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Tony Abbott suggests the mining industry should demonstrate their gratitude to Ian Macfarlane – politics live Tony Abbott suggests the mining industry should demonstrate their gratitude to Ian Macfarlane – politics live
(35 minutes later)
1.20am BST
01:20
Speers presses Turnbull on tax growing as a share of the economy over the forward estimates while the deficit reduction is on the slow track. Turnbull says the tax share is growing because the economy is growing.
Speers then presses on the cost of the company tax cuts over the ten year horizon. Where is the government’s costing?
Turnbull points him to page 311 of the budget papers, he says the cost is there. No, it isn’t Speers says. (It isn’t, not in the explicit way Speers is asking for it). Turnbull then explains about the medium term outlook in the budget process. Speers fully understands the medium term outlook process in the budget. He doesn’t need that MalSplained™.
Speers just wants the ten year costing, which as he says, isn’t that hard.
No banana, David.
Malcolm Turnbull:
I’m not going to add the detail that’s in the budget papers.
1.13am BST
01:13
Malcolm Turnbull on Sky News
Sky political editor David Speers opens with the killing of Neil Prakash. Did Australia help point the US to Prakash, knowing this was a kill operation? Brandis said as much to Sky earlier today.
Turnbull says he won’t add to that, but says jihadists are enemies of Australia once they choose to wage war in theatres overseas.
The next question is on PNG and the Manus detainees. What’s happening in the wake of the PNG supreme court decision? Turnbull says people offshore cannot come back to Australia.
Q: Does Australia have a responsibility here?
Malcolm Turnbull:
We are doing everything we can to ensure they are well cared for ... and encourage them to either return home or settle in PNG ... or a third party.
Q: Have you ever met Donald Trump?
Malcolm Turnbull:
I’ve never met Mr Trump, no.
Q: Is it time to build some bridges?
Malcolm Turnbull:
Well, we’ll see. Ultimately this is a decision for the American people.
Speers points to all the daily Trump nonsense on the TPP and China and the region.
Malcolm Turnbull:
It’s an election campaign in America and I’ll leave that adjudication to the American people.
Q: Surely you’d object to these things?
Malcolm Turnbull:
Surely I would not.
1.02am BST
01:02
In addition to all the bits and pieces, we have the prime minister coming up on Sky News, and we also have two days of Senate estimates hearings. I’ll cover the prime minister obviously, and will tune in to estimates as I can.
Liberal senator Cory Bernardi, in a committee just now.
I for one am grateful that they are getting baton training.
(I have no context for this remark. Let’s move on.)
12.52am BST
00:52
The treasurer Scott Morrison has made a speech this morning to accountants about the budget, and has been stopped by reporters afterwards. The treasurer is still selling the government’s budget, and given it’s Bill Shorten’s big night tonight, Morrison is attempting to establish the key test for the ALP.
This, of course, is about framing. The government tries to frame Labor’s key tests, Labor attempts to frame the government’s tests.
Scott Morrison:
Bill Shorten tonight needs to outline very clearly just how much more he’s going to spend. Because the more he spends, the more he will tax you. Every moment you see Bill Shorten’s lips moving tonight, he will be spending more, which means he will be taxing you more. And he needs to be crystal clear with the Australian people about just how much more he is going to spend. And that includes not proceeding with the savings that this government has been able to put in place. The savings that he has been blocking.
So tax and spend is the official frame. No shocks there.
But reporters are still chasing him over Labor’s framing question (well one of them) about Tuesday’s document.
Q: Will you be releasing the full costings of your10-year corporate tax plan?
Scott Morrison:
It’s in the budget. If you look at the medium-term projections on the underlying cash balance, it goes out to 26-27 and our full tax plan is incorporated in those projections as provided for by treasury.
So it’s fully accounted for. It’s there.
12.41am BST12.41am BST
00:4100:41
Good morning to Matt Davey. Politics Live would be lost without him. Thanks for this, we are checking it out.Good morning to Matt Davey. Politics Live would be lost without him. Thanks for this, we are checking it out.
@murpharoo Hello. Michaela Cash has told @774melbourne that the Intern Programme will be compulsory, not voluntary. pic.twitter.com/neKUW0JZ6i@murpharoo Hello. Michaela Cash has told @774melbourne that the Intern Programme will be compulsory, not voluntary. pic.twitter.com/neKUW0JZ6i
12.09am BST12.09am BST
00:0900:09
Are Abbott's remarks consistent with his own code of conduct?Are Abbott's remarks consistent with his own code of conduct?
Back to Abbott for a moment because I am still doing yoga breathing on the story I opened with this morning.Back to Abbott for a moment because I am still doing yoga breathing on the story I opened with this morning.
Tony Abbott’s remarks raise a lot of questions, as I noted first up, but one thing I didn’t note first up was whether or not they are even consistent with his own ministerial code of conduct while he was the prime minister.Tony Abbott’s remarks raise a lot of questions, as I noted first up, but one thing I didn’t note first up was whether or not they are even consistent with his own ministerial code of conduct while he was the prime minister.
The Abbott ministerial code (which as far as I know has been picked up by Malcolm Turnbull) says the following about jobs after politics.The Abbott ministerial code (which as far as I know has been picked up by Malcolm Turnbull) says the following about jobs after politics.
Ministers are required to undertake that, for an eighteen month period after ceasing to be a minister, they will not lobby, advocate or have business meetings with members of the government, parliament, public service or defence force on any matters on which they have had official dealings as minister in their last eighteen months in office. Ministers are required to undertake that, for an 18-month period after ceasing to be a minister, they will not lobby, advocate or have business meetings with members of the government, parliament, public service or defence force on any matters on which they have had official dealings as minister in their last 18 months in office.
Ministers are also required to undertake that, on leaving office, they will not take personal advantage of information to which they have had access as a minister, where that information is not generally available to the public.Ministers are also required to undertake that, on leaving office, they will not take personal advantage of information to which they have had access as a minister, where that information is not generally available to the public.
There is another part of the code that’s potentially relevant given the unplugged way Abbott expressed his view in the adjournment debate.There is another part of the code that’s potentially relevant given the unplugged way Abbott expressed his view in the adjournment debate.
Ministers are expected to conduct all official business on the basis that they may be expected to demonstrate publicly that their actions and decisions in conducting public business were taken with the sole objective of advancing the public interest.Ministers are expected to conduct all official business on the basis that they may be expected to demonstrate publicly that their actions and decisions in conducting public business were taken with the sole objective of advancing the public interest.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.14am BST at 1.07am BST
11.58pm BST11.58pm BST
23:5823:58
Don't you worry about DonaldDon't you worry about Donald
Malcolm Turnbull has done a radio interview with MMM in which Donald Trump featured heavily. Turnbull noted of Trump (after some prompting) that he was the product of middle-class disillusionment in the US. The prime minister said the middle class in America had been squeezed during the recession, and income inequality was a big deal in the country, and that context was informing the presidential contest in the country. Malcolm Turnbull has done a radio interview with Triple M in which Donald Trump featured heavily. Turnbull noted of Trump (after some prompting) that he was the product of middle-class disillusionment in the US. The prime minister said the middle class in America had been squeezed during the recession, and income inequality was a big deal in the country, and that context was informing the presidential contest in the country.
Turnbull was asked about relations with Washington in the event Trump went from presumptive nominee to nominee, and from nominee to president. Host Eddie McGuire pointed Turnbull to regional disquiet about Trump’s foreign policy isolationism.Turnbull was asked about relations with Washington in the event Trump went from presumptive nominee to nominee, and from nominee to president. Host Eddie McGuire pointed Turnbull to regional disquiet about Trump’s foreign policy isolationism.
The prime minister noted that relationship with the US was bigger than any one president, or any one prime minister. Presidents and prime ministers could adjust the Anzuz alliance “a bit” but Australia would always have a friend and ally in Washington.The prime minister noted that relationship with the US was bigger than any one president, or any one prime minister. Presidents and prime ministers could adjust the Anzuz alliance “a bit” but Australia would always have a friend and ally in Washington.
Malcolm Turnbull:Malcolm Turnbull:
The Anzus alliance will grow and strengthen regardless of who the president is.The Anzus alliance will grow and strengthen regardless of who the president is.
(Translation: Don’t you worry about Donald. I wonder if he had his fingers crossed when he said that?)(Translation: Don’t you worry about Donald. I wonder if he had his fingers crossed when he said that?)
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.42am BST at 1.07am BST
11.48pm BST11.48pm BST
23:4823:48
Australian intelligence cooperated with the US to locate PrakashAustralian intelligence cooperated with the US to locate Prakash
Working through the developments. The government this morning has confirmed that Neil Prakash, a senior Australian Islamic State operative behind a string of failed terrorist attacks in Melbourne and Sydney, has been killed in a US military airstrike in Iraq. Shadi Jabar, the sister of the 15-year-old western Sydney boy who shot and killed police accountant Curtis Cheng last October, was also killed in a separate strike in Syria. The attorney-general, George Brandis, has told Sky News this morning Australian intelligence cooperated with the US in the “identification and location of Prakash”.Working through the developments. The government this morning has confirmed that Neil Prakash, a senior Australian Islamic State operative behind a string of failed terrorist attacks in Melbourne and Sydney, has been killed in a US military airstrike in Iraq. Shadi Jabar, the sister of the 15-year-old western Sydney boy who shot and killed police accountant Curtis Cheng last October, was also killed in a separate strike in Syria. The attorney-general, George Brandis, has told Sky News this morning Australian intelligence cooperated with the US in the “identification and location of Prakash”.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.13am BSTat 12.13am BST
11.36pm BST11.36pm BST
23:3623:36
Still cooling down, apologies, normal live blog transition will resume shortly. Many things on the go.Still cooling down, apologies, normal live blog transition will resume shortly. Many things on the go.
11.05pm BST11.05pm BST
23:0523:05
Hello, step back, I'm pretty crankyHello, step back, I'm pretty cranky
Good morning and welcome to Thursday in Canberra, which is budget-in-reply today. On Tuesday the Coalition had its moment to make its economic case for government. Tonight, it’s Bill Shorten’s turn. A big moment, given the election is truly a heartbeat away.Good morning and welcome to Thursday in Canberra, which is budget-in-reply today. On Tuesday the Coalition had its moment to make its economic case for government. Tonight, it’s Bill Shorten’s turn. A big moment, given the election is truly a heartbeat away.
But before we get to all that, it’s not very often I hear something in politics so gobsmacking that my mouth falls open. But last night, at the adjournment debate I did.But before we get to all that, it’s not very often I hear something in politics so gobsmacking that my mouth falls open. But last night, at the adjournment debate I did.
Tony Abbott, who has been quiet of late, made a speech last night that contained an observation that you could either characterise as incredibly naive, or laying bare the grimly transactional character of modern politics.Tony Abbott, who has been quiet of late, made a speech last night that contained an observation that you could either characterise as incredibly naive, or laying bare the grimly transactional character of modern politics.
Abbott was paying tribute to the sterling qualities of the former resources minister Ian Macfarlane, who is retiring at this election. Macfarlane while in government had swept away Labor’s mining tax, “a job-destroying, investment-killing tax, which didn’t raise any revenue”. (I know a tax can’t simultaneously destroy an industry and have no impact on an industry but let’s move past that, because logical inconsistency is not our problem.)Abbott was paying tribute to the sterling qualities of the former resources minister Ian Macfarlane, who is retiring at this election. Macfarlane while in government had swept away Labor’s mining tax, “a job-destroying, investment-killing tax, which didn’t raise any revenue”. (I know a tax can’t simultaneously destroy an industry and have no impact on an industry but let’s move past that, because logical inconsistency is not our problem.)
Tony Abbott:Tony Abbott:
It was a magnificent achievement by the [member] for Groom in his time as minister ... and I hope the sector will acknowledge and demonstrate their gratitude to him in his years of retirement from this place.It was a magnificent achievement by the [member] for Groom in his time as minister ... and I hope the sector will acknowledge and demonstrate their gratitude to him in his years of retirement from this place.
I know you might need a minute to let that sink in, so I’ll give you a few seconds to read back over that statement.I know you might need a minute to let that sink in, so I’ll give you a few seconds to read back over that statement.
Just in case your mind still blocks the meaning of that sentence let me decode: Abbott (a former prime minister, not some loose-lipped neophyte) is saying now the resources minister has been so kind to give the mining sector a big commercial benefit, now the sector should look after him.Just in case your mind still blocks the meaning of that sentence let me decode: Abbott (a former prime minister, not some loose-lipped neophyte) is saying now the resources minister has been so kind to give the mining sector a big commercial benefit, now the sector should look after him.
Now you might say to me isn’t that how politics works? Isn’t this just a statement of the obvious? I would say to you that statement is nothing we should be complacent about, or just lapse into cynicism about – it’s dropping the mask moment that should make us all ropably angry.Now you might say to me isn’t that how politics works? Isn’t this just a statement of the obvious? I would say to you that statement is nothing we should be complacent about, or just lapse into cynicism about – it’s dropping the mask moment that should make us all ropably angry.
In that rubric, public policy making is not about public interest, it’s about transactions, appeasing sectional interests. It’s about delivering for your mates (who happen to donate to the Liberal party), then having your mates look out for you. Meanwhile the public look on powerless, at the bottom of the decision-making pile.In that rubric, public policy making is not about public interest, it’s about transactions, appeasing sectional interests. It’s about delivering for your mates (who happen to donate to the Liberal party), then having your mates look out for you. Meanwhile the public look on powerless, at the bottom of the decision-making pile.
That glancing statement from Abbott doesn’t make me cynical, it doesn’t confirm my biases, it doesn’t make me shrug my shoulders lightly and move on, it spurs me again to say the comfy and relaxed disposition sitting behind this observation from Abbott is appalling, and it has to change.That glancing statement from Abbott doesn’t make me cynical, it doesn’t confirm my biases, it doesn’t make me shrug my shoulders lightly and move on, it spurs me again to say the comfy and relaxed disposition sitting behind this observation from Abbott is appalling, and it has to change.
Integrity in the Australian political system should be a much bigger deal than it is, particularly if a former prime minister of this country is relaxed enough to just drop a reference like that into an adjournment speech. The US voting public is so angry with the political class in America, in part because they feel locked out of the system, that Donald Trump is the presumptive nominee for the republican party in this presidential race. A socialist from Vermont is sticking it to Hillary Clinton on the subject of influence, and whatever you think of Sanders politics, the message is resonating. So for Australia: time to wake up politicians – this is not how the voting public wants politics to run.Integrity in the Australian political system should be a much bigger deal than it is, particularly if a former prime minister of this country is relaxed enough to just drop a reference like that into an adjournment speech. The US voting public is so angry with the political class in America, in part because they feel locked out of the system, that Donald Trump is the presumptive nominee for the republican party in this presidential race. A socialist from Vermont is sticking it to Hillary Clinton on the subject of influence, and whatever you think of Sanders politics, the message is resonating. So for Australia: time to wake up politicians – this is not how the voting public wants politics to run.
Let’s push on with this and the rest of the day, another big one, hope you’ve packed provisions because I suspect we’ll be here for more than 12 hours.Let’s push on with this and the rest of the day, another big one, hope you’ve packed provisions because I suspect we’ll be here for more than 12 hours.
Today’s comments thread is wide open for your business. Magic Mike and I are up and about on the twits – he’s @mpbowers and I’m@murpharoo. If you speak Facebook you can join my daily forum here. And if you want a behind-the-scenes look at the day and the looming campaign, give Mike a follow on Instagram. You can find him here.Today’s comments thread is wide open for your business. Magic Mike and I are up and about on the twits – he’s @mpbowers and I’m@murpharoo. If you speak Facebook you can join my daily forum here. And if you want a behind-the-scenes look at the day and the looming campaign, give Mike a follow on Instagram. You can find him here.
Here comes Thursday.Here comes Thursday.
UpdatedUpdated
at 11.40pm BSTat 11.40pm BST