated
Joel Fitzgibbon was talking to Patricia Karvelas when news of the caucus discussions started filtering out. Asked about leaking, Fitzgibbon had this to say:
“He [Albanese] reminded people we have a quality team, and if we can maintain strong unity, we will be a strong force at the next election.”
PK: Did he make a point about the leak?
JF: He emphasised the fact that it is important, when the party makes a decision we stick together on that decision and unity is a path to an election win in three years’ time.
PK: Do you worry there has been some leaking?
JF: Of course, there has been some leaking. That’s a matter of fact. When you get leaks from the senior ranks of the party, that is unhelpful to the party and its prospects. Like Anthony, I discourage people from leaking. I encourage people to back the collective decision. That’s the best way forward. Of course, unity also gives us the best prospects of success at the next election.
PK: Why are we seeing this? You can say, ‘Don’t do it’ but you have to get to the heart of why it’s happening. Why are we seeing this leaking?
JF: I can’t provide for you what’s going on in the minds of people who have chosen to share information but we have gone through a very difficult period. Maybe for some people, this is a way of dealing with that pain, but look, I’m confident that we will remain a united team, we’ve been a united team for six years, we’ll continue to be a united team and I believe we’ll be a very powerful force at the next election.
PK: It’s interesting you say that because some Labor MPs have told me unity got them nowhere. They were unified under Bill Shorten and look at the result. What do you say to those MPs?
JF: If any Labor MP is telling you that, you can count them on one hand. I suggest to you they lack experience because disunity is death, unity is strength and it’s unity or a path of unity which will take us to success at the next election.
PK: I’m not saying you are a leaker but you did say people should be free to speak more freely – how does that fit into the unity message?
JF: There are certain phases along the conversation to an eventual party decision and the point I was making is that people shouldn’t be locked into positions earlier and, indeed, before a formal position is taken, people should feel freer to express their view, particularly in their electorates. I’m a firm believer that once the party has taken a united position, a collective decision, people should be out there arguing for that position.
Updated
Over in the caucus meeting, Anthony Albanese has spoken to his colleagues about leaks to the media. He’s not impressed with those leaks, and has told the party to pull together.
Labor is also looking at supporting an inquiry into religious freedoms.
Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese will be standing together for the first time since the election, at the traditional Last Post ceremony at the war memorial, ahead of the parliamentary year.
Linda Reynolds, as defence minister, will also be there.
Joel Fitzgibbon is on Afternoon Briefing. He’s talking about Labor’s position on the tax package and whether or not it will support the whole package if the parliament votes down its amendments.
They are the government. They have a proposition before the parliament, a package of tax cuts.
Are they prepared to deal with the tax cuts that come into effect immediately or through the course of the next three years or do they want to hold the parliament hostage and say we can’t get all of our tax propositions through – people are pretty quick to come to the Labor party.
The only reason our position matters so much is that the government has been unable to persuade the Senate crossbench of the merits of its tax proposal, particularly stage three.
I think the onus is on the government. I think the pressure is on the government.
They’ve already missed their deadline on their promise to deliver tax cuts on 1 July.
This coming Sunday, something like 700,000 Australians will be earning less for their Sunday work than they did last Sunday. They are under enormous pressure.
We are giving them an opportunity to deliver on the tax cuts that are in the near term and it is absolutely reasonable for us to ask for more time to assess/research the impact of these largest tax cuts, which are effectively on the never-never, at a time when, of course, the economy is in trouble. And we want to know, if the economy continues to deteriorate and they are going to proceed with stage three, how will they be paid for and what other government services, what other government infrastructure, will have to be cut to pay for them?
Updated
Looks like Screentime’s TV pitch with Julie Bishop is done and dusted - Garrick is one of the producers with Screentime
So you quietly suggest to an exec at a TV network that a show built around someone genuinely clever could be good to make, and they leak the entire pitch. Classy industry this one.
— Andrew Garrick (@ajgarrick) July 1, 2019
For everyone's clarity: we went to @HonJulieBishop, she wasn't on board yet. https://t.co/MAJG6C48Jg
For anyone who is yet to read Niki Savva’s book, Katharine Murphy has condensed down the five big reveals:
Dutton's keystone cops and Morrison's prayer: five key moments from Niki Savva's book https://t.co/C5u0rRKId3
— Guardian Australia (@GuardianAus) July 1, 2019
And if the government says all or nothing, and the amendments fail?
Look, we’re going to put all of our effort into our amendments. If those amendments are unsuccessful, then we will consider our options at that point.
So, if the amendments fail, Labor may consider passing the whole package.
Updated
Jim Chalmers continues:
If the government votes against our amendments tomorrow night, they will be voting against every Australian worker getting a tax cut this term.
If the government votes against our amendments, they will be saying that tax cuts in five years’ time are more important than tax cuts which could start this week. The government should stop holding tax cuts this week hostage to tax cuts which wouldn’t come in until 2024-25.
It’s long past time for the government to take responsibility for this floundering economy, stop trying to shift the blame and point the finger and obsess over Labor, to take responsibility, to do something about this floundering economy – a good place to start would be supporting amendments which would give every Australian taxpayer, every Australian worker, a tax cut this term.
The only proposal which is on the table right now, from any of the parties, which would give every Australian worker a tax cut this term, is Labor’s.
The Liberals are proposing tax cuts on the never-never. If we want to get serious about boosting this floundering economy, we need to do something about it, and Labor is proposing a constructive way forward.
Updated
Labor says no to stage three of government tax plan – for now
Jim Chalmers has emerged from the Labor caucus meeting - on stage three of the tax plan, Labor says no.
We don’t think it’s responsible to sign up to Stage 3 of the tax cuts which cost $95 billion and don’t come in for another five years. The economy is stalling on this government’s watch.
This is a third-term government in its sixth year. Economic growth has slowed substantially. Wages are stagnant. Consumption is weak. Consumer confidence is weak. The economy is floundering. And Middle Australia is struggling. And this government just wants to pretend that there’s nothing wrong. This government just wants to pretend there’s nothing wrong and to promise more of the same.
More of the same cuts to penalty rates. More of the same tax cuts and infrastructure spending on the never-never. Well, Labor wants to give a boost to the economy right now.
The economy desperately needs a shot in the arm. And Labor is proposing a way to get more tax cuts into the hands of more workers, and flowing into the economy sooner than what the government is proposing.
So what the shadow cabinet and then the caucus have agreed today is to support Stages 1 and 2 of the government’s tax package, but also to move amendments in the House, and then in the Senate, to bring forward part of Stage 2, and also to take Stage 3 out of the bills that are before the parliament.
So the decision taken by shadow cabinet and by the caucus today is to move those amendments which give effect to our priorities, which are to give the economy a boost now - and it desperately needs it - to give every Australian worker a tax cut this term, and to hold off on committing $95 billion five years down the track.
The Indigenous Advancement Strategy has a new name – but that’s about all that has changed.
From Ken Wyatt’s office:
The National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) was officially established today as an Executive Agency under the Prime Minister’s portfolio, marking a new era of co-design and partnership.
Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP said the new agency represented a fundamental change in the way of doing business with Indigenous Australians by forming partnerships with Indigenous Australians at all levels, from children in remote communities to peak national organisations.
“Establishing this agency solely dedicated to the advancement of Australia’s First Nations is a significant opportunity for the Government to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on the ground to provide opportunities for growth and advancement, in education, employment, suicide prevention, community safety, health and constitutional recognition.” Minister Wyatt said.
“Over my life I have seen progress made but there is still more to do to find solutions and make a difference at the community level.
“The NIAA will play a critical role in supporting me, as the first Indigenous Cabinet Minister and Minister for Indigenous Australians, to meet the changing needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their leaders and communities” Minister Wyatt said.
“All of us must work together with State and Territory Governments to bring about change and close the gap in Indigenous communities.”
Minister Wyatt also announced that the inaugural Chief Executive Officer will be Mr Ray Griggs AO, CSC whose entire career has been in service to Australia and its peoples.
*ends*
For those wondering, Griggs is not indigenous.
Meanwhile
The Government's high-end tax cuts (Stage 3) would cost more than Commonwealth funding for pharmaceutical benefits, universities, public schools, or unemployment payments. ACOSS Media Release: https://t.co/muK0qCv2uq #auspol #SplitTheBill #SaveOurServices
— ACOSS (@ACOSS) July 1, 2019
I know you all enjoy 2GB news. So you might enjoy learning that this petition not only exists, but Chris Smith is sending it out to people to sign, himself.
It’s the small things, really.
Updated
The Labor caucus meeting is just about over – Jim Chalmers will be holding a press conference at 3.40.
Updated
Expect this to be a recurring theme throughout this parliament
This will have biggest impact on people who are struggling as it is to get by - young people who are studying and have to work weekends, single parents and young families, older Australians and disabled people. Previous penalty rate cut failed to create a single new job #Auspol https://t.co/Z3TSczI8TP
— Senator Jordon Steele-John 🧻💧 (@Jordonsteele) July 1, 2019
And for those who missed it yesterday:
This looks like a nice start to your Senate inquiry submission which will, no doubt, compliment your Committee appearance. You and @EY_Australia will also be able to provide evidence detailing the “rigorous processes and procedures” you referred to in your statement #auspol https://t.co/OdEgf7UGGV
— Rex Patrick (@Senator_Patrick) June 30, 2019
Looks like that probe into Christopher Pyne’s new appointment is happening:
Former Defence Minister Christopher Pyne is facing a Senate inquiry into his new consultancy gig, with his nemesis Cory Bernardi tipped to back the probe.
— 𝕤𝕒𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕒 𝕞𝕒𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕟 (@samanthamaiden) July 1, 2019
Centre Alliance Rex Patrick told The New Daily he believed he had the numbers https://t.co/KE8IFZJMQN
Not Australian politics, but a welcome lol anyway - if you haven’t seen the #unwantedIvanka stream on Twitter as yet, you should check it out.
That of course follows the *awkward* interaction the First Daughter had with world leaders at the G20.
#unwantedivanka is quite funny https://t.co/73JSQ47M2W
— Bonnie Malkin (@bonniemalkin) June 30, 2019
The start of the new financial year brings in a whole heap of changes – including for those forced on to the cashless debit card. From Rachel Siewart’s office:
“Unfortunately, the concerns I raised regarding the exemption process back in April have come to pass and there are a lot of people who are very frustrated right now,” Australian Greens spokesperson on Family and Community Services Senator Rachel Siewert said.
“Not only did the ALP collude with the Government to gag debate and rush the punitive Cashless Debit Card extension through the Senate in April, they gave false hopes to communities that they would make it easier to exit the program.
“As feared, the Government has not provided a clear process or criteria for exiting the Cashless Debit Card if you can demonstrate ‘reasonable and responsible management of financial affairs’.
“There are no timelines, no criteria, no transparency, apparently no appointments or forms to fill in, it sounds like the Government is operating on a wing and a prayer.
“People from around the country have been expressing hope that July 1 would be the date that they have the opportunity to get off this punitive card that is causing people on low incomes such hardship and once again they have been let down.
“People on low incomes are some of the best managers of money in the community, because every single dollar counts and this card just makes their life harder.
“Income management is a failed measure – it failed to address disadvantage in the NT and it’s failing now.
“This is bad policy which is why the ALP ganged up with the Government to gag debate and the Senate didn’t get a chance to debate this bill and scrutinise the exemption process.”
Updated
Dropped in to visit @zalisteggall in Parliament House in my old office. What a great asset she will be to the Australian Parliament! #auspol pic.twitter.com/JdU6zd5E7X
— 💧Prof Kerryn Phelps AM (@drkerrynphelps) July 1, 2019
ICYMI the Australian has reported on Julie Bishop’s (possible) next move – a walking conversation show, with global celebrities.
The Conversation with Julie Bishop would see the former foreign affairs minister walking the streets of the guest’s choice, having a chat. Here is what the Oz had to say about it:
The ambitious and expensive format of Bishop’s proposed show has been a source of amusement among penny-pinching network executives. Bishop’s proposal for ‘a dozen mobile cameras’ to film walking and talking interviews between ‘two great minds’ in exotic locations around the world would certainly not come cheap.
‘Host Julie Bishop, accustomed to disarming the most tricky of personalities, invites guests on lengthy ambling interviews filmed on the streets of a city of the guest’s choice, in full view of passers-by,’ the pitch documents say.
‘This is pure conversation. Two great minds. No tricks. The strength of the show comes from the universal truth that we talk more deeply and naturally on the move … we take the powerful players out to the street where it all began.
‘Where ideas can be shared in the cold light of day. The hustle and bustle of the world are invited into the conversation – what happens when a member of the public interrupts the interview to share their admiration for the guest?
Updated
Kerryn Phelps is in the building (at least it looked like the former Wentworth MP) and my spies tell me Penny Wong has popped in to see Jacqui Lambie.
The 46th parliament may not have officially begun, but it is absolutely under way.
Updated
Japan will re-start commercial whaling after three decades.
Peter Whish-Wilson wants Australia to push back:
Having just hosted the G20 to discuss leadership on the big issues, Japan is flagrantly flouting international laws and conventions by walking away from the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and resuming commercial whaling, despite significant opposition and outrage.
There is no need to hunt, kill and eat whales in this day and age. It is a cruel and barbaric process that is not supported by a commercially viable or sustainable industry.
Whales are critical to the health of our oceans, and we need to continue to protect them from the many pressures they face such as pollution and overfishing.
Many whale species have been brought back from the brink of extinction thanks to the IWC and a moratorium on commercial whaling.
Australia showed leadership in the establishment and ongoing global movement to protect cetaceans, and must continue to do so.
The Greens call on the Morrison government to condemn this development in the strongest possible terms.
Now Japan has joined Norway, Iceland and other rogue nations in breaking away from the IWC, the international community must be vigilant in upholding the legitimacy of the IWC and its noble traditions and intentions.
There is a real risk that a new federation of whaling nations, led by a wealthy and influential country like Japan, might undermine the legitimacy of the IWC by establishing a parallel pro-whaling commission. This would set back marine conservation a century, and set a terrible precedent in a time of extinction crisis.
Updated
For those who missed it
My guest tonight is the Prime Minister @ScottMorrisonMP #abc730
— Leigh Sales (@leighsales) July 1, 2019
On medevac, Tony Burke had this to say:
“What Kristina [Keneally] has said, and I certainly hold to, which is the government has made no case at all as to why these laws should be scrapped. Not only that, the example of Peter Dutton as the boy who cried wolf, the exaggerations that we’ve seen, the reopening of Christmas Island, being told that this was going to open the floodgates – all their tales of woe have not materialised. We’ve got a law in place that says if someone in our care isn’t well they need to get medical attention.”
Jacqui Lambie is the swing vote here. Expect a lot of lobbying from both sides.
Updated
To the person who just asked me in the DMs how many coffees I actually drink a day (I guess it really is ask us anything), the answer is – depends on the day.
Usually three. Sometimes six. I worked in hospitality for years and years and it doesn’t keep me awake at night. I also drink about 10 cups of tea. OK. Back to politics.
Updated
Labor is backing Rex Patrick’s call for an inquiry into the compliance of former ministers who move into the private sector, with the code of conduct.
Penny Wong had this to say about it this morning:
I’m not doing the prime minister’s job for him. He has said to the Australian people, as the prime minister of the country, these are the standards of behaviour that I expect of ministers. All ministers agree to accept those standards and there are two aspects to these standards which are relevant. One is that you’re not supposed to work in an 18-month period as a lobbyist or advocate or have business meetings with members of the government. But the second is you are not allowed to use knowledge that you have gained as a minister for that period of time in your work where that knowledge is not available to the general public.
Now I think it is pretty difficult to understand how it is that Mr Pyne could have a job advising on Defence when he’s only utilising knowledge that’s available to members of the general public. Members of the general public haven’t got this position.
Caucus is meeting in about 45 minutes, so it will be one of the issues to be discussed there.
For the record, Mathias Cormann was also asked about it this morning, also on ABC radio, and he had this to say about whether or not his former colleague was following the standards set down for former ministers:
I am advised that is precisely what Christopher Pyne is doing,” he said.
Wong has asked him to release the advice. Don’t hold your breath on that one.
Updated
Tony Burke had a bit to say about how much the government has to say about Labor:
Can I say the fact that the government spend more time talking about the Labor party than they spend talking about the Australian people reflects on them. It reflects on the government. We’ve got the treasurer today who’s got an article in one of the newspapers where there are, almost every paragraph, like the majority of paragraphs, refer to the Labor party.
Now at some point they need to recognise the fact that they’re meant to be governing for the Australian people. The partisan battle is part of what politics involves. It’s part of what this building will always involve. But it shouldn’t be the only thing that a government does.
So I’m not in control of what Scott Morrison will do. I know he’s spent five weeks during the election campaign being happy so I suspect now he’ll revert back to his comfortable place of anger, and that’s what we’ll see once we get into the rhythm of question time again.
But yes, they’ll talk about the Labor party. That’s what they’ll do. We’ll defend the Australian people and we’ll be an opposition that’s committed to that.
Updated
From AAP:
PRIORITIES FOR NEW GOVERNOR-GENERAL DAVID HURLEY
* Engagement with communities
“Highlight to Australians their inherent strengths, their concern for the common good, their humanity and decency and the desire for a fair go.”
* Supporting organisations which help veterans, rural communities and asylum seekers.
“There are countless organisations and people demonstrating how rich this country is every day.”
* Support for indigenous Australians, making Aurukun in Queensland his first official trip.
“Helping young indigenous men and women develop skills in their community, to go on to broader commitments to our country, is such an important thing.”
* Protecting democracy
“The strength of this country is our democracy which brings stability, peace and certainty to all of us. That is worth protecting.”
John Setka given extra 10 days to fight expulsion from Labor party
And yes, John Setka has been given another 10 days’ reprieve regarding his Labor party membership. Anthony Albanese had this to say about it a little earlier:
He wrote to the national secretary of the party on Friday asking for additional time to consider his case. Some might say there is some – I’ll leave it up to others to add some colour but the fact that he was tied up in dealing with the matters that were before the courts last week, he says that he hasn’t had enough time to prepare his submission to the ALP National Executive. I don’t want to get tied up in any technicalities with regard to this. So the National Executive committee have agreed to give Mr Setka extra time in terms of preparing his case and argument before the National Executive.
So National Executive will now meet. Again, we’ll have an ordinary meeting this Friday July the 5th. We will give Mr Setka an extra ten days to prepare his submission so we’ll have a separate meeting by teleconference as provided for under the ALP rules on July the 15th.
It is a fact that Mr Setka of course pleaded guilty to very serious charges of harassment. It’s also a fact that his wife Emma Walters identified herself as the victim of that harassment that included 45 text messages which were of a nature that clearly, clearly put, I think, Mr Setka outside what the principles and values that Labor holds with regard to issues of domestic violence. With regard to his own assistant secretary, Shaun Reardon has resigned from the position of assistant secretary of the Victorian branch because his values, he has said, would be breached were he to stay in that position while Mr Setka remains as secretary.
If Mr Setka was a rugby league player he would have been kicked out of his club over the revelations that have been made. He will be kicked out of the Australian Labor party because, quite frankly, his ongoing activities, statements and behaviour are not consistent with the membership values of the Australian Labor party.
So that will occur on July the 15th but he’ll be given every opportunity to put his argument before the party, as is appropriate. But I’m very confident that the National Executive will agree with me that these values aren’t consistent with his remaining membership of the Australian Labor party.
Updated
For those asking about an Indigenous governor general, I think that so far the only Indigenous governor Australia has had was Sir Douglas Nicholls, who was appointed the governor of South Australia in 1976.
Updated
On the question of Joe Hockey’s attendance at the G20 – it is not uncommon for ambassadors to attend bilateral meetings, particularly if they are the ones who have the relationship.
As for the travel, all of that is done through the departmental and embassy rules. Helloworld’s contract was recently extended by the federal government for another two years.
Updated
David Hurley then thanked those for their welcome:
When I was sworn in as governor of New South Wales, the then premier, Mike Baird, made a comment in his speech that governors go to places that very few people in the country go to. I didn’t quite comprehend that at the time.
But after the last 4.5 years, we have been invited into so many lives across our country, across the state.
It’s just astounding. And I know we’ll have exactly the same experience across Australia. I’m in a difficult situation because over the last 4.5 years I said New South Wales is the best state in Australia and I would not tolerate any pushback on that.
This is going to test me and my integrity, particularly with State of Origin coming up.
But, again, I know what I saw and experienced that both of us saw and experienced in New South Wales, we will see writ large across our country.
We are good people. Well-intentioned. Difficult issues to be faced, but I think with a good heart.
So I look forward to being part of that. I look forward to being with Linda being able to make a contribution that I hope builds people, builds communities and points to a bright future.
We have with us today the youngsters from the Conservatorium high school who will sing for us in a moment. Linda was their patron over the last 4.5 years. A fine example of just look at the faces.
This country and the many eyes that look down on us there, and we’re in good hands.
One of the important jobs, of course, most important, is to ensure that the strength of our democracy is maintained.
This is a position, this appointment, is critical to that. Of course it’s apolitical. Of course you must be diligent in our performance of your duties. But at all times to stress to people that the strength of this country is our democracy which brings stability, peace and certainty to all of us.
That is worth protecting. That shapes us. So to make our democracy work, to serve the people, to act as they expect us to act, and put their interests and those of the nation first, that’s what we’re called to do in service.
That’s what I’m called to do with this appointment. That’s what Linda and I will give our utmost to do. Thank you for coming here today. This is obviously - how would you describe a day like today?! Very nervous this morning.
Settling down a bit now. But to be surrounded by family, friends and faces here I have known here for many, many years, we do thank you for coming. We do thank you for celebrating what this day means to our country, not about the person, but about the position and what the position offers. An important day in our history for that reason alone and thank you for sharing it with us.
Updated
Anthony Albanese was next:
This is a great honour which has been bestowed upon a great Australian and can say – you have begun extremely well. A very brave decision to begin in the Ngunnawal language which Tina indicated was done extremely well. So congratulations to you and on your first speech as governor general in accepting this great honour.
You have, of course, served this nation with distinction for a long period of time. In particular, as head of the defence force and over four decades of service.
You have served the great state of New South Wales with distinction as its governor. And we have absolute confidence that you’ll serve this nation with distinction as our governor general.
Can I congratulate the government on the choice of governor general – one that was accepted very much across the political spectrum. It must be said that you do have big shoes to fill.
Sir Peter Cosgrove is one of the most outstanding Australians of recent decades. Time after time when this nation called upon Sir Peter to serve, he responded – on battlefields, when rebuilding after natural disasters or when exercising the important roles and responsibilities of the office that you now assume.
So we wish Sir Peter and Lady Cosgrove well into the future and we thank him and Lady Cosgrove for their service.
The Office of Governor General plays a critical role in our system of government. It is not just about the formal constitutional role important as that is, it’s also about the role that the governor general plays in providing leadership, support and, indeed, inspiration to our community.
We have faith that you will occupy this office for all Australians and exercise its powers in a way that unites and strengthens our nation. Sir Peter also delivered on these with good grace, good judgement and warmth. We know you’ll be more than worthy of his example.
When you took the first RAR into Badowa in 1993, the defence force hasn’t deployed a battalion overseas since the Vietnam War.
Operation Solace achieved is mission and you and the Australians under your command won international renown.
And as chief of army and then chief of defence force, your leadership was authentic and ethical in a period with a complex a cultural challenge and as intense an operational environment as any since Vietnam. And Mrs Hurley, your profession of education and passion for music is already legendary and it will grace the office with distinction too.
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Scott Morrison has officially welcomed David Hurley:
When Sir Paul Hasluck became governor general 50 years ago, he noticed the school children who came to visit Government House and wrote him letters asked him a very consistent question and they would say, “What does the governor general do?”
It’s something we know as parliamentarians that school children ask similar questions when we meet them here in the building.
And it’s an important question. There’s an important answer. The answer is central to the stability of our system of democratic government.
The Office of Governor General has provided the stability in spite of politics for more than a century.
But the role goes beyond constitutional as his excellency indicated today in his own remarks.
Years later, Sir Zelman Cowen answered that question when he said – the governor general interprets it is nation to itself and his excellency I think has started in such excellent fashion today in putting that very much at the forefront of his term.
The governor general finds the good in this country and shines a light on it. In a global age of fragmentation and tribalism, we have in our system a constitutional office beyond politics that enables us all to come together.
The joy of this role is who you meet every single day. Farmers getting on with their lives providing for their families and their communities despite crippling drought. Veterans recovering from their wounds that are seen and unseen. Teachers who work back late to give kids the best possible start in life.
Those who care for our local environment and their communities, planting trees, picking up rubbish, keeping faith with our stewardship of the land. Researchers making the breakthroughs that not only we need as Australians, but the world needs.
Brave heroes who will tell you they are not heroes. Selfless community workers who can’t see their selflessness and to all those people enduring the moments and tragedy and triumph, they embody all of us.
Our governor general – not just on tarmacs or daises such as this or platforms, but in classrooms, hospital wards and on drought-stricken farms, more than any role in public life the job of governor general is to bring Australians together, to remind us all of our social fabric and to uplift the discouraged and to give hope.
To do that, you need to be a person of extraordinary character and in our retiring governor general and Lady Cosgrove, we had two such people, and with his excellency today and also with Mrs Hurley, we have been able to find two such people.
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Tina Brown has delivered the official welcome to country:
In 1998, there were very many Indigenous people and our supporters from around Australia protesting at the opening of Parliament House.
Back then, even Her Majesty, the Queen, encountered both cheers and jeers during the opening. To those today the celebration is a different matter.
We celebrate this anniversary together. In contrast to the reception Her Majesty received, I, on behalf of the Ngunnawal, have been asked to conduct a traditional welcome and it is I who have the pleasure of acknowledging and welcome the Queen’s representative and our very own governor general, his excellency David Hurley. And also the honourable Scott Morrison, prime minister of Australia.
I also acknowledge our other distinguished guests that are here with us today. Many of you will know that Canberra is a local word meaning meeting place.
Our oral stories and signs tell us we have been meeting on this land for 25,000 years, or more than 1,000 generations of my family.
What a contrast to a such a modern democracy evolving on this ancient land. Our people have been able to maintain our long connection to the area because the country provided fresh air to breathe, clean water to drink, nourishing food to eat, and clothing and shelter, to keep us warm for our bitterly cold winters.
It is on this once exacting land as extreme cold of the last ice age was easing that my ancestors fought their resilience and grew their knowledge of country and handed it off to those of us who followed the legacy of our ancestral beings and our creation stories and our responsibility for future of our people and country.
They form pathways across this land to guide us, these pathways developed as our ancestors followed the river and creek corridors and ridges and spurs on the hills and mountains, linking our major spiritual and gathering places.
Canberra itself – some of its modern roads and tracks – evolved from these ancient paths.
The responsibility for the future of our people and our country now rests with all of us, which is why I’m here today conducting this Welcome To Country. I am, too, playing a role in forging our modern Australia based on the best our ancestors and ancient continuous connection can bring to this evolving democratic nation. So on behalf of my extended family, and the elders of my people, and in recognition of all who have gone before me, I welcome you to the ancestral lands of the Ngunnawal.
I welcome my Indigenous sisters and brothers, and all of our legacy tens of thousands of years in the making, I welcome our fellow Australians and the mingling of the dust of the bones of my ancestors and the dust of the bones of your ancestors for this now shape it is land uniting us all as custodians of the future for Australia. Welcome to the beautiful lands of the Ngunnawal, thank you.
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And this what was said in Hamburg in 2017
We will work with the private sector, in particular communication service providers and administrators of relevant applications, to fight exploitation of the internet and social media for terrorist purposes such as propaganda, funding and planning of terrorist acts, inciting terrorism, radicalizing and recruiting to commit acts of terrorism, while fully respecting human rights. Appropriate filtering, detecting and removing of content that incites terrorist acts is crucial in this respect.
We encourage industry to continue investing in technology and human capital to aid in the detection as well as swift and permanent removal of terrorist content. In line with the expectations of our peoples we also encourage collaboration with industry to provide lawful and non-arbitrary access to available information where access is necessary for the protection of national security against terrorist threats.
We affirm that the rule of law applies online as well as it does offline. We also stress the important role of the media, civil society, religious groups, the business community and educational institutions in fostering an environment which is conducive to the prevention of radicalisation and terrorism.
Our counter terrorism actions must continue to be part of a comprehensive approach based on addressing the conditions conducive to terrorism as stipulated in UN Security Council Resolution 2178, countering violent extremism, combatting radicalization and recruitment, hampering terrorist movements, countering terrorist propaganda and to prevent terrorists from exploiting technology, communications and resources to incite terrorist acts, including through the internet.
The direct or indirect encouragement of terrorism, the incitement of terrorist acts and glorification of violence must be prevented. We recognize the need at all levels to work proactively to prevent violent extremism and support civil society in engaging youth and promoting inclusion of all members of society.
The big win for Australia out of the G20 was the crackdown on social media companies.
But let’s watch that space. Because this is what the G20 said following Japan:
The internet must not be a safe haven for terrorists to recruit, incite or prepare terrorist acts.
We urge online platforms to meet our citizens’ expectations that they must not allow use of their platforms to facilitate terrorism and [violent extremism conducive to terrorism].
Platforms have an important responsibility to protect their users. The complexity of the challenge – and increasing sophistication of the criminals who would misuse the internet – does not lessen the importance of platforms mitigating the proliferation of terrorist and VECT content, which harms society, via their platforms.
Where terrorist content is uploaded or livestreamed, we underline the importance of online platforms addressing it, in a timely manner, to prevent proliferation, while ensuring that documentary evidence is preserved. We welcome online platforms’ commitment to provide regular and transparent public reporting, as set out in their policies and procedures.
But we went back to see what else they have said on this issue, previously ...
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There was a lot of news which came out of the Group of 20 meeting in Japan (and then after it, with Donald Trump’s trip over the border to North Korea).
But among the proclamations at the G20 was a statement to do better to protect whistleblowers:
The effective protection of whistleblowers and handling of protected disclosures are central to promoting integrity and preventing corruption.
Whistleblowers can play a significant role in revealing information that would otherwise go undetected, leading to improvements in the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of corruption.
The risk of corruption is heightened in environments where reporting is not facilitated and protected. The need for effective protection of whistleblowers is already recognised in international and regional instruments.
However, implementation of these standards varies significantly across jurisdictions. In addition, some jurisdictions have legislated to protect whistleblowers but many have little or no form of protection.
The resulting fragmented approach leads to a lack of predictability and a general misunderstanding about the scope and purpose underlying protection regimes, ultimately discouraging disclosures by whistleblowers and impairing the effective enforcement of anti-corruption laws in G20 countries.
Protecting whistleblowers is a priority issue for Japan’s 2019 G20 Presidency, which aims to respond to the 2019-2021 Action Plan of the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group’s (ACWG) call to “assess and identify best practices, implementation gaps and possible further protection measures as appropriate.”
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Australia’s Governor-General, General David Hurley is sworn in and then congratulated by Prime Minister Scott Morrison in the senate chamber of Parliament House @AmyRemeikis @murpharoo #PoliticsLive pic.twitter.com/0OpXryXVOs
— Mikearoo (@mpbowers) July 1, 2019
Given that medevac is back on the agenda, and David Hurley’s line about asylum seekers in his speech, I recommend you read this piece from yesterday, if you haven’t already.
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For those asking, there is no question time until Thursday.
Tomorrow is the opening of the parliament. There are a lot of speeches. And swearing-ins. Then, Wednesday will be taken up with condolence motions, including for Bob Hawke. Then it is question time. And then parliament breaks for two weeks.
If you have a question for us, maybe put “ask us anything” in bold, so I can find it in the comments, or send through the tweets.
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The 21 gun salute has finished (and now I know what parliament sounds like if it was ever under attack) and we are done with the official bits.
Now it is the official welcome and the mingling and the photos and the hand shaking.
All 227 MPs are in attendance – 151 MPs, 76 Senators – and the newbies will be officially sworn in over the coming days.
Hurley’s first job, tomorrow, will be opening parliament. He’ll deliver the agenda speech, which is written by the government, laying out the plans for the term.
It’s on behalf of the Queen, and it is all a bit weird, but hey – that’s Westminster traditions for you.
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David Hurley finishes with:
“Along the shores of Circular Quay in Sydney, there are a number of large brass plaques honouring famous authors who have either written in or written about Australia. To me, one in particular sends a profound message to us today.
David Malouf, an Australian author, is the son of a Lebanese father and British-born mother of Portuguese descent.
A proudly diverse background that is representative of so many Australian families. His plaque reads in part:
Australia is still revealing itself to us. We ought not close off possibilities by declaring too early what we have already become.
Australia is not a finished product.
I look forward, with Linda, and in working with you and exploring our nation’s future possibilities. I am extremely proud of my country and greatly honoured to become its governor general today.
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David Hurley:
We can be informed by many sources of the ills of our society, it is important that we are reminded of its goodness. In my closing speeches as governor, I highlighted the richness of our society, not richness in a material sense, but a richness of spirit. I have seen this richness of spirit at work in the people and the organisations assisting our veterans, our rural communities under stress, asylum seekers who we have welcomed into our country and our indigenous brothers and sisters.
There are countless organisations and people demonstrating how rich this country is every day.
As governor general, I am committed absolutely to supporting these people in their work. I know that I will be doing so, I will follow on and build on the work of Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Cosgrove.
Driven by the timeless notions of public service and working for the common good, they undertook a daunting program of engagement over the last five years. I thank them on behalf of all Australians for their dedication, their commitment and contribution to the nation and wish them well in the next phase of their lives.
My emphasis on community engagement will sit alongside the critical constitutional role performed by the governor general. Australia has an enviable record as a parliamentary democracy.
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David Hurley sworn in as the 27th Governor-General
David Hurley’s first words as GG are in the Ngunnawal dialect, which he spoke with permission.
I acknowledge the traditional owners of this land on which we meet, the Ngunnawal people, and pay my respects to the elders, past and present, emerging leaders and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders gathered here today. Prime minister, the honourable Tony Smith, speaker of the house, senator the honourable Scott Ryan, president of the Senate, the honourable Susan Kiefel of the high court of Australia.
The honourable Anthony Albanese, leader of the opposition, members of the ministry, members of the Australian parliament, members of the diplomatic corps, chief of the defence force and senior defence leaders, department of secretaries, distinguished guests and my fellow Australians, the 20th governor general of Australia once described the role of governor general of depicting a nation to its people.
During the last four and a half years as governor of New South Wales, I tried to build a significant theme to explain in part the important role that governors and the governor general play. Through their engagement with communities, Australians can be provided with the reflection of themselves and of their country.
Through speeches, supportive visits and the conduct of events, of encouragement and recognition, the governor general can highlight to Australians their inherent strengths, their concern for the common good, their humanity and decency and the desire for a fair go.
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So after five years, three months and, I think, three days as her majesty’s surrogate in Australia, Peter Cosgrove has finished up as governor general.
And with an oath of alliance and an oath of office, administered by chief justice Susan Kiefel, David John Hurley is the 27th governor general of Australia.
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Tony Burke has pushed back his press conference to 11.45, because of the swearing-in.
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I missed this last week, but speaking of medevac, Peter Dutton has taken back control of the decisions from David Coleman.
Here is what he told David Speers on Sky on the 20th:
Mr Coleman’s obviously had this area of responsibility for a period of time and I’ve take it back since the machinery of government changes since the election.
So in some of those cases, I think, you could question whether or not people needed medical attention, that’s the reality of it, and there has historically, from my firsthand knowledge of looking at some of these cases, that has been the case. Where people have come seeking medical attention, when they’ve arrived it’s not been sought or they’ve dispensed with the niceties pretty quickly and now that they’re here in Australia, they know they can’t be sent back.
So of the 1,000 here … there are many people who have come to support a family member. There’s not a thousand people who have come seeking medical attention or seeking medical attention.
There are some people suffering psychological issues where it is advised that there should be loved ones or support, friends or family that come with them. That has reduced dramatically but that as it was over the last couple of years at different points in time …
David Speers: But they’re all now living in the community, right?
Dutton: Many of them are, unless they’ve committed an offence since they’ve been here, in which case they would have gone back into detention, but it’s part of the way in which we’ve been able to get all the children out of detention and off Nauru, that’s been very important …
Speers: Through medical transfers?
Dutton: Yeah, that’s been part of it.
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The Labor caucus is meeting later today (probably early afternoon) ahead of parliament getting under way tomorrow.
This morning Penny Wong told Fran Kelly that Labor’s position on the tax cuts was not shifting:
Well, our position is clear: we want to deliver a tax cut to all Australians by the end of the week and the only party that’s putting forward a position that delivers that is the Labor party.
What is occurring is that the government isn’t just content with breaking its promise to deliver tax cuts by the first of July – something that Scott Morrison failed to do, despite promising it – but they want to hold tax cuts for this term hostage to tax cuts after the next election. So we are absolutely up for, by Thursday night, delivering a tax cut to all Australians. It’s the government that is holding those hostage to a political agenda about what they want to do in the next term.
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David Hurley, with a lot of medals, has been welcomed into Parliament House. He’s walking in with Scott Morrison. They’ll head into the Senate for the formal swearing-in.
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Tony Burke is up at 11.30 to talk penalty rates.
And yes, I have seen what you are saying in the comments about Labor being pushed on the tax cuts, and what about the government? The reason Labor has a box seat in this is because the government doesn’t have the numbers in the Senate. So it is either Labor or the crossbench. The government is claiming a mandate, because the tax plan was probably one of the only policies it had at the election.
Labor is saying the government only has a mandate for this term, not the one after that (the stage three doesn’t come in until 2024), hence the debate.
But it looks like the crossbench is coming close to a decision, so it’ll all most likely be over soon anyway.
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The Labor national executive is meeting at the end of the week, which is when John Setka’s membership was meant to be discussed – and by discussed we mean cancelled.
But it looks like there will be a stay of execution on that:
BREAKING: John Setka has written to the Labor Party executive requesting more time to present his case. I understand that it will be delayed by at least a few weeks beyond July 5 @SkyNewsAust pic.twitter.com/fd50WX5cnk
— Laura Jayes (@ljayes) June 30, 2019
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This is honestly the most reliable way to travel from Sydney to Canberra - the airport is usually an absolute cluster because of fog, and you end up delayed for up to three hours anyway at this time of year.
Catching the #Murray’s bus to Canberra for my first week in the Australian Senate. Was too nervous about the Monday morning fog to chance a flight! Can’t wait to join @AlboMP ‘s Labor team fighting for a better government for all Australians. #auspol2019 pic.twitter.com/HBC6E6e3AI
— Tim Ayres (@ayrestim) June 30, 2019
David Hurley will be sworn in at 10.25.
The front of parliament is currently closed while they do the official welcome – it is all the pomp and ceremony.
Then Hurley will be sworn in, in the Senate – because that is where the Queen’s chair is (she is not allowed in the House of Reps).
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@AmyRemeikis does Savva’s book actually matter though? We’ve just run a real public experiment on what voters thought about Liberal dysfunction and despite the Gallery prioritising it, the voters didn’t?
— Ian Whitney (@iancwhitney) June 30, 2019
I guess it depends on the context - it didn’t matter at the election, but having said that, the election result is basically a return to the status quo of 2016. The pendulum didn’t shift all that much, it was just the expectations on Labor were much higher.
But I think it is important to understand the history of events, and in that context, I do think the book matters.
It hasn’t been the greatest start to the week, or parliament, for Mathias Cormann.
Niki Savva’s new book, Plots and Prayers, which details Malcolm Turnbull’s downfall as prime minister and Scott Morrison’s rise, doesn’t exactly paint Cormann in the greatest light.
Cormann declined to be interviewed for the book. Which makes his complaints this morning to ABC radio that it was “mostly inaccurate or one sided” sort of moot.
The book paints him as instrumental in the leadership spill last year, and that his decision to withdrew support from Turnbull was “deliberately staged and timed” to force the spill.
Asked if he was a “political Judas” on ABC radio this morning, Cormann said:
“It was a difficult week.
“I made decisions based on what I felt was right, on the basis of what I thought was necessary, and in the best interests of the country and the government and the Liberal party.”
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He went on:
We have determined the following position: Stage one – of course, we will continue to support that stage and express disappointment that the government has breached its clear commitment to bring in stage one by July 1.
That was one of the very clear statements that they made during the federal election campaign.
For stage two – we’re calling for the government to increase the – for the increase of the 37% threshold from $90,000 to $120,000 that is already legislated but is down the track, to bring that forward to 2019-20.
This would provide up to $1,350 for all those above $90,000. The costing of that is less than $3.7bn.
That’s based upon the government’s own indications of what that would cost come 2022, when that change is due to come in under the already-legislated tax cuts. So obviously the figure would be – would be less than that figure.
The third thing that we’re saying is the infrastructure investment should be brought forward.
This has been proposed by the Reserve Bank of Australia. We know that there are a range of road and rail packages that could be brought forward because they’re ready to go right now.
Projects including here in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Projects in the northern suburbs of Melbourne.
The government could, of course, put money into a project like the Melbourne Metro, which is what we proposed during the election campaign, in order to speed up the delivery of that project.
But we’re prepared to sit down with the government and identify projects, some of which were committed to by both sides of politics during the election campaign, but in the case of projects like Link Field Road in Brisbane’s northern suburbs, due to commence around about 2027 in terms of actual shovels in the ground – we know that projects like that are necessary now and we think that a bring-forward of the government’s proposed infrastructure investment would assist the economy, create jobs right now, help to boost productivity into the future.
If the government is prepared to do that, in terms of stages one and stages two, while deferring stage three’s consideration to the following sitting of parliament or whenever they deemed fit to debate it – some time between now and 2024-25 when it’s due to commence, then we would facilitate the passage of those stages through the parliament next week.
We would facilitate the passage through the House of Representatives before question time next Thursday, given that Tuesday will be largely ceremonial and Wednesday’s sitting will be devoted to the commemoration of Bob Hawke.
So we think that these issues should be considered separately. We think that stage three at a cost of some $95bn down the track for an economy which is very soft at the moment, which no one can say what the economy looks like in 2024-25, is really a triumph of hope over economic reality.
What we know right now is that the economy needs stimulus. And what we’re looking for here is solutions rather than arguments. I have said as I have gone around the country that the country has conflict fatigue.
They want to see us getting on with delivering real outcomes. This is a genuine approach by Labor, a constructive approach, and I hope that the government receives it as such. We have already had some discussions with the crossbench about supporting a proposal such as this and I believe it would be a good thing for the country if we had unanimity across the parliament about a package such as the one that we’re putting forward here today.
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Anthony Albanese has been talking tax:
Today, 700,000 workers lose their penalty rates. They are rates they rely upon to put food on the table, to put petrol in their car, to pay the school fees for their kids.
The fact is that at a time where wages are not keeping up with the costs of living for so many Australian families, this is a blow to them – but it is also a blow to the national economy.
The Reserve Bank have indicated that the economy is softening. They recently cut interest rates and tomorrow they will meet again. It will be interesting to see whether they cut interest rates again. What this economy needs is stimulus.
The Reserve Bank, of course, when they cut interest rates, spoke about how monetary policy couldn’t do all of the job. And that’s the context – we need action now and some of the government’s proposals, of course, are off in the never-never. What we have determined this morning to do is to propose a negotiating position to the government which would bring forward tax cuts faster for those who will spend it, to stimulate demand in the economy.
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Good morning
Welcome to the first (semi) official day of the 46th parliament. The MPs are back in town and so are we, and it will no doubt be a bumpy ride.
Today is mostly formalities – finishing to set up offices, swearing in David Hurley as the new governor general, finding where to get coffee – you know, the important things.
Tax is once again the big agenda item, because in Australian politics, everything old is new again. Labor is still holding out on passing the total package – it wants the third tranche reviewed, but the government is holding firm on the “all or nothing’” deal it wants, which means all eyes are on Jacqui Lambie.
And not just for the tax bill. Lambie will also be the decider on the future of the medevac bill. So far the Tasmanian senator is not saying which way she intends to vote on anything. So stay tuned.
But given the slightly mishmash nature of the day as everyone gets ready for parliament’s official opening tomorrow, we thought we would take the opportunity to offer an “ask us anything” day. We’ll bring you the news but, if there is anything else you’ve ever wanted to know about the parliament, the Guardian brains trust, Mike Bowers and his ill-advised musk stick love, whatever – drop us a question in the comments, or tweet me at @amyremeikis. You’ll find behind-the-scenes updates @pyjamapolitics as Bowers and I troll each other throughout the day.
I am going to find my second coffee for the morning, so have a think and get back to us.
In the meantime – let’s get into it.
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