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| Shorten and Turnbull trade blows over penalty rate cuts – politics live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.18am GMT | |
| 04:18 | |
| An emotional prime minister ends question time with a statement on the 75th anniversary of the sinking of the HMAS Perth. | |
| Bill Shorten follows with his own speech. | |
| 4.15am GMT | |
| 04:15 | |
| Updated | |
| at 4.21am GMT | |
| 4.14am GMT | |
| 04:14 | |
| 4.12am GMT | |
| 04:12 | |
| Put up your dukes. | |
| 4.10am GMT | |
| 04:10 | |
| Liberal MP Ann Sudmalis (above Julie Bishop) visibly uncomfortable after two days of questions over her comments on penalty rates. pic.twitter.com/6mbt2sSkzJ | |
| 4.10am GMT | |
| 04:10 | |
| Sudmalis has been taunted about a visit to her electorate with Turnbull and her comments on penalty rates. I will confirm those comments. | |
| Liberal MP Ann Sudmalis has been seen wiping tears from her eyes during #QT #auspol | |
| 4.07am GMT | |
| 04:07 | |
| Labor to Turnbull: Given the prime minister’s statement yesterday that he supports the decision to cut penalty rates, can the prime minister confirm his colleague, the Liberal member for Ford, was reflecting government policy when he said in relation to the decision to cut penalty rates, “The reductions are minor.” For this prime minister, is a $77 per week pay cut just a minor reduction? ? | |
| Turnbull does not answer this $77 question. | |
| He repeats, the FWC is an independent umpire. Shorten made the referral on penalty rates as minister. Shorten also negotiated away penalties as a union leader. | |
| Updated | |
| at 4.19am GMT | |
| 4.01am GMT | |
| 04:01 | |
| Labor to Turnbull: Yesterday during question time, the prime minister finally confirmed he supports a decision to cut penalty rates. The prime minister’s support for cutting penalty rates means workers at the cane land central shopping centre in Mackay in the electorate of Dawson will have their pay cut. Is the reason the prime minister is refusing to stop the penalty rates decision is because he and his Liberal-National government, including the member for Dawson [George Christensen], support cuts to penalty rates. | |
| Turnbull: | |
| This is abandoning every principle of the Labor party, and as Jenny George said, in words that honourable members opposite should reflect on very carefully, be careful what you wish for. The independent umpire has served workers well, it has served employers well, it has served Australia well. Decisions have been controversial, to be sure. But backing the independent umpire has been a joint commitment for many years, now abandoned as a politically cynical effort by the Labor party and their hypocritical leader. | |
| Updated | |
| at 4.20am GMT | |
| 3.53am GMT | |
| 03:53 | |
| Labor to Turnbull: My question is to the prime minister and I refer to the prime minister’s recent visit to the electorate of Gilmore, and the member for Gilmore’s statement yesterday that it is a gift for our young people that their penalty rates have been cut. On that visit, did the prime minister and the member tell the people of Gilmore that it was government policy to cut their penalty rates? And why does the prime minister and the member for Gilmore support cutting penalty rates of Australians? | |
| Turnbull says it is the FWC’s judgement and their judgment alone. | |
| Their judgment and their judgement alone, is that these reductions in this case a reduction for casuals from 275% penalty rate to 250%, that that reduction will assist in creating more job opportunities. That was the trade-off. | |
| Turnbull quotes Shorten prior to the election, warning off the Greens from changing any (future) FWC decision. | |
| [Shorten said] I caution the Greens from their sideshow position. They need be careful of what they’re playing with fire by proposing a government should be able to legislate on specific penalty rate outcomes. They are loading the gun for a future conservative government to pull the trigger because what a government has the power to put in, a future government has the ability to dismantle. | |
| A couple of comments here. | |
| A: Let’s not pretend the government does not support the penalty rate cut. They clearly do, but they will not crow about it, lest they give material to Labor for future election ads. | |
| B: I agree with this previous Shorten position. Once you change the FWC decisions you don’t like, you licence future governments to do the same. | |
| Updated | |
| at 4.00am GMT | |
| 3.40am GMT | 3.40am GMT |
| 03:40 | 03:40 |
| There is argy bargy between the speaker, the government and Labor over the latter’s call for relevance. Speaker Smith rules Turnbull is relevant because he is talking about the penalty rate cut decision (albeit in regard to Shorten’s previous work at the AWU). | There is argy bargy between the speaker, the government and Labor over the latter’s call for relevance. Speaker Smith rules Turnbull is relevant because he is talking about the penalty rate cut decision (albeit in regard to Shorten’s previous work at the AWU). |
| 3.37am GMT | 3.37am GMT |
| 03:37 | 03:37 |
| Labor’s Tony Burke to Turnbull: Have any ministers disclosed potential conflicts of interest in relation to the Governments response to the recent Fair Work Commission decision as required by the statement of ministerial standards? How many members of the Government will profit from the decision? | |
| Turnbull says it is not the government’s decision, it is from the Fair Work Commission. | Turnbull says it is not the government’s decision, it is from the Fair Work Commission. |
| So this would be an interesting question, whether a small business owner and politician would have a conflict of interest on a penalty rate decision made by an independent body. (Given the small business operator would benefit from a cut in penalties.) I think it’s a long bow myself but let’s watch where it goes. | So this would be an interesting question, whether a small business owner and politician would have a conflict of interest on a penalty rate decision made by an independent body. (Given the small business operator would benefit from a cut in penalties.) I think it’s a long bow myself but let’s watch where it goes. |
| *this post has been amended to correct the question. | |
| Updated | |
| at 3.56am GMT | |
| 3.35am GMT | 3.35am GMT |
| 03:35 | 03:35 |
| Labor to Turnbull: This morning on Adelaide radio the assistant minister for agriculture said “The overall decision of this commission, which I have got to say I support, being a small business operator. “. Have any ministers disclosed potential conflicts of interest in relation to the government’s response to this decision, as required by the statement of ministerial standards? How many more members of the government will profit from the decision to cut the pay of 700,000 Australians? | Labor to Turnbull: This morning on Adelaide radio the assistant minister for agriculture said “The overall decision of this commission, which I have got to say I support, being a small business operator. “. Have any ministers disclosed potential conflicts of interest in relation to the government’s response to this decision, as required by the statement of ministerial standards? How many more members of the government will profit from the decision to cut the pay of 700,000 Australians? |
| Turnbull does not answer the question, which references Anne Ruston, the assistant ag minister and primary producer. | Turnbull does not answer the question, which references Anne Ruston, the assistant ag minister and primary producer. |
| He talks about Bill Shorten’s negotiated EBAs with Cleanevent and Cirque Du Soleil. | He talks about Bill Shorten’s negotiated EBAs with Cleanevent and Cirque Du Soleil. |
| 3.28am GMT | 3.28am GMT |
| 03:28 | 03:28 |
| Bob Katter to immigration minister Peter Dutton: The The Daily Telegraph, October 2014 reports young New South Wales is the unofficial Muslim capital of the outback, population 7,000 Arabic as the second language and home to 400 Middle Easterners. Yesterday, Haisem Zahab was arrested on allegations of assisting ISIS to develop long range missiles. Last week the Federation of Islamic Councils President reportedly stated domestic violence is the last resort. Will the minister listen to his own backbench and the United States and ban visas from North Africa and the countries between Greece and India, exempting of course persecuted minorities, namely Sikhs, Jews and Christians? | Bob Katter to immigration minister Peter Dutton: The The Daily Telegraph, October 2014 reports young New South Wales is the unofficial Muslim capital of the outback, population 7,000 Arabic as the second language and home to 400 Middle Easterners. Yesterday, Haisem Zahab was arrested on allegations of assisting ISIS to develop long range missiles. Last week the Federation of Islamic Councils President reportedly stated domestic violence is the last resort. Will the minister listen to his own backbench and the United States and ban visas from North Africa and the countries between Greece and India, exempting of course persecuted minorities, namely Sikhs, Jews and Christians? |
| Dutton makes three points. | Dutton makes three points. |
| One. | One. |
| It is important to point out that the vast majority of people who are working hard in that community, supporting the abattoir that can only stay open because of that local Muslim population, it provides support to local farmers and to that local economy. They are hard working people. They are doing the right thing. Like 99% of people from the Islamic community in this country, they are doing the right thing. | It is important to point out that the vast majority of people who are working hard in that community, supporting the abattoir that can only stay open because of that local Muslim population, it provides support to local farmers and to that local economy. They are hard working people. They are doing the right thing. Like 99% of people from the Islamic community in this country, they are doing the right thing. |
| Two. | Two. |
| Where we find the 1% and where the 1% are doing the wrong thing or people who would seek to do harm to our country, we will come down on them hard. | Where we find the 1% and where the 1% are doing the wrong thing or people who would seek to do harm to our country, we will come down on them hard. |
| Three, re Keyser Trad’s comments: | Three, re Keyser Trad’s comments: |
| This is Australia and if you come to our country, you abide by our laws and one of the things that sets us apart from many other nations is our respect of women” we all want our daughters to succeed, be in loving relationships,get a good education, get a good job and be the equal of any man in this country”. It is unacceptable for the vast majority of the Islamic community as well, I am sure. | This is Australia and if you come to our country, you abide by our laws and one of the things that sets us apart from many other nations is our respect of women” we all want our daughters to succeed, be in loving relationships,get a good education, get a good job and be the equal of any man in this country”. It is unacceptable for the vast majority of the Islamic community as well, I am sure. |
| 3.18am GMT | 3.18am GMT |
| 03:18 | 03:18 |
| Shorten to Turnbull: The prime minister has said he supports the decision to cut penalty rates. Will the prime minister please advise the 700,000 Australians who rely upon these penalty rates whether he will intervene to stop these pay cuts? Yes or no, will the commonwealth intervene to stop these pay cuts? | Shorten to Turnbull: The prime minister has said he supports the decision to cut penalty rates. Will the prime minister please advise the 700,000 Australians who rely upon these penalty rates whether he will intervene to stop these pay cuts? Yes or no, will the commonwealth intervene to stop these pay cuts? |
| He notes correctly that Shorten said he would accept the decision of the Fair Work Commission on penalty rates. | He notes correctly that Shorten said he would accept the decision of the Fair Work Commission on penalty rates. |
| It does not look like there will be an answer from the PM on the substantive issue of whether he supports the penalty rate cut. | It does not look like there will be an answer from the PM on the substantive issue of whether he supports the penalty rate cut. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.47am GMT | at 3.47am GMT |
| 3.12am GMT | 3.12am GMT |
| 03:12 | 03:12 |
| Chris Bowen to Scott Morrison: This morning at Senate estimates the secretary of the Treasury was asked whether the decision to cut penalty rates would create more jobs. The secretary said “I don’t have an opinion on that”. Can the treasurer confirm that his own department has not advised the government that this will create jobs and in fact this is just a straight pay cut for 700,000 Australians? | Chris Bowen to Scott Morrison: This morning at Senate estimates the secretary of the Treasury was asked whether the decision to cut penalty rates would create more jobs. The secretary said “I don’t have an opinion on that”. Can the treasurer confirm that his own department has not advised the government that this will create jobs and in fact this is just a straight pay cut for 700,000 Australians? |
| Morrison says the Fair Work Commission has decided to cut penalty rates following the referral from Bill Shorten, former workplace minister. | Morrison says the Fair Work Commission has decided to cut penalty rates following the referral from Bill Shorten, former workplace minister. |
| Morrison again declines the opportunity to give Labor a grab lauding pay cuts that could be used in the next election. | Morrison again declines the opportunity to give Labor a grab lauding pay cuts that could be used in the next election. |
| 3.09am GMT | 3.09am GMT |
| 03:09 | 03:09 |
| Malcolm Turnbull’s first Dorothy Dixer spruiks the national accounts. The question comes from a WA MP which allows him to talk about the strong economic leadership of his government and WA premier Colin Barnett. Can I hear a state election coming? | Malcolm Turnbull’s first Dorothy Dixer spruiks the national accounts. The question comes from a WA MP which allows him to talk about the strong economic leadership of his government and WA premier Colin Barnett. Can I hear a state election coming? |
| 3.03am GMT | 3.03am GMT |
| 03:03 | 03:03 |
| Shorten to Turnbull: Why is it that under the Turnbull government, when companies receive record profits, they get tax cuts and when wages flat line, workers get pay cuts? | Shorten to Turnbull: Why is it that under the Turnbull government, when companies receive record profits, they get tax cuts and when wages flat line, workers get pay cuts? |
| Turnbull is shuffling through a pile of enterprise bargaining agreements signed by Bill Shorten’s delegates at the Australian Workers Union under his leadership. | Turnbull is shuffling through a pile of enterprise bargaining agreements signed by Bill Shorten’s delegates at the Australian Workers Union under his leadership. |
| What about the workers? The cleaning workers at Cleanevent who were paid thanks to the leader of the opposition $18.14 an hour when they were entitled to $50.17 under the award. That is what he did. Where did the money go? Was there a payment to the AWU? Were membership lists provided to the AWU? Follow the money. | What about the workers? The cleaning workers at Cleanevent who were paid thanks to the leader of the opposition $18.14 an hour when they were entitled to $50.17 under the award. That is what he did. Where did the money go? Was there a payment to the AWU? Were membership lists provided to the AWU? Follow the money. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.20am GMT | at 3.20am GMT |
| 3.00am GMT | 3.00am GMT |
| 03:00 | 03:00 |
| Bill Shorten is using a 90 second MP’s statement just before question time to speak against changing the Racial Discrimination Act. | Bill Shorten is using a 90 second MP’s statement just before question time to speak against changing the Racial Discrimination Act. |
| The ball is now in the prime minister’s court | The ball is now in the prime minister’s court |
| He should rule out the right to be a bigot once and for all. | He should rule out the right to be a bigot once and for all. |
| 2.59am GMT | 2.59am GMT |
| 02:59 | 02:59 |
| Cory Bernardi has delivered his Weekly Dose of Common Sense blog. He is using the 18C report by the human rights committee as a bit of a recruitment drive for Australian Conservatives. | Cory Bernardi has delivered his Weekly Dose of Common Sense blog. He is using the 18C report by the human rights committee as a bit of a recruitment drive for Australian Conservatives. |
| The committee bowed at the altar of political correctness, they heeded the caution of the saturated mattress. | The committee bowed at the altar of political correctness, they heeded the caution of the saturated mattress. |
| It is time to take a stand, says Cory. | It is time to take a stand, says Cory. |
| This snowflake-protecting, damaging ideology and its proponents are hurting our country. If the political class won’t support freedom of speech what will they support? What other of your freedoms will they limit to make their already-cosy lives easier? | This snowflake-protecting, damaging ideology and its proponents are hurting our country. If the political class won’t support freedom of speech what will they support? What other of your freedoms will they limit to make their already-cosy lives easier? |
| There really is a better way…a principled way that does the right thing no matter how tough it is. That’s the attitude parents have shared with their children for generations. Do the right thing, do it once and do it right. | There really is a better way…a principled way that does the right thing no matter how tough it is. That’s the attitude parents have shared with their children for generations. Do the right thing, do it once and do it right. |
| Our political class need to hear that message loud and clear. Australian Conservatives are committed to taking it to them. | Our political class need to hear that message loud and clear. Australian Conservatives are committed to taking it to them. |
| He notes he will name founding members in weeks to come. | He notes he will name founding members in weeks to come. |
| Bernardi really is the master of the political tease. | Bernardi really is the master of the political tease. |