And on that note, we are going to call time on today, otherwise known as the Jacqui Lambie show. Because today, it really, really was.
Shadow cabinet will meet tonight ahead of the Labor caucus meeting tomorrow. Cabinet will meet tomorrow ahead of party room meetings. We’ll all still be talking about the economy and whose side are you on, because that’s politics at this point in 2019.
A massive thank you to Mike Bowers, who is still out and about roaming the hallways and chambers, and Katharine Murphy, Sarah Martin, Paul Karp and the others whose names you don’t get to see, but are just as important to getting this blog off the ground.
As always, thank you to those who keep me informed of what is happening in the dusty corners, so we can get the most accurate and up to date information to you as soon as possible – we do appreciate it. As always, mistakes are mine.
And of course, to you all for following along with us. We missed you these past five weeks and are thrilled to have the below-the-line community back with us. We will be back online bright and early tomorrow morning. In the meantime, please – take care of you.
Updated
In two interviews – with Sky and ABC’s Afternoon Briefing – Labor’s Tony Burke has been asked about Labor’s position on mandatory minimum sentences for paedophiles.
The reason is that last week the attorney general, Christian Porter, and home affairs minister, Peter Dutton, announced the government would introduce a bill with mandatory sentences.
The issue is difficult for Labor because its platform opposes mandatory sentencing, as Kim Carr has forcefully noted in the party room, but Burke seems to be signalling it may support such a bill despite opposing that element.
However, the issue will not be decided tonight at shadow cabinet or tomorrow at caucus – because the Coalition has removed mandatory sentences from the Combatting Child Sexual Exploitation Legislation Amendment bill 2019 – which is before the parliament.
So mandatory sentences are likely a problem for another day when the Coalition introduces a new bill.
Updated
On medevac and the Tamil family the Biloela community are fighting to have stay, Jacqui Lambie has this to say.
Medevac:
We are still watching the process go through, I am still, my door is still open to talk to people out there, we are running through certain options to have a look and see if there are other options that the government hasn’t bothered to look at. So we are still working on this, so I have not concluded one way or another which way I am voting on it.
Biloela:
... there’s people in Australia that talk about migrants and they talk about refugees, and there’s some of that that are quite bad and we don’t want them here, and here’s a family that has led by example, you know.
It has had one of their children here. The community obviously love them. There has been a big community uptake on the support for them. They are not a national security issue.
Really, this was a chance for Dutton and his office to show a bit of heart and show some compassion and he has failed to do that and I think it has done him a hell of a lot more harm than bloody good, that’s for sure. But I would really reconsider his position, Dutton, if I was him because it is not very good.
This is not the way we do things in this country. You know, they have been great people to have here, they’ve obviously shown that, like I said, the community uptake has been absolutely amazing out there, so really I think this has not been a good decision by Dutton at all.
If I was him, I’d show some compassion and heart. Everyone out there seems to say he hasn’t got any, so he could turn the tide a little bit. I mean, it is sitting in front of him for goodness sake, and let this family say.
Updated
Jacqui Lambie to reject religious discrimination bill 'at this stage'
Jacqui Lambie tells Patricia Karvelas she doesn’t see a case for the religious discrimination bill, at this point in time, which is pretty strong:
I know that the religious freedoms we have in Tasmania, as they are now, they are working pretty well and I don’t have a lot of people around Tasmania talking to me about religious freedom.
They have more important things to talk about like homelessness, not enough jobs, public hospitals completely out of control, so it is not something that is feeding back from the electorate through to me.
We are certainly having a look at the bill, but Tasmania is very similar to the one that has been in place now, and so, there doesn’t seem... Tasmania seems to be satisfied with that, so I will have to do take that on that they don’t really want this changed.
On Paul Karp’s story that part of the federal legislation includes a clause which would allow it to override state laws – which will impact Tasmania particularly – Lambie had this to say:
I think that will upset Tasmanians more than the law itself to be honest. They seem to be satisfied, nobody wants to talk about it, they were delivered as it is.
Q: You don’t see the case for this bill?
Not at this point in time. Unless there is a real pickup, and a lot more Tasmanians are speaking to me about it, I guess at this point in time, it will stay as is.
Updated
For the millionth time today, Jacqui Lambie confirms she will not vote for the drug testing bill. Speaking to Afternoon Briefing on the ABC, Lambie said this:
Q: If the government promises funding for extra drug and alcohol treatment, will that be enough?
JL: Absolutely not. Usually when the buildings go up and how many beds are in there, and we will go back to the table and discuss it.
Q: So you will vote this down until the services are up and running, not just on a promise of a funding commitment?
JL: I tend to like to put the horse before the cart before the cart before the horse, it works much better that way.
Q: Does that mean that there is no way you will vote for this bill?
JL: We not voting for this bill because I already know the services are not there. You put the services in place first, the commonsense way to tackle this issue, and then we can look at doing random drug and alcohol testing on welfare recipients. In the meantime, show some goodwill and put it on yourselves and anyone else on the public purse.
Q: There is no way this bill will pass in the next fortnight, right?
JL: No, unless you will put thousands of rehab beds in Australia in that time, [and they’ve struggled to do that in the last four years] let alone make that happen in the next fortnight.
Updated
One of the big issues at Labor’s shadow cabinet meeting this afternoon will be whether or not the party supports the government’s revived mandatory sentencing bill for federal sex offenders.
Tony Burke had this to say in response to Patricia Karvelas questions:
PK: The government is reintroducing legislation that were tough on federal penalties for people convicted of child sex offences. Labor opposes mandatory sentencing. Would you oppose this bill?
TB: Let’s make it clear what the government is doing, because this one is horrific, I have to say. We are dealing with responses to the royal commission established by Julia Gillard into institutional child sexual abuse.
If there was ever an issue where we should not be playing political games, this one is it. I mean really. When Scott Morrison says he wants to find a test for Labor, he wants to choose child sexual abuse as a political game. Really?
PK: There’s no evidence that it is a game.
TB: I am going to continue. On the reason for our objection for mandatory sentencing it is really simple. It often results in people who would otherwise be found guilty getting off scot-free, if a judge forms a view that the mandatory penalty is inappropriate given all the circumstances of the offence.
That is the challenge on any of this. Obviously, when these issues have come forward in the House of Representatives, we have made clear, voted for them, send them to the Senate and the Senate inquiry works out whether or not there are ways of amending, but the principle here is something that we are going to get a lot this time because our amendments are rarely successful.
In the first vote, we are voting for something we support and something that we think could be done better. Obviously, without going through them in detail, these are the sorts of offences where we ... believe there should be viewed as the most offensive, sinister offences, and in the next question is does that mean you vote against it because you think the sentencing could be done a better way? When it came to the House of Representatives on these issues we supported the bill as a whole, it doesn’t change the fact that we think it would be far more effective, far more effective if we had maximum sentences rather than mandatory. It’s just more effective, you have more convictions that way.
PK: We may see the same thing you have seen before from Labor when you push for the amendments, make the argument but ultimately vote for the legislation?
TB: I am not going to get an advance of Senate inquiries but it will often be the case that when we are forced to look at the bill and if we are better off having it as a whole or not, it is better having it rather than aspects we could amend.
It would be a strange opposition if you said because it wasn’t word for word what you wanted it to be, you would always oppose it. That is not folding, that is the political reality of not being able to get all your amendments through, you are facing some things you support and something you think could be done better, and you have to vote for them in the same moment.
Updated
The talented Guardian video folks have put together a bit of a supercut of some of the condolence speeches for Tim Fischer:
"Tim transcended the political divide" says Scott Morrison as Parliament pays respects to Tim Fischer pic.twitter.com/7I2JIN1Ezf
— Guardian Australia (@GuardianAus) September 9, 2019
Tony Burke is speaking to Patricia Karvelas on the ABC about what Jacqui Lambie’s demand for John Setka to resign from the union movement will mean for the ensuring integrity bill:
Jacqui Lambie, I don’t think anyone is surprised that she takes very strong views. She has strong opinions, it is a matter for her how she wants to vote. For me, I view the bill very much on the issue of its merits, but I talked to the Senate crossbench, I make the case that they will choose their own freedom to make a decision.
PK: But if John Setka refuses to resign and the integrity bill passes, how will he be remembered in the union movement given that he now appears to be causing its potential success, according to Jacqui Lambie.
TB: I don’t think Jacqui Lambie is bluffing, and it is also my view that the potential impact of this bill on the whole trade union movement is disastrous. It’s disastrous. It is deliberately an anti-union bill designed to make it as difficult as possible for workers to be able to organise. That is what the government has done, that is why it is there and if it ends up going through, its impact will be way beyond one person in one union.
PK: But will he be responsible?
TB: Look, the concept of him acting responsibly, I think we are a long way from. It is going to be a matter for him to decide whether or not he thinks he is bigger than the rest of the union movement. There are a whole lot of workers and a whole lot of organisers with a lot at stake here but, as I say, I am not encouraging Jacqui Lambie to vote for these reasons, I want her to oppose the bill because on merit it’s a bad piece of legislation.
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And for something a little more uplifting than question time:
Updated
And he was also there for question time:
![How good [insert whatever here]](https://media.guim.co.uk/f1cb2e836ead27a5b93809880060f8a6e23c4091/0_0_3650_2434/1000.jpg)
Updated
Mike Bowers was there during the condolence motion for former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer.
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With a hat tip to the Herald Sun’s James Campbell for the inspiration, Dorothy Dixers shall now be known as Lickspittles.
Melissa McIntosh making an early bid for Govt lickpsittle of the week: "Will the Prime Minister outline to the house how the government is getting on with the job of providing stability & certainty for Australian people during a time of increased global complexity & challenge?"
— James Campbell (@J_C_Campbell) September 9, 2019
For anyone who missed the Greens’ victory (with assists from Labor, Centre Alliance and Jacqui Lambie, as well as the last-minute decision of One Nation to abstain) this morning, here you go:
The Greens bill to set up a federal corruption watchdog has passed the Senate, here's a quick scan through the debate from this morning pic.twitter.com/4QFui5XuQZ
— Guardian Australia (@GuardianAus) September 9, 2019
Updated
And question time ends.
But first we have to congratulate the Australian cricket team. Especially Tim Paine. Because this is what we use parliament for now.
How good is sportsball?
Clare O’Neil to Josh Frydenberg:
Can the treasurer confirm that under this Coalition government business investment has fallen 20% to its lowest level since the 1990s recession?
Frydenberg:
Mr Speaker, I can confirm non-mining investment is growing 1.4% through the year, compared to negative 8.4% through the year when Labor left office, Mr Speaker. So the record there is that that we have overseen a better result when it comes to non-mining investment than the Labor party did, Mr Speaker.
Now, in terms of the mining sector, we have seen a transition from the investment stage to the production phase, and one of the positive points out of the national accounts for the June quarter was actually mining investment was up. Mining investment was up, Mr Speaker.
So the reality is, under the Coalition, we are creating more than 1.4 million new jobs. We are lowering taxes, Mr Speaker, and we’re bringing the budget back into surplus. But the question I have for the member of Hotham and those opposite is why do they continue to talk down the Australian economy, Mr Speaker?
Anthony Albanese asks if the opposition can answer the question. Tony Smith says sadly no, but Frydenberg is straying off the topic and to get on with it.
Frydenberg:
As I have said, our record of investment is better than the Labor party when it comes to the non-mining sector, Mr Speaker. We’ve created more jobs, we’re lowering taxes and we’re bringing the budget back into surplus.
Updated
Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison:
After more than six years of this government, when growth is the slowest it has been in a decade, wages are stagnant, consumption is weak, household debt is at record highs, and productivity has actually gone backwards over the last year, why does the prime minister spend all of his time talking about Labor and none of his time coming up with a plan to turn the economy around?
Morrison:
Thank you, Mr Speaker. 1.4 million jobs created under the economic policies of this government, Mr Speaker. 75% of those full-time jobs, Mr Speaker. A budget that is coming back into surplus this year, this year, Mr Speaker. Real wage growth occurring under this government, Mr Speaker. Real wage growth occurring under this government. That’s what... Mr Speaker, people are not only earning more, they are getting to keep more of what they earn and we want them to earn more in the future.
But you won’t get higher wages with higher taxes. That’s what the Labor party never understands.
They never understand that if they want to tax people more, they they will slow the economy, which will thieve them, Mr Speaker, of their economic opportunities.
Tony Burke:
He couldn’t even get to 45 seconds before he started talking about Labor. The question is asking him what is his plan – he is meant to be running an economy.
Tony Smith:
I’m not quite sure what the point of order is. He didn’t state one. But I will just say that several of the topics in the question was Labor, so he didn’t put it there. The prime minister has the call.
Morrison:
Our plan, which is to bring the budget back into surplus this year. Our plan, which has been to deliver tax cuts to Australians. Our plan, which is to deliver hundreds of billions of dollars on infrastructure, which includes $10bn this year, which is 10% higher than the annual spend on infrastructure this year than occurred under the Labor party. So more investment in infrastructure, more investment in skills, skills expansion of our markets.
We’ve taken the trade covered by our export agreements from less than 30% to 70% and we will take it to 90%, Mr Speaker. The agricultural sector is growing at a – it will be a $100bn sector by 2030 under the plan we are putting in place. So we have a plan, Mr Speaker.
But what is happening on the side of the Labor party, and I was asked about the Labor party, is chaos. It’s chaos and uncertainty and in New South Wales, there is the big stench of corruption, Mr Speaker. What we’re seeing in New South Wales – the Leader of the Opposition’s home division – is – when I said, and I mentioned on the weekend, when I said we had to recycle plastics, Mr Speaker, I didn’t mean Aldi plastic bags stuffed full of cash. That was not my plan, Mr Speaker! But it is certainly the plan of the New South Wales Labor party.
Updated
Michael McCormack does his best impression of an unseasoned chicken wing in delivering his latest dixer answer.
Moving on.
Catherine King to Scott Morrison:
Why has the prime minister ignored seven calls from the Reserve Bank governor since the election to increase infrastructure spending?
Morrison:
Let me quote from the Reserve Bank governor, August 9, health economics committee.
The global economy is not doing well, we need ... public policy to support the Australian policy, that is not a call for the Australian government to do more now.
I am quoting the governor of the reserve bank. He said can I clarify something. I have not called on the government to do fiscal expansion, quoting the governor of the Reserve Bank, giving evidence, not some chat to a journalist, but evidence, to the House economics committee. He said I am not calling on the government to do fiscal expansion.
On 11 July he said I agree 100% with you the Australian economy is growing and the fundamentals are strong. I don’t think we should forget that more Australians have jobs today than ever before.
... The Reserve Bank on the evidence of the parliamentary committee has been very clear. What I know is I have been working with the Reserve Bank governor as both the treasurer and prime minister for four years, it is as a result of the Reserve Bank governor years ago, suggestions to us about the need to move on infrastructure, that we have the hundred billion dollar infrastructure pipeline, that has been in the budget since April of this year, and is featured in previous budgets.
I know those opposite, if they had the opportunity, would be spending, spending, spending, if they had won the election, only because they would have been taxing, taxing, taxing.
The first whiff of a surplus, the Labor party would blow it all in a heartbeat. What my government is doing is showing sober, cautious, disciplined financial management, Mr Speaker, to make sure we both achieve the first surplus in 12 years, and we deliver on the hundred billion dollar infrastructure program, we deliver on the tax cuts we promise to Australians, and we have achieved in this parliament, which those opposite fought tooth and nail to try and stop. Those opposite, we heard earlier today, that apparently they will not find out what their policies are until 2022. He will need a time machine to find out their policies. Whether you go backwards or forwards, they will all equate to economic irresponsibility.
Updated
While I continue my death to dixers crusade, you might be interested in putting in a submission to this inquiry:
#QuestionTime is under way in the House. While you’re streaming at https://t.co/8DB1X3AQDV, why not give some consideration to the ways in which you’d consider changing #QT? Submissions to the inquiry are still open at https://t.co/swSWsTiM6X
— Australian House of Representatives (@AboutTheHouse) September 9, 2019
Josh Frydenberg is now talking about people coming out of the shadows.
I don’t know who writes his dixer answers, but I really, really hope they update their references soon. We don’t come out of the shadows any more, we serve the tea.
The member for Warringah, Zali Steggall, has the independents’ question.
The times are serious, peak medical bodies last week declared a health climate emergency, recognising the severe effect climate change will have on children, being more vulnerable to hypoallergenic conditions and lung disease. Today emergency services are saying the fires in New South Wales and Queensland are unprecedented this early in spring. Scientists have been warning about these dangers for years. Does the prime minister agree Australia needs a real plan to decarbonise every polluting sector by 2020, and will such a plan be presented to this parliament?
Scott Morrison:
The government agrees we need to take action on climate change and that is why we are.
We will meet the targets that were set.
When we came to government we were going to miss those targets by 700 million tonnes.
What is going to happen now? We will exceed meeting those targets by 367 million tonnes. There has been over a million tonne turnaround. As a result of the policies of this government, put in place over the last six years to make sure we are meeting and beating our emissions reduction targets, we had the plan to meet the 2030 targets as well as we set out in the last election, responsible targets, tonne by tonne, to make sure we meet our 2020 commitments.
We take these commitments seriously. We will make sure they are met. On top of that, we will have emissions per capita fall by 50% by 2030, under the policies we took to the last election, emissions per capita at the lowest level in 29 years.
We are taking the action needed to address climate change. The renewable investments per capita are currently the highest in the world, the highest in the world. We are in the middle of a renewable energy boom, that is the reason why we will be meeting our renewable energy target we should be committed to meet as a government.
Whether it’s on emissions reduction, renewable energy, the government has a plan, has committed to targets, is implementing the plan and will meet the targets. The government is taking action on climate change as we should, we will continue to take that action in a responsible way, where we don’t have to sell out the jobs for the future, to make sure we have the future of a clean and green environment.
That sound you hear is Pat Conroy screaming into the void.
Updated
We come back from the latest dixer (it sounds as if Scott Morrison’s voice is going).
Maybe he gave it to Josh Frydenberg, who, despite his talents, is yet to work out how a microphone works, in that you DON’T HAVE TO YELL INTO ONE TO HAVE YOUR VOICE AMPLIFIED BECAUSE THAT IS THE JOB OF THE MICROPHONE.
Jim Chalmers:
Can the treasurer confirmed that the Australian economy is growing substantially slower than forecast in his budget just five months ago?
Frydenberg:
I can confirm with the House when it comes to nominal GDP, it is growing above the budget forecast! Above the forecast! 5.3%, and the budget forecast was 5%. ... The reality is, we on this side of the House stand for lower taxes. We have passed through the parliament the most significant tax cuts and more than two decades. You know who oppose those tax cuts? The member for Rankin. He likes to take the...
Imagine that in all caps. Because that is how it was delivered.
Tony Burke says the question was specific, and Christian Porter says “the question went to the issue of economic growth, which relates to a wide variety of issues”. Tony Smith points out that the treasurer started to yell about tax, which is off topic.
Frydenberg comes back, with less yelling:
For the member for Rankin’s information, on average terms the economy grew 1.9% for 2018/19, the budget forecast was 2.5%, Mr Speaker. When it comes to nominal GDP, the economy grew by 5.3%, the budget forecast was 5%.
As the member for Rankin should know, as the understudy to the former member for Lilley, Wayne Swan, the nominal GDP numbers drive the budget outcomes.
We will bring the budget back into surplus for the first time in more than a decade. And you can strengthen the Australian economy by creating more jobs, by seeing the proportion of working age Australians on welfare at its lowest level in 30 years, and by cutting taxes which we have done against the will of those opposite.
Updated
I know that we have had a break and we are all a bit rusty at this at the moment, but someone might need to tell the government backbench that the phrases “tax a lot” and “spend a lot” are not funny on their own, and there usually needs to be an actual attempt at a joke attached, in order to make laughter make sense.
Updated
(Just a reminder that the unemployment rate hasn’t changed that much between governments, and there was that whole global financial crisis thing that happened as well.)
Updated
Back to ‘why are you ruining the economy/no, why are YOU ruining the economy’ hour.
Jim Chalmers to Josh Frydenberg:
Can the treasurer confirmed that on his watch Australia is experiencing the slowest annual economic since the global financial crisis?
Frydenberg:
I can confirm that on our watch that the Australian economy continues to grow, Mr Speaker, and we continue to reduce taxes. Employment growth is 2.6%. Do you know what it was when we came to government? 0.7% – less than a third of what it is today. A record number of Australians are now in work, workforce participation is at a record high, the gender pay gap has closed and the budget is coming back to surplus for the first time in more than a decade, Mr Speaker. When you look at the national accounts, economic growth was 0.5% for the June quarter, and 1.9% in terms of year-average terms. The Australian economy has completed 28 consecutive years of economic growth and under our watch more people are employed than ever before.
Updated
Both Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese have given updates on the Queensland and NSW bushfire situation (it is not great and won’t be for a while) and pledged support.
Just a reminder that rainforest is on fire. Rainforest. I grew up in the area which is under threat in Queensland at the moment, and I have never seen this before in my lifetime and I don’t know anyone who has.
Updated
Bear with me, folks. The internet gremlins have been running riot all week in Guardian HQ and my backup to the backup is starting to fail, so excuse me if the blog slows down a little.
Updated
Question time begins
Over in the Senate, Labor has been focusing on the economy and it looks like that is where Labor is headed in the House as well.
Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison:
I refer to his weekend boasts that he was going to wedge Labor in the sitting period. As any golfer knows, while wedges are handy, drivers are what you need to get going. Given Australia is experiencing the slowest economic growth since the global financial crisis, why is the prime minister not concentrating on economic drivers to deliver growth, productivity and higher wages?
Morrison:
We are focused on growing the economy and Labor wanted to put on a bunch of taxes and also there are a bunch of other economies are shrinking and Australia grew, so so’s your face.
I may be paraphasing there.
Updated
Sussan Ley on Tim Fischer:
He travelled among us, he spoke for us and we loved him for that. Whenever I drive the back roads of my electorate, I will be reminded of the Vietnam veteran, the farmer, in the flat chat, who strode amongst us, and his passion for finding a place for country Australia on the world stage.
He defined a time when the body politic was a lot kinder than it is today, in part that will be his legacy. The thoughts, prayers and love of Farrer are with Judy, who taught me economics at university, Dominic and Harrison, as they face the difficult weeks and months ahead.
Updated
On @afternoonbriefing at 4pm on @abcnews TV my guests are @JacquiLambie also Labor's @Tony_Burke #auspol
— PatriciaKarvelas (@PatsKarvelas) September 9, 2019
Richard Marles on Tim Fischer:
He was not just an example of the electorate of Farrer, he was the very best that that community, indeed the nation, had to offer.
So, as a result, his community loved him.
As did his country. In a way which completely transcended partisan politics. But he also understood that to be a representative is not just about reflecting the attitudes of your community at any moment in time, because he understood the role of leadership.
Leading your community, leading your country to a better place, even if that is a place which at the beginning your community can’t quite see. It was in that spirit that his advocacy for gun law reform in the aftermath of the Port Arthur massacre was truly inspirational.
It places right at the centre of one of the most important legacies of the Howard government. And, in our own age of a pre-eminent, loud, self-reinforcing social media, which sometimes seems to encourage populism, his making of an argument, that example is a beacon to all of us here about how to do our job at the highest level, and in the best possible way.
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Michael McCormack on Tim Fischer:
Behind the gentle man was an absolute determination to listen, to act and deliver. Most importantly to turn up, to turn up.
Much has been said and written in recent weeks about Tim’s role with then prime minister John Howard in tightening semiautomatic and firearm controls after the horrific 1996 Port Arthur massacre.
This was all about restricting the misuse of weapons, especially across urban areas. To be effective, the actions had to stretch nationwide. We need to understand he was the leader of a party representing regional Australians, not long in government after 13 long years in opposition.
This was a time of intensive work to establish a new agenda. To establish credentials of the new government, to bring the people with them. This was not a time to rock the vote and it was particularly difficult for the National party. But the point is this: Tim Fischer and Mr Howard as well, John Anderson and others saw what needed to be done, and they didn’t flinch. They didn’t shirk. They did it.
A lesser leader might have balked, but not Tim Fischer. He was convinced that action was needed, what was right took precedence over what might have seemed less risky, less challenging.
It was a move of conviction. It was a difficult time, yes, but we had the right man in Tim Fischer. There are Australians today who are alive thanks to those reforms. There are Australians today who owe their lives to those reforms and to Tim Fischer. As we look back two decades, we see that gun control reforms have enjoyed rightly, appropriately, justly.
Updated
Parliament pays respects to Tim Fischer
Scott Morrison on Tim Fischer:
Mr Speaker, Timothy Andrew Fisher was Australia all over. He was an Australian original, the boy from Boree Creek. He was loved, he was admired, he was respected, he was revered.
He became from humble beginnings in Boree Creek and at the recent memorial service which the leader of the opposition and I and many in this place had the opportunity to attend, we learned of his humble family beginning, in a very loving and hard-working family, and coming from such a modest start, to become the titan of regional Australia, was his greatest achievement.
Like Bob Hawke, who we remembered in this chamber just a few short months ago, Tim transcended the political divide probably more than any I could nominate in this place.
That’s why I think so many of us in this chamber, and those who have been in this chamber, we all have a Tim Fischer story.
If you ever wanted to know what it’s like to tour with Elvis, go on the Indian Pacific with Tim Fischer for three days. I did.
And as you walked up and down the carriages, among so many other railway enthusiasts, there was none greater than Tim Fischer.
He would stop, sit, listen to their stories, those big hands would shake the hands of his fellow Australians. And people would just light up as they engaged with him because Tim had an amazing ability just to focus all of himself on whoever was opposite him. And he made them the centre of the universe.
There was no trick to it. No performance in it. It was 100% pure Tim Fischer. They got 100% of him when he was in that moment. This is why he was so loved.
Updated
Question time is about to begin – but there are those condolence motions up first, understandably.
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Mike Bowers went and saw the Spinifex Gum and the Marliya Choir perform in parliament a little bit earlier today. He said it was spine tinglingly beautiful.
Spinifex Gum and the Marliya Choir perform in the Marble Foyer at Parliament House in a bid to inspire a national dialogue on Indigenous recognition. They gave a recording of their "Dream Baby Dream" song to Indigenous Affairs minister Ken Wyatt and Senator Pat Dodson pic.twitter.com/LcDnswMZ3H
— Guardian Australia (@GuardianAus) September 9, 2019
Updated
Along with the condolence motion for former deputy prime minister and Nationals leader Tim Fischer, the House will also be informed of the death of former Labor Lilley MP Elaine Darling.
Updated
Just on that review, for anyone who is interested, there is a bit of to and fro-ing going on behind the scenes over how to handle what is being called “the Queensland problem”.
The Queensland Labor government goes to an election in October 2020 – one of the first cabs off the ranks – and it is not having too great a time at the moment (largely self-inflicted). But Labor has a much better chance of winning Queensland at a state level than federal at the moment (and probably for some time).
That’s because there are enough seats in the south-east to help it hold power. But those voters tend to worry about things like climate change. Which is different from voters in central and north Queensland, who need the jobs provided by the mining industry.
So the review can’t go too hard on Queensland, either way. And that is proving a little problematic, because obviously Queensland was a big part of the election story.
It’s a balance between state and federal goals. And that is not a job I envy anyone.
Updated
Mark Butler had a bit to say about the review Labor is currently undertaking into what happened at the last election. As Katharine Murphy reports:
The shadow climate change minister, Mark Butler, has declared that after a federal election where Labor had its “backside handed to [it] by Fozzie Bear and Kermit the Frog – it’s time for some serious reflection”.
Butler, a senior Labor leftwinger and former federal party president, said on Monday the ALP should not attempt to sugarcoat the defeat in May, but instead ask itself hard questions.
“We just lost our third election in a row and the only majority we’ve won in the past 25 years was the majority of eight seats in 2007,” he said. “We got our lowest primary vote in a century, against a government the prime minister himself described as the Muppet Show.”
Butler used the opportunity of a book launch in Canberra to argue the current campaign review being spearheaded by Jay Weatherill and Craig Emerson “must be ruthless and unsparing” and include all policies, including in his portfolio area of climate change and energy.
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Question time will probably be shorter than usual today, because of condolence motions for Tim Fischer.
A motion of coldolence for the death of Tim Fischer will be moved today prior to Questions on Notice. As Mr Fischer was not a former Prime Minister, the practice of the House is not to adjourn following such motions being moved. https://t.co/qOR3GJOijl
— Australian House of Representatives (@AboutTheHouse) September 9, 2019
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David Littleproud’s office has released the transcript of his conversation with Hamish Macdonald this morning, on RN. Here is the bit that led up to the “irrelevant” quote in relation to whether climate change was manmade or not:
HM:
Can I read you a quote from Ken Thompson, the former deputy commissioner of New South Wales Fire and Rescue? He says, ‘We can’t say definitively that climate change is causing bushfires but we can say definitively it’s making them a lot worse than it used to be. They’re more severe, more intense, burning larger areas than before, posing greater threats to property and lives.’ Do you agree with that?
DL:
Well, we’ve been adapting to a changing climate since we first settled this country and we’ll have to continue to do that, and do that with the best science we’ve got available at the time to make sure we keep our Australians safe. That’s what we’ll continue to do. That’s what we’ve done. And the fact that we haven’t lost a life shows that we have a world-class emergency service system here in the country. We should be so proud of those men and women that are not only the professionals, but those that are volunteers, prepared to sacrifice themselves for their fellow Australians – says a lot about our country and we’ll continue to give them the equipment and the tools that they need to be able to keep us all safe.
HM:
With respect, Minister, I’m sure our listeners will have heard that you didn’t quite answer that question. I take your point about the longterm change in climate, but this is a question about whether the climate change we’re facing today, manmade or human-induced climate change, is making bushfires more intense?
DL:
Well, with respect, I did answer it. We’re adapting to it as the climate continues to change and we’ll continue to equip our service workers with that. Whether it’s manmade or not is irrelevant. The facts are that it’s a debate that has extremes from both sides come out – rather than …a discussion about do we want to breathe healthy air. Well I think everyone wants to breathe healthy air. The reality is my job is to make sure that those men and women that are prepared to put their lives on the line for you and me have the equipment they need, they are given the tools and resources they need, they have the science to understand that these events could become more severe. And how do we equip them to actually deal with that to not only keep up safe but keep them safe?
HM:
But you don’t want a conversation about the causes of that?
DL:
That’s, as I’ve said, the facts are everyone wants a healthier environment in which to live. I don’t think anyone’s talking about that. In fact, we’ve – I think even last week – we’re going to meet our renewable energy target of 33,000 gigawatts, and done that by next year. And that’s an accomplishment that we’ve done as a government, with subsidies, and now we’re saying that the marketplace can decide. And, as even the Clean Energy Commission said last week that they’re the cheapest form of energy. Well the market will decide that. And that’s what we’ve done; we’ve put an environment around that for that to take place.
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As for the other votes that were passed by the Greens, I have just been told it was these:
1. Territories Self-Government Legislation Amendment (Disallowance and Amendment of Laws) bill 2011 [previously Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Amendment (Disallowance and Amendment Power of the Commonwealth) Bill 2010]
Senate: Introduced by Senator Bob Brown 29/9/10; passed with amendments and read a third time 18/8/11.
HoR: Introduced 22/8/11; read a third time 1/11/11.
Assent: 4/12/11; Act no. 166 of 2011.
2. Low Aromatic Fuel bill 2012
Purpose: To mitigate the negative impacts of petrol sniffing in areas designated as low aromatic fuel areas and fuel control areas.
Senate: Introduced by Senator Siewert 1/3/12; passed with amendments and read a third time 27/11/12.
HoR: Introduced 28/11/12; read a third time 6/2/13.
Assent: 14/2/13; Act no. 1 of 2013 (Act cited as Low Aromatic Fuel Act 2013).
3. Medicinal Cannabis Legislation Amendment (Securing Patient Access) bill 2017
Introduced by: Senator Di Natale
Date passed by Senate: 19 October 2017
4. Treasury Laws Amendment (Axe the Tampon Tax) bill 2018
Introduced by: Senator Rice
Date passed by Senate: 18 June 2018
5 Fair Protection for Firefighters Bill 2011 (Adam Bandt)
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It doesn’t look like Mitch Fifield (who is off to the UN and has been replaced by Sarah Henderson, although the Victorian parliament still needs to confirm that, officially) had a pair.
Scott Morrison will be the 7.30 guest tonight.
Just a reminder that the government controls the House of Reps agenda, and does not have to bring on the vote there until it wants to.
That doesn’t mean that Adam Bandt, Rebehka Sharkie and Labor can’t attempt to force it on, and force the government to vote down even that attempt, but don’t expect a vote on any of this too soon.
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Pauline Hanson has called in to Sydney radio station 2GB to explain why One Nation abstained – apparently Jacqui Lambie is “wishy-washy”.
Hanson is also saying Richard Di Natale is ridiculous for blaming the Queensland fires on climate change before we know what caused them, as she blames the Queensland government for its land-clearing laws for those exact fires.
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Mike Bowers has been going since very early this morning. His week is going to look a lot like this.
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Adding to the weight of what just happened in the Senate, I’m told this is just the fourth Greens bill to pass that chamber.
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Larissa Waters on that victory:
After 10 years of attempts by the Greens to clean up politics, the Senate has just passed a Greens bill to set up a federal corruption watchdog with real teeth.
Now the pressure is on the government to back this bill in the House, where the crossbench and opposition also want a strong corruption body, not the weak, toothless government proposal, which hasn’t moved an inch for almost a year.
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For those asking, Centre Alliance and Jacqui Lambie voted for the bill, along with Labor and the Greens (who put it forward).
That shouldn’t be a surprise – Centre Alliance has been calling for a federal Icac for some time, while Lambie stood up with the crossbench last sitting and said she wanted one with “more teeth than Jaws”.
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I think we can call that a victory for optics.
Senate passes national integrity bill
With One Nation out of the chamber, the Greens win the vote, 35 to 32.
The House will now be forced to vote the legislation down.
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So I guess some last minute thoughts hit the One Nation team - and they decided that actively voting against a federal integrity bill would not play well with the ‘we keep the bastards honest’ line.
Without them, the bill gets up.
Paul Karp tells me that One Nation is not in the chamber.
Cory Bernardi is voting with the government.
It looks like One Nation may have missed that vote – if they abstain, then the integrity bill will get up.
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The whip has asked Scott Ryan for some more time, so the bells will now ring for four minutes.
So perhaps some people didn’t get there in time. Or maybe the government is hoping that is the case.
While the Senate can’t force the House to do anything, it will force the government to vote it down.
Looks like there were a few people who abstained there – so the Greens bill moves to its third reading.
Ayes 35
Noes 32
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The Senate bells are ringing for a division on Larissa Waters’s national integrity commission bill – but unless Cory Bernardi changes tack, it will go down by one.
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There is no mention there, of tying her support to drug testing of politicians and public servants.
It is however worth noting, that Jacqui Lambie has had personal experience with drug addition impacting her family, which she has been open about. So if anyone knows about accessing services here, it is her.
'You can't punish someone into getting clean' – Lambie
Jacqui Lambie’s office has released a statement on the drug-testing proposal. Here it is in full, because this morning has been a bit all over the place:
This isn’t really about getting people off drugs. It’s about kicking people off payments.
You can’t punish someone for being on drugs if they don’t have the help available to get them off it. We have to get the services in place to help people.
The government hasn’t done its due diligence here. It’s put the cart before the horse. We have bugger all in place to help people with mental health let alone drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
The fact the government wants to throw drug tests at everybody but themselves shows plain as day what the real agenda is. It’s one rule for them, one for everyone else. They don’t want a breathalyser at the chamber doors after those long dinner breaks where half of them get on the sauce.
Bottom line is I’m not going to punish people for seeking help and not getting it, because we’re not making it available to them. We can’t cut off a drug addict who’s done the right thing in seeking treatment only to be told they have to wait 12 months for a rehab bed.
They say taxpayers don’t want their money going to drug dealers. What, are they going to test every ABC journo? Every pensioner? Every war veteran? Every school teacher? Let’s get real. This isn’t about who is getting tax dollars, it’s about who’s easy to take them from.
So if this isn’t about respecting taxpayers, then let’s get real and make it about getting people off drugs full stop. You can’t punish someone into going clean.
If the government wants my vote on drug testing, it’s time for them to step up and put comprehensive mental health and drug and alcohol rehabilitation services in place.
They need to show that they are interested in more than punishing people who are on welfare.
If you kick a drug addict off payments, they don’t magically get better.
They just become a junkie with a habit to service and no money to service it with. So what you end up seeing is more cars being broken into, more TVs being flogged at Cash Converters, more prostitution, more crime, more cost and no fewer drug addicts.
Making an addict more desperate doesn’t make them more healthy.
My message to the government is simple: fix the support services and you’ll get my support too. Until then, get off your high horse and get back to work.
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In case you missed it, this also happened this morning
Whether man-made climate change is causing bushfires is "irrelevant", @D_LittleproudMP says.
— RN Breakfast (@RNBreakfast) September 9, 2019
Not so, says @RichardDiNatale.
📻 https://t.co/V5GXiy6J9y pic.twitter.com/Osf9Ebq2Iq
One Nation, whose vote is needed to pass the anti-corruption body bill, are now incorrectly interpreting clauses of my bill and using that as a premise to not support my bill. Roberts claims it’s too strong then finishes implying that it’s too weak... I can’t even. #auspol
— Larissa Waters (@larissawaters) September 9, 2019
Larissa Waters has responded to the news that Pauline Hanson and Malcolm Roberts will not support the Greens bill for a stronger federal Icac:
This bill will pass or fall based on One Nation’s vote. If One Nation vote against an anti-corruption body, their own voters will feel totally ripped off. If they side with government in wanting to turn a blind eye to federal corruption they might as well just join the Liberal party and be done with it.”
Malcolm Roberts is doing his best impression of a senator, and explaining why One Nation won’t be supporting the bill as I type this.
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One Nation to vote down federal Icac proposal
It looks as though the fate of the Greens Icac legislation could rest with conservative independent Cory Bernardi.
One Nation has confirmed to Guardian Australia that it will not be supporting the Greens bill today, saying it has concerns that someone could be falsely accused under the current model.
“We are happy to work with the Greens in the future and Labor and the Coalition to make sure we get it right,” a spokesman said.
He said the party supported the concept and need for a federal Icac but the Greens’ proposal had several flaws.
“There are a number of issues with it and this shouldn’t be used as a political stunt, it should be used as a means to bring about some positive change.”
Even if the Greens have the support of Labor (26 votes), Centre Alliance (2 votes) and Jacqui Lambie, it will fall short of having a majority of 39 votes unless it can convince conservative Cory Bernardi to support the bill.
Bernardi has not yet responded to Guardian Australia’s request for clarity on his position, but we will keep you posted.
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Indigenous Australians minister Ken Wyatt will be treated to a performance from Spinifex Gum and the Marliya choir.
Spinifex Gum is a group of talented, young Indigenous women (the Marliya choir) whose performances intend to inspire national dialogue through music, with song cycles that reflect the dramatic contrasts of Australian life.”
That will be held in parliament house at midday.
Read more about their vocal petition here:
And watch them perform their version of Bruce Springsteen’s Dream Baby Dream, which calls on Australians to support the Uluru Statement from the Heart and establish an Indigenous voice in the constitution:
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Labor will support a Greens bill to establish a federal anti-corruption commission.
The decision has been signed off by the opposition this morning, with a vote likely in the Senate later today.
The government is opposed to the legislation, but the Greens are confident they will be able to win over enough of the crossbench for a bill to establish a new federal Icac to pass the Senate.
Labor has 26 votes in the Senate and the Greens have nine, but 39 votes are needed to secure an absolute majority.
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The Public Health Association of Australia is the latest organisation to come out and call for the Newstart allowance to be raised, saying it was a mental health issue:
Australians in the lowest socioeconomic group experience the worst health,” said CEO Terry Slevin said.
Figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare show that those in the lowest wealth quintile (when compared with the most well-off) are 2.3 times as high for diabetes, two times as high for lung cancer, 1.8 times as high for anxiety disorders and 1.5 times as high for the combined impact on health measured by “burden of disease”.
Most people on Newstart get on and off it quickly, but many are on it for a long time living with poverty and mental stress. An increasing number are homeless.
“The punitive low rate of Newstart is having a crippling effect on people who are unemployed. They are sick with worry about how to afford shelter, healthcare, medicines and food to eat.”
As the Productivity Commission’s current mental health inquiry has heard, there is a strong relationship between low income levels and psychological distress, economic participation and mental health and wellbeing. Long-term unemployment is associated with depression and social isolation, and as individuals move from unemployment to work their mental health tends to improve.
“The prime minister has set an ambitious agenda to improve mental health among Australians. Raising Newstart should be among a comprehensive suite of solutions,” said Slevin.
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We are now in the “I will take a drug test, no problem” stage of the political cycle.
Eric Abetz just told Sky he would have no problem with taking a test while talking on Sky.
Totally normal day in Australian politics.
Just a reminder, that according to that little document called the constitution, no one can actually sack a politician, except for the high court (and the electorate). You can kick someone out of your party, but you can’t strip them of their place in parliament.
But, yes, let’s continue with this.
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And there go the bells.
Huzzah.
The bells are about to ring, marking the beginning of the new session.
Obviously, my excitement levels are through the roof.
For those playing along at home
Economics Committee Chair @TimWilsonMP has announced the Committee will hear from Professor Graeme Samuel at a hearing on @APRAinfo's performance. The hearing will take place on Wednesday morning at @Aust_Parliament. https://t.co/o5Rwd1e5At
— Australian House of Representatives (@AboutTheHouse) September 8, 2019
Jacqui Lambie has given a press conference in which she has said she won’t support drug testing for welfare recipients unless there is infrastructure in place, and she doesn’t think that (counselling services and the like) is there yet.
She also wants to look more at what is happening in communities where the cashless debit card has been rolled out before making a decision on a national rollout. She plans to visit areas where it’s in place where she will chat to people on the ground.
Oh – and she still wants John Setka to resign.
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Rachel Siewert says the Greens will continue to fight against the cashless welfare card:
This is not a government with an agenda based on evidence, it’s all ideology and it entrenches poverty and disadvantage. This most recent push is also designed as a distraction from the gathering momentum to raise the rate of Newstart.
I’m urging Senator Lambie and the opposition to listen to the community and the evidence and not to fall for this government spin. This card makes life hard for people on low incomes.
Just last week I was in Ceduna and what we heard from the community was devastating. People can’t just get on with their day-to day-lives, they feel stigmatised, angry and depressed with simple things like using the laundry mat a major stress.
My office deals with people daily who cannot pay their rent or bills using the card or are not able to use cash economies like markets, secondhand shops or op shops to help them make ends meets – and I heard the same thing in Ceduna last week.
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In “please set everything on fire and just start again” news, the AFR’s Joe Aston reports that Scott Morrison is calling the new Australian VIP jet “Shark One”.
PM @ScottMorrisonMP’s new VIP jet will debut on his state visit to Washington DC next week - and guess what he’s calling it? https://t.co/P7iQsNJqdr #auspol
— Joe Aston (@mrjoeaston) September 8, 2019
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Jacqui Lambie looks as though she’s about to speak to the media – I’ll keep you updated.
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Anthony Albanese has stopped by the doors (the doors to parliament that MPs only come by when they have something to say) to remind Scott Morrison that he won the election. I think he knows, but given that most normal people I know have completely switched off from federal politics, it is possible that there are some still out there who don’t know who the prime minister is.
Albanese’s wider point is the one he has been making since he took over the leadership – it is not all about Labor.
This fortnight, the prime minister re-enters parliament after a break where we have had quite disturbing economic figures across the board. What we have is lower economic growth. We have a Reserve Bank governor calling for infrastructure investment to be brought forward. We have low consumer demand. We have interest rates at 1%, one-third of where they were at emergency levels. And what’s the government’s response?
The government’s response is to talk about everything being a test for Labor. The fact is Scott Morrison won the election on May 18. He needs to stop acting like an opposition in exile on the government benches and actually develop a plan to deal with the economic challenges that Australia is facing.
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Any website still showing footage from the Christchurch attack will be taken down today. From Paul Fletcher’s office:
The eSafety Commissioner has today issued a direction to Australia’s largest internet service providers requiring them to continue blocking access to eight websites that host video of the Christchurch terrorist attacks or the manifesto of the alleged perpetrator.
Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher, said that keeping Australians safe from this type of horrific content is a key priority for the Morrison Government.
“Australian internet service providers acted quickly and responsibly in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Christchurch in March this year to block websites that were hosting this harmful material,” Minister Fletcher said.
“ISPs called on the Government to provide them with certainty and clarity in taking the action they did, and today, we are providing that certainty.”
The eSafety Commissioner has consulted with the specific website administrators, providing them with the opportunity to remove this content. Most have complied and the eight remaining offending websites will be subject to the blocking directive.
The crossbench are certainly making themselves known this parliament.
In case you haven’t seen it, Christopher Knaus has written about Rex Patrick’s aim to have the Timor-Leste situation addressed:
The crossbench senator Rex Patrick will push to fix a historic wrong stemming from the “shameful” treatment of Timor-Leste during oil and gas negotiations by overturning decisions that limit Australia’s exposure to international courts.
In 2002, the then Howard government decided to limit Australia’s acceptance of the compulsory jurisdiction of the international court of justice and international tribunal for the law of the sea.
The government was at the time involved in sensitive maritime boundary negotiations with Timor-Leste that would split the lucrative oil and gas reserves in the Timor Sea.
The move effectively shielded Australia from cases lodged in the international courts about maritime boundary disputes, denying Timor-Leste an avenue of recourse it enjoyed under international law.
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Jacqui Lambie still undecided on welfare legislation
Speaking of Jacqui Lambie, you may have seen a bit around this morning saying that she is going to support the government’s welfare legislation – the cashless debit card and the drug testing.
It’s not so cut and dry as that though. The senator has been in support of the cashless debit card for some communities but hasn’t made her mind up on a national rollout, as Rob Harris for Nine newspapers previously reported Scott Morrison was eyeing off, for the future.
And, on drug testing, she still wants to look through the legislation proposal. Plus, she wants the same proposed drug testing regime put in place for public servants and MPs.
A spokeswoman for the senator told me this morning:
Jacqui is supportive of the card but she doesn’t immediately support a national rollout and there are still tweaks that need to be made.
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Good morning
Welcome back to parliament!
It’s been five weeks or so since we last gathered on the hill and we can expect all the greatest hits, including “Whose side are you on?”, “How good is ... ”, “Just how safe are you?”, “It’s Labor’s fault despite not being in power for the last six years” and more.
I. Can’t. Wait.
What happened during the break?
Not a lot. Which is why we are back with cashless welfare card, drug testing welfare recipients and tough on crime.
The government want to wedge Labor on mandatory sentencing. Labor hasn’t made up its mind on that one yet but really wants to talk about the economy – the one thing the government doesn’t really want to talk about.
Newspoll is out, but I am not sure if anyone is paying attention to polling just yet – you can find the results here, but Anthony Albanese’s personal popularity didn’t come off too great. Again, I am not sure if anyone is really paying attention to that right now.
Meanwhile, the Greens and the crossbench are continuing to lead the charge on a federal corruption watchdog “with teeth”. Speaking of the crossbench, it is the Jacqui Lambie show right now.
The Tassie senator had the deal she struck with the government – wiping Tasmania’s federal housing debt in exchange for her support for the tax cuts – confirmed at the weekend but she is crucial for quite a few upcoming votes. One of them, the ensuring integrity bill, comes down to her and, as she told the Guardian late yesterday, she’ll vote for it if the CFMMEU boss John Setka doesn’t step down.
Stay tuned.
You have me and Mike Bowers, as well as Katharine Murphy, Sarah Martin, Paul Karp and the rest of the Guardian brains trust. I still need a coffee, so I am working on that.
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