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Federal budget and dual citizenship: four MPs quit after high court ruling – politics live Federal budget and dual citizenship: four MPs quit after high court ruling – politics live
(about 1 hour later)
(from earlier, but it was deleted as part of the attempts to fix the blog)
The Greens, who are the only party who had MPs who resigned as soon as being made aware they were dual citizens, have weighed in on the latest round of section 44 resignations:Rebekha Sharkie and the three Labor MP’s who ceded to the high court have done the right thing by resigning.Had the Greens pushed for a full audit of Parliament taken on board months ago, we wouldn’t be in this mess today.How many more MPs will have to be crowbarred out of their positions – kicking and screaming for months – rather than doing the right thing.On a day when we should have been talking about how the budget impacts on Australians, politicians were talking about themselves.Today’s resignations will not be the end of this ongoing crisis: there are several Liberal MPs that still have a cloud over their heads, and Malcolm Turnbull now needs to do the right thing and refer them to the high court to put an end to this uncertainty. The only long-term solution is to abolish this outdated law through a referendum to make sure that Australians of all backgrounds can give back to their communities through parliamentary service.
***end statement***
Tony Abbott rang in to deliver his regular 2GB nuggets of gold. He thinks the Liberals are a chance to win in Mayo.
Malcolm Turnbull will also speak to 2GB. He’s due to be on air any moment now.
A big thank you to the boffins who just fought all of the gremlins, in mortal combat, to bring the blog back from the brink.
Susan Lamb’s whole speech to the chamber:
Speaker in February this year, I explained in detail to the Parliament – to the people of Australia, and of course the wonderful people in my electorate of Longman – the steps I took to renounce any entitlement to citizenship through decent that I may have held.
Speaker today a ruling made by the High Court of Australia has set a new precedent of course, giving a new interpretation on the ‘reasonable steps’ test which has been in place for more than two decades.
Now in light of this judgement, I’ll be resigning as the Member for Longman and I will re-contest my seat in a by-election because, Speaker, I am not done yet.
I put my hand up to represent people who were just like me.
To represent the workers in Narangba who rely upon on a job. A good job, a secure job, a safe job with fair pay.
I put my hand up to be a voice for parents in Morayfield with families who need schools that deliver an education that their children need.
And of course to stand up for affordable and accessible health care that the good people on Bribie Island, and in fact every person in Australia, deserves.
After nearly two years of having the privilege of taking up this fight - I am not done.
While there is $80 billion worth of taxpayers’ money still going to banks and big businesses instead of the pockets of people in Burpengary and Caboolture - I am not done.
And while there is still a housing crisis, elderly waiting for aged care packages, and an unreliable NBN connecting us with the rest of the world – I am not done.
Because in Longman, we deserve a Government that’s fair, a Government that cares and just as I have done since the 2016 election and for many, many, many years before that, I will keep fighting because, Mr Speaker, I am not done.
Speaker this is not a valedictory speech, let me be very clear. I’m putting the Government on notice that, while ultimately the decision will be in the hands of the amazing people of Longman, I intend to be back.
The phone calls to electors in the Labor electorates heading to by-elections are due to begin in a couple of hours. The campaign has officially begun.
No one is resigning, officially, until Friday though
The crew at Buzzfeed very kindly allowed me to spew out words in between blog posts for their Buzzfeed OzPol show - if you ever wanted to know what a slightly manic, two-hours sleep, over caffeinated Amy looked like, you are in for a treat. (spoiler: not great)
.@AmyRemeikis says the plan to put people on $41k & $200k on the same tax rate in seven year’s time is a batshit crazy idea. “I could say in seven years I’m going to be living in Beyoncé’s mansion!” #BFOzPol pic.twitter.com/dKNnKx6ox1
After the day that has been, we all deserve a little treat.
Today, I offer you this gem from the Chaser (thanks to Gareth Hutchens for the find) - which explains how Mark Latham was all a prank set up by the Chaser, which went terribly wrong. Watch out for the cameos, Ed Husic among them.
Here is Justine Keay’s whole statement to the chamber:Here is Justine Keay’s whole statement to the chamber:
The greatest honour of my life was being elected as the member for Braddon in 2016.The greatest honour of my life was being elected as the member for Braddon in 2016.
In my first speech in this House, I said the people of West Coast and North West of Tasmania, and of course King Island, they’re a resilient lot. Ours is a community that genuinely cares for each other. We come together in challenging times, we’re generous of spirit, we’re always willing to pitch in and help one another.In my first speech in this House, I said the people of West Coast and North West of Tasmania, and of course King Island, they’re a resilient lot. Ours is a community that genuinely cares for each other. We come together in challenging times, we’re generous of spirit, we’re always willing to pitch in and help one another.
I chose to put up my hand up for my community because the need to stand up for workers, for pensioners and those trying to make ends meet, convinced me that they deserved a progressive voice in Canberra fighting for them.I chose to put up my hand up for my community because the need to stand up for workers, for pensioners and those trying to make ends meet, convinced me that they deserved a progressive voice in Canberra fighting for them.
I’m also here to give my kids, and kids right across my electorate, the decent, secure jobs they deserve in the beautiful part of Tassie they know and love.I’m also here to give my kids, and kids right across my electorate, the decent, secure jobs they deserve in the beautiful part of Tassie they know and love.
I want to make it very clear to every member of my community, and every member of this House, that I am not done working and fighting on behalf of those who sent me here.I want to make it very clear to every member of my community, and every member of this House, that I am not done working and fighting on behalf of those who sent me here.
This citizenship issue has been a difficult time for my family, friends, supporters and staff and of course, myself. It’s been a character building experience.This citizenship issue has been a difficult time for my family, friends, supporters and staff and of course, myself. It’s been a character building experience.
But I can hold my head high for being upfront and honest with my electorate. I have nothing to fear or hide, you just need to look at my disclosure for that. I’ve been criticised for being too honest. Bit of an oxymoron for a politician perhaps. People have commented that while I don’t have an allegiance to the United Kingdom, that perhaps I have an allegiance to my family. Well if they are my flaws, then so be it.But I can hold my head high for being upfront and honest with my electorate. I have nothing to fear or hide, you just need to look at my disclosure for that. I’ve been criticised for being too honest. Bit of an oxymoron for a politician perhaps. People have commented that while I don’t have an allegiance to the United Kingdom, that perhaps I have an allegiance to my family. Well if they are my flaws, then so be it.
I am a seventh generation Tasmanian. A town in the Huon Valley bears my mother’s family’s name. I am proud of my heritage from both my mother and father, as I would expect all Australians are proud of theirs.I am a seventh generation Tasmanian. A town in the Huon Valley bears my mother’s family’s name. I am proud of my heritage from both my mother and father, as I would expect all Australians are proud of theirs.
I’ve always been upfront about the fact that before nominating for Parliament I acted on the best available legal advice, which indicated that I had satisfied the eligibility requirements under the Constitution as they had been interpreted for 25 years.I’ve always been upfront about the fact that before nominating for Parliament I acted on the best available legal advice, which indicated that I had satisfied the eligibility requirements under the Constitution as they had been interpreted for 25 years.
Today, the High Court has set a new precedent. This is a new rule, and I respect this new rule without qualification.Today, the High Court has set a new precedent. This is a new rule, and I respect this new rule without qualification.
As a consequence of today’s decision, I will be resigning my seat as the Federal Member for Braddon. I will be writing to you, Mr Speaker to advise you of my resignation.As a consequence of today’s decision, I will be resigning my seat as the Federal Member for Braddon. I will be writing to you, Mr Speaker to advise you of my resignation.
I will nominate for preselection to contest the election in the seat of Braddon. The people in my community deserve a representative that cares about them, respects them and listens to them. This is what I have done and I will continue to do.I will nominate for preselection to contest the election in the seat of Braddon. The people in my community deserve a representative that cares about them, respects them and listens to them. This is what I have done and I will continue to do.
I am proud of the fact that one of the first things I was able to achieve after being elected was to successfully advocate on behalf of local farmers for an inquiry to get to the bottom of the floods that devastated the livelihoods and the lives of my local communities.I am proud of the fact that one of the first things I was able to achieve after being elected was to successfully advocate on behalf of local farmers for an inquiry to get to the bottom of the floods that devastated the livelihoods and the lives of my local communities.
I am proud of the fact my office has been able to assist hundreds if not thousands of people in Braddon.I am proud of the fact my office has been able to assist hundreds if not thousands of people in Braddon.
I am proud of the fact I have been the first Member of Parliament in my electorate in generations to take mobile offices to our outlying communities in the far North West and West Coasts.I am proud of the fact I have been the first Member of Parliament in my electorate in generations to take mobile offices to our outlying communities in the far North West and West Coasts.
I am proud of the fact I have been able to advocate on behalf of our local fishers, farmers, miners, foresters and industry and of course our pensioners and people who feel they don’t have a voice.I am proud of the fact I have been able to advocate on behalf of our local fishers, farmers, miners, foresters and industry and of course our pensioners and people who feel they don’t have a voice.
But I also know there is much more to be done.But I also know there is much more to be done.
The people of Braddon deserve a government that invests in them and puts them first. This is what a Shorten Government will do.The people of Braddon deserve a government that invests in them and puts them first. This is what a Shorten Government will do.
I have been privileged to have been given roles and responsibilities within the Shorten Opposition Caucus as Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Water Resources and Secretary of Labor’s Caucus on Australian Jobs Taskforce. I want to thank my caucus colleagues for their unwavering support and mentoring a united and awesome Labor team.I have been privileged to have been given roles and responsibilities within the Shorten Opposition Caucus as Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Water Resources and Secretary of Labor’s Caucus on Australian Jobs Taskforce. I want to thank my caucus colleagues for their unwavering support and mentoring a united and awesome Labor team.
I have been supported by a passionate labour movement in Tasmania, party members, union members and of course, my staff who go beyond what is required and to support me and to help the people of my electorate. This has been hard on them and on my family and has taken a personal toll on all of us.I have been supported by a passionate labour movement in Tasmania, party members, union members and of course, my staff who go beyond what is required and to support me and to help the people of my electorate. This has been hard on them and on my family and has taken a personal toll on all of us.
But we will keep fighting – this is bigger than us, it is about giving a voice to those who feel they don’t have one. It’s about helping people. That’s why I’m here. It’s about making our region, as wonderful as it is, better and better But we will keep fighting – this is bigger than us, it is about giving a voice to those who feel they don’t have one. It’s about helping people. That’s why I’m here. It’s about making our region, as wonderful as it is, better and better.
Even the prime minister has given up on question time. It ends.Even the prime minister has given up on question time. It ends.
The Parliamentary Budget Office has released its budget snapshot.The Parliamentary Budget Office has released its budget snapshot.
For some facts and figures, head hereFor some facts and figures, head here
Chris Bowen to Scott Morrison:Chris Bowen to Scott Morrison:
How does the treasurer expect this Parliament to support policies when he doesn’t know or won’t say how much they cost?How does the treasurer expect this Parliament to support policies when he doesn’t know or won’t say how much they cost?
Morrison: IT IS $140 BILLION. GOSH! THE BUDGET IS AWESOMEMorrison: IT IS $140 BILLION. GOSH! THE BUDGET IS AWESOME
(I assume) He is yelling like he’s being swept up in a cyclone and there is a lot of pointing and fist-shaking and honestly, I am too tired to go through this for a millionth time today.(I assume) He is yelling like he’s being swept up in a cyclone and there is a lot of pointing and fist-shaking and honestly, I am too tired to go through this for a millionth time today.
Bill Shorten to Malcolm Turnbull:
The government has refused to say the separate cost of all three steps of its personal income tax scheme, and refused to provide the year-by-year cost of its income tax scheme. Is it that the government does not know what these numbers are, or that it is refusing to provide the answer?”
Scott Morrison takes it, because he just hasn’t got his yelling-at-Labor quota in today (and someone in his office has been very busy researching).
“The Leader of the Opposition may be very used to changing the rules to suit himself in the union movement and the opposition. This is what the former finance minister said in the government of which he formed apart. This is Penny Wong in 2012: ‘We do not release 10-year costings.’ The treasurer Wayne Swan stood at the same National Press Club and talked about 10-year projection as being unreliable, and he said to Fran Kelly on 20 March 2012, ‘We do not do those 10-year estimates’. Mr Speaker, it is always one rule for the Labor Party and one rule for everyone else. One rule for their union mates, one rule for everyone else. You can’t change the rules ...”
He withdraws the union mates comment and ends his question.
Peter Dutton takes his daily dixer on how safe you are. VERY, VERY SAFE and now even safer because of the awesome budget.
Bill Shorten tries again to get Scott Morrison to say the corporate tax cuts will cost $80 billion, but Morrison is not having any of it.
And I really don’t think I have the energy at this stage to type out another answer saying nothing. It’s been a rough day.
Michael McCormack is yelling at the opposition because he is talking about infrastructure funding that is “ABOUT SAVING PEOPLE’S LIVES” (he is talking about the upgrade of the Cooroy-to-Curra section of the Bruce Highway, which is a particularly deadly section of road.
Anthony Albanese has a point of order to say they didn’t yell anything out.
Peter Dutton gets up to accuse Anne Aly of having made an unparliamentary remark, which Bill Shorten laughed at. She denies it, we move on.
And Chris Bowen has another go:
This morning the treasurer introduced legislation to implement the government’s entire seven-year personal income tax gain.
Already today at the National Press Club, the treasurer refused to say what the year-by-year cost of that scheme because he said those costings were unreliable. If the Treasurer won’t say what the year-by-year cost of the scheme is, and he also says the costing is unreliable, how could the Treasurer of the parliament vote for it?”
Scott Morrison:
The answer is simple. The cost of the measure is $140 billion over the next 10 years. That is more than twice the relief that has been provided to companies under our enterprise tax plan. We are putting the priority on ensuring the tax relief is provided to those on low and middle incomes ... If the opposition wants to deny Australians lower taxes, then they should just be honest about it. They should not come in here looking for excuses, Mr Speaker. They will look for any excuse not to reduce taxes for Australians. The bill is on the table. Vote for it or oppose it. Whichever way you do it, then the Australian people know where you sit on tax and where they sit on tax. Higher tax on Labor, low under the Liberal and National Party and you are making that clear to the Australian people.”
Chris Bowen tries again:
What is the year by year cost of the budget’s new personal income tax scheme over those seven years?”
Scott Morrison:
Page 33 of budget paper two, which sets out the costings, and as I have indicated the full cost is $140 billion over 10 years.”
So, still no answer.
He says Labor didn’t provide the year-by-year estimate beyond the forward estimates for its retiree tax, which is basically the “your face is” argument.
Chris Bowen to Scott Morrison:
This morning the treasurer introduced legislation to reform the income tax scheme. He refused to say what the year-by-year cost of the scheme would be. Will you tell the Parliament what is the year-by-year cost of the government’s personal income tax scheme over those seven years?”
Morrison: The shadow treasurer will be well aware of the process for putting together budgets. He was once a treasurer. If not for very long, and we will work very hard on this side of the house to ensure he doesn’t get that opportunity again, because of a lack of understanding that he has demonstrated in this place about how budgets are put together. I have made it very clear that the cost of that measure over the medium term is $140 billion.”
#theministerdoesnotanswerthequestion
Chris Bowen to Scott Morrison:
The budget includes a seven-year personal income tax scheme. The budget papers outlined three separate steps of the scheme, and the government this morning introduced legislation to implement all three steps of the scheme. Will the treasurer immediately release the separate cost of each step of its personal income tax scheme?”
Morrison: The cost of the plan over 10 years is $140 billion.
We should move to another dixer, but whoever it was supposed to be on the government side doesn’t get up in time, and Bowen jumps up to fill the gap with another question.
“My question is for the PM. Will the PM release a separate cost of each step of the government’s seven-year income tax plan?”
Turnbull: The Treasurer has answered that question very well. The question that the member for McMahon and his leader can’t answer is what is going to happen to the Australian economy and thousands of jobs if they were able to manage their tax plan, which is putting up taxes on businesses, on families, grabbing the cash out of retirees ...”
He’s told to sit down, because Tony Burke has a point of order, but then decides he has already said enough and concludes his answer.
We move on to the Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, who gets a cheer for remembering to stand up, and another dixer on “how amazing is this budget, oh really amazing, I had no idea” is uttered. Craig Laundy gets this one. He is really looking forward to heading to Queensland this Friday to talk more budget amazingness, apparently.
Bill Shorten tries again:
Prime Minister, is the total cost of corporate tax cuts over 10 years from July 1, 2018 both legislated and proposed to be legislated by this government, is it more than or less than $100 billion?”
Malcolm Turnbull: The honourable member, by the year 2027-2028, the full enterprise tax plan, were it all to be legislated, will have been in full operation for two years. So asking what company tax receipts will be 10 years from now is effectively asking, “What will be the profitability of the corporate sector 10 years from now?” Medium-term estimate has been provided.
Scott Morrison in his latest effort of describing the budget as the greatest thing since Cronulla, refers to the opposition as “you muppet”.
That is ruled unparliamentary.
Bill Shorten to Malcolm Turnbull:
I missed the whole question, but it basically amounts to WHAT IS THE TOTAL OF CORPORATE TAX CUTS FROM JULY 1 2018 OVER THE 10 YEARS, OMG JUST SAY $80 BILLION
The prime minister does not say $80 billion.
I refer him to the earlier answer. The medium term cost of the unlegislated component of the enterprise tax plan currently before the Senate is $35.6 billion over the period from 2016-17 to 27-28. And in 27-28 the projected cost of that is around $9.8 billion.”
As Shorten’s eye begins to twitch, Scott Morrison moves on to the latest dixer, where the budget reaches Collingwood-magically-gets-all-its-greatest-players-from-the-past-100-years-onto-one-roster levels of awesome.
The next #deathtodixers puts the budget at if-a-unicorn-married-a-mermaid-and-held-the-reception-inside-the-world’s-sparkliest-wedding-cake-on-Atlantis-as-Billy-Joel-sang-Elton-John-songs levels of awesome.