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Labor accuses Malcolm Turnbull of assault on workers' take-home pay – question time live Labor accuses Malcolm Turnbull of assault on workers' take-home pay – parliament live
(35 minutes later)
4.49am GMT
04:49
Speaking of Joel Fitzgibbon, he has accused his shadow Barnaby Joyce of being all hat, no cowboy on the sugar dispute.
Barnaby Joyce confirmed again today he is all hat, no cowboy. All spin, no substance.
Last week he told Queensland cane growers he would intervene in their dispute with Wilmar if the Queensland Parliament did not act this week.
Joyce told cane growers:
“We have options at the federal level.” and, “I’ve got other cards up my sleeve and I’ll play them at my will.”
“I’ve got other cards up my sleeve and I’ll play them at my will.”
Last night the Queensland Parliament chose not to intervene in the commercial stand-off.
Today Barnaby Joyce led the second full-court-press of rural Liberals and Nationals in two days. Yesterday they announced a website, today they announced a review.
George Christenson was not there. Barnaby Joyce is on the run but the Member for Dawson has already bolted.
Barnaby Joyce said nothing about sugar today until pressed by journalists. Queensland growers will be asking why.
4.41am GMT
04:41
Labor loses the suspension motion on the numbers.
Question time ends.
Anthony Albanese notes today is the 21st anniversary of the class of 1996. That is, the MPs who came into parliament in that year, when John Howard won office. It includes Albo, Joel Fitzgibbon and Jenny Macklin.
Then Albo starts a speech on a matter of public importance on public infrastructure - his personal passion.
One of the good things about being in government is you have access to some very smart people...
Thanks mate, says Joel Fitzgibbon.
4.35am GMT
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Updated
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4.28am GMT
04:28
Strategist in chief, Christopher Pyne.
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04:26
The house is now voting on Labor’s motion to suspend standing orders to debate penalty cuts.
4.23am GMT
04:23
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4.12am GMT4.12am GMT
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Malcolm Turnbull also repeats his points in reply.Malcolm Turnbull also repeats his points in reply.
The commissioners on the Fair Work Commission were appointed by Labor.The commissioners on the Fair Work Commission were appointed by Labor.
Labor made the reference to the commission.Labor made the reference to the commission.
The president Iain Ross has worked for the ACTU.The president Iain Ross has worked for the ACTU.
He is hardly an “enemy of the people”.He is hardly an “enemy of the people”.
What he is seeking to do yet again is turn Australians against each other, turn workers against business, divide the country, stifle investment, stifle employment, all in his campaign to do anything to secure an election to government on the basis of a populist antibusiness campaign. He has no principle, no consistency, no integrity.
It was not his finest performance.
Labor shadow employment spokesman Brendan O’Connor starts his speech with:
Wakey, wakey.
Updated
at 4.19am GMT
4.07am GMT4.07am GMT
04:0704:07
Bill Shorten says grandfathering the penalty rate decision, proposed by Eric Abetz “the ghost of banquets past”, is not the solution.Bill Shorten says grandfathering the penalty rate decision, proposed by Eric Abetz “the ghost of banquets past”, is not the solution.
There is no government worth its salt in this country that could sit on its hands and do nothing.There is no government worth its salt in this country that could sit on its hands and do nothing.
We will fight this issue in the house ... we will fight it all the way to the next election.We will fight this issue in the house ... we will fight it all the way to the next election.
So Labor’s campaign is, as Tony Burke said earlier today:So Labor’s campaign is, as Tony Burke said earlier today:
Workers face pay cuts.Workers face pay cuts.
The government can fix it.The government can fix it.
The government is choosing not to.The government is choosing not to.
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at 4.12am GMTat 4.12am GMT
4.02am GMT4.02am GMT
04:0204:02
Bill Shorten says this pay cut could not have come at a worse time for workers.Bill Shorten says this pay cut could not have come at a worse time for workers.
He says this is about real people’s lives.He says this is about real people’s lives.
When Turnbull is asked, he throws his hands up and says it is not my problem.When Turnbull is asked, he throws his hands up and says it is not my problem.
Shorten “admits” the big end of town had done well out of this government.Shorten “admits” the big end of town had done well out of this government.
But the penalty rate cut will disproportionately hit the young, he says.But the penalty rate cut will disproportionately hit the young, he says.
He talks about the effect on women of the cuts, not to mention the regions.He talks about the effect on women of the cuts, not to mention the regions.
What have the regions ever done to deserve Barnaby Joyce?What have the regions ever done to deserve Barnaby Joyce?
Shorten says the National party is simply hostage to One Nation.Shorten says the National party is simply hostage to One Nation.
3.58am GMT3.58am GMT
03:5803:58
Bill Shorten tries to suspend standing orders mid-question.Bill Shorten tries to suspend standing orders mid-question.
He is told to wait until the PM has finished his answer.He is told to wait until the PM has finished his answer.
On penalty rates, obvs.On penalty rates, obvs.
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3.55am GMT3.55am GMT
03:5503:55
Shorten to Turnbull: Today the prime minister has heard from just some of the nearly 700,000 Australians who will have their pay cut because of the prime minister’s support for the penalty rates decision. The prime minister has the power to stop this decision and he won’t stop the cuts. Why is this prime minister doing everything he can to give big business a tax cut but doing absolutely nothing to stop workers getting a pay cut?Shorten to Turnbull: Today the prime minister has heard from just some of the nearly 700,000 Australians who will have their pay cut because of the prime minister’s support for the penalty rates decision. The prime minister has the power to stop this decision and he won’t stop the cuts. Why is this prime minister doing everything he can to give big business a tax cut but doing absolutely nothing to stop workers getting a pay cut?
Turnbull says Shorten constantly traded away penalty rates as a union leader.Turnbull says Shorten constantly traded away penalty rates as a union leader.
He quotes a report in the Oz that the workers effected are around 286,000 rather than 700,000.He quotes a report in the Oz that the workers effected are around 286,000 rather than 700,000.
That is a very substantial number but it is not 700,000. It shows the way the honourable member is loose with the truth.That is a very substantial number but it is not 700,000. It shows the way the honourable member is loose with the truth.
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3.51am GMT3.51am GMT
03:5103:51
2 arrivals #QT @gabriellechan @GuardianAus @murpharoo #politicslive pic.twitter.com/QOSrnuCfx42 arrivals #QT @gabriellechan @GuardianAus @murpharoo #politicslive pic.twitter.com/QOSrnuCfx4
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I can feel a suspension of standing orders coming on.I can feel a suspension of standing orders coming on.
3.46am GMT
03:46
Labor to Turnbull: Ruby lives in my electorate and works two casual jobs whilst studying part-time at university. She says she works in retail on Sundays because it makes a huge difference to her low income. She says this pay cut would be devastating and the owner of the business will just keep the money taken from her pay. Why won’t the prime minister stand up for the penalty rates of workers like Ruby and use his power to stop the pay cut?
Turnbull says again, Labor has to work out whether it supports the independent umpire.
He says the FWC is working out how to phase in the penalty rate cuts.
When modern awards began in 2010 under Bill Shorten as industrial relations minister, the phase-in period was five years.
It is a longstanding practice to ensure that the objective of modern awards, namely that changes don’t result in a reduction in take-home pay.
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3.41am GMT
03:41
Just a reminder. Work Choices 1.0.
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"If the volume doesn't lower, I'll be lowering it" - Speaker"Sorry my bad" - @edhusicMP but @GrahamPerrettMP is the one who gets booted #qt
3.36am GMT
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Labor to Turnbull: Linda lives in my electorate and she works on Sundays as a hotel chef because her rent is more than half her wages and she needs the money. Linda previously relied on Centrelink but re-skilled to become a chef and she is proud she got off Centrelink and into a job. Linda can’t understand why the Turnbull government wants to cut her wages. Why, when the prime minister has the power to act, is he refusing to stop Linda’s pay cut?
Turnbull:
I trust the honourable member will be advising her constituent that the decision about penalty rates is not a decision of the government. What the honourable member said in her question is quite misleading. It is a decision of the Fair Work Commission.
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3.30am GMT
03:30
Shorten to Turnbull: Margarita is a single mum with two children who regularly works Sundays at a hotel. The Sunday penalty rates help her put food on the table, buy shoes for her kids. She stands to lose thousands in take-home pay. She says, “Everything is getting more difficult. The bills go up so why is our wages going down? Where is the balance? “ Can the prime minister explain why he is willing to intervene in the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal, the CFA decision, but will do nothing to stop Margarita’s pay cut?
(This is already feeling like Work Choices 2.0.)
Turnbull:
The lady that the honourable member refers to, Margarita, may be affected in the manner he describes by the penalty rate change. We have learnt not to take our critical assertions of fact from the opposition but the fact is that the leader of the opposition, again and again and again, stated that he would support the decision of this Fair Work Commission. He gave them the reference to look at penalty rates.
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3.27am GMT
03:27
NXT MP Rebekha Sharkie to Turnbull: It was revealed in Senate estimates yesterday that 75% of the contents of ration packs for Aussie diggers are foreign produced, including items such as biscuits, fruit cake, tea, coffee and tomato sauce. Even the toilet paper is from China. Does the prime minister agree that Australian troops serving our country should be supplied with Australian goods in their ration packs, which would support Aussie food manufacturing, and if so how would the government rectify this situation?
Turnbull:
The revised commonwealth procurement rules came into affect on 1 March or come into affect on 1 March this year and Senator Xenophon advocated for the changes. The commonwealth is required to assess the economic benefit to the Australian economy of each procurement. I am advised the vast majority of items in ADF ration packs are Australian and New Zealand products.
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3.21am GMT
03:21
Labor’s Linda Burney to Turnbull: Terry works in a news agent in my electorate. He works on Sundays and sacrifices time with his family and friends at important events like birthdays to provide for his partner and a four-and-a-half-year-old son. Terry stands to lose almost $4,000 a year because of the prime minister’s support for cutting penalty rates. He says the cut to penalty rates will just mean the same work for less money. Why won’t the prime minister use his power to stop Terry’s pay cut?
Turnbull says the government is standing up for the independent umpire.
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3.16am GMT
03:16
Government questions so far have been on the importance of economic growth and the national accounts.
3.12am GMT
03:12
Labor’s Tony Burke to Turnbull: (delivered in droll style) We all know what the prime minister meant when he said he supports the decision. What government policy was the prime minister referring to this morning when he said
There’s the, there’s no question for you if you, um, the evidence is strong that you, you have lower penalty rates or on a Sunday public holiday there is less or more incentive if you like. It is more affordable for businesses to employ people, that is common sense, that is one consideration”.
Don’t Australian workers deserve better than that?
Turnbull cops the joke.
I thank the honourable member for his comic interlude and recall on the subject of penalty rates his time as an organiser for the STA, the shop distributive and allied trades union. In those times the SDA negotiated one trade away of penalty rates after another.
Turnbull says the FWC have done a “good and thorough job”, which sounds like support.
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3.08am GMT
03:08
In the style of finance department video:
Forget #paleopear... Australia Post's grad video has a triple shot, almond milk, decaf, chai latte with honey https://t.co/X0siO3W0kB pic.twitter.com/h9gbK2ovMF
Updated
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