And that is it for the fortnight! We made it! Huzzah!
We’ll be back when parliament is, on 18 June, for the last two weeks before the winter break. So, won’t that be amazing.
As for this parliamentary week, well, what an absolute corker. And it was only three days!
Everyone has earned their weekend, this week. Everyone.
A big thank you to the Guardian brains trust for dragging me through the muck and mire and cleaning up all my messes. And to Mike Bowers, who, when he is not here singing songs to me, can be found at @mikepbowers.
And, as always, the biggest thank you to you, for reading. Thank you for all the messages, good and bad. I promise to respond to those I haven’t. I do truly appreciate you caring as much about the blog as you do.
That’s it for me, blog wise, until parliament comes back, but we’ll keep you updated on the site. In the meantime ...
Take care of you
Ax
Updated
Merry Christmas!
I hear the Labor conference will be mid December: 16 through 18 #auspol
— Katharine Murphy (@murpharoo) May 31, 2018
So it looks like Festivus is coming early for the Labor party this year.
To be fair, there are not a whole heap of dates the convention centre would have free for a conference of that size – and it would probably need to be in Adelaide, or Labor risks not only blowing the $300,000 that it cost to book the convention centre, and then coming up with another $300,000 to book somewhere else.
Plus, if you were worried about the Liberal party playing silly buggers for a second time and scheduling a general election for the date of your conference, it’s a pretty safe bet to hold it just before Christmas.
Updated
The House MPs are returning to their electorates but the work, particularly this time around, doesn’t stop.
Particularly for those in Queensland and Tasmania. The byelection campaign has begun in earnest, being as it is, a pseudo general election campaign.
Braddon is the electorate Labor is most worried about but Longman is also posing its difficulties. Mayo is not a done deal for the Liberals and a Downer losing a fight for that electorate would have a pretty big ripple effect.
So brace yourself for many, many hi-vis and closed in shoe media appearances.
28 July won’t be the end either. We are on this train until the general election is called.
Updated
And a reminder that anything I don’t bring you from the chamber, is available in the Hansard.
Which you can find here.
This blog is a mix of all the day, inside and out the chamber. It is never going to include absolutely everything, but we do our best to bring you the tossed salad which is Australian politics. Things which are missed are not done on purpose, or as part of a grand conspiracy – it’s because we, or more specifically, I, am looking elsewhere. Like one of the other three screens I follow along with, or social media, or my phone where I am working to firm up something I have heard or find you background.
I appreciate how involved you are in this blog, and more widely, how engaged you are in politics. It is so important to our democracy that as many people as possible stay involved and engaged with this place and those who dwell in it. But it is always going to be impossible for me to please all the people, all the time. Those things I miss, which are part of the national debate, I do my best to track down. Some have to flow through to the keeper though, because I know there is a record of it. In the Hansard.
OK. Moving on.
Updated
And, as promised, so the bays for blood can cease, Bill Shorten’s speech on the ABC:
A cut in funding to the ABC may not determine the outcome of the next election but it does determine the sort of country we are and the sort of direction this nation is taking.
This government has neither an agenda, nor any real authority but it does do good vendetta.
It speaks every day against the unions or against better conditions for workers, it speaks against properly funding our schools and our hospitals, our Tafe and our universities.
But it also, in the last budget, it has cut the national broadcaster and the capacity of the national broadcaster to fulfil its charter. In the budget, barely two weeks ago, $83.7m was cut from the ABC in the form of an indexation freeze over the next three years.
This cut is on top of the $254m cut in 2014 and another $28m in 2016.
I think many Australians as they listen to the parliamentary debate have noticed this notorious cut to the ABC but wondered why on earth there is not more debate about it.
So, today, my colleagues and I speak up to defend the ABC and to defend a deeper principle: the fundamental principle of Australia possessing a quality, well-funded, independent public broadcaster.
Labor stands up for the ABC and the Coalition attack it. And do they complain about the ABC.
I have the latest example; on the 6th of May this year the ABC news ran a story analysing the government’s “innovation agenda”.
On the next day, which happened to be the day before the budget, when you think the prime minister might have had something more to do with his time, sent through a list of 11 complaints about the story. He couldn’t even cut it down to a modest 10.You could just imagine, the first thing Monday morning, poor old PMO staffer called into his lordship’s office and said: “Take a letter to the ABC”.
“Dear Sir/Madam. Here are 11 things wrong with last night’s segment. Signed, Bitterly disappointed, Point Piper.”
And how many of his complaints prompted a correction?
Was it 11? No.Was it 10? Was it five? Just one!
And did the prime minister then, having scored a manifest victory to get one correction off the ABC, did he leave it there, flushed with the glow of another success of the Turnbull government?
Not at all. He rang up Senator Fifield, and he said: “Lodge a separate complaint!” And then though, when it comes to the ABC, Senator Fifield is something of a vexatious litigant. The sort of chap who’d take you to court for putting your recycling in his bin on bin night.
This year he is averaging one complaint a month: In January, he complained about Triple J moving the date of the Hottest 100, in response to a voluntary national survey – how dare they?
He then complained about an Emma Alberici article on corporate tax. He complained about a Tonightly sketch insulting John Batman. He complained, because nothing escapes his stellar gaze, about a sketch on Black Comedy, on the ABC Indigenous Facebook page.
Then of course it was Emma Alberici again and the Prime Minister’s blockbuster: ‘11 things I hate about the ABC’.
I have to say, we do question his priorities as minister for communications but you can’t fault his commitment to letter-writing and keeping Australia Post in business.
Now, to the best of anyone’s knowledge, the last time a communications minister referred a complaint about the ABC to the regulator was in 2003 when Senator Richard Alston complained about their coverage of the weapons of mass destruction in the Iraq War.
Now I do say though of Senator Fifield in all seriousness, he wants to talk about complaints: why don’t you focus on the 204 percent increase in complaints in the NBN?
These complaints though, as amusing as they are, are not just a harmless obsession, they come with real consequences.
Cuts to the ABC have become a fact of life under conservative governments. The efficiency reviews. The faux ‘competitive neutrality’ inquiries. The deals with One Nation to change the charter.
Now the poor old National party, once upon a time under Minister Nixon, they knew enough about the bush to understand that you had to back the ABC – but that doesn’t even happen anymore.
And in the past to be fair, to be fair, the Liberals would at least offer a reason, under Howard or under Fraser, to cut back the ABC. But now they don’t even bother, no reasons.
It has become part of the accepted part of the conservative political landscape in Australia to be into reducing and bashing the ABC.
There is no doubt that the ABC in the last 20 years has been harmed by the ironically named ‘culture’ wars led by the right wing in Australian politics. But when you look at any genuinely independent survey, despite all of the attacks, commercial and ideological, the ABC still retains a level of credibility and trust unmatched by any other media organisation and indeed most institutions in Australian life.
And this is what the out of touch prime minister always gets wrong. He wants to protect the banks from the scrutiny of a royal commission.
He refuses, stubbornly, to support a National Integrity Commission, a federal ICAC to restore some faith in our system. But he still finds the time to attack the most trusted institution in our country.
The ABC is part of the fabric of our country. 17 million of our fellow Australians consume some form of ABC content every week.
It’s the cricket and the footy on the radio. It’s the brilliant drama made on shoestring budgets. It’s AM, it’s Radio National. It’s Triple J.
It’s Playschool, it’s Behind the News. It’s the company on the long drives in the bush. It’s the calm and comfort for older Australians in the late evenings or on iView to catch up on the latest, to revisit an old favourite.
Our nation has grown up with the ABC. The first radio and TV services heard in the bush were courtesy of our ABC.
In the Second World War Australians learned that we were at war, listening to Prime Minister Menzies on the ABC. And for many Australians, the great news of V-J Day being celebrated in Martin Place was broadcast by the ABC.
Our nation has grown up with the ABC, indeed, we all have. I remember as a child knowing that when you could hear that majestic fanfare theme song of the news coming on, it’s time to start preparing for bed. And at different times in our lives, even if we don’t always listen to the ABC, in the cycle of life patterns we come back and listen to our ABC.
It has a far greater responsibility to cover in our far-flung nation, urban and regional, than any other media organisation. And it does cost money. And I am deeply concerned that this government is perpetuating a malaise and a disillusionment within the ABC about the future of the ABC. It is fundamental to the health of our democracy.
I acknowledge the importance of commercial media operations, the commercial mastheads of our print and the role of active journalism in our daily lives. But nothing, nothing can replace the central role in our democracy of an independent, not-for-profit, public broadcaster which is well-funded.
Any politician who says that they’ve never been frustrated with the ABC, well, you’ve never been in politics then. But if you can’t put the personal aside and put the nation’s interests first, then you shouldn’t be in politics.
It demands, I believe, in our democracy and the role of the ABC in the words of the first ABC TV news broadcast 71 years ago, it is: “News you don’t have to fetch and carry…The view you can get without having to go to your window.”
As opposition leader and as the leader of the Labor party, we will defend the ABC, we will defend the independence of the ABC.
And as prime minister, a Labor government will defend the independence of the ABC. We always ensure that the ABC has the resources and the freedom to do its job.
And we start by saying loud and clear to this government, this $83m cut should not go ahead.
When it comes to the next election, the Australian people will have a very, very clear choice. They can vote for the conservatives and the continued diminution of the ABC.
And if the ABC at the next election, for the conservatives is just viewed through the prism of some free market obsession – I promise you, government, you do not understand how Australians think.
The ABC is an 85-year-old institution.
It’s a friend that Australians can count on through good times and in bad times.
And we say to all of those Australians who hold the ABC as an important and valuable part of their lives and in our society, we say to those people who care about the ABC: the Labor party will stand alongside the ABC and we will win this argument and stop these cuts.
Updated
The House has adjourned. It will be back on 18 June, when the Senate will also be sitting as normal.
And it should come with Barnaby Joyce, who announced on Twitter yesterday he would be back at work on 15 June, despite the government thinking it had managed to get him out of parliament until at least August.
His [reportedly $150,000] interview with new partner Vikki Campion will be broadcast this Sunday.
Updated
Just one to mark in your diaries: the fair work national minimum wage decision is due tomorrow.
Updated
Interesting to see one of the architects of super, Bill Kelty, seeing merits in state-owned default super fund to fix failures in current system. Retirement funds should be run w no fee gouging, good returns, not-for-profit & in public interest. Something to be considered further
— Richard Di Natale (@RichardDiNatale) May 31, 2018
The Guardian’s environment reporter Lisa Cox has taken a look at one of Tony Abbott’s appointments: the windfarm commissioner, and found that the position meant to deal with noise complaints has actually led to more people taking up wind energy.
The role of Australia’s windfarm commissioner has been a success and should be expanded to include solar and other large-scale renewables, a report by the Climate Change Authority has recommended.
It says the post, set up under the former prime minister Tony Abbott to handle complaints and investigate potential risks, has actually facilitated the uptake of wind energy by helping to address community concerns.
The controversial role of national windfarm commissioner was established by the Coalition in 2015 as part of a deal with anti-wind senators in response to complaints about turbine noise.”
So Abbott has actually helped Australia’s renewables sector. Beyond signing Australia up to the Paris agreement.
Updated
Right. The Mark Dreyfus question to the prime minister:
“I refer to the government’s new banking executive accountability legislation. What sanctions would the chairman of an investment bank such as Goldman Sachs be subject to under these new measures when he dishonestly breaches the Corporations Act in advising on the sale of an insurance company, when that sale then contributes to the greatest corporate collapse in Australian history?”
Scott Morrison took it:
“This is a very good example of how the Turnbull government has been taking action to deal with misconduct in the banking and financial system.
“It follows the work that was done following the financial system inquiry, which was initiated by the Coalition government when we came to office, which I note the previous government refused to undertake.
“They refused to undertake the financial system inquiry. They refused, frankly, to do anything in relation to banking executive accountability when they were in office, despite the fact they dealt with Opes Prime, despite the fact there was Storm Financial, despite the fact there was the takeover of Bankwest by the Commonwealth Bank, despite the ANZ Landmark transaction.
“When all of this was going on, where was the leader of the opposition then? Where was the shadow treasurer then, when they were in government? Well, I know what the shadow treasurer was doing: he was the immigration minister, completely stuffing up our borders.
“But when it came to those who wanted to talk about these issues, they presided over all of these things and did absolutely nothing. As the minister reminded us yesterday, they turned a 000 phone number into a policy when it came to what they did to deal with misconduct in the banking and financial system.
“What we have done is put in place the toughest set of accountability rules for banking executives that has ever existed in this country. It is changing the conduct, and will change the conduct, in our banking and financial system, because of the penalties, because of the sanctions.
“What will happen under this regime is that bankers who do the wrong thing will no longer be able to slip out the side and go and work in another bank somewhere else. They won’t be able to work in a bank ever again. That is what our rules are doing. That’s the action we’re taking.
“We’ve doubled the penalties for jail terms from five years to 10 years. That’s what we’re doing as a result of the enforcement taskforce that we put
together to look at the penalties that came out of the review of the financial system inquiry.
“We’re taking action with tougher penalties. They can face penalties of up to $1m – just under that – personally, and for individual institutions some $200m in penalties apply as a result of the tough rules that we are putting in place.
“What the Labor party did for the victims of misconduct in the banking and financial system was zip, zero and nothing, and they should be ashamed of their misconduct in overseeing that system.”
Updated
So everyone can continue their afternoons in peace, rest assured, I am tracking down both Mark Dreyfus’s question to Scott Morrison in question time and Bill Shorten’s speech on the ABC.
Just on the ministerial standards, here is the preamble:
“Ministers and parliamentary secretaries are entrusted with the conduct of public business and must act in a manner that is consistent with the highest standards of integrity and propriety.
‘They are required to act in accordance with the law, their oath of office and their obligations to the parliament.
“In addition to those requirements, it is vital that ministers and parliamentary secretaries conduct themselves in a manner that will ensure public confidence in them and in the government.’
Updated
Speaking to Sky after question time, Catherine King says she believes Greg Hunt has a problem with his temper:
“It does seem to be a pattern, there seems to be frankly, the fact that he has only admitted to these because the media has enquired about them, not because he thinks there is something wrong in behaving in this way.
“I think there are some questions that both the prime minister has to ask, is this the sort of conduct becoming of a minister of crown, does it meet his standards.
[Do you think there is a problem with his temper] “...Yeah, I do.”
Is he fit to be a minister?
“I think that is a matter for the prime minister to answer - does this minister meet his ministerial standards, and that is really a matter for the prime minister.
“...And of course, not all of us are saints, there are incidents which do occur, but I think that you have now had these to, only admitted to after the media has asked some questions, I think the prime minister has to say - are there any others?”
From Mike Bowers’ eyeballs to your eyeballs:
TFW you have to listen to someone, because they represent the parliament, no matter how big your department is.
I now know what Malcolm Turnbull would look like belting out a power ballad.
AND THENNNNNN
The chamber ...
Updated
There’s been a bit more discussion on the plan to drug test welfare recipients over in social services estimates.
The Labor senator Murray Watt is questioning the reliability of the sewage testing used to select one of the three trial sites, Logan in Queensland. He said the wastewater analysis, which picks up drug use, related to all of south-eastern Queensland, not just Logan. He quotes the Logan acting mayor, Cherrie Dalley, who said in council this week:
“The federal government already had systems to control welfare payments set up to operate in Logan and it was simpler to do it in Logan rather than set it up somewhere else.”
Social services department secretary, Kathryn Campbell, acknowledged the government had considered that Logan already has income management – an essential component of the drug-testing plan – in place, through the cashless welfare card trial.
“It’s one of the factors, senator. I t think we’ve given evidence in the past there were a number of factors.”
On this, I spoke to Dalley’s office this week about her position on the Logan drug-testing trial. She plans to come to Canberra to speak to the Senate crossbench, government and opposition MPs.
“Discussions with our drug and alcohol support sector indicate that to improve the delivery model of the trial, it should bring forward intervention and treatment, incorporate a holistic approach, and incentivise the completion of treatment programs,” Dalley said.
“We want to ensure there is maximum opportunity for welfare recipients with problematic drug use to access effective treatment and other supports, and ultimately gain sustainable employment.
“Our focus is on ensuring that adequate resources and funds are allocated towards providing the education, treatment and support services that are required.”
Updated
Lucy Gichuhi has released a statement confirming that the Nationals have approached her (it was a line in the Oz story today, talking about Brian Burston’s vote switch away from One Nation) but that her heart remains with the Liberals.
It’s quite the read, and takes us on journey:
“I confirm that the Nationals have been informally talking to me since I joined the Senate.
“I take this opportunity to state that I have never DEFECTED from any political party.
“I learned that the now defunct Family First party was to cease to exist, just before the high court handed down its decision that confirmed me as duly elected senator. I entered the Senate as an independent senator without any political party. I took time to understand the policies and values of the entities in this complicated political landscape.
“This gave me nine months to carefully study the strengths and weaknesses of each political entity. As a result, I made an ideological and evidence based decision to join the Liberal party.
“I stand by my decision.
“Whilst I hold our Coalition partner in the highest regard and have appreciated its members’ help and kindness, I took time to choose the party I am most closely aligned with.
“Once again, I stand by my choice. The Liberal party is founded on the values I hold close to my heart: freedom of choice, conscience, thought and belief, a fair go, mutual obligation, contributing to society and the freedom to disagree agreeably.
“These are the values I grew up with as clearly stated in my maiden speech.
“I arrived in Australia in 1999, a time when the Liberal party was in government both at a state and federal level. In South Australia, John Olsen was the premier and John Howard was the prime minister.
“It was my window of opportunity. I will never forget the ‘meet and greet’ and ‘interlink’ programs, which helped me get started as a new migrant. I learned how to speak Australian English, how to write a resume, where to find a job and how to attend an interview. This helped me secure my first job four months after landing in this country.
This is what Liberal party polices do to help new migrants.
“Later I worked with small business and I understand the Liberal party policy of growth for individuals and businesses. An employee becomes a small business owner, and small businesses grow to become big businesses. Big businesses become big employers.
“That is why we need to support the Turnbull government’s tax cuts both to businesses and individuals.
“That is how Liberal party policies work, to ensure growth, opportunities and jobs. The Liberal party understands the language of empowering all Australians
irrespective of culture, creed or colour.
“As and when we Australians find ourselves at a socioeconomic crossroad we can trust Liberal party policies to give us a ‘hand-up’.
“We can go back to school or university, reinvent ourselves or start a business and become all we can be.
“I know that it must have been incredibly difficult for the former Family First state leader, Dennis Hood, to make the decision to join the Liberal party. I congratulate and thank him for his courage.
“I appeal to all Australians including voters of the now defunct Family First party, Christians and migrants alike, to revisit Liberal party policies. In there you could find your window of opportunity.”
Updated
Now. Back to question time.
What Greg Hunt admitted was that he had a “strong discussion” with a now former departmental head, which was “strong” enough that Martin Parkinson, the PM’s department head, had to step in.
There were rumours that Martin Bowles had left as the health department head in August 2017 because of tensions between him and Hunt, who had taken over the ministry.
Sean Parnell, one of the best health reporters in the business, covered that here.
After question time, Tony Burke brought up that Malcolm Turnbull was asked twice about whether he knew of any other issues involving Greg Hunt, and he didn’t answer the question, although Hunt’s answer proved the prime minister’s department was involved. It’s a good point, but there does not appear to be any recourse.
Updated
Question time has ended.
And just in time for us to learn from Katharine Murphy, that Josh Frydenberg has saved the Abbott’s booby. You don’t even know how much I enjoyed writing that sentence.
The Turnbull government has knocked back a controversial phosphate exploration proposal on Christmas Island ‘because it is likely to have significant and unacceptable impacts on matters protected under national environment law’.
Phosphate Resources Limited – the owners of a phosphate mine on Christmas Island – had proposed to clear 6.83ha of land and undertake exploration drilling along 44 survey lines in an effort to determine the extent of the additional phosphate resources on Christmas Island.
But the proposal has been knocked back under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act because the exploration would have taken place in rainforest areas assessed to be in either very good or pristine condition, and would have threatened the endangered sea bird, the Abbott’s booby.”
Updated
Dan Tehan gave a very dignified, and necessary, statement on the national redress scheme for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse.
He pays credit to the survivors, and to the former Labor prime minister Julia Gillard.
“Could I say to all members in this House, you all deserve credit for putting the interests of survivors first when it comes to this issue. Can I commend the former prime minister Julia Gillard for over seven years ago having established this royal commission. Can I commend my shadow for the personal interest that she has taken in this issue and the way it that she spoke on that bill during the week would have touched every member of this House.
“Can I thank the prime minister for hosting survivor groups in Kirribilli and showing them the utmost dignity that they deserve, and can I thank my predecessor, the now attorney general, for the way he handled this issue when he was in the office that I now have the honour to hold.
“Mr Speaker, delivering justice to the survivors of child sexual abuse is something that all of us in the house want to see and can now make happen by 1 July. It will not deal with all of the crimes, all of their sins, that were committed on those young, young innocent people but it will go a long way to help.
“It will mean they can get payment of up to $150,000, an average payment of around $76,000, access to psychological counselling and, as importantly, an apology from those institutions whether they were government or non-government institutions, who committed these heinous crimes on these people.”
Jenny Macklin rises to thank him for his remarks.
Updated
Greg Hunt admits to second 'strong conversation', this time with departmental head
Catherine King returns with the same question Malcolm Turnbull had not answered, twice, but this time, she asks Greg Hunt directly:
Can the minister assure the House that he has not been involved in any other instances of the kind we have seen described here in the papers involving inappropriate language or behaviour towards stakeholders, public servants or staff?”
Hunt:
“I will again sincerely reiterate my apology to the mayor of Katherine. I was asked some questions before question time today by the same news agency that had their story along similar lines.
“They want to know if in my time in parliament there had been any complaints by staff to the department of finance or parliamentary services, and to the best of my knowledge and the best of our records, the answer is no.
“I’m happy to continue to check on that but the best of my knowledge and the best my records, in addition to that, I was also asked whether there was any situations of complaints to my office manager and to the best of my record and knowledge, the answer is no.
“In 17 years.
“In addition to that, I was also asked whether there had been any mediations or settlements with staff. The answer is no and I have certainly never been involved with such things.
“I was also asked whether there had been any issues with public servants. There is one case which was raised with me, a former secretary of health. The prime minister himself raised it and asked the [secretary to speak] with the secretary of prime minister in cabinet.
“As soon as the prime minister was made aware, he asked me to deal with it and this was in relation to the issues of progress of screenings in cervical cancer. There was a risk not long after I came in [to the portfolio] ... women would be left without screening, which is literally a life and death issue.
“I did, as ministers are, from time to time, prone to have strong discussion [with the secretary]. It was raised to me by the secretary of prime minister and cabinet. He acted immediately and I take full responsibility.
“This was a matter of life and death, literally. I think in that situation, while it was a strong discussion, it resulted in the right outcome. The program was able to be continued and I have utmost respect for the public servant involved.
“I say this, with the best of my knowledge and in full clarity of the situation.”
Updated
Graham Perrett has what is becoming the daily campaign question for the prime minister, on why the government won’t accept Labor’s tax plan given it gives more back to lower- and middle-income earners.
Malcolm Turnbull:
“The honourable member has no doubt paid attention to the reports that demonstrate that under Labor’s tax proposals he was referring to, a public school teacher would pay between $800 and$1,200 more tax every year. A primary school principal would pay between $5,700 more tax every year.
“The difference between the government’s personal income tax reform and what Labor has proposed is that we have a comprehensive plan for reform. A comprehensive plan. There is a $530 tax refund next year [and] the plan goes on to reach the point where 94% of all Australian taxpayers will not face a marginal rate of more than 32.5 cents in the dollar.
“Labor is saying they oppose that plan, they say it is unfair, and yet one example after another can be shown. I have read out a couple, of hard-working Australians on middle incomes in jobs, not middle – one of the honourable members opposite believes that crane operators, forklift drivers and primary school principals are members of the undeserving rich.
“The Labor party fails to recognise that those dollars are hard earned. Australians are entitled to keep more of them and we are delivering personal income tax reform that respects them, respects their hard work, and will ensure they will keep more of the money they have earned. It’s their money, not the government’s. It’s their money, they had earned it, they can keep more of it to advance their dreams and their aspirations and that of their families.”
Just for the record, here is what you need to keep in mind when talking about “the middle”:
Morrison in #qt yesterday suggested if stage 3 of the tax plan (getting rid of the 37% bracket for over $120k, and raising the top threshold to $200k) was not done it would hurt "forklift drivers"
— Greg Jericho (@GrogsGamut) May 31, 2018
in 2015-6 the median income for them was $51,900https://t.co/MSSlTpAUIO pic.twitter.com/Sy04qOXxrS
Please print this out and stick it on your laptop until the election, or have it tattoed somewhere if that's easier. https://t.co/PYH6UGMVDH pic.twitter.com/t54dX7RtmU
— Mike Ticher (@mikewsc1) May 31, 2018
Updated
Oh wow this is dire today. Absolutely dire.
I am beginning to understand how this country was defeated by emus.
Jenny Macklin to Malcolm Turnbull:
“This prime minister is forcing Australians to wait until they are 70 for the aged pension. Does this arrogant and former investment banker of a prime minister seriously expect a nurse or a bricklayer to work until they are 70? At the same time that he is working with One Nation to give an $80bn handout to big business?”
Turnbull (who actually seems to enjoy answering this one):
“[After talking about Labor’s franking credits policy targeting pensioners] ... Mr Speaker, Mr Speaker, the honourable member and her leader can accuse me of being a friend of big business as much as they like. But you know something, I have never sold out the people I represent. I have never sold out workers. I have never sold out people who work with their penalty rates, not like the leader of the opposition. And who did he sell them out for? He sold them out to big business.
“There has never been a better friend of big business. Never been a bigger sycophant, a bigger sucker-up than the leader of the opposition. The business [people] in Melbourne know him for what he is, a grovelling ... ” (and the microphone cuts out because he is out of time.)
Updated
Amazon announced a little earlier today that it will no longer ship to Australia because of the change coming in, this July, which will see the GST apply to international purchases.
Labor has responded in a statement:
“Today’s announcement from Amazon that it will no longer allow Australians to access its international sites is an utter embarrassment for the treasurer and shows how the government’s stuff-up of these changes will reduce consumer choice.
“Amazon has announced that due to implementation difficulties associated with the government’s legislated model of GST collection on product purchases under $1,000, Australian shoppers will from 1 July this year no longer be able to purchase goods on Amazon overseas sites such as amazon.com and amazon.co.uk.
“Online platforms like Amazon have previously warned these sorts of changes would occur if the government pressed ahead with its preferred model of GST collection on small parcels.
“This is a direct response to how the government has sought to implement this reform.
“This is a slap in the face for Australian consumers already struggling with the cost of living who will now not be able to seek out potentially cheaper products on overseas Amazon sites.”
Updated
Josh Frydenberg takes a dixer on energy and I just hope his performance in the party room while wrestling Tony Abbott and the rest of the “Monash” forum over the Neg is a little more animated, because, well, let’s just say he’s not winning any theatre awards.
Updated
There was a dixer in there somewhere, but really, I am finding it a challenge to listen to even the opposition questions and answers today, so I am just going to move right along.
Bill Shorten to Malcolm Turnbull:
(It starts with asking if just three MRIs have been approved for Medicare licences.)
Access to MRIs covered by Medicare has become a lottery of location. Why won’t this arrogant and out of touch prime minister join Labor’s $80m commitment for 20 new Medicare MRI licences instead of making secret deals with Pauline Hanson to give an $80bn handout to his friends in big business?”
Greg Hunt takes this one:
“I am delighted to answer ... this question because in last [month’s] budget we made a $2bn, 10-year commitment to diagnostic imaging. Let me repeat that: $2bn, 10-year commitment to diagnostic imaging.
“One, we would retain the bulk billing step which happened on our watch in our time. I was a part of the first budget in health. Secondly and significantly, we indicated we would become the first government in almost two decades to index a series of diagnostic imaging.”
Someone then interjects with something about pies.
Hunt: You want to talk about pies? We can talk about pies if you want.
The House erupts.
Updated
Chris Bowen to Malcolm Turnbull:
“This morning One Nation senator Brian Burston confirmed that the prime minister did a secret deal with Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party on its $80bn corporate tax cut. Why weren’t this arrogant and out of touch prime minister share the details of the deal?”
Turnbull:
Yadda, yadda, yadda, we support Australian businesses, etc, etc, etc, we are growing the economy, record job growth, Labor smells.
(essentially)
Updated
Peter Dutton’s daily dose of “You are really safe, but can’t trust Labor” and “Ho, boy, aren’t those unions just terrible” included a nice little slice of “talking back to the Speaker’ today.
Variety is the slice of life.
Dutton: Mr Speaker, I noticed in the Courier Mail this week that a [former] CFMEU official, Dave Hanna, has been charged with rape.
Tony Smith: The minister will resume his seat. The minister will resume his seat. The minister will resume his seat. The member for Lindsay is warned. Just at this point, I am asking the minister to resume his seat. Because I just want to make it very clear to the House that I am concerned that we are about to get into territory that is ...
“The minister may well find that if he has looked at practice, there are general principles with respect to the rules.
“One of those key principles is that, and I quote, as a general [rule] matters before the courts should not be referred to from the time the person is charged until the sentence, if any, has been announced.
“Restriction should apply again if an appeal is launched and remain until the appeal is decided.
“Now, what the minister has done, so far, is on the right side of the line. He is merely referring to a [public] fact ...”
Dutton: “... I had no intention to go beyond.”
Smith: “It doesn’t need a commentary.”
Dutton: “I want to give you that assurance. The point I go to is the fact that the CFMEU is the most lawless union in the country and yet they are best mates with the leader of the opposition. People of questionable character who donate millions of dollars to the Labor party and its leader of the opposition who doesn’t have the strength of character to stand up to people of this ilk.”
Updated
Catherine King to Malcolm Turnbull:
I refer to the prime minister’s previous answer. Is the prime minister or his office aware of any other incidents or complaints involving this health minister’s language or behaviour towards stakeholders, public servants, or staff?
#theprimeministerdidnotanswerthequestion
King gets up too late to pull him up about it, so after another particularly dire dixer, we are back to the same question.
The gee-up the Coalition MPs have had over their lacklustre question time behaviour (it’s being called the Coorey clause, after the Fin’s Phil Coorey mentioned on Insiders how every time he looks into the chamber during QT, the government backbenchers are on their phone).
Turnbull says that Greg Hunt is an excellent minister, doing an excellent job and the backbenchers pounds on their desk.
King gets up again to ask about the relevance of the answer, but the PM has concluded his answer.
What is particularly pertinent there, is that he did not say no. He did not address the question at all.
Updated
Another dixer to Scott Morrison. Apparently the people of Petrie needed an update on the economy and whether there are any other approaches.
Morrison, after reading the bulk of his answer, then starts yelling about gorillas.
Well it is throwback Thursday, I suppose. And that’s a throwback to a previous question time attack which involved some documentary he saw with gorillas and how it reminded him of Chris Bowen’s economic plan.
There was a gorilla of debt running under them, Mr Speaker, and we had to wrestle that gorilla to the ground, which is what we have done, because under this government debt falls over the next four years, and it falls by $230bn over the next 10 years.”
Updated
Cathy McGowan has the crossbench question and it is on regional education:
“Would you commit to developing a national regional educational strategy to improve the education outcomes of all regional Australians?”
Malcolm Turnbull:
“Yesterday the government released its response to the review. That announcement showed its commitment to better outcomes and more opportunities to regional, rural and remote students. It shows our commitment to taking the whole of government approach to this issue with the deputy prime minister and the ministers responsible for education, regional communications, regional development and social services, joining together to make the announcement.
“The government has accepted all 11 recommendations in the review and in doing so we are putting the education needs of the almost 400,000 students from regional, rural and remote communities front and centre.
“Recommendation 11 is one that will be of particular interest to the member. It is to enhance access, outcomes and opportunities in regions.
“The government acknowledges that a one size fits all approach to policy in regional areas do not work. We are investing in partnerships with communities to ensure that national policies are informed by local people living in the regions.
“Government will undertake an annual assessment of the adequacy of the support universities offer on transitioning to higher education, including student accommodation. That information will be included on the national admissions information platform.”
McGowan interupts to say she asked about a national strategy. Turnbull says he is outlining that national strategy. He ends by saying it is all very important and he understands how important it truly is.
Updated
Catherine King to Malcolm Turnbull:
“[It has been reported the prime minister’s office] recorded the expletives against a 72-year-old grandmother as a private matter. How is he willing to dismiss this as a purely private matter? How can it possibly be private when he met [with them about a community health matter] on a sitting day in Canberra?”
Turnbull says the report was “untrue” and says that Greg Hunt has statements he would like to make on the issue.
Hunt:
I want to make two statements. In December I met with a delegation from Katherine, and during the course of the conversation, used strong language. I have apologised to the mayor of Katherine and today I want to repeat that apology publicly and sincerely and absolutely.
“It was my fault and my responsibility and I accept that. It is important for me to both repeat that and I have apologised. My fault, my responsibility.
“The matter was raised [while I was on leave] at the time. The prime minister’s office received material by his staff. They acted and I took too long. My fault, my responsibility.”
Updated
The second dixer is to Scott Morrison, who, to be honest, seems a little tired. His finger pointing is just missing that ScoMo tsa tsa zu.
Is it because he knows the mighty Maroons are about to trample the Blues in Melbourne next week? Probably.
Tanya Plibersek to Malcolm Turnbull:
“I refer to reports that health minister unleashed a torrent of expletives to a grandmother. Why did the government ignore this? Is the prime minister so arrogant and so out of touch that he chose to ignore this shocking behaviour until it was raised by the media?”
Turnbull:
“My office did not ignore the correspondence from the mayor of Katherine. Quite the contrary. The minister has apologised and that is what the mayor of Katherine sought from him and that apology was appropriate.”
Updated
Question time begins
Tanya Plibersek to Malcolm Turnbull:
“Last night in the parliament, the member for Fadden said the government should make it cheaper to rent $100m superyachts by cutting the GST.
“Is the reason the prime minister has refused to support Labor’s policy to axe the GST on tampons because he, just like the member for Fadden, would prefer to abolish it on a superyachts?”
Scott Morrison takes it, but I am not sure why, because he doesn’t seem to have understood the question.
She does not know how to tell the truth. These are the simple facts. GST is applied to those vessels. If you buy them, if you lease them, it is a 10%. They are the facts. Stop telling untruths.”
We know that. Stuart Robert knows that too. That’s why, after a free trip to the annual Sanctuary Cove boat show, he came into the parliament and said the 10% GST on chartering superyachts – like the one Clive Palmer and James Packer own – was “a farcical situation”.
Updated
And it is is question time!
Bridget McKenzie, the Nationals deputy leader, was speaking about live sheep exports to Sky (I think we all know what the Nationals position on this is) and was asked, of course, about Barnaby Joyce.
She says she has spoken to him and “he’s fine, he’s fine” and she also hopes he is “enjoying some of that fresh New England air”.
Canberra is not exactly Australia’s biggest metropolis, but sure.
Updated
The banking royal commission is still on – Gareth Hutchens has your updates on that.
Anna Bligh, former Labor Qld Premier, now chief executive of the Australian Banking Association, is now in the witness box at the banking royal commission #auspol pic.twitter.com/n3ozN8aZXS
— Gareth Hutchens (@grhutchens) May 31, 2018
Updated
Your intelligence committee looked like it was having a good time today:
Updated
And for anyone who hadn’t seen this:
Today at Buckingham Palace, The Queen received and held an audience with the Hon. George Brandis on his appointment as High Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Australia. pic.twitter.com/GLYfXYQzep
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 30, 2018
Paul Karp sent this to me earlier this morning, but in the rush of the craziness I forgot about it – which says something about this morning.
Joe Bullock has joined the Liberal party, after 39 years in Labor, including as a federal senator.
He’s also swapped states, moving from Western Australia to Tasmania. From the ABC story:
A member of the conservative Baptist church, Mr Bullock told the ABC he felt ‘isolated and lonely’ inside the Labor party and again pointed to its position on same-sex marriage as the main source of his discomfort.
Mr Bullock said while he had no intention of running for parliament again, he has always maintained a strong interest in politics and wanted to stay involved, but this time with the Liberal party.”
Updated
Kim Carr has had a bit of fun in estimates. He’s sitting in on the innovation, industry and science hearing, where he has discovered the industry growth centres initiative is about to receive $450,000 for an advertising campaign, scheduled right before the 28 July byelections.
Why is this important? Well, industry is pretty important in Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia where three of the five byelections are being held – the three the Coalition is contesting.
From his statement:
“The government already spends $673,000 a year on the growth centres’ communications team. Despite this, the department forked out $250,000 of taxpayers’ money for consultants to create a Facebook page for the industry growth centres.
“This is after another $78,000 was dished out to another consultancy to investigate how many businesses had heard about the initiative. Departmental officials confirmed that the research undertaken by Woolcott found: “There was low recognition of the growth centres initiative and low awareness of opportunities to engage with individual growth centres.”
“After three years and $120m spent on the program, this admission is extraordinary, especially given at least one of the growth centre’s CEOs is on a salary of $485,000 a year.
“The evidence provided today exposes just how desperate this government is – throwing endless taxpayer dollars away in an attempt to convince the public that they have an industry plan.”
***end statement***
Updated
AAP has written up a handy fact sheet on the national redress scheme:
WHAT IS THE NATIONAL REDRESS SCHEME?
The national scheme delivers on a key recommendation of the royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse.
It provides access to counselling, a direct personal response from the institution and a monetary payment to survivors of institutional child sexual abuse.
WHO HAS SIGNED UP?
* Every state and territory except for Western Australia.
* The Catholic church: “We support the royal commission’s recommendation for a national redress scheme, administered by the Commonwealth.” – archbishop Mark Coleridge.
* The Anglican church: “We think this will be a very important part of the process for the healing of survivors of abuse.” – bishop Stephen Pickard.
* The YMCA: “We can’t change the past for survivors, but we can change their future.” – YMCA Australia’s chief executive, Melinda Crole.
* The Salvation Army: “We acknowledge that past practices and procedures led, in many cases, to the failure of the protection of children.” – Major Brad Halse.
* The Scouts: “Scouts Australia is committed to ensuring that all survivors of child sexual abuse have access to the national redress scheme.” – Chief commissioner Neville Tomkins.
WHO HAS NOT?
* Western Australia: “My hope is that Western Australia will sign up in the next couple of weeks. We have reached an agreement … They have internal processes that they have to deal with.” – The social services minister, Dan Tehan.
* Other organisations covering 20% of survivors.
Updated
A bit more on the live sheep export legislation, which was there, and then not there, this morning on the House agenda. Looks like Labor was right, and the government didn’t know if it would get blindsided. From Katharine Murphy’s report:
The Turnbull government has pulled a bill applying more regulation to the live sheep trade after the Liberal MP Sussan Ley signalled she would vote for a Labor amendment applying a ban on exports.
The government was due to bring forward its legislation applying tougher regulations to the scandal-prone industry, but yanked the bill on Thursday morning after Ley signalled to government colleagues she would cross the floor.”
You can read the whole thing here.
Updated
Labor is enjoying what One Nation’s latest drama will mean for its Longman byelection campaign. Bill Shorten:
Well I notice that yet again Pauline Hanson’s One Nation political party appears to be split and chaotic. Labor is never surprised when Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party votes with the Liberals.
The reality is that if you vote One Nation you’re voting for corporate tax cuts. But Labor remains steadfastly opposed to giving away $17bn to the big banks.
Every dollar that One Nation and Malcolm Turnbull give to the big banks is a dollar less available for schools and hospitals.
Every dollar we give to big banks means a cut to schools and hospitals.
Labor is going to oppose these corporate tax cuts all the way to the next election.”
The news Fraser Anning was leaving the party almost as soon as he was sworn into the Senate landed in the middle of the Queensland state election campaign, and I swear I have never seen Annastacia Palaszczuk look happier.
Updated
Mathias Cormann welcomed Brian Burston’s announcement he would still vote with the government on the corporate tax cuts (which will see the company tax progressively cut from 30% to 25%), despite Pauline Hanson’s decree One Nation would be pulling out of its deal with the government:
“The government was, I was, disappointed, when Senator Hanson decided to walk away from what had been a very firm private and public commitment that One Nation would support this very important economic reform,” he said.
“... It leaves us precisely where we were before: the government has 31 senators in the Australian Senate, we need 39 senators in order to secure the passage of legislation which Labor and the Greens will oppose.
“Obviously we have to continue working with all of the remaining government crossbenchers.”
Hanson insists that it is not a break in her party, despite having dumped Burston as the party whip yesterday, and said his claim to the Australian, that he found out about the policy in the paper, was a lie. She says she spoke to him on the Monday and during a nine-minute phone conversation told him the plan.
“He feels that he did a deal with senator Cormann. To me, I think it is more important that we have to protect our Australian companies and industries here. You can’t open up the floodgates for multinationals coming in and not paying their taxes here which will eventually destroy our own Australian companies and industries when 98% of them pay their taxes in Australia. That’s where we need to deal with this.”
Labor and the Greens, meanwhile, are all but doing a jig, that once again, One Nation appears to be cracking. (It has already dropped from four to three votes, after Fraser Anning, Malcolm Roberts replacement, left the party.)
“One Nation is a rabble really,” Richard Di Natale told Sky.
“They have been a rabble from the moment they have been there. They are one-trick ponies. All they rely on is playing the race card, and when it comes to issues of substance, they have nothing.”
Updated
A bit of argy bargy over in social services estimates, this time about the government’s plans to increase the pension age.
We’ve long known the Coalition has a policy of raising the pension age from 67 to 70 by 2025-26.
The change is likely to make Australia’s pension age the highest in the developed world, and comes after Labor-initiated increases that take the age to 67. It’s been a slow-burner for the Coalition.
It first proposed the policy in 2014, but nothing’s happened since. Labor’s Lisa Singh has just pressed Liberal senator Zed Seselja on whether it will remain government policy at the next election.
He’s unable to answer, offering a simple:“I guess you’ll find out before the next election.”
Labor senator Murray Watt pipes up:“So you might abandon it?”
Seselja:“I’m not saying that, I’m just saying election policies, we spell them out in the lead-up to an election.”
Eventually Sesejla takes the question on notice. Singh describes the lack of an answer as “remarkable” and “bizarre”.
Updated
Footage of cattle covered in their own waste while on a live exports journey to Israel has emerged, expanding the live export debate:
Distressing footage of live cattle export vessel emerges | Sky News Australia https://t.co/ZZwFNqs94A
— Elizabeth Tilley (@liztilley84) May 30, 2018
Queensland LNP MP Keith Pitt was asked about it on Sky this morning, and said something along the lines of having seen his cattle look like that after they have rolled around in the mud.
But that’s bullshit, because this isn’t mud. It is actual cow shit. Asked what most Australians would think if they saw the conditions animal on these journeys face, me had this to say:
If every Australian went into an abattoir to see what happens in an abattoir, they might be uncomfortable about that too, but that is the process. If we are to use protein for our own consumption, then animals need to be slaughtered.
“If we are to be able to trade around live export, they need to be shipped, we have a very strong live export trade. We are doing everything we can to make sure it is as humane as possible.”
Updated
Bill Shorten has commented on the Coalition’s foreign interference laws, after a report that Labor is nearing a deal with the government on the espionage bill, one plank of the package.
Asked why Labor is now backing the law at a doorstop this morning, Shorten said:
“We’ll keep working through the issues. We put the national security of our nation above politics, but what we’ll also do is make sure that we get the detail right, and we’ll keep that process under way.”
Guardian Australia has confirmed that progress has been made towards a bipartisan report from the parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security, which is likely to be finalised by Tuesday.
Updated
Four more organisations join child abuse redress scheme
After the Catholic church signed up yesterday and South Australia on Monday, today the Anglican church of Australia, the YMCA, Scouts Australia and the Salvation Army have also said they will be part of the $3.8bn national child abuse redress scheme.
The Anglican church announced it had reached in-principle agreement to sign-up to the scheme, joining its dioceses in Melbourne, Brisbane and Tasmania.
An independent incorporated entity is being established to provide a single point of engagement so Anglican bodies can join as part of a national group.
“We hope that our participation in the independent national redress scheme will offer a further step to healing,” the Anglican primate, archbishop Philip Freier, said.
The YMCA also said it was working with all 19 YMCAs across Australia to help ensure it can be part of the scheme, which is expected to start in July.
“We all share the responsibility for responding to survivors of child abuse, just as we all share the responsibility to make sure every child in Australia is safe and protected,” YMCA Australia’s chief executive, Melinda Crole, said.
“We can’t change the past for survivors, but we can change their future. An effective national redress scheme is critical for ensuring justice and healing for survivors.”
Very welcome news. https://t.co/gtkL1vGQx8
— Mark Dreyfus (@markdreyfusQCMP) May 31, 2018
Updated
The social services department is before Senate estimates this morning, and we’ve learned a little more about the government’s plan to dock the welfare of people who repeatedly fail to pay court-imposed fines.
The plan was announced in the budget, but largely depends on the support of the states and territories to work. The aim is to help the Coalition tighten its social security spend, help states recover debts, and keep people out of jail for failing to pay fines.
But welfare rights groups say it will push people into poverty by reducing their already pitiful Newstart payments further.
This could have the perverse effect of increasing crime as desperate people look for alternative ways to survive.
This morning we heard that the federal government envisages taking up to 15% of welfare payments to pay off fines.
The final figure is subject to negotiations with the states and territories, which are only in their early stage.
Those who are in extreme hardship will be given special circumstances, the department secretary, Kathryn Campbell, said.
It prompted criticism from the Greens senator Rachel Siewert: “The federal government planning to garnish up to 15% to pay for fines from struggling Australians on a maximum rate of income support shows that policy makers do not understand just how hard it is to survive on low income support payments,” she told Guardian Australia.
“It has already been well established that the maximum single rate of Newstart leaves struggling jobseekers with just $39 a day. To then deduct 15% to pay for a fine will push people already living well below the poverty line into further poverty.”
Updated
It has just been pointed out to me that Stuart Robert’s speech, which called for the scrapping of the GST on superyacht charters (a superyacht is a boat which is more than 24 metres, so you’re talking A LOT of water real estate, so chartering them isn’t exactly cheap) came after his visit to the annual Sanctuary Cove boat show (which he mentions in the speech).
A quick check of his his register of interest shows he was given free tickets for the boat show.
Updated
The government has moved around the House order of business this morning. The live sheep export amendments were supposed to be dealt with early – and then weren’t.
Joel Fitzgibbon thinks it’s because the government couldn’t guarantee it wouldn’t be rolled by members of its own backbench.
Sussan Ley and Sarah Henderson are leading a push among backbenchers to have the practice phased out over five years, and have a private member’s bill to that effect.
Fitzgibbon thinks that’s exactly why the government’s official legislation was pulled from the list today:
Yesterday I foreshadowed that Labor will move an amendment to the bill to incorporate a mirror copy of the Sussan Ley private member’s bill to phase out the live sheep export trade over five years. This amendment to the bill would have brought the vote on quicker and given it a better chance of passing the House with a simple majority, reflecting the true will of the parliament: to phase out cruelty in the live sheep export trade.
The actions taken today clearly show that Malcolm Turnbull is running scared that he does not have the confidence of his party to stop Labor’s amendment.”
Updated
More organisations join the national redress scheme
Dan Tehan has just announced the Scouts Australia, the Salvation Army, the YMCA and the Anglican church have joined the national redress scheme for survivors of institutional sexual abuse.
This follows the Catholic church signing up yesterday.
Updated
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has asked a series of very thorny questions about the chaplains program.
Hanson-Young is concerned that Grace Communion International, which she said believes in gay conversion therapy, provides chaplains in Victoria and she asks education department officials for a full list of providers.
She also provides an example from another provider where a girl suffering from anorexia was told that she was “hungering for the word of the lord”. The education minister, Simon Birmingham, asks for details of that allegation and notes that state governments administer the program.
Hanson then asks Birmingham to define proselytising, given it is prohibited by the program.
Birmingham said that quoting the Bible is not necessarily proselytising, it depends on the context, and then offered this definition:
”Proselytising is an attempt to convert someone to a particular religion or belief. Simply quoting the Bible is not engaging in conversion any more than quoting any other religious text.”
Hanson-Young argues it is impossible to say what is or isn’t proselytising, making the prohibition ineffective.
Updated
Government MP calls for scrapping of GST on superyacht charters
Not sure how this will help the government with its argument that it is fighting for the everyday Australian, but former assistant minister turned government backbencher Stuart Robert is calling for the GST on superyachts which are used for charter to be scrapped.
As a Gold Coast MP, Robert said it’s needed to help the region’s – and the nation’s – boating industry. He made a speech on the issue just before the House rose last night (page 105 for anyone who is looking through the Hansard).
I also believe there is an opportunity – and I’ve been reaching out to the Labor party on this – to deal with the issue of the 10% impost of GST on any superyacht that comes to Australia and wishes to charter. Right now, we face the farcical situation where there are no registered superyachts in Australia.
These large boats come to Australia. There is a market for charter, but the current law in this place says that if the $100m Dragonfly, a boat built in Western Australia but owned offshore, comes here and someone wants to charter it, they first of all must pay 10% of the price of the yacht.
The yacht owner must pay $10m to the commonwealth for the privilege of charter.
So surprise, surprise. How many million dollars come in from chartering? Zero.
So why don’t we apply a modicum of common sense and get rid of this ridiculous rule of 10% GST on charter boats.
It is something we can all agree on. Let us go forth and build a great boating industry, not just for the Gold Coast but for the entire country.”
So tampons are a luxury item, but the superyacht charter GST is “a farcical situation”.
Updated
Heading back to that exchange between Cash and Murray Watt now that things have settled down again for a moment:
Cash: “The only question which needs to be answered is that of Mr Shorten, who wants to run the biggest company in Australia, funded by the Australian taxpayer ...”
Watt: “It is not a company, it is a government.”
Cash: “Did he or did he not get the relevant authorisations to provide $100,000 of union members’ money to GetUp when he was the head of AWU and a director of GetUp, and that is the only question which needs to be answered and it could have been answered, eight, nine, 10 months ago.”
Watt: “Well, if you hadn’t been involved in organising a raid and a leak, maybe we would be focusing on that.”
Hume: “Senator, this isn’t tit-for-tat. Do you have a question for the minister, or a question for the department of industry.”
Watt: “Is taxpayers’ money being used to assist you in paying for your lawyers who you have instructed to have the subpeona?”
Cash: “Again, I will take that question on notice and provide it to the relevant Senate committee.”
Watt: “Are you receiving legal representation from either government or non-government solicitors in this matter?”
Cash: “Again, I will take that question on notice and provide it to the relevant Senate committee.”
Watt: “Can you tell us what time it is, minister Cash?”
Cash: (says nothing)
Watt: “Will you answer that question?”
Cash: “Now you are actually being silly, senator Watts.”
Watt: “No, I am looking for a question you might answer. Do you know what day of the week it is?”
Hume: “Have you got a question for the department?”
Watt: “What day is it today, minister?”
Hume: “Senator Watt.”
Watt: “Are you going to take that on notice?”
Hume: “You are stretching the friendship. I am going to give the call to somebody else who wants to ask questions.”
Watt: “Are we now covering up what day of the week it is?”
Hume: “Oh senator Watt, this is pathetic.”
Watt: “How far is this cover up extending? I just wondered, is there anything you will say today, about this incredible scandal that hangs over your head?”
Hume: “Minister, you don’t have to answer this, it has absolutely nothing to do ...”
Cash: “Oh, I am enjoying this performance by senator Watt. People often accuse me of being a performer. I am incredibly impressed by this.”
Watt: “Is this department, the department of innovation, industry and science, funding your lawyers?”
Cash: “This is not the relevant department, senator Hume.”
Watt: “You can’t escape that question.”
Cash: “This is not the relevant department for the issue senator Watt has raised.”
Watt: “So it might be another department that is funding your lawyers? But this department isn’t?”
Cash: “Again, I will take that question on notice and provide it to the relevant Senate committee.”
Watt: “Would you tell us if you haven’t been interviewed by the police, minister?”
Cash: “Senator Watt, you and I have answered this question ...”
Watt: “No, you have never, ever answered it.”
Cash: “ ... a million times now.”
Watt: “That is the point.”
Cash: “And again, I will take it on notice ... ’’
Watt: “I am going to keep coming back and ... ’’
Cash: “ ... and ask it’s referred ... ”
Watt: and asking these questions ... ”
Cash: “ ... to the relevant Senate committee.”
Watt: “Answer them.”
Hume interjects again to say it is the wrong committee. “Your questions have no relevance whatsoever to this particular committee, you know that.”
Watt: “That is not correct. If it is the case that the minister has been interviewed by the police, it is not in relation to the AWU proceedings, it is in relation to a criminal investigation into the activities of her office and possibly other offices in allegedly leaking confidential information in breach of the crimes act, that is what it is about.”
Cash: “That is completely wrong, senator Watt.”
Watt: “That is not wrong. So is there a different criminal investigation under way that we don’t know about? What is wrong about what I just said?”
Cash: “Senator Watt, you are entitled to come here and make as many statements as you like, no matter how incorrect they are, but as I said, you have your headline, I am not going to indulge your media stunt any further.”
Watt: “I just want some answers to questions that you never answer. That is what estimates is for.”
Cash: (says nothing)
Watt: “So you are not going to answer any of these questions?”
Cash: (says nothing)
Watt: “That is a question.”
Cash: “Well, senator Hume, I have taken all the questions on notice and I have said I will provide them to the relevant Senate committee.”
Hume: “I don’t think you can ask much more of the minister, senator Watt.”
Watt: “OK, so no money is coming from this department to assist you with your legal representation.”
Cash: (says nothing)
Watt: “Minister?”
Cash: “I’ve said I would take that question on notice and provide it to the relevant Senate committee.”
Kim Carr: “It is a cross-portfolio, and the issue is: is this department funding your legal defence, minister?”
Cash: “Well, I will take that question on notice and provide it to the relevant Senate committee.”
Carr: “What do you mean? You don’t know?”
Cash: “I said I would take that question on notice.”
Carr: “Well, I’ll ask the secretary. Madame secretary, is this department funding this minister’s legal defence?”
Departmental officer: “It is not, not to my knowledge, senator.”
Carr: “It is a straight answer. Thank you.”
Updated
Pauline Hanson insists One Nation is united, despite senator's break on vote
“ONE NATION IS NOT A LOOSE ALLIANCE,” Pauline Hanson cuts in, after asking Peter Georgiou to explain how the party democratically comes to decisions on how it votes.
One Nation is a bloc. We will vote as a bloc. We are not a loose party. There was a vote about same-sex marriage. I was open to other senators to have their own personal opinions stopped there are certain issues they should have their own personal opinion. We are united in our vote with this.
Hanson walks away and, despite saying goodbye, Georgiou stays in front of the cameras.
A reporter asks why he’s still there. Georgiou appears surprised to find himself alone in front of the microphones.
I didn’t realise she walked away. I will walk away too now. I will walk away, too, now.
Updated
Pauline Hanson says there is no guarantee Brian Burston will be on top of the NSW One Nation Senate ticket:
Just because you are automatically a senator in this place, you don’t get automatic top of the ticket. It is the preselection process which is yet to be finalised.
Updated
I rang both the senators on Monday morning to discuss the issue of corporate tax cuts and that is what was released to the papers on Tuesday.
That agreement from both the senators. The fact is, look, we’re both standing strong on our opposition to the corporate tax cuts. Based on the hole that is in the budget.
We have had a very good deal with the government. The whole fact is since the budget has been handed down, there is nothing addressing the budget deficit which will come into surplus in 2020, we are also not paying down the debt we owe.
I can’t see anything happening in this country. I am frustrated with spending by this government.”
Pauline Hanson is holding a press conference with Peter Georgiou. She says she had a “nine-minute conversation” with Brian Burston about pulling out of the company tax cuts “and has a record of it on my phone”.
Burston said he found out about the decision through the Australian.
Updated
Murray Watt:
What was the nature of the subpoena that was served on you?
Michaelia Cash:
Again, I will take that question on notice and have it referred to the relevant Senate committee.
Watt:
You are the relevant minister, it was served on you, there is no other minister it was served on. Does being served with that subpoena affect your ability to perform your role as minister?
Cash:
Absolutely not, I don’t think I will have been the first minister to have been served with a subpoena, and in particular, one by Mr Shorten’s union, his greatest backer, the Australian Workers’ Union.
Watt:
Have you been interviewed by the Australian federal police as part of their investigation into the leak?
Cash:
Again, that question has been answered.
Watt:
No it hasn’t.
Cash:
On numerous occasions.
Watt:
No, you’ve never answered that.
Cash:
And I’ll take it on notice and have it referred to the relevant Senate committee.
Watt:
You have never answered that question, despite being asked over and over again.
Jane Hume:
Senator Watt, that is not a question, that is a statement, if you have a question for the minister, or the Department of Innovation, Industry and Science, you are more than welcome to ask one.
Watt:
Minister, it is true isn’t it, you have actually never answered that question – whether you have been interviewed by the Australian federal police.
Cash:
I reject that assertion and, Senator Hume, to the extent that question is able to be taken on notice, I will take it on the notice and have it referred to the relevant Senate committee.
Watt:
Who else should we ask if you have been interviewed by the federal police? You must know. You must have been present if you were or weren’t interviewed, it is a simple yes or no answer. So have you been interviewed?
Cash:
I refer you to my previous answer.
Watt:
How many of your staff or former staff have now been interviewed by the AFP regarding the leak by your office?
Cash:
I rely on my former answer in relation to this and provided to the relevant committee.
Watt:
Are you claiming [Hume interjects again].
Minister, are you claiming a public interest immunity in order to not answer these questions?
Cash:
Again, I have taken this on notice and referred it to the relevant Senate committee.
Watt:
Why do we keep having this issue covered up? There are simple answers to these questions which would actually put away a lot of the doubt that remains, the cloud that hangs over your head, can be cleared, if you would actually just answer some questions about whether you have been interviewed by the police, how many people have been interviewed by your staff, have there been other ministers who have been interviewed as well ... this whole cover-up would go away. You must accept that it is actually making things worse for you.
Cash:
Senator Watt, again, I am not going to go along with your media stunt.
Updated
Watt:
Is taxpayers’ money being used to assist you in paying for your lawyers who you have instructed to set the subpoena aside?
Cash:
Again, I will take that question on notice and refer it to the relevant Senate committee.
Watt:
What time is it, minister? Is there any question you can answer?
Updated
Every question is receiving the same answer:
I have taken it on notice and it has been referred to the relevant Senate committee.
Murray Watt:
Have you been interviewed by the Australian federal police?
Michaelia Cash:
Again, that question has been answered on numerous occasions, I will take it on notice and have it referred to the relevant Senate committee.
Updated
Asked when she was served with the subpoena, Michaelia Cash has taken the question on notice.
Updated
Michaelia Cash to face Labor's AWU questions
The committee has come back and agreed that Michaelia Cash can answer Labor’s questions.
While we wait for the outcome of the committee’s decision on Michaelia Cash, a little bit of early morning fun – I only just discovered the emu war.
For those, who like me were sadly in the dark on this, shortly after the first world war, the army was sent to Western Australia to take care of what farmers were complaining was a growing emu problem.
And the army lost. Our military was defeated by emus. In a decisive emu victory.
The lovely people at @aboutthehouse and @ausenate have dug up the Hansard records for me. The minister for defence became known as the minister for the emu war, which you can find here and here, and the good people at @troveaustralia have also dug up some gems, including this 1930s troll:
Our favourite sarcastic response to calls for another Emu War: "Why not ask for a few planes from the Air Force?" pic.twitter.com/YXRbpCI6gX
— Trove (@TroveAustralia) May 30, 2018
I cannot believe I have lived my whole life without knowing this great Australian story.
Updated
The committee has gone on break – basically, Michaelia Cash has turned up when the committee is dealing with innovation and science, not fair work, which means questions on anything to do with the AWU raid can be shut down.
Murray Watt essentially wanted to know:
When were you served with the subpoena?
What is the nature of the subpoena?
Have you been interviewed by the AFP?
How many of your staff have been interviewed by the AFP?
Jane Hume:
I’m going to rule every single one of those questions out of order and demand the minister not answer them.
Updated
Michaelia Cash has popped up in economics estimates and Murray Watt began asking about the AWU raid – but Jane Hume has shut it down, by saying it is not relevant to the portfolio the committee is examining.
The debate is continuing.
Updated
If it all goes pear shaped with One Nation – and let’s be honest, that appears to be the well-worn path Brian Burston is headed down, with his announcement he’ll vote with the government, against Pauline Hanson’s wishes – it looks as though there is room for him with Cory Bernardi’s Australian Conservatives:
Lyle Shelton, who is continuing his illustrious career with an attempt to become a senator for the Queensland arm of the party, had this to say about Burston’s “yeah, nah” to Hanson’s decision:
The Conservative party has welcomed One Nation Senator Brian Burston’s decision to split from Pauline Hanson and support the government’s company tax cuts.
Spokesman Lyle Shelton said lower taxes was a core conservative principle.
‘True conservatives know that lower company taxes and smaller government are better for our economy. If we are to compete with the rest of the world, we must lower our company taxes,’ Mr Shelton said.
‘Conservative voters expect conservative crossbenchers to reward the government when it does the right thing, not chop and change positions on core conservative values.
‘If the Conservative party wins Senate seats at the next election, we will apply conservative principles of smaller government to tax policy – this is the distinctive the Conservative party offers voters who want to take out third-party insurance in the Senate.
“The baked-in minor party vote in the Senate is proof voters want a crossbench to keep the major parties honest.”
Hanson, or James Ashby, depending on which version you believe, dumped Burston as party whip last week, as Caitlyn Gribbin from the ABC first reported, giving reasons like, ‘I don’t really like your staff.’ Burston went to ground and was not answering calls, but has popped up today in the Australian to say he will be voting with the government, sticking with the original deal One Nation had struck with Mathias Cormann.
Taking bets now on whether a) Burston remains with the party for the rest of the parliamentary term and b) whether he appears on the NSW Senate ticket for the party under the One Nation banner at the next election.
Updated
Greg Hunt fronted the cameras early this morning to issue his apology, again (six months after the event.) Here’s the transcript:
Good morning. I just want to address some comments in the papers last night.
In December, I met with a delegation from Katherine. During the course of the conversation, I used strong language.
I have apologised to the mayor of Katherine and today I want to repeat that apology publicly and sincerely, and absolutely.
It was my fault and my responsibility and I accept that, and I think it’s important for me to both repeat that I have apologised to the mayor, but to repeat that apology publicly.
Journalist:
Minister Hunt, why did it come out now? How come it was revealed now?
Hunt:
I should have apologised earlier. My fault and my responsibility and I accept that responsibility and repeat that apology to the mayor, sincerely and absolutely.
Thank you very much.
Updated
Good morning and welcome to day 29
“Is it too late now to say sorry?” – ancient proverb
Greg Hunt has attempted to answer the philosophical question posed by the Biebs, after the Herald Sun revealed he had “unleashed a torrent of expletives” at 71-year-old Fay Miller, the mayor of Katherine.
From Rob Harris’s story:
Grandmother Fay Miller, the mayor of Katherine in the Northern Territory, and a former Country Liberal MP, says that at a private meeting last December, Mr Hunt told her she had to “f---ing get over” herself, and he’d been warned she was “feisty”.
She said he leaned towards her, “pointed aggressively” in her face, said she needed to make NT senator Nigel Scullion her “f---ing best friend”, and then continued to swear.
After being contacted by Harris, Hunt, who Miller had written to twice since the December incident, before going to the prime minister’s office, issued an apology, although he rejected he had “behaved aggressively”.
But because this is the 45th parliament, that isn’t the most interesting thing to have occurred overnight – One Nation’s cracks are getting wider, with the news that the Pauline Hanson loyalist Brian Burston has had enough and will vote with the government on the corporate tax plan.
That only proves the point Hanson’s critics were making last week, that Hanson’s turnaround on corporate tax was all about Longman and an attempt to hold on to some relevancy, rather than anything to do with budget concerns.
Stay tuned for more on that!
Mike Bowers is out and about – find him at @mikepbowers and trolling me at various times of the day on @pyjamapolitics – and hit me up at @amyremeikis on Twitter. And of course, when I get time, I’ll be scrolling through the comments.
Everyone ready?
Updated
